Chapter 986: Putting Yourself in Others' Shoes

In Wuyouxiang's Thirty-three Heavens, everyone felt the divine consciousness surging from Langwo God King. The voice formed by her divine sense boomed in their minds.

The Creators had attacked with such fanfare, yet they claimed to come in peace, intending to negotiate with Kaihuang. This matter was far too strange.

The Creators' power was immense; judging by the scene, they clearly held an absolute advantage. Destroying Wuyouxiang would be effortless for them. How could they seek peace talks under such circumstances?

"It's most likely a trap to lure Kaihuang out and eliminate him!" many people guessed.

Indeed, the current situation did resemble a trap.

However, from the Creators' camp, a goddess of unparalleled beauty flew out. She gently drew a line in the void between Wuyouxiang and the Creators' formation, and a platform appeared in the empty space, allowing both the people of Wuyouxiang and the Creators to clearly see what was happening on it.

The goddess's form gradually shrank until she took on the appearance of an ordinary person. She then flew onto the platform with a young man in a large red robe. Beside them, a large head waited silently.

In Kaihuang's Celestial Palace in Wuyouxiang, Kaihuang pondered for a moment, then told Qin Hanzhen and Yanyun Xi, "You two come with me. Remember, do not call him by his name; address him as Exalted Celestial Mu or Saintly Infant."

Qin Hanzhen and Yanyun Xi assented.

Yanyun Xi chuckled, "King Zhen is his biological father, so he shouldn't be too malicious."

Qin Hanzhen remained silent.

The three flew out of Kaihuang's Celestial Palace and arrived at the platform, facing Qin Mu, Langwo God King, and Shujun God King.

Qin Mu waved his hand, and a long table appeared with six chairs, arranged in pairs facing each other. He raised a hand and smiled, "Exalted Celestial Qin, please take a seat."

"Mu..."

Qin Hanzhen opened his mouth to speak but then changed his words, "Exalted Celestial Mu, please."

Everyone took their seats. The platform was located in the center of both factions' territories, under the gaze of all. Everything on it was clearly observed by both sides.

Qin Mu and Langwo God King sat down. Shujun God King also propped himself in a chair, his large eyes rolling around as he scrutinized the three people opposite him.

Langwo God King said, "Qin Ye, this is the Saintly Infant of our Creator Race."

Kaihuang nodded, acknowledging, "Your reputation precedes you."

Qin Mu smiled in return.

Langwo God King continued, "This is Shujun God King, the former God King of our Creator Race."

Kaihuang said, "Your reputation precedes you."

Shujun God King chuckled, "You haven't heard my name before; I've been dead for countless tens of thousands of years."

Kaihuang smiled faintly. Yanyun Xi, from the side, laughed, "The Creators' Saintly Infant is none other than the esteemed Exalted Celestial Mu. How interesting. Isn't Exalted Celestial Mu human?"

Qin Mu smiled without speaking. Langwo God King, radiating unparalleled beauty, said, "The Saintly Infant possesses the ability to create. What does it matter if he is human or Creator? Racial prejudices and deep-seated biases seem petty and narrow-minded."

Yanyun Xi chuckled, "Langwo God King didn't say that back then. When we came to the Land of the Other Shore and established Wuyouxiang, Langwo God King and the Creator Race viewed us as foreign invaders and intended to wipe us out."

Langwo God King glanced at her, her phoenix crown's dangling pearls swaying slightly. She said unhurriedly, "Every inch of land, every expanse of starry sky in the Land of the Other Shore was forged by our Creator Race using divine consciousness, infused with the blood of our people. Our Creator Race suffered a catastrophe that nearly wiped us out, and we fled here. This is our last place of refuge and reproduction. Fellow Daoist Qin Ye came from afar, and our Creator Race treated you with courtesy and respect, never deceiving you, correct?"

Kaihuang nodded, saying, "When I followed the map to arrive here, I was greatly indebted to the God King for your hospitality."

Langwo God King said, "Fellow Daoist Qin Ye said your people were in danger and came to borrow a place to reside. Our Creator Race empathized with your plight, so our people allowed you to borrow land to survive. Fellow Daoist Qin Ye asked to borrow a 'sword's length of land,' and we agreed, correct?"

Kaihuang nodded silently.

Langwo God King said coldly, "We treated you with sincerity, yet Fellow Daoist Qin Ye carved off half of the Land of the Other Shore with one sword stroke. Although our race is magnanimous, we are not that magnanimous. We treated you sincerely, yet Fellow Daoist Qin Ye played tricks on us. If it were you, and someone came to carve off half of Wuyouxiang, would you agree?"

Yanyun Xi said, "Although His Majesty did play a trick with the 'sword's length of land,' the Creator Race did not uphold their promise. Instead, they led their people to attack, causing great suffering and devastation for both sides, and our Wuyouxiang suffered heavy casualties..."

Langwo God King sneered, "Does Heavenly Master Zixi have no clear understanding of right and wrong?"

Yanyun Xi said, "The number of our people and gods and devils who died at the hands of your Creators is hundreds, even thousands, of times more than your Creator deaths. Where can they seek justice for their deaths? What right and wrong are there? God King, our Wuyouxiang has never wished to be enemies with the Creators; we merely sought a place to reside. His Majesty also said back then that we were here to borrow land to survive, and that he was waiting for someone. Once that person arrived, he would leave and return Wuyouxiang to you. Why did you insist on annihilating us?"

Shujun angrily retorted, "You invaded our race, and now you won't even allow us to resist? And you claim to be in the right?"

Yanyun Xi was about to speak, but Kaihuang raised a hand, stopping her. He said, "Heavenly Master, we were at fault first; we cannot blame the God King."

He looked at Qin Mu and asked, "Does the Saintly Infant have anything to say?"

Qin Mu said, "We are all wanderers in a strange land, yet to bully fellow wanderers is truly improper."

Qin Hanzhen coughed lightly and said, "Exalted Celestial Mu, as a human, you should consider the human race and put yourself in the shoes of Kaihuang's Celestial Palace at that time."

Qin Mu said calmly, "I also want to put myself in their shoes, but I can't recall when you ever did so. When Kaihuang's Celestial Palace was overthrown, its people were displaced and scattered; some died, some fled, and only one in a hundred survived. They fled to Yankang. Did Kaihuang ever consider those people? Probably not, right? Were those people not human? Were their descendants not human? Ah, yes, they were the abandoned people of the gods."

He sneered, "I originally thought the Great Ruins were the abandoned people of the gods, but later I learned the Great Ruins were not; Yankang was. At that time, I foolishly believed Yankang was the Heavenly Court's abandoned people, but later I realized I was mistaken. Yankang was not the Heavenly Court's abandoned people, but Kaihuang's abandoned people."

Qin Hanzhen frowned and couldn't help but say, "In that situation, the entire Kaihuang Celestial Palace was facing annihilation. We could only preserve our main forces, our vital forces, and couldn't protect those mortals. Only this way would there be a chance to counterattack in the future! Exalted Celestial Mu, imagine if positions were reversed, you would do the same..."

"If positions were reversed?"

Qin Mu said calmly, "How similar was the outbreak in Yankang to the predicament of Kaihuang's Celestial Palace back then? Yankang Imperial Preceptor did not flee to Wuyouxiang, Emperor Yenfeng did not flee to Wuyouxiang; they both stayed, remaining with the people they wished to protect. I didn't leave either. Could they not have left? Could I not have left?"

His gaze fell on Kaihuang's face. He said, "This is where Kaihuang falls short of me, short of Emperor Yenfeng and Yankang Imperial Preceptor. Back then, you left. You led the most powerful group of people away and established Wuyouxiang. For twenty thousand years, you achieved nothing, accomplishing nothing, making no significant contributions. The Kaihuang Era ended because of your departure. We didn't leave; we stayed, and that's why the Yankang Era continues. Heh heh, if positions were reversed..."

He said proudly, "If positions were reversed, I would have done better than you! Emperor Yenfeng and Yankang Imperial Preceptor did better than you! Even Yankang's officials did better than yours!"

Qin Hanzhen said no more.

Kaihuang nodded, "You all did better than I did back then. In the Dragon Han Era, I already greatly admired you, believing you were a hero, and I was not. I could not act like a hero as you did."

"Your Majesty!"

Yanyun Xi frowned, "Why willingly admit to being useless? Even if it comes to a real fight, Wuyouxiang is not afraid in the slightest. Why humble yourself before him? His so-called Creator formations, his so-called celestial palaces and divine weapons, are riddled with flaws in my eyes. They are clearly just meant to scare us!"

Qin Mu glanced at her and smiled, "Heavenly Master Zixi, what you see is what I allow you to see. If I truly wished to destroy Wuyouxiang, you would not be able to stop me."

Yanyun Xi flew into a rage, grinding her teeth in frustration.

Qin Mu said calmly, "You have hidden in Wuyouxiang for too long. You don't understand the world-changing transformations outside, and you've lost your drive and fighting spirit. I can train the Creators to this extent in a month. It won't take much longer for me to elevate the Creators' divine powers and techniques to a new level. If I leave this time, and the next time I lead forces to Wuyouxiang's borders, what you see will not be conjured celestial palaces or visualized divine weapons and armor."

Yanyun Xi snorted, turned her head away, and gritted her teeth, "Lü Zheng should have kicked you to death back then!"

Qin Mu's gaze returned to Kaihuang. He said, "You are too steady, too calculating, always looking before you leap. I calculate less; I'm more reckless than you in my actions. I did indeed bring troops here to scare you, but the Creators and Wuyouxiang also genuinely need peace. So, while I'm scaring you, I'm also here to propose peace."

Kaihuang said, "I'd like to hear the details."

Qin Mu looked at Langwo God King, who nodded slightly.

"Wuyouxiang will be handed over to you, to be under your command, and the Creators will no longer invade. In exchange, Youdu's Divine Child, Qin Fengqing, shall establish Youdu in the Land of the Other Shore and the Grand Void, creating a new Youdu to gather wandering souls and bring peace to the Grand Void."

Qin Mu continued, "The Grand Void belongs to the Creators; Wuyouxiang must not interfere. The Divine Child of Youdu will be the Earth Earl of Grand Void Youdu, and must act justly, establish the cycle of life and death, and not devour souls based on personal preference. If Wuyouxiang can adhere to this, the two races can coexist peacefully and jointly resist powerful enemies."

At this point, he looked at Langwo God King and asked, "Sister, do you have anything to add?"

Langwo God King's eyes flickered. She said, "Wuyouxiang will establish academies and schools in the Creators' territory to teach divine powers and techniques. In exchange, the Creators can also establish academies and schools in Wuyouxiang to teach the path of divine consciousness cultivation."

Qin Mu leaned back in his chair and smiled, "What do you think, Exalted Celestial Qin?"

Kaihuang said, "Exalted Celestial Mu's words are very true; this trip has not been in vain. Do our two races need to formalize this with a contract?"

"No need."

Qin Mu extended his hand across the table and said, "As long as we shake hands, it will be considered a pact."

Kaihuang extended his hand, and the two hands clasped firmly together.

Kaihuang smiled, looking him up and down. He chuckled, "Exalted Celestial Mu is still wearing a red robe. Could it be that you're still wearing a big red belly wrap underneath?"

Qin Mu withdrew his hand, leaned back in his chair again, and raised an eyebrow: "That's right, I'm not even wearing underwear underneath. What, do you want to hit me?"

"Yes!" Kaihuang nodded emphatically.