Chapter 1827: How Have You Been?
The master of Miluo Palace revealed a smile. "Chaos, you are strong, but you still lack a bit of maturity. Although you have attained the Dao, you are still far from reaching my level. In the eyes of others, such as the Lord of the Heavenly Capital and the Dao Desecrator Ling, my cultivation is above theirs, but my Dao conduct is inferior. In the eyes of Old Man Wuya, both my cultivation and Dao conduct fall short. But before you, our cultivation and Dao conduct are roughly equal. The only thing I have over you is maturity."
Qin Mu's eyes flickered with a strange light. "Maturity?"
The master of Miluo Palace said, "Correct. At the level of cultivation you and I have reached, Dao conduct and cultivation are not far apart. The only thing that can be compared is each other's maturity. I have eight hundred billion years more maturity than you, having experienced the history of the First Epoch. Chaos, once you can return to the beginning of the First Epoch's creation, your maturity will reach my level, and may even surpass me. Chaos has advantages that Hongmeng cannot match. Your achievements will surpass mine."
He instructed earnestly, "You have experienced the Destruction Calamity of sixteen universes and the Creation Calamity from the Second Epoch to the Seventeenth Epoch, but you have not experienced the First Epoch. When you can return to the beginning of the First Epoch's creation, you will surpass me. But for now, you are a bit lacking in maturity. That one bit is a gap as thin as a thread."
Qin Mu's expression shifted slightly. Suddenly, within the Creation Calamity, in countless spaces so minute they could not be further divided, his figure appeared everywhere. In countless spaces, countless versions of him each unleashed different divine abilities!
Not a single one of these abilities was repeated!
This was his supreme achievement!
The countless minute spaces within the Creation Calamity were the infinite possibilities of the future universe, countless images of the universe to come. In a single thought, he could fill these possibilities to the brim!
He had attained the Dao by stepping into the Destruction Calamity of the Sixteenth Epoch. At this moment, his divine techniques and Dao methods would seem inconceivable and incomprehensible even to beings like Taiyi, Taishang, or Wuji!
Yet, the moment his mind stirred, a master of Miluo Palace appeared in each of those spaces!
The master of Miluo Palace struck earlier and faster, acting before Qin Mu's divine abilities had even erupted!
Qin Mu shook his body, causing the countless versions of himself in those spaces to merge into one, but it was already too late.
Miluo Palace also became one, and its divine ability had already imprinted on his chest.
A thread was a thread.
A gap of a thread in maturity represented an infinitely vast disparity. To make up for this gap in maturity, he would need a much longer period of effort.
Boom!
Qin Mu was sent tumbling backward, knocked back into the Destruction Calamity by the master of Miluo Palace.
This strike from the master of Miluo Palace was equivalent to sending him back to the past.
"Chaos, you will cultivate to my level, and even walk ahead of me."
The master of Miluo Palace smiled, murmuring to himself, "But for now, you are not there yet."
He flicked his sleeve, sending Qin Lingyun back to Qin Mu's side. With Qin Mu no longer interfering, he could finally see the future of the Seventeenth Epoch.
Qin Mu fell into the Chaotic River, raising his hand to gently catch Qin Lingyun, her feet landing on his palm.
Qin Mu's expression darkened slightly as he gently set Qin Lingyun down. In this battle, he had lost too cleanly.
The master of Miluo Palace looked toward the future. At this moment, with Qin Mu no longer blocking him, all the images of the Seventeenth Epoch universe flooded into his sight.
From the creation of Hongmeng, to the birth of the Five Ancients, to Taiyi's emergence, the felling of the tree, the rise of the Creators, the emergence of the Ancient Gods, the vast history of the Seventeenth Epoch began to unfold in a way never seen before.
There was no World Tree, no Heaven-Opening Multitude, and no Miluo Palace.
The Creators declined, the Dragon Han Era split into three, the Chiming Era continued, the Shanghuang Era stood in opposition, the Kaihuang Era rose, and the Yankang Era emerged from the wasteland.
Six billion years passed in the blink of an eye. The Miluo Palace invasion came, the World Tree was reborn, and the next thirty-five billion years of the future also fell into his sight.
His gaze paused, seeing Qin Mu return to the past, then continued forward.
That was a future Qin Mu had never experienced—a colorful and splendid future, even more brilliant than when Qin Mu was present. Yet, as the master of Miluo Palace's gaze pushed further into the distant future, his Dao heart began to tremble.
One thousand billion years into the Seventeenth Epoch, the universe's vastness had already surpassed that of the First Epoch. Yet the universe showed no sign of stopping its expansion.
Two thousand billion years later, no new Dao attainers were born.
Three thousand billion years later, the universe's vastness caused the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridges to dim, unable to connect with other worlds. Only Dao attainers could cross the endless starry void to seek out their fellow Daoists.
Yet even for Dao attainers, the time spent visiting friends became unbearably long. By then, there were no more cultivators; the spiritual energy and spiritual power of the world had been stretched thin by the expanding universe, becoming incredibly sparse.
Four thousand billion years later, most of the stars in the universe had gone out or evaporated. The once radiant and colorful universe gradually dimmed.
Five thousand billion years later, the last sun went out. The remaining sacred lands also began to lose their energy.
The Yuan Realm collapsed, the Xuan Du dissolved, the You Du ceased to exist, the Tianyin Realm evaporated completely, and one by one, the various heavens marched toward the final void.
Six thousand billion years later, the master of Miluo Palace looked out and saw the last sacred land had also gone dark.
The Seventeenth Epoch universe became pitch black, with only occasional flashes of light—likely the afterglow of Dao attainers.
He continued to look forward, into the darkness. The afterglow of the Dao attainers gradually dwindled.
He looked toward the end of the darkness, where the last afterglow of the Dao attainers also vanished. The entire Seventeenth Epoch universe had been flattened completely, becoming an infinitely thin, endless membrane.
All matter had disintegrated, broken down into the tiniest particles, evenly distributed across the void membrane of the universe.
The universe had become completely ethereal.
The Great Silence.
Pfft.
The master of Miluo Palace spat out a mouthful of Dao blood. The Great Silence of the universe eight hundred billion years later had utterly shattered his Dao heart. All his persistence, all his ideals, were useless in this moment.
His divine abilities, his Dao methods—all were rendered useless!
For so long, he had been preparing for the Destruction Calamity and the Creation Calamity. Faced with this inevitable Great Silence, all his previous preparations were futile. Moreover, he could think of no way to resolve the Great Silence.
He was dazed and confused. Before the Creation Calamity of the Seventeenth Epoch arrived, he walked out, returning to the Destruction Calamity of the Sixteenth Epoch, back to Miluo Palace.
He fell silent, pondering bitterly, searching for a solution. Yet, exhausting all his wisdom, he could find no way to resolve it!
All Dao was wrong. Faced with the final Great Silence, every effort was in vain.
He recalled his persistence across these sixteen universal epochs, and his heart was filled with utter despair.
He felt his Dao heart begin to crumble, his ideals begin to shatter.
There was no path left.
The master of Miluo Palace summoned all the young masters, hall masters, and Dao attainers of Miluo Palace. Qin Mu was also present, holding Qin Lingyun's small hand, silent.
The master of Miluo Palace told them that the future Seventeenth Epoch was doomed to destruction, and ordered them to return to the universes where they were born. There was no need to go to the future anymore.
The members of Miluo Palace looked at each other in confusion, not understanding why their teacher would say such a thing.
The master of Miluo Palace was deeply grieved. He sat there, withered, saying nothing to anyone's questions. The members of Miluo Palace argued noisily, and in the end, the master of Miluo Palace rose and left.
He walked across the Chaotic Rivers, one by one. Taishang followed behind him, watching as he returned his cultivation to each universe.
By the time he reached Miluo Palace in the First Epoch, the flesh and blood on his body had gradually faded away.
He ascended the steps, his flesh and blood disappearing bit by bit. By the time he reached the final step, he had become a skeleton.
Taishang heard his teacher let out a long sigh. As the sigh faded, he sat down. His Dao tree emerged behind him, and sixteen Dao fruits emitted a faint light.
Taishang prostrated himself on the ground and wept bitterly.
After a long time, Taishang walked out of Miluo Palace and returned to the Sixteenth Epoch, ordering all the young masters, hall masters, and Dao attainers to return to the universes where they were born.
The seven supreme Dao halls, symbolizing the Jade Capital, were placed around Miluo Palace in the First Epoch.
The seven young masters each had their own thoughts.
"Return to your own eras." Taishang sighed desolately.
Young Master Zixiao rose, flicked his sleeve, and left: "The teacher may give up, but I will never give up!"
Young Master Lingxiao's eyes flickered as he stood up: "The teacher has abandoned his ideals, but his disciple can inherit them. If the disciple also gives up, then there will never be hope! Without the teacher, I can still pass through the Destruction Calamity and the Creation Calamity!"
He also rose and left.
Young Master Wuzong and Young Master Zhanji each sighed, said nothing more, and departed.
Young Master Wuji chuckled lightly and vanished in a flash.
Only Qin Mu and Taishang remained in Miluo Palace. Taishang, as if about to enter nirvana, lifted his eyelids and glanced at Qin Mu, speaking weakly: "Chaos, why haven't you left?"
"I was born in the Seventeenth Epoch and cannot yet return to the Seventeenth Epoch."
Qin Mu smiled leisurely: "The teacher has seen the entire future, so his Dao heart died. But what he doesn't know is that after he returned to the Destruction Calamity of the Sixteenth Epoch, some subtle changes occurred."
Taishang lifted his eyelids again and glanced at him.
Qin Mu stood up and said: "We can return to the Destruction Calamity of the Sixteenth Epoch. You will find some changes different from before the teacher entered the calamity."
Taishang was skeptical. He rose and crossed fifteen Chaotic Rivers with him, arriving at the sixteenth Chaotic River.
"Taiyi!"
Suddenly, Taishang soared into the air, charging through the Destruction Calamity to intercept the fleeing Taiyi.
"Chaos, won't you lend a hand to save me?" Taiyi called out loudly.
After a moment, Taiyi was captured. Young Master Taishang suppressed him in the Burial Dao Divine Coffin, drove in the Dao Execution Divine Nails, and patted the coffin, saying: "I have prepared this divine coffin for you, my lord, for many years!"
Qin Mu laughed: "Senior Brother, did this happen before the teacher entered the Creation Calamity of the Seventeenth Epoch?"
Young Master Taishang was stunned for a moment, then shook his head.
Qin Mu smiled: "Then look again."
At that moment, chaos erupted in the Destruction Calamity. Countless Dao attainers screamed in agony within the calamity, dying one after another, devoured by terrifying forces.
"Wuji, what are you doing?" Taishang exclaimed in shock.
"Wuji is slaughtering in all directions, devouring Dao attainers to strengthen his own power."
Qin Mu stood beside him, saying: "This didn't happen before the teacher entered the Creation Calamity either, did it?"
Taishang was both shocked and furious, but saw Wuji attempting to kill Zhanji and devour him. Just as he was about to intervene, Lingxiao, Zixiao, and Wuzong all rushed forward to surround and battle Wuji.
"This also didn't happen before the teacher entered the Creation Calamity."
Qin Mu's eyes flickered as he said solemnly: "Then is the future of the Seventeenth Epoch that the teacher saw still the true future?"
Taishang didn't understand what he meant. Suddenly, a massive wooden ship broke through layers of chaos, sailing into the river and appearing on the battlefield where the young masters were fighting.
The huge wooden ship was snapped in half by the attacks of several young masters!
"Taiyi!"
Taishang watched in stunned disbelief, not knowing what was happening. He saw another Taiyi, along with many Heaven-Opening Multitude members, appear on that battlefield, plunging everyone into chaos!
"Senior Brother, this also didn't happen!"
Qin Mu suddenly shifted sideways. As Wuji grabbed Zhanji, seizing all her cultivation and about to swallow her in one gulp, Qin Mu crashed into him. Wuji's bones broke and tendons snapped as he was sent flying backward!
Taishang was startled, but saw Qin Mu nearly overturn the entire Chaotic River. In just a short moment, he severely wounded Lingxiao, Zixiao, and Wuzong, gravely injured the other Taiyi, sealed the Heaven-Opening Multitude, and sent them crashing into the broken ship!
"Lingyun, send them to the Garbage Grounds," Qin Mu said.
Qin Lingyun immediately steered the broken ship, carrying a boatload of Heaven-Opening Multitude members toward the Garbage Grounds.
Taiyi spat blood, weak and dispirited, looking up and saying: "Chaos, don't be too ruthless..."
"Dao Brother, please!"
Qin Mu pointed, and a soul of Taiyi flew out, passing through the Creation Calamity of the Seventeenth Epoch and landing ninety-five billion years later in the Seventeenth Epoch universe.
At that time, it happened to be when Taishang was transforming into the Dao and reincarnating.
Taishang reincarnated, but the mother of this life gave birth to a pair of twins, two brothers squeezed together.
In the Destruction Calamity of the Sixteenth Epoch, Qin Mu smiled at Wuji: "Second Sister, you wanted me to face the strongest version of you, and I did. But Second Sister probably won't remember this."
Whoosh—
The Chaotic Rivers of the sixteen universal epochs rolled up, forming massive cycles. By the time the cycles dissipated, Wuji was still fighting with the three young masters.
Taishang looked at Qin Mu beside him in confusion, noticing a little girl next to him. He was somewhat bewildered, as he had never seen this girl before.
Zhanji looked up at Qin Mu and asked: "Seventh Young Master, what just happened?"
Qin Mu smiled: "Nothing happened."
Zhanji no longer knew who she was. Her memories had been completely altered, and her appearance had changed, turning her into a little girl.
Others still remembered Zhanji, and they had an impression of the little girl beside Qin Mu.
In their memories, Qin Mu always brought this little girl along, and she was a playmate of Qin Lingyun.
As they spoke, Young Master Wuji severely wounded Lingxiao, Zixiao, and Wuzong. Taishang had no choice but to step forward to assist, but he could not overcome Wuji.
Within the Destruction Calamity, Wuji was nearly invincible.
"Dad, who is this girl?" Qin Lingyun returned, curiously examining the little girl beside Qin Mu.
She had not been affected by the reincarnation divine ability.
"Your playmate."
Qin Mu smiled, his gaze piercing through the Chaotic Rivers, silently thinking: "Teacher, have you realized it? The future you saw has already changed."
Qin Lingyun's eyes swirled with chaos as she looked at the little girl transformed from Zhanji, seeing through all her experiences. She giggled: "How interesting!"
Suddenly, from Miluo Palace in the Destruction Calamity of the First Epoch, a massive hand flew out, crossing sixteen Chaotic Rivers, landing in the calamity, and pressing Young Master Wuji all the way down into the Guixu Great Abyss!
The massive hand transformed into a red rope knot, sealing the abyss.
"Teacher!" Taishang, Lingxiao, and the others all bowed.
Qin Mu's eyelids twitched. Although the master of Miluo Palace had acted to suppress Wuji, he did not sense the master's Dao heart reviving.
Qin Mu frowned slightly, then led Qin Lingyun and Zhanji away, saying: "So many things have happened. The future you saw is no longer the true future. Forget it, I'll go sleep my sleep!"
"Chaos!"
Taishang called out loudly, but Qin Mu and the other two did not stop. Lingxiao hissed: "Second Sister killed Zhanji! She killed so many Dao attainers! Why didn't the teacher eliminate her?"
Zixiao said: "This is a family scandal, not to be spread abroad. Third Senior Brother, we'll say it was Shangjun who did it."
Taishang ignored him and returned desolately to the Second Epoch. Young Master Wuzong also returned to the Thirteenth Epoch. Only Lingxiao and Zixiao remained, taking over the Jade Capital City, plotting their grand plan to descend upon the Seventeenth Epoch.
Taiyi felled the tree, cutting off the channels for stowaways. Young Master Lingxiao then set up a blood sacrifice formation. The Creators were born. Boyang mined the first Taichu Divine Stone. The era of the Creators arrived. The Three Divine Kings rose. The Tai Emperor, Juyushi, unearthed Taichu, and Taichu was born prematurely.
The Yuansheng of Miluo Palace lured the Tai Emperor, Juyushi, to the ancestral court, the Jade Capital City.
Taiyi took the lead, and the Ancient Gods drove out the Creators, ending the era of the Creators.
Taichu proclaimed himself Emperor. Influenced by the ancestral court Jade Capital City, he built the Heavenly Court. The Imperial Heaven Lord pioneered the Divine Treasury. The Seven Heavenly Lords of the human race rose. The Imperial Heaven Lord observed the Heavenly Court's grandeur, created the method of becoming a god, and stepped into Young Master Lingxiao's Jade Capital trap.
The time of the Seventeenth Epoch flowed slowly. Sixty billion years passed, and it came to Yankang.
The Kaihuang Emperor, Qin Ye, came alone to the ancestral court Jade Capital City. On the way, he encountered the injured Taichu. Lingxiao ordered someone to emerge from the Chaotic River to assist Taichu against the Kaihuang Emperor, Qin Ye.
At that moment, a lamp light shone from the Chaotic River. A little girl carrying a lantern walked out of the river. When she reached the river's surface, she had transformed into an old woman with chicken-skin and crane-white hair.
"Kaihuang Emperor, Qin Ye, I have come to guide you to Miluo Palace."
The old woman laughed: "A certain young master is waiting for you there."
The chaos stretched vast and boundless, the river endless. The sound of the waves was the echo of time.
"The Seventh Young Master arrived later, so his status in Miluo Palace was lower than the other young masters, and he had fewer followers."
The old woman, Zhanji, said to the Kaihuang Emperor: "Because of this, those people slandered the Seventh Young Master, pinning many bad reputations on him. But those are all false accusations."
At the end of the sixteen Chaotic Rivers, in the Chaos Hall of Miluo Palace in the First Epoch, the Kaihuang Emperor met the Seventh Young Master.
"Celestial Venerable Qin, how have you been?"
————The second-to-last chapter is here! A five-thousand-word chapter!