’A World Tree, something Crossing the Yin and Yang Realms, a Supreme Dao Body...’

For the current Mo Qi, ten thousand years was a truly unimaginable length of time.

He would rather use it to recover from his current weakness than gamble on a fifty-percent chance.

Though his true body was safe Within the Pass, allowing him to wait out the three-month period of weakness without worry, who knew if some crisis would erupt in the Imperial City during that time.

If Jin Sanpang and the others ran into trouble, his External Incarnation alone might not be able to hold its own.

Mo Qi wasn’t one for last-minute preparations. He preferred to be ready for anything.

When the Pig Emperor heard the two words "World Tree," he was so shocked he nearly bit his tongue off, unable to even speak coherently.

"You... you, you, you, you’re going to cook... a future World Tree?"

Mo Qi shrugged. "It’s just a Five Elements Tree seedling. It’s not even guaranteed to become a World Tree, and I’d have to wait ten thousand years. That’s far too long."

The Pig Emperor was speechless. ’What’s ten thousand years?’

If news of the World Tree got out, and those terrifying figures found out about it...

Forget spending ten thousand years for a fifty-percent chance. Even if there was only a ten-percent chance that took a hundred thousand, or even a million years, they would gladly wait!

"Mo the kid, how have I never noticed how dense you are? A heaven-sent opportunity is sitting right in front of you, and you want to turn it into a meal! Even if you’re worried something might happen to your External Incarnation, you still have that Liu Ruyan girl, don’t you? She just said that old geezer Liu Hong is her grandfather!"

The Pig Emperor was so disappointed it was painful. He really wanted to crack open Mo Qi’s head and see if the only thing left inside was the word ’eat.’

Mo Qi rolled his eyes at the Pig Emperor. ’As a man, how can I stand back and let a woman shield me from the storm?’

’Is that something a man should do?’

"Pig Emperor, do you really think this is my great opportunity?" Mo Qi asked suddenly.

"Of course!"

"But if I make the Five Elements Tree seedling into Medicinal Cuisine, you’ll get a share of it."

The Pig Emperor froze.

’That’s right! How did I not think of that!’

"Huh? Great opportunity? What great opportunity? Who said anything about a great opportunity? It’s clearly a top-tier ingredient! Mo the kid, I support you! A Five Elements Tree is meant to be eaten!"

Mo Qi: "..."

Without another word, he focused all his energy on setting up the Teleportation Array, preparing to return to the Imperial City, cook the Five Elements Tree, and restore his power!

...

Deep beneath the Mountain and Sea Empire, in a sunless, uninhabited region, a dense aura of death and hostility filled the air.

An immense, magnificent altar stood here, towering tens of thousands of feet high.

A purple Crystal Coffin rested in the center of the altar, shrouded by a peculiar Energy that made it impossible to see what was inside.

Just then, a small, snow-white mouse appeared, carrying a pellet-shaped object in its mouth.

The little mouse gazed up at the towering altar, a look of longing and devotion in its eyes.

Then, it approached the altar and began to climb, one step at a time.

Its body was utterly miniscule compared to the altar before it.

After what seemed like an eternity, the little mouse finally reached the top of the altar.

It cautiously approached the Crystal Coffin, placed the pellet from its mouth before it, and then waited in silence.

After a long moment, a beam of purple light shot out from the Crystal Coffin, enveloped the pellet, and held it suspended in the air.

"Oh?"

It was a sound of surprise, filled with disbelief and a strange excitement.

"What is this power? It can actually stir the Vitality within Me! Though it’s incredibly weak, it’s enough for Me to break free from these bonds!"

Hearing the voice from within the coffin, the little mouse was overjoyed. It stood on its hind legs, dancing about and letting out a series of excited squeaks.

"Hahaha! How many years has it been? To shatter these shackles, to break free from these fetters, I gave up everything! Finally! I’m finally about to succeed!"

"Ah Bai, prepare to welcome My arrival!"

RUMBLE!

The altar trembled. A brilliant light erupted, illuminating the entire subterranean space as if it were broad daylight.

The purple Crystal Coffin slowly began to levitate. Waves of sinister and tyrannical power radiated from it, growing stronger and stronger until the very heavens and earth seemed to change color.

And yet, in the Mountain and Sea Empire directly above, everything remained as normal. Not even the most powerful Cultivators sensed anything amiss.

Instead, in the heartlands of the Martial Dao an immense distance from the Mountain and Sea Empire, a number of powerful figures wreathed in holy light awoke with a start.

’What’s been going on lately? It’s just one disturbance after another!’

Several immensely powerful Divine Thoughts linked together once more.

They had been stirred when Mo Qi struck the Dragon Vein Imperial Bell, and now, only a few days later, they had been startled awake again.

’This power feels so familiar... It seems an old acquaintance has awoken,’ said the eldest among them.

’An old acquaintance? Who could it be?’ the others wondered. If it were an old acquaintance, their Realm would be comparable to their own. Even upon awakening, they shouldn’t be able to cause such a massive disturbance.

The elder contemplated for a moment, and then his expression suddenly changed drastically.

’Could it be... one of the supreme beings who survived the Divine War?’

The others were aghast. The two words "Divine War" conjured terrifying images from the past.

These beings, who stood at the very pinnacle of the world, couldn’t help but shudder at the thought.

’That can’t be... Didn’t everyone who participated in the Divine War perish?’

The thought had barely faded when a ray of purple light descended from the heavens, forcing its way into their linked Divine Thoughts with absolute tyranny.

"Mmm~"

A woman’s voice echoed through their minds, as lazy and alluring as a contented stretch.

"My, the world outside has changed so much. Are you little ones in charge of the continent now?"

The voice was beautiful—as crisp and clear as a wind chime, with a distinctly girlish quality.

No one answered her. They were all shocked into silence by her appearance in their thoughts.

’To be able to forcibly connect to their Divine Thought exchange!’

’What kind of power was this?’

"Hmm? Why so quiet? Is it possible no one recognizes Me?"

After a moment of silence, the eldest one’s thought cried out in shock, "It’s you, Queen Mo Yan! But you... weren’t you already...?"

"Already what?" the woman’s voice giggled, as innocent as the girl next door.

But no one dared to take her lightly.

None of them could have ever imagined that this legendary figure was still alive!

With her return, the balance of power on the continent was likely about to change.

"Alright, I don’t have much time to waste on you all. I’m here to say three things."

"First, I have been reborn. I can’t be bothered to squabble over territory with you little ones, but My ancestral lands must be returned to Me."

"Second, seeing as My ancestral lands are occupied by you humans—and mostly mortals at that—I will not expel them. You may continue to govern them as you see fit. However, within a ten-billion-li radius of the ancestral lands, the use of any force at or above the Immortal Level is forbidden. I do not wish for My ancestral lands to be damaged."

"Third, this is not a negotiation. It is a declaration. I suggest you don’t provoke Me. Otherwise, you will be responsible for the consequences."

With that, the purple light dissipated and the woman’s voice vanished, as if she had never been there at all.

The great powers fell into a deathly silence.