Chapter 995 - 80: Wuhua Nine-Curve Maze

Chapter 995: Chapter 80: Wuhua Nine-Curve Maze

Leaving the Divine Emperor Palace, Princess said to Mu Qingge, "Three days from now, my father’s birthday banquet will be held in the Divine Emperor Palace. Since that’s the case, the Little Divine Emperor need not lodge too far away—how about staying nearby?"

Princess’s arrangement suited Mu Qingge’s wishes perfectly. She nodded and said, "Everything shall be as Princess arranges. Princess need not be too courteous with me. On the path of cultivation, Princess is my senior; there is no need to address me as Little Divine Emperor—just call me by my name. If the ’Mu’ sounds awkward, you may simply call me by my given name, Qingge."

Her composure and sincere tone made Princess smile faintly. She nodded. "Very well, I shall respectfully accept."

"That’s for the best." Mu Qingge returned her smile.

Princess led the four of them toward a side hall beneath the Divine Emperor Palace. On the way she introduced to Mu Qingge, "Everything in the hall is complete. If Qingge needs anything extra, you can directly instruct the servants who watch over the palace hall."

"Alright." Mu Qingge nodded again.

Her quietness along the way, even her ’obedience’, instead made Princess grow curious about her.

Originally, she had thought that someone who rose to fame at such a young age, and even achieved so much in such a short span of time, ought to be frivolous and arrogant, eyes above all.

Even if she knew to restrain herself, she would occasionally reveal a bit of that presumptuous, overbearing nature.

Yet Mu Qingge did not. From the very first meeting until now, whether in her conversation with Princess, or in her conversation with Princess’s father, Princess had been silently observing, and truly there was not the slightest trace of it.

She was so calm and indifferent that it was as if the Little Divine Emperor with so many astounding achievements, as described by Princess’s father, were not her at all.

Princess was very curious why the person before her, clearly not of great age, could be so steady.

With such proud accomplishments, yet she was neither arrogant nor impatient, not revealing the slightest hint of complacency.

At the thought of complacency, she could not help thinking of that Young Lord Tianyin she had encountered yesterday in Wuhua City. That man, with a bit of cleverness, after showing off a trick before her, could not help but reveal a look of self-satisfaction.

Even if it was only a thread of pride, fleeting as a flash, she had still caught it.

For such a small scheme, he was already so pleased with himself, thinking he was so remarkable. In this moment, compared with the Little Divine Emperor Mu before her eyes, he was truly far inferior.

In her heart, Princess could not help but shake her head.

The slight goodwill she had accumulated toward Mu Tianyin before now completely dispersed; this person left not the faintest trace in her heart anymore.

"Qingge." After casting Mu Tianyin out of her mind, Princess spoke to Mu Qingge.

"Mm?" Mu Qingge turned her gaze toward her and saw the question in her eyes. "If Princess has anything to ask, please do."

Princess had an excellent impression of her. She pressed her lips into a smile. "You told me not to call you Little Divine Emperor, so why must you call me Princess? Just call me Chu Nian."

Mu Qingge’s eyes flickered slightly. She nodded with a smile. "Alright."

"Qingge, I wanted to ask—did you truly climb to the fifty-second layer within the Dao Light?" In Chu Nian’s phoenix eyes there was filled with curiosity, as if she held a strong interest in how Mu Qingge had reached the fifty-second layer.

In truth, the way she put the question was a bit off.

If Mu Qingge had not truly stepped onto the fifty-second layer of the Dao Light steps, how would such rumors have spread, following Huan Yue God Emperor’s decree, throughout the Four Seas Divine Land?

Even the Zhuoyu Divine Emperor, who had originally wanted to cause her trouble, had been forced to lay down his banners and stay silent because of this matter.

For he understood that if he had such a genius in his own hands, he too would protect her with all his power. To tear his face with Huan Yue Domain over a dead man truly was unnecessary.

If Mu Qingge were not the Little Divine Emperor, it would not matter. But once she bore this identity, everything she had done before had to be reconsidered.

This was the reason Zhuoyu Domain had not come to hold her to account for killing Yan Quan, and also something Mu Qingge had not given much thought to.

At this moment, Chu Nian’s question was only because she was too shocked, and could not help confirming once more with Mu Qingge herself.

Mu Qingge smiled and nodded to her. "It was nothing but a stroke of luck."

Having obtained her confirmation, Chu Nian shook her head in quiet admiration and said softly, "This is not something that can be achieved by mere luck. From ancient times to the present, countless people have gone to climb those steps within the Dao Light, yet no one has reached so high."

As she spoke, she turned her gaze toward Mu Qingge, her eyes serious as she said, "Over thousands of years, I have entered the Dao Light seven times. But these seven times, the feeling it gave me was that the higher you go, the harder it becomes."

"You have entered seven times!" Mu Qingge was taken aback.

Chu Nian nodded.

Seeing the faintly astonished look on Mu Qingge’s face, she could not help revealing a smile. "You didn’t think each person only had one chance to enter the Dao Light, did you?"

"..." Mu Qingge was left speechless.

All of a sudden, she recalled what Zhuang Shan had told her—that he had participated in the Four Divine Domains’ Dao Debate more than once. Looking into Chu Nian’s smiling eyes, she understood.

Previously, she had not thought much of it. Now that she considered it carefully, it seemed that she still had the chance to climb those Dao Light steps again.

Ninety-nine layers—last time she had reached the fifty-second. As for the remaining steps, she very much wished to ascend them and see; upon reaching the ninety-ninth layer, what new insights would she gain?

"The age for participating in the Dao Debate is under ten thousand years. You are still young—you have plenty of chances. So long as your age has not exceeded the limit, you may participate in every Dao Debate." Chu Nian added.

"So that’s how it is." Mu Qingge nodded almost imperceptibly.

Previously, she really hadn’t paid attention to that age restriction for participants.

The two of them walked and chatted along the way, getting along quite well.

Mu Qingge’s calm ease, without arrogance or impatience, also made Princess Chu Nian willing to talk to her more. If it had been someone else, the type to be conceited over their own talent, then even with her father’s instructions, she would not have deliberately flattered or tried to get close.

As for Mu Qingge, she truly felt this was someone worth befriending. It had nothing to do with admiration or affection; for now, Chu Nian simply felt they talked easily together.

From Mu Qingge’s point of view, since the Wuhua God Emperor had given her such an opportunity to interact with Chu Nian at such close range, she naturally had to take the chance to quietly sound out the information she wanted.

So, the first step was to gain her trust.

Fortunately, Chu Nian gave her a very good impression as well—just like the rumors said, approachable and easygoing—so as they talked, there was less calculation and more sincerity.

"This is where you’ll be staying for the time being. Are you satisfied with it?" Chu Nian led Mu Qingge and the other three to a side hall and spoke to her.

Following her words, Mu Qingge looked around.

This side hall wasn’t large, but the surroundings were tranquil and the scenery beautiful. It was clear that Chu Nian had put some thought into arranging her lodging and wasn’t just perfunctorily brushing her off.

At that moment, two youths walked out from inside the hall.

A boy and a girl, both wearing Servant robes, their appearances neat and well-behaved, with the aura of a Second Layer Spirit Void Realm cultivation floating around them.

They hurried over to stand before Chu Nian, and said respectfully, "Princess."

Chu Nian inclined her head slightly and said to the two of them, "This is the young Divine Emperor of the East God Land Huan Yue Domain. During the period she resides here, you must serve her properly. If there’s anything lacking, just go and request it."

"Yes, Princess."

The two answered in unison again.

Then, they bowed to Mu Qingge and said together, "Greetings, Young Divine Emperor."

Mu Qingge nodded slightly, then glanced at Yin Chen. The latter understood at once and took out two small East Pearls, rewarding each Servant with one.

"That’s Tide East Pearl!" Chu Nian was taken aback.

Mu Qingge nodded with a smile. "Chu Nian, you have a good eye. I passed by Luochao some time ago and happened to obtain a few."

"Tide East Pearl has the effects of beauty-preserving and anti-corrosion, keeping one forever young. Moreover, it contains the power of purification; wearing it on one’s person can assist cultivation and help purify Divine Power. I once heard that in Luochao, not even a hundred pearls are produced in a thousand years, it’s extremely rare." As Chu Nian spoke, her gaze drifted lightly to the two Servants who were still stunned, and she said to Mu Qingge, "This is far too precious."

After listening to that explanation, Mu Qingge was also slightly surprised in her heart.

She knew about the effects of Tide East Pearl, but hadn’t known its yield was so low. Those Tide East Pearls had been given to her by Si Mo back in Luochao.

He had given her a full chest of them, at least close to a thousand, all different sizes. She had just casually picked out the two smallest ones as a little meeting gift.

Now, hearing Chu Nian say that, Mu the little Lord, who had always felt short of money, actually did feel a stab of heartache.

Still, since she’d given them away, they were gone. She wouldn’t take them back, so she smiled generously and said, "They’re not that precious. I still have a larger one; I’ll give it to you."

With that, she turned her fingertip, and another Tide East Pearl appeared in her hand, several times larger than the previous two. She offered it to Chu Nian.

"For me?" Chu Nian was briefly taken aback.

Looking at the Tide East Pearl in Mu Qingge’s hand, wrapped in a crystalline radiance, she was a bit surprised.

Mu Qingge nodded, directly pressing the pearl into Chu Nian’s hand. "They’re just little trinkets. Take it."

Chu Nian froze for a moment, then finally nodded. "All right. Since you’re sincerely giving it to me, I won’t be pretentious." She put the pearl away, and in the look she gave Mu Qingge, another trace of unfamiliarity melted away.

Because she could tell that when Mu Qingge gave her the pearl, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, without any intention of currying favor. It seemed she’d only thought to hand one over after seeing her surprise at the Tide East Pearl.

Goodwill that carries no ulterior motive is always hard for people to refuse.

Mu Qingge had Yin Chen and the Divine Demon Puppet enter the side hall first with the two Servants, while she herself stayed where she was with Chu Nian.

"Qingge has something to ask me?" Chu Nian said with a smile.

Mu Qingge nodded frankly. "I just wanted to ask whether, while I’m living here in Wuhua Palace, there are any taboos I need to avoid. I’d hate to unknowingly offend someone through sheer ignorance."

"Taboos?" Chu Nian murmured the word once.

Mu Qingge nodded. "Mm. I’ve never been one to sit still. Wherever I go, I like to wander around and sightsee. I don’t know if there are any places in Wuhua Palace where outsiders mustn’t trespass, or even approach?"

Chu Nian didn’t become suspicious, but instead carefully considered Mu Qingge’s question, then said to her, "Other than the Divine Emperor Palace, there actually aren’t many places you absolutely can’t go. Private areas all have Forbidden Techniques; if you get close, you’ll be warned. As for truly forbidden grounds, that would be the One Leaf Pavilion in the Divine Emperor Palace. That’s my father’s cultivation place; even I can’t approach it. However, the Little Leaf Pavilion lies within the Divine Emperor Palace, and it’s guarded all around by the Nine Curves Maze, so you wouldn’t be able to stumble into it anyway."