Chapter 1294: Awakening

The Mortal World

Inside the quiet chamber.

Dumb Girl lay flat on her back, her eyes tightly closed, still a sleeping beauty.

Her cheeks were rosy, but within her seemingly vibrant body, a faint aura of death subtly emanated.

Before her life force was depleted, Dumb Girl hadn't woken up, but her condition had been gradually improving, as if she were merely asleep. Now, however, she resembled a statue, conveying only a sense of lifeless stillness.

The Fat Silkworm was slumbering within Dumb Girl's body.

After returning to the Lesser Cold Domain, Qin Sang had tried several times but had been unable to awaken the Fat Silkworm.

Qin Sang and Bai sat cross-legged.

After a moment of silence, Bai opened his eyes and nodded, saying, "It's quite remarkable. This girl's will is even more resilient than I anticipated. She has been fighting continuously, never giving up, and her consciousness hasn't succumbed to the darkness."

Hearing these words, Qin Sang recalled Dumb Girl's experiences.

From birth, she had been plunged into darkness.

His own appearance brought her a glimmer of light, yet it also attracted greater calamity upon her.

She stumbled forward through the darkness, never abandoning her yearning for light. Perhaps it was those very encounters that forged her resilient character.

Those who help themselves are helped by Heaven.

It was precisely because Dumb Girl consistently struggled that Qin Sang's actions held deeper meaning; they weren't solely for the fulfillment of his own convictions.

At this moment, Bai handed Qin Sang a jade slip. "Inside is a segment of a bone curse I deliberately selected," he said. "It's the gentlest part of its power, the limit of what she can withstand."

Qin Sang took the jade slip, surprised. "I'm to do it?" he asked.

"If not you, then who?"

Bai snorted. "The Heavenly Corpse Talisman inside her was personally refined by you; you are essentially her master. Engraving the bone curse and drawing upon the Heavenly Corpse Talisman's power risks damaging her soul with even the slightest error, so of course, it must be you. Don't worry, I've clearly outlined the method for casting the spell, and I'll assist you during the process."

His spiritual sense probed the jade slip.

Qin Sang first saw a bone curse that seemed familiar.

This segment of the bone curse was inscribed on a white bone arm, but it wasn't entirely identical to the original version. Bai had made some modifications to ensure Dumb Girl could also withstand its power.

The so-called spell-casting method was also something Bai had comprehended on his own.

This capability alone filled Qin Sang with admiration; truly worthy of an old one who had lived since ancient times.

The bone curse wasn't complicated, and Qin Sang quickly grasped it.

An hour later.

The two sat cross-legged on either side of Dumb Girl.

Qin Sang nodded to Bai, his gaze falling upon Dumb Girl's left arm.

Although Dumb Girl had been subjected to the Heavenly Corpse Talisman, the corpse energy within her was suppressed by the vitality of the Three Luminaries Jade Liquid, preventing her physical body from undergoing corporeal transformation. While in the Azure Waves Sea, every time Qin Sang consumed the Three Luminaries Jade Liquid to restore his true essence, he would transfer some of its vitality to Dumb Girl. Thus, even after several decades, the life force within Dumb Girl's body remained abundant.

Her crystal-clear jade arm was adorned with beautiful patterns, which were divine runes of the Witch Tribe.

Qin Sang pondered for a moment, then extended his spiritual sense into Dumb Girl's arm. After a careful examination, he suddenly raised his hands, his fingers moving like spinning wheels, and a spell seal was instantly formed.

His movements did not stop.

Inside the quiet chamber, spiritual energy vibrated, and peculiar runes flowed from Qin Sang's fingertips, one after another, entering Dumb Girl's body.

Dumb Girl's appearance remained unchanged.

However, on her arm bone, golden runes gradually appeared. These densely packed, ant-sized runes made her arm bone seem as if it had transformed into a golden bone.

Bai was not idle either, helping Qin Sang stabilize the bone curse. Seeing the runes continuously enter Dumb Girl's body with unusual smoothness, a hint of surprise flashed in Bai's eyes.

At this moment, Qin Sang multitasked, dividing his attention to perceive both the Heavenly Corpse Talisman and the bone curse.

Indeed, just as Bai had said, an inexplicable connection existed between the two. During the spell-casting process, he could use the bone curse to draw upon the Heavenly Corpse Talisman's power, thereby mitigating its effects on Dumb Girl.

"No matter what you feel, do not resist."

Qin Sang murmured, but he wasn't sure if Dumb Girl could hear him.

Then, his hand seal abruptly changed, completing the final secret art!

Seeing this, Bai quickly cast aside distracting thoughts and fully assisted Qin Sang.

The next moment, Qin Sang suddenly let out a low cry, then formed an exceptionally complex hand seal. He pressed his hands down abruptly, one hand gripping Dumb Girl's arm tightly, while the other touched her glabella.

'Boom!'

A brilliant golden light erupted.

Dumb Girl's body trembled in response.

Moments later, the golden light faded. Qin Sang and Bai exchanged a glance, then quickly looked at Dumb Girl.

Qin Sang keenly sensed a faint fluctuation within Dumb Girl's body, extremely subtle, yet undeniably an auspicious sign: her soul was recovering!

Bai's method had worked!

"I hadn't expected this girl to be quite compatible with the bone curse; her tolerance is stronger than I anticipated," Bai remarked, clicking his tongue in wonder.

Qin Sang paused, recalling that the spell-casting process had indeed been remarkably smooth. After a moment's thought, he said, "It's likely due to the Three Luminaries Jade Liquid. Her physical body has consistently been nourished by its vitality, which must have greatly benefited her."

"It's possible," Bai nodded. "Perhaps it's also related to that Fat Silkworm. But this isn't a bad thing. Once her condition stabilizes, and after observing her for a period, we can attempt a more complex bone curse for even better results."

As they conversed, subtle changes quietly occurred within Dumb Girl's body.

A short while later.

Under their watchful eyes, a faint seven-colored halo appeared on Dumb Girl's glabella.

"It's the Fat Silkworm!"

Qin Sang's heart lifted, and he stared intently at her glabella.

The halo intensified, then suddenly pulsed. A short, stout figure shot out, about to lunge into Qin Sang's arms, but he reached out and scooped it up.

The Fat Silkworm had finally awakened!

After decades of slumber without food or water, the Fat Silkworm was still plump, though its flesh seemed a little firmer.

'Squeak, squeak...'

The Fat Silkworm conveyed affectionate emotions, rubbing back and forth in Qin Sang's palm, playfully clinging. Its small eyes were filled with grievance, on the verge of tears, looking utterly pitiful.

However, Qin Sang already knew the Fat Silkworm's nature and saw through its little ploy at a glance.

This fellow was clearly starving.

Seeing Qin Sang unmoved, it began to roll around wildly, seemingly protesting to him that it had become thin from hunger!

Qin Sang found it amusing and took out a poisonous algae fruit from his Thousand Jun Ring.

Upon seeing the enticing food, the Fat Silkworm's eyes glowed green. It pounced forward and swallowed the poisonous algae fruit in a single gulp.

One poisonous algae fruit was clearly not enough.

Worried it wouldn't be able to digest the potent toxins, Qin Sang took out other food. The Fat Silkworm wasn't picky, swallowing mouthful after mouthful as if it were a reincarnation of a starving ghost.

Ignoring the ravenously devouring Fat Silkworm, Qin Sang shifted his gaze to Dumb Girl. The Fat Silkworm was her anchor in the real world. After the Fat Silkworm awakened, Dumb Girl's condition became even more stable, and Qin Sang perceived faint, almost imperceptible emotional fluctuations.

The Fat Silkworm ate until its belly was round, then flopped over and lazily lay in Qin Sang's palm. Immediately after, it transformed into a seven-colored halo once more and flew into Dumb Girl's glabella.

Qin Sang was startled and quickly extended his spiritual sense into Dumb Girl's Violet Palace, where he found the Fat Silkworm nestled beside Dumb Girl's nascent soul, sound asleep.

However, this time was different from before.

The Fat Silkworm hadn't fallen into deep slumber; instead, it was digesting the food it had just consumed while sleeping, just as it usually did. He could awaken it whenever he wished.