Chapter 1592: Moon Palace, Tea Tree, Subtle Fragrance

Qin Mu had found the golden ship and was about to head to the ultimate void when he saw Ling Tianzun approaching.

"Do you know how to get to the ultimate void, how to find Yun Tianzun?" she asked, standing beneath the ship.

Qin Mu paused for a moment, then smiled and extended his hand.

Ling Tianzun grasped his hand, and Qin Mu pulled her onto the ship with a strong tug.

"There's something strange about your ship."

Ling Tianzun landed at the bow and said, "I saw someone on board, but I couldn't make out who it was. And your ship is actually enormous; it contains an unknown amount of space. I asked Yue Tianzun to search it, but even after half a year, she couldn't explore the entire vessel."

Qin Mu was startled. Yue Tianzun couldn't explore the entire ship even after half a year?

Yue Tianzun's spatial divine abilities were extraordinary, and her mastery was something Qin Mu deeply admired. It would likely take her only a few years to travel from one end of the universe to the other using her Boundless Void.

"Yue Tianzun said this ship seems to be alive, capable of growing or shrinking on its own. It's hiding someone on board, preventing you from finding them," Ling Tianzun said, looking up at the ship.

Qin Mu followed her gaze, but could only see the palaces on the exterior of the golden ship. To this day, he had never seen the full appearance of the Golden Ship of Crossing Worlds.

"Are you saying the Palace Master of the Mi Luo Palace is actually alive on this ship?"

He pondered, "However, the Palace Master of Mi Luo Palace is already dead. If someone is on board, it wouldn't be him, only his imprint. Or, there really is someone else hiding on this ship..."

After a moment's thought, he suppressed the urge to search the golden ship and smiled, "It's more important to see Yun Tianzun first. This golden ship of mine is extraordinary; it can enter the ultimate void. It's just that I don't know where Yun Tianzun's Grand Overarching Heaven is."

"The Grand Overarching Heaven is crucial. If Haotian Venerable or Grand Primordium were to find it, Yun Tianzun would be doomed, so he must remain hidden."

Ling Tianzun said, "Not many people know where the Grand Overarching Heaven is. I can guide you there. On the way, I can also impart to you my insights from the past forty thousand years."

Qin Mu was overjoyed.

After some thought, Ling Tianzun decided to use a divine sense transmission to impart her forty thousand years of enlightenment to him, as it would save time and make it easier for Qin Mu to understand and comprehend.

The Golden Ship of Crossing Worlds slowly ascended, gradually accelerating as it sailed towards the sky.

On board the golden ship, Qin Mu managed the vessel while organizing the knowledge Ling Tianzun had imparted to him. He needed to wait until the ship reached a certain speed before opening a void for it to travel through.

Ling Tianzun's enlightenment over the past forty thousand years was indeed extraordinary. She had largely deciphered the Mi Luo Palace's Dao patterns that Qin Mu had taught her.

This was an immense achievement!

The Mi Luo Palace's Dao patterns contained infinite variations and countless details, with myriad intricacies interlinking when the patterns changed, making them incredibly complex.

Qin Mu had spent a long time in the Mi Luo Palace, but while he had deciphered the mysteries within the fixed Dao patterns, he couldn't unravel their changing variations.

Even so, with this limited understanding, he had created the Primordial Finger, which deterred Fire Heavenly Venerable, Emperor Lang Xuan, and others from daring to challenge him.

However, because he hadn't grasped the variations, Qin Mu's finger attack was straightforward and easily dodged.

If Qin Mu could incorporate the variations Ling Tianzun had comprehended, his Primordial Finger would become adaptable and its power would greatly increase!

Similarly, he could also comprehend the variations of the Red String Knot seal from the changing Mi Luo Palace Dao patterns, significantly enhancing the power of the Red String Knot.

If he could achieve this, the Red String Knot would no longer merely be capable of trapping Empress Yuanmu; instead, a single seal would be enough to reduce an opponent to ashes.

"Ling, I will teach you a seal technique. It also originates from the Mi Luo Palace's Dao patterns, but it involves Dao chains, making it more complex."

Qin Mu's divine sense fluctuated as he imparted his understanding of the Red String Knot seal technique to Ling Tianzun, saying, "I've only learned the Red String Knot in its static form; I haven't mastered its adaptable variations. How long will it take you to comprehend its changes?"

Ling Tianzun sat silently at the bow, not answering for a long time.

Qin Mu wasn't in a hurry. He continued to contemplate the mysteries of the Dao patterns while accelerating the golden ship. The ship had already passed beyond the skies of the Primordial Realm and was now flying past the moon.

Within the moon, there was a palace. Qin Mu looked over and saw a woman in white emerge from it, a sword on her back, and carrying a flower basket, seemingly intending to pick some fresh flowers.

The woman saw the golden ship and Qin Mu on board, so she stood quietly before the palace gate.

Qin Mu steered the golden ship, circling the moon several times, slowly decelerating, until it finally came to a halt.

He leaped from the ship and arrived before the moon palace. There, he saw many flowers and plants, as well as an old tea tree, which was about a hundred years old.

Tea trees grow slowly, but in a hundred years, they can grow quite tall.

"It's been a long time."

The woman walked to greet him under the tea tree, but stopped her steps. The moonlight was pure white, casting shifting shadows beneath the tea tree.

A subtle fragrance wafted in the moonlight.

Qin Mu stepped forward, also coming under the tea tree, and quietly looked at Bai Qiong'er.

Bai Qiong'er was still as serene, beautiful, and unburdened by worldly affairs as before.

"I know you like to drink tea, so I planted a tea tree."

Her graceful presence under the tea tree made the subtle fragrance of the palace garden light and elegant. She said, "It's been a while since I last saw you. Some of the tea became stale, so I drank it myself. I didn't like it at first, but slowly, I grew to enjoy it."

Qin Mu's mood suddenly became peaceful. He smiled and said, "Is there any tea left? I don't have anything urgent to do. I'd like a cup before I leave."

Bai Qiong'er was delighted and went back to the palace to prepare. Just then, Ling Tianzun walked over and said, "Prepare an extra set of tea utensils."

Bai Qiong'er gave her a deep, questioning look. "Ling Tianzun? The Emperor Ling Tianzun?"

She had once accompanied her father to the High Emperor Celestial Heavens and had seen Ling Tianzun from a distance.

Although Ling Tianzun was a woman, she was not particular about her appearance. During the High Emperor era, she was often unkempt. Now, she wore a green robe and women's attire, but she found her hair troublesome and didn't bother with it, so it was cut very short. This was a significant change from her previous untidy look of leopard-print skirt and straw sandals.

Ling Tianzun recognized her and said, "Bai Long clan? The High Emperor Sword God? I've seen you. It must have been at a High Emperor Celestial Heavens celebration forty thousand years ago. You were in the crowd following the Lord of Bailong City, and you were only this tall back then."

She gestured with her hand to indicate the height.

"Your memory is truly excellent, Tianzun."

Bai Qiong'er was inwardly shocked. There were tens of thousands of different clans participating in that celebration. It was truly astonishing that Ling Tianzun could remember her appearance after just a glance among so many people.

"I've also seen you later."

Ling Tianzun said, "At the source of the Surging River, the woman carrying a basket with a baby inside – I sent you to save them. Later, when the baby grew up, I sent him back forty thousand years to meet you."

Bai Qiong'er's eyes widened, and she was speechless.

The fate connecting the three of them was so miraculous, forming a wonderful loop!

Forty thousand years ago, Qin Mu arrived in Bailong City and saved Bai Qiong'er. Forty thousand years later, Bai Qiong'er, guided by Ling Tianzun, saved Qin Mu as an infant. When Qin Mu grew up, he was then sent by Ling Tianzun back to Bailong City forty thousand years in the past.

Qin Mu brought over a stone table, Bai Qiong'er brewed tea, and Qin Mu poured a cup for Ling Tianzun. Ling Tianzun took a sip, set it aside, and fell back into contemplation.

Bai Qiong'er looked at Qin Mu with a puzzled expression. Qin Mu smiled and said, "That's just how she is; you don't need to mind her."

He slowly drank his tea. The tea was as delicate, fragrant, and captivating as the woman beside him. He took a small sip, and its aftertaste lingered.

Qin Mu looked up at the tea tree, curious. "It was transplanted from the High Heavens, wasn't it?"

Bai Qiong'er nodded and said, "Madam Xu Jingyan gave me a sapling, saying that Xu Shenghua used this kind of tea to entertain you back then, and you even tricked him out of half of it."

Qin Mu burst into laughter, feeling very pleased. "I didn't trick him out of half his tea; I tricked him into joining me entirely!"

Bai Qiong'er chuckled softly as she drank her tea.

Qin Mu looked at her, recalling their travels beyond the heavens, their time in the moon palace, and how they had disturbed the stars, leading Jiang Baigui and Yu Chenzi to investigate and force Qin Mu to address her as 'senior'.

Those were the happiest and most carefree times of his life.

He smiled, feeling immense peace in his heart, quietly drinking his tea and relaxing.

He felt his mind had reached a quiet harbor, rarely enjoying such tranquility.

His connection with Bai Qiong'er was truly miraculous.

After an unknown period, Ling Tianzun suddenly exclaimed, "I've figured it out! Give me fifty thousand years, and I can decipher it for you!"

She startled both of them. Only then did Qin Mu remember that Ling Tianzun was talking about the Red String Knot, and he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Ling Tianzun picked up her tea. Bai Qiong'er quickly said, "Tianzun, please wait; it's already cold. I'll get you a fresh cup..."

"No need!"

Ling Tianzun tilted her head back and drained the cup, then set it down. "Tianzun Mu, I'll wait for you on the ship. Don't delay too long."

Qin Mu nodded, and Ling Tianzun returned to the Golden Ship of Crossing Worlds.

Qin Mu refilled his own cup of tea, holding it in his hands and feeling its warmth.

Bai Qiong'er watched him, realizing he had been looking at her, and she felt a slight flutter of panic in her heart.

Qin Mu admired her for a long time. The tea in his hand had grown cold, so he finally drank it all, set down the empty cup, and stood up. "I have to leave again."

Bai Qiong'er stood up, adjusted his collar, and asked, "Is it dangerous?"

"It's alright."

Qin Mu stood motionless, waiting for her to finish tidying his collar, and smiled, "I've always been like this; I've been through too much."

"Then be careful."

Bai Qiong'er thought for a moment and said, "Ling Tianzun and Yue Tianzun are Celestial Venerables from the High Emperor era. Please ask her for me: I'm protecting some remnants of the High Emperor's people, but my own strength isn't high. I humbly request the two Celestial Venerables to protect their descendants."

Qin Mu nodded and turned to leave. Bai Qiong'er watched him walk towards the golden ship, but then saw him suddenly turn back and pull her tightly into his embrace.

Bai Qiong'er didn't struggle; instead, she quietly leaned against his chest.

After a moment, Qin Mu released her, turned, and walked away.

"She's a good girl."

On the ship, Ling Tianzun was still casually sitting on the deck, using her vital qi to simulate the structure of the Red String Knot, trying to deduce its variations and mysteries. Without looking up, she said, "It would be perfect if you two could be together."

"Indeed," Qin Mu chuckled, activating the Golden Ship of Crossing Worlds.

Ling Tianzun said, "I heard from Yue'er that you drew a painting for her, and she cherishes it greatly."

Qin Mu's eyes darted around, and a bead of cold sweat slowly formed on the back of his neck.

"I also heard from Su Muzhe that your relationship with Emperor Yanxiu is unusual; you secretly pledged yourselves to each other when you were young and even held a wedding ceremony, though you never consummated the marriage," Ling Tianzun continued.

The back of Qin Mu's neck grew damp as sweat trickled down his back.

Ling Tianzun looked up, glanced at him, and said, "Su Muzhe also secretly told me that Lang Wo has a painting you drew. The Painting Saint drew better, but Lang Wo burned the Painting Saint's work and only kept yours."

A chill ran down Qin Mu's spine. He exerted force to propel the golden ship, which tore through the void and disappeared from sight.