The two great powers of Jing You Mountain and Cold Spring Palace stood guard outside Purple Moon Mountain for an entire day, but they saw no sign of Tian Qi. Meanwhile, all the valuable treasures they had brought as offerings were swiftly collected by Zi Han, the Spirit of Purple Moon Mountain.
Zi Han relayed Tian Qi’s command: "The True God is in seclusion for cultivation; no one is to enter Purple Moon Mountain without urgent cause. Matters of importance in the demon realm will follow the decree left by Demon Emperor Hong Yi."
This meant that the position of demon emperor would still be decided ten years later through combat at the Hall of Heavy Purple. Both Chang Mei and Zhen Yu pondered why a True God of Tian Qi’s rank would need to enter seclusion for cultivation, but they were nonetheless relieved that Tian Qi would not interfere in the contest for the throne. With lighter hearts, they left Purple Moon Mountain.
Inside the main hall of Purple Moon Mountain, the Tower of Soul Repose stood a half-zhang tall, its emerald flames burning brightly within. Tian Qi held a small wisp of soul in his palm, standing quietly beneath the tower. Zi Han, still in his young dragon form, struggled as he dragged in a massive piece of timber, each breath a loud, labored "huff." He looked as hardworking as any dedicated laborer.
Tian Qi glanced at him and let out a soft snort.
Zi Han’s legs immediately felt lighter as he hurried forward, offering the ancient divine wood with outstretched hands and a flattering grin. “Divine Lord, I brought you the ten-thousand-year-old divine wood you requested!”
Without a word of praise, Tian Qi took it from him. The little fat dragon’s face fell, but he hesitantly leaned closer, his eyes wide with curiosity. “Divine Lord, are you planning to use this divine wood to forge a body for Lady Yue Mi?”
Tian Qi shot him a look and replied calmly, “Her divine form cannot be made with mere divine wood.”
Zi Han’s eyes widened in surprise, an uneasy feeling creeping into his heart. Judging by Tian Qi’s words, it seemed he intended to use his own powers as a demon god to forge Yue Mi’s divine form. For even a True God, forging the body of another deity with divine power would require half of their life source and strength. Zi Han eyed Tian Qi nervously, holding his tongue.
“Then… this divine wood is for…?”
“When I begin the process of forging Yue Mi’s divine body, I’ll have to fully close my senses. Until her body is complete, the soul fire in the Tower of Soul Repose must not go out. This ten-thousand-year-old divine wood will carry half of my divine power, serving as a guardian for the Purple Moon Hall.”
Zi Han’s face scrunched up in frustration. He protested urgently, “With me here in the Purple Moon Hall, who would dare to break in and disrupt your work for Lady Yue Mi?”
Tian Qi cast him a casual glance. “If I recall, don’t you have a habit of leaving on the first and fifteenth of every month to go on little ‘excursions’ across the realms?”
Dragons loved gold and silver, and Zi Han, being an ancient dragon, felt deeply uncomfortable if his lair didn’t have new treasures every ten days or so.
Zi Han was instantly silenced, his guilty eyes blinking. On second thought, the divine wood infused with Tian Qi’s power would indeed protect Purple Moon Mountain during his occasional escapades.
“Divine Lord, once your senses close, it will likely be thousands of years before you’re finished, yes?”
“Three years is enough.” Tian Qi’s tone was light. With a wave of his hand, the divine wood split into eight pieces, arranged around the Tower of Soul Repose to form a protective formation.
Three years! Zi Han gasped, his small dragon form fading as he assumed his adolescent appearance, blocking Tian Qi’s path to the tower. “Divine Lord! This cannot be!”
Tian Qi’s gaze sharpened, a hint of warning in his purple eyes.
The words died on Zi Han’s lips as he shrank back, disheartened, retreating behind Tian Qi.
Forging a divine body could easily take thousands of years, yet Tian Qi intended to complete it in three. This meant he would enter the Tower of Soul Repose himself, offering half of his life source and divine power in the intense flames within.
Tian Qi raised his hand, letting his divine energy flow into the tower. The previously quiet soul fire surged several meters high, rich with spiritual energy. Purple divine power seeped from his brow, flying toward the eight divine wood pieces surrounding the tower. With everything prepared, he lifted Yue Mi’s calm wisp of spirit, stepping toward the entrance.
“Divine Lord!” Zi Han’s voice called out, unable to hold back any longer as Tian Qi reached the threshold.
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