Tales of Herding Gods

“What’s there to be alarmed with about Celestial Venerable Yu’s death…”

The old bull continued to walk and laugh to himself. “These people of the ancient times have never seen a dead person before, my head is going to explode from the… Celestial Venerable Yu is dead? Celestial Venerable Yu is dead!”

He couldn’t resist giving off a shout and couldn’t care about calling Qin Mu and Founding Emperor. He hurriedly rushed out of the Magnificent Floor, and the racket outside still hadn’t stopped yet. Some people were bawling loudly, while others stood there with a stupefied look. Some people went to ask others, and when they confirmed the news, they collapsed onto the floor with a dazed look on their faces.

The old bull’s heart was flustered, and he felt that all the ancient predecessors that had come to attend the meeting had suddenly lost their backbone.

He looked at everyone who was clamoring outside. When Celestial Venerable Yu was alive, this place was a golden age that was in the midst of reform, and when the death of Celestial Venerable Yu was released, everyone became like headless flies.

A golden age that was about to dawn on them had suddenly dimmed.

The death of a great leader was simply too huge of a blow to the people of this era.

The old bull’s heart was also blank. ‘How did he just die like this? How could he just die like this? It’s impossible, right? It’s a joke, right? This joke has been taken too far…’

Footsteps came from his back as Qin Mu, Founding Emperor, and Celestial Venerable Ling walked over. Their faces were also blank. From the building, they had also heard the cries and racket outside. The news of Celestial Venerable Yu’s death had also struck them with an unimaginable impact.

Qin Mu and Founding Emperor had time-traveled to this era, and they hadn’t had much interaction with Celestial Venerable Yu. Even though they had only talked once, they had quite a good impression of him.

They were also very respectful to Celestial Venerable Yu and felt that he was the leader of the ancient times that would be able to control heaven and earth, bringing the lifeforms after the beginning to create a new era.

They had extremely high evaluations of Celestial Venerable Yu, yet this young leader that was waiting for the time to show his life’s work had just suddenly died like this. Qin Mu and Founding Emperor couldn’t accept this.

Celestial Venerable Ling was even more unable to accept this.

Qin Mu and Founding Emperor didn’t interact much with Celestial Venerable Yu, but she had grown up listening to the legends of Celestial Venerable Yu. When she met him afterward, Celestial Venerable Yu was like a brother that took care of her and gave her encouragement.

After she opened up the Six Directions Divine Treasure and changed to research the non-existence of time, wanting to prove it with divine art, Celestial Venerable Yu didn’t feel that her research would succeed and felt that she had taken the wrong path. However, he still treated her extremely well.

The death of Celestial Venerable Yu was a very huge blow to her.

Her face turned pale, and she stumbled forward. Qin Mu said with a low voice, “Follow after her and see what happened!”

The three of them hurriedly followed after Celestial Venerable Ling through the sea of people in front. There were people everywhere in the side palace, and they were all in sorrow. Some half-gods were also looking around in the sky.

“Why would Celestial Venerable Yu suddenly die?”

Founding Emperor said with a low voice, “Divine arts practitioners can’t kill an existence like him. He could only be killed if a half-god or an ancient god made their move, am I right?”

Qin Mu thought of something else, and he pondered. ‘Why was Celestial Venerable Yu killed before he announced the method to become a god? Unless getting rid of him is getting rid of the method to become a god!’

The old bull whispered, “Could Celestial Venerable Yu be faking his death? If he faked his death, he would be able to stir the conflict between half-gods, humans, and the celestial heavens…”

Qin Mu and Founding Emperor shook their heads.

The old bull was puzzled.

Qin Mu explained, “There’s no meaning to fake his death in front of the celestial heavens. With Earth Count and Heaven Duke, he can’t fake his death at all. His soul won’t be able to escape from Youdu’s control, and he won’t be able to hide from Heaven Duke. He is… really dead.”

Founding Emperor said, “Furthermore, if he just wants to stir conflict, he doesn’t need to fake his death. There’s more reason for him to spread out the method to become a god and that’s because after it’s spread, there will definitely be conflicts between the new gods and the ancient gods. These conflicts will definitely accumulate as time goes on. This concerns the problem of splitting benefits. New gods would want more benefits, and the ancient gods would be reluctant to give up their benefits, conflicts will naturally arise. He is such an intelligent man, so he has no need to use the method of faking death. Furthermore, by faking his death…”

He didn’t continue speaking, and it was obvious he had some qualms.

However, Qin Mu didn’t care and just continued his words, “Furthermore, by faking his death, he is no doubt handing the position of the leader out. He won’t do this kind of thing that would benefit other people by giving his own hard work to them instead.”

Founding Emperor gave him a look and was full of worries. He said with a low voice, “We are outsiders, after all, we shouldn’t be too involved in this era. We have only come to this era for several days, but I can already feel the darkness pouring forth and dangers lurking in every corner.”

Qin Mu shook his head and said, “By existing in the past, we are already the past, no matter what we do, when we return to the present, we will realize what we did in the past is the history that has already happened.”

Veins popped out on Founding Emperor’s forehead, and his voice was slightly hoarse. “You want to create trouble again? Must you force me to lay my hands on you?”

The old bull didn’t know what they were talking about and was very puzzled.

However, Qin Mu and Founding Emperor understood each other very well. What they said about benefiting others and the darkness pouring forth were both referring to someone.

What they meant was after Celestial Venerable Yu dies, who would benefit the greatest.

After the leader dies, the one that would take over Celestial Venerable Yu’s position as leader would be the one who benefits the most.

Once the reformer was dead, and there was no path to become god, the ancient gods would benefit the most.

Celestial Venerable Yu kept running east, and since he had to attend to the people coming for the meeting, he had to coordinate the half-gods and the humans, and even bribe the powers in the celestial heavens, so he rarely had time to rest.

He stayed in the Slow Winding Pavilion in the Jade Pool Small Construction, and at this moment, the Slow Winding Pavilion was already filled with people. Celestial Venerable Huo and Son of Heaven Yin were currently guarding the door, and Celestial Venerable Huo had an expression of sorrow and anger. He stared at everyone and prohibited them from coming forward.

Celestial Venerable Ling squeezed forward and asked with a hoarse voice, “Is it true?”

Celestial Venerable Huo choked and nodded. “They are all inside, Celestial Venerable You is trying to summon the soul to see if he could be saved. Celestial Venerable Hao has already sent a memorial to His Majesty and invited Earth Count to return his soul…”

Qin Mu looked at Son of Heaven Yin, and Son of Heaven Yin stood there with a blank gaze. He seemed to be at a loss and was spacing out.

His pupils suddenly contracted rapidly as he stared at his hands. Two drops of tears dripped onto his palms.

Celestial Venerable Ling rushed into the Slow Winding Pavilion. Qin Mu, Founding Emperor, and the old bull were also planning to enter the Slow Winding Pavilion when they were stopped by Celestial Venerable Huo. Son of Heaven Yin came back to his senses and he also hurriedly raised his hands to block. He said apologetically, “Brother Qin, Brother Mu, Celestial Venerable Yu has died inside, you guys can’t enter…”

“Celestial Venerable Huo, let them in.”

Celestial Venerable Ling’s voice rang out. “The attainments in their paths, skills, and divine arts are very high, they might just be able to find clues!”

Celestial Venerable Huo hesitated, and he put down his arm. He looked at Qin Mu with red eyes and said, “If you can find any clues, I won’t hate you anymore.”

Qin Mu nodded his head and said, “I’ll do my best.”

They walked into the Slowing Winding Pavilion. The pavilion was built on a lake on the island. It overlooked the lake and below was the great waves on the lake surface. This place looked very elegant.

That was because this was where Celestial Empress resided, so the Slow Winding Pavilion was also much larger than ordinary constructions. It was also very wide inside.

Qin Mu and the three of them walked into this building, and they saw the blood on the ground. This window was busted open, and there were traces of divine arts left on the walls. Celestial Venerable Yu’s corpse laid under the window and he was lying against the window. His head hung down, and his limbs were limp.

Celestial Venerable Hao, Celestial Venerable Yun, Celestial Venerable Yue, and Celestial Venerable You were all here. Celestial Venerable Hao was holding onto a divine hound which was sniffing around.

Celestial Venerable You raised his hands, and his vital qi poured out. He lifted Celestial Venerable Yu’s corpse into the air and three feet off the ground.

The devil mask on the back of this youth’s head starting crying but Celestial Venerable You still remained emotionless as usual.

Qin Mu looked at the floating Celestial Venerable Yu, and his bones had basically been completely broken. There was no bone that was unscathed, and someone had smashed his bones with heavy blows. When he floated in the air, there was a peculiar sense of helplessness.

“From the external injuries, it wasn’t just one person that attacked him.”

Qin Mu walked around Celestial Venerable Yu and examined his injuries. He didn’t go too close, but he could clearly see the injuries on his body.

“However, the most lethal injuries weren’t from the broken bones, it was from the back of his heart. Someone suddenly attacked him from the back and severely injured him.”

Qin Mu slowly circled around, and pictures were already forming in his mind. That person had suddenly attacked from the back, and because he was afraid of leaving traces behind, he didn’t use the best divine arts he had; instead, he had purely used the strength of the corporeal body.

With the first strike, he used his terrifying strength to shatter Celestial Venerable Yu’s heart. He then avoided Celestial Venerable Yu’s attack and circled quickly around Celestial Venerable Yu!

With a series of attacks to the corporeal body, it was like a huge hammer smashing onto Celestial Venerable Yu’s corporeal body and smashed his bones into pieces!

“The divine art marking on the wall of the Slow Winding Pavilion belongs to Celestial Venerable Yu.”

Qin Mu looked towards the wall. Celestial Venerable Yu must have trust the person extremely; therefore, he had a chance to sneak an attack on him.

Furthermore, their cultivations shouldn’t have much difference. Celestial Venerable Yu’s cultivation was stronger, but the opponent’s corporeal body was much stronger than him. He attacked back, but he had already lost the upper hand and got his heart shattered. Furthermore, his opponent had also closed in on him.

To be closed in by a strong practitioner of the battle technique school, how terrifying was that?

Qin Mu cultivated battle techniques himself, so he knew this point very well.

“However, the thing that truly took Celestial Venerable Yu’s life wasn’t the injuries on the corporeal body.”

Qin Mu’s heart stirred slightly. A drop of fresh blood floated over, and layers swirled in pupils. He just opened up eight heavens, and a few miniature divine art runes inside the blood were quickly wiped out.

These were the traces left behind by the opponent’s divine arts.

‘Celestial Venerable Yu doesn’t have any traces of spell divine art on his corporeal body, but there are divine art runes in his blood. This means that the opponent still used his divine art, but the divine art wasn’t targeted at the corporeal body. So what was the divine art targeted at?’

Suddenly, cryptic Youdu language sounded out, and Qin Mu’s heart stirred. He looked towards Celestial Venerable You.

That youth was currently executing Youdu divine art and chanting the ancient Youdu language as he tried to summon the soul of Celestial Venerable Yu, calling his soul back from Youdu.

His Youdu language wasn’t bad, but it was still slightly lacking in Qin Mu’s ears. After all, Celestial Venerable You still hadn’t entered Youdu yet and become the Benevolent Saintly King Equal to Heaven.

Celestial Venerable You’s eyes were blood red, and the Youdu language became messier and messier. Even though his expression was calm, his heart was churning from the huge waves.

His heart was messed up, and furthermore, his attainments were still too shallow. Even if his heart wasn’t messed up, he couldn’t summon Celestial Venerable Yu’s soul back from Youdu.

“I still can’t…”

Celestial Venerable You suddenly coughed up blood and knelt on the ground. He started to spasm, and he gave off whines from his throat. He gritted his teeth.

“I still can’t!”

He curled up, and his body trembled. He choked. “I still can’t, I can’t save mother, I also can’t save big brother, I still can’t do anything…”

He was very indifferent to everyone and even Celestial Venerable Yu. He never showed him any affection, and yet it was always Celestial Venerable Yu that was taking care of him.

He had long treated Celestial Venerable Yu as his only kin left in this world.

Right at this moment, a warm voice rang out in his mind. “I’ll say, and you will chant.”

Celestial Venerable You was startled, and he heard that voice in his head ringing out again. That was incomparably ancient and pure Youdu devil language. It was so profound and so marvelous that he felt as if Earth Count had personally descended.

Celestial Venerable You stood up again and chanted along with that voice. Youdu devil qi came rolling in from the surroundings, and the ground of the Slow Winding Pavilion turned into darkness, revealing a deep space.

That was Youdu.

His voice traveled throughout the entire Youdu and searched for the soul of Celestial Venerable Yu.

To everyone in the Slow Winding Pavilion, Celestial Venerable You didn’t look like a youth any longer. Instead, he was like a god who controlled the rule of Youdu and was summoning back the dead!

Founding Emperor’s heart stirred, and he looked at Qin Mu who was beside him. He felt Qin Mu’s consciousness sending out waves, and it was a kind of marvelous connection.

He could feel that Qin Mu’s consciousness was connecting with Celestial Venerable You!

Celestial Venerable You’s paths, skills, and divine arts were still very rough earlier and he couldn’t communicate with Youdu yet now he was actually able to send his voice throughout Youdu, it was obviously not because of Celestial Venerable You. It was Qin Mu imparting to him a profound Youdu divine art in secret!

‘He even knows Youdu divine arts, what more does he know?’

As Founding Emperor thought until here, a gate gradually rose from the darkness. A Gate of Heaven Influence stood upright in the pavilion and gave off sinister devil qi.

After a moment, Qin Mu sighed and cut off the connection with Celestial Venerable You.

‘Celestial Venerable Yu’s soul isn’t in Youdu. His soul… has dispersed. Now I know what the divine art from that person that killed him was for.’

His heart dimmed. ‘To destroy his soul.’

Celestial Venerable You suddenly cried out like a wild beast suppressing his roar. He spasmed again and started foaming from the mouth.

Qin Mu went forward, and his fingers tapped quickly to stabilized his spirit. He helped him up and let him sat by the door.

“Thank you…” Celestial Venerable You said softly as he grabbed Qin Mu’s hands and looked at the lake out the door.

Qin Mu was stunned.

Celestial Venerable You raised his head and looked at his face with a dazed expression. “Thank you.”

In the Slow Winding Pavilion, Celestial Venerable Hao’s voice rang out. “Now that Celestial Venerable Yu is dead, what about the Jade Pool Meeting?”

Founding Emperor came to Qin Mu’s back and whispered, “Whoever imparts the method to become a god in this meeting, that is the murderer.”

Qin Mu slowly straightened his back, and Celestial Venerable Hao’s voice rang out. “A few days ago, Celestial Venerable Yu passed down the method to become a god to me. Even though he has met an unfortunate end, his legacy will still live on and be brought to a greater height!”

The corners of Qin Mu’s eyes twitched and twitched again. He turned his head with difficulty.

A huge hand pressed down on his shoulder. It was firm and strong.

Founding Emperor suppressed his voice and said, “It’s not related to us!”

“Is there no more righteousness left in this world?” Qin Mu seemed to have a smile that was yet not a smile, a cry that was yet not a cry.