Chapter 384 - 382: Taichu Daoist Palace’s Invitation

Chapter 384: Chapter 382: Taichu Daoist Palace’s Invitation

"Of course, it’s more than just that. We definitely have to persuade him."

"So, Ou Mingjie, you go."

Ou Mingjie considered this calmly for a moment before nodding. "No problem, Dean Ke."

"If I can convince him to go, I hope to receive a Jianmu Fruit, not an Ice Star Fruit."

Those words.

Made Ke Hongmei freeze.

But then she smiled.

"I’d still advise you to choose the Ice Star Fruit."

"In any case, all of us deans can obtain Jianmu Fruits."

"Then it’s settled," Ou Mingjie said happily.

There was no way he could lose in this deal. Ou Mingjie was overjoyed, especially after hearing he could get a Jianmu Fruit.

...

...

"Ou Mingjie, what is this little machine you sent?" Su Qing asked, watching the small device appear before him.

He couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

The Su Qing of today had already exacted most of his revenge.

As for the one who remained, Su Qing wasn’t yet prepared to settle the score.

He had only just returned.

He picked up a flask of wine and began to drink by himself.

He never used to like drinking.

But now, it felt like only wine could bring him comfort.

He had just taken a few sips, not even having brought out any snacks, when he saw Ou Mingjie’s little device fly over.

Because of the unique patterns and Arrays on it.

It was either something from Ou Mingjie or the Zhengxuan Sect.

"Sir, there is a matter to discuss."

"What is it?" Su Qing asked.

"Since you cleansed the Greed Realm, quite a few powerful beings have taken notice of you. Among them, the Taichu Daoist Palace invites you to further your study of the Dao."

"The Taichu Daoist Palace has paths for those who walk a Dao Path, as well as paths concerning Cultivation."

"You’ve caught the attention of a certain powerful being, which is why they are inviting you to study the Dao."

"So, Sir, will you go?"

Ou Mingjie asked. This was the most direct form of persuasion.

The choice was left in Su Qing’s hands, but the pros and cons had been laid out.

He was just about to speak.

When the machine’s voice sounded again: "Sir, the Taichu Daoist Palace is giving you one Star Sea Year as your period of study."

"So you don’t need to make a decision right now."

’A Star Sea Year?’

A normal year has 365 days, with one day containing twelve hours.

But a Star Sea Year is different. It’s equivalent to 8,369 normal years.

This was an incredibly vast unit of time.

Although in the Star Sea, it could take that long just to travel from one place to another.

But for Su Qing, this length of time was truly immense.

"In that case, I won’t make a decision yet. Is there an invitation token? Send it over," Su Qing asked.

"Please wait a moment."

A moment later.

A machine flew down.

It dropped a medal-like object made of ancient-looking tree bark.

Su Qing used his Magical Power to catch it and place it in his hand.

He immediately felt an incredibly complex power of Dao Essence from it.

Such a complex power was somehow contained stably within this piece of bark.

And there were no markings on it whatsoever.

"Sir, please keep this symbol of identity safe. Other beings have already got their eyes on you," Ou Mingjie added.

Then all the Magical Artifacts flew away.

’This complex power even contains Destiny Dao Essence.’

’The Taichu Daoist Palace might be a powerful place indeed.’

Su Qing mused.

The Dao Essence within it was already enough to satisfy Su Qing.

He had originally intended to refuse, but after receiving this medal-like object...

Su Qing now had a certain understanding of the Taichu Daoist Palace.

It seemed quite formidable.

He curiously took out his Star Sea Map.

And searched for the Taichu Daoist Palace.

He discovered that to get to the Taichu Daoist Palace from his current location...

Even traveling at full speed, it would take several normal years to get from the Jianmu Omniscience Institute to the location of the Taichu Daoist Palace.

It was indeed far from the Jianmu Omniscience Institute.

And that wasn’t all.

Because this Taichu Daoist Palace...

Was huge.

So huge that it was displayed on the Star Map as an entire region.

It was only slightly smaller than a certain Forbidden Land.

This proved that the Taichu Daoist Palace was truly massive.

’I never expected this. I thought this was a Great Thousand World where Dao Paths were everywhere, but it turns out there are still places that research the path of Cultivation.’

’Once those two girls have grown up, I’ll leave.’

Su Qing smiled. He couldn’t possibly watch over them for their entire lives, so once they were grown, he could leave.

Su Qing now firmly believed that everyone had to walk their own path.

Interference from others could lead to even greater difficulties.

Including from himself.

Therefore, Su Qing had offered almost no substantial help to the two of them, aside from that one time he saved the ordinary citizens on Jianmu.

Of course, that had also been to help the two of them.

If they had waited for a method to break that curse to be researched...

Su Shang would have likely died long ago.

That was why Su Qing had helped.

As for making Jianmu grow...

That was merely something Su Qing did to ensure this place survived.

To guarantee the lives of those two little ones.

"Sigh..."

Su Qing silently sensed the two girls’ presence.

Su Shang was not in the Jianmu Research Institute.

But she now had a Dao Path.

’She should be fine.’

As for Liu Ling’Er...

’Why isn’t she at home? What is she doing there?’ Liu Ling’Er was sitting on one of Jianmu’s leaves.

She was gazing at the starry sky outside.

It seemed as if she was just admiring the scenery.

Puzzled, Su Qing appeared beside Liu Ling’Er.

"What are you doing out here?" Su Qing asked as he arrived next to Liu Ling’Er.

He sat down on the leaf.

A Flying Shuttle was parked on the leaf beside them.

If it weren’t for the protective layer around Jianmu, Liu Ling’Er would have probably been blasted to bits.

Without the power of a Dao Path, one still needed protection in the Star Sea.

Liu Ling’Er turned her head to look at Su Qing.

"Uncle!"

"What are you doing here?" Liu Ling’Er asked, puzzled.

This was a place that not even her parents knew about.

"Because you are here," Su Qing said with a smile.

"Have you run into some trouble?"

"I want to go outside, but my parents say it’s too dangerous."

"They won’t let me participate in any of the academy’s off-world activities."

Su Qing was taken aback.

"For your safety?"

"Mhm." Liu Ling’Er nodded.

"But everyone else got to go," Liu Ling’Er said, frustrated, lightly biting her lip.

Her thoughts were a mess.

"The outside world is indeed very dangerous, Liu Ling’Er," Su Qing agreed with a nod.

"However, you can’t grow without experiencing certain things. You can only truly understand what danger feels like after you’ve experienced it for yourself."

"Just hearing the word ’danger’ might make you think it’s something simple. But only after you’ve truly gone through it will you know the feeling, and only then will you commit that feeling to memory."

"Memory?" Liu Ling’Er suddenly repeated that one word, pausing.

"So, is a true memory what I’m missing?" Liu Ling’Er mumbled to herself. ’Uncle wouldn’t lie to me.’

Su Qing couldn’t help but look at her. "Are you trying to awaken the Memory Dao Path?"

"That’s right." She nodded.

"Do you want me to have a word with your family?" Su Qing smiled. "Let you truly experience the world outside."

"That’s okay, Uncle."

"I’ll convince my parents myself."

"Uncle, I have a strange question. Do we live because of our memories, or do memories constantly appear as we live?"

"If our memories disappear, is that considered a new life, or is it death?"

"Or reincarnation?"

"And if a memory is hazy, if it feels like it’s mine but also feels like it isn’t, is it still my memory?"

Liu Ling’Er was lost in confusion.

She wanted to see the brilliant blue skies that only existed on life-bearing Stars. She wanted to explore vast green prairies and deep forests.

She wanted to search for the meaning of her own existence, to find out what she was living for.

Her memories had plunged her into confusion.

Su Qing sighed. He didn’t know what Liu Ling’Er was thinking. "Memories make us who we are, and we, in turn, make memories of our experiences."

"Therefore, a ’me’ without memories would only be a new life."

"Even if an old man forgets his memories, that too is a new beginning."

"It is a new experience."

...