Tales of Herding Gods

Celestial Venerable Yue was unconvinced. “I believe it must be because of this! You aren’t the real Celestial Venerable Mu, how do you know I’m thinking too much?”

Qin Mu shook his head but didn’t offer any further explanation.

The name Mu Qing was taken from Qin Mu and Qin Fengqing. At that time, he really thought that he was Qin Fengqing, but not anymore.

Celestial Venerable Yue’s gaze flickered as she looked at him. She thought, ‘He shouldn’t be Celestial Venerable Yun…’

After returning to the Heaven Han Celestial Heavens, Celestial Venerable Yue immediately instructed the gods of the human race to head towards the territories of God Emperor Lang Xuan and migrate the humans there. Celestial Venerable Yue found Celestial Venerable Ling by the side of the Celestial River, completely engrossed in researching the so-called unchanging divine art.

“Sister Ling, Celestial Venerable Mu has already reached an agreement with God Emperor Lang Xuan. We can migrate the humans from his territories and will need your help for that… You found your hairpin?” Celestial Venerable Yue was shocked when she saw the hairpin on Celestial Venerable Ling’s head.

Celestial Venerable Ling regained her senses and raised her hand to touch her head. She felt her hairpin and said puzzledly, “It was clearly lost, how did it appear again?”

She took it off and examined it over and over again, becoming even more puzzled. The peachwood hairpin had clearly disappeared. No matter how hard she searched, she was unable to find it. Now, it had inexplicably appeared, making her a little confused.

She bit the peachwood hairpin in her mouth, freeing her hands to curl her hair, and inserted the hairpin again. She said, “Yue, what did you just say? I didn’t catch that clearly.”

Celestial Venerable Yue had no choice but to repeat herself. Celestial Venerable Ling was a little unwilling, but this was an important matter. She could only put down her research and go with her.

As the two girls walked past Qin Mu, Celestial Venerable Ling asked, “Strange, when did my hairpin appear?”

“How would I know?”

Celestial Venerable Yue smiled. “You don’t even know it yourself, so naturally, I wouldn’t have a clue. Maybe someone had stolen it and then secretly returned it to you?”

Qin Mu watched as they left. He was also feeling a little bewildered. Two identical substances couldn’t exist in the same space-time. Celestial Venerable Ling’s peachwood hairpin had indeed disappeared. In that case, why did this hairpin appear again?

He took out the peachwood hairpin hidden in the Qin word land that was in the heart of his brows. Celestial Venerable Ling, who was far away, cried out in shock as her hair became disheveled. She said angrily, “My hairpin was taken away by someone again!”

Qin Mu’s heart jumped. He quickly placed the peachwood hairpin back into the Qin word land. Suddenly, a hairpin appeared in Celestial Venerable Ling’s disheveled hair. Celestial Venerable Yue’s voice traveled over. “Isn’t it still in your hair?”

As Celestial Venerable Ling felt her hairpin, she held it in her mouth like before while her hands curled her hair. She said unclearly, “It suddenly disappeared a moment ago. I feel that the substance of this hairpin is highly unstable. There’s something strange…”

Upon seeing this scene, Qin Mu took out the hairpin again. The hairpin in Celestial Venerable Ling’s mouth suddenly disappeared.

Celestial Venerable Ling was furious. “God d*mn it, who is behind this? Come out and receive your punishment!”

When Celestial Venerable Yue saw what happened, she also got a fright and hurriedly scanned her surroundings.

Qin Mu quickly placed the hairpin back into the Qin word land. Celestial Venerable Ling couldn’t help but fall into a daze when she realized she was still biting the hairpin. Suddenly, she seemed to have thought of something as she muttered, “Unchanging substance, unchanging substance, could it be that there’s another identical substance that materialized to replace my hairpin… I could try to hypothesize the theory behind this!”

She crouched down and used her hairpin to draw on the ground.

Celestial Venerable Yue got a fright again and looked around frantically. Qin Mu hurriedly hid behind the body of the dragon qilin.

Celestial Venerable Yue didn’t discover the person who stole and returned the hairpin, while Celestial Venerable Ling had descended into a crazed state again, ignoring her. She could only look for the others.

Qin Mu had a strange expression. He thought, ‘When two identical substances exist in the same world, there appears to be a substitution effect. That is to say, if I return back to my era, the other me would then disappear. When I leave that world, the other me would then reappear.’

He fell into a daze. The heart of his brows was like another independent space-time. Contained within it was a world formed by the Qin word land, the Grand Primordium Origin Stone, and Celestial Emperor’s eggshell.

When he placed the hairpin inside, it would be separated from the Dragon Han Era, so Celestial Venerable Ling’s hairpin would appear. When Qin Mu took out the hairpin, Celestial Venerable Ling’s hairpin would then disappear.

‘My eye also contains the corpses of Celestial Venerable Yun and Yuanmu. If I take out Celestial Venerable Yun’s corporeal body, will this era’s Celestial Venerable Yun disappear?’

Qin Mu blinked his eyes and thought, ‘It should be okay if I just take it out for a while? Should I try it?’

He couldn’t help but get excited when he thought of that. He swiftly went to the Numinous Sky Hall of the Heaven Han Celestial Heavens and instructed Yan’er and the dragon qilin to guard the door, not allowing anyone to enter.

Qin Mu took out Celestial Venerable Yun’s corpse. That ancient Celestial Venerable corporeal body appeared in the interior of the Numinous Sky Hall. In the celestial heavens, Celestial Venerable Yun was talking to Celestial Venerable Huo. Suddenly, his body became transparent, disappearing into thin air under the horrified gaze of Celestial Venerable Huo.

Within the Numinous Sky Hall, Celestial Venerable Yun’s corpse slowly opened its eyes. He looked around in a daze, muttering, “Is this… Celestial Venerable Mu?”

When he saw Qin Mu, he was extremely astonished.

Qin Mu circled him excitedly and got very emotional. “It seems that such a thing can happen. When the other Yun disappeared, his consciousness came to the body of this Yun. If this Yun disappears, then the other Yun will appear. This isn’t unchanging substance… Celestial Venerable Yun, we finally met.”

Celestial Venerable Yun stood up and was about to speak. Suddenly, a brilliant light flashed from the heart of Qin Mu’s brows, sucking him back in with a whoosh.

In the celestial heavens, Celestial Venerable Huo watched in horror as Celestial Venerable Yun suddenly reappeared. He pointed at him, speechless, looking as if he had seen a ghost.

Celestial Venerable Yun’s eyes were wide open as he revealed a look of disbelief. He muttered, “I seem to have entered into a different space-time just now, growing much older. I even ran into an old friend. It felt as though it was a dream…”

Celestial Venerable Huo suppressed the trembling in his heart. “Brother Yun, just now, you disappeared for quite a while. Where did you go?”

Celestial Venerable Yun composed himself, casting aside his incredulous experience and continuing the subject they were discussing. “Celestial Venerable Hao is Celestial Venerable Yu’s murderer, and Celestial Emperor is behind this. To Celestial Emperor, Lan Yutian’s reputation was too great, so he had to die. Celestial Venerable Hao is his son. When Hao succeeds Lan Yutian, he will gain the support of the Postcelestial races and half-gods. This is very important to Celestial Emperor’s rule. You are a smart person and should be able to see this. Now, the human race is weak and needs you to blaze a new trail through all their difficulties. Yet, you choose to follow Hao. This, I’m unable to understand.”

Celestial Venerable Huo fell silent.

Celestial Venerable Yun extended his palm as he said with great sincerity, “There are no experts in the human race. We don’t have the innate abilities of half-gods or the protection and support of the ancient gods. We are born weak, and we don’t have the power of a bloodline flowing through our veins. However, we are smart and can use our intelligence and ingenuity to obtain the right to survive. Come help me in the Primordial Realm.”

Celestial Venerable Huo shook his head. “Brother Yun, aren’t you able to tell?”

Celestial Venerable Yun raised his eyebrows while Celestial Venerable Hao continued talking, saying, “After Celestial Venerable Yu’s death, I suddenly came to a realization. If the human race wants to survive, it needs to submit to a stronger power! Celestial Emperor is that stronger power! Celestial Venerable Hao is one part of that strong power as well, and the one who holds the most promise! Your hard work in the lower bound is merely an illusion. No matter how hard you work, all it takes is one command from Celestial Emperor. The power built by your human race will then be turned into ashes! However, Celestial Venerable Hao is different…”

Celestial Venerable Yun was furious. He said coldly, “Hao murdered Celestial Venerable Yu! He is the son of Celestial Emperor and not of the same race as us!”

“He is also half-human!”

Celestial Venerable Huo said, “He has ambitions and ideals. Not long ago, he walked out of the shadows. He may be a respected half-god, but he’s also human. Only when he gains power will the human race have the chance to survive. This is the best solution for the fate and future of the human race that I have thought of over the past thousand years. The so-called human celestial heavens you are meddling with in the lower bound will only result in you becoming another Celestial Venerable Yu. Sooner or later, you will suffer the same fate as him!”

Celestial Venerable Yun stood up, and Celestial Venerable Huo followed suit. Both of them stared at each other.

Celestial Venerable Huo said solemnly, “I’m also aware that Celestial Emperor allowed you to establish the human celestial heavens, but what you don’t know is that he also allowed Celestial Venerable Hao to set up a half-god celestial heavens, which is also situated in the Primordial Realm. Don’t you understand what this means?”

Celestial Venerable Yun’s body shook slightly, and his voice became a little hoarse. “This is why you submitted to Celestial Venerable Hao and are so loyal to him?”

Celestial Venerable Huo said, “Two options—one with a chance of success, the other without. I chose the former.”

Celestial Venerable Yun took a deep breath. “There will be conflict when the half-god celestial heavens and the human celestial heavens exist in the Primordial Realm together. Which one will you choose?”

“Like I said before, I will choose the option that has a chance of success.”

Celestial Venerable Huo said insipidly, “I submit to a stronger power. When the stronger power succeeds, the human race will then have a chance of surviving.”

“I understand.”

Celestial Venerable Yun nodded, turning around to leave. “Farewell.”

Celestial Venerable Huo didn’t send him off. When Celestial Venerable Yun was at the door, he turned and looked at his former Dao friend. He then said with a choked voice, “Huo, you aren’t what you used to be.”

Celestial Venerable Huo trembled slightly and looked into his eyes. “Since Celestial Venerable Yu’s death, I’m not that simple and pure Celestial Venerable Huo anymore. I have changed, but haven’t you? You, Yue, Ling, haven’t they as well? After the change at the Jade Pool, we have all changed.”

Celestial Venerable Yun was silent for a while before walking out of Celestial Venerable Huo’s room. His voice traveled from outside, full of melancholy. “Indeed, we have all changed.”

Celestial Venerable Huo watched as he left. From behind the screen, Celestial Venerable Hao walked out slowly and smiled. “Celestial Venerable Huo, you did well.”

Celestial Venerable Huo’s body stiffened. He turned around and said plainly, “A wise man is able to understand the times and suit his actions to it. Yun, however, isn’t able to do so and will definitely suffer a loss in the future.”

Celestial Venerable Hao placed his hands behind his back and looked at the resplendent celestial heavens outside the window. “Although over a thousand years have passed, the change at the Jade Pool is still fresh in my mind. I have been lying sick in my bed for over a thousand years, behaving crazy and muddle-headed. When I think of the time that I’ve lost, I’m filled with a thousand regrets.”

He tilted his head to look at Celestial Venerable Huo. “That’s right, Celestial Venerable Yu did die under my hands. However, even if I didn’t do it, he would still have died. It wasn’t me who wanted him dead but Celestial Emperor. Do you understand?”

Celestial Venerable Huo said, “I naturally understand.”

Celestial Venerable Hao said, “I may be a half-god, but I’m also human. You and I are people who have received the blessings of the ancient gods. These blessings behind our heads are also meant to monitor us. However, in this Jade Court, we can speak freely without fear of being eavesdropped on by Celestial Emperor or other ancient gods. You are my confidant now, and I will introduce you to someone.”

Just as his voice landed, a girl in palace clothing walked out from behind the screen.

“This is my mother, Mistress Yuanmu!”

Celestial Venerable Hao smiled. “This Jade Court has been engulfed by my mother’s divine art. The blessings of the ancient gods are unable to monitor us here.”

Celestial Venerable Huo bowed and greeted her, saying, “Your humble servant pays his respects to Empress Mother!”

Mistress Yuanmu chuckled. “Such a well-behaved child.”

In the Heaven Han Celestial Heavens, Qin Mu stored Celestial Venerable Yun’s corpse, pinching his beard as he thought, ‘If I take out Mistress Yuanmu’s corpse, the current Mistress Yuanmu will then disappear…’

He shook his head, dispersing the curiosity in his heart.

Earlier, when he took out Celestial Venerable Yun’s corpse, his consciousness actually woke up within the corpse. He could even speak and move.

He didn’t know what kind of frightening consequences the disappearance of Celestial Venerable Yun’s current body might bring, so he stored away Celestial Venerable Yun’s corpse. If he took out Yuanmu’s corpse, the Yuanmu in the celestial heavens would then come live in this corpse. That would be too terrifying.

‘It’s a pity that I’m unable to give it a try.’ He was filled with a great amount of regret.

“Cult Master!”

The dragon qilin’s voice traveled from outside the hall. “That man, Luo Xiao, is back again. He’s asking if you’re still going to the celestial heavens.”

Qin Mu walked towards the outside, smiling. “Of course!”

As he walked past Yan’er, he saw that she was carrying a lantern with a forlorn look. It seemed that she hadn’t recovered from the pain of losing her mother.

Qin Mu gently consoled her. “When we are back in the celestial heavens, we will go to the Vermillion Bird Celestial Palace to take one of your mother’s treasures. She can then be revived.”

Yan’er was greatly roused.

In the Lang Xuan Divine Palace, the half-gods under God Emperor Lang Xuan’s territories came forth to report, one after another. They talked about how the Celestial Venerables of the Heaven Han Celestial Heavens had come, wanting to take away the humans. As this was an order from God Emperor Lang Xuan, they would have to comply with that.

“God Emperor, are we going to cast this matter aside?”

An elder among the half-gods spoke with grief and indignation. “Those humans were reared by us, and we have been rearing them for thousands of years! During Celestial Venerable Yun’s previous visit, God Emperor allowed them to impart the path to the humans. That was already a huge favor granted to them. Now, they actually want to take away our livestock! God Emperor, can you tolerate this?”

God Emperor Lang Xuan’s expression darkened. “Of course, I’m unable to tolerate it. However, there was the sudden appearance of Celestial Venerable Mu. He is a Celestial Venerable appointed by Celestial Emperor for his divine arts. His divine arts have transcended rationality, and there’s nothing I can do to him. While I may not be able to handle him, there’s someone who can. I’ll write to the celestial heavens and report this to Celestial Emperor, requesting that he capture this scoundrel.”

Many half-god leaders were delighted. They asked, “In that case, God Emperor, when the Celestial Venerables of the human race come to ask us for their humans, should we hand them over?”

“Yes! Of course!”

God Emperor Lang Xuan smiled. “Now, we hand them over. After Crook Mu is dead, they will be paying us back twice as much!”