Tales of Herding Gods

After Qin Mu walked out of Fengdu, Yan’er transformed into a dragon sparrow and carried him together with the dragon qilin towards Heavenly Yin World.

At the Heavenly Yin Palace, Goddess of Heavenly Yin and the broken soul of Celestial Emperor in the black sand were silent. Yan Qiling immediately stood behind the broken soul of Celestial Emperor.

Qin Mu quietly waited for the broken soul of Celestial Emperor to speak.

After some time, the broken soul of Celestial Emperor in the black sand said, “Celestial Venerable Mu, do you know whose weapon Celestial Venerable Yu is? If you do, you should stay away, the further, the better.”

Qin Mu stumbled back in shock as he realized who that might be.

“Yes, my unfilial son.”

The broken soul of Celestial Emperor laughed. “Indeed, the one you defeated at the Jade Pool Meeting, the one whom you injured badly in front of his mother and gathered heroes—Celestial Venerable Hao. His powers and arrogance have reached the height of their limits, with the celestial heavens yielding to him.”

He then shook his head. “You should get away from here. My unfilial son’s powers have reached the level of the Celestial Heavens Realm. Although incomplete, it can be considered the strongest that history has ever witnessed. Even Founding Emperor is no match for him. Just half of the Celestial Heavens Realm can overcome several Emperor’s Throne Realms. What’s more, he has Celestial Venerable Yu.”

Qin Mu laughed. “Your Majesty, you need my help to gather and reconstruct your soul. You can’t send me to my death.”

The broken soul of Celestial Emperor in the black sand stared at him for a while before continuing, “The dispatch of the strongest divine weapons into the mortal world not only includes the Primordial Realm but also Xuandu, Youdu, and the four deities of the four directions. This isn’t just Venerable Hao’s idea but that of all the founding elders of the Heaven Alliance. The only thing you can find solace in is that the divine weapons are against Mother Earth rather than Eternal Peace. Although I am one of the founding elders of the alliance, I went along with the decision and agreed to send divine weapons to the mortal world.

Qin Mu raised an eyebrow.

“I am unable to help you.”

The broken soul of Celestial Emperor sighed. “The alliance between us is over.”

Qin Mu, his heart unwilling, said, “I can help you reconstruct your soul and bring you back to life.”

The broken soul of Celestial Emperor shook his head and smiled ambiguously. “Celestial Venerable Mu, you still don’t understand. There is no chance of victory! No chance at all! I will be implicated if I help you. I may be left with only one piece of my soul, but that is still one piece. If I help you, I will be left with no soul at all.”

Qin Mu stood in silence. After a long time, all of a sudden, he laughed heartily. “A joke. These ancient gods are a joke! I am a joke as well. I shouldn’t place all my hopes in these ancient gods!”

The broken soul of Celestial Emperor quietly looked at him.

Yan Qiling coldly sighed. “Celestial Venerable Mu, why are you laughing?”

“I am laughing at how naive these ancient gods are!”

Qin Mu was getting a little crazed. He clapped his palms together and continued to laugh. “I am laughing at myself for being naive as well!”

The broken soul of Celestial Emperor continued to look at him quietly.

Yan Qiling glanced at him and asked softly, “Celestial Venerable Mu, why do you say that?”

“The dispatch of the celestial heavens’ strongest divine weapons isn’t to deal with Eternal Peace. The predicament of Eternal Peace is collateral damage. The real target of the divine weapons is the ancient gods.”

Qin Mu laughed until his eyes teared up. “When the celestial heavens want to deal with Earth Count, he has cold feet and dares not speak. When they want to deal with Heaven Duke, he cowers and gives up. When they want to deal with the Primordial Realm and kill Mother Earth, Founding Emperor, heroes, and lackeys alike are all helpless. When they want to deal with the four deities, they can only wait for their deaths. Now, they intend to eradicate the powers of the ancient gods, and what was once the emperor of the ancient gods can only hide. Just like burrowed ants whispering in autumn about gains and losses. It’s ridiculous that I came to find you.”

Yan Qiling’s expression changed, and she shouted, “How dare you! What ants? How dare you spout such nonsense in front of His Majesty!”

The broken soul of Celestial Emperor raised its hand and stopped Yan Qiling. He smiled. “Let him continue.”

Qin Mu smiled coldly. “Only through the powers of Heaven Duke and Earth Count was I able to bring Goddess of Heavenly Yin back to life. If Heaven Duke and Earth Count are dead, there is nothing I can do. When the celestial heavens came to kill Mother Earth, you ancient gods did nothing. When they move on to the four deities, I expect you ancients gods to do nothing as well. After which, the celestial heavens will proceed to kill Heaven Duke and Earth Count. Then, the ancient gods will become extinct. The era of the ancient gods will be over forever! And all of this will be the result of Your Majesty’s inaction.”

Yan Qiling flew into a rage and shouted, “What nonsense! How dare you speak to His Majesty in this manner. I’m going to kill you! My master, the ancient Celestial Emperor, is the strongest emperor throughout the ages. Even if he is going to get killed or have his powers seized, he won’t fall for your goading!”

The broken soul of Celestial Emperor laughed. “Qiling, that’s enough. You don’t have to speak anymore.”

Yan Qiling bowed and took a step back. She said, “Your disciple is unable to stand him insulting you. Hence, I spoke for you. What nonsense about ants whispering. He should be put to death!”

The broken soul of Celestial Emperor was at a loss about whether to laugh or cry. He said, “Celestial Venerable Mu, your words do make some sense. However, given the current situation, if we make a significant move, we will be courting our own deaths. It will be difficult for me to help. Tell me, what should I do?”

“Your Majesty, what you need to do is give Eternal Peace a lifeline.”

Qin Mu solemnly said, “If Eternal Peace is destroyed, all will be eradicated—including the ancient gods, the eras through time, and even Founding Emperor! My only plea is to ask Your Majesty to use all your power to protect Eternal Peace.”

The broken soul of Celestial Emperor sighed with a pained expression. “Too difficult, I am unable to see any glimmer of hope.”

Qin Mu wasn’t willing to give up. He said, “I can use Heaven Duke’s power to combine two of your souls!”

The broken soul of Celestial Emperor shook his head and sighed. “Your proposition is too tempting. If things were different, I would have been agreeable. You don’t realize that even if I recover all of my divine souls, I may not be the same anymore.”

“Is it because of your body?” Qin Mu suddenly asked.

The broken soul of Celestial Emperor in the black sand was shocked and coldly replied, “What do you know?”

Qin Mu took out a peachwood hairpin and said, “I know that Your Majesty’s body was trapped within Celestial Venerable Ling’s divine art.”

“Celestial Venerable Ling’s hairpin!” The broken soul of Celestial Emperor reached out for the hairpin excitedly.

Qin Mu relaxed his hand, allowing him to take away the hairpin.

With the hairpin in his palm, the broken soul of Celestial Emperor became calm.

He looked at the hairpin carefully, and with a sudden pinch, the peachwood hairpin disintegrated. It then rematerialized in his palm again.

“This is indeed Celestial Venerable Ling’s peachwood hairpin. It looks like she has found you.”

The broken soul of Celestial Emperor returned the hairpin and laughed. “I am moved. I am truly moved. However, I have no reason to go to the mortal world. Celestial Venerable Hao is enough to settle everything.”

He paced around and sighed. “My unfilial son has power over all levels of society. My powers are close to his, but if anyone finds out that I was once a Celestial Emperor, I will face their combined might and be killed. I have no reason to go to the mortal world.”

Qin Mu’s eyes brightened. “If Celestial Venerable Hao is unable to handle the Primordial Realm, would Your Majesty have a reason to go to the mortal world?”

The broken soul of Celestial Emperor was startled.

Qin Mu said, “We will see if Your Majesty is willing.”

“You are a demon! Celestial Venerable Mu, you are indeed a demon!”

The broken soul of Celestial Emperor paced around frantically and then stopped suddenly. “I am absolutely willing. I have nothing to lose. Poor Mother Earth, but this is also the only reason I would go to the mortal world. Only in this way can we have a glimmer of hope!”

Yan Qiling understood what they were going to do. She was appalled but remained silent.

“Qiling!”

Yan Qiling bowed. “Yes, Master.”

The black soul sand surrounding the broken soul of Celestial Emperor swirled and spat out a bright round mirror into Yan Qiling’s hands.

The broken soul of Celestial Emperor said, “Go find Mother Earth. Have her face this mirror.”

Yan Qiling quietly put away the mirror.

Goddess of Heavenly Yin, who had been standing at the side, remained silent. She was simple and couldn’t understand what Qin Mu and the broken soul of Celestial Emperor were talking about. However, once she saw the mirror, she finally understood.

She became even more withdrawn.

The broken soul of Celestial Emperor said, “Celestial Venerable Mu, I plan to offer my strongest general. What do you think?”

Qin Mu bowed. “Your Majesty’s sacrifice is bound to be repaid.”

The broken soul of Celestial Emperor shook his head and laughed. “Of course I want gratitude. You will perform your spell to reconstruct my souls. After that, you can go with Qiling to see the new Mother Earth.”

Qin Mu was about to agree when he heard Goddess of Heavenly Yin cough. He understood what she was trying to convey, but he pretended not to hear and continued his spell.

When he opened the Gate of Heaven Influence to tap into Heaven Duke’s power, Heaven Duke and Earth Count immediately sensed it and looked across the world.

Qin Mu kneeled down in front of these two ancient gods.

Because of their feud with Celestial Emperor, the two ancient gods intended to retract their powers. However, upon seeing him kowtowing until his head was bleeding, the two ancient gods relented. They then exited the Gate of Heaven Influence and didn’t pursue him for tapping into their powers.

Qin Mu stood up and continued performing his spell.

The reconstruction of Celestial Emperor’s soul was an arduous task. He was completely exhausted but determined to finish the spell.

When Celestial Emperor’s second soul was reconstructed, Qin Mu collapsed and fainted on the altar.

The earth soul of Celestial Emperor condensed and transformed into an imposing figure. He then looked up at the altar and laughed. “Perhaps if you were still of any use to me, I would have you seek out my body. Now, I plan to get rid of you. Celestial Venerable Mu, to have you alive is dangerous…”

“Your Majesty!”

Goddess of Heavenly Yin stepped forward and bowed. “Your Majesty is a man of your word. You can’t renege on your promise.”

The second soul of Celestial Emperor looked at her and pondered for a long time. He then sighed. “Heavenly Yin, you tend to favor outsiders. As he once saved your life, I won’t blame you. But you are too simple-minded. There is a lot of evil in this world, and there are plenty of things you don’t understand. Don’t worry, he will live.”

With a flick of his fingers, a stream of essence entered Qin Mu, leading him to recover.

“Qiling, go with Celestial Venerable Mu.”

The second soul of Celestial Emperor then flew out of Heavenly Yin World as he said, “Celestial Venerable Mu, everything is now in your hands. Defeating my unfilial son will depend on your abilities and methods. I will be waiting in the celestial heavens for the chance to descend to the mortal world. Before that, you need to protect Eternal Peace. If you can do that, we may have a glimmer of hope!”

Qin Mu got back to his feet and turned towards Yan Qiling. “Thanks.”

Yan Qiling shook her head. “I wasn’t trying to help you. I wouldn’t want you to die before I defeat you and have you beg for my mercy. Come with me, I will bring you to meet the new Mother Earth.”

Qin Mu turned and thanked Goddess of Heavenly Yin. “Goddess, you shouldn’t speak for me in front of Celestial Emperor. He doesn’t trust you anymore.”

Goddess of Heavenly Yin was utterly confused. She suddenly broke into tears. “Do you really want to kill Mother Earth? She is just like me, a lonely person.”

Qin Mu bid her farewell. “She is nevertheless a pawn of Celestial Emperor. Goddess, please take care!”

He then turned and left with Yan Qiling.

Outside Heavenly Yin World, he and Yan Qiling rode on the dragon sparrow, navigating Yan’er. After a long time, Yan Qiling said, “The new Mother Earth is actually my master’s wife.”

Qin Mu was shocked but remained silent.

“I can’t bear to do it, but I have no choice.”

Yan Qiling stared blankly, then laughed. “I was confident about my abilities and looked down on those young warriors of the celestial heavens. I felt I would be able to easily defeat the Primordial Realm and help my master unite the realm when I descend to the mortal world. That was before I met you, and you taught me a lesson. I sometimes feel blessed. After experiencing so much, I realized…”

Qin Mu reached out with a finger and tapped the back of her head.

Celestial Emperor’s blessing at the back of Yan Qiling’s head immediately dimmed.