Chapter 784: Earth Mother's Blessing

Qin Mu's heart hammered wildly, like a giant warrior frantically beating a war drum. His blood and qi also surged violently, making his entire body feel vigorous and resounding like a crashing tide.

"Mother Earth, you may not know this, but this spell requires me to forcefully boost my blood and qi to achieve its optimal power!"

Qin Mu's body swelled, growing taller and larger, his aura becoming increasingly potent. He said in a deep voice, "This spell takes an enormous toll on me. When I resurrected Heavenly Yin Empress, I nearly worked myself to death. Afterward, feeling a bit guilty, she compensated me with many treasures."

The woman in the light understood, smiling, "Don't worry, I won't be as stingy as Heavenly Yin Empress. How much did she give you? I'll give you ten times that amount."

Qin Mu was overjoyed and began to fully cast the Soul-Guiding spell, though he secretly groaned inwardly.

He had originally believed that Mother Earth Yuanjun died at the hands of the extraterrestrial Celestial Heavens. In that case, resurrecting her would be straightforward; it would provide an additional adversary for the Celestial Heavens, allowing Eternal Peace to ally with Mother Earth, which would be highly beneficial for Eternal Peace's current situation.

However, Mother Earth Yuanjun had actually died at the hands of the Celestial Alliance!

The Celestial Alliance in question was, of course, not the same as Eternal Peace's Celestial Alliance.

It was the one Qin Mu himself founded a million years ago, in the early years of the Dragon Han era!

When Qin Mu returned to the present, he had mentioned founding the Celestial Alliance to Ancestral God Ling. At that time, three individuals had joined: Qin Mu, Emperor Overlord, and Ancestral God Ling.

Qin Mu, however, had no idea how the Celestial Alliance developed afterward.

Now, it seemed the Celestial Alliance had survived the Dragon Han era, escaped destruction by the extraterrestrial Celestial Heavens in subsequent eras, and even grown stronger. By the High Emperor Era, the Celestial Alliance had even killed Mother Earth Yuanjun!

He didn't know why the Celestial Alliance had killed Mother Earth Yuanjun, nor was he clear about the grievances involved. What impact would resurrecting Mother Earth Yuanjun have on the Celestial Alliance?

Was the current Celestial Alliance still the one he had founded all those years ago?

Had the Celestial Alliance become corrupted over a million years? Did it still preserve his original intention when he founded it?

His initial vision for founding the Celestial Alliance was to gather talented and benevolent individuals from the lower races of the Dragon Han era to secure the right to survival for humans and other such races.

However, even with good intentions, it was easy to forget one's original aspirations and become corrupted once power was acquired.

If the Celestial Alliance hadn't become corrupted, then Mother Earth Yuanjun's death would have been justified. Qin Mu resurrecting Mother Earth would then render the Alliance's efforts futile and create significant difficulties for their strategies.

He was now in a dilemma.

If he didn't resurrect Mother Earth, she would undoubtedly kill him. If he did, however, many unpredictable variables would arise.

The Soul-Guiding divine ability drew in Mother Earth Yuanjun's fragmented soul particles, like the finest black sand, streaming from all corners of the Primordial Realm, pouring into the underground palace and flowing into the light.

The woman in the light looked excited, the radiant sea of light surging around her. She had retained her Earth Soul (爽灵), while her Heavenly Soul (胎光) and Divine Soul (幽精) were shattered.

Innate divinities possess only three souls and no seven corporeal souls (七魄), which are unique to acquired beings and demigods.

The Heavenly Soul, pure Yang, symbolizes Xuandu; the Divine Soul, complex Yin, symbolizes Youdu; and the Earth Soul, inheriting Yang and embracing Yin, symbolizes Yuandu.

Mother Earth Yuanjun's ability to retain her Earth Soul was primarily due to her identity.

As Mother Earth, a symbol of the Great Dao of Yuandu, destroying her Earth Soul would be exceedingly difficult.

Mother Earth Yuanjun's soul was many times more powerful than Heavenly Yin Empress's. The incoming black sand of soul particles surged like a mighty flood, a testament to her being an existence on par with Heavenly Duke and Earth Count.

Qin Mu's vital qi steamed, and his blood and qi surged even more intensely, like a vast ocean caught in a storm. Divine words from Xuandu and Youdu erupted from his mouth, various ancient languages imbued with profound, lengthy meanings, like abstruse, convoluted poems of gods and devils. Listening to his Dao sounds with closed eyes invoked a sense of grotesque distortion, as if life was being forged at the dawn of creation and gods and devils danced wildly in a boiling, primordial world.

"As expected of the Grand Master!"

Mother Earth Yuanjun felt her fragmented souls becoming more complete. Soul particles scattered throughout the world were drawn in. Qin Mu only needed to reshape her Heavenly Soul and Divine Soul; once that was done, her three souls would be whole, and she could resurrect herself using her immense life force!

Qin Mu chanted ceaselessly. Suddenly, faint cracking sounds could be heard.

The woman in the light, Imperial Preceptor, and Gongsun Yan quickly looked over. They saw Qin Mu's skin constantly bursting open, blood ceaselessly flowing out, only to be instantly vaporized by the raging vital qi, transforming into swirling mists of blood around him!

All three were startled. Qin Mu's divine ability indeed consumed an immense amount of energy, so much that his physical body could no longer endure it!

"I'm too powerful; resurrecting me is countless times harder than resurrecting Heavenly Yin Empress."

The woman in the light felt a tremor of anxiety. "At this intensity, I wonder how much longer he can last, and if he can reshape my two souls..."

Qin Mu's condition was extremely dire and rapidly worsening. Not only was his skin riddled with countless holes as if struck by sand, constantly spurting blood that sizzled as it evaporated, but blood also streamed from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. From his nostrils, in particular, two streams of blood shot out with each heartbeat, sometimes near, sometimes far, capable of spraying several yards away.

Imperial Preceptor frantically said, "Brother, stop! You'll bleed dry if you keep this up!"

Qin Mu paid no attention, concentrating solely on casting the spell.

Gongsun Yan, unable to bear it, spoke loudly, "Mother Earth, his cultivation is insufficient. He should stop and rest."

The woman in the light, visibly tense, said, "Wait a little longer, just a little longer. He is a divine arts practitioner, after all, with powerful cultivation, abundant blood, and vigorous qi and blood; he can still endure..."

Gongsun Yan hesitated, then stopped speaking, pacing anxiously.

Qin Mu had already begun to manipulate the Gate of Heaven's Mandate, siphoning power from Heavenly Duke to prepare to reshape the Heavenly Soul. A beam of celestial light shone from the Gate of Heaven's Mandate. Suddenly, Qin Mu's body stiffened, and he fell backward with a thud, collapsing rigidly to the ground, unconscious!

Imperial Preceptor instantly panicked and rushed over. He saw blood still spurting from Qin Mu's nostrils, though the jets grew shorter and shorter. After struggling to produce two small fountains, the bleeding finally stopped.

Imperial Preceptor hastily checked for Qin Mu's breath. Suddenly, two small fountains of blood shot out from Qin Mu's nostrils again, startling him. Then, he exclaimed with joy, "My brother is still breathing!"

Gongsun Yan also hurried forward and checked Qin Mu's heartbeat. She found it faint, his qi and blood severely depleted, his life hanging by a thread — extremely perilous.

Gongsun Yan gritted her teeth. The small green sprout from the halo behind her head flew out and landed on Qin Mu's glabella. Light swirled, continuously entering Qin Mu's body, prolonging his life.

After a moment, Qin Mu's breathing gradually stabilized, but the small green sprout appeared significantly wilted, its two remaining leaves folded together and slightly shrunken.

Gongsun Yan's face was somewhat pale. She withdrew the small green sprout and placed it back in the halo for nurturing.

Qin Mu's spell casting immediately ceased. The Gate of Heaven's Mandate dissipated, Heavenly Duke's power vanished, and the celestial light no longer shone.

The woman in the light quickly restrained her soul particles. She felt her Heavenly Soul had recovered somewhat, but it was far from complete. She secretly lamented the missed opportunity.

Qin Mu slowly regained consciousness and stood up with Imperial Preceptor's support. He coughed up blood from his throat and said weakly, "I'm fine, I'm perfectly well. I can still continue casting the spell..."

"Grand Master, there's no need to rush."

The woman in the light said gently, "You cast the spell too fiercely just now, exceeding your physical limits. Your qi and blood are now depleted. If you continue casting, you will die from exhaustion. If you die of exhaustion, where would I find another Grand Master capable of resurrecting me? I can afford to wait, so Grand Master, please rest and recover."

She smiled, "I observe that Grand Master's cultivation has now reached the peak of the Celestial-Human realm. One more step and you'll open Youdu, entering the Life and Death realm. I presume that once Grand Master reaches the Life and Death realm, you'll be able to cast the spell calmly and reshape my two souls."

Qin Mu suddenly coughed violently, gasping for breath, and said with a mournful expression, "This junior is naturally dull-witted. It's unclear when I'll ever cultivate to the Life and Death realm. And now I'm severely depleted; I fear I might disappoint Mother Earth's expectations..."

The woman in the light chuckled, "As Mother Earth, and Yuandu being the source of life, your depletion of qi and blood is a minor matter to me. Since you are reshaping my two souls, I cannot be stingy with your benefits."

From the light, a shriveled fruit flew out and stopped before Qin Mu.

The fruit resembled a sun-dried, shriveled orange, completely devoid of moisture.

The woman in the light explained, "This is a fruit from the divine tree behind me. Although withered, the power it contains is like a vast ocean. Keep it for now, and do not attempt to eat it directly. Gradually dissolve it with your vital qi; it will help you advance your cultivation realm more quickly and open your Life and Death divine treasure. The energy within the fruit is too strong for you to bear if consumed directly."

Qin Mu swayed unsteadily, struggling to bow in thanks.

The woman in the light waved her hand. "I only bestow treasures upon you because you are healing me. If you were useless to me, I wouldn't even look at you. Grand Master, go and rest first. When you have cultivated your Life and Death divine treasure, you may resume the spell."

From the light, an arc of radiance flew out, landing behind Qin Mu's head and forming a halo, within which the withered fruit now rested.

"I have previously blessed several of the Seven Heavenly Venerates, but never you. This time, I bestow a blessing upon you, granting you endless fortune, eternal youth, and immortality."

The woman in the light smiled, "With my blessing, it will be easier for you to refine this fruit."

Qin Mu felt streams of pure energy pouring into his divine treasures from the halo behind his head, causing his qi and blood to slowly recover. He quickly expressed his thanks.

"Yan'er, escort the Grand Master to rest. Do not neglect my guest."

Gongsun Yan affirmed, and together with Imperial Preceptor, helped Qin Mu walk out of the palace. The palace was so vast that they walked for a long time before finally exiting the underground complex.

Outside the palace, the Water Qilin immediately came forward, startled by Qin Mu's blood-stained appearance. Imperial Preceptor hastily asked, "Ah Shui, where's Fatty Dragon?"

Not without a hint of jealousy, the Water Qilin replied, "He's off cavorting with those other Qilins and dragons."

Qin Mu said weakly, "I'm too weak to call him now. Can one of you fetch him?"

Just as the Water Qilin was about to loudly summon the Dragon Qilin, Gongsun Yan quickly interjected, "Be careful not to disturb the High Emperors in those coffins. Let's just walk over and call him."

Imperial Preceptor supported Qin Mu, helping him onto the Water Qilin's back. The Water Qilin secretly thought, "Why does Dragon Qilin's master look like he's been drained countless times? How did he become so weak?"

As they walked away, the phoenix suddenly transformed into a woman with phoenix-like eyes and followed behind them.

Qin Mu glanced back, asking weakly, "Sister, why are you following us?"

The phoenix, expressionless, replied, "Mother Earth commanded me to ensure your safety."

Qin Mu thanked her and said, "Sister, do you eat spirit pills? Once I recover, I'll refine some for you."

The phoenix's eyes lit up, and she smiled, "You're much more sensible than this water-buffalo."

The Water Qilin grunted sullenly, secretly grumbling that Imperial Preceptor couldn't refine pills.

The phoenix casually remarked, "Are you planning to leave?"

Qin Mu replied cautiously, "This underground palace has too much Yin energy, with so many imperial corpses here. I'm too weak right now and need to recover outside."

The phoenix said, "You can leave, but don't go far."

Qin Mu's mind began to race. He thought, "I wonder what cultivation realm this Sister Phoenix has reached. If her cultivation is too high and I can't poison her, I'll be in trouble... How can I get out of here..."

He coughed repeatedly, then suddenly asked, "Many gods and devils have arrived outside, and some are even impersonating Mother Earth Yuanjun. How is your cultivation, Sister Phoenix? Can you deal with those evildoers?"

The phoenix replied, "I have reached the Numinous Sky realm; I don't fear those scoundrels. However, Mother Earth said to let them cause trouble for now, and she will settle accounts with each of them after she is resurrected!"

Qin Mu's face fell. "Her cultivation is so high, I probably can't poison her. If Grandfather Apothecary were here, that would be great..."