Tales of Herding Gods

The gods of the celestial heavens struggled to hold back their anger, but the Green Deity of the Eastern Sky remained composed. He revealed an imposing expression and said, “Celestial Venerable Mu, there’s nothing wrong with what you’ve just said. After all, as an esteemed Celestial Venerable, you have remarkable abilities. However, right now, you are already a useless person. There’s a saying that goes—a heroic spirit would never be extinguished. You have no soul, so what you are relying on is merely your heroic spirit.”

Emperor Yanfeng and Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor felt a shudder in their hearts, and they looked towards Qin Mu.

The heroic spirit would never be extinguished. What he meant was that Qin Mu’s soul had already been dispersed, leaving behind only his spirit and no soul.

What this also meant was that the Qin Mu of the three heroes of Eternal Peace’s reform was already dead!

Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor suddenly wept as he thought to himself, ‘Did Senior Brother force himself to hold on until he got here—with his unextinguished attachment and undispersed consciousness—because he couldn’t bear to leave Eternal Peace behind?’

He had seen too many people who were like that, who even though they had already died in battle, they had a strong attachment within their hearts that supported them so that they wouldn’t collapse. Even in death, they still wanted to continue fighting.

However, Qin Mu’s situation was a little unique, and it wasn’t as he had imagined.

Green Deity of the Eastern Sky was growing more dignified and solemn. His voice rumbled through the skies, and echoes that sounded like a huge bell ringing could be heard from all directions. “Celestial Venerable Mu, Eternal Peace is just a small country, and it takes up only a tiny space within the Primordial Realm. I am here on orders to clean up the mess in Eternal Peace and have already given you, Celestial Venerable Mu, face by not annihilating this place. Celestial Venerable Mu, please do not make it difficult for me. Due to what happened with Wei Suifeng, I am already guilty of not fulfilling my mission. Thus, the execution of the heads of the rebellion is a must!”

Qin Mu turned around and displayed an unreadable expression. “If I don’t make it difficult for you, it will be difficult for me.”

Green Deity of the Eastern Sky said, “If their corporeal bodies are completely destroyed without even leaving blood vessels behind, will Celestial Venerable Mu still be able to reforge their corporeal bodies and revive them?”

Qin Mu shook his head. “I can only help them gather their souls and let them reincarnate. Twelve years later, I will guide them and let them regain the memories of their past life so that they can make a comeback. If their corporeal bodies are still intact, the second you leave, I can revive them. It would be much easier.”

Around them, the gods yelled out in rage.

Green Deity of the Eastern Sky raised a hand and replied coldly, “Celestial Venerable Mu, you are being impudent! Where do you intend to put heaven’s might? Do you wish to destroy the authority and dignity of the celestial heavens?”

Qin Mu waved a hand. “Since you can’t make the decision, then get lost and find someone who can make the decision and have them meet me!”

The gods flew into a fury—dark clouds filled the sky as thunder and lightning crossed and struck ceaselessly.

“Celestial Venerable Mu, stop resisting heaven’s might!”

Suddenly, from within the group of kneeling citizens of Eternal Peace, one elderly man started to kowtow repeatedly as he cried out shrilly, “That’s the heavens! To resist the heavens is to be treasonous!”

Qin Mu was startled, and everything in front of his eyes turned black. Only after a while did he recover from it.

Even more citizens of Eternal Peace started yelling out from below.

“That’s right! What right do you have to make the decision for us? If they want to kill anyone, let them kill Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor and Emperor Yanfeng!”

“They caused this disaster with their reforms! Just kill those two rebels!”

“Pray for the heavens to bring forth their wrath and kill this rebel Celestial Venerable Mu as well!”

…

The corners of Qin Mu’s eyes twitched violently once, and immediately after, his expression was composed again. Green Deity of the Eastern Sky laughed out loud. “Celestial Venerable Mu, these people that you want to protect, they don’t seem to be appreciative of you. You are protecting a group of livestock and even killing yourself for them. You dug out your own eye, abandoning your status as the Son of Youdu and resulting in you just having your unextinguished heroic spirit left. Is it worth it?”

Qin Mu sneered. “Get lost and find me someone who can make decisions!”

Green Deity of the Eastern Sky snorted coldly. He got up and was about to give the order for the troops to retreat when a leisurely sounding voice traveled down, saying, “Green Deity of the Eastern Sky, if you give the order for the troops to retreat just like that, you will undermine the dignity and authority of the celestial heavens! If you recall your troops, the authority of the celestial heavens will be swept away, and there will be even more rebels who will go against the heavenly might from today on.”

Green Deity of the Eastern Sky was astonished, and he hurriedly bowed and kowtowed.

Whoosh. Innumerous gods turned around and bowed. A Celestial Venerable Yu that was of similar build to Qin Mu walked over with broad steps and laughed. “Celestial Venerable Mu really knows how to make trouble for me. Such a small land like Eternal Peace still requires me to come down here personally.”

Qin Mu coughed violently and replied, “It’s just because Dao brother is going too far.”

This Celestial Venerable Yu smiled. “Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor and Emperor Yanfeng can avoid death. However, they defied heaven and went against the mandate of heaven. If they are not dealt with, the authority of the celestial heavens will no longer exist. I can spare their lives and simply trap them. This would be giving Celestial Venerable Mu face and saving the face of the celestial heavens. What do you think about this?”

Qin Mu replied, “There has to be a year limit, or else Dao brother should just kill them.”

Celestial Venerable Yu replied coldly, “You are asking for too much.”

Qin Mu didn’t say another word.

After a period of time, this Celestial Venerable Yu laughed. “There are many rebels in the Primordial Realm, and they can’t all be killed anyway. It’s my intention to build a large prison within the Primordial Realm, where they shall be suppressed. On your account, I will only imprison them for two hundred years. This is non-negotiable.”

Qin Mu was about to speak when Celestial Venerable Yu continued indifferently, “Even if you can revive them, don’t forget that the celestial heavens has all sorts of tricks to stop you from gathering their broken souls. Aren’t you still unable to find that missing piece of Lan Yutian’s broken soul?”

Qin Mu was in shock, and his gaze landed on him.

The real Celestial Venerable Yu had a piece of his broken soul suppressed within the Hall of Fragrance in the celestial heavens, leaving him a little dim-witted. It also stopped him from returning to what he was like in the past.

The celestial heavens did have the ability to seal the souls of Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor and Emperor Yanfeng, and there was nothing he—the Great Wizard—could do about it.

Celestial Venerable Yu rose to the skies of the capital city, and his gaze landed on Emperor Yanfeng as he laughed. “The heavens have the virtue of loving all living beings. You may be exempted from death, but you cannot escape punishment. You will be forever suppressed within the great prison. Eternal Peace cannot be without an emperor. Go and choose a successor.”

Emperor Yanfeng turned around and looked at his children. His gaze landed on Ling Yuxiu, and immediately after, it moved away from Ling Yuxiu and landed on Ling Yushu. He smiled and said, “Yushu, come up here. After I am gone, you shall be Emperor of Eternal Peace.”

Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor understood his intentions, and he felt a sense of sorrow in his heart.

Ling Yushu stepped forward, bowing and kneeling down.

At this very moment, Celestial Venerable Yu flicked a finger, and Ling Yushu’s corporeal body was instantly reduced to powder with his soul disintegrated.

Celestial Venerable Yu smiled. “The child that you picked is definitely the best one who inherited your ambition, so I cannot be assured. Pick another one.”

Emperor Yanfeng collapsed to the ground, crying, tears streaking down his face. After a long time, he got up, and his gaze wandered about the rest of his children.

“Yuxiu, come up here.”

With tears streaming, Emperor Yanfeng said, “From now on, Eternal Peace Empire is in your hands. Don’t be too good at it, be a little muddle-headed and useless. From today onwards, you are Emperor of Eternal Peace!”

Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor sighed in his heart. He knew why Emperor Yanfeng had picked Ling Yushu first and not Ling Yuxiu.

His goal was to protect Ling Yuxiu.

The gods of the celestial heavens took Emperor Yanfeng and Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor into custody, and they boarded a ship that would take them towards the prison. Meanwhile, the other celestial troops and generals stayed behind. They planned to destroy the system of primary schools, colleges, and the Imperial College. The books and records on reform were also to be burned, while heavy-duty divine weapons such as the Sunshot Divine Cannon, Sun Ship, and Moon Ship would be destroyed. On top of that, they would support the sects and supervise Eternal Peace.

Ling Yuxiu succeeded the throne. The title of her dynasty was Yanxiu, and she was named Emperor Yanxiu.

“A tiny Eternal Peace Empire has tied me down for such a long time. The lower lifeforms of the human race really give one a headache.”

The Celestial Venerable Yu that was transformed from Celestial Emperor laughed as he spoke to Qin Mu, “I should return. Celestial Venerable Mu, I very much look forward to you walking out of your trauma so that you can retrieve my corporeal body. Do you know why I want to imprison Emperor Yanfeng and Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor for two hundred years and why I am giving you two hundred years of time?”

Qin Mu walked out of Eternal Peace’s capital city with him, and with a calm and composed expression, he replied, “After two hundred years, Heaven Duke will be dead and replaced. At that time, I, the invincible Great Wizard, will cease to exist and will no longer have the ability to revive anybody.”

Ancient Celestial Emperor burst into laughter. “Talking to a smart person truly saves effort and energy. Within two hundred years, there won’t be any secrets in Xuandu’s Great Dao. Heaven Duke will become history, and the new Heaven Duke will emerge in the world. You won’t be able to borrow any power from Xuandu, and your spell of revival will cease to exist. At that time, you will no longer be qualified to make any negotiations, nor will you have any assets to negotiate with.”

He stopped walking and smiled gently. “Celestial Venerable Mu, let me tell you an absolute truth.”

Qin Mu also stopped walking. “I’m all ears.”

Ancient Celestial Emperor replied leisurely, “To fall behind is not a sin, being weak is.”

“The new sky map is already being forged. In a few dozen years, it will be hung back into the skies and become the star atlas that will envelop the entire Primordial Realm.”

He raised his head to look at the sky. A sun appeared in the sky, the true divine sun of the Primordial Realm.

“Enjoy all of this.”

Ancient Celestial Emperor laughed. “For the next few decades, you will get to see the real starry skies. After that, there will be no one who is able to remember what the real starry skies looked like. There’s no need to send me off, please return.”

His figure floated into the sky and vanished on the horizon.

Qin Mu raised his head and pondered over his words. Falling behind would result in getting a beating, but Eternal Peace wasn’t behind in times—Eternal Peace’s skills, divine arts, and philosophies even surpassed those of the celestial heavens.

The sole reason Eternal Peace was beaten up until it couldn’t stand was that it was weak.

It had too little time to develop and didn’t have the power to go against the celestial heavens. This was why it was utterly defeated by the absolute power of the celestial heavens.

He stood there in silence and didn’t move for a long time, remaining motionless until night fell and lights were lit up.

At this time, the darkness before him opened up, and a faint light shone over from another world, shining onto his face.

Qin Mu saw a piece of land floating within another world, and the mountains in this land formed a “Qin” word. Sitting cross-legged on the ground was an enormous big-headed baby, who had his hands hugged in front of his chest as he looked at Qin Mu.

Qin Mu’s gaze landed on him, and the big-headed baby snorted, hugging his arms even tighter and turning his head to look away from him in anger.

Qin Mu revealed a smile. “Brother, I’m sorry that I have taken over your corporeal body.”

He could see that the big-headed baby had made use of that third eye, transforming it into flesh and blood to reforge his corporeal body.

“Humph!” The big-headed baby pouted, and he was even angrier now.

The light came from the hands of an Elder Messenger of Death. The Elder Messenger of Death held a lamp as he stood within the Qin word land. Beside him stood Celestial Venerable Yu, who waved at him.

The clone of Heaven Duke, Lava Earth Count, Crimson Emperor, Great Sun Sovereign, and the Old Buddha were no longer in the Qin word land. He didn’t know where they had all gone.

Qin Mu waved towards the Elder Messenger of Death and Celestial Venerable Yu.

A treasured ship sailed over, and there were numerous figures on board.

Qin Mu saw Princess Consort Zhen and a tree man—they were once his parents.

“Mu’er, Earth Count has released us. We intend to return to Carefree Village, do you want to go back with us?”

Princess Consort Zhen stood at the head of the ship and continued gently, “There is too much danger and evil in this world, with the dangers of the mortal world surpassing that of Youdu. Although there may be some dangers in Carefree Village, in comparison to the outside world, Carefree Village is the safer of the two.”

Qin Mu waved vigorously and smiled. “I am not Qin Fengqing, I am not your son. I am Qin Mu, an orphan of the Great Ruins, a child that Granny Si picked up from the riverbank. I yearn for Carefree Village, but my heart is still in the mortal world. After a few years, I will go to Carefree Village to find you, but the time is not now!”

He pulled out the Carefree Sword and threw it out with all his might.

The divine sword of Founding Emperor drew a long arc and landed on the treasured ship of Carefree Village. Qin Hanzhen picked up the Carefree Sword.

“You are my child.”

Princess Consort Zhen cried as she waved with great strength. “You are flesh and blood that I gave birth to. You have a home, kin, and you have our bloodline!”

The treasured ship of Carefree Village sailed far away, and Princess Consort Zhen’s voice traveled back, saying, “You have to come home, you must come back!”

With a smile on his face, Qin Mu waved his hand with all his might.

Kin.

Kin from Carefree Village.

He had previously wanted to find Carefree Village countless of times, wanting to return to his hometown, to go and see Founding Emperor and his kin. However, at present, in the Primordial Realm, there were still his kin and those who needed him more.

He turned around, and Emperor Yanxiu stood not far from him.

“I thought you would leave,” the previous sixth princess and the present Emperor Yanxiu said softly.

“If I leave, what would you do?”

Qin Mu walked towards her and smiled. “Go back. From today onwards, I am your Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor!”