Chapter 1593: Reverse Course

"This isn't Su Muzhe's fault. Although he is the High Priest of Wendao College, he always feels I am his senior when he faces me. I only exist in legends, so it's natural for him to feel somewhat constrained when encountering someone from legend."

Ling Tianzun said, "That's why he always tries to talk to me but never knows what to say, so he ends up telling me everything about you. Do you remember when Si Youyou took you to the market, found a bolt of cloth she liked, but didn't have any money, so she pawned you at the fabric shop? She forgot to redeem you; it was the blind man who went and got you back."

"The Village Chief... and Grandma!"

Veins bulged on Qin Mu's forehead. He scanned the void and steered the golden boat deeper into it. He chuckled, "Just now, Bai Qu'er asked me what to do about the Sovereign Era remnants. She's hidden them, but her strength is too low to protect them during the catastrophe."

"The people of the Kaihuang Era are also Sovereign Era remnants, and so are the people of the Yankang Era. In my heart, there's no difference, no matter who they are."

Ling Tianzun said, "Just let them integrate into Yankang. That way, I won't have to visit three different places."

She didn't press Qin Mu further about his romantic life. She preferred to delve into research rather than bother with such troublesome matters.

She then immersed herself in evolving the Red Thread Knot Seal. This seal involved so much knowledge that even she would need tens of thousands of years to fully comprehend it, which showed just how difficult it was to create in the first place.

She was already an exceptionally intelligent person. In the past, Yu Tianzun had even expressed envy, stating that Ling Tianzun's aptitude, comprehension, and intellect surpassed his own. While that might have been a humble and admiring remark from Yu Tianzun, Ling Tianzun's natural talent, insight, and intelligence were indeed extraordinary.

Qin Mu also settled down to comprehend the Dao patterns, asking questions whenever he encountered something he didn't understand.

Initially, Ling Tianzun patiently answered his questions. However, she eventually grew impatient, finding his questions too simple. She snapped, "It's all within my comprehension; go figure it out yourself!"

Qin Mu's face flushed with shame; he felt utterly mortified and could only obediently continue his comprehension.

Finally, the golden boat broke through the thirty-fifth layer of void and entered the Ultimate Void. A cold, desolate wind howled, dissolving all matter, yet it had no effect on the World-Crossing Golden Boat.

Ling Tianzun guided him to the Divine Sense Great Luo Heaven. Qin Mu steered the golden boat through the Ultimate Void, which was immeasurably vaster than the entire universe.

As the universe grows, it will expand, and the thirty-six layers of void will gradually merge with it. Consequently, the spiritual energy between heaven and earth will become increasingly sparse, and the distances between galaxies will grow ever wider.

"With my current power, can I imprint the Ultimate Void and make my strength immortal?"

Qin Mu's eyes sparkled. He immediately drew his Calamity Sword and stood at the bow, attempting to activate his divine abilities to imprint them onto the Ultimate Void.

He unleashed his Divine Abilities Thirty Heavens, from the first form of the Calamity Sword, "Calamity Rise," all the way to the thirty-first form, "Samsara Silence."

Yet, these thirty-one powerful divine abilities, once imprinted in the Ultimate Void, quickly dissipated like smoke, leaving no trace behind.

Qin Mu frowned. Suddenly, Ling Tianzun's voice came from behind him: "Impressive divine ability."

Qin Mu turned around. Ling Tianzun's gaze was fixed on the spot where he had just imprinted his divine ability, and she praised again, "Impressive divine ability."

Qin Mu smiled, "This is the Dao Realm created by Kaihuang. I've already cultivated to the thirty-first heaven, and once I achieve the thirty-sixth heaven, I'll be able to imprint the Ultimate Void. Ling, you probably aren't very familiar with the Dao Realm, so let me explain it to you. The Dao Realm was created by Kaihuang; it was initially considered a heresy, but now it's a prominent field of study. The Dao Realm is divided into thirty-six heavens..."

Ling Tianzun waved her hand and shook her head. "The Dao Realm, it's just one school of thought," she said. "I've already consulted Kaihuang himself at Wendao College, and it's nothing particularly remarkable."

Qin Mu's eyes widened, and he stammered, "You... you..."

Ling Tianzun said, "Heavenly Venerate Mu, with your aptitude, you should have already realized that the Dao Realm is merely a framework established for ordinary individuals, allowing them to follow its rules and, by reaching its culmination, achieve the Dao. However, it's a system designed to restrict the mediocre."

Qin Mu held his breath, nearly unable to breathe.

Ling Tianzun said, "I've seen you use a move called 'Primordial One Finger,' which employs Primordial runes. Try that against the Ultimate Void."

Qin Mu complied, pointing his finger.

He had spent this time comprehending numerous variations of the Primordial One Finger. This particular strike was astonishingly powerful; a purple light shot from his fingertip, piercing the Ultimate Void and leaving a lasting finger mark.

The finger mark lingered for a long time, not dissipating. As the countless variations of the Primordial One Finger shifted endlessly and unpredictably within the mark, it would not be erased by the Ultimate Void!

Qin Mu was stunned. He meticulously examined the finger mark, a realization stirring within him, though he couldn't quite pinpoint the principle he had grasped.

Ling Tianzun asked, "What tier of your divine abilities is this?"

Qin Mu shook his head. "This isn't my own divine ability," he explained. "It's a finger divine ability I comprehended from the Mi Luo Palace's Dao patterns; it belongs to the Mi Luo Palace Master..."

"By that logic, are your Dao Realm thirty-one heavens divine abilities truly *your* divine abilities? They are the divine abilities of various Great Daos. The Primordial One Finger divine ability is both your divine ability and the Mi Luo Palace Master's."

Ling Tianzun said, "What tier of the Dao Realm do you think Primordial One Finger belongs to?"

Qin Mu was bewildered, struggling to keep up with her train of thought.

"This divine ability doesn't exist in any specific tier."

Ling Tianzun said, "The Mi Luo Palace Master has already surpassed the concept of Dao Realm tiers. He has insight into the essence of the Dao; the Dao Realm can no longer confine him. If you continue to cultivate along the Dao Realm, you will remain self-bound by its frameworks. Only by stepping outside of them can you understand why Primordial One Finger can be so powerful despite not being part of the Dao Realm."

Qin Mu blinked, his eyes filled with confusion.

Ling Tianzun looked at him, her brow furrowed. With patience, she said, "The nature of Dao does not follow the current; the nature of Dao does not fear the cold. Contemplate this myriad realm, and turn inward to observe your own heart. Do you understand now?"

"I..."

Qin Mu's eye twitched. He hesitated, "I still don't quite understand..."

At the Jade Pool Grand Gathering a million years ago, he had been able to teach Ling Tianzun the Path of Creation. Yet today, he no longer fully grasped the realm Ling Tianzun was describing.

It seemed Ling Tianzun had embarked on a cultivation path entirely different from the Divine Treasures and Heavenly Palaces system, the Dao Realm system, and even the Ancestral Court Five Tais system that Lan Yutian was currently researching!

This cultivation path left even someone like Qin Mu completely baffled.

"You are as dull as Heavenly Venerate Yun," Ling Tianzun said, shaking her head and no longer paying him attention.

Qin Mu stood bewildered at the bow, staring wide-eyed at the endless void. The cold, desolate wind howled, as if scattering fragments of Dao hearts across the ground.

"Truly foolish," Ling Tianzun's voice seemed to whisper from the wind.

Qin Mu felt dejected. He sat down and pondered deeply. Indeed, Ling Tianzun was not wrong; Primordial One Finger was not a Dao Realm divine ability, yet its power was astonishingly great.

The same was true for the Red Thread Knot Seal, which could even suppress Dao Achievers.

If it wasn't from the Dao Realm, yet possessed such astonishing power, where did that power originate?

"Turn inward to observe your own heart, turn inward to observe your own heart..."

He repeatedly pondered the meaning of this phrase, growing more confused with every thought.

Ling Tianzun's cultivation and vital energy were certainly mediocre; her vital qi was even inferior to Qin Mu's, and she had no notable achievements in the Dao Realm. Yet, with a single touch of her finger, she could slay a formidable existence like the Grand Emperor.

Where did her power come from?

She borrowed no power from the Celestial Heavens, nor from the ancient gods, nor from heaven and earth. She didn't cultivate the Dao Realm. So why did her divine abilities possess such immense power?

"She has already surpassed this era by too much. Perhaps she and the Mi Luo Palace Master would find common ground."

The World-Crossing Golden Boat arrived at the Divine Sense Great Luo Heaven. Heavenly Venerate Yun, seeing the golden boat approach, rushed to greet it. Qin Mu disembarked and looked back; Ling Tianzun remained seated on the boat, unmoving.

Qin Mu was about to call out to her, but Heavenly Venerate Yun quickly stopped him, shaking his head. "No need to disturb her," he said. "Heavenly Venerate Mu, why do you seem so dejected?"

He scrutinized Qin Mu, looking surprised. When Qin Mu had come here to rescue him, he hadn't panicked at all upon being captured by Heavenly Venerate Hao; instead, he had seemed quite joyful.

The fact that he could remain optimistic even in such peril, yet now seemed dejected and lacked confidence, truly astonished Heavenly Venerate Yun.

Qin Mu sighed, "Ling Tianzun disheartened me on the way."

Heavenly Venerate Yun understood and chuckled, "It's a minor thing. I've grown used to it, and so will you."

Qin Mu grunted, taking his physical body from the vertical eye between his eyebrows. "Besides returning your physical body," he said, "another reason for my visit is..."

"The matter of Earth Count?"

Heavenly Venerate Yun examined his physical body. Although it was the body of an Emperor's Throne expert, its vitality was significantly diminished from before and would require careful nurturing after his revival. He then said, "I've been so bored here that I've been peeking around and have learned about Earth Count's situation."

Qin Mu sought his advice, "Brother Yun, if it were you, would you rescue Earth Count?"

"Yes!"

Heavenly Venerate Yun entered his physical body and quickly mastered every aspect of his being. Without hesitation, he declared, "Earth Count and I have no personal ties, but his life or death is crucial to the ownership of Youdu! The fate of Youdu, in turn, impacts the success or failure of Yankang's reforms and the very survival of humanity! Therefore, no matter what, I will do my utmost, even risking my life, to rescue Earth Count. Under no circumstances can Youdu fall into the hands of the Celestial Heavens!"

Qin Mu let out a long breath and smiled. "With that assurance from you, my friend," he said, "I can put one worry to rest."

Heavenly Venerate Yun stretched his body, activated his vital blood, and offered a slight smile. "I'm also very happy to be of some help to you," he said.

Qin Mu walked around him, imprinting one creation divine ability after another onto his body, helping him clear his blood and refine impurities in his divine treasures. He mused, "Brother Yun holds the same idea as me, but it failed during the Dragon Han Era. Therefore, desperately trying to rescue Earth Count might not be a good idea."

Heavenly Venerate Yun's face darkened.

Qin Mu continued to circle him, simultaneously casting divine abilities to strengthen his vital blood, all while pondering. "Heavenly Venerate Hao is your old rival, your old adversary," he said. "He must have studied you very thoroughly. He knows your character, your strategies, and your potential future actions like the back of his hand. That's why you lost during the Dragon Han Era."

Heavenly Venerate Yun's face darkened further, but soon the vital blood Qin Mu circulated reached his head, making his complexion look much better, radiant and glowing.

"Victors often have the mindset of replicating their successful experiences, so Heavenly Venerate Hao will use the same methods he used against you to deal with me."

Qin Mu lightly touched his glabella, activating his brain, and smiled. "So, I plan to do the opposite!"

Heavenly Venerate Yun felt his brain instantly revive, with various thoughts and consciousnesses flowing. He asked in surprise, "How do you plan to do the opposite?"

"I'm going to kill Earth Count!"

Qin Mu reached out and grasped Heavenly Venerate Yun's Divine Bridge Divine Treasure. With a single swing of his sword, he severed the Divine Bridge, laughing loudly as he declared, "Isn't Heavenly Venerate Hao going to kill Earth Count? Then I'll beat him to it and eliminate Earth Count!"

Heavenly Venerate Yun was dumbfounded.

Kill Earth Count before Heavenly Venerate Hao?

Wait a minute, how did Heavenly Venerate Mu sever his own Divine Bridge Divine Treasure?

This guy hadn't even asked him!

He was the Heavenly Venerate who had pioneered the Divine Bridge Divine Treasure. With the Divine Bridge severed, all his Heavenly Palace realms were gone!

How could this physical body possibly withstand his magic power now?

If the magic power of the Heavenly Palace realm were to descend, his physical body would likely disintegrate instantly, crushed into chaos!

"Wait a minute! Heavenly Venerate Mu, listen to me..."

Qin Mu lightly flicked his Calamity Sword, piercing into his body. Not only did he sever his Divine Bridge Divine Treasure, but he also cut off all his other divine treasures, including Life and Death, Celestial and Human, Six Harmonies, and Five Luminaries!