Chapter 1833: Qin Mu and Ling Xiao, Zi Xiao

“A one-eyed slender freak?”

Tai Yi pondered for a moment, then probed, “Are you referring to the slender freak who is attached to the roots of the World Tree, awaiting entry into the Seventeenth Epoch? He has a large eye in the center of his brow, and he resides on the twelfth annual ring of the World Tree.”

Qin Mu nodded.

“I don’t know him. He was a divine being of the Twelfth Epoch, and now it is the Fourth Epoch; the Twelfth Epoch is still far off,” Tai Yi said. “I will help you find him when the Twelfth Epoch arrives. What happened after I left Great Black Mountain?”

Qin Mu replied calmly, “Just some minor matters.”

Tai Yi looked at the white hair at Qin Mu’s temples and suddenly asked, “How many years did it take you to return here? You must have suffered greatly, didn’t you?”

Qin Mu gently stroked Qin Lingjun’s little head, his gaze soft and serene. “Not long, merely 3.5 billion years. My daughter and I have already experienced over 200 billion years since we traveled back in time.”

“That’s why, when I saw you, I knew you were Young Master Chaos, the Seventh, not Heavenly Venerable Mu. Heavenly Venerable Mu doesn’t look as world-worn as you do.”

Tai Yi gazed afar at Heavenly Capital Divine City amidst the Calamity of Destruction. There, his past self was confronting the calamity with many fellow Daoists. He already knew the outcome of this confrontation, knowing that many Daoists died in the calamity, and those who survived often perished in the Calamity of Creation. It was this outcome that made him determined to create a perfect world! This would become a reality in the Seventh Epoch!

The Genesis of Heavenly Capital! That was an awe-inspiring feat. Everyone participated except Qin Mu, who, though counted among the Genesis members, merely made an appearance on the sidelines. Afterward, he would die at the hands of the Miluo Palace Master, be rescued by Ling, and be sent to the future’s Sixteenth Epoch as a primordial spirit.

“Young Master Chaos, are you saying this is the Miluo Palace Master’s compensation to me? To let me start over from the Fourth Epoch?” Tai Yi looked at the Miluo Palace in the Calamity of Destruction with some confusion, shaking his head. “He wouldn’t be that kind.”

He did not wait for Qin Mu’s reply. When he turned, Qin Mu and the little girl had vanished without a trace.

The Fifth Epoch arrived. Tai Yi saw Heavenly Duke seeking the Five Tais of this epoch. Strangely, visitors from the future pursued him into this epoch, beginning to hunt Tai Yi. These were powerful beings from the Miluo Palace of the future Sixteenth Epoch, who crossed the Rivers of Chaos to reach the Fifth Epoch, returning to their respective bodies in this era, frantically searching for his whereabouts. Among them, Young Master Tai Shang led other Miluo Palace Hall Masters in relentless pursuit. Tai Yi was forced to constantly hide and change his identity.

In the Fifth Epoch, Miluo Palace and Heavenly Capital City formed two major sacred grounds, each on a grand scale. Miluo Palace already showed the rudimentary form of its future self, and Tai Shang had already cultivated the Tai Shang Hall, being revered as a Young Master by many Dao achievers; he was the First Young Master of Miluo Palace. As for Wuji, though she joined Miluo Palace at the same time as Tai Shang, she did not become a Young Master. On the contrary, she remained inconspicuous within Miluo Palace, never achieving Dao, and her strength was even inferior to other Dao achievers.

Besides these two sacred grounds, there was a third: Old Man Wuya. In the Fifth Epoch, Old Man Wuya already had a vast number of followers, with strong individuals constantly seeking refuge under his wing. The scale of Old Man Wuya’s forces even surpassed Miluo Palace and Heavenly Capital City.

Tai Yi traveled the world, occasionally encountering Qin Mu. However, Qin Mu’s reputation in both Miluo Palace and Heavenly Capital City was not good at this time; he was often described as a freeloader and a cheat.

The three sacred grounds frequently engaged in conflicts. Although battles shattered the heavens and rivers of blood flowed, both the Miluo Palace Master and the Lord of Heavenly Capital exercised restraint, keeping their Dao achievers in check. Old Man Wuya, however, was very uneasy about Heavenly Capital City and relentlessly attacked it. Tai Yi tried his best to avoid participating in the conflicts of these three forces, but Young Master Tai Shang seemed to have fixed his gaze on him, occasionally descending from the Sixteenth Epoch into his physical body to relentlessly pursue him.

The Sixth Epoch arrived as scheduled. Tai Yi changed his appearance to evade Tai Shang’s pursuit into the Sixth Epoch. At this time, he met Qin Mu again. The little girl beside Qin Mu seemed to have not grown, still as innocent and lovely as when they first met, constantly accompanying Qin Mu.

“Ling Xiao, the Third Young Master of Miluo Palace, has already joined Miluo Palace,” Tai Yi said, his eyes flickering. “A few days ago, Tai Shang and Ling Xiao chased me. Chaos, don’t you have any thoughts on this? Third Young Master Ling Xiao is the mastermind behind the blood sacrifice of the Seventeenth Epoch!”

Qin Mu was surprised, saying, “The third brother is from the Sixth Epoch? I must go see him!”

Tai Yi watched them leave, letting out a sigh of relief. Being relentlessly hunted by Miluo Palace was truly exhausting. If Qin Mu could play a trick on Ling Xiao, his pressure would be alleviated.

After a few days, Tai Yi saw Qin Mu and Young Master Ling Xiao drinking and chatting merrily, like brothers from different parents. Tai Yi was exasperated. Just as he was about to question them, Young Master Tai Shang arrived with a host of Miluo Palace experts to give chase, with Qin Mu cheering them on from the sidelines. Tai Yi could only change his appearance and flee again.

Later, the Dao achievers of Miluo Palace cautioned Ling Xiao about Qin Mu’s various behaviors, and Ling Xiao gradually distanced himself from Qin Mu.

During the Sixth Epoch, a major event occurred: Wuji achieved Dao, becoming the Second Young Master of Miluo Palace and cultivating the Wuji Hall. Qin Mu also went to congratulate her, whispering, “Second Sister, how many Goddesses of the Returning Ruins have you consumed?”

“Seventh Brother, what nonsense are you spouting? I don’t understand,” Young Master Wuji’s eyes sparkled.

A few days later, Tai Yi unexpectedly encountered Qin Mu being pursued by Young Master Wuji, and the two fled together. “Your strength doesn’t fear Wuji, why don’t you fight back?” Tai Yi asked, puzzled.

Qin Mu smiled without answering. Qin Lingjun chirped, “My father said he never fights back against those who will die by his hand.”

Tai Yi’s heart trembled, and he let out a turbid breath.

Finally, at the end of the Sixth Epoch, the Calamity of Destruction erupted. Tai Yi was still being pursued, so he changed his appearance and hid in Heavenly Capital City, where he once again encountered Qin Mu. Qin Mu and Qin Lingjun had surprisingly come to Heavenly Capital Divine City in this lifetime, claiming that as the oldest elders of Heavenly Capital City, they must assist Heavenly Capital City in accomplishing its unparalleled great undertaking!

The people of Heavenly Capital City were highly skeptical and began to argue, some saying he was a spy sent by Miluo Palace, others saying he was close to Old Man Wuya and was Old Man Wuya’s spy. “Young Master Chaos is more like a spy we planted in Miluo Palace and with Wuya!” someone astonishingly declared.

Just then, the Lord of Heavenly Capital picked up a girl from the Calamity of Destruction, exclaiming joyfully, “Allow me to introduce everyone, this is Ling! She is a Daoist who shares our aspirations!” The Heavenly Capital City members all rose. Ling Tianzun’s eyes, like the sun reflecting on snow, swept over the crowd, landing on Qin Mu’s face. Qin Mu was beaming with a smile.

Heavenly Capital City’s Genesis, which opened up the Seventh Epoch of the universe, did not involve Qin Mu, who merely observed from the side. The figures of the Lord of Heavenly Capital and the thirty-six Genesis members were eternally imprinted in space-time, becoming an imperishable painting. However, Qin Mu and his daughter, and Tai Yi, were not in that painting.

In the Seventh Epoch, Heavenly Capital City completely suppressed Miluo Palace and Wuya. The Genesis members relentlessly suppressed Miluo Palace and Wuya. Heavenly Capital City gradually deteriorated, but the Lord of Heavenly Capital did not notice, or perhaps even if he did, he wouldn’t have cared. He and Ling Tianzun were the same kind of people: nothing else mattered beyond the Dao. The Seventh Epoch was inherently his and Heavenly Capital City’s testing ground, and all beings of the Seventh Epoch were merely accessories in this testing ground. He believed this, and the Genesis members naturally believed this too.

Tai Yi walked the world, observing the actions of his previous life and the Genesis members, sighing inwardly, “Teacher, you were right, I was wrong…” In this lifetime, even he failed to achieve Dao again. In every previous cosmic epoch, he could achieve Dao and cultivate a Dao fruit, but only in the Seventh Epoch, he could not. Because the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth had been controlled by the Genesis members! The Genesis members could grant Dao to whomever they wished, and erase the cultivation of whomever they wished!

The decline and destruction of the Seventh Epoch occurred earlier than expected. The Miluo Palace Master visited Heavenly Capital City three times; on his fourth arrival, he slew the Lord of Heavenly Capital. At that time, Qin Mu was right there, standing next to Ling Xiao. Ling Xiao’s eyes sparkled, watching intently the divine abilities the Miluo Palace Master used to slay the Lord of Heavenly Capital. Qin Mu, however, watched Ling Tianzun. Ling Tianzun’s mastery of the principle of mass-energy conservation was perfected, and she quietly and imperceptibly saved Heavenly Duke’s primordial spirit, causing Heavenly Duke and Tai Yi to separate.

The war between Heavenly Capital City and Miluo Palace erupted, lasting from the end of the Seventh Epoch until the Tenth Epoch. Ling, a Genesis member, displayed extraordinary combat prowess, causing heavy casualties to Miluo Palace and earning the epithet “the shadow of Miluo Palace.” However, Ling was a loner and was very close to Chaos, the Seventh Young Master of Miluo Palace, leading to her abandonment by the Genesis members. The period from the Seventh to the Tenth Epoch was a cosmic war of unprecedented brutality, making it difficult to find a comparable conflict across the seventeen cosmic epochs! Ling Xiao achieved Dao and cultivated the Ling Xiao Hall, but also suffered repeated injuries due to being besieged by the Genesis members.

By the Tenth Epoch, Miluo Palace was severely weakened. Tai Shang, Wuji, and Ling Xiao were all gravely injured by Ling Tianzun. The Miluo Palace Master had to intervene to suppress Ling Tianzun, which finally brought the Heavenly Capital City Genesis members under control, causing them to gradually vanish into hiding.

Tai Yi went to see Zixiao, who at this time was still a swordsman, devoted to the sword. His wife, however, was an exceptional woman. Tai Yi saw Qin Mu and his daughter visiting Zixiao’s home. The three, understanding each other implicitly, together witnessed the birth of Zixiao’s Dao Proving Melody. The true Zixiao Dao Proving Melody left the three captivated, savoring its essence for a long time.

“Zixiao, as a commoner, is enviable to have such a wife. He hasn’t joined Miluo Palace yet, don’t you plan to leave something behind?” Tai Yi asked Qin Mu, his eyes flickering.

Qin Mu shook his head. “I came here simply to listen to this famous melody. My battle with Zixiao, which I was sure to win, ultimately ended in defeat because of this melody. Zixiao’s wife is an extraordinary woman; I had to meet her.”

Tai Yi intended to act against Zixiao, but Qin Mu stopped him, saying, “Zixiao also lost to this melody.” Tai Yi was puzzled.

Later, the Calamity of Destruction of the Tenth Epoch erupted. At the height of this calamity, Zixiao’s Dao Proving Melody sounded once more. Tai Yi arrived upon hearing it and met Qin Mu again. Qin Mu, holding Qin Lingjun’s hand, stood amidst the calamity, watching the husband and wife embrace in the flames of destruction, a fleeting moment becoming eternity. At this moment, Zixiao was the Zixiao of the Seventeenth Epoch; he chose to remain in this moment forever, with his wife.

In the Eleventh Epoch, Zixiao joined Miluo Palace, and the Dao arts of Miluo Palace made him the Fourth Young Master.

The Twelfth Epoch arrived. Tai Yi found Qin Mu and said, “I found that slender freak. He is under Old Man Wuya’s command.”