218: Fifth Incarnation: Heavenly Physician (10)

Mu Qingying's whole body stiffened abruptly, as if doused by cold water, and she instantly jolted awake from her chaotic thoughts!

She looked up sharply, her cold eyes erupting with unprecedented vigilance and severity. The meager Qi of her 3rd Layer of Qi Condensation subconsciously gathered around her as she shouted sternly:

"Who is it?! Sneaking around, come out!"

Her gaze was like lightning as she quickly scanned the entire courtyard. The bamboo fence, stone table, gray tiles, spirit plants... everything was normal, with no strange aura or figure to be found.

But this only made her more alarmed!

To be able to sneak into the Jingxin Garden without a sound, and perhaps even peek into her thoughts, the newcomer's cultivation must be far beyond her imagination!

"Hehe... little girl, your vigilance is not bad."

Just as Mu Qingying's body tensed up, ready to crush the life-saving jade talisman her father had given her, that elegant female voice sounded again, carrying a trace of playful amusement.

Immediately after, in Mu Qingying's incredulous gaze, the space not far in front of her rippled gently like water.

A hazy, illusory, yet clearly outlined female figure slowly condensed and appeared, turning from faint to solid.

It was a female phantom wearing a moonlit fairy dress. Her figure was graceful, and her appearance was hidden in a hazy halo, making it unclear. But just from that fleeting glimpse of her silhouette and temperament, one knew she must be peerlessly beautiful.

She was not a physical entity, but a Soul body. Her whole body exuded an ancient and mysterious aura. Although illusory, it possessed an indescribable elegance and majesty, as if she were an existence who had long held a high position.

The Soul body woman floated in the air, smiling as she looked at the battle-ready Mu Qingying. Her gaze held a bit of scrutiny, a bit of curiosity, and a trace of... unfathomable depth.

"You... who are you?! Why are you here?"

Mu Qingying suppressed the horror in her heart, staring fixedly at this suddenly appearing Soul body, her voice trembling slightly from nervousness.

She could feel that this Soul body had no malice, but its very existence brought her immense pressure.

"Me?" The Soul body woman chuckled, her voice ethereal and pleasant. "Who I am is not important for now. What is important is... little girl, it seems you have taken a fancy to that little guy named Su Yuan from just now?"

The teasing tone in her words made Mu Qingying's cheeks heat up imperceptibly, but it was immediately replaced by deeper vigilance: "This has nothing to do with you, Senior! What exactly are you intending to do?"

The Soul body woman chuckled, her voice ethereal and pleasant, carrying a bit of playful insight into the world: "Hehe... little girl, do you know what kind of person that Su Family boy who just left is?"

Her illusory figure floated around to the stone table, her gaze seeming to pierce through the Void Realm, looking toward the direction where Xu Yuan had left, her tone carrying a rare trace of admiration:

"Innate Dao Body, twelve Foundation Establishment, Perfect Dao Foundation... such talent, let alone in this world at present, even in the ancient times when the world was complete and Prodigies were numerous, he could be considered one in a million!"

Her words were like a heavy hammer, striking Mu Qingying's heart word by word. A flash of dimness and self-abasement involuntarily crossed Mu Qingying's eyes.

The Soul body woman took in all her changes in expression, but the conversation suddenly turned, and an inscrutable smile appeared on her illusory face:

"However... little girl, why must you belittle yourself?"

Mu Qingying looked up abruptly, looking at her in confusion.

The Soul body woman floated closer, her illusory gaze burning as she stared at Mu Qingying, her voice carrying a strange magical power: "Do you know, you are not a mediocre person, and what you are encountering is not a desperate situation, but a... massive opportunity!"

"Opportunity?" Mu Qingying frowned, full of doubts.

"Correct!" The Soul body woman said with certainty. "What you carry is not some stubborn disease or curse, but the rare-in-eternity Dark Lunar Radiant Sacred Body!"

"Dark Lunar Radiant Sacred Body?" Mu Qingying repeated softly, this strange term shaking her Soul.

"This Saint Physique is the ultimate embodiment of the Dao of extreme Yin and extreme cold. It is born with an affinity for the power of the Taiyin stars and the Laws of the Netherworld, making it an excellent Physique for cultivating supreme Yin-attribute Cultivation Techniques!" The Soul body woman explained, her tone carrying a trace of reminiscence and pride. "And the reason I was able to wake up at this moment and appear to see you is precisely because I am... of the same Origin as you!"

"Same Origin?"

"Correct!" The Soul body woman's figure condensed slightly, revealing an ancient and vicissitudinous aura. "I... am also of the Taiyin Youying Physique! I am the Saintess of the ancient Moon God Palace. You may call me Yue Ji. Due to Destiny, a wisp of my remnant Soul attached itself to a piece of Taiyin Soul Jade, remaining silent for ten thousand years."

"It was not until I sensed the fluctuation of the same Origin Saint Physique aura within your body, especially the pure Taiyin Origin power dissipated when your cultivation was lost, that I was able to gradually absorb it and recover, only being able to manifest today."

Mu Qingying was completely shocked!

Saintess of the ancient Moon God Palace?

A special Physique with the same Origin as her own?

Her own cultivation loss was actually nourishing this ancient remnant Soul?

Yue Ji looked at Mu Qingying's shocked expression, smiled slightly, and threw out the most tempting bargaining chip: "Little girl, you carry a peerless Saint Physique, yet it is covered in dust here, a pearl cast in darkness. Although that Su Yuan has extraordinary talent, if you meet a wise teacher and stimulate the potential of your Saint Physique, your future achievements may not necessarily be below his! Even... perhaps even greater!"

She stretched out her illusory hand, pointing at Mu Qingying, her tone full of temptation and dominance: "I am willing to take you as my Personal Disciple across generations, pass on to you the supreme Taiyin secret techniques, and help you completely awaken your Saint Physique! By then, any Genius or Prodigy, before your Dark Lunar Radiant Sacred Body reaches Major Achievement, will be like fireflies compared to the bright moon!"

"By then, you will at least be able to attain a Fruit Position!"

Yue Ji's voice was like a demonic sound piercing the ears, carrying an irresistible magical power, impacting Mu Qingying's Soul.

However, just as her mind swayed and she was about to blurt out her agreement, a flash of inspiration suddenly crossed Mu Qingying's mind. She quickly calmed down, her cold eyes regaining their sharpness and clarity. She stared fixedly at the illusory Yue Ji in front of her, and with a voice carrying a trace of imperceptible trembling, she asked with exceptional clarity:

"Senior... you said that you were able to gradually recover because you sensed the same Origin Saint Physique aura within my body, especially the Taiyin Origin power that dissipated when my cultivation was lost..."

She took a deep breath and asked the most critical question: "Doesn't that mean... my cultivation mysteriously dropping and my spiritual power constantly dissipating over these years was actually, unknowingly, nourishing your remnant Soul's recovery, Senior?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the air in the small courtyard seemed to freeze.

The seductive smile on Yue Ji's face paused slightly, and a trace of surprise flashed in her illusory eyes. She seemed not to have expected Mu Qingying to be able to grasp the core of the problem so quickly in the face of such huge temptation, and to question her so directly.

She did not deny it, nor was she angry. Instead, she chuckled, the laughter carrying a bit of admiration, and also a bit of frank indifference.

"Little girl, your mind is quite sharp." Yue Ji nodded, admitting with a flat tone, "Correct. There are indeed two reasons for your cultivation loss. First, the Dark Lunar Radiant Sacred Body is Awakening, instinctively devouring spiritual power to protect itself and accumulate energy; this is 'internal consumption.' Second... it is that part of the pure Taiyin Origin you dissipated was subconsciously absorbed by my remnant Soul to maintain my Soul Power from dissipating and to gradually recover; this is 'external supply.'"

She looked at Mu Qingying's face, which had suddenly turned pale, and continued frankly: "If not for the continuous and pure Taiyin Origin nourishment you provided over these years, this wisp of my remnant Soul, which has been silent for ten thousand years, would likely still be sleeping in the Soul Jade, or perhaps might have already completely dissipated."

"From this point of view... I do owe you a piece of Karma, a not-so-small... 'favor'."