Chapter 794 — The Earth Mother Bestows Her Grace

Yu Tianzun panicked at once and rushed over, and saw that Shen Mu's nostrils still spurted blood, though the spouting columns of blood grew shorter and shorter; after struggling out two little fountains, they finally stopped.

Yu Tianzun hastily tested Shen Mu's breath. Suddenly Shen Mu's nostrils spurted two more little fountains, giving him a fright; then he rejoiced and said, "My brother still breathes!"

Gongsun Yan too rushed forward and tested Shen Mu's heartbeat, and felt that his heart beat faintly, his qi and blood both depleted, his life hanging by the barest thread — exceedingly perilous.

Gongsun Yan gritted her teeth; the little green sprout in the halo behind her head flew out and landed on Shen Mu's brow. Radiance flowed, pouring unceasingly into Shen Mu's body, prolonging his life.

After a moment, Shen Mu's breathing gradually returned to steadiness, while the little green sprout looked much more wilted, its two remaining leaves pressed together, shrunk somewhat.

Gongsun Yan's face was rather pale. She drew the little green sprout back and set it again in the halo to nourish.

Shen Mu's casting broke off at once, the Gate of Heaven-Bearing dispersed, and the Heaven Lord's power vanished as well; the heavenly light shone no more.

The woman in the light hastily bound her own soul motes, and felt that her Heaven Soul had recovered somewhat, but was still far from whole. She thought to herself with regret, what a pity.

Shen Mu slowly came to; supported by Yu Tianzun, he rose to his feet, coughed out the blood in his throat, and said in a voice as faint as gossamer, "I am fine, I am very well. I can still continue casting..."

"The Great Mage need not be overhasty."

The woman in the light said softly, "Your casting just now was too fierce, beyond the limits of your fleshly body. Now both qi and blood are spent; cast again and you will die of qi-and-blood depletion. If you work yourself to death, where would this palace find another Great Mage able to resurrect me? This palace can afford to wait. The Great Mage may set his mind at ease and heal."

She said with a smile, "I observe that the Great Mage's cultivation has now reached the peak of the Heaven-Man realm; one step further and you open the Dark Capital and enter the Life-and-Death realm. I imagine that once the Great Mage reaches the Life-and-Death realm, he can cast at leisure and reshape my two souls for me."

Shen Mu suddenly coughed violently, gasping, and said with sorrow, "This junior is dull by nature; who knows how many years it would take to cultivate to the Life-and-Death realm. And now I am so depleted, I fear I will fail the Earth Mother's expectations..."

The woman in the light said with a smile, "This palace is the Earth Mother, and the Origin Capital is the fount of life. Your depletion of qi and blood is a small thing to this palace. Since you reshape my two souls, this palace cannot stint you your due."

Within the radiance, a fruit, already shriveled, flew out and came before Shen Mu.

It resembled a dried orange, without moisture, wrinkled.

The woman in the light said, "This is a fruit borne by the divine tree behind me. Though withered, the power stored within it is vast as an ocean. Keep it for now. Do not attempt to eat it; slowly dissolve it with your own primal qi, and it can help you advance your cultivation realm faster and open the Life-and-Death divine treasury. The energy in the fruit is too strong; swallow it directly and you cannot withstand it."

Shen Mu's body swayed; he struggled to bow in thanks.

The woman in the light waved a hand and said, "You heal me, and so I bestow treasures on you. If you were of no use to me, I would not give you a straight look. Great Mage, go down and rest. When you have cultivated the Life-and-Death divine treasury, come cast again."

Within the radiance, an arc of light flew over and landed behind Shen Mu's head, becoming a halo, and the dried fruit settled into the halo.

"This palace once bestowed blessings upon several of the Seven Heavenly Venerables, but has not yet blessed you. This time I bless you, and grant you unending fortune, neither aging nor dying."

The woman in the light said with a smile, "With this palace's blessing, refining this fruit will be easier as well."

Shen Mu felt streams of pure energy pour into his divine treasury from the halo behind his head, and his qi and blood began slowly to recover. He hastily gave thanks.

"Yan'er, escort the Great Mage down to rest. Do not stint this palace's guest."

Gongsun Yan assented, and together with Yu Tianzun supported Shen Mu toward the outside of the palace. This palace was too vast; they walked a long while before they emerged from the underground palace.

Once outside, the Water Qilin hurried up to meet them. Seeing Shen Mu covered in bloodstains, it could not help but be startled. Yu Tianzun hastily asked, "A-Shui, where is Dragon Fatty?"

The Water Qilin, not without jealousy, said, "Off mingling with those qilin and dragons."

Shen Mu said weakly, "I am too weak now to call him. Which of you will go fetch him?"

The Water Qilin was about to call out for the Dragon Qilin in a loud voice when Gongsun Yan hastily said, "Careful — you'll startle the Shanghuang in those coffins. Let us walk over and call him."

Yu Tianzun, supporting Shen Mu, carried him onto the Water Qilin's back. The Water Qilin thought to itself, "How is the Dragon Qilin's master like one who has been plundered and drained a thousand times over? How has he grown so weak?"

They walked outward, and suddenly that phoenix transformed into a woman with phoenix eyes and followed behind them.

Shen Mu glanced at her and said, feeble beyond measure, "Elder sister, why do you follow us?"

The phoenix said without expression, "The Earth Mother commanded me to safeguard your peace."

Shen Mu gave thanks and said, "Elder sister, do you eat spirit pills? When I am well, I will refine some spirit pills for you."

The phoenix's eyes brightened, and she said with a smile, "You are far more sensible than this watery goods."

The Water Qilin gave a muffled snort and inwardly blamed Yu Tianzun for not knowing how to refine pills.

The phoenix said, seemingly by chance and yet not, "You mean to go out?"

Shen Mu said cautiously, "This underground palace is too heavy with yin qi, with so many imperial corpses resting here. I am too weak now and need to go outside to recuperate."

The phoenix said, "Going out is fine. Do not go far."

Shen Mu's mind began to turn. He thought, "I wonder what cultivation realm this Elder Sister Phoenix has reached. If her cultivation is too high and the poison cannot kill her, then I am finished... How am I to get away from here..."

He coughed again and again, and suddenly asked, "Many gods and demons have come from outside, and some even impersonate the Earth Mother Primordial Goddess. How is Elder Sister Phoenix's cultivation? Are you a match for those villains?"

The phoenix said, "I have already reached the Lingxiao realm; I do not fear those scum. But the Earth Mother said to let those fellows make their mischief for now, and once she revives, to settle accounts with them one by one!"

Shen Mu's face fell. "With cultivation so high, I fear the poison cannot kill her. If only Grandpa Pill Master were here, that would be good..."