Hearing this, Empress Xuan Yue looked at Mu Changqing with a peculiar gaze, chuckling as if they were old acquaintances.
"Aren't you tired?"
Mu Changqing lightly waved his sleeve, and the vast starry river transformed into a meteor shower, streaking across the sky.
Begonia flowers rose with the wind, scattering like a floral rain, as beautiful as a clear dream.
"Tired? You wouldn't understand. There's ultimately a fundamental difference between us."
"If I don't contend with mortals, I will be buried by them, struggling between life and death. Since that is the case, why can't it be me who buries all the mortal dust?"
"If I don't contend with immortals, they will flaunt their divinity, controlling my destiny. Since that is the case, why can't I annihilate them with my own hands?"
"The three thousand Immortal Emperors, ordained by heaven, control all beings. If I don't slaughter the three thousand Immortal Emperors, how can I escape my own destiny, escape the tragic fate of a chess piece?"
"But I later discovered that merely doing this is far from enough. Above Immortal Emperors are the Innate, the Primordial, the Heavenly Dao. Perhaps beyond the Heavenly Dao, there are more unknown terrifying existences. I have no choice. Since I have no choice, why not enjoy this process and bury all my rivals?"
As he spoke, Mu Changqing's tone was incredibly calm, without the slightest ripple, as if he were recounting someone else's story.
Yet, these few brief words were Mu Changqing's entire life.
Rising from obscurity, old friends withered away.
Walking the Great Dao alone, all beings are enemies.
He never regretted his choices; the arduous trials along the way were all magnificent scenery.
Only through endless suffering and an unregretting heart can one glimpse the peerless scenery at the end of the road.
Upon hearing this, a complex expression flickered across Empress Xuan Yue's stunningly beautiful face.
She was, after all, different from Mu Changqing. Born as an Innate being, she beheld the most top-tier scenery, and all beings beneath her were ants she could toy with at will.
She did not need to experience the struggle between life and death; she could choose her own path.
As long as she did not contend with heaven and harbored no desires, she could live forever and stand alongside the river of time.
"So, this is your charm, achieving such peerless grace as a postnatal being."
As she spoke, Empress Xuan Yue approached the edge of the Immortal Boat, her jade feet brushing against the sea of stars.
Her dark tresses cascaded before her full bosom, lost in thought.
Mu Changqing closed his eyes slightly, yawning lazily.
He was not tired, but merely resting for a moment, preparing to embark on a new journey.
"Burial Emperor, you didn't come to find me just for idle chatter, did you?"
After a long pause, Empress Xuan Yue spoke.
Mu Changqing opened his violet eyes and pondered for a moment before asking.
"Do you truly have no plans to seek a spokesperson and contend for the luck of the era?"
Mu Changqing trusted no one, including Empress Xuan Yue.
Even if Empress Xuan Yue truly acted according to her heart, submitting to him only to witness his supreme magnificence, Mu Changqing would never believe her easily.
From beginning to end, whether it was Dao Ancestor, Empress Xuan Yue, Chaotic Azure Lotus, or Zhang Fanchen, everything was within his control. If there were the slightest anomaly, he would annihilate it without mercy.
The world was inherently cruel; even your closest kin might betray you.
Therefore, among all beings, only by trusting oneself can one go further.
Never let a trace of kindness or a drop of favor from others lower your guard.
Hearing this, Empress Xuan Yue withdrew her jade foot, waved her hand, and retrieved silk from space, wiping it gently.
Then, she adjusted her resplendent gown and sat back in her original position, looking at Mu Changqing.
A peerlessly stunning smile appeared on her face, and with a wave of her jade hand.
Two strands of Primordial Violet Qi slowly emerged, drifting down before Mu Changqing.
"I have no plans, but I do possess Primordial Violet Qi, which is likely the true reason you came here," Empress Xuan Yue said calmly, her expression somewhat casual and languid.
Mu Changqing looked at the two strands of Primordial Violet Qi before him, a hint of surprise on his face.
He sat up, slowly grasped the two strands of Primordial Violet Qi, and asked with some confusion.
"Why... do you possess two strands of Primordial Violet Qi?"
According to the classification of Innate levels, those possessing two strands of Primordial Violet Qi were invariably of the fourth-tier Ancient Source Creation level.
Currently, the known fourth-tier Innate beings were only the Lord of Asuras, the Human Ancestor, the Demon Ancestor, and the current Dao Ancestor.
Hearing this, Empress Xuan Yue revealed a hint of human-like pride at the corner of her lips and said leisurely.
"What, why do you think I can't possess two strands of Primordial Violet Qi?"
"Actually, I'm not entirely sure why. Perhaps it was due to your influence, or perhaps I was truly too lazy to contend with them and scheme about all sorts of trivial matters. Instead, I nurtured two strands of Primordial Violet Qi and naturally stepped into the fourth-tier Ancient Source Creation level."
"Perhaps it's a case of 'unintentional planting yields shade'."
Mu Changqing remained silent for a moment, a hint of realization dawning upon him.
He nodded slightly before accepting the two strands of Primordial Violet Qi.
Empress Xuan Yue's state of mind transformed, leading to a breakthrough, and she stepped into a level that many Innate beings dreamed of, which was rather amusing.
However, for this level, further breakthroughs might require endless eons of planning.
Or it could be a heaven-defying opportunity, but it's also possible, like Empress Xuan Yue, that a change in mindset leads to naturally stepping into a new level.
"Alright, I accept your favor. Words cannot express my gratitude."
Mu Changqing stood up, adjusted his black robe, and smiled at Empress Xuan Yue.
Empress Xuan Yue waved her hand indifferently and continued to play with the spiritual beasts in the sea of stars.
"My immortal brew?"
Seeing Mu Changqing about to leave, Empress Xuan Yue spoke again, her gaze falling on her immortal brew.
Mu Changqing glanced at it and unceremoniously absorbed it into his inner world.
"You are a dignified fourth-tier Innate being; do you still lack a mere pot of immortal brew? I'm off."
With his words, Mu Changqing's figure faded, disappearing from Empress Xuan Yue's starry sea space.
Empress Xuan Yue's expression was one of surprise as she stared at the spot where Mu Changqing had vanished.
After a long while, she shook her head helplessly and murmured to herself.
"The dignified Burial Emperor, a being that causes Innate beings to fear and Heavenly Dao to be wary, actually has such an amusing side."
...
After leaving Empress Xuan Yue's starry sea space, Mu Changqing's figure hovered in the endless high heavens of the Heavenly Realm.
Brilliant purple runes danced around him, forming a supremely terrifying domain that enveloped him.
Then, Yin Yin appeared beside Mu Changqing, her gaze calm as she looked at him.
"How was it?"
The current Yin Yin no longer needed to slumber after consuming Primordial Violet Qi; she could digest it instantaneously.
"Not bad. If I can slaughter them all again, perhaps I can transform once more. At that moment, perhaps I'll learn some of the answers you've always wanted to know."
Yin Yin spoke like an adult, her tone devoid of childishness.
Mu Changqing's violet eyes flickered with anticipation. The answers he sought were naturally about the origin of the Burial Heaven Pearl.
Such a heaven-defying item was feared even by the Heavenly Dao.
"An item that can make the Primordial Heavenly Dao wary, where did it come from? What is its origin? It's becoming more and more interesting."
As he spoke, Mu Changqing's aura grew even more terrifying. The surging battle intent, like a torrent about to break free from a dam, transformed into a horrifying spectacle, shaking the heavens.