Chapter 1036: Deep Within the Peach Blossoms
Inside the hall, the Moon Celestial remained behind the screen, not showing herself. Through the screen, she said, “How do you know I can monitor all the movements of the various heavens in the Primordial Realm? I am now a cripple, my heart as dead as ashes. Even if I had this ability, I would not have the energy to monitor the movements of the various heavens and the Primordial Realm.”
Qin Mu looked at the shadow on the screen and said, “Oh? Is that really so?”
The woman behind the screen sighed. “Naturally, it’s false. When you went to the Heavenly Court, I had the Southern Emperor Vermilion Bird take my peach blossoms to you, making my stance clear. The Southern Emperor planned to use death to escape this time, and she also informed me of this. How could I truly be in seclusion, no longer caring about worldly affairs?”
Qin Mu said, “If the Celestial Master truly no longer cared about worldly affairs, then your peach grove would not be connected to the ten thousand heavens of the Primordial Realm.”
“Indeed. My divine ability is the art of space. I had already laid my plans before the Cloud Celestial died in battle. At that time, my abilities were not yet strong, and my spatial arts had not yet reached their peak. My spatial arts could only connect a dozen or so heavens.”
The Moon Celestial behind the screen continued, “But by the end of the Dragon Han era, my peach grove had connected over a hundred heavens. By the end of the Supreme Emperor era, the peach grove had already linked the ten thousand heavens of the Primordial Realm together. Although I am a cripple, by now, whether it is the Heavenly Court, the Dark Capital, the Netherworld, or even the Four Extremes, all are within the insight of my divine abilities. What I have not broken through are the forbidden zones formed by the birthplace of the ancient gods and the Guixu.”
Qin Mu said, “You are not reconciled.”
“Naturally, I am not reconciled.”
The Moon Celestial’s voice was very calm, but beneath the calm surface lay deep resentment. “The five founding elders of the Heavenly Alliance aimed to give humanity the right to survive and allow people to live better lives. Yet the Heavenly Alliance has decayed. The original purpose of its founding no longer exists. The Heavenly Alliance has become a place of filth, a venue for demigods, ancient gods, and even the Creators to divide up their interests! Naturally, I am not reconciled.”
Qin Mu quietly watched the shadow on the screen. The Moon Celestial continued, “At the founding of the Heavenly Alliance, the Cloud Celestial established its first principle: one must not be too kind to the wicked nor too harsh to the good. Yet implementing this has proven so difficult. People are always too harsh on the good, believing that good people cannot make even a single mistake. If they do, they are no longer good, and they fall into eternal damnation, to be crushed underfoot. People are also too kind to the wicked. If a wicked person does a thousand evil deeds but does one good deed, they are praised, almost hailed as a sage! Mu Celestial, we have not achieved this. Can you?”
Qin Mu pondered and said, “It is very difficult. But I am trying. There was once a man who committed countless evils. To resist Yancheng, he did not hesitate to release poison on the grasslands, killing ninety percent of the people there. Later, during the Yancheng Calamity, his conscience awakened, and he died saving others. Although I had the power to revive him or summon his soul, I did not resurrect him. I felt that reviving him would leave me unable to face the people who died on the grasslands.”
“Then how will you face the ancient gods?” the Moon Celestial asked.
Qin Mu’s mind shook violently.
The Moon Celestial’s words truly struck his soul.
The wicked man he spoke of was the Great Venerable, who used witch poison to kill the vast majority of the herders on the grasslands. His crime was unforgivable. Even if he did one good deed, Qin Mu could not forget his ruthlessness.
But what about the ancient gods?
During the Dragon Han era and even the dark years before it, the ancient gods fed on later-born beings, using all living creatures as sacrifices. Now, Qin Mu needed their power to ally with them against the Heavenly Court. One could say the ancient gods were doing good deeds.
Could the ancient gods therefore be pardoned?
One must not be too harsh on the good, nor too kind to the wicked. These words were simple to say, yet this simple principle was so incredibly difficult to uphold!
“Compassion is incredibly cheap, but a critical heart is also shameful.”
The Moon Celestial’s voice came from behind the screen. “I have already found the three people you mentioned. They are in the Yuhua Heaven, planning to steal the lair of the Second Celestial Master among the Four Great Celestial Masters of the Heavenly Court, Meng Yungui. I will bring them here.”
In the Primordial Realm’s Yuhua Heaven.
This heaven was the ancestral land of Celestial Master Meng. He had risen to prominence from Yuhua Heaven, climbing the ranks all the way to become the Second Celestial Master of the Heavenly Court, one of the rare Emperor Throne-level experts in the world.
After gaining power, Celestial Master Meng began to develop Yuhua Heaven, plundering wealth from other heavens and bringing it here. This Celestial Master had no other hobbies, only a love for wealth. Thus, Yuhua Heaven became extremely rich. Some even said his wealth surpassed that of the Ten Celestial Masters.
However, this Celestial Master was a master of formations, the foremost expert in formations within the Heavenly Court. His wealth was guarded by various deadly formations, extremely tight.
At this moment, Cripple and Master Ma had already infiltrated Celestial Master Meng’s treasure vault. Beside them was an honest-looking young man, none other than Lan Yutian.
Cripple had always preferred to work alone, but ever since Granny Si found Qin Mu by the river, he had taken a liking to the task of raising children. When Granny Si grew annoyed with young Qin Mu wetting the bed and gave him away, Cripple would always steal him back.
Later, when he re-emerged into the world, Blind, Mute, Pharmacist, and the others all had countless things to do, leaving no one to accompany him. Qin Mu didn’t return often either, so Cripple ran around alone, robbing tombs and visiting other heavens, which grew boring.
Then one day, Cripple remembered that Qin Mu had a younger brother, Lan Yutian, so he went to the Dark Capital and stole him away.
Coincidentally, Master Ma had resigned as the Tathagata and left Mount Sumeru. Cripple invited this former divine constable to guide his skills, euphemistically calling it “progressing together.”
Master Ma couldn’t refuse out of politeness and was also worried about Cripple and Lan Yutian’s safety, so he had to follow them and clean up their messes.
“This Celestial Master Meng’s formations are indeed impressive. His formations are not just killing arrays; they can also leave traces of intruders. For example, in this formation, these mirrors are used to capture images. Anyone who breaks in will have their image recorded by these mirrors.”
Master Ma looked around, his gaze falling on a book within the formation. “That book is similar to a Life and Death Register, integrated with the mirrors. Once an image is captured, the book will use it to identify the thief. Inside the book are echo bugs, used to mimic the thief’s voice… And that jade box over there contains no treasure; it’s a trap…”
Cripple was full of admiration and said to Lan Yutian, “You little brat, learn from this! This is real skill!”
Lan Yutian nodded repeatedly, carefully memorizing Master Ma’s words.
Just as Cripple and Lan Yutian were about to make their move, the space around them suddenly shifted. The three were startled, looking around to find themselves surrounded by peach groves in full bloom. Strangely, the peach blossoms beside them were blooming, indicating early spring, while the peaches nearby were already ripe, suggesting summer!
“Two gentlemen, and young master, the Celestial Master invites you.” A maidservant approached, speaking softly.
Cripple’s face turned ashen. “Master Ma, I’ve been caught! The Celestial Master has me, and he’ll probably cut off my legs, make me into a human stick like the village chief, and plant me in a jar so I can never run again!”
Master Ma looked around and said, “This seems like the Moon Celestial’s peach grove. Mu’er once mentioned it. Let’s go and see. Don’t make a fuss. In the past, I could always catch you because you were always careless and lacked a firm heart.”
They followed the maidservant forward and saw Dragon Qilin and a delicate girl waiting outside the palace. Lan Yutian cheered and rushed forward, but Yan’er seemed to have just been crying. She didn’t feed him anymore, quietly waiting outside the palace.
“Fatty Dragon, what’s wrong with Sister Yan’er?” Lan Yutian asked.
Dragon Qilin sighed. “The Sect Leader invites you in. Go ahead.”
Lan Yutian grew even more puzzled, following Cripple and Master Ma into the palace.
Inside the hall, Qin Mu took out a mirror and showed it to Master Ma and Cripple. “The palace in this mirror is a projection of the Incense Hall. The talismans imprinted on it are the Incense Hall’s talismanic runes and various seals. This Incense Hall is a treasure used by the Heavenly Court to suppress souls. It has countless talismans and seals. I need an expert to decipher the talismans and seals, enter it, and steal the souls suppressed there.”
He tapped lightly, and the space within the mirror expanded outward. The projected Incense Hall materialized in the middle of the hall, standing before them. The various talismans and seals plastered around this bronze hall were mirrored in the mirror but returned to normal outside.
Lan Yutian praised, “Brother’s painting skills have become even more superb!”
Qin Mu said, “Your last remnant soul is also hidden in this hall. Grandpa Cripple, do you have a way to enter this hall?”
Cripple’s expression grew serious as he examined the talismans, pacing around the bronze hall. “Impressive, remarkable… This is the most difficult and terrifying prohibition I’ve ever encountered in my life… The pinnacle of my career…”
Qin Mu looked at Master Ma, who shook his head. “I can’t do it. Cripple is the expert.”
Lan Yutian also stepped forward, examining each talisman one by one, his demeanor almost identical to Cripple’s.
Qin Mu frowned, thinking to himself, “Lan Yutian has been with Grandpa Cripple for too long. He’s practically become another Cripple. This blank slate is probably already tainted…”
The old man and the young man studied the Incense Hall’s seals and talismans in detail, muttering and discussing enthusiastically.
After a moment of thought, Qin Mu said, “Grandpa Cripple, you have plenty of time to study. Take this mirror to Yancheng and give it to Grandpa Mute and Grandpa Blind. Ask them to craft a replica of the Incense Hall based on these talismanic arrays, seals, and prohibitions. Then you can slowly work on cracking it…”
Before he could finish, Lan Yutian excitedly started running, his speed increasing rapidly. Suddenly, his figure turned into a series of afterimages, charging straight toward the phantom of the Incense Hall!
Qin Mu quickly looked over and saw Lan Yutian passing through the phantom talismans as if they were nothing. However, as he ran, he seemed to enter an extremely viscous mud, his movements slowing down until he was finally frozen in the seals, completely immobile.
Cripple hurried over and pulled him out of the seals, shaking his head. “These seals are too strong. Even running fast enough can’t get through the seals and talismans. We need to think of another way!”
Qin Mu tapped lightly, pushing the phantom of the Incense Hall back into the mirror. “This matter is of utmost importance. After Grandpa Mute forges the Incense Hall, the talismans, seals, and prohibitions on it must be restored exactly as they are. When you try to enter the hall, you must be cautious. Remember, remember!”
Cripple put away the mirror and said, “When I rescued Lan boy just now, I sensed that these seals contain countless spaces. We were only stopped at the fourth layer of seals. The seals behind are likely even stronger. Getting in will be extremely difficult!”
“We must get in!”
Qin Mu said decisively, “This concerns our future. Grandpa Cripple, I entrust this task to you!”
Seeing how serious he was, Cripple smiled. “As long as you run fast enough, there’s no unbeatable seal in the world. Mu’er, aren’t you coming with us?”
Qin Mu shook his head. “I need to return to the past and see the Southern Emperor Vermilion Bird. You go see Grandpa Mute first. After I meet the Southern Emperor, I’ll come find you and make further plans. Moon Celestial, please send them to Yancheng.”
Master Ma walked over, his expression grave. “Mu’er, don’t push yourself.”
Qin Mu’s eyes reddened slightly. He quickly hugged him to hide it, laughing. “How could I push myself? Master Ma, you and Grandpa Cripple also need to work hard on your cultivation. My celestial palaces still have the Buddhist Celestial Palace and the Thief Celestial Palace. The Buddha has his way, and the thief has his way. I’m waiting for you two to cultivate these two celestial palaces and teach them to me, so I can advance further.”
Master Ma smiled. “The Buddha is found within one’s nature, not sought externally. Seeking externally is all illusion. You are the Buddha yourself; you don’t need to rely on others.”
Qin Mu said, “Human strength has its limits. Borrowing external forms to verify oneself is not impossible.”
“Well said.”
“Well said.”
They parted. The Moon Celestial behind the screen gently spread her sleeves, and Cripple, Master Ma, and Lan Yutian vanished.
Qin Mu said to the woman behind the screen, “Moon Celestial, I also need to leave.”
The Moon Celestial said, “You plan to go to the source of the Yong River? Do you need me to send you there?”
Qin Mu replied, “I want to go back to the past and take a look. The Yong River isn’t far from here. I’ll go find a boat first.”