Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Ling Yuxiu sent Qin Mu to Heavenly Saint Academy before returning to the capital in two days where she needed to wait for the emperorâs arrangement.
When the emperor wanted to open four new big academies to be the highest educational establishments second only to Imperial College, the hall masters, elders, and heavenly kings of Heavenly Saint Cult fought hard in the imperial court. Their labor gave fruit, and Heavenly Saint Academy was given permission to be set up. It used Granny Siâs manor, and after the battle with Xing An, Granny Si, Mute, Blind, and Apothecary had stayed there.
There were numerous members of Heavenly Saint Cult in the imperial court. The highest ones were Imperial Preceptor and Duke Wei while the lowest were soldiers and bailiffs everywhere, so Qin Mu didnât need to fight for the academy as others did it in his name.
Granny Si, Mute, and Blind had become directorates of Heavenly Saint Academy, teaching lessons once in a while. The other directorates were mostly the hall masters of Heavenly Saint Cult.
When Qin Mu came there, he was just in time for class, but he couldnât see anyone in the academy. There was only a bunch of flood dragons frolicking in the lake. When they saw Qin Mu, they were first stunned, then jumped up onto the shore in a frenzy.
Qin Mu instantly knew that the situation was bad and turned to run. âWerenât these flood dragons brought by Saintess Xiang to be reared in Saint Arrival Mountain? Why have they come to Heavenly Saint Academy?â
âMa ha! Ma ha! Ma ha!â
A bunch of flood dragons passed by the dragon qilin and the chest. After a moment, Qin Mu was captured by the flood dragons. Afterward, he could only drag his exhausted body forward with over a dozen flood dragons rubbing their heads against him, their horns opening bloody wounds on his neck.
âMa haâ¦â The little flood dragons clung onto him with narrowed eyes as though they were sleepy.
Qin Muâs body was all drenched as though he had been just fished out from the water.
The dragon qilin let out a long sigh of relief, and the flood dragons turned to look at him in unison. The dragon qilin realized he was in trouble and turned to run in a hurry.
âMa ha! Ma ha! Ma ha!â
A bunch of flood dragons ran past the chest, and after a moment, Qin Mu saw the dragon qilin barely able to crawl forward. His neck, body, and four limbs were covered with flood dragons.
âMa ha.â The flood dragons rubbed against the dragon qilin until this big fatty was bloody.
âMa ha?â The bunch of flood dragons raised their heads to look at the chest in curiosity.
The chest had taken a step to follow behind Qin Mu, but at that moment, it realized that it was also in trouble and started running.
The flood dragons slipped down from the dragon qilin and rushed toward the chest while crying out in delight, âMa ha! Ma ha! Ma ha!â
The dragon qilin let out a sigh of relief and collapsed on the ground. After a moment, the chest ran back, making Qin Mu and the dragon qilin stare at it with their eyes wide open. There were no flood dragons on the chest at all.
âMa haââ The chest opened up and over a dozen dragon heads popped out. They cried out in unison, very happy.
This sight was akin to a chest with daffodils of all colors showing their heads.
The chest was rather pleased with and followed after them as if the flood dragons werenât heavy at all.
âMuâer is back?â
When the bell rang for the end of class, Granny Si walked out of a big hall. She saw Qin Mu and hurriedly came over to welcome him with a smile. âHavenât seen you in a long while. Youâre truly a grand chancellor who asks others to work but does nothing himself. You threw all these scholars here and slipped away while making us help you look after themâ¦â
Qin Mu hugged her tightly, and his tears flowed out uncontrollably. âGranny!â
Stunned, Granny Si smiled at him gently. âYouâve suffered? How can a great cult master cry so miserably? Youâre still the grand chancellor of Heavenly Saint Academy, so stop crying. Itâs not good for the scholars to see you like this. Tell granny what happened, and granny will take justice for you.â
Qin Mu felt himself calming down and let go of her. He shook his head and said, âWhat happened with these flood dragons? Werenât they sent to Saint Arrival Mountain?â
âLassie Xiang wanted to send them to Saint Arrival Mountain, but she disliked the fact that they ate spirit pills, and not even of one type. They were too costly so she sent them back,â Granny Si explained.
âLassie Xiang is really stingy, and she keeps a close watch on the purse of Heavenly Saint Cult. However, itâs good to put them in the academy. When scholars learn how to refine pills from your Grandpa Apothecary, the pills they refine are just fine to feed these flood dragons.
âActually, these little ones are quite famous in the academy. When scholars want to paint dragons, refine dragon-shaped spirit weapons, or to cultivate dragon-based divine arts, they all need them.
âBut what happened to you? Who provoked you? Cripple! Apothecary! Blind! Come over, Muâer has been bullied by others!â
Bang.
There was a loud boom, and Cripple suddenly appeared beside Qin Mu. He asked bewilderment, âWho bullied our Muâer? Is he tired of living?â
âItâs First Ancestor Human Emperor, a true god. Grandpa Crippleâ¦â Qin Mu said.
Cripple shuddered and turned to leave. Blind grabbed hold of him and asked with a smile, âCripple, youâre scared?â
âLike hell Iâm not scared!â Cripple muttered. â Itâs just that Xing An that scoundrel isnât even a true god yet he beat us all up quite miserably. First Ancestor Human Emperor is a real true god, so wonât we just be seeking death by provoking him?â
Apothecary walked over and pondered over it. âFirst Ancestor Human Emperor? True god? Can it be settled with poison?â
Qin Mu shook his head. âI want to defeat him fair and square, by fighting him on the same realm. I want to get rid of him by myself.â
Apothecary shuddered before shrugging his shoulders. âMy abilities are useless in this.â
Cripple sighed. âI also donât have anything to offer. Whereâs Mute?â
âHe ran out a few days ago.â Butcher held onto the shirt on his shoulder as he walked over while speaking in a booming voice. âThat fellow always slip away from time to time, going god knows where. Muâer, how are the abilities of a true god?â
âHeâs stronger than me in all fields. He runs faster than me, his strength is greater than mine, his spirit and body are one, his divine eyes surpass my divine eyes, the power of his fists is astonishing, and his paths, skills, and divine arts have merged into one with his corporeal body.â
Qin Muâs face dimmed. âHe has already entered the path in every field, so the only thing in which Iâm stronger is magic power.â
Blind frowned and asked, âHeâs stronger than my divine eyes?â
Qin Mu nodded gently.
Butcher who wasnât afraid of the heaven and earth also locked his eyebrows in a frown. After a moment, he asked, âMy knife skillsâ¦â
âWere easily broken by him.â
Deaf walked over. âWhat about the painting path?â
âNo chance to execute.â
âWhat about Heavenly Saint Cultâs divine arts?â Granny Si asked.
Qin Mu shook his head. Everyone frowned together.
âHave you tried running?â Cripple asked with some nervousness.
âHe caught up with me.â
âPoison⦠Forget it, forget it.â Apothecary waved his hands and said, âIâve confidence in poisoning a god, but to poison a true god with no weakness at all, I donât think I could do that.â
Qin Mu smiled at them. âYou guys donât need to worry about my matter. Iâve thought over it quietly for the last couple days, and Iâve realized something. Even though he looks invincible, he escaped from the battlefield back then, which means that there are people who are stronger than him. He isnât invincible, so I can definitely find a way to surpass him.â
Granny Si smiled and said, âItâs rare for you to come back so stay at Heavenly Saint Academy for some time. Let us help you think of a solution.â
Qin Mu nodded and went to put down his luggage.
Granny Si, Butcher, Blind, and the rest gathered together and looked at his back. Butcher frowned and said, âThis is the first time Qin Mu has lost his confidence. He was not like this in the past, always so full of trust in himself, but nowâ¦â He shook his head.
Blind narrowed his eyes. âTrue gods, are they really so terrifying? Surpassing my divine eyes? I donât really believe!â
âWe should train him while heâs here!â Deaf suddenly said. âTo learn without thinking is blindness, to think without learning is idleness. He is currently at the stage of learning and thinking. Muâerâs fight with First Ancestor Human Emperor is not just a battle of cultivation, but also a battle of Dao heart.
âIf he walks out of it, itâll probably be a huge improvement in the cultivation of his Dao heart. If he canât do it, Iâm afraid the overlord body will become a useless body. Letâs train him well, so he doesnât become useless!â
Everyone nodded.
After Qin Mu settled down, it was as if he had returned to Disabled Elderly Village. Butcher, Blind, Deaf, Cripple, and Granny Si would call him over from time to time and feed him moves, flipping the heaven and earth in the academy with the fights.
Most of the scholars in the academy were from Heavenly Saint Cult while others had come from the other academies in the world to seek knowledge here. The next few days were an eye-opener for them as they witnessed the legendary abilities of all the directorates.
After a few days, Granny Si and the rest all frowned. Qin Mu was still fearful and nervous, not daring to attack, which resulted in him being frequently beaten up by them. The worst part was that even though those few times when he attacked his moves were incomparably exquisite, he would execute them halfway and stop.
Butcher was furious and beat him up while scolding sternly, âWhy did you not finish your move?â
Qin Mu didnât retaliate and just shook his head. âItâs all wrongâ¦â
âYou have to finish it even if itâs wrong!â
Granny Si hurriedly pulled Butcher away and said angrily, âHe isnât in the right state, so stop beating him! What if you make him dumb like that?â
Deaf nodded and said, âThere is too much stuff accumulated in his brain and he thinks too much. He has burrowed himself into a dead end and canât get out, so you wonât gain anything by beating him up like this. Once he finds his way out, he will become a great master.â
Butcher stared at them. âWhat if he doesnât find his way out?â
Everyone was silent.
âMuâer, you wonât learn anything in the academy so itâs better for you to take a stroll and drive away your cares,â Granny Si said.
Qin Mu nodded and packed his luggage, leaving the academy with a muddled head.
Cripple followed him for a period of time, but only saw Qin Mu walking randomly. When he saw that he wasnât in any danger, he calmed down and returned to the academy.
One day, Qin Mu came to Surging River and sat down on its shore. Almost instantly, he heard a voice from behind him. âQin brat!â
Qin Mu turned around and saw a luxuriously dressed youth standing behind him with a look of terror, ready to escape anytime.
âOh, itâs Grandmaster.â Qin Mu turned back and continued to look at the river.
Pangong Tso propped himself up since his one leg was a deer leg. He had planned to escape the moment the youth attacked him, but when he saw him continuing to sit beside the shore without any intention to attack him, his guts grew. He got closer and asked, âCult Master Qin seems to have some troubles? You and I are old friends, so why donât you tell me about whatâs eating at you? Maybe I can help you solve your problem.â
Qin Mu was bored to death and threw a stone into the river. âIâm thinking about how I can defeat a true god on the same realm, but I canât find the answer. Grandmaster, can you teach me?â
Pangong Tsoâs eyes lit up, and he got closer and closer. He said with a smile, âI see. You must be very troubled now, right? You feel youâre very useless, right? That life is uninteresting? In that case, whatâs the point of living? Let me help you finish things, heheâ¦â
Whoosh.
The river churned, and Dragon Rearing Sovereignâs huge head rose up high like a mountain. His whiskers hung in the air beside Pangong Tso.
The youthâs body turned stiff, and his face turned yellow. He immediately turned to leave. âSorry for disturbing, farewell!â Once he said that, he vanished without a trace.
Dragon Rearing Sovereign watching him leave and shook his head. âThis brat is even more slippery than a loach. Your Majesty, I canât solve your problems. Even though Iâm a god, I donât have the power to get rid of a true god.â
Qin Mu sighed while on the mountain behind him God Bai Xi swished his tail in annoyance. âI also donât have the ability! Your Majesty, can I change the mountain? This one is too small, and my temple is only this high! It canât even fit my hoof!â
Qin Mu got up and rode the dragon qilin away.
âHuman Emperor Qin, youâve come to my Little Jade Capital to proceed with Five Qi Breakthrough and Six Directions Breakthrough?â Hermit Qing You hurriedly came to welcome him with a smile.
âItâs been a while since my Little Jade Capital had any visitors. Hall of Five Qi and Hall of Six Directions have been waiting for the arrival of Human Emperor. Thatâs right, thereâs still a thing I havenât told you about. A few months ago, the stone statue of your First Ancestor Human Emperor seemed to have come back to life. He left Little Jade Capital, but Iâve no idea where he went.â
The corners of Qin Muâs eyes twitched, and he said, âI met him.â
Astonishment showed up on Hermit Qing Youâs face. âYou met him? In that case, do you also know that the stone statue of Saint Woodcutter has also come back to life and left Little Jade Capital?â