Tales of Herding Gods

Chapter 933: The Real and Fake Celestial Venerable Mu

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The aim behind the formation of the Heaven Alliance was to overthrow the rule of the ancient gods, to overthrow “Heaven”, which referred to the ancient gods during the Dragon Han Era.

Back then, as the leader of the Heaven Alliance, Celestial Venerable Yun had to unite all forces, regardless of whether they were half-gods or lifeforms after the beginning. As long as they had the same will to overthrow the ancient gods, they could join the Heaven Alliance.

By the time they eliminated the ancient Celestial Emperor, the power of the Heaven Alliance had increased greatly, and finally, one day, Celestial Venerable Yun realized that when they overthrew “Heaven”, they also became “Heaven”.

However, by that time, he was already helpless to turn the present Heaven Alliance around, and he became an obstacle to the Heaven Alliance in their pursuit to rule over the world.

He was aware that his death was definite, and thus, for the future, he created a plan that would be carried out by Dao Ancestor on his behalf.

“Celestial Venerable Yun was trying to make use of the ancient Celestial Emperor to divide the Heaven Alliance. If it was necessary, the ancient Celestial Emperor could also be exposed so that the Heaven Alliance would temporarily give up on suppressing the lower bound and shift their attention to fighting the ancient Celestial Emperor instead.”

Dao Ancestor continued, “By doing that, the lower bound would have a chance to develop.”

Qin Mu’s heart trembled violently.

Celestial Venerable Yun truly had great foresight!

The Heaven Alliance wouldn’t allow the ancient Celestial Emperor to be revived no matter the circumstances. Only when the ancient Celestial Emperor was dead would they be invincible. If the ancient Celestial Emperor was revived, all their efforts would be for naught.

This was because any of the other ancient gods had their own shortcomings and weaknesses, and they also had to follow the rules of the Great Dao. However, the ancient Celestial Emperor didn’t.

He wasn’t restrained by the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.

This sort of Celestial Emperor was the most terrifying.

If they knew that the ancient Celestial Emperor hadn’t been completely eliminated, that his soul had reincarnated and infiltrated into the ten Celestial Venerables, the alliance that was formed by them would immediately crumble and disintegrate.

If they knew who the ancient Celestial Emperor was, they would drop all the grudges amongst themselves to come together and eliminate him.

“Then, during the outbreak of the Eternal Peace Calamity, why didn’t Dao Ancestor announce the identity of the ancient Celestial Emperor?” Qin Mu questioned.

He felt a pang of sorrow in his heart. So many had died during the calamity of Eternal Peace, and it was also his most helpless period, his most demoralizing period. He was almost unable to recover from this setback, but for the sake of those who had survived, he too had pulled through and walked out a brand new path.

However, if Dao Ancestor had announced the identity of the ancient Celestial Emperor back then and diverted the attention towards the ancient Celestial Emperor instead, perhaps the calamity of Eternal Peace wouldn’t have occurred.

Dao Ancestor shook his head. “It wasn’t the right time.”

Qin Mu’s voice was hoarse. “Not the right time? Then when will be considered the right time? How many lives must be taken before it’s the right time?”

Dao Ancestor had a deep gaze. “During the Founding Emperor Calamity, I didn’t expose the ancient Celestial Emperor, and the Eternal Peace Calamity wasn’t the right time either. The crucial problem here is that the abilities of the ancient Celestial Emperor aren’t sufficient to go up against the Heaven Alliance of today. To pit him alone against the other nine, he wouldn’t be able to withstand it. After he dies, the lower bound won’t have any capabilities or measures to resist the Heaven Alliance. The lifeforms after the beginning need to have sufficient abilities to go against the Heaven Alliance, and the ancient Celestial Emperor must also have sufficient abilities to tear the Heaven Alliance apart. Only then will it be the best time.”

His expression was apathetic. “As the executor of Celestial Venerable Yun’s plan, I have to be completely rational and wait for this moment to arrive. Before that, regardless of the number of deaths, I still have to continue waiting.”

Qin Mu was silent for a moment. “Which Celestial Venerable is the ancient Celestial Emperor?”

“Celestial Venerable Mu, I won’t reveal it to you.”

Dao Ancestor continued with a calm expression, “You aren’t suitable to be the executor of Celestial Venerable Yun’s plan. You are too rash, and you tend to reveal your aces in a moment of spite. But I will not. I am able to ignore the deaths of billions. You are a Celestial Venerable who is held in high esteem by many. Celestial Venerable, you don’t have to carry this foul reputation and these sins. Such sins and such a foul reputation are to be borne by the executor of Celestial Venerable Yun’s plans.”

His old face revealed a trace of a smile. “I have been preparing for this for over five hundred thousand years, Celestial Venerable Mu, don’t steal my credit.”

Qin Mu clasped his hands and bowed to the ground, and Dao Ancestor hurriedly returned his bow.

“I’m just a reckless brute, a nobody. By some stroke of fate and chance, I transmigrated to the first year of the Dragon Han Era and was merely lucky to be able to meet the seniors and distinguished predecessors of that era, even eventually becoming a Celestial Venerable. Yet, I hold the title of Celestial Venerable with nothing to back it up. I accomplished nothing before I returned to the present times.”

Qin Mu sighed ruefully. “Comparatively, you have all fought for your cause, sacrificing yourselves and bleeding for it. I am unworthy of the title of Celestial Venerable, it is you all who are worthy of it.”

Dao Ancestor replied, “Imparting the way to become a god and letting the world know that there is still a Celestial Heavens Realm, just this alone makes you worthy of the title of Celestial Venerable. Moreover, what Celestial Venerable has done isn’t limited to this. Celestial Venerable Mu, perhaps you should leave the celestial heavens soon.”

Qin Mu jolted slightly, not knowing what he meant.

Dao Ancestor continued, “Celestial Venerable Hao has come to visit me to inquire about something. He asked if it was possible to make use of the creation divine weapon in the Patriarch Creation Palace to forge a Celestial Venerable Mu. He wanted me to create a Celestial Venerable Mu. At the Jade Pool incident the other night, I was there too, and I observed you for a long time. A few days ago, I handed over the blueprint of Celestial Venerable Mu to him.”

Qin Mu was tongue-tied. “Dao Ancestor, you, you…”

Dao Ancestor replied calmly, “Even if I hadn’t given him the blueprint of Celestial Venerable Mu, he would have been able to find others skilled in algebra to create a Celestial Venerable Mu for him. Thus, I gave it to him. After Celestial Venerable Hao has made use of the creation divine weapon to create a new Celestial Venerable Mu, he will find an opportunity to kill you and then replace you with the Celestial Venerable Mu that he created. He will be able to get his revenge and make use of your prestige to do many things.”

Qin Mu’s eyes widened, and he let out a shallow breath.

Dao Ancestor continued, “To deal with you, the celestial heavens is full of such tricks. Celestial Venerable Hao looks to be reckless, but he’s actually very scheming. At the Jade Pool incident that night, he was also there, yet his goal wasn’t to kill you but merely to make a show of it to see how many people in the celestial heavens were against him. He has already achieved his goal. I have also recorded data of your corporeal body to create an obedient Celestial Venerable Mu.”

Qin Mu felt his heart tremble. The Celestial Venerable Hao that Dao Ancestor spoke of and the Celestial Venerable Hao in the impression of others seemed to be two different people!

“Thus, it’s time for you to leave the celestial heavens.”

Dao Ancestor said, “I can send you back to the lower bound.”

Qin Mu composed himself and shook his head. “The celestial heavens have yet to be thrown into great disorder, so how can I return? If I suddenly vanish after coming to your place, anyone who is bright enough will be able to tell that it was you who sent me away. I cannot implicate you.”

He smiled. “It’s also not that easy for Celestial Venerable Hao to kill me. I still have something I would like to consult Dao Ancestor on. Does Dao Ancestor know how to get to the Great Void?”

Dao Ancestor shook his head. “Don’t cause any trouble, you should still hurry and leave the celestial heavens.”

Yan’er and the dragon qilin were currently outside the small temple and conversing with those two toads. The two toads were lazy in nature, and they spoke to them with their eyes buried within their heads flatly. It was only when Yan’er took out spirit pills to tempt them that their eyes bulged out from their heads.

“These two toads would definitely taste good.” Qi Jiuyi laughed.

Suddenly, the two toads bulged their eyes out and glanced at him. Qi Jiuyi felt as though he had fallen into an icy pit, and all sights vanished before his eyes, leaving only four massive eyes surrounding him.

Qin Mu walked out of the temple and gave Qi Jiuyi, who had stiffened up, a puzzled look. Only then did the apparition before Qi Jiuyi’s eyes disappear.

He couldn’t help but shudder, and there was a shred of fear in his eyes. The abilities of these two toads were far superior to his.

The Dao Master of the celestial heavens escorted them out of the Jade Pure Celestial Palace.

Qin Mu was silent for a while before he said to Yun Chuxiu, “I heard that there’s a Patriarch Creation Palace in the celestial heavens and that there’s a creation divine weapon there. Can good little sister bring me there to take a look? I intend to use the Patriarch Creation Palace to build a few Spirit Energy Mutual Shift Bridges so it will be more convenient to travel between the celestial heavens and the lower bound.”

Yun Chuxiu rolled her eyes at him and then burst out giggling. “Calling me good little sister…”

Qi Jiuyi and Yun Jianli felt their hair stand on end as they looked at the other two with terrified expressions. This woman was either Celestial Empress or Mistress Yuanmu, yet Qin Mu had actually dared to call her good little sister.

‘This Celestial Venerable Mu who has come up here from the lower bound, do you know how many ways there are to write out the character for ‘death’?’

Yun Jianli’s heart suddenly beat violently as he thought to himself, ‘Oh yes, I also called Yun Chuxiu little sister previously, I am also one who doesn’t know death… I better go down to the lower bound soon!’

“Spirit Energy Mutual Shift Bridge?”

Yun Chuxiu asked curiously, “To make it more convenient to travel between the lower bound and the celestial heavens? Is Celestial Venerable not afraid of the gods and devils of the celestial heavens going to the lower bound to trample on the living beings of Eternal Peace?”

With a solemn expression, Qin Mu replied, “Eternal Peace has already pledged allegiance to the celestial heavens, we are subordinates of the celestial heavens and are very loyal to the celestial heavens. Good little sister, the celestial heavens won’t go against the honest and faithful!”

“I’ll be d*mned if I believe you!”

Yun Chuxiu burst out giggling, her eyes rolling about mischievously before she replied seriously, “Give the Spirit Energy Mutual Shift Bridge blueprint to me, and I will help you forge a few. Opening up the world barrier of the celestial heavens and the lower bound is an extremely significant event. You have yet to gain power in the celestial heavens, so you won’t be able to make decisions on this. It has to be approved by a Celestial Venerable.”

Qin Mu took out the blueprints for the Spirit Energy Mutual Shift Bridge and handed them all to her. The blueprints were numerous and stacked tall. Yun Chuxiu pulled out a few pieces, and upon seeing the algebra runes on them, she couldn’t help but frown. Seeing all of these blueprints annoyed her, and she said, “This should still be handed over to the Dao Sect. I’ll let the Dao Sect take these to the Patriarch Creation Palace to build the Spirit Energy Mutual Shift Bridges… Brother, Celestial Venerable, Brother Jiu, I’ll head off first!”

She took off quickly with the blueprints and headed towards the Jade Pure Celestial Palace as she thought to herself, ‘This Spirit Energy Mutual Shift Bridge is quite useful. It can connect the celestial heavens to the other heavens, and it’s not limited to only the Primordial Realm. If these Spirit Energy Mutual Shift Bridges can be built, then I’ll be able to rule over even more heavens and worlds…’

Qin Mu, Qi Jiuyi, Yun Jianli, and the others headed towards the Jade Pool instead. Yun Jianli had doubts brewing in his heart, and after suppressing it for a while, he finally asked, “Why did Celestial Venerable hand the Spirit Energy Mutual Shift Bridge blueprints over to Yun Chuxiu? This Spirit Energy Mutual Shift Bridge is of great use, and if the celestial heavens and the Primordial Realm are connected, the gods of the celestial heavens can head to the lower bound at a whim, and the Primordial Realm won’t have an opportunity to react! The rule of the celestial heavens will only become even more stable!”

Qin Mu nodded and smiled. “The Eternal Peace of today is merely a tiny vassal state under the celestial heavens, it’s not like we will rebel, so what is there to be afraid of?”

The doubts in Yun Jianli’s heart grew even more. “I don’t believe that you would be so stupid that you don’t know what the Spirit Energy Mutual Shift Bridge can be used for. What exactly are you planning?”

Qin Mu didn’t reply to him directly. Instead, he smiled and said, “With the Spirit Energy Mutual Shift Bridge, you will be able to go down to the lower bound too, you won’t have to stay in the celestial heavens.”

He had set a future strategy for Eternal Peace. To resolve the eight rules that the ancient Celestial Emperor had set to curb the Eternal Peace reforms, one of the most crucial plans was to let Eternal Peace develop its manufacturing side such that it would be able to forge the divine weapons for the celestial heavens.

For this to happen, trade routes would have to be opened up.

To transport goods from Eternal Peace to the celestial heavens, even with the phoenix ship that had incomparable speed, it would take about a year for a round trip. If regular ships were used instead, the round trip might even take a hundred years.

The Spirit Energy Mutual Shift Bridge would be able to open up the trade routes, reducing the transportation time for trade between Eternal Peace and the celestial heavens significantly. This way, Eternal Peace’s path of making use of manufacturing to restore the country would also be considerably shorter.

If the Spirit Energy Mutual Shift Bridges were forged across the innumerous heavens and worlds and trade was opened up, allowing Eternal Peace to crowd out the manufacturing industries of the other worlds and heavens, then the rebellion of the innumerous heavens and worlds would also happen a lot sooner!

However, the Spirit Energy Mutual Shift Bridge couldn’t be built by him. If it was suggested by him, it would only lead to suspicion from the other Celestial Venerables. The simplest and most effective way around it was to hand it over to Celestial Empress and let her build them instead.

After Celestial Empress built the bridge, in order to benefit from it, the other Celestial Venerables would also start to build the bridges. From there, the innumerous heavens and worlds would be connected, and Qin Mu would have achieved his goal!

They had yet to reach the Jade Pool when a god suddenly stood in their way and bowed. “Celestial Venerable Mu, Celestial Venerable Hao would like to invite you to the Hao Palace to attend a banquet.”

Qin Mu’s heart jumped, and he sneered. “We have a grudge between us, and his banquet is definitely nothing good, I’m not going!”

The god was taken aback.

Qin Mu walked off quickly, and Yan’er, who was perched on his shoulder, saw that there were many fine goosebumps raised on the back of his neck.

‘This rascal, Celestial Venerable Hao, must have already made use of the creation divine weapon to create another me. Inviting me to the banquet is probably just a front to kill me!’

They had yet to reach the Jade Pool when another lady came forward. “Young Master Yun, Mistress Yunxiao asks you to return.”

Yun Jianli had never seen this person before, and he was confused, but he still followed after her and left.

After a while, a god under Red Deity of the Southern Heaven blocked their path and bowed. “Red Deity misses Young Master and asks Young Master to return and meet her.”

Qi Jiuyi was shocked. “My master is here? Isn’t she in the lower bound? Second Brother, come along with me!”

The dragon qilin looked towards Qin Mu. Qin Mu’s heart trembled slightly, and he said, “Just go ahead.”

Qi Jiuyi and the dragon qilin followed after the god and left together.

Qin Mu smiled. “Later on, there will be someone from South Deity Zhu Que’s side who will come and ask Sister Yan’er to go and meet South Deity.”

Yan’er was puzzled, and she laughed. “How do you know that?”

Qin Mu didn’t answer.

After a period of time, another goddess really came forward, smiling. “Princess Yan, South Deity misses you. She asked me to come and invite the princess to return and meet her.”

Yan’er looked at Qin Mu, and Qin Mu nodded his head gently. “The meeting of a mother and daughter is important, it must not be delayed.”

Yan’er followed after the goddess and left.

Qin Mu returned to the Jade Pool, going back to the Slow Winding Pavilion. Awaiting his arrival was another Qin Mu, who was standing in the pavilion with his hands behind his back.