Chapter 953: Godblade Unsheathed Who Can Resist

"Yue Tingge of the Heavenly Dao Sect pays his respects to Heavenly Venerable Mu!"

The black-robed Daoist had a terrible temper. After kneeling and kowtowing several times with a thud, he angrily returned to the bonfire, continuing to eat and drink. He sneered, "You are merely a minor divine arts practitioner who has usurped the title of Heavenly Venerable. My respect is for your title, not for you personally!"

Qin Mu was unconcerned: "This Daoist certainly has quite a temper."

Luo Wushuang frowned slightly, thinking, "Yue Tingge, Yue Tingge... that name sounds familiar, but I can't place it."

The Daoist Yue Tingge had lost his earlier arrogance, focusing solely on eating and drinking, only occasionally glancing toward Qin Mu.

Qin Mu waved his hand, and the banquet disappeared. The exquisite dishes, beautiful women, and fine wines all dissolved into divine consciousness, scattering like dust.

He clapped his hands again, and numerous beautiful women emerged in a continuous stream from the void, forming a long queue and setting up a lavish, flowing banquet.

"Mahā—"

Suddenly, an enormous head appeared. It was the divine dragon Qin Mu had conjured, excitedly staring at the flowing banquet and drooling profusely. Its tail swished back and forth, kicking up dust.

As Qin Mu had anticipated, this divine dragon had not perished under the power of Heavenly Venerable Huo's imprint; it had, in fact, followed their trail once more.

"Could it be that while I was visualizing the divine dragon, I subconsciously thought of Fat Dragon? Is that why this creature I conjured turned out this way?"

The divine dragon's appearance caused Qin Mu to lose interest. He put down his chopsticks and waved his hand. Overjoyed, the divine dragon immediately pounced on the banquet and began to gorge itself.

Luo Wushuang continued to observe the Daoist, murmuring, "Yue Tingge, Heavenly Dao Sect... who exactly is he?"

He racked his brain, feeling certain he had encountered the name before, yet he could not recall it.

This Daoist's origin was mysterious. The Heavenly Court had explicitly sent only their group into the Great Void, along with Heavenly Venerable Huo and Heavenly Venerable Xu's entourage. So, where had this Daoist come from?

If he was someone dispatched by the Heavenly Court previously, then how had this Daoist managed to survive in such an incredibly perilous place?

Just then, a voice suddenly remarked, "Heavenly Venerable Mu is truly worthy of his title, so dashing and charming. Wherever he goes, he is surrounded by beauties; it's quite enviable."

Qin Mu looked in the direction of the voice, identifying several true gods who had arrived on the same ship.

When the grand ship reached the Great Void, more than half of its occupants had been killed or injured. Only about a hundred individuals had fallen into various parts of the Great Void's world. In the previous city, over a dozen more perished, including Heavenly Venerable Hao's disciples, Xiu Youfang and Pan Chunjin.

The exact number of survivors remaining in the Great Void was now beyond Qin Mu's knowledge.

Last night's eruption of Great Void demonic monsters clearly wasn't an isolated incident; it was probable that other areas were also plagued by them, meaning few people could have survived.

Luo Wushuang stood up, addressing the group solemnly, "Everyone, Heavenly Venerable Mu's achievements are unmatched throughout the world; he has bestowed upon all beings the grace of imparting the method of deification. We are now in a precarious situation, unsure if we will leave alive. At this moment, we should unite our efforts and collectively confront the Great Void's strangeness. Only then can we hope to locate Heavenly Venerable Huo and Heavenly Venerable Xu. What are your thoughts?"

One of them glanced at him, sneering, "Divine Blade Luo, are you perhaps clinging to Heavenly Venerable Mu's coattails now?"

Luo Wushuang's eyes flickered with blade light, like two divine blades crossing within them. He scoffed, "I, Luo, am renowned throughout the Heavenly Court, revered as the First Divine Blade. When have I ever clung to anyone's coattails?"

Another young man chuckled, "Divine Blade Luo, Heavenly Venerable Mu's 'legs' aren't substantial; they're quite thin. Be careful not to choose the wrong alliance. Our ostensible mission this time is to rendezvous with Heavenly Venerable Huo and Heavenly Venerable Xu, but in truth, it's an opportunity to eliminate Heavenly Venerable Mu. Divine Blade Luo, you are intelligent; surely you've discerned this already."

A woman stated coldly, "The Heavenly Venerables' purpose in ordering you to accompany us was for you to provide backup and help us eliminate Heavenly Venerable Mu! Are you going to betray us?"

Luo Wushuang felt conflicted and looked towards Qin Mu.

Qin Mu, surrounded by beauties, smiled, "Rest assured, Divine Blade Luo. I have long been aware of your true purpose for this journey. I also know that you don't genuinely wish to kill me, but merely to ascertain the superiority of your blade techniques over my sword arts. This is an inner demon you must vanquish, and I understand your predicament."

Luo Wushuang sighed in relief and gravely told the three, "Everyone, I saved your lives. Without me, you would not have survived the grand ship to reach this place; you would have perished long ago. I ask, in exchange for your lives, that you set aside your past grudges with Heavenly Venerable Mu..."

"Enough, enough."

The woman said impatiently, "Divine Blade Luo, we grant you courtesy, and you become arrogant? Do not forget that your duty is to protect us! Saving us is part of your responsibility, a matter of course! Your inadequate protection, which led to the deaths of over three hundred people, leaving only a hundred, is already a tremendous sin!"

"Divine Blade Luo, it is the Heavenly Court that provides for you."

The young man continued, "You need to consider this carefully. Help us capture Heavenly Venerable Mu, and you will prosper immensely upon your return. With your current cultivation and strength, you shouldn't remain in the Lingxiu Army as a mere instructor. You would be more than capable of serving as a powerful provincial official. Have you never wondered why you haven't been promoted?"

Another person chuckled, "Precisely because you've never aligned yourself with powerful figures, this is an excellent opportunity. Make sure you choose the right alliance this time."

Luo Wushuang's face became as still as water.

Qin Mu rose, gently parting the beauties beside him, and patted the divine dragon, whose belly was now round from gorging itself. He suddenly smiled, "Divine Blade Luo, in my opinion, there's no longer any need for us to compete with blades and swords. It's quite unnecessary."

Luo Wushuang's gaze was lowered, his expression serene, like an old monk in meditation. "Why do you say that, Hegemon Qin?"

"A blade would rather break than bend."

Qin Mu waved his sleeve. The remnants of the banquet vanished, and the beauties disappeared, all dissipating into divine consciousness. He remarked leisurely, "I respect the blade; I respect its profound power, its swiftness in settling grievances. I saw you await my appearance for forty thousand years, day in and day out, for a duel, and I admire your tenacity and endurance. However, seeing you so excessively cautious and hesitant, I cannot help but feel disappointed."

Luo Wushuang's eyes opened slightly. He stated blandly, "Me, overly cautious and hesitant?"

"I am a Heavenly Venerable, and you dare challenge me only because you perceive me as young and weak."

Qin Mu continued, "These individuals are Heavenly Venerable's disciples, yet you humble yourself, kowtow, and dare not utter a single word even when insulted. Such a bully who preys on the weak and fears the strong is unworthy of my sword. Do you even deserve the title of Divine Blade?"

Luo Wushuang's eyelids fully opened, and blade light flickered in his eyes, contained but ready to be unleashed.

Qin Mu continued, "The Blade God I envision is unrestrained and heroic, unafraid of authority, utterly fearless, daring to draw his blade against the heavens themselves. He neither shrinks from a powerful adversary nor overpowers a weaker one. When confronting tyranny, he dares to draw his blade, taste blood, and directly challenge an emperor. When facing the weak, he humbly conceals himself in the market, living as a simple butcher. That is a Blade God. And you..."

He scoffed, "You are merely a bladesmith who has meticulously refined his techniques, not even as skilled as Zhe Huali. You claim to have shattered the 'god' in your heart, but I see countless deities still weighing you down."

Luo Wushuang's rage flared, his aura suddenly erupting like a treasured blade instantly slicing through the sky, splitting it in two!

"Emperor Hegemon Body, how dare you underestimate me!"

Luo Wushuang was incandescent with rage. His vital qi, mixed with blood qi, surged skyward, transforming into a crimson blade light. The colossal blade initially stretched ten thousand zhang long, then as the blood qi condensed, it grew progressively shorter!

Even as the blade shortened, its power intensified with every moment!

"Hegemon Qin, the blade techniques you witnessed previously were my techniques after attaining godhood. The blade techniques you observed on the ship were those I had comprehended over recent years."

Luo Wushuang's gaze was cold. His blood qi condensed to its absolute peak, forming a long blade that he grasped in his single hand. His killing intent surged, immense and chilling. He stated grimly, "The person I was on the ship is not the person I am now, and the blade techniques I wielded then are not the blade techniques I wield now! I want to show you my current blade techniques!"

The three disciples of the Heavenly Venerables exchanged glances, all smiling. The woman chuckled, "If Divine Blade Luo takes action, it will save us considerable effort. After all, Heavenly Venerable Mu is not weak, and the offense of killing him is quite significant..."

The young man glanced at the fierce-looking Daoist nearby, frowning slightly. He murmured, "Who is this Daoist? And why is he here?"

The three of them scrutinized the villainous Daoist's face, feeling as though they had seen him somewhere before, but they couldn't place him.

Luo Wushuang's aura fully blossomed, and the might of his divine blade burst forth: "Please enlighten me!"

Blade light flared, and the sky turned crimson.

One of the three Heavenly Venerable's disciples had no time to react before Luo Wushuang's divine blade suddenly struck, cutting him down!

The remaining two, shocked and enraged, immediately roared in unison and charged at him, bellowing, "Luo Wushuang, are you rebelling?"

Luo Wushuang ignored them completely, unleashing his blade techniques and his Blade Dao.

His blade techniques were meticulously precise and orderly. Every strike aimed for exactness; every force contained within the blade, every angle of attack, and every movement was executed as if measured by the most skilled craftsman.

Yet at this moment, his formally precise blade techniques contained an untamed grandeur, possessing the spirit to sever the heavens with a single strike.

If the sword was considered a gentleman, then his blade was a king.

He had broken free from the shackles of his former blade techniques, vanquished the 'god' in his heart, trampled all fear, leaving behind only the pure Dao!

As his blade rose, its light formed layer upon layer of heavens: sparkling stars, blue skies with white clouds, torrential rain, fair weather, swirling winds and rising clouds, and lightning striking the empty sky. Its power was immeasurably vast.

One great Dao, one heaven.

He was the Blade God of the Heavenly Court, the Heavenly Court's foremost Divine Blade. When his blade rose, it was as grand as the heavens; when it fell, it was as imposing as a wall, perfectly blending precision with monumental power!

In the past, he pursued knowledge through the investigation of things, delving into the ultimate mysteries of the Blade Dao. Though powerful, he was not truly terrifying.

Now, he had achieved unity of knowledge and action, integrating his mental state with his understanding, incorporating the knowledge gained from his studies into his own qi, blood, and spirit.

Such a Luo Wushuang, despite being one-armed, was truly formidable!

The two Heavenly Venerable's disciples struggled to resist beneath the celestial dome of his Blade Dao. Behind each of them, three Heavenly Palaces floated, indicating they were cultivating the Lesser Heavenly Court technique.

Luo Wushuang's injuries were still not fully healed, allowing him to utilize only the cultivation of a True God at most.

To the Heavenly Venerable's disciples, Luo Wushuang was an unconventional practitioner; his cultivation methods were unorthodox, and his divine arts were not genuine.

Blade techniques belonged to the Post-celestial Dao, while they cultivated the Pre-celestial Dao originating from ancient gods—a vast difference like heaven and earth.

They cultivated the Emperor Seat techniques imparted by the Heavenly Venerables, and in as many as three variations. Entering the Dao through Emperor Seat techniques and comprehending supreme divine arts would certainly far exceed the unconventional and unremarkable path of someone like Luo Wushuang.

Yet now, facing a two-on-one battle, they were struggling immensely, beset by perilous situations.

The battle began swiftly and concluded just as rapidly.

Amidst the blade light, a flash of crimson appeared.

Luo Wushuang horizontally thrust his blade, bisecting the young True God at the waist.

The other woman panicked, immediately leaping into the air to flee. Luo Wushuang bellowed and unleashed a flying blade. The woman's head fell to the ground, while her body continued to dash forward frantically, only to finally collapse into dust after flying beyond the Creator city.

Luo Wushuang sheathed his blade, and the long blade formed by his qi and blood swiftly receded into his body. He turned to look at Qin Mu, his two gazes like blade glints aimed directly at him.

"Hegemon Qin, what do you think of my blade techniques now? Am I qualified to challenge you?"

Qin Mu observed the transformation in Luo Wushuang's aura and blade techniques, and a gratified smile appeared on his face. He said, "That's enough. Divine Blade Luo, please sit."

Luo Wushuang strode forward, his robes billowing. As his clothes moved, the air beneath him was stirred by his aura, as if thousands of blade qi were colliding and circulating.

He reached Qin Mu, his aura having already settled, and took his seat.

The villainous Daoist not far away turned his head to look over, remarking, "For someone with only one hand, your blade techniques are quite decent."

Luo Wushuang's gaze shifted to him. Suddenly, his mind reeled as he recalled where he had seen this villainous Daoist. His body trembled, and he exclaimed, "You are Grandmaster Yue!"

Qin Mu was momentarily stunned. "Grandmaster Yue? Which Grandmaster Yue?" he asked.

Suddenly, he too realized, recalling Yun Chuxiu's words from their time on the ship.