Chapter 253: The Contract, The Divine Armament of the Mu Clan, and the Death of a Divine Lord

Chapter 253: The Contract, The Divine Armament of the Mu Clan, and the Death of a Divine Lord

As Ji Jingqiu was about to leave, Ke Tianjin and Ko Pingluan personally escorted him, a gesture of great respect.

"Thank you, Brother Ji. Your appearance will at least put a temporary halt to the internal struggles within the Ko Family."

Ko Pingluan whispered in Ji Jingqiu's ear as they embraced in farewell.

"Just a temporary halt?"

"The difference between a genius and a strong one. I look forward to the day you enter the realm of the strong."

The two shared a smile, and after Ji Jingqiu bid his farewell and boarded the spaceship, Ko Pingluan sighed.

This parting, not knowing when or where they would meet again.

...

Even for the Divine Lords, signing a contract with one of the Four Fiends required the most meticulous preparation to ensure no loopholes or opportunities for exploitation.

In a 6-9 book, a mistake in the version...

Ji Jingqiu was surprised. He could understand the first two, but why would the military want him? What could he possibly contribute there?

"Haha, that old senior still cares about the Federation. I guess he wants to stay and suppress the luck of the Federation."

The former is a genius, and the latter is already a strong one. These are two different concepts.

"Will he stand on our side?"

"The Divine Lords, your junior is here."

He suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with surprise. Could it be that the Divine Armament has a spirit and is responding to them, the descendants?

[Those who wish to save others must first be saved by others.]



Finally, on the eve of reaching the Four Guardians Star, he broke free from the shackles that represented his five viscera and six entrails, and his entire body underwent a significant transformation.

But as Ji Jingqiu traveled, the people and events he encountered instilled in him a constant sense of urgency, urging him to grow up quickly and fearlessly face any danger.

Was this the concession that allowed Hera to agree to the contract?

[Your cultivation speed is already very fast, but it needs to be... even faster. The time left for you and me is not much.]



Even the Heavenly Beings from various martial lineages would personally invite him and Sui Shi to their hospitality.

[Ji Jingqiu, one day, when you discover that those who flatter you, surround you, and praise you to the skies, actually have another face, can you step out of the 'soft trap'?]



Even though the Grandmaster was not present, if the Divine Armament were to take action, all the Heavenly Beings would have to bow down.

Ji Jingqiu approached the edge of the Pure Land, and in the distance, he saw a makeshift version of the Illusory Mountain.

[Do you still remember those words?]



From Xue Xuandao's mouth, Ji Jingqiu confirmed that this trip was indeed for a contract with Hera.

Currently, the Mu Clan is in disarray. Ever since the old ancestor left with the two Grandmasters of the Mu Clan, internal strife has been escalating within the clan, reaching a fever pitch.

Just the mention of Mu Chan Tian's request for Ji Jingqiu to replace him in eliminating the Mu Clan's traitors was enough for Ji Jingqiu to lose hope in the current state of the Mu Clan.

Undercurrents surged, and the flames of war raged on.

Even the Dream God started having dreams, pushing the child to the brink.

[The contract with Hera's true self requires considering Her will. They stand at the pinnacle of all, and few can force Them to bow down, let alone make concessions...]



Ji Jingqiu managed to bypass the information blockade set up by certain forces and gained access to the real situation in the western region.

On the eve of entering the spatial jump, Ji Jingqiu stood by the porthole, gazing into the profound and pitch-black depths of space.

During the journey back to the Four Guardians Star, Ji Jingqiu began the process of casting the Bodhi Golden Body.

Someone nodded slightly.

Is this the contract with the Wilderness Four Demons?

As Ji Jingqiu embarked on the return journey to the Four Guardians Star, he gathered information about the western front and established contact with Xue Xuandao from the Divine Temple.

"Everything can be influenced. We can sway him by winning over the people around him, such as the Dragon-Tiger Dao Field. A person's social standing is like an invisible network of connections, providing convenience and imposing constraints."

Ji Jingqiu contemplated for a moment and nodded.

As Ji Jingqiu exited the Divine Temple, a white-robed figure, the only Four Divine Elect in the Federation, Xue Xuandao, entered the temple.

...

The Divine Lord from the East spoke frankly:

This realm encompasses all generations of Heaven's Talents.

[When placed in a certain situation, can you still maintain your self, uphold the morals and bottom line in your heart, and stay true to yourself?]



Upon arriving at the Four Guardians Star, Ji Jingqiu was escorted by the Divine Temple's staff directly to the Four Divine Lords Temple.

Secondly, his parents had gone missing in the eastern region, and there had been no news of them to date.

A Divine Lord explained briefly.

[Whether it's Donghuang, Shitian, or even us in the past, we all came from the masses and eventually returned to them. So, it's only natural that we hope you'll be like us.]



He sighed softly and entered his inner universe.

He stood up and stretched his muscles. The Divine Temple was brightly lit, and the Four Divine Lords stood silently and solemnly.

"It's fine. Time is still in our hands. In today's Federation, the Heavenly Beings are the deciding factor. Even with his Heaven-Endowed Talent, he's ultimately just a Hidden Dragon."

Numerous martial lineages and various forces, even the local government, all treated him with utmost respect, and some even offered their clan's treasures and secrets to share with him.

[Not long ago, the War Department, the Religious Administration Bureau, and even the Federation's military wanted you to take up a position in the military. We declined on your behalf.]



La Jiang rubbed Fat Tiger, her voice gentle and persuasive. What left Ji Jingqiu speechless was that at this moment, her expression and tone were sincere, as if she genuinely had his best interests at heart.

Ji Jingqiu opened his eyes in the Divine Temple and exhaled softly. He finally had a preliminary understanding of the contract between him and Hera.

His gaze seemed to span countless light-years, piercing through the long night and mist, to see the blazing heart light in the star cluster.

That was the spirit light gathered from the hearts of all living beings, visible only to those who had attained the Heart Certification Breath.

[I'm sorry, perhaps all of this may seem a bit deliberate... We didn't want to interfere with your enlightenment, but I'm sorry, we don't have time.]



Whether it was the former group led by Future, the forces once responsible for gene editing, the channels from Knife Brother, or the Dragon-Tiger Dao Field, none of them could be found.

"Let's discuss this matter later. As long as Ji Jingqiu remains silent and doesn't have to take sides, some things can be negotiated."

"Ji Jingqiu had recently been investigating this counterfeit version of the Illusory Mountain, and after enduring the blood-soaked rain for countless days, the mist surrounding the mountain seemed to have dissipated somewhat.

Ji Jingqiu had paid his respects to several Divine Lords.

Mu Juncheng stood in a daze. Where did the future of the Mu Clan lie?

Ji Jingqiu couldn't help but wonder if it was possible for him to... ask the Divine Armament left behind by Mu Shuai to come out of seclusion?

'It's somewhat unexpected. On this journey, three Divine Armaments were taken away, but the Divine Armament of the Mu Clan was not among them...' Suddenly, someone whispered.

In a daze...

Ji Jingqiu was indeed amazed. He was the only one in the Federation's ten thousand years who could stand shoulder to shoulder with the Seven Commanders, but unfortunately, he lacked the time for growth.

However... in the situation where all the Grandmasters had to leave, whether the Divine Armament could remain intact and be freely used was questionable.

Just as Ji Jingqiu was pondering how to get along with La Jiang in the future, a Divine Lord's voice suddenly reached his ears.

Ji Jingqiu slowly walked into the hall, and in the first instant, his mind entered another world.

'The Divine Armament of the Mu Clan is actually the one we have the most hope of mastering...'

Golden Body, the golden nature is immortal. This is the process of tempering the physical body with divinity.

...

After a long silence...

In the history of the Federation, the position of Marshal had never been vacant. Looking back, there were naturally more than seven Marshals, but placing Ji Jingqiu in the eighth position was undoubtedly comparable to the Seven Commanders.

'We had overestimated his growth speed, but the facts proved... the genius of that domain of the Ancestor has already exceeded the scope of our understanding.'

...

Ji Jingqiu stood in a daze.

This surprised Ji Jingqiu, as the alliance signed by Hera was not with the Federation, but with 'him'.

'Isn't that even better? Then he's our companion.' Someone said indifferently, 'Young man, broaden your horizons. We wouldn't even mind personally putting the Marshal's robe on him and making him the eighth Marshal of the Federation.'

Ji Jingqiu put down the terminal.

Although he had never been to the western part of the Federation before going to the Ke Clan, he himself had a thousand connections with the west.

Mu Juncheng knelt in silence, with his cousin Mu Junxin by his side.

Unlike before, there was a clear footprint visible on the mountain slope.

Uncertain, let's observe for a while longer.

Just as the old heavenly person of the Ke Clan said, he was indeed a genius worthy of investment by countless forces, but he had not yet reached the point where countless people would firmly follow him.

Wherever he went, he would inevitably attract attention.

In addition, there was another surprise. With the help of the Lotus Stone to observe the Dao, after seeing the Law Realm, his fifth shackle was already shaking.

A few days ago, he had activated the Lotus Stone of the Ke Clan. The gaze contained within the stone was led by him into his inner universe, and eventually, it circled around in this universe before heading out towards the Pure Land.

He believed that after entering the Heart Form Realm, he could break the Divine Prohibition, rivaling the Celestial Beings, but it was impossible for him to sweep through this realm.

Subsequently, a mental message entered Ji Jingqiu's mind, containing over a million various restrictions and records...

[You must always remember that although the alliance guarantees that Hera will not harm you in any way, it does not include your proactive requests—]



At this point, Ji Jingqiu had surpassed all the Six-Break Martial Artists in the Federation.

[Actually, there's another way. Do you know that beneath the Four Divine Lords' Temple, there's a secret hidden, the biggest secret of your Federation. If you can uncover this secret, you might be able to replicate the path of those scoundrels and bastards.]



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The one who spoke was another Divine Lord.

Ji Jingqiu's heart trembled. The former Seven Commanders, the esteemed Four Divine Lords, had actually apologized to him twice, and there was genuine regret in their words.

However, the Ancestor was unwilling to stay, even after being awakened by them, and no one knew where he had gone.

...

But...

In addition, there was a human-bodied figure with a tail, wearing a regal crown, half-hidden in the crimson mist, which was deep and mysterious.

That was the location of the Four Divine Lords' Divine Kingdom.

Ji Jingqiu's progress in this step was smooth, without any surprises.

[Invincible? I can give you an idea. Once you break into the Heart Form Realm and enter the Divine Prohibition, you can go and retrieve the Divine Armament left behind by He Donghuang. With the Divine Armament suppressing the Heavenly Dao, below the Grandmaster level, you will fear no one! Whoever dares to defy you, suppress them all! Within the Federation, you will be a God!"]



However, the tricky part was that without the Grandmaster, the Divine Armament no longer responded to any of them, and even if a Celestial Being intervened, they were 'refused' outside the temple.

Ji Jingqiu hadn't expected that their so-called simple explanation would take them a whole week. During this time, he had been staying in the temple, and the alliance was finally established.

Although his journey was about 'challenging' others, the development of the situation was not as exaggerated as White Deer Shibo and the others had described. He was treated with great respect and courtesy throughout his journey, with the best accommodations and transportation.

One of the reasons was to invite the World Honored One home.

[So, in your opinion, if one day you rebel or stand up, how many families would be willing to follow you?]



"I agree. He shouldn't be wasting himself in this internal conflict." Someone nodded, agreeing with the previous person's statement.

Finally, the gaze manifested into a hazy silhouette, climbing up the Illusory Mountain, and eventually stopping at the mountain slope, before dispersing with a sigh.

...

After ending his conversation with Xue Xuandao, Ji Jingqiu turned his attention to the western war.

...

Not even calling them scoundrels, he couldn't help but sigh, feeling that this woman was genuinely daydreaming.

Deep within the temple, the voices of several Divine Lords echoed: [Xuan Dao, you need to be prepared.]



Ji Jingqiu shook his head, refusing to listen.

The atmosphere in the room grew silent.

Ji Jingqiu ignored La Jiang's proposal, closing his ears, and entered a state of cultivation again, trying to forge a Bodhi Golden Body while accumulating life force.

Ji Jingqiu's thoughts were complex. The expectations of the Four Divine Lords for him outweighed everything, even surpassing Hera's.

...

Dark and dim, as if fallen into a deep sleep.

But this was not what touched Ji Jingqiu the most.

[This world has always been terrible. Many people have lost all hope in it, but some have always maintained their expectations. We hope that you can be like Ah He and the others, becoming one of the bottom lines of this world.]



His face showed concern: "Divine Lord, isn't this too hasty?"

Mu Juncheng and his lineage could only pin their hopes on the Ancestor's Divine Armament, suppressing the increasingly severe internal conflicts within the clan.

Honest to say, Ji Jingqiu was somewhat surprised, because in the covenant, the Four Divine Lords actually promised to "release" Hera's true form...

The Divine Lords spoke in turn, causing Ji Jingqiu to fall silent. The one who had been speaking to him should be He Commander? What were these Divine Lords trying to tell him tonight? 【You've seen the fleeting world, now it's time to witness the myriad beings of heaven and earth.】

At this moment, the holographic projection inside the room was running at full capacity, and with the arrival of the True Sage, there were over ten silhouettes standing in this spacious rooftop flat.

Rebel?

Deep within the Mu Clan's mansion.

The latter was the only high priest of the Four Divine Temple, and also the only Divine Select of the Federation to date.

The War Control Department suspected that his parents might have fallen into a crack in the Soul Sea, because during that time, the western region was rife with conflict, and extreme thoughts of the masses could trigger a response and riot in the Soul Sea.

In the absence of a Grandmaster, even with the current state of divine armaments gathering dust, any Celestial Being holding them could dominate the Federation.

The formless wind surrounded the Bodhi tree, its verdant branches swaying, and the bamboo grove rustled beside the lotus pond. A dead fish lay among the lotuses, comfortable and carefree, except for Fat Tiger, who fell into the hands of a wicked woman, being tormented... a sacrifice to the tiger.

Four statues of sublime, faceless, and formless deities stood in the four directions, surrounding him.

From this rooftop, with its excellent vantage point, a martial artist could easily take in most of the capital.

Having reached this step, he had already surpassed the limits of the conventional Shackles Realm and stepped into another realm.

Even without mentioning these previous causes...

Not to mention the Federation, even the heavens and all realms, there has never been such a thing.

【Heaven and earth are like a bronze furnace, the mortal world is the fire. Ji Jingqiu, go west, go and witness the myriad beings we once saw. Only then...】

How could he possibly rebel?

Mu Juncheng seemed to see a shadow with its back turned to them, but when he looked closely, there was nothing there, as if it was just an illusion.

The good news was that Ji Jingqiu didn't have to worry about La Jiang harming him for now. According to the covenant, they were currently in a one-sided support period, and only after Ji Jingqiu gained sufficient strength would they consider releasing her body to help her return to her divine throne.

At this moment, the place they were worshipping was a green lamp.

"If he wants power, we'll give him power. If he just wants to cultivate peacefully, we can also provide him with endless resources. These aren't problems. We can even accept him as the 'Seventh Family', replacing He Donghuang's position."

He had the confidence of a strong person, but he needed time.

Thinking of the certain photos he had seen through the War Control Department, Ji Jingqiu fell silent.

"It's still not enough..." Ji Jingqiu sighed.

Two, strike first.

And even if he really had to use a divine armament, he wouldn't be able to find 【Xuan Yi】.

This did give him an inspiration.

【You're the only one qualified to take over our position after we leave.】

Even within the Federation, with the addition of all Grandmasters leaving, he would have to wait until he became a Celestial Being to enter the invincible realm and roam freely.

【Ji Jingqiu, these past few months, you've come a long way. Now, if you get the recognition of a divine armament ancestor, the situation will be under control.】

"It's almost there..." someone said in a low, passionate voice.

In the covenant, the inner universe of Hera seemed to have also made contact with her body, receiving some kind of feedback, and her aura became increasingly profound and distant.

Ji Jingqiu was shocked.

In the Shackles Realm, after breaking free from the four shackles, he could start forging the Dao Body and Golden Body.

This night.

"It's not like that. I hope that in this change, Ji Jingqiu can remain unharmed. He's the Federation's precious 'asset'." someone said calmly.

However, after transcending the Shackles through divine wandering, he had already detached from the ordinary, stepping into a vast and boundless realm.

But this seemed to be just his illusion.

At this moment, Mu Juncheng suddenly heard a faint, ethereal chant, as if it came from the heavens, or from the depths of an ancient temple.

Along his journey, everywhere he went, it was all about courting and making friends, but this was different from becoming his follower.

A breeze blew through, quietly stirring the bells on the corners of the ancient temple.

"But I heard from the Moro Sect that he seems to be connected to Hera, and his growth rate might be linked to her."

In fact, his progress was already very fast, and Sui Canghai even told him not to rush, to avoid mistakes during the realm breakthrough that could lead to self-retribution.

"Even if he's the first Hidden Dragon, what's the point? He can't enter the game, let alone play a role."

This piece of heaven and earth was indeed worthy of its name as a Pure Land.

He pondered that once this news leaked, there would be only two possibilities between him and the Mu Clan.

【Today, we will help you and Hera forge an eternal covenant. From now on, you will advance hand in hand. She will help you climb the Great Dao, and you will help her return to her divine throne.】

One, his grandfather was born in the western region of the Federation.

Xue Xuandao was waiting for him, and after sending him to the main hall of the temple, he took a step back, indicating that Ji Jingqiu should enter alone.

Before them was a temple, square and solid, like the four corners of heaven, built by the Mu Clan in collaboration with the Federation for the ancestor, to accommodate the Fifth Divine Lord.

【Next, we will briefly explain the restrictions and obligations of this covenant. The obligations guarantee the interests of both parties.】

A brief meeting had just ended, and the crowd was discussing another matter. "In about half a year, Ji Jingqiu will be close to the extreme limit of the Shackles Realm... He's still maintaining his near-limit-breaking speed in this realm..."

According to Ke Pingluan, certain war zones in the western region of the Federation had become battlegrounds for certain powers.

Under this vast heaven, the Ten Thousand Spirits were indeed insignificant, but after the emergence of the Soul Sea, the heart light they gathered was unrestrained and flamboyant, able to rival the stars.

"In your eyes, what does the Soul Sea really mean?"

Ji Jingqiu suddenly asked.

【A graveyard.】

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end