Just as Taishang Saint was weighing his options, footsteps sounded outside.
Looking toward the sound, he saw Xuandu enter the hall and bow respectfully.
"Master."
"Someone outside requests an audience."
At that, Taishang came back to himself. His expression darkened as he asked:
"Who?"
Xuandu answered without delay:
"It's Qin Mu, Senior Brother of the Sect of Interception!"
"Qin Mu?"
Hearing this, Taishang was startled. He wondered to himself:
"Why has he come to Shouyang Mountain at this time, too?"
Taishang had not had much contact with his nephew, Qin Mu.
Back when Tongtian had brought Qin Mu to Kunlun Mountain, Taishang had given Qin Mu a gift to mark their first meeting.
After that, he had rarely paid the young man any attention.
Though Qin Mu had gone on to accomplish many earth-shaking deeds in the Primordial Wilderness.
For instance, he had gone to Taiyin Star to steal Dijun's bride, disgracing the Demon Race. In the end, the matter had only been settled after two Saints, Nuwa and Tongtian, stepped in.
And then there was the earlier struggle for authority over the Underworld, in which Qin Mu had been the driving force.
"This young man has only just gained control of the Underworld."
"By rights, he should be busy managing its cycle of reincarnation. Why has he come to my Shouyang Mountain?"
After a moment's hesitation, Taishang came back to himself and looked toward Xuandu.
"Show him in."
"Yes, Master."
Xuandu bowed in acknowledgment, then quickly withdrew.
Before long, Qin Mu entered the Eight Sceneries Palace.
After refining and fusing with the Innate Supreme Treasure, the Sacred Spirit Pearl, in the Underworld, he had left and made his way to Taishang's Shouyang Mountain.
Once he was close, Qin Mu first glanced at Huang Tian, who stood to one side,