The Divine Martial Stars

“The whole universe is our enemy,” muttered Yu Hualong darkly.

“All the universe?”

“He must be exaggerating!”

“Earth is just a small planet. The area of all its continents combined perhaps is less than the Divine Land. The Spiritual Qi on Earth is about to be depleted. the continents have been wrecked by mankind to the limit, and the sea is not better off, either. Numerous species on Earth have died out. All the wars and religious purges are still going on. People on Earth will soon find it hard to support themselves. I’m afraid it won’t take long before human beings meet their doom they created. So, why would those forces in the universe bother to pick on those Earth dwellers?”

“And the old faker also told me Earth would soon be torn down by force.”

Li Mu could not see why Earth, a planet that would soon be demolished without any prior notice, was worth being chased after by all the forces in the universe.

That Li Mu himself was so desperate to save Earth was simple for the sake of his family and friends still living on the planet.

His sense of belonging to Earth was mainly stirred up by the recognition that he was one of the human beings living on Earth in the first place.

“You will get it sometime in the future.” Yu Hualong continued, “Earth is not as simple as it seems to be. If its Spiritual Qi ever begins to flourish again, it will become the center of the entire universe. Real deity manifestations and immortals’ world will appear on Earth. In the universe, countless mighty forces are dying to descend on Earth, but they haven’t succeeded because they can’t pass the killing deployments in the Star Graveyard… Okay. Now, I’ve told you all I’ve got to. Any comment?”

Li Mu raised his cup, gulped the alcohol down, and laughed heartily. “I have no comment.”

Yu Hualong went momentarily speechless.

“Can I ever have a normal conversation with you?”

“I hope you can come to the aid of our Great Moon Empire.” Yu Hualong said. “You are also from Earth. The same blood is running in our veins. The Great Moon Empire is the home that we both belong to.”

Li Mu did not make any reply but his mind was racing. “What we share might not only be blood. As you are from the Tang Dynasty, perhaps I am one of your descendants.”

“The dead empire has been buried in the dust for a thousand years. It has become one of the bygones. Why bother cling on to it?” Li Mu said, “Nowadays, the Divine Land is chaotic enough. The folks are struggling in the fire of war. Why don’t you guard your own safety first and focus on martial arts practice? With your natural endowments— being a Semi-Sage before 30— it’s possible for you to reach the Void-breaking Realm. Once you get out of this planet, you are free to follow your master and set foot on the path into the vast universe.”

Deep down, Li Mu had zero interest in participating in the fight for the throne.

As he was born and raised in the countryside, all he longed for was a fairly well-off life. His biggest wish was to keep his family and friend safe and happy.

Yu Hualong gazed at Li Mu, as though he could not believe that was Li Mu speaking.

“Are you aware of the significance the Great Moon Empire has for Earth?” He stared at Li Mu, looking sterner than ever.

Li Mu did not say a word.

Yu Hualong continued, “It is actually a coordinate, a pivotal hold on the path to the vast universe those wise forefathers blazed. As long as the Great Moon Empire exists, the geniuses and talents on Earth stand a chance to get out of the Star Graveyard and start to search for the way of redemption of Earth, just like those wise forefathers did. But once the Great Moon Empire is gone, the path forefathers developed will break off, so will the hope for Earth. Though our generation may not be able to blaze a new safe path in the universe where we are besieged on all sides, at least we should safeguard the coordinate our forefathers left us even at the cost of our lives, shouldn’t we?”

Li Mu could tell that the determined and reverential look on Yu Hualong’s face as he made that remark was absolutely not just acting or feigned.

He had to admit that Yu Hualong was the kind of man who was very admirable.

A man like him lived on ambition and faith. He was always burning with righteous ardor, willing to hold on to those things at all costs.

Nonetheless, that was too staggering and remote for Li Mu, a boy who just graduated from junior high school.

“Do you know why I erected the flag of the Great Moon Empire the day I regained the mere small border area of the Western Qin? I could have hidden in the dark… But I insisted on letting the Divine Land, the traitors, and those demons coveting the land from afar know that our forefathers’ effort has not gone in vain, and the Great Moon Empire is still alive!” By that point, Yu Hualong was rather adrenalized.

‘Forefathers’ effort has not gone in vain, and the Great Moon Empire is still alive!’

That remark also made Li Mu’s blood boiling.

He slowly got to his feet and said, “I’m sorry. I need time to figure it out.”

Then, he wheeled around and headed for the outside.

For the moment, Li Mu could not give the crown prince a definite answer.

He needed to sleep on that matter, to comb through every detail.

Yu Hualong gaped at Li Mu, a trace of puzzlement reflected in his eyes.

“This is not the matter you need to sleep on, is it?”

“Who is your master?” Yu Hualong asked, “He must have also followed the path down here. Could I have a meeting with him?”

“I walked down the path all alone. There is no master at all.” Li Mu waved goodbye without looking back.

Yu Hualong rose to his feet despite himself and yelled after Li Mu. “You mentioned the Ming Dynasty before. Is it the dynasty that came after the Tang Dynasty?”

As a man in the Tang Dynasty, though he had followed Li Bai onto the path to the universe, he found it hard to stop missing his home planet.

The great Tang Dynasty was an unprecedentedly prosperous time. It was the pride of every man living in that dynasty.

But no matter how prosperous the dynasty was, it was inevitable to perish and fall apart. At the news of its doom, Yu Hualong was seized by mingled feelings.

“There are Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing, with other short dynasties at intervals. The land I came from, the place used to be Tang, is now called China.” Li Mu’s voice carried to the room as he halted at the door of the yard. “I’m not interested in the political fight. But if you need some help in battles in the future, feel free to come to me in Taibai Mountain. No token of identity is reacquired but a poem composed by your master. I will come to your aid regardless of time and places.”

Yu Hualong was stupefied at those words.

After a long while, he sank into his chair and breathed a long sigh.

“There are Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing. After the Tang Dynasty, time has witnessed the rise and fall of so many new dynasties. And all of them already receded to the pages of history books.”

“The land that once was known as Tang is called China?”

Suddenly, he was rather eager to go back to the current Earth, to see if the old land of the Tang Dynasty was the same magnificent.

Watch Li Mu’s back disappearing out of sight, Yu Hualong heaved with a deep sigh.

He had finally met Western Qin’s Lord Taibai after half a year’s worth of waiting.

Months ago when those stunning poems spread about, he knew Li Mu must have come from Earth. He had also sent men to investigate Li Mu’s past, but the feedback told him he was the son of Li Gang, the Secular Sword Whiz and magistrate of Chang’an in Western Qin. Yu Hualong did find that result bizarre. Yet, he felt no urgent need to meet Li Mu at that time. It was not until Li Mu later became a Sage-to-be and defeated Huang Shengyi, a Semi-Sage known as the Fire Devil, that the crown prince was intrigued to meet him in person.

The final meeting with Li Mu gave Yu Hualong gains as well as losses.

Judging by Li Mu’s performance during the meet, he was kind of cold-hearted. That rendered the crown prince slightly disappointed.

Despite that, the last remark Li Mu left made his attitude very clear.

The Sage-to-be had made a promise to him. That worth 1,000 ounce of gold.

“That also implies he is willing to take the same side with the Great Moon Empire, doesn’t it?”

…

…

When Li Mu came out of the yard, the Commander in Chief of Longcheng Pass, the high officials, and the nobles already gathered in the alley beside the door.

Zong Wei, the Eight-armed Judge, hurried to make his obeisance the moment he spotted Li Mu. “We pay our tributes to Lord Taibai.”

The throng immediately bustled over to bow to him.

Li Mu nodded and said, “Please save those unnecessary etiquettes.”

“Lord, Longcheng Pass has been besieged for over half a year. What shall we do next?” Implored Zong Wei. As a renowned combatant at the borders, Zong Wei was usually a decisive and resolute man. But recently, the lasting standoff had worn away his temper, leaving him at a loss at what to do. So, when he caught sight of Li Mu, he was thrilled as if he just saw the Goddess of Mercy.

Everyone set their expectant eyes on Li Mu.

The lord of the empire had finally turned up. They assumed he must have some resolution.

“Longcheng Pass won’t be ours for long. Those who want to go back to the mainland of Western Qin can take the journey to the west with me. The army of the Great Moon Empire won’t go hard on you. And those who want to stay can also live the life as you used to. I’ve had a meeting with the crown prince of the Great Moon Empire. He has promised he won’t subject anyone to a tyrannical government or punish the force that has been guarding the Pass. So, everything remains the same.” Li Mu answered to the crowd after pondering for a moment.

He believed Yu Hualong would at least do that favor for him.

At his words, Zong Wei and the officials just stood gazing at on another.

Eventually, they decided to head back and discuss it. Surely, they had also realized it was impossible to keep guarding Longcheng Pass.

Anyway, they felt relieved now that they could at least safely evacuate from the city.

The rest was beyond their control, as it was up to the decision of the big shots in the cabinet. It was already a miracle that the Longcheng Pass had not been encroached yet, though the other places of the border area were all lost. Thus, even if the force withdrew from Longcheng Pass now, they would not be harshly blamed.

…

…

10 days later, Li Mu went back to Chang’an.

As he arrived at the foot of Taibai Mountain and looked in the distance, suddenly, he found the place he should have been very familiar with almost unrecognizable.

Green mountains and hills stretched a thousand miles. The plants became so lush after half a year that it seemed they had grown a thousand years. The land flourished with towering trees. Wisps of mist fluttering between twigs and leaves, giving Li Mu a surreal and mysterious impression. Unlike the restricted woods that used to cover the outskirts of the Taibai Mountain Area, it already looked like a splendid land for fairies.

“Woof! I like this place!” General, the Huskie, wagged its tail and barked. “I smell the female wolves in the mountains!”

Li Mu was speechless.

“People say the dog-meat hot-pot tastes good!”

Having found the dog unbearable for quite a time, Bai Mochou snorted, “How lewd! Shameless! Well, like owner like dog!”

Li Mu, who took the blow out of no reason, paid no attention to that psychopath lady.

He was wondering why for most of the time it was the mad female ghost that controlled Shangguan Yuting’s body instead of Shangguan Yuting herself.

It felt like the turtledove was slowly taking over the nest of the magpie.

Li Mu was very upset about that.

“Finally, I’m back!”

Li Mu walked in the mountain area along a familiar path.

One day ago, Qiu Yin, Zong Wei, and the others parted with him. Qiu Yin set off for the Guanshan Pasture, while Zong Wei and the soldiers who had retreated from Longcheng Pass proceeded on for the capital. Li Mu, however, took Shangguan Yuting, Yuan Hou, General, Daji, and the Goddess of Martial Arts back to Taibai County. On that day, they finally arrived at their destination. The first Li Mu did when he was back was to meet Liu Zhiyuan, his sister-in-law. He told her he would escort her and her two children back to the pasture to reunite with Brother Guo Yuqing.

10 days ago, he actually intended to bring Granny Cai and Caicai back to Taibai County as well.

But after prolonged discussions, the two eventually decided to stay in Longcheng Pass.