Chapter 793 — The Earth Mother Venerable God

"Could these be the roots of the underground world? And that heart is..."

His heart stirred slightly. The heart within the light was immense, as though hidden in a vast space — seemingly within the hall, yet in truth impossibly far away.

"You must be Yu Tianzun. I sensed my blessing."

The woman swam before the heart, gazing at them through layer upon layer of light. Her ancient consciousness rippled faintly, yet when it reached the minds of Shen Mu and the others it became a sound like great bells and chimes: "When you opened the Primal Embryo Divine Treasury, I descended with the other ancient deities, and I too bestowed my blessing upon you. My blessing is still within your body; I would not mistake it. But why do you not know me, why do you not remember the past?"

Shen Mu said, "Earth Mother Yuanjun, his soul is incomplete. He has lost his memory."

"So that is it."

The woman in the light said sorrowfully, "When did Yu Tianzun die? Was it at that grand gathering at the Jade Pool a million years ago, struck down by treachery? I once heard, later, when the three Heavenly Courts stood side by side, that Yu Tianzun was still moving about in the world, so I went to look. I saw that Yu Tianzun — peerless in grace, and yet not the equal of the Yu Tianzun in my memory, and bearing no blessing from the gods. Even then I suspected that he was not the true Yu Tianzun."

Shen Mu said, "Yu Tianzun was indeed assassinated at the Jade Pool gathering."

"So it is as I thought," said the woman in the light. "Then how did you preserve his body until now, and remake a soul for him?"

Shen Mu's expression did not change. He smiled. "Why does Yuanjun say so? It was not I who preserved his body. The underworld couriers of Youdu summoned me, saying they wished me to revive a man, and only then did I act to bring Yu Tianzun back to life."

The woman watched him through the light. After a moment she smiled. "I had thought you were there too, at the Jade Pool gathering."

Shen Mu was taken aback, then laughed. "Yuanjun jests! The Jade Pool gathering was a million years ago. How could I have been there?"

The woman said, "At the Jade Pool gathering, when Yu Tianzun was murdered, I cast my consciousness over the whole of the Jade Pool and saw a certain man. Your bearing is somewhat like his, though your face is different; that is why I asked. Lady Tianyin has spoken of you to me. You should know why I have summoned you here."

Shen Mu said gravely, "Yuanjun must have seen Lady Tianyin return from death, and so summoned me to work the same spell for you, to bring you back to life."

The woman smiled. "Lady Tianyin could not praise you enough. She said you are a grand mage without peer in this world. That is why I called you here."

Shen Mu stepped forward and studied the woman in the light closely. After a while he shook his head. "Yuanjun, you have no body. I fear that even if I gather your three souls for you, you cannot be revived. Where is your body?"

The woman in the light said, "It was hacked away by those traitorous ministers and rebels. This sword in my heart is their doing as well. Fortunately they underestimated me, and did not know how terrifying my life force is, so that my earth soul hid itself in my heart aperture and escaped. But my other two souls were scattered by them. Rest assured: if you gather the other two souls for me, I have my own means to return to life."

Shen Mu let out a breath. "If it is only gathering two souls, then though it will be hard, I should be able to manage. But Yuanjun's cultivation is above Lady Tianyin's, and I do not know whether my present cultivation can accomplish it."

He removed the willow leaf from between his brows and slowly roused his magic power. Behind him a Gate that Bears the Heavens took shape. "Who were the traitorous ministers and rebels who killed Yuanjun? How did they possess such terrifying strength as to be able to murder a being like you?"

The woman in the light ground her teeth, hatred flooding the heavens, and said coldly, "The Heaven Alliance!"

Shen Mu's heart gave a violent spasm.

The woman in the light fixed her gaze like lightning upon him and said suspiciously, "Grand mage, why is it that when you heard the two words 'Heaven Alliance,' your blood and qi surged violently, and your heart beat several beats faster?"