Qin Mu bid farewell to Granny Si and led the Emperor on foot, with Dragon Qilin following behind. Qin Mu imparted the Creation Spirit Art from the Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Sutra to Emperor Yanfeng, and also taught him his own Tyrant Body Three Pill Art. "Practice both techniques together as you walk. It will be greatly beneficial for your injuries, at the very least it will strengthen your body." Emperor Yanfeng was skeptical but tried cultivating the Tyrant Body Three Pill Art and Creation Spirit Art. Unknowingly, his complexion improved a bit, and he laughed: "This technique is remarkable. It can actually be practiced while walking. I feel my strength returning a little." "Keep practicing. Once you achieve a small success, the injuries on your physical body will heal, and your physique will become robust. Then I will teach you the Creation Ghost-God Art to refine your soul, which will stabilize your spirit. Combined with medication for soul injuries, both methods together will heal the damage to your soul." Qin Mu suddenly became lost in thought: "I have taught the Emperor the techniques from the Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Sutra. Should he now join my Heavenly Saint Cult? What position should I give him?" He glanced at Emperor Yanfeng with some mischievous intent: "I am still missing a Heavenly King. If I can get the Emperor to join and become the Heavenly King of the Heavenly Saint Cult, then the entire State of Yankang would become the Heavenly Saint Cult..."
Emperor Yanfeng practiced diligently, and his body grew somewhat stronger. He also cultivated a bit of vital energy, though without his Divine Storage, his cultivation was truly limited. Qin Mu was also practicing in a relaxed manner, activating the Tyrant Body Three Pill Art. Five rays of light descended from the sky, connecting his internal Five Planets to the Five Planet stars, drawing on starlight to enhance his cultivation. Emperor Yanfeng was slightly surprised: "He is still at the Five Planets realm?" He had always assumed Qin Mu was already a divine ability user at the Six Harmonies realm, considering Qin Mu's strength was comparable to such users, and his cultivation was even on par with Six Harmonies realm practitioners. He hadn't expected Qin Mu to still be at the Five Planets realm. "The Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Sutra of the Heavenly Saint Cult is indeed extraordinary," Emperor Yanfeng marveled inwardly, unaware that Qin Mu's vital energy primarily came from the Tyrant Body Three Pill Art—the very technique he himself was now cultivating.
Qin Mu's cultivation had indeed reached the peak of the Five Planets realm, not far from the Six Harmonies realm. He only needed to stabilize the Five Planet stars within his Divine Storage before attempting breakthrough. The two traveled for four days, enduring wind and sleeping under the stars, until they reached the next city. Qin Mu led Emperor Yanfeng inside and purchased some medicinal herbs. This was the first time Emperor Yanfeng had endured such hardships in his life; both feet were worn raw and covered in blisters. At the inn, Qin Mu soaked him overnight in a wooden tub filled with medicinal water. The Emperor fell asleep in the tub and woke the next day to find all his blisters gone. He felt much lighter and marveled at the miracle. They continued their journey, entering Qizhou territory, where they saw many divine ability users driving villagers, whipping and shouting. "This land belongs to our Qishan Sect!" Those ability users were presumably disciples of the Qishan Sect, practicing thunder techniques. They controlled lightning to strike randomly, herding villagers from miles around together, shouting: "By the Emperor's decree, the ancestral system is restored! Sect lands belong to the sects! From now on, you need not pay imperial grain tax—only offer tribute to the Qishan Sect!" A village headman protested, but after just two words of argument, he was struck dead by a bolt of lightning.
Qin Mu stopped to observe, frowning slightly. Emperor Yanfeng's face turned livid, and he said coldly: "This is a regression!" They passed through other prefectures and counties, witnessing everywhere the resurgence of sect forces—seizing territories, plundering wealth, dividing lands. The situation grew increasingly chaotic. The snow disaster had already caused great destruction, and now the sects' return to seize land and capture people as their tenants only added fuel to the fire. The local governments had been providing disaster relief, but that had now stopped. Countless people froze or starved to death.
Emperor Yanfeng remained silent, practicing even more diligently, trying to repair his Divine Storage and restore his cultivation. When they reached Yongzhou, Qin Mu went directly to the city governor's mansion. The Yongzhou prefect hurried out to greet them, glanced at Emperor Yanfeng without recognizing him, then fixed his gaze on Qin Mu: "Cult Master..." "Speak inside," Qin Mu said. He entered the mansion and let Dragon Qilin find a place to rest. Glancing at the Emperor, who was starving, he said: "Hall Master of the Pure Robe Hall, give this... give this senior brother a bowl of rice." The Yongzhou prefect was the Hall Master of the Pure Robe Hall of the Heavenly Saint Cult, named Duanmu Jing. He waved his hand, sending someone to take the Emperor to eat, and laughed: "Cult Master, why are you traveling with a bald monk?" Qin Mu didn't elaborate, asking: "What is the situation in the capital?" "The capital is not doing well," Duanmu Jing replied. "Many Daoist priests and Buddhist monks from the Dao school and Great Thunderclap Monastery have gone to the capital. The Dao Master and the Tathagata have each issued decrees, appointing the Crown Prince as the Pure Emperor. He will ascend the throne on the sixth of the third month. Meanwhile, the Crown Prince's spies are active everywhere, killing anyone who resembles the Emperor."
Qin Mu nodded quietly; this matched his speculation. Duanmu Jing continued: "Additionally, the Crown Prince is regent with immense power. Many noble families have been controlled by Buddhism and Daoism. Some great families in the capital have already switched allegiance, while others have monks and priests living in their homes who refuse to leave. These families dare not resist, so they can only tolerate them. The capital is now filled with all sorts of people—a true mix of dragons and fish. It can no longer be said to be the Emperor's domain." "The Crown Prince also issued a decree to restore the ancestral system, promulgating the Tribute Law, returning sect lands to their respective sects, with other lands reverting to Yankang. Also..." Duanmu Jing hesitated briefly: "The Langjuxu Kingdom sent envoys regarding border warfare, proposing peace with the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince has ceded the sixteen provinces of Yunlu to the Langjuxu Kingdom. The barbarian tribes also sent envoys, and they are currently discussing territorial concessions and reparations..." "Losing a fortune is so easy," Qin Mu laughed. "The Crown Prince makes a rather incompetent Emperor." Duanmu Jing was puzzled; Qin Mu showed no signs of anger, seeming rather indifferent. He didn't know that Qin Mu had never considered himself a citizen of Yankang. From beginning to end, he was an outcast from the Great Ruins, so he had no reason to feel anger.
"The coronation on the sixth of the third month is indeed an auspicious day—suitable for killing," Qin Mu said. "Have you found any news of the State Preceptor?" "I have," Duanmu Jing replied. Qin Mu's spirits lifted. He took out several pages of paper: "Hall Master, prepare the medicinal ingredients listed on these pages and have them sent to Qinzhou City." Duanmu Jing agreed. Qin Mu called over Emperor Yanfeng and summoned Dragon Qilin: "We're leaving the city." Emperor Yanfeng hurriedly said: "I haven't finished eating yet!" Qin Mu smiled: "I'm taking you to find the State Preceptor. I'll get you something to eat along the way." Emperor Yanfeng quickly put down his steamed bun, his expression solemn, and silently followed. After a moment, he said: "I want to ask him where exactly he has been all this time!"
Qin Mu lifted him onto Dragon Qilin's back, then leaped up to stand on the creature's forehead. Dragon Qilin tread on fire clouds and galloped away. Emperor Yanfeng was hit by gusts of cold wind and sneezed repeatedly. Qin Mu suddenly ignited flames around his body, making the Emperor feel more comfortable. After two days of travel, Qin Mu signaled the beast to descend into a mountain valley. Steam rose everywhere, with rainbow light ascending from the valley and dispersing into the air. "Divine light!" Emperor Yanfeng's expression grew solemn. He sniffed the air: "The scent of blood. There is divine blood in this valley!"
Qin Mu led him into the valley, where they indeed found a blood lake. Beside it was a wooden cabin, and behind the cabin flowed a small river, its water warmed by the divine blood. A woman in a white silt-fur coat stood by the river, her abdomen slightly rounded. At her feet, a middle-aged man was using a mallet to beat clothes on a stone slab. A bamboo basket of washed clothes sat beside him. Qin Mu jumped down from Dragon Qilin's back, and Emperor Yanfeng also dismounted but lost his footing, falling flat on his face. The couple turned at the sound, and Qin Mu approached with a smile.
"You didn't even help me up!" Emperor Yanfeng scrambled to his feet and hurried after him. The middle-aged man set down his mallet, wiped his wet hands on his garment, and stood up beside the woman. His face was somewhat pale as he smiled at the approaching Qin Mu and Emperor. "State Preceptor!" Emperor Yanfeng quickened his pace, about to rush forward to demand answers, when he noticed blood seeping from the State Preceptor's chest and his ashen complexion. His heart trembled, and tears fell: "My State Preceptor, how did you come to such a state?" The State Preceptor of Yankang approached the Emperor and noticed his lost cultivation, feeling deep sympathy: "Your Majesty, are you any different?" The woman quickly said: "You are also injured—do not agitate your spirit."
Qin Mu was astonished. The two strongest figures of Yankang were both severely injured! "The Cult Master of the Heavenly Saint Cult greets the State Preceptor's Wife," Qin Mu greeted the woman. The State Preceptor's Wife saw the Emperor's bald head and was puzzled, but quickly said: "Don't just stand there—come inside and sit."
"After leaving Small Jade Capital, I wanted to investigate the source of the natural disasters. Then I encountered a god holding a gourd," the State Preceptor of Yankang said calmly in the small cabin. "The disasters were released from his gourd. He was injured, but I was hurt even more. Moreover, my wife is with child, so we stayed here for a time." Though he spoke lightly, the battle must have been incredibly perilous! Emperor Yanfeng examined his injuries, then looked at Qin Mu with a questioning gaze. Qin Mu inspected them and shook his head: "These are wounds left by a god, containing divine intent within. I cannot cure them completely. To do so, we must return to the village and have Grandpa Herbalist take action." The State Preceptor of Yankang said: "I knew you couldn't cure them, which is why I didn't seek you out. My injuries are too severe now—I cannot return to the capital, or I would surely die. I cannot let others know I am injured. I never expected that Your Majesty would be..." The two middle-aged men exchanged glances and suddenly burst into hearty laughter, the State Preceptor coughing violently as he laughed.
Emperor Yanfeng looked outside: "The blood lake out there?" "Left by that god. He was very strong and only suffered minor flesh wounds," the State Preceptor replied. His chest wound reopened again. Qin Mu applied some dragon saliva, but the moment it healed, the residual divine technique hidden in his wound tore it open again. This type of injury could no longer be healed by medicine or elixirs—even spirit pills that could restore souls couldn't remove divine technique residue. Qin Mu thought for a moment, then took out the sword pellet that The Mute had gifted him. He activated it gently, and sword lights grew from the pellet. Qin Mu pressed it forward, piercing it into the flesh around the State Preceptor's wound. The State Preceptor's Wife gasped, but neither the State Preceptor nor Emperor Yanfeng moved. Qin Mu extended his index finger, vital energy swirling like a cloud rotating at its tip, and gently tapped the sword pellet. With a hiss, another sword light shot from the pellet, passed through the cabin, and plunged into the blood lake. Boom—the lake rocked violently, erupting with earth-shattering sounds that echoed three times. The sword light was shattered, and the sword pellet shrank somewhat.
"Truly brilliant medical skill!" the State Preceptor of Yankang exclaimed. "Using the power of divine blood to counteract the residual divine technique." Qin Mu applied dragon saliva again, and this time the wound finally stopped bleeding. Qin Mu said: "I cannot draw out the other techniques inside you. Your Majesty, State Preceptor, there are two paths before us. One is to take you to the Great Ruins for healing, the other is to proceed to the capital. Choose one." The State Preceptor of Yankang looked at Emperor Yanfeng. The two middle-aged men, their minds in accord, spoke in unison: "The capital!"
Qin Mu drew his pig-slaughter knife and pressed the State Preceptor of Yankang's head onto the table. The State Preceptor's Wife cried out: "Cult Master Qin, what are you doing?" Emperor Yanfeng touched his own bald head: "Madam, just look at me to understand." Qin Mu's blade was agile; in the blink of an eye he shaved the State Preceptor bald, then used incense to burn several dot marks on his head. From the Glutton Bag he produced a set of yellow monk robes—clearly practiced at this—and laughed: "I made an extra set, preparing it for the State Preceptor. Wait, I also need to paint half his face with a blue birthmark..." After finishing with the State Preceptor of Yankang, he turned to the State Preceptor's Wife. The State Preceptor hurriedly said: "Cult Master, my wife is with child. It's freezing cold, and without hair..." "Then she'll be a Daoist nun," Qin Mu said, producing a Daoist robe and handing it to the State Preceptor's Wife. He suddenly blinked and smiled: "By the way, would the three of you like to join the cult? My Heavenly Saint Cult offers good food and drink. If you lack skills, I can teach you some trades—I guarantee you won't starve."