883 Sacrifices for Great Aspirations (1/2)
Yan'er was in a dilemma. The woman with the lantern hurried her repeatedly, and then Yan'er followed her into the peach forest, turning back once every three steps before she gradually disappeared.
The dragon qilin came to Qin Mu's side. ”Cult Master, where are we going?”
Qin Mu lowered his head. After a while, he raised his head and replied, ”We will go to Border Dragon City first.”
The dragon qilin's body trembled and revealed his true form.
Dao Master Lin Xuan walked up to them and said to Qin Mu, ”Cult Master Qin, Dao Ancestor wants our Dao Sect to migrate, to leave Eternal Peace and head to Clear Sky Heaven to take refuge.”
Qin Mu nodded silently.
”Cult Master doesn't intend to say anything?” Dao Master Lin Xuan couldn't help but ask.
Qin Mu leaped onto the dragon qilin's forehead. Looking down, he replied, ”Perhaps if the green hills last, there will still be the chance for new fire to be lit in the future. Dao Master Lin, take care!”
Dao Master Lin Xuan hurriedly asked, ”Cult Master Qin, aren't you going to seek refuge?”
Qin Mu revealed a smile. Lin Xuan felt that there was actually true purity in this brat's smile.
”The revolution of the Crimson Light Era was to prove that mortals could also be as formidable as gods. The revolution of the High Emperor Era was to fight for the people's right to live. It pushed the ideal that the lives of mortals are equal to the lives of the gods and that human lives are greater than heaven. The reforms of the Founding Emperor Era were a continuation of the results of the revolution of the High Emperor Era. It pushed that human lives are greater than heaven and for gods and devils to be of service to the people, that the authority of the gods and devils must be locked up in a cage.”
Qin Mu continued, ”The reforms of Eternal Peace continued the reforms of the Founding Emperor Era. It is for the Dao to return to the common people. Only if it can be used in everyday lives can it be considered the true Dao. The revolution and reforms of three generations cannot just end like this in the Eternal Peace Era, and we cannot just let the results of the reforms be stolen by the extraterritorial celestial heavens. Far too many heroes have died for the revolution and reforms in the eras of Crimson Light, High Emperor, and Founding Emperor. They used their own lives as sacrificial offerings for the revolution and reforms of the three generations, sacrificing themselves. These righteous and ambitious people all sacrificed their lives so that future generations could live in better conditions. If the reforms of Eternal Peace require sacrificial offerings as well…”
He curled his lips. Although his voice was soft, it was still powerful and inspiring to the heart. ”Then we will start with the three heroes of Eternal Peace's reforms! As Heavenly Saint Cult Master, Human Emperor Qin Mu, one of the three heroes of Eternal Peace's reforms, I am already prepared. Dao Master Lin, go to Clear Sky Heaven and leave some torches for the continuation of the reforms of Eternal Peace. Fatty Dragon, go—”
With wide strides and clouds beneath his feet, the dragon qilin sprinted in the direction of Border Dragon City.
Dao Master Lin Xuan watched them as they flew off. He was lost in thought. 'For an ideal… Cult Master Qin, I once thought of you as one of the abandoned people of the Great Ruins, and I once thought of you as the devil Cult Master of the Heavenly Devil Cult, but I never considered you one of Eternal Peace. However, I didn't imagine that in light of impending doom, the most determined person would actually be you. Yet, as one born of the earth of Eternal Peace, I have to instead lead the Dao Sect to leave Eternal Peace…'
The dragon qilin mustered all of his power and sprinted at full speed all the way.
This time around, he didn't slack off again, and he didn't suppress his speed to cheat for more spirit pills. Instead, he was sprinting with his life on the line.
Before, to exchange for more spirit pills, he would always increase his speed bit by bit to let Qin Mu see his own improvements so that he would refine more spirit pills for him. Now, he no longer thought of playing such small tricks.
The dragon qilin sprinted for two days, but they still couldn't see the borders of the Great Ruins from before. His endurance was much greater these days, so he didn't feel tired even after sprinting with full might for two days straight.
Suddenly, a green sparrow flapped its wings and flew from behind, landing on the dragon qilin's head and then feeding the dragon qilin a spirit pill. It laughed. ”I'm back again!”
Qin Mu and the dragon qilin were both surprised and elated. ”Sister Yan'er, why are you back?”
”Goddess has many maids by her side, she won't miss me.”
The green sparrow was noisy, and she spoke with great speed, ”And Goddess doesn't like me taking care of her, she always says that I want to feed her until she becomes a big fatty. This time, I fed myself until I became a big fatty, so she probably doesn't like it even more. Instead of staying there and being upset, I might as well come out here to enjoy myself. At least you aren't afraid of me feeding you all into big fatties.”
Qin Mu shook his head. ”Following us will be dangerous. Sister Yan'er, you should go back. When unrest bursts out, in the whole of the Primordial Realm, the peach forest will probably be the safest place to be in.”
Yan'er laughed. ”When danger comes, I'll return. I'm just worried about you guys. Without me taking care of you, you guys definitely cannot take good care of yourselves. You are little nestlings. Also, Fatty Dragon, you're too slow!”
She revealed her true form, transforming into a fat dragon sparrow, and laughed. ”Get onto my back, my speed is faster!”
She carried Qin Mu and the dragon qilin on her back and flew ahead. In less than a day's time, she reached the area near Border Dragon City. Qin Mu descended and inspected the geography of the surroundings. When the Primordial Realm broke through, the geography of the place changed drastically. He had only deduced the general position of Border Dragon City, but he didn't have a detailed geographical map.
”Over there is… Heavenly King Temple!”
Qin Mu's eyes lit up as his gaze landed on the rundown Heavenly King Temple. ”The Heavenly King Temple isn't far from Border Dragon City. When we get to the temple, we will be able to find Border Dragon City very quickly! Fatty Dragon, do you still remember when the stone statue of a heavenly king rode on you to slay the dragon king? The temple in front is where it happened!”
The dragon qilin snorted. The memory of that event was still fresh in his mind.
At this very moment, a bunch of white bone skeletons dashed over, carrying banners with the words ”silence” and ”challenge” as they sprinted towards the Heavenly King Temple. From a distance, they could hear the voices of those skeletons. ”Sea Suppression Heavenly King, by the orders of Founding Emperor. Great chaos is about to rise. Sea Suppression Heavenly King is to gather the soldiers of the four seas, abandon the Great Ruins, and enter Fengdu, temporarily avoiding the blades of the extraterritorial celestial heavens! After withdrawing the troops, Sea Suppression Heavenly King is to go forth and report to Qing Huang, returning to be under him.”
Sea Suppression Heavenly King's voice rang out. ”Your general receives the command!”
The group of white bone skeletons then walked out of the Heavenly King Temple, carrying their banners and dashing away.
Qin Mu was bewildered, and then he heard the Sea Suppression Heavenly King's voice from inside the Heavenly King Temple. ”Bring my blade over! Lead my horse here!”
Upon hearing the phrase ”lead my horse here”, the dragon qilin shivered involuntarily.
Qin Mu stepped forward, only to see a stone statue walk out of the temple. The stone statue was rapidly undergoing a transformation from stone into flesh and blood.
The Sea Suppression Heavenly King was completely suited up, and in one hand was his Green Dragon Crescent Blade. He flipped over onto the stone horse in front of the temple gates, and the stone horse was also undergoing a rapid transformation. The dragon scales on its body rapidly turned a green color, its hooves burst apart and transformed into dragon claws, and its horse tail turned into a dragon tail. It had a mouth full of tusks, and it opened its mouth to cry out, sounding like thunder.
Qin Mu greeted him and said, ”Sea Suppression Heavenly King, I am Qin Mu, the hundred and seventh descendant of Founding Emperor. We have met once before. Dare I ask Sea Suppression Heavenly King, what orders did Founding Emperor give this time?”
Sea Suppression Heavenly King pulled the reins on his Green Dragon Horse, looking at him and then laughing. ”I remember that dragon qilin, I once rode on him in the middle of the night to go and kill the rebel dragon of the East Sea. Founding Emperor sent a decree from Carefree Village. He ordered us gods under Qing Huang of the eastern Clear Celestial Palace to abandon the Great Ruins and pull back from all sides so as to secure our strength. Since you are a descendant of Founding Emperor, you should know how dangerous the situation is. You can head to Fengdu to seek refuge. Gallop—”