The temple was lavish and grand, yet its decorations were unlike any shrine Qin Mu had seen before. Here, the murals and pillars were mostly covered with images of dragons cowering beneath a tree, clearly fearful of the ancient trunk.
The bark of the old tree resembled dragon scales, and its branches were ancient and bizarre, twisting like thousands of dragons and serpents.
Qin Mu glanced around, surprised, and smiled, "Is the Eastern Azure Emperor not of the dragon race?"
Divine Venerable Wuji invited him to the seat of honor, saying, "My teacher attained Dao as a greenwood spirit. Before the Dragon-Han Era, my teacher was merely an old tree, its leaves withered and branches dying. Heaven-Guide Venerable once meditated beneath that tree, comprehended the Spirit Embryo Treasury, and became the first Heavenly Venerable of the age. At that moment, the heavens shook, ancient gods appeared in the sky to praise Heaven-Guide Venerable and bless him. My teacher also benefited—though the ancient tree was nearing death, it gained a touch of divinity, revived, and transformed into a divine spirit-tree."
Qin Mu had Dragon-Qilin crouch at his feet, while Annie took the form of a chubby maid standing behind his seat—her beauty from the peach grove nowhere to be seen, replaced instead with a comical plumpness.
Qin Mu studied the murals in the temple and remarked, "I hadn't expected the Eastern Azure Emperor to have such deep ties with Heaven-Guide Venerable."
The gods under Divine Venerable Wuji's command looked displeased seeing him seated at the place of honor. Noticing that Qin Mu had not brought any beautiful women but instead a strangely fat maidservant, they began to doubt the Shepherd Heavenly Venerable's taste.
Divine Venerable Wuji laughed, "Yet although my teacher became a divine spirit-tree thanks to this, he also suffered calamity because of it."
Qin Mu ignored the others' gazes and asked, "Why was that?"
"Originally, my teacher was useless and decrepit—a rotten piece of wood. He was too old to make furniture, couldn't be carved into a handsome idol, and was even too tough to burn as firewood. That was how he survived."
Divine Venerable Wuji said with a meaningful smile, "Yet when my teacher became a spirit-tree, he became useful, and within a few years, he was cut down and refined into a treasure. For hundreds of thousands of years, he was never his own master. Shepherd Heavenly Venerable, being useless is the true path to survival. Wouldn't you agree?"
Divine Venerable Wuji said, "Although my teacher was broken by the Eastern Emperor, he did not die. By the end of the Supreme Sovereign Era, he transformed into human form and swore to take revenge. Later, he was favored by Heavenly Court, becoming the Eastern Azure Emperor and master of Eastern Heaven Palace. Someday, my teacher will replace Azure Dragon Heaven Palace and become the true Eastern Emperor!"
Qin Mu praised, "After hardship comes fortune; it seems that those with talent will always find their use."
Divine Venerable Wuji said, "My teacher does not wish to be enemies with Shepherd Heavenly Venerable, since you have shown him kindness. Back in the Everpeace capital, my teacher yielded to you many times."
Qin Mu grew serious, "I am grateful in my heart as well."
Divine Venerable Wuji said, "Before returning to Eastern Heaven, my teacher instructed me: if Shepherd Heavenly Venerable can live peacefully here, Eastern Heaven Palace will protect him and ensure his safety. My teacher said that he survived as useless wood, but once he became useful, he suffered for hundreds of thousands of years, never his own master. Shepherd Heavenly Venerable is a wise man and should understand my teacher's meaning."
Qin Mu smiled, "I understand. The Eastern Azure Emperor wants me to be a useless person—even if I have value, I should willingly become useless and stay here."
Divine Venerable Wuji laughed, "That's exactly my teacher's intention. To protect you, my teacher is willing to oppose certain factions, even though it's difficult. My teacher says that without your soul, you may not last long, but even if Eastern Heaven Palace suffers, it doesn't matter. You can retire here and enjoy your years, repaying your kindness in passing on your Dao at the Jade Pool assembly. Shepherd Heavenly Venerable should understand my teacher's good intentions."
I understand, but I do not accept the favor.
Qin Mu chuckled, "Emperor Evan, Jiang Ling—they were imprisoned for two hundred years as the main culprits defying Heaven. As Shepherd Heavenly Venerable, I wasn't detained by Heavenly Court, yet the Eastern Azure Emperor wants to confine me here. Is Eastern Heaven Palace's face bigger than Heavenly Court's?"
Divine Venerable Wuji's expression shifted, but he smiled, "If Shepherd Heavenly Venerable is unwilling to accept Eastern Heaven Palace's protection, there's nothing I can do. To be honest, although Eastern Heaven Palace is my teacher's domain, there are other factions from Heavenly Court here, and many disciples from various powers under my command."