Chapter 1105: There Comes a Phoenix

Qin Mu took out the Great Emperor Seal and the Great Emperor Altar. His third eye on his forehead opened, and he focused his mind as vital qi and divine sense surged forth. A beam of light shot from his vertical eye, striking the Great Emperor Altar.

The Great Emperor Altar was only palm-sized. Illuminated by his divine sense and vital qi, it immediately emitted a soft hum, and subtle fluctuations began to emanate from it.

Gradually, runes appeared on the altar, which were Qin Mu's spiritual imprints. The runes then grew increasingly bright, and with a buzzing sound, beams of light shone onto the Great Emperor Seal.

Qin Mu continuously circled the small altar and the Great Emperor Seal. His hands moved swiftly, imprinting more runes onto the two treasures.

As he worked, more arms appeared on him, and the hand seals of each arm constantly changed, increasing the number of imprinted runes.

After a long time, Qin Mu stopped to rest.

Gongsun Yan was about to ask a question, but remembering Qin Mu's instructions, she refrained.

Qin Mu went to the base of the Primordial Tree and buried the Great Emperor Altar among its roots. Then he ascended into the air, went to the Upper Capital City, and placed the Great Emperor Seal in the tree's canopy.

Gongsun Yan followed him and watched as Qin Mu completed these tasks. His fingers swiftly moved, forming various hand seals. Suddenly, both the Great Emperor Seal and the Great Emperor Altar vibrated.

Gongsun Yan let out a soft cry. She felt her body tingle and itch, as if countless tiny insects were crawling all over her.

However, this strange sensation quickly vanished.

Qin Mu sighed in relief. He said, "For the next two days, do not speak to anyone, do not eat or drink, and do not open your mouth."

Gongsun Yan nodded obediently.

"Yan'er, Dragon Fatty, watch her. Under no circumstances should you let her speak."

The Dragon Qilin and Yan'er quickly affirmed.

Qin Mu left the capital city and went to the opposite bank of the Tu River. He chose an uninhabited area, opened his third eye, and conjured an altar through visualization. He then began to work, arranging various Grand Dao runes on the altar.

After arranging the runes, he cut his wrist and traced them with his own divine blood.

While he was busy, Gongsun Yan was also busy helping Yan'er arrange her bird's nest. Yan'er usually enjoyed serving others, but whenever she was with Gongsun Yan, she would always be made to feel so comfortable, an indescribable ease.

"Yan'er," Yan'er chuckled, "Dragon Fatty and I will be getting married soon. When we have a brood of little birds, we'll let them live here with you."

Gongsun Yan beamed with joy. Just as she was about to speak, Yan'er quickly covered her mouth. "You mustn't speak," Yan'er reminded her.

Gongsun Yan frowned in distress.

The Dragon Qilin explained, "The Cult Master is doing this for your own good. His divine ability can protect you from external invaders. However, this ability requires you to seal your senses. If you open your mouth, the qi will leak, and his divine ability won't be able to protect your physical body. If Earth Mother attacks, she could possess you."

Gongsun Yan blinked, wondering inwardly, "Earth Mother wants to possess me?"

Suddenly, colorful clouds appeared in the sky. A pair of phoenixes flew down, dancing gracefully around the Primordial Tree. Their dance was beautiful, and songs emanated from their mouths. The song went: "Phoenix, whence do you come? Fluttering, singing on high hills. Mountain winds play jade flutes, bamboo fruits abound in plenty—"

In the Upper Capital City, people heard the songs and rejoiced. They all declared it a most auspicious sign, signifying the arrival of a phoenix.

Gongsun Yan was also thrilled. She had long wanted to raise a pair of phoenixes. Seeing them arrive, she couldn't help but want to fly over and lead them to her bird's nest.

Suddenly, a dragon sparrow flew out from a nest in the tree's canopy. Without a word, it grabbed and devoured the pair of phoenixes, leaving the people in the capital city utterly bewildered.

After devouring the phoenixes, Yan'er returned to her nest. She fiercely warned, "Yan'er, those were sent by Earth Mother to trick you into speaking. You absolutely must not fall for it!"

Gongsun Yan felt terribly wronged. Just then, another pair of phoenixes flew over, singing loudly: "Phoenixes of the Primordial World, resting on my wutong branch. Open-hearted, awaiting the returning wind..."

The dragon sparrow soared into the air again. In front of everyone in the Upper Capital City, it devoured that pair of phoenixes as well. Afterward, it perched fiercely on the Primordial Tree's canopy, glaring menacingly in all directions.

Seeing this, the people of Yan Kang's Upper Capital City trembled and dared not speak much.

In the Lower Capital City, a fragrant breeze suddenly wafted through, and golden springs gushed from the ground. A sweet aroma filled the air from the city's wells, where various colored lotuses bloomed. From within the flowers emerged beautiful young women, who laughed and said, "What a joy! Let's go find our sisters!"

With that, these young women headed towards the Primordial Tree, leaving the people in the capital city astonished.

The girls, adorned in colorful attire, found Gongsun Yan. They eagerly pulled her, singing and dancing, laughing, "Yan'er, don't you recognize us? We are the fruit trees you planted in your backyard!"

Gongsun Yan was both startled and delighted. Just as she was about to speak, the Dragon Qilin let out a furious roar. His body burst into flames, incinerating the women into ash.

"Under no circumstances should you open your mouth!" the Dragon Qilin stated solemnly.

Gongsun Yan nodded repeatedly, like a chick pecking at rice.

The Dragon Qilin vigilantly looked around. "Earth Mother will definitely try something else; she won't give up so easily," he said. "As long as you don't open your mouth, Earth Mother won't be able to break through the Great Emperor Seal and Great Emperor Altar to enter and possess your body."

Meanwhile, the agreed time between Qin Mu and Earth Mother had arrived. Qin Mu set up an altar and began the ritual to gather Earth Mother Yuanjun's soul.

In that uninhabited area, chilling winds blew, and black sand surged, converging rapidly.

Qin Mu opened the Profound Gate of Heaven and Earth. He received the power of Heaven Duke and Earth Count. His Daoist incantations boomed, and the Daoist tones resonated. With supreme profound methods, he reconstructed Earth Mother Yuanjun's three souls: Heaven, Earth, and Spirit.

Violent tremors continuously emanated from the ground. Earth Mother Yuanjun's roots were traveling underground, also arriving at this location, awaiting her soul's revival.

After a long time, Qin Mu was drenched in sweat. He had finally reconstructed Earth Mother Yuanjun's three souls.

Earth Mother's three souls stood on the altar. Qin Mu said in a deep voice, "Earth Mother, our agreement has been fulfilled. From now on, we owe each other nothing."

Earth Mother Yuanjun's soul slowly sank into the ground. She laughed, "Well said! Well said! Grandmaster, you are indeed a Grandmaster. After my rebirth, I will speak well of you before the other ancient gods."

Qin Mu snorted, flicking his sleeve. "Since your soul is now complete, depart at once!" he commanded.

Earth Mother Yuanjun chuckled. "It's merely the revival of my soul; I still lack a physical body, Grandmaster," she said. "Your Eternal Peace lacks the protection of a powerful ancient god. Let me complete you instead!" With that, her three souls vanished.

Almost simultaneously, beneath the Primordial Tree in the capital city, Gongsun Yan remained silent. Suddenly, Earth Mother Yuanjun's soul appeared before her. With a gentle smile, she softly caressed Gongsun Yan's cheek, speaking tenderly, "My poor child, my daughter, Mother has come to see you."

Gongsun Yan's heart melted. She choked out, "Mother..."

Earth Mother Yuanjun burst into laughter. The Dragon Qilin roared and charged at her. Immediately, boundless gravity pressed down, forcing him to his knees, and the ground continuously sank!

Yan'er transformed into a dragon sparrow and swooped down from the sky, flapping her wings. Earth Mother Yuanjun pointed a finger, and countless roots emerged from the ground, binding Yan'er tightly!

In the canopy of the Primordial Tree, the Great Emperor Seal shone brightly. It formed an invisible barrier with the Great Emperor Altar, which was buried among the tree's roots. However, the next moment, both the Great Emperor Seal and the Great Emperor Altar were violently shaken and flew out from the Primordial Tree!

Earth Mother Yuanjun's form abruptly dispersed. She then drilled into Gongsun Yan's body.