893 To Fall Behind Is Not a Sin, Being Weak Is (1/2)
The gods of the celestial heavens struggled to hold back their anger, but the Green Deity of the Eastern Sky remained composed. He revealed an imposing expression and said, ”Celestial Venerable Mu, there's nothing wrong with what you've just said. After all, as an esteemed Celestial Venerable, you have remarkable abilities. However, right now, you are already a useless person. There's a saying that goes—a heroic spirit would never be extinguished. You have no soul, so what you are relying on is merely your heroic spirit.”
Emperor Yanfeng and Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor felt a shudder in their hearts, and they looked towards Qin Mu.
The heroic spirit would never be extinguished. What he meant was that Qin Mu's soul had already been dispersed, leaving behind only his spirit and no soul.
What this also meant was that the Qin Mu of the three heroes of Eternal Peace's reform was already dead!
Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor suddenly wept as he thought to himself, 'Did Senior Brother force himself to hold on until he got here—with his unextinguished attachment and undispersed consciousness—because he couldn't bear to leave Eternal Peace behind?'
He had seen too many people who were like that, who even though they had already died in battle, they had a strong attachment within their hearts that supported them so that they wouldn't collapse. Even in death, they still wanted to continue fighting.
However, Qin Mu's situation was a little unique, and it wasn't as he had imagined.
Green Deity of the Eastern Sky was growing more dignified and solemn. His voice rumbled through the skies, and echoes that sounded like a huge bell ringing could be heard from all directions. ”Celestial Venerable Mu, Eternal Peace is just a small country, and it takes up only a tiny space within the Primordial Realm. I am here on orders to clean up the mess in Eternal Peace and have already given you, Celestial Venerable Mu, face by not annihilating this place. Celestial Venerable Mu, please do not make it difficult for me. Due to what happened with Wei Suifeng, I am already guilty of not fulfilling my mission. Thus, the execution of the heads of the rebellion is a must!”
Qin Mu turned around and displayed an unreadable expression. ”If I don't make it difficult for you, it will be difficult for me.”
Green Deity of the Eastern Sky said, ”If their corporeal bodies are completely destroyed without even leaving blood vessels behind, will Celestial Venerable Mu still be able to reforge their corporeal bodies and revive them?”
Qin Mu shook his head. ”I can only help them gather their souls and let them reincarnate. Twelve years later, I will guide them and let them regain the memories of their past life so that they can make a comeback. If their corporeal bodies are still intact, the second you leave, I can revive them. It would be much easier.”
Around them, the gods yelled out in rage.
Green Deity of the Eastern Sky raised a hand and replied coldly, ”Celestial Venerable Mu, you are being impudent! Where do you intend to put heaven's might? Do you wish to destroy the authority and dignity of the celestial heavens?”
Qin Mu waved a hand. ”Since you can't make the decision, then get lost and find someone who can make the decision and have them meet me!”
The gods flew into a fury—dark clouds filled the sky as thunder and lightning crossed and struck ceaselessly.
”Celestial Venerable Mu, stop resisting heaven's might!”
Suddenly, from within the group of kneeling citizens of Eternal Peace, one elderly man started to kowtow repeatedly as he cried out shrilly, ”That's the heavens! To resist the heavens is to be treasonous!”
Qin Mu was startled, and everything in front of his eyes turned black. Only after a while did he recover from it.
Even more citizens of Eternal Peace started yelling out from below.
”That's right! What right do you have to make the decision for us? If they want to kill anyone, let them kill Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor and Emperor Yanfeng!”
”They caused this disaster with their reforms! Just kill those two rebels!”
”Pray for the heavens to bring forth their wrath and kill this rebel Celestial Venerable Mu as well!”
…
The corners of Qin Mu's eyes twitched violently once, and immediately after, his expression was composed again. Green Deity of the Eastern Sky laughed out loud. ”Celestial Venerable Mu, these people that you want to protect, they don't seem to be appreciative of you. You are protecting a group of livestock and even killing yourself for them. You dug out your own eye, abandoning your status as the Son of Youdu and resulting in you just having your unextinguished heroic spirit left. Is it worth it?”
Qin Mu sneered. ”Get lost and find me someone who can make decisions!”
Green Deity of the Eastern Sky snorted coldly. He got up and was about to give the order for the troops to retreat when a leisurely sounding voice traveled down, saying, ”Green Deity of the Eastern Sky, if you give the order for the troops to retreat just like that, you will undermine the dignity and authority of the celestial heavens! If you recall your troops, the authority of the celestial heavens will be swept away, and there will be even more rebels who will go against the heavenly might from today on.”
Green Deity of the Eastern Sky was astonished, and he hurriedly bowed and kowtowed.
Whoosh. Innumerous gods turned around and bowed. A Celestial Venerable Yu that was of similar build to Qin Mu walked over with broad steps and laughed. ”Celestial Venerable Mu really knows how to make trouble for me. Such a small land like Eternal Peace still requires me to come down here personally.”
Qin Mu coughed violently and replied, ”It's just because Dao brother is going too far.”
This Celestial Venerable Yu smiled. ”Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor and Emperor Yanfeng can avoid death. However, they defied heaven and went against the mandate of heaven. If they are not dealt with, the authority of the celestial heavens will no longer exist. I can spare their lives and simply trap them. This would be giving Celestial Venerable Mu face and saving the face of the celestial heavens. What do you think about this?”
Qin Mu replied, ”There has to be a year limit, or else Dao brother should just kill them.”
Celestial Venerable Yu replied coldly, ”You are asking for too much.”
Qin Mu didn't say another word.
After a period of time, this Celestial Venerable Yu laughed. ”There are many rebels in the Primordial Realm, and they can't all be killed anyway. It's my intention to build a large prison within the Primordial Realm, where they shall be suppressed. On your account, I will only imprison them for two hundred years. This is non-negotiable.”
Qin Mu was about to speak when Celestial Venerable Yu continued indifferently, ”Even if you can revive them, don't forget that the celestial heavens has all sorts of tricks to stop you from gathering their broken souls. Aren't you still unable to find that missing piece of Lan Yutian's broken soul?”
Qin Mu was in shock, and his gaze landed on him.
The real Celestial Venerable Yu had a piece of his broken soul suppressed within the Hall of Fragrance in the celestial heavens, leaving him a little dim-witted. It also stopped him from returning to what he was like in the past.
The celestial heavens did have the ability to seal the souls of Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor and Emperor Yanfeng, and there was nothing he—the Great Wizard—could do about it.
Celestial Venerable Yu rose to the skies of the capital city, and his gaze landed on Emperor Yanfeng as he laughed. ”The heavens have the virtue of loving all living beings. You may be exempted from death, but you cannot escape punishment. You will be forever suppressed within the great prison. Eternal Peace cannot be without an emperor. Go and choose a successor.”
Emperor Yanfeng turned around and looked at his children. His gaze landed on Ling Yuxiu, and immediately after, it moved away from Ling Yuxiu and landed on Ling Yushu. He smiled and said, ”Yushu, come up here. After I am gone, you shall be Emperor of Eternal Peace.”
Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor understood his intentions, and he felt a sense of sorrow in his heart.
Ling Yushu stepped forward, bowing and kneeling down.
At this very moment, Celestial Venerable Yu flicked a finger, and Ling Yushu's corporeal body was instantly reduced to powder with his soul disintegrated.
Celestial Venerable Yu smiled. ”The child that you picked is definitely the best one who inherited your ambition, so I cannot be assured. Pick another one.”
Emperor Yanfeng collapsed to the ground, crying, tears streaking down his face. After a long time, he got up, and his gaze wandered about the rest of his children.
”Yuxiu, come up here.”
With tears streaming, Emperor Yanfeng said, ”From now on, Eternal Peace Empire is in your hands. Don't be too good at it, be a little muddle-headed and useless. From today onwards, you are Emperor of Eternal Peace!”