Chapter 1036: Deep Within the Peach Blossoms

Inside the hall, Nguyệt Thiên Tôn remained behind the screen, not revealing herself. Through the screen, she said: "How do you know I can monitor every movement in any of the myriad heavens of Nguyên Giới? I am now a cripple, my heart dead as ashes. Even if I had this ability, I would not have the energy to monitor the movements of the various heavens and Nguyên Giới."

Tần Mục looked at the shadow on the screen and said, "Oh? Is that so?"

The woman behind the screen sighed: "Naturally, it's false. When you went to the Heavenly Court, I asked Nam Đế Chu Tước to bring my peach blossoms, expressing my stance. Nam Đế's plan this time to use death as a means of escape was also something she told me about. Naturally, I could not truly retire and ignore the affairs of the world."

Tần Mục said: "If Thiên Tôn truly ignored the affairs of the world, then your peach grove would not be connected to the ten thousand heavens of Nguyên Giới."

"Indeed. My divine ability is the art of space. I had already laid my plans before Vân Thiên Tôn died in battle. At that time, my abilities were not yet strong, my space art had not yet reached its peak—my space art could only connect a dozen or so heavens."

Nguyệt Thiên Tôn behind the screen said: "But by the end of the Long Hán era, my peach grove connected over a hundred heavens. By the end of the Thượng Hoàng era, the peach grove had already connected the ten thousand heavens of Nguyên Giới together. Although I am a cripple, to this day, whether it be the Heavenly Court, Huyền Đô, U Đô, or even the Four Extremes Heavens, all are within the insight of my divine ability. What I have not broken through are the forbidden zones formed by the birthplace of the ancient gods, and Quy Khư."

Tần Mục said: "You are not resigned."

"Naturally, I am not resigned."

Nguyệt Thiên Tôn's voice was very calm, but beneath the calm surface lay deep unwillingness: "The five elders of the Heavenly Alliance, their purpose was to give humanity the right to survive, to let people live better. Yet the Heavenly Alliance has decayed. The founding purpose of the Alliance no longer exists. The Heavenly Alliance has become a place of filth, a place where demigods, ancient gods, and even the Creator race divide up their interests! Naturally, I am not resigned."

Tần Mục quietly watched the shadow on the screen. Nguyệt Thiên Tôn continued: "When the Heavenly Alliance was first established, Vân Thiên Tôn established its first principle: one must not be too good to the wicked nor too harsh to the good. Yet implementing this has proven so difficult. People are always too demanding of the good, believing that good people cannot make a single mistake. If they err, they are no longer good, they are damned forever, and must be torn down and trampled underfoot. People are also too kind to the wicked—a wicked person who has done a thousand evil deeds only needs to do one good deed to be praised, and people wish to exalt them as a sage! Mục Thiên Tôn, we failed to achieve this. Can you?"

Tần Mục pondered, then said: "It is very difficult. But I am trying. There was once a man who committed countless evils. To resist Diên Khang, he did not hesitate to release poison on the grasslands, killing ninety percent of the people there. Later, during the Diên Khang Calamity, his conscience awakened, and he died saving others. Although I had the ability to revive him, or summon his soul back, I did not resurrect him—because I felt that reviving him would be an injustice to the people who died on the grasslands."

"Then how do you face the ancient gods?" Nguyệt Thiên Tôn asked.

Tần Mục's mind shook greatly.

Nguyệt Thiên Tôn's words truly struck his soul.

The wicked man he spoke of was Đại Tôn, who used shamanic poison to kill the vast majority of the herdsmen on the grasslands—a crime beyond forgiveness. Even if he did one good deed, Tần Mục could not forget his ruthlessness.

But what about the ancient gods?

During the Long Hán era and even the dark years before, the ancient gods fed on post-heaven beings, using sentient beings as sacrifices. Now Tần Mục needs their power, joining hands with them to resist the Heavenly Court—one could say the ancient gods are doing good deeds.

Can the ancient gods therefore be forgiven?

One must not be too harsh to the good, nor too kind to the wicked. This saying is simple, yet this simple principle is so difficult to uphold!

"Sympathy is incredibly cheap, but harsh judgment is also shameful."

Nguyệt Thiên Tôn's voice came from behind the screen: "I have already found the three people you mentioned. They are in Vũ Hóa Thiên, planning to raid the lair of Mạnh Vân Quy, the Second Heavenly Master among the Four Great Heavenly Masters of the Heavenly Court. I will bring them here."

Vũ Hóa Thiên, Nguyên Giới.

This heaven was the ancestral land of Mạnh Heavenly Master. He rose to prominence from Vũ Hóa Thiên, climbing the ranks until he became the Second Heavenly Master of the Heavenly Court—one of the rare Emperor Throne realm powerhouses under heaven.

After gaining power and influence, Mạnh Heavenly Master began to develop Vũ Hóa Thiên, plundering wealth from other heavens and sending it back. This Heavenly Master had no other hobbies—only a love of wealth. Thus, Vũ Hóa Thiên was extremely rich. Some even said his wealth surpassed that of the Ten Heavenly Venerables combined.

However, this Heavenly Master was proficient in formations, being the foremost formation master in the Heavenly Court. His wealth was guarded by various killing formations, extremely formidable.

At this moment, Què Tử and Mã Gia had already infiltrated Mạnh Heavenly Master's treasure vault. Beside them was an honest, simple-looking youth—none other than Lam Ngự Điền.

Què Tử had always preferred to work alone in the past. But ever since Tư Bà Bà found Tần Mục by the river, he had taken a liking to the task of raising children. When Tư Bà Bà grew annoyed with little Tần Mục wetting the bed and gave him away, it was always Què Tử who stole him back.

Later, when they re-emerged into the world, Hạt Tử, Á Ba, Dược Sư and the others all had countless matters to attend to, with no one to keep him company. Tần Mục did not return often either. Running around on his own, robbing tombs, visiting other heavens—it was all rather dull.

Then one day, Què Tử remembered that Tần Mục had a younger brother named Lam Ngự Điền. So he ran to U Đô and stole Lam Ngự Điền away.

Coincidentally, Mã Gia had resigned as Như Lai and left Tu Di Sơn. Què Tử invited this former divine constable to instruct him in his craft, euphemistically calling it "improving together."

Mã Gia could not refuse, and worried about the safety of Què Tử and Lam Ngự Điền, so he had no choice but to follow them and clean up after their messes.

"This Mạnh Heavenly Master's formations are indeed remarkable. His formations are not merely killing formations—they also leave traces of intruders. For example, this formation: these mirror surfaces are used to record images. Anyone who breaks in will be captured by these mirrors."

Mã Gia looked around, his gaze falling on the books within the formation, and said: "That scroll is similar to the Book of Life and Death, connected to the mirrors. Once an image is recorded, the scroll will use the image to identify the thief's identity. There are echo bugs tucked inside the book, mimicking the thief's voice... And that jade box over there—there's no treasure inside, it's a trap..."

Què Tử was deeply impressed, and said to Ngự Điền: "You brat, learn from this! This is real skill!"

Lam Ngự Điền nodded repeatedly, earnestly memorizing Mã Gia's words.

Què Tử and Lam Ngự Điền were about to make their move when suddenly space shifted. The three were startled, looking around to find peach groves everywhere, peach blossoms in full bloom. Strangely, the blossoms around them were blooming—clearly early spring—while the peaches beside them were already ripe—summer!

"Two masters, and young master, the Heavenly Venerable invites you." A maidservant walked over, speaking softly.

Què Tử's face turned ashen: "Mã Gia, I've been caught! Caught by the Heavenly Venerable—most likely they'll cut off both my legs, chop me into a human stump like the village chief and plant me in a jar, so I can never run again!"

Mã Gia looked around and said: "This seems to be Nguyệt Thiên Tôn's peach grove. Mục Nhi once spoke of this place. Let's just follow and see. Don't make a fuss—the reason I could always catch you in the past is because you're always careless and your dao heart is unsteady."

They followed the maidservant forward, and saw Long Kỳ Lân and a delicate girl waiting outside the palace. Lam Ngự Điền cried out in joy and rushed forward. Yên Nhi seemed to have just been crying; she no longer fed him, quietly waiting outside the palace.

"Long Béo, what's wrong with Yên Nhi?" Lam Ngự Điền asked.

Long Kỳ Lân sighed and said: "The Sect Master invites you in. Go on in first."

Lam Ngự Điền grew even more puzzled, following Què Tử and Mã Gia into the palace.

Inside the hall, Tần Mục took out a mirror and showed it to Mã Gia and Què Tử, saying: "The palace in this mirror is a recording of Phi Hương Palace. The talismans imprinted on it are Phi Hương Palace's talisman runes and various seals. This Phi Hương Palace is a treasure the Heavenly Court uses to suppress souls. It has an enormous number of talisman seals. I need experts to decipher the talismans and seals, enter it, and steal the souls suppressed within."

He gently tapped, and the space within the mirror expanded outward. The image of Phi Hương Palace in the mirror actually projected into the great hall, standing before everyone. The various talismans and seals plastered around this bronze palace appeared as mirror images within the mirror, but outside, they returned to normal.

Lam Ngự Điền praised: "Brother's painting art has become even more brilliant!"

Tần Mục said: "Your last wisp of remnant soul is also hidden within this palace. Què Grandpa, do you have a way to enter this palace?"

Què Tử's expression turned grave as he examined the talismans, pacing around the bronze palace, murmuring: "Impressive... remarkable... This is the most difficult and terrifying prohibition I have encountered in my life... The peak of my career..."

Tần Mục looked at Mã Gia. Mã Gia shook his head: "I can't do it. Què Tử is the expert."

Lam Ngự Điền also stepped forward, examining the talismans one by one, his demeanor almost identical to Què Tử's.

Tần Mục frowned, thinking to himself: "Ngự Điền has been with Què Grandpa for too long—he's almost become another Què Tử. This blank sheet of paper is probably already blackened..."

The old and the young studied the seals and talismans of Phi Hương Palace in detail, muttering and discussing animatedly.

Tần Mục pondered for a moment, then said: "Què Grandpa, you have plenty of time to study. Take this mirror back to Diên Khang, give it to Á Ba Grandpa and Hạt Tử Grandpa, and ask them to replicate the talisman formations, seals, and prohibitions to create a replica of Phi Hương Palace. Then you can slowly decipher..."

Before he could finish, Lam Ngự Điền excitedly began to run, his speed increasing rapidly. Suddenly his form turned into a series of afterimages, charging straight toward the phantom of Phi Hương Palace!

Tần Mục quickly looked over, seeing Lam Ngự Điền pass through the phantoms of various talismans as if they were nothing. But as he ran, he seemed to enter extremely viscous mud, his speed slowing more and more, until he was finally fixed within the seals, unable to move.

Què Tử hurried toward him, pulling him out of the seals, shaking his head: "These seals are too strong. Even running fast enough cannot pass through the seals and talismans. We need to think of another way!"

Tần Mục gently tapped, pressing the phantom of Phi Hương Palace back into the mirror, saying: "This matter is of great importance. After Á Ba Grandpa forges the Phi Hương Palace, the talismans, seals, and prohibitions on it must also be restored exactly as they are. When you attempt to enter the palace, you must be cautious. Remember, remember!"

Què Tử put away the mirror and said: "When I was rescuing the boy just now, I sensed that these seals have countless layers of space. We were stopped at the fourth layer of seals. The seals behind are likely even stronger. To get in will be extremely difficult!"

"You must get in!"

Tần Mục said firmly: "This concerns our future. Què Grandpa, I entrust this matter to you!"

Què Tử saw how serious he was, and laughed: "As long as you run fast enough, there is no seal under heaven that is invincible. Mục Nhi, won't you come with us?"

Tần Mục shook his head: "I need to return to the past to meet Nam Đế Chu Tước. You go see Á Ba Grandpa first. After I meet Nam Đế, I'll come find you and we'll make further plans. Nguyệt Thiên Tôn, please send them to Diên Khang."

Mã Gia walked over, his expression serious: "Mục Nhi, don't push yourself."

Tần Mục's eyes reddened slightly. He quickly hugged him to cover it up, laughing: "Why would I push myself? Mã Gia, you and Què Grandpa also need to cultivate diligently. My heavenly palaces include the Buddhist Dao Palace and the Thief Dao Palace. The Buddha has his way, and the thief has his way too. I'm waiting for you two to cultivate these two palaces and teach them to me, so I can advance further."

Mã Gia laughed: "The Buddha is sought within one's nature, not outside the body. Seeking externally is all illusion. You are the Buddha yourself—you need not rely on others."

Tần Mục said: "Human strength has its limits. Using external forms to verify oneself is not unacceptable."

"Thiện tai."

The two parted. Nguyệt Thiên Tôn behind the screen gently spread her sleeves, and Què Tử, Mã Gia, and Lam Ngự Điền vanished.

Tần Mục said to the woman behind the screen: "Nguyệt Thiên Tôn, I must also take my leave."

Nguyệt Thiên Tôn said: "You plan to go to the source of Dũng Giang? Do you need me to send you there?"

Tần Mục said: "I want to return to the past to take a look. Dũng Giang is not far from here. I'll first go find a boat."