Chapter 1826: Central Primordial Forges Mystic Art
Qin Mu arrived at the territory of Boundless Elder.
Boundless Elder had grown even more powerful, his divine power boundless and limitless. Countless powerful beings clustered around him, making his domain seem like the foremost sacred land in the universe.
After the war between Miluo Palace and Heavenly Capital City had lasted for four cosmic epochs, both sides were severely weakened, and the Heaven-Opening Multitude had vanished without a trace. Boundless Elder stood alone in supremacy, and with the World Tree capable of connecting to the future, allowing even those who had not yet attained the Dao to survive into the next epoch, he had many supporters.
Since the defeat of Heavenly Capital City, the suppression of Ling Heavenly Venerate by the master of Miluo Palace, and the disappearance of the Heaven-Opening Multitude, only Qin Mu remained as the sole "Dao-Desecrator."
The Dao Realm and Dao Tree system had made Boundless Elder's cultivation increasingly formidable. There were even rumors that his power had long surpassed that of the master of Miluo Palace, making him the undisputed number one.
Even Fourth Young Master Purple Firmament interacted closely with him. Young Master Purple Firmament borrowed his power to accomplish the grand ambition of unifying the universe, becoming the Cosmic Emperor of the Twelfth Epoch.
Purple Firmament had many things he wanted to do, including attempting to use Boundless's power to return to the past and save his deceased wife—yet all of this was futile.
Boundless Elder was also happy to have Purple Firmament as his puppet, supporting him in ruling the universe and all of existence.
At this time, Third Young Master Lofty Sky had created the Blood Sacrifice Mass-Energy Conversion technique. Through blood sacrifice and mass-energy conversion, one could travel to the next cosmic epoch. This way, Miluo Palace no longer had to worry about losing Dao-Achievers during each Annihilation Calamity and Creation Calamity. However, he had not yet spread this technique to others.
Qin Mu came to see Boundless Elder, but Boundless Elder, because he was a "Dao-Desecrator," treated him coldly. In past history, their relationship had been very good; the friendship between Boundless Elder and Qin Mu could even be traced back to the beginning of the Second Epoch.
However, Qin Mu's close association with Heavenly Capital had caused cracks in their relationship. Later, Boundless Elder rarely paid attention to Qin Mu and even regarded him as an enemy.
When Qin Mu, holding Qin Lingyun's hand, walked beneath the World Tree, suddenly chaos and vastness enveloped the entire tree. The thick chaotic energy made it impossible to breathe.
Everyone thought that Seventh Young Master Chaos and Boundless Elder were bound to fight, and even Miluo Palace was alarmed. The master of Miluo Palace emerged from seclusion and observed from afar.
But no one knew what had happened within the chaos.
When the chaotic energy dissipated, the relationship between Boundless Elder and Qin Mu seemed to have returned to how it was before. The two chatted and laughed as if nothing had occurred.
Supreme and the others had also not seen what happened within the chaos, so they went to ask the master of Miluo Palace. The master of Miluo Palace said, "The divine abilities of Chaos are something I cannot fully comprehend either. However, Boundless Elder should have forgotten some things."
Supreme and the others pressed for details, but the master of Miluo Palace did not elaborate. He only said, "Chaos is your junior brother. He is getting closer and closer to attaining the Dao. Do not provoke him. In these days, I am going to leap out of the Chaotic River of eleven cosmic epochs to explore the future. Do not always bother Old Seven."
"Old Seven hasn't attained the Dao yet?" Their eyes sparkled.
The master of Miluo Palace finally leaped out of the Chaotic River, standing on its surface. His divine abilities had already reached a level surpassing all eras. It was not until the end of the Sixteenth Epoch that Miluo Palace's abilities reached this step. Moreover, at that time, Miluo Palace's abilities only allowed travel to the past, not forward to the future.
The master of Miluo Palace was far ahead. Standing above the river, he saw all the events of the past and glimpsed the various futures.
Ahead of him lay the Chaotic River of the Twelfth Epoch; behind him were the pasts of eleven cosmic epochs.
From time to time, figures passed through the various rivers—people returning to the past. They seemed unable to see the master of Miluo Palace, passing through him or even his body.
In a short time, the master of Miluo Palace had thoroughly understood everything from the past eleven cosmic epochs, gaining insight into all worldly affairs. But of the future, he knew nothing.
He turned and walked forward, passing through the destroyed future of the Twelfth Epoch, heading toward the Thirteenth Epoch.
The Thirteenth Epoch was also destroyed.
He then walked toward the Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Sixteenth Epochs.
Although he could not see through the Chaotic River to observe what happened in these future cosmic epochs, their destruction indicated his failure.
Beyond the Sixteenth Epoch, there was no longer a Chaotic River. He gazed into the distance from the river's surface but could see nothing of the future Seventeenth Epoch.
No Miluo Palace, no World Tree, no Return to Nothingness Abyss. Only vast, dark emptiness—nothing existed there.
The master of Miluo Palace wept, crying alone on the river like a helpless child.
All his persistence, all his ideals, collapsed in an instant.
Just then, from the darkness of the Seventeenth Epoch, chaotic energy surged forth. A precious hall appeared within the chaotic energy, connected to the sixteen rivers.
This hall, like Miluo Palace, the World Tree, and the Return to Nothingness, appeared on all the rivers of the past sixteen epochs.
He vaguely saw a figure standing within that hall.
"Is that the hope of the future?"
His mind stirred with emotion. Following the chaotic energy that connected to the Chaotic River, he walked toward that great hall.
As he drew closer and closer to the hall, purple energy swirled around him, resisting the resistance from the future. The hall was majestic and ancient, containing all kinds of strange Daos.
He entered the hall, but no one was inside—only sixteen Chaotic Rivers.
These sixteen rivers were the same as the sixteen rivers outside!
He looked up and saw, at the end of the sixteen Chaotic Rivers, another Chaotic Hall, with a hazy figure standing there!
He walked forward, crossing the sixteen rivers, and entered the hall. Yet inside, there were still sixteen Chaotic Rivers, and at their end, another Chaotic Hall!
At this moment, the master of Miluo Palace could not tell whether he was inside or outside the hall, nor whether the figure in the hall was inside or outside!
"Chaos, dark as an egg, empty and vast in silence. Vast and grand, primal simplicity embraces the primal chaos! One breath circulates, congealing heavily."
He could not help but chant loudly. This was another kind of Dao technique that stirred him, making him feel as if he had met a kindred spirit in the future. He continued walking toward the figure in the hall.
"Hidden within, true water and true fire, misty and coiled like ice. Central Primordial forges mystic art! Three breaths divide, settling into great stillness."
His Dao trembled, hoping for a response from the figure in the hall: "What a fine Chaotic Hall! Standing at the end of time and space, guiding me here! Is this the universe of the future Seventeenth Epoch? Fellow Daoist of the future world, it is no easy feat for you to have cultivated to this level. Your universe has not yet experienced an Annihilation Calamity, has it?"
"A humble latecomer, Qin Mu, Shepherd Heavenly Venerate of the Seventeenth Universe, greets you, elder brother." The figure bowed to him.
The master of Miluo Palace's heart shook.
He talked with this person named Qin Mu for a long time, then turned back and returned to the Twelfth Epoch.
"Chaos came from the future, wanting to walk through the past sixteen cosmic epochs to achieve Dao through Chaos. No wonder he always says he is the seventh young master of Miluo Palace—he is the seventh to attain the Dao." The master of Miluo Palace thought silently.
The young masters' attainment of the Dao was different from others. Young masters were those who achieved in a certain field what even the master of Miluo Palace could not. Although Qin Mu had returned to the past and his Chaos Dao was maturing, without walking through the sixteen cosmic epochs, he could not truly attain the Dao.
Thus, he still lacked some refinement and was not yet a true young master of Miluo Palace.
"Chaos comes from the Seventeenth Epoch. As long as I see through all the futures of the Seventeenth Epoch during its Creation Calamity, I will know whether the future is still good." The master of Miluo Palace smiled.
Qin Mu met the tall, thin strange man under Boundless Elder's command. His name was You Jian, meaning "eye in the center of the face." True to his name, he had only one eye in the middle of his forehead, taking up half his face.
Qin Mu smiled gently and, with goodwill, guided You Jian on how to cultivate his eye. You Jian was extremely grateful.
Qin Mu and Qin Lingyun drifted away.
"Dad, where are we going?"
"To find Ling Heavenly Venerate."
A few days later, Supreme told the master of Miluo Palace, "Teacher, Old Seven broke into my Obelisk Forest and rescued the Dao-Desecrator Ling."
The master of Miluo Palace said, "The entire Filthy Ground is a manifestation of his divine abilities. If he wants to rescue someone, he can easily do so."
Supreme was somewhat unwilling, saying, "Teacher, the Dao-Desecrator Ling was personally suppressed by you!"
The master of Miluo Palace said, "Dao-Desecrator? What is a Dao-Desecrator? Supreme, the reason you can never take another step forward lies right here. Think it over carefully. If you understand, you will be able to advance further."
Supreme did not understand.
At the end of the Twelfth Epoch, the Annihilation Calamity erupted. The Dao-Desecrator Ling killed his way before Boundless Elder, severely wounding him. Then Qin Mu came to rescue Boundless Elder, frightening off the Dao-Desecrator Ling.
In this battle, Boundless Elder was heavily injured. Many powerful beings tried to sneak into the next epoch, but due to the chaos of this battle, something went wrong. Some discovered that Boundless Elder's roots connected to the Seventeenth Epoch, and a powerful being guarding the World Tree in the Seventeenth Epoch killed countless of them.
They called that person the Hunter of the Seventeenth Epoch.
Because of this, Boundless Elder's relationship with Qin Mu improved even more.
Later, a thin figure appeared beside Qin Mu. From then on, the Thirteenth Epoch had a thief. Many people were robbed, and Boundless Elder was robbed especially badly.
Miluo Palace was also robbed. Supreme said, "The thief is in Miluo Palace!"
So Supreme searched for the thief, caught him—a gaunt old man—and sent him to be suppressed in the Obelisk Forest.
The Seventeenth Epoch.
In the second year after Qin Mu left, Young Master Supreme confirmed that Qin Mu had left the Seventeenth Epoch and finally relaxed. He sent the Heaven-Opening Multitude onto a wooden boat forged from his own Dao Tree. Taiyi stood guard at the bow. Young Master Supreme sent them off, saying, "Fellow Daoists, when you return to the Sixteenth Epoch, be wary of Young Master Chaos."
Taiyi said, "Rest assured. I have long seen his true face and am prepared."
Supreme sent them back to the Sixteenth Epoch. Rolling chaotic energy surged from the depths of time and space.
Supreme sighed in relief, returned to the Primordial Realm, and began to transform into Dao and reincarnate.
Just after Supreme reincarnated, the Obelisk Forest collapsed. A gaunt old man walked out of the Obelisk Forest and vanished in a flash.
"I'm back!" Laughter echoed back and forth through the void.
In the Thirteenth Epoch, Miluo Palace gained another young master: Young Master Wuzong. Qin Mu returned to Miluo Palace again, drinking and chatting joyfully with Young Master Wuzong.
In the Fourteenth Epoch, Young Master Zhanji emerged. Zhanji was born from the Return to Nothingness, a goddess of the Return to Nothingness. Qin Mu came running over again, drinking and chatting joyfully with Young Master Zhanji.
The other young masters were very protective of this little junior sister and drove Qin Mu away, lest he corrupt Zhanji.
At the end of the Fourteenth Epoch, Qin Mu brought Qin Lingyun to the place where the Annihilation Calamity was born. Qin Lingyun asked curiously, "Dad, what are we doing this time?"
"To pick up an old friend."
Qin Mu smiled, looking up at the Chaotic River.
The sound of a zither came from the river. A woman fell into the great Annihilation Calamity.
Qin Mu raised his hand and pulled the woman over. Qin Lingyun stepped forward with an ancient zither in her hands, her voice crisp: "Are you my mother?"
The woman put away the zither, pinched her little cheek, and laughed, "Almost your mother. My name is Yue. You can call me Aunt Yue."
She looked up at Qin Mu behind Qin Lingyun, a hint of a smile in her eyes: "Mu, you kept your word. How long have you been here?"
"Fourteen years."
Qin Mu patted Qin Lingyun's little head, his gaze gentle and his tone calm: "Lingyun is already fourteen years old."
One chaos was one year.
For Qin Lingyun, she was now fourteen years old.
"Ling Yuxiu didn't come along?" Yue Heavenly Venerate looked around, her eyes flickering.
Qin Mu smiled and said, "No. But I found Ling Heavenly Venerate."
Ling Heavenly Venerate arrived and took away the reluctant Yue Heavenly Venerate.
"Lingyun might want a stepmother," she said to Ling Heavenly Venerate.
Ling Heavenly Venerate said, "Someone doesn't want one."
Yue Heavenly Venerate, who had the best relationship with her and could say anything, said angrily, "You're not him, how do you know he doesn't want one?"
"I asked," Ling Heavenly Venerate said indifferently.
Yue Heavenly Venerate angrily strummed her zither wildly.
On the eve of the Creation Calamity of the Fifteenth Epoch, the master of Miluo Palace was still looking toward the future. But Qin Mu still came with Qin Lingyun, a patch of chaos blocking his view.
On the eve of the Creation Calamity of the Sixteenth Epoch, Qin Mu came again, still blocking his view.
The master of Miluo Palace had grown accustomed to having his view blocked and said nothing.
Finally, the Sixteenth Epoch, after lasting only six hundred million years, self-destructed.
This time, Qin Mu came to block his view again. The master of Miluo Palace said, "Chaos, in the past, you always blocked me from seeing the future. But this time, you cannot block my view. I will see all the futures of the Seventeenth Epoch. You cannot stop me. I want to see what the future holds with my own eyes."
"Teacher, from the First Epoch to now, no one has been your match. But your disciple has attained the Dao. I want to try."
Qin Mu let go of Qin Lingyun's hand: "You are the strongest of the past sixteen cosmic epochs. Boundless Elder, the Lord of Heavenly Capital, even Ling Heavenly Venerate—all are nothing before you. But I am different. I am the strongest of the future epoch."
His figure stood tall. On the eve of the Creation Calamity, the Seventeenth Epoch was a vast expanse of chaos.
By the time the Annihilation Calamity of the Sixteenth Epoch arrived, he had already attained the Dao. Now, he was at his most powerful!
He had vaguely begun to grope toward a level beyond the Fortieth Heaven of the Dao Realm.
His runic origin had completely transcended the Hongmeng runes. He had absolute confidence to fight the master of Miluo Palace!
"Teacher, you once said that my Dao technique was Central Primordial Forges Mystic Art. I am very close to that realm you mentioned."
An immensely powerful conviction surged in Qin Mu's heart, and he said in a deep voice, "I will not let you see the future!"
For trillions of years, he had never tried to change the past. But now, he wanted to change something—to change the fate of his teacher, the master of Miluo Palace, from entering nirvana!
—The third-to-last chapter. Please vote for monthly tickets!