Chapter 954: Mad Demon

On the ship, Yun Chuxiu once mentioned that when she led the two Heavenly Masters, the Divine Martial Army from the Heavenly Court's Ten Guards, and many of her most talented disciples into the Primordial Realm, they suffered heavy casualties.

The Divine Martial Army was wiped out, none of her disciples survived, and both Heavenly Masters perished in the Primordial Realm.

She recalled that one of these two Heavenly Masters, Heavenly Master Yue, had uncovered the secret of the Primordial Realm's inner demons, yet he too failed to return alive from the Primordial Realm.

However, Qin Mu saw through her true intentions.

At that time, to protect herself, she had killed the Divine Martial Army, her own disciples, and even the two Heavenly Masters!

If this malevolent Daoist, Yue Tingge, was indeed the Heavenly Master Yue whom Yun Chuxiu spoke of, then how did he survive a Celestial Venerable's massacre?

And how did he escape to this place?

"Anyone who can become a Heavenly Master possesses incredible abilities," Qin Mu mused. "Yue Tingge must have had a way to escape. Yun Chuxiu once said that both Heavenly Masters were grand masters at the Great Perfection of the Emperor's Seat."

Cold sweat broke out on Qin Mu's forehead. A moment ago, after he revealed himself as Celestial Venerable Mu, Yue Tingge had furiously walked over and kowtowed to him. If Yue Tingge had intended to kill instead of kowtow...

"My body would probably be cold by now," he thought to himself.

Luo Wushuang was also utterly shocked, taking a long time to compose himself.

He knew little about Heavenly Master Yue Tingge. High-ranking officials in the Heavenly Court rarely used their true names, instead adopting honorifics. Only those of lower status used their given names, so he didn't know the names of the Heavenly Court's Four Heavenly Masters.

Furthermore, Yue Tingge was not among the current Four Heavenly Masters.

The Heavenly Court's Four Heavenly Masters, Four Heavenly Kings, and Four-Color Great Emperors were not fixed positions. Their status might seem high, but to the Ten Celestial Venerables, they were merely expendable; they were replaced if they died.

Luo Wushuang's status, then and now, was not high. He had only seen Heavenly Master Yue from a distance. Moreover, Yue Tingge had been "dead" for over ten thousand years, and the Heavenly Court's Heavenly Masters had long since been replaced.

In addition, the former Yue Tingge had an elegant demeanor, but now he appeared menacing, unkempt, and utterly unlike his past self, which was why Luo Wushuang didn't recognize him immediately.

How could this Heavenly Master, who had been "dead" for over ten thousand years, be here?

"Heavenly Master Yue," Qin Mu stepped forward, addressing the malevolent Daoist, "I have a few questions I'd like to ask you."

Qin Mu continued, "How did you survive? And which of the Ten Celestial Venerables was the one who led you into the Primordial Realm?"

The malevolent Daoist, Yue Tingge, stood up, glanced at him, hoisted the roasted beast leg onto his shoulder, and walked away, gruffly saying, "I respect you as a Celestial Venerable from the Dragon Han era; that's why I'm not killing you. Don't meddle in my affairs!"

Qin Mu followed him out of the city, pressing on, "Where are the creators here? Why haven't I seen them? Have you encountered Celestial Venerable Huo or Celestial Venerable Xu? Do you know the whereabouts of Carefree Village? And have you met Celestial Venerable Qin here?"

Yue Tingge chuckled eerily, a hint of madness in his eyes. "Celestial Venerable Huo, Celestial Venerable Xu? They came to kill me, didn't they? It must be! They came to kill me! So, I led them to that deadly place, hehehe... They'll never escape; they'll certainly die there! Then I'll be safe..."

Luo Wushuang caught up to Qin Mu and whispered, "Something's not right with Heavenly Master Yue. It's like he's gone mad from being trapped here for over ten thousand years?"

Yue Tingge glanced at him, sneering, "You think ten thousand years? Even a million years here won't make me mad! I just don't trust those Celestial Venerables."

He had been rambling moments ago, but now he spoke clearly. "Back then, when Celestial Venerable Qin became Kai Huang and established the pseudo-dynasty, the Kai Huang Heavenly Court, the Ten Celestial Venerables of the Heavenly Court planned to deal with him. As the chief of the Four Heavenly Masters at that time, I devised the strategy to counter Celestial Venerable Qin."

Recalling the past, he spoke with pride: "Kai Huang was, after all, Celestial Venerable Qin, one of the five founding elders of the Celestial Alliance. Who would dare openly eliminate him? Moreover, if he were to lead his subordinates into the Heavenly Court, he would become one of the most powerful factions within the Heavenly Court and Celestial Alliance. It was imperative that he not regain control of the Celestial Alliance, so I employed a strategy of gradual infiltration and layered stripping."

He said excitedly, "The Dragon Han Heavenly Court made contact with the Kai Huang Heavenly Court, even supporting its development. Kai Huang's strongest subordinate, Emperor Yi Yue, was led astray by the Yin Emperor. With the War King Li Youran and Red Emperor Qi Xiayu also involved, the Heavenly Court's influence gradually infiltrated Kai Huang's forces, internally dividing the Kai Huang Heavenly Court. Then, with a sudden eruption, Kai Huang's power could be uprooted!"

He stated proudly, "Kai Huang was helpless against my strategy, and ultimately, the Kai Huang Heavenly Court was overthrown overnight. But he was also a remarkable figure; seeing the unfavorable situation, he began to make arrangements, secretly building Carefree Village, and eventually escaped. The Ten Celestial Venerables were still uneasy, so they ordered me to find the whereabouts of Carefree Village. Although my contribution was immense, I knew the saying: 'When the cunning hare dies, the hound is cooked.'"

He huddled, looking around cautiously, and chuckled, "I know too many of their secrets. They all want to kill us. Sending me to find Carefree Village was just a pretense; they actually wanted to kill me!"

Qin Mu and Luo Wushuang exchanged glances; Heavenly Master Yue had become somewhat delirious again.

Lady Yuan Mu killing him was merely an incidental event. Lady Yuan Mu, as one of the Ten Celestial Venerables, led her forces into the Primordial Realm primarily to search for Carefree Village. However, the Primordial Realm was too strange, and Lady Yuan Mu, to protect herself, ended up slaughtering all her subordinates.

Heavenly Master Yue was a wise man and originally should have seen this, but now he had clearly lost his mind.

"...Last time they couldn't kill me, but this time, three Celestial Venerables actually came to kill me! Heh heh, Celestial Venerable Huo and Celestial Venerable Xu were ambushed by me and sent to that deadly place. But there's still a third Celestial Venerable, Celestial Venerable Mu..."

His eyes flashed with menace, and he glared fiercely at Qin Mu. Suddenly, the menacing glint vanished, replaced by a shifty gaze. He skulked into a street corner, peeking at Qin Mu from time to time, and whispered to the roasted beast leg, "Should I trick Celestial Venerable Mu into that deadly place too and let him die there... No, he might not be an enemy, and he did us the favor of teaching us the method of becoming a god... You're right, we won't kill him. We can kill him instead."

Luo Wushuang felt a chill. He said to Qin Mu, "Qin Overlord Body, I think something's wrong with Heavenly Master Yue. Shouldn't we leave?"

Qin Mu hesitated. Yue Tingge was still muttering to the beast leg in the corner: "But that Celestial Venerable Mu fellow also looks shifty, not like a good person. We've already harmed two Celestial Venerables, so harming one more wouldn't be a big deal..."

Qin Mu no longer hesitated, making a decisive choice. "He really is mad! Let's go!"

Yue Tingge, carrying the large leg, walked over. The fierce expression on his face vanished, replaced by a sage-like, immortal demeanor, exuding the air of a wise man. He chuckled, "Celestial Venerable Mu, do you want to know the whereabouts of Celestial Venerable Qin and Carefree Village? Please follow me."

Qin Mu blinked.

Luo Wushuang shook his head. "Qin Overlord Body, he's trying to trick us. Don't fall for it!"

Qin Mu gritted his teeth and stepped forward, following Yue Tingge.

Meanwhile, hundreds of miles outside the city, Lian Huahun was clashing with another young god. This young god was a true god, immensely powerful, with four layers of Heavenly Palaces shimmering behind him, and incredibly profound magic.

Despite being a divine ability practitioner of the Divine Bridge realm, Lian Huahun was able to contend with this person and even gain a significant advantage.

The two fought at high speed, their various divine arts and Dao techniques dazzling to behold.

Soon, everything settled, and both landed.

The young god clutched his chest, his voice hoarse. "Junior Sister Lian, why..."

He had been attacked by Lian Huahun's divine ability, which was bizarre and acted like an abyss, continuously devouring his vital energy and blood, quickly making him gaunt.

Not only that, his seven divine treasures began to fall into that abyss one after another.

Even with the Dao of Youdu and Youdu divine abilities, the Heavenly Court had no shortage of masters, even grand masters of Youdu divine abilities like the Yin Emperor. However, the Heavenly Court knew very little about Gui Xu (the Ruins).

Gui Xu divine abilities remained a secret to the Heavenly Court; few had learned them, let alone the Dao runes of Gui Xu.

This young man was indeed powerful and highly skilled, even more so than the true god An Qingyu whom Qin Mu had encountered. However, facing the unpredictable and bizarre Gui Xu divine abilities, he could only end in regret.

He simply didn't understand why. Both he and Lian Huahun were disciples of Celestial Venerable Hao, and he had always taken good care of his junior sister.

He had never expected Lian Huahun to attack him, and with lethal intent!

"No reason, Senior Brother Liao," Lian Huahun said softly.

"I just didn't want you to find Celestial Venerable Mu before me," Lian Huahun explained softly.

Senior Brother Liao grunted. The abyss within him had already consumed his Celestial-Human Divine Treasure and was about to devour his Life-and-Death Divine Treasure and Divine Bridge Divine Treasure!

His vital energy and blood had completely drained away, leaving his body like a skeleton draped in skin.

"You definitely couldn't defeat him," Lian Huahun stated.

Lian Huahun explained, "If you couldn't defeat him, you would use Celestial Venerable Hao's Slaughter Mu technique. However, even if you used it, you might not kill him. Instead, he would see through it, and thereby improve his own cultivation methods and divine abilities."

Senior Brother Liao's Life-and-Death Divine Treasure and Divine Bridge Divine Treasure collapsed, falling into the abyss. The abyss reached his Southern Heavenly Gate, beginning to consume his Heavenly Palaces!

His flesh, now only bone, also began to collapse inwards. Such a death was agonizing.

"There are only eighteen forms of the Slaughter Mu technique," Lian Huahun continued. "Every time he sees through one, you lose a trump card against Celestial Venerable Mu. Your abilities are too weak, and you are foolish. Instead of waiting for him to decipher each Slaughter Mu technique one by one, making him stronger and stronger, it's better to preserve these techniques."

Lian Huahun softly said, "Even without using my own ultimate skills, it's difficult for me to eliminate him. So, I cannot allow the Slaughter Mu techniques to be exposed. Therefore, I had no choice but to eliminate you. Are you satisfied with this explanation, Senior Brother Liao?"

Senior Brother Liao's Heavenly Palaces boomed with colossal sounds as countless palaces plummeted into the abyss. His primordial spirit, unable to escape, plunged into the abyss along with his collapsing body!

Ultimately, he vanished completely from the world, leaving no trace, not even soul fragments or black soul sand.

He had been completely digested by the abyss.

The abyss divine ability then flew back and entered Lian Huahun's glabella.

A red mark appeared on the girl's glabella, then immediately vanished.

She took out a mirror. Five red dots appeared on its surface, four of which were moving.

This was a treasure forged by Celestial Venerable Hao for his nineteen disciples on this mission, called the Soul Mirror. Each disciple could quickly locate others via the red dots on the mirror, allowing them to gather and jointly eliminate Qin Mu.

However, Celestial Venerable Hao had never expected that the Soul Mirror would become a death warrant for his own disciples!

"Five of Celestial Venerable Hao's eighteen disciples have already died by my hand," Lian Huahun mused. "There are four more. Once they are eliminated, I can go confront Celestial Venerable Mu."

Lian Huahun smiled, holding the Soul Mirror as she flew towards one of the red dots. "The other nine either perished on the way or ventured into the Primordial Realm and met their end amidst its strangeness. I just don't know if any were eliminated by Celestial Venerable Mu, or how many of the eighteen Slaughter Mu techniques remain. But to kill Celestial Venerable Mu, I won't need many of them anyway."

Soon, she caught up to one of the red dots, finding a girl galloping across the desolate plain, also holding a mirror.

"Senior Sister Li!" Lian Huahun called out loudly.

Senior Sister Li's expression changed dramatically. She accelerated, fleeing rapidly, and sneered, "Lian Huahun, I just saw in my Soul Mirror that after the red dot representing you touched another red dot, that dot extinguished. You killed that senior brother, and now you're coming for me, aren't you?"

Lian Huahun's expression flickered. She sped up her pursuit. "Since Senior Sister knows, then I certainly can't let you live. Don't run; you can't escape my grasp."

Despite being a true god, Senior Sister Li dared not contend with her and fled desperately for her life.

Lian Huahun pointed a finger, and a black vortex appeared ahead. She plunged into the vortex and vanished.

Senior Sister Li was running when a black vortex suddenly appeared beside her. Just as she was about to stop, the vortex rapidly expanded and swallowed her.

The vortex churned violently in mid-air, as if two colossal beasts were fighting to the death within it, a fierce battle.

A short while later, Senior Sister Li suddenly burst from the vortex and fled swiftly. As she ran, her body became increasingly light, eventually turning into a mere human skin, which was then tossed and rolled by the wind.

Her physical body was empty; all the flesh, bones, divine treasures, Heavenly Palaces, and even her primordial spirit beneath her skin had been consumed!

Lian Huahun emerged from the vortex, glanced at the Soul Mirror, and then walked in another direction. "Only three left..."

Congratulations to Alliance Leader C on their recent marriage!

Also, happy birthday to Celestial Venerable White Fox Alliance Leader!