The Divine Martial Stars

Li Mu discovered a lot of secret manuals and Cultivation Methods when organizing the storage appliances left by Emperor Qin Ming, Qi Huai, Wei Wubing, and other controllers of reclusive clans and factions after being killed. But it was a shame that none of those methods offered a way to solve the problem that Wang Shiyu could not practice martial arts.

Wang Shiyu’s meridians were naturally congested, leaving not even a crack for qi to circulate. Her elixir field was also like a sea of stones. As a result, the theories of martial arts in that world did not apply to her at all.

Emperor Qin Ming had practiced the Heavenly Devil Tactics, a Cultivation Method of the extraterrestrial Heavenly Devil Sect. Unfortunately, as that Cultivation Method was too valuable, Emperor Qin Ming only bore it in his mind, so there were no written records left. Now that Emperor Qin Ming had died, Li Mu had no means to learn more about it.

Even so, Wei Wubing’s Taoism-pursuing Heavenly Book was still worth studying.

But it was a pity that Li Mu failed to make the pages reveal any words even though he had tried various methods. The old faker once said that the Heavenly Books were the most wonderful treasures in the universe. If it was meant for you to read, you could learn about anything from it. But if it was not, staring at it would be like staring at a blank wall. By then, it seemed that the book was not made for Li Mu to read.

He had also asked Wang Shiyu to take a look at the book but the pages stubbornly remained blank.

“Mu, I’m going back to the Northern Song.” One day later, Wang Shiyu bid goodbye to Li Mu. Considering the precarious political situation in the Northern Song, those powerful rebellious lords might begin attacking Lin’an. Wang Shiyu was quite worried about her adoptive father, Lord Virtuous the Eighth.

“So soon?” Li Mu was surprised. “When all the things here are settled, I will go to the Northern Song, too. So why not come back with me then?”

“As long as you’re okay, I’m assured. So, what am I still staying here for? You get your work done. And I have to go back to comfort my adopted father. He has been distressed lately. I must be there for him when he is facing the harshest ordeal.” Wang Shiyu smiled. Then, she patted Li Mu on the shoulder rather manly and added, “When you are free, do come to the Northern Song to visit me.”

Li Mu nodded and said, “Don’t worry. I will find a suited practice method for you.”

“Well, if so, thanks.”

Putting on a smiley face, Wang Shiyu was resolute about leaving. After some discussion, she and Zhao Ji, the minister of the Northern Song, mounted the six-winged dragon and set off for the Northern Song.

Ming Yue sent several experts from the Beggar Gang to escort them.

Looking from the sky, the Longcheng Pass below grew smaller and smaller until it finally shrank into a small black spot and disappeared behind the clouds. The smile on Wang Shiyu’s face had long faded. Suddenly, the girl found that tears had quietly streamed down her cheeks.

It was not that she had not shed a tear since she came to that world. But it was the second time she was so heartbroken.

Zhao Ji, who was sitting next to the Countess, felt a little helpless at that.

When had the proud Countess Huanzhu, who had once astonished Lin’an with her vigorous and unconventional notions, ever showed her weak side?

He had also guessed the reason that made the Countess cry— girls’ desire for romance.

But Sage Li already had an exceedingly beautiful Hua Xiangrong around. That girl was indeed a peerless, stunning beauty. Her gentle temperament and quiet demureness made her even more attractive. What was more, she also possessed high-level cultivation. She was an utter goddess from heaven.

Further, Hua Xiangrong was not Li Mu’s only company. There were also other girls following him, including a princess of the Western Qin who was equally gorgeous and brave.

Zhao Ji heaved with a sigh, for he had no idea how to comfort Wang Shiyu.

Failing to come up with any consoling words, he handed her a handkerchief.

Wang Shiyu didn’t take it but kept whispering to herself.

“This is not my world. I can’t learn any martial art. Even when I hurried to save him, I was the last to arrive on the scene, as if I were just a spectator.”

“Though I didn’t have the ability to really save his life, at least I ought to stand by him when he was in the direst situation. But even that I can’t do. When I arrived, everything was over. There was nothing I can help with...”

“I can’t help him with anything.”

“We are already two people living in different worlds.”

“But I can’t rely on his help all the time. I’ve got to learn to walk by myself.”

“I need to figure out a way.”

Wang Shiyu’s eyes were a little unfocused. The cold wind lifted her hair, which streamed behind her shoulders. She sat with her arms clasped around her shins, her chin rested on her knees, gazing at the white clouds passing by...

For Li Mu, the two battles that recently occurred in Longcheng Pass brought him tremendous gains.

In addition to a wide variety of secret manuals, there were many precious treasures in the haul, most of which were Star Stones. Those Star Stones were also the most valuable. And half of the treasures carried the extraterrestrial Spiritual Qi and the principles of power.

Nevertheless, for the current Li Mu, those things were of little significance as they could not help improve his strength.

Thus, those treasures were useless to him.

As for those weapons and spiritual instruments, as well as all the secret manuals, Li Mu merely examined them once before handing them to Qing Feng, who would study, analyze, and categorize them, and then distribute to the girls and the military officers and soldiers of the Great Moon Empire.

Li Mu, as always, played his role as a hands-off boss.

In the last battle, several hundred powerful experts and Sages were killed. The holy blood of those Sages then blended in nature and nourished the land. Soon, the border area that was originally destroyed by the fire of wars once again became full of life.

The most obvious change was that in many places outside and inside the cities, though against the circulation of the four seasons, in that late autumn, the plants sprouted new leaves, the rivers’ water level rose, the dry wells were filled with spring, and the flowers were blooming.

The 10 cities and nine counties that had been overcast due to the massacre finally ushered in the light that had been scarce for weeks. As the twin suns rose and the sunshine spread, the land warmed up.

The resentment of the dead gradually dissipated.

There was no doubt that in a long time to come, the 10 cities and nine counties in the border area would become fertile lands.

On the sixth day after the battle was over, the long-overdue reinforcements of the Yue Mountain Faction arrived in Longcheng Pass.

Of course, that was not because their fighters were afraid of death but the fact that the distance to cross was too great. Plus, they had to overcome all kinds of obstacles set by the Western Qin’s army and the forces of all martial arts parties. The loss the reinforcements had suffered was also striking. Only when the news that Li Mu had vanquished Wei Wubing and the other martial art giants came out did the Western Qin’s army and those martial arts forces got out of their way. Those forces immediately disbanded and ran for it...

As the Yue Mountain Faction used to be an ancient faction governed by the Great Moon Empire, the reinforcements had the same kind of blood running in their veins as the remnants of the Great Moon Empire. Thus, they found the army quite endearing.

Back then, it was because of Yu Hualong’s considerations that the newly-established Great Moon Empire did not contact with Yue Mountain Faction. Now, with Li Mu, the top one expert and God of Broadswords, backing them up, all their previous concerns could be abandoned.

The force from the Yue Mountain Faction was soon integrated with the remaining army of the Great Moon Empire.

In the meantime, Li Mu arranged a tactical deployment in Longcheng Pass to attract the Spiritual Qi released after the Sages died, which could support the function of a small Transmitting Array. Thus, the factions in Taibai City and the Yue Mountain could travel freely to and from Longcheng Pass.

Devil Li seemed determined to carry the “dial-up networking” to the end so that people in the three places would be able to “call one another” or “deliver posts”.

After the tactical deployment was completed, Shangguan Yuting and the others prepared to return to Taibai City through the new Transmitting Array.

Before setting off, Princess Qin Zhen had a talk with Li Mu and told him that her younger brother, Qin Zheng, had become a disciple of Bai Mochou. That could be considered an afterward remedy because she had picked Bai Mochou to be Qin Zheng’s teacher without notifying Li Mu.

As a matter of fact, after the last battle, Li Mu had changed his mind about Bai Mochou, the 10,000-year-old female ghost.

Given that Wei Wubing had saved the Heart-corroding Venomous Vermin as his last resort, that art was certainly exceptional. But it was easily cracked by Bai Mochou. That showed she was really more than just the gloating, self-conceited lesbian Li Mu had thought she was.

Therefore, when he learned that the princess had agreed to let Bai Mochou teach, Li Mu was not very surprised. Besides, that was none of his business in the first place.

Li Mu’s real concern was how to get Bai Mochou out of Shangguan Yuting’s body.

“Humph, if I were you, I would go to the Northern Song right off!” Bai Mochou abruptly remarked as she looked back at Li Mu in the middle of stepping in the tactical deployment.

Li Mu was totally confused.

Bai Mochou glowered at Li Mu and snapped, “Humph, what a stinky heart-breaker!”

Completely bewildered, Li Mu felt like he had just fu*ked the Huskie.

Anyway, it was since that moment that Li Mu began to ponder who would rule the vast Western Qin Empire after Emperor Qin Ming died.

Li Mu surely did not want to see the innocent folks of the empire be left in chaos because he had killed the second prince, the crown prince, and Emperor Qin Ming.

But, of course, the Great Moon Empire would definitely be the one to take over the Western Qin.

The Great Moon Empire now had less than 10,000 soldiers, so it was unable to govern such a large empire. Adding that the Western Qin had ruled those places for such a long time, quite a lot of people had acknowledged Western Qin as their beloved country. If the Great Moon Empire who forcibly overthrown the rule of the Western Qin, Li Mu was afraid that the war would continue, and that was not what he’d like to see.

The significance of the existence of the Great Moon Empire was to light a torch in that world and continue to explore the Path blazed by the wise forefathers. Its aim was not to unify and dominate that world. By far, the Great Moon Empire had gained the 10 cities and nine counties that had the potential to evolve into a blessed land. The territory with a radius of several thousand miles was vast enough. Hence, the Great Moon Empire ought to settle down here and build up strength.

So, the Western Qin should be left to the rest of their royal family.

Suddenly, Li Mu’s eyes landed on Qin Zheng, the youngest prince of the Western Qin.

The little prince had lived in Taibai City for more than a year. Li Mu knew he was a decent man and had a kind heart. He was told that Qin Zheng had also learned a lot from the many livelihood policies carried out in Taibai City. It might be a smart move if Qin Zheng could be the next ruler of the Western Qin, it would be very nice indeed.

“I must take time and discuss this with the princess.”

Immersed in his thoughts, Li Mu sent Bai Mochou and the others into the Transmitting Array.

In the next two days, three messages swept across the Divine Land at the speed of the hurricane.

First, Li Mu, the God of Broadswords, spoke directly to the Northern Song and ordered the seven major rebellious lords to return to the granted territories at once, and not wage any war again.

Second, Li Mu dictated that Lord Zhenxi of the Western Qin should immediately return to Fufeng City, and not a single soldier of his could leave Fufeng City. Also, he required the other provinces under the separatist rule to immediately cease their military operations.

Third, Li Mu warned all the major factions in the Western Qin and the Northern Song against colluding with any rebel separatist forces and requested them to impose strict discipline on their disciples.

He was surely making efforts to suppress the turmoil.

When the news came out, the assorted parties were all astounded, but their responses to the orders varied.

The purpose of the God of Broadswords was rather obvious, that was, to forcefully reverse the upcoming troubled era solely with his own strength.

The boy was quite ambitious.

For the major rebellious lords, the news undoubtedly came like a bolt from the blue. Their bold visions had just begun to unfold, and the goal of competing for the throne had not yet been accomplished. But all that was just brought to an end against their will.

Li Mu’s orders were also a huge blow to the factions seeking further development by taking advantage of the mayhem, especially those that had been deeply involved in the revolting course of the major rebellious lords. The efforts and finance they had put in were now to be thrown away.

So, would the world obediently implement the policies issued by the top one expert?

Many people were looking forward to what would happen next.

Although some factions and separatist provinces were unwilling to do Li Mu’s biddings, they eventually listened to his words. Because they could not afford to mess with Li Mu. The God of Broadswords was still in his prime. His glory was as bright as the twin sun at noon, which blinded the others. If anyone dared to openly disobey him, then, that man must have gotten tired of staying alive.

But some were not that cooperative.

“Li Mu has really gone out of bounds! I’ve launched the revolt for the sake of the Western Qin’s people. I intend to squash the corrupted royal family and let the folks have a good emperor. Why does Li Mu just have to force me out?”

In Fufeng City, Qin Baojing, the former Lord Zhenxi who had now proclaimed him the Emperor of Fufeng, let out a growl.

“I will not withdraw my army!”

That was the ultimate answer given by the unyielding Emperor of Fufeng, who had decided to give Li Mu tit-for-tat.