Chapter 689: The Archmage

"Qin the strange infant?"

Infant Qin Fengqing crouched low behind a large mountain, secretly observing, waiting for the Venerable Buddha to descend. He fumed inwardly, "The three-headed one dared to badmouth me; I'll tear off his limbs one by one later."

He fidgeted nervously, like a cat preparing to pounce, intending to capture the Venerable Buddha when he came down.

However, the Great Brahma Heavenly King Buddha did not descend. He said, "Thank you, Emperor Chi, for the reminder. This old monk apologizes, I will not come down. May I ask, Brother Heavenly Duke and Emperor Chi, why are you both here?"

Heavenly Duke's avatar sighed, "It's a long story, no need to mention it again."

The Venerable Buddha looked at them, understood, and did not press the matter. He asked, "What's with the subtle changes in the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth? It seems to be an anomaly originating from this place."

Emperor Chi replied, "Something that young man from the Qin family did. He is resurrecting Tianyin Niangniang."

"Is it Qin Mu causing this commotion, or his elder brother?" the Venerable Buddha asked.

"My bad younger brother!" Qin Fengqing, hiding behind the mountain, couldn't help but retort. He added, "Are you coming down or not?"

"No," the Venerable Buddha replied righteously. "If I come down, I'll also be trapped here. Qin Fengqing, you can't do anything to me. Have you forgotten that last time you tried to eat me, which is why I suppressed you?"

Heavenly Duke's avatar interjected, "He won't eat us anymore, but he'll tear off our arms and legs to play with. You'll suffer if you come down."

The Venerable Buddha smiled, "Innocent savagery is indeed a great evil."

Heavenly Duke's avatar sighed, "But it's not as terrifying as true evil. Emperor Chi and I once helped his younger brother, Qin Mu, seize all of his cultivation. As a result, Qin Mu became truly evil, which was the real terror, utter lawlessness! If I hadn't been more skilled and anticipated a countermeasure, I fear now..."

The Venerable Buddha shivered. "You truly dare to play, and you play well. Turning Qin Mu evil—how could that be tolerated? His younger brother, Qin Mu, seems to have caused world-shaking commotions more than once. Over the past few centuries, the changes in the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth have become increasingly frequent. Yankang's reform, from reforming laws to reforming the Great Dao, has led to more self-changes in the Great Dao over a few hundred years than in the previous twenty thousand. It's no wonder the Celestial Heavens are so nervous about Yankang, fearing it might evolve into another Celestial Heaven."

Heavenly Duke said, "The changes in the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth were not significant a few years ago, but in recent years, with the Qin family's young man appearing, the frequency of changes has increased. For ancient gods like us, each change is a weakening, not necessarily a good thing. Once ancient gods are born, we cannot flow with the Great Dao. The Dao changes, but we do not, so every reform and Dao change weakens us."

The Venerable Buddha asked, "Tianyin Niangniang's soul was shattered into the finest black sand. How can he resurrect her?"

Heavenly Duke replied, "His divine abilities span too many systems: Youdu's system, Mingdu's spells, Xuandu's divine abilities, creation divine abilities, the divine path, demonic path, Buddhist path, and Daoist school—they're all there, mixed with so many things, it's hard to explain clearly. He's full of unorthodox ideas, but whether he can resurrect Tianyin Niangniang is still unknown."

The Venerable Buddha really wanted to go out and see Qin Mu's spellcasting, but if he left, Qin Fengqing might break the seal. He could only endure.

Outside, the ghouls within Tianyin Niangniang's body were still frantically surging out, transforming into streams of black smoke. Most of these ghouls had already been expelled, with only a few remaining.

Consequently, Tianyin Niangniang quieted down and stopped attacking Qin Mu and Emperor Kai.

Emperor Kai continued to shine the Book of Life and Death on Tianyin Niangniang's face, nervously, daring not to relax. He watched as Tianyin Niangniang's soul fragments were summoned by Qin Mu, and her shriveled features slowly became clear and full again.

Finally, all of Tianyin Niangniang's soul particles were summoned by Qin Mu, and the ghouls were completely expelled. This innate deity stood motionless, holding a pagoda in her hand. Emperor Kai stood on top of the pagoda, while Qin Mu stood on its spire, with the inverted Gate of Inheriting Heaven behind him.

Qin Mu continued to utter words, one by one, like pearls, his voice like thunder. Light poured from the Gate of Inheriting Heaven, illuminating Tianyin Niangniang's face.

He was stealing Heavenly Duke's power, using his creative might to reshape Tianyin Niangniang's Heavenly Soul.

Inside Tianyin Niangniang's body, countless black grains of sand were constantly reassembling, and her Heavenly Soul was gradually forming.

Qin Mu's face was pale. Suddenly, his throat sweetened, and a mouthful of blood surged up.

Although he was stealing Heavenly Duke's power to cast his divine ability, his own magical power was also greatly depleted. Not only was his mana exhausted, but his spirit and physical body were also severely drained, almost beyond endurance.

Suddenly, his body swayed, revealing three heads and six arms. At the same time, his primordial spirit also transformed into three heads and six arms.

Qin Mu stabilized his breath. After a long while, he finally successfully reshaped Tianyin Niangniang's Heavenly Soul.

The Gate of Inheriting Heaven behind him suddenly vibrated. Heaven and Earth reversed once more, and the gate returned to its normal form. Black qi, Youdu demonic qi, surged out from the gate, rushing into Tianyin Niangniang's body, specifically targeting her tailbone, to reshape her Earthly Soul there.

This time, Qin Mu intended to steal Tu Bo's power, using it to reshape Tianyin Niangniang's Earthly Soul.

"Wah—" All three of Qin Mu's heads simultaneously opened and spurted blood. He forcefully suppressed his crumbling spirit and continued to activate his divine ability, turning the Gate of Inheriting Heaven sideways. Simultaneously, he stole power from both Heavenly Duke and Tu Bo. Darkness and white light surged out together, illuminating Tianyin Niangniang's navel.

That was the location of the Human Soul.

Among the three souls, the Heavenly Soul and Earthly Soul could be restored by stealing power from Heavenly Duke and Tu Bo. However, the Human Soul pertains to life itself, and Qin Mu had not researched this extensively.

His mastery in this area was far inferior to Granny Si's.

However, with the Gate of Inheriting Heaven, Heaven is above and Earth below, placing the human realm in the center—the abode of living beings. So, he decided to try using the combined powers of Heavenly Duke and Tu Bo to see if he could help Tianyin Niangniang reshape her Human Soul.

Qin Mu found it increasingly difficult to sustain. His physical body, primordial spirit, mana, and mental energy had all reached their limits. However, what comforted him was that at the convergence point of Heavenly Duke and Tu Bo's powers, Tianyin Niangniang's Human Soul was slowly gathering.

He continued to persist stubbornly, his mind already dazed and confused. After all, he was not a deity. Using such a powerful divine ability to defy fate and alter the destiny of an innate deity was practically risking his own life!

Time passed, bit by bit.

Finally, Tianyin Niangniang's Human Soul was fully reshaped. Qin Mu, mustering his remaining strength, was about to reshape her seven corporeal souls when suddenly, everything went black before his eyes. He lost control of his body and fell from the top of the pagoda.

"Master reshaped my three souls; Tianyin is eternally grateful."

A pleasant voice reached Qin Mu's ears, but he was too depleted to see or feel anything.

Tianyin Niangniang extended her hand, caught him, and held him in her palm. She said, "Thank you, Master, for saving my life. I was born of Heaven and Earth and do not possess the seven corporeal souls."

Emperor Kai remained on the pagoda's spire, still illuminating her with the Book of Life and Death. Tianyin Niangniang smiled and said, "It's no longer needed, thank you, fellow Daoist."

Emperor Kai quickly put away the Book of Life and Death, took out paper and pen, and rapidly wrote a message. Tianyin Niangniang leaned closer to read it and smiled, "I don't have a physical body; I'm merely an empty shell. This doesn't count as true resurrection."

Emperor Kai exchanged the paper and wrote another message. Tianyin Niangniang said, "He is not in grave danger; he has simply expended too much vitality and energy. I will use Tianyin water and Tianyin qi to preserve his life; there's no need to worry."

Emperor Kai changed the paper again, wrote rapidly, and then held it high.

Tianyin Niangniang replied, "How to solve the problem of not having a physical body? I don't have a solution either. I was born of Heaven and Earth, so perhaps I can use Tianyin earth and Tianyin water to reshape my own body. But if you lack flesh and blood, I can do nothing. Although I can help you reshape your body, I cannot help you reshape your divine treasures."

Emperor Kai's expression turned somber.

Tianyin Niangniang, carrying the pagoda, walked toward the sea. In a few steps, she reached the ocean, gently placing Qin Mu down, allowing him to float on the surface.

She gently raised her hand, gathered wind and clouds, and refined a wisp of Tianyin qi. Releasing it, the wisp of Tianyin qi swiftly drilled into Qin Mu's glabella and quickly flowed throughout his entire body.

Tianyin Niangniang then scooped up some seawater. The water flowed from her palm, leaving behind a single crystal-clear drop.

Tianyin Niangniang carefully placed the droplet near Qin Mu's lips. The droplet seeped into his mouth and rapidly dissolved, causing his entire body to be enveloped in a misty aura, as if wrapped in auspicious clouds.

Tianyin Niangniang smiled, "Master, awaken."

Qin Mu felt completely refreshed. He slowly awoke, opening his eyes to find himself lying on the sea surface, with Tianyin Niangniang's face nearly covering half the sky.

He quickly stood up, feeling all his exhaustion and fatigue vanish. His vitality was full, his spirit refreshed, and his physical body seemed to possess endless strength. Both surprised and delighted, he stood on the sea and respectfully greeted Tianyin Niangniang, saying in a deep voice, "I, Qin Mu, a humble student of the Qin family, pay my respects to Tianyin Niangniang."

"Master, you are too modest," Tianyin Niangniang replied.

Tianyin Niangniang bent down, allowing him to jump into her palm. She smiled, "Master, you were able to reassemble my three souls, granting me the grace of rebirth. Tianyin is eternally grateful. Yintianzi has turned this place into a mess, but once I recover my physical body, I will set things right."

Seawater surged and poured into her body, and the earth flowed, restructuring her bones. Tianyin Niangniang's physical body appeared increasingly real, and her power was rapidly rising. She asked, "Master, what is your request?"

Qin Mu's face flushed slightly. He said, "Niangniang, please don't call me Master. I'm not even a deity; I merely did my best. I'm not worthy of such a grand title. My research into the three souls is not even as good as Granny Si's..."

"You are worthy," Tianyin Niangniang smiled. "The character 'Dà' (Great), meaning second only to Heaven, has one less stroke than the character for 'Heaven'. Your divine abilities and Daoist techniques are things even Heavenly Duke doesn't know. Are you still unworthy of being called 'Great'?"

Qin Mu felt deeply ashamed. After a moment of thought, he said, "I come from Yankang in the outside world. May I ask if Yankang can form an alliance with Niangniang?"

Tianyin Niangniang smiled, "That is as it should be."

Qin Mu sighed in relief. "Mingdu has established a stronghold here, controlling the black sand and disturbing the human world. Is Niangniang able to control the flow of the black sand?"

Tianyin Niangniang shook her head. "I have only just been resurrected and cannot yet control the entire Tianyin Realm. For now, I am powerless to control the soul black sand here."

Her gaze became somewhat stern. "Ghosts were crushed into the finest particulate state, becoming black sand. But black sand is still ghosts; their essence hasn't changed. Do you know what this means?"

The corner of Qin Mu's eye twitched. Countless ghosts had been pulverized and mixed together. In such a situation, they would form an incredibly vast soul entity!

The entire Tianyin Realm was shrouded in darkness, which meant that the Tianyin Realm itself was an incredibly vast starved ghost!

"We are all inside the belly of this starved ghost," Tianyin Niangniang said. "This is Yintianzi's doing. Now that I have resurrected, Yintianzi will soon know of it, and this colossal starved ghost that is the Tianyin Realm will awaken, attack me, and try to kill me again. However, he won't succeed this time. I will fight him once more and let him know that the Yin of Heaven is not a place he can set foot in!"