Lila Swallowfeather felt a chill in her heart. She had just forgotten about the Heavenly-Emperor Blessing behind her head, and nearly blurted out her true feelings.
Although the Heavenly Emperor's two souls should be eager to return to the Heavenly Court and fuse with the soul he left there, too busy to monitor her, there was always a chance. If her true thoughts were overheard by the ancient Heavenly Emperor, even she would be in danger.
Quinn withdrew his finger. Back when he cracked the various ancient-god blessings behind Venerable Guide's head, he had racked his brains and gathered all the clever minds in Everpeace's capital to break the ancient-god blessing, so he was no stranger to the Heavenly-Emperor Blessing.
Moreover, the Grand Archive Tower also contained the Heavenly Emperor's Dao runes, so his understanding of the Heavenly-Emperor Blessing had reached an even higher level.
He hadn't erased the Heavenly-Emperor Blessing behind Lila Swallowfeather's head—he'd simply polluted it, so the Heavenly Emperor couldn't listen in through her, at least for now.
This was similar to how the Woodcutter had cracked the Earth-Mother Blessing behind Quinn's head in Everpeace's capital—both were clever tricks.
"Thank you."
Lila Swallowfeather smiled. "Sometimes you're incredibly gentle, and sometimes you're just infuriating."
Quinn smiled faintly, taking it as a compliment.
Lila continued, "I've realized that my master is truly heartless. Whatever 'bond' exists between master and disciple probably means nothing to him. That's why I spoke up for you in the Umbral World. Helping you was really helping myself."
Quinn was silent for a moment before asking, "Then... your teacher-mother?"
Lila Swallowfeather's body trembled. After a moment, she said, "Teacher-mother's palace is just ahead."
Annie folded her wings and landed. Lila leapt from her back and asked, "Lord Shepherd, will you enter with me?"
Quinn hesitated, then nodded, telling Dragon-Qilin and Annie to stay here.
This concerned the only hope for Everpeace's survival—he had to witness it himself to ensure nothing went wrong!
The two of them walked toward the new Earth Mother Primordial Lady’s palace—a structure recently completed, guarded by many powerful demigod clans, all followers newly won over by the new Earth Mother.
The breaking of the Origin World's seal this time had caused enormous upheaval.
The true Earth Mother Primordial Lady had never dared show herself; the Heaven Alliance had hunted her down until only a single earth-soul remained, while her physical body—Yuanmu—had been seized and cultivated into synchrony with the new Earth Mother.
Without her own body, the true Earth Mother Primordial Lady could not command the demigods as the new Earth Mother could. Though some loyal followers remained, in those days she could never rival the new Earth Mother's momentum.
Inside the palace, the demigods glanced at Lila and Quinn with strange looks, but asked nothing.
When they reached the Earth Mother’s hall, Lila knelt before the new Earth Mother and said, "Teacher-mother."
The new Earth Mother looked identical to the original, but lacked that overwhelming, domineering aura—instead, she was gentle and warm. She quickly said, "Get up! Why are you so formal with me? You have rules before your master, but not with me."
She glanced at Quinn, surprise flickering across her face, and laughed. "Lord Shepherd? Why are you two together? Last time you said you suffered a loss at his hands and wanted to get even."
Quinn bowed and said, "Quinn Shepherd, greeting Earth Mother Primordial Lady."
The new Earth Mother laughed. "No need for that! You are Lord Shepherd, your status is high—no need to be so formal. You tricked my husband and dumped his Heavenly-Emperor Blessing onto a black boar. He was furious and cursed you for ages."
She couldn't help but laugh aloud. Seeing Lila still kneeling, she said, "Lila, get up! If Lord Shepherd sees you being so solemn, he'll think I've been mistreating you."
Lila kept her head bowed, holding the mirror bestowed by the Heavenly Emperor in both hands. "Master has returned to the Heavenly Court. He said this treasure is for you."
"He has returned?"
The new Earth Mother accepted the mirror, smiling. "Did Lord Shepherd help him reforge his soul? It seems you and my husband have resolved your grudge. That is good..."
Her gaze settled on the mirror and could not be drawn away.