The Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Sutra's Great Unity technique has only one requirement: that it can unify all the spells, divine abilities, sword techniques, and combat skills within the Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Sutra. Moreover, it must also encompass profound arts like the Seven Chapters of Creation. Only when this is achieved can it be called the Great Unity.
Every generation of the Heavenly Demon Cult's Cult Master, after receiving the transmission from the Woodcutter's Stone, must comprehend their own Great Unity technique. Only by comprehending it can they securely hold the position of Cult Master. Otherwise, for a sect like the Heavenly Demon Cult that doesn't mind its subordinates overthrowing the Cult Master, changing leaders would become a common occurrence.
Those who can become the Heavenly Demon Cult's Cult Master are all brilliant talents, each worthy of being called a genius. Even Cult Master Li Tianxing, who was criticized for indulging in women, was a man of extraordinary talent. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to plant a Heart Demon in Grandma Si's Dao Heart, a feat that even powerhouses like the Village Chief and The Mute couldn't break.
However, what shocked the three Pillar Kings was that Qin Mu's speed in comprehending the Great Unity technique was simply too fast. In just ten-odd days, he had already initially grasped the edges of the Great Unity technique and begun to merge and integrate.
What they didn't know was that Qin Mu's so-called "Overlord Body" had no elemental attribute, yet it could transform into any elemental attribute. Furthermore, the so-called "Overlord Body Three Pill Art" also had no attribute, yet could transform into any attribute.
Qin Mu used the Overlord Body Three Pill Art as his foundation, adding and trimming upon it, threading through the teachings and principles of the Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Sutra, integrating the mysteries from the Woodcutter's Stone transmission, allowing his Great Unity technique initially take shape.
"Act according to one's nature, pure and natural" — this principle was applied by him to the fullest. Although his Great Unity technique was based on the Overlord Body Three Pill Art, the Overlord Body Three Pill Art had no branches or leaves. The techniques within the Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Sutra became the branches, while the spells, divine abilities, sword techniques, and combat skills became the leaves. With the jade tree adorned, the technique was accomplished — everything followed its natural course.
After a while, Qin Mu "charged" to the base of the pine and cypress tree. The three Pillar Kings beneath the tree were extremely nervous, fearing he would take advantage of their inattention to chop down this ancient tree that symbolized the Holy Cult. To their surprise, when Qin Mu reached the tree, he didn't continue attacking it. Instead, he sat down on the Sage Stone, cross-legged, and entered meditation. His body was wreathed in qi fluctuations, his Spirit Womb stirred, the Five Element Gods soared into the air and landed upon the Five Luminaries Stars. He gazed at his nose, his nose at his heart, his breath like white light, his eyes containing golden light, sitting motionless.
Pillar King Lu was about to speak when Pillar King Shi hastily made a silencing gesture and tiptoed away. Pillar King Lu and Pillar King Yu also quickly lightened their steps and followed him. "This generation's Holy Cult Master is remarkable," Pillar King Shi said, looking back at Qin Mu after walking away. "The Ancestor truly had great foresight. Our Holy Cult's future may well be tied to him. Such talent and comprehension are rare in the world."
"He still can't compare to a sage who appears once in five hundred years," Pillar King sighed. "A existence like the State Preceptor of Yankang appears once in five hundred years..."
Pillar King Lu looked at the devastation across the mountain — trees felled by Qin Mu during his meditation, smashed by various spells and divine abilities. In some places, the fallen trees were still burning, crackling and popping. "Naturally, 'rare in the world' can't compare to 'once in five hundred years.' After all, it takes five hundred years to produce one. Our Holy Cult Master is fine in every way, except he's too... destructive." This Pillar King lamented. "Our Holy Descent Mountain has only been damaged like this when invaded by the Dao Gate and the Great Thunderclap Monastery, right?"
"Enough, after all he's the Cult Master chosen by the Ancestor. No matter how destructive he is, we must endure. Let's go put out the fire!"
Qin Mu sat motionless on the Sage Stone for another half-day before being awakened by hunger. He summoned Hu Ling'er to hunt a wild deer. The two of them lit a fire and roasted the deer meat, but after eating only half of it, both lost their appetite. "Young Master, are you tired of eating?" the little fox asked listlessly, picking her teeth. "I saw several fish dragons in the Observation Pool. They look delicious and are raised quite plump."
"I saw them too. They certainly whet the appetite," Qin Mu hesitated for a moment. "But I'm afraid I can't beat those fish. However, Grandpa Herbalist said if you can't beat them, drug them."
Hu Ling'er cheered, but stopped halfway when she saw the three Pillar Kings standing behind them with dark expressions. Qin Mu stood up and smiled. "When did you three Pillar Kings arrive?"
"Just now, just now," Pillar King Shi said amiably. "Holy Cult Master, continue eating slowly, no rush. Oh, those fish dragons in the Observation Pool were released by the sixteenth generation Cult Master. Back then, the sixteenth Cult Master was lecturing disciples by the pool and released several fish, using their transformation into dragons to enlighten the disciples. It became a celebrated tale, so these fish dragons have been kept alive. Holy Cult Master, when you have time, go count them by the pool to make sure they haven't slipped away."
Qin Mu's face reddened slightly. So these fish dragons couldn't be eaten?
"Cult Master, how's the wild deer?" Pillar King Lu laughed.
"Join me and eat together," Qin Mu invited.
The three Pillar Kings didn't stand on ceremony, each sitting down on the ground to share the deer meat. Pillar King Yu licked the oil from his finger and smiled. "The taste isn't bad at all! If I didn't know these deer were raised by the previous Holy Maiden, I would have eaten them long ago!"
"So Grandma Si raised them..." Qin Mu's face darkened. What on Holy Descent Mountain was actually edible?
Pillar King Lu casually remarked, "The forest land that the Cult Master destroyed was planted during the Ancestor's time. Iron trees grow slowly — to reach that thickness requires several thousand years of growth." Qin Mu grew uneasy. That forest land had been completely destroyed by him, leaving only a few charred iron trees standing starkly.
"The Sacred Heart Flowers in the flower bed before the Sacred Heart Hall seem to have been picked by someone," Pillar King Yu said with a smile.
Qin Mu looked at Hu Ling'er, who was staring intently at a deer bone. Her usually swaying, fluffy tail was unusually still.
Pillar King Shi continued, "Also, the green lamp in the Heaven's Interest Pavilion contains fragrant oil. Someone seems to have stolen quite a bit of it."
Hu Ling'er felt Qin Mu's gaze on her fox tail and secretly tucked it beneath her, sitting on it. Qin Mu coughed. "Ling'er, your fox tail is showing."
"Where?" the little fox exclaimed in alarm. "I clearly hid it!"
Pillar King Lu said unhurriedly, "In the herb garden before the Medicine King Hall, there's an ancient medicine tree with a nine-leaf red copper-colored Great Lingzhi growing on it. Half of the ninth leaf has been gnawed away. That Lingzhi was cultivated from the ancient medicine tree, with powerful medicinal properties, containing many spores that fly everywhere. The spores occasionally sprout, producing small Lingzhi."
With a "pop," a small Lingzhi leaf sprouted on the little fox's head. Hu Ling'er raised her paw to pretend to scratch her head, secretly plucking it and putting it in her mouth, thinking she was being undetected. However, when she looked up, she saw Qin Mu and the three Pillar Kings all staring at her.
Pillar King Shi added, "Also, several cloud pearls embedded in the screen of the Floating Cloud Pavilion have gone missing. They probably fell off..."
Hu Ling'er grew nervous and quickly covered the small pack on her back. Qin Mu coughed twice and stood. "Three Pillar Kings, I've been on Holy Descent Mountain for many days and suddenly remembered I'm still a Imperial Academician at the Imperial Academy, having attended few classes. I plan to leave Holy Descent Mountain today and return to the capital."
The three Pillar Kings all sighed with relief. Pillar King Shi said, "In terms of both reason and emotion, we should ask the Holy Cult Master to stay here and contemplate, but after all, the Holy Cult Master's studies are important. We won't insist on keeping you."
Pillar King Yu politely added, "Holy Cult Master, Holy Descent Mountain is your home. You must come back often. Don't treat yourself as an outsider."
"Certainly, certainly," Qin Mu replied politely. "As the Holy Cult Master, it's natural to come back and visit frequently."
"Would you like us to escort you down the mountain?"
"No need, no need. Please, Pillar Kings, stay."
...
"Young Master, it seems you've been displeased with by the Pillar Kings," Hu Ling'er blinked and said.
Qin Mu stared at her. The little fox secretly hid her fox tail again. Qin Mu shook his head, speechless. "Although you cause trouble everywhere, they're small troubles. I've caused no small number of troubles myself, and bigger ones than yours. I'm too ashamed to scold you. This is probably the first time in the Heavenly Demon Cult's history that the Holy Cult Master has been displeased with by his subordinates. Fine, since my Great Unity technique is mostly comprehended, let's go down the mountain."
Hu Ling'er nodded quickly.
Qin Mu tested a few more times, feeling he had mastered the Transmission Robe's technique. He held her in his arms. "This transmission, I'm not entirely confident. I still have some pills in my bundle. If my qi runs out, I can replenish."
Hu Ling'er pressed tightly against his chest, not daring to relax. Qin Mu leaped into the air, jumping from Holy Descent Mountain. The sound of whistling wind immediately filled his ears. The young man's fine robes swept and gathered, and his figure vanished mid-air in a flash.
The three Pillar Kings rushed to the mountainside edge, looking down, but couldn't see any trace of Qin Mu. "Ashura Blood Eyes, open!" Pillar King Yu extended his index finger and tapped the center of his brows. His eyes blazed with red light as he searched below. After a moment, he finally located Qin Mu and sighed with relief. "The Holy Cult Master is safe. He's already reached the edge of the Azure Thunder Forbidden Zone surrounding Holy Descent Mountain. Once past that forbidden zone, he'll be safe."
Pillar King Lu's heart suddenly stirred. "Two senior brothers, did you tell the Holy Cult Master that there's an Azure Thunder Forbidden Zone outside Holy Descent Mountain?"
Pillar King Yu and Pillar King Shi looked at each other and both shook their heads. Pillar King Shi stammered, "Junior Brother Lu didn't mention it to the Holy Cult Master?"
Pillar King Lu shook his head. "I thought you had told him... This is bad!"
The three Pillar Kings' expressions changed dramatically. They quickly leaped down the mountain. The Azure Thunder Forbidden Zone was a protective array set up by past Cult Masters to safeguard the holy ground. From outside, nothing seems amiss, but once one enters the Azure Thunder Forbidden Zone, they'll be bombarded by Azure Sky Thunder! Forget about Qin Mu — even a Heavenly Being realm powerhouse would be crippled if not killed falling into it! With Qin Mu's cultivation, he'd definitely be blasted to ash instantly!
The three Pillar Kings moved with incredible speed, arriving at the Azure Thunder Forbidden Zone and rushing in to save him. Despite their profound cultivation, they were scorched black by the thunder strikes.
"That lightning zone was truly dangerous," Qin Mu said, looking up at the sky outside the Azure Thunder Forbidden Zone with lingering fear. "Fortunately, I used my Azure Sky Eye to spot this hidden lightning zone and teleported directly out. Huh, there seems to be someone in the lightning zone..."
Before he could look closely, his figure was already falling from mid-air. Below were the green mountains and clear waters of the State of Yankang, partially obscured by drifting clouds — a spectacular sight.