The Netherworld Silkworm had now reversed its aging, taking the form of a bewitching, beautiful woman, no longer the eye-searing elderly appearance from before. But being scrutinized by those black jewel-like eyes still made Mu Nanzhi uncomfortable. She frowned and shrank behind Xu Qi’an.

Could it have discovered Nanzhi’s identity? That shouldn’t be possible. The bracelet from Daoist Jinlian can conceal presence, even spirit masters can’t see through it… Xu Qi’an frowned, his grip tightening slightly on the Nation-Stabilizing Sword.

Though they had obtained the Netherworld Silk, if not necessary, he didn’t want to fight a Supernatural realm strange beast.

But he also knew that the Flower Goddess’s spirit essence would be extremely tempting to those who cultivated the physical body.

Just as he was about to control the Pagoda of Buddha to collect Mu Nanzhi and the little white fox, he suddenly saw the Netherworld Silkworm’s massive body tremble. In its black jewel-like eyes, the light seemed to collapse layer by layer, like human pupils contracting violently.

Her beautiful face showed extreme excitement and shock as she screamed:

“Ganmu! It’s Ganmu’s presence!”

Seeing the Netherworld Silkworm suddenly excited but showing no signs of attacking, Xu Qi’an stopped his collection movement and looked toward Mu Nanzhi’s arms:

“What did it say?”

White Princess said in her sweet voice: “It’s Sweet Wood.”

? Question marks flashed simultaneously in Xu Qi’an and Mu Nanzhi’s minds. The former wondered what kind of otherworldly Mary Sue name this was.

The latter wondered when she had become wood, and sweet wood at that.

Xu Qi’an frowned slightly and instructed:

“White Princess, ask it what Sweet Wood means.”

White Princess squeaked out strange syllables.

After listening, the Netherworld Silkworm explained:

“Ganmu has another name, called the Immortal God Tree. It grew in the Northwestern Sacred Mountain of the Nine Provinces continent. It was a thousand zhang tall, reaching into the clouds. Its sap was like blood and could be refined into immortality medicine—when mortals consumed it, they gained eight hundred years of life.

“Its crown spread for ten li, countless beings living among its branches. My ancestors lived in the Immortal God Tree, feeding on its leaves and branches.”

After White Princess translated, Xu Qi’an couldn’t help but glance at Mu Nanzhi, thinking: aren’t you the Flower Goddess’s reincarnation? How did you get connected to the Immortal God Tree?

The Netherworld Silkworm continued:

“In my youth, I once followed my ancestors to pay respects to the Immortal God Tree and cultivated in its crown for several hundred years. The sweetness of those leaves, I haven’t forgotten to this day. Later, when the age of gods and demons ended, the Immortal God Tree, being a primordial god, withered in that catastrophe.”

As it spoke, it showed an expression of reminiscence and obsession.

As soon as White Princess finished translating, Xu Qi’an eagerly asked:

“Quick, ask it how the gods and demons fell, and what relationship the Immortal God Tree has with your aunt.”

White Princess faithfully translated.

“How did the gods and demons fall?”

The Netherworld Silkworm’s expression showed some fear as if even after so many years, the events still filled it with dread.

“One day, the gods and demons suddenly went mad, slaughtering each other. That upheaval was terrifying—the Nine Provinces continent was shattered. The ancient continent was several times vaster than it is now.

“There were many powerful gods and demons like Gu, but they all died in that upheaval.

“If I remember correctly, only Gu survived. Many of us descendants of gods and demons were also affected and died in the great upheaval.”

So the scene of fallen gods and demons I saw before wasn’t someone killing all the gods and demons, but them killing each other?

That there were beings like Gu God, that is, Beyond-Grade, and that such beings weren’t rare among gods and demons—this I can understand, but why did the gods and demons suddenly go mad?

Xu Qi’an’s mind buzzed as he processed the information while expanding his thoughts to analyze it.

“How did they go mad?” Xu Qi’an said, looking at White Princess.

“How did they go mad?” White Princess asked curiously in the language of gods and demons.

“I don’t know, they just suddenly went mad, without reason. My ancestors also went mad, joining the slaughter without restraint,” the Netherworld Silkworm shook its head.

At this point, Xu Qi’an finally analyzed a clue and asked:

“You say the gods and demons suddenly went mad, so why didn’t your descendants with divine demon blood go mad? How did you avoid it?”

The Netherworld Silkworm looked at White Princess, and after hearing the childish female voice, it answered:

“Initially, we descendants of gods and demons didn’t understand the cause of the upheaval. After the age of gods and demons ended and peace returned, the divine demon descendants tried to find the truth, even setting aside old grudges to discuss it together.

“We concluded, though we couldn’t verify it and don’t know if it’s accurate.

“The gods and demons went mad possibly because they were nurtured by heaven and earth—they were primordial gods and demons. While we descendants were born later, though we inherited divine demon blood, we don’t possess divine demon spirit essence.”

It turned to look at Mu Nanzhi and said:

“Take the Immortal God Tree for example. Its roots could sprout divine trees with medicinal properties, but those divine trees had limited lifespans and couldn’t resurrect after death because they lacked the Immortal Tree’s spirit essence.

“My ancestors said the Immortal Tree couldn’t die. Now it seems my ancestors didn’t lie to me. Even though the Immortal God Tree withered in that year’s upheaval, it now stands before me.”

White Princess interrupted in her sweet voice:

“Wait a moment, that’s too much at once, it’s hard for me to keep up.”

White Princess hurriedly translated the Netherworld Silkworm’s words, making Mu Nanzhi’s eyebrows rise and her expression grow complex.

She knew she was the Flower Goddess’s reincarnation. During the Great Zhou Dynasty, when the emperor was befuddled and obsessed with the Flower Goddess, wanting to send troops to forcibly bring her to the palace, the Flower Goddess summoned heavenly tribulation to self-immolate, preferring death to submission.

But she never imagined that the Flower Goddess had another identity before that.

I wondered why the Flower Goddess’s characteristics and extraordinary spirit essence exceeded the scope of demons. If she was the reincarnation of an ancient god or demon, that makes sense and resolves one of my doubts… Xu Qi’an looked at White Princess:

“Ask it what was the source of the gods and demons’ madness?”

The Netherworld Silkworm shook its head slightly:

“That I don’t know. However, there is one person who might know. Many years later, when humans and demons rose to power, especially humans, the first being comparable to Gu and Dragon appeared. He drove us all out of the Nine Provinces continent.

“Unwilling to travel far, I settled on this island, and after countless cycles of sun and moon, I can no longer count the years.”

“Did you eat the Dao Sovereign’s mother?” Xu Qi’an joked.

“Did you eat the Dao Sovereign’s mother?” the little white fox translated.

“Hey hey, don’t translate that part.” Xu Qi’an waved his hand.

“Perhaps someone did eat his birth mother, but I believe that person must have known the secret of why the gods and demons went mad back then. Fearing that the divine demon descendants in the Nine Provinces would affect him, he drove us all out,” the Netherworld Silkworm said.

“Thank you for telling us, elder.”

Xu Qi’an cupped his hands in gratitude.

He was very satisfied with this island visit. First, he obtained the Netherworld Silk, bringing him one step closer to reviving Wei Yuan. Second, he learned part of the truth about the fall of gods and demons, resolving one of his doubts.

Finally, he learned Mu Nanzhi’s true identity.

“Two final questions!” Xu Qi’an said:

“Can the Immortal Tree’s spirit essence be taken through some method?”

Mu Nanzhi’s expression changed as she looked at Xu Qi’an with extremely complex emotions. But strangely, she didn’t step back at all.

The Netherworld Silkworm examined the two and said:

“If you want to absorb her spirit essence, just eat her.”

A female Tang Monk? Looks like the circumcision joke won’t work… Xu Qi’an joked internally, then turned and smiled: “Still have to guard against you being eaten by others.”

Mu Nanzhi rolled her eyes at him.

The Netherworld Silkworm said: “However, this won’t completely take the Immortal Tree’s spirit essence. Whether eating her or taking it through some method, you’d only get a share, just as countless beings relied on It for cultivation and survival back then.

“A god or demon’s spirit essence is heaven-granted; outsiders cannot seize it. Otherwise, the Immortal Tree would have been divided and eaten by other gods and demons, and would no longer exist.”

“Was my aunt so weak that she used to get bullied all the time?” White Princess, taking advantage of Mu Nanzhi’s not understanding the divine demon language, hurriedly inquired about gossip.

“The Immortal Tree wasn’t weak at all—it was one of the three great divine trees of ancient times, but I don’t understand her current situation,” the Netherworld Silkworm shook its head.

“What did you ask?” Xu Qi’an said.

White Princess answered sweetly: “I asked if aunt was the number one beauty in ancient times, and it said yes.”

Mu Nanzhi happily patted her head.

“Final question, do you know the White Emperor?” Xu Qi’an asked.

The Netherworld Silkworm heard White Princess’s translation and shook its head:

“What White Emperor? Never heard of it.”

I almost forgot White Emperor is the name Yun Province’s people gave to that divine demon descendant… Xu Qi’an described the White Emperor’s appearance and characteristics for the White Princess to translate.

“This…” The Netherworld Silkworm frowned deeply:

“That lineage, if I remember correctly, was completely devoured by a monster called ‘Great Wilderness’ after the age of gods and demons ended. How could there still be descendants?”

White Princess translated simultaneously.

Xu Qi’an’s spine chilled: “Great Wilderness?”

The Netherworld Silkworm explained:

“Great Wilderness was a terrifying god or demon. It and its descendants were all called the ‘Great Wilderness’ clan. The first Great Wilderness was a being that could contend with Gu.

“This lineage’s innate divine ability was terrifying—they could devour beings’ essence blood and innate abilities, making them their own. That terrifying god or demon of that year had successively devoured the three great divine trees. Though unable to seize their spirit essence, it still gained enormous benefits.

“However, it also fell in the divine demon upheaval. The White Emperor clan you speak of was devoured by Great Wilderness’s descendants shortly after the age of gods and demons ended—well, you could call it Great Wilderness too.

“If you encounter it, you must be careful.”

It appeared to be in an extremely good mood, stroking its smooth, delicate skin while speaking.

The White Emperor’s true identity is the “Great Wilderness” clan. The White Emperor’s entire clan was devoured by Great Wilderness’s descendants, so why is Great Wilderness disguising itself as the White Emperor… Xu Qi’an said:

“I have no more questions.”

The Netherworld Silkworm nodded:

“Then leave my territory. If you’re still alive in three thousand years, feel free to come here again, and I’ll trade Netherworld Silk for your essence blood.”

My lifespan probably won’t be much longer than a sage’s… Xu Qi’an cupped his hands, thinking you’d better wait for my descendants.

He controlled the Pagoda of Buddha, taking White Princess and Mu Nanzhi as they rose into the air, disappearing into the horizon as streaks of light.

…

Qing Province.

In the main hall of the Provincial Administration Commission.

Yang Gong sat behind the great desk, listening to Li Mubai’s analysis.

“The Eastern Tomb front has completely collapsed. Our army has withdrawn from Eastern Tomb territory. Of thirty thousand troops, we lost sixty percent. Currently resting and reorganizing in Guo County, recruiting local soldiers to replenish personnel.

“At Wan Prefecture, thanks to the Heart Gu Tribe’s flying beast army, we’re no longer passive. The reinforcements we sent coordinated inside and outside with the garrison forces, fighting several beautiful battles, with casualties on both sides against the Yun Province rebels.

“For now, there shouldn’t be major problems. The only situation we need to worry about is Songshan County…”

Yang Gong nodded slightly:

“I know, the fighting in Songshan County has been brutal—the combined casualties of both sides exceed fifty thousand. However, most of the Gu tribe’s army is there, making the defense as solid as gold.”

Li Mubai shook his head:

“It’s not a matter of military strength, but provisions. According to Second Young Master’s intelligence, the garrison forces have started gnawing on tree roots.”

Yang Gong frowned:

“Though Qing Province lacks grain, it shouldn’t be unable to supply Songshan County’s needs. Moreover, Songshan County is wealthy, with full granaries—forget this short month and more, even three months would be enough. Where does this provision problem come from?”

A counselor spoke in place of Li Mubai:

“Those Gu tribe people eat too much. One of them can eat as much as twenty people, and that’s a conservative estimate. Furthermore, the flying beasts won’t eat anything but meat, which has directly bankrupted Songshan County.

“Sir Xu says there’s only one plan that can solve this predicament, but it needs Governor Yang’s approval.”

Yang Gong understood.

This plan was called: Eating People!

For flying beasts, meat has no categories—what animals can eat, they can eat too.

The counselor who spoke first probed:

“If it’s rebel corpses…”

Yang Gong said sternly: “No!”

Another counselor sighed:

“Governor Yang, circumstances compel us. Though this plan violates heaven’s harmony, Songshan County is out of ammunition and food. The flying beasts are animals—they’re meant to eat people anyway. We’re not asking the garrison forces to eat people.

“Don’t let one moment of mercy lead to military defeat and total loss. Our current advantage was bought with the lives of how many soldiers?”

Li Mubai slapped the table and glanced at that counselor, saying:

“Enough, we’ll discuss this matter later.”

He then looked at Yang Gong:

“In another month, it will be the Spring Sacrifice.”

The counselors, including Yang Gong, immediately relaxed their tense expressions.

Yes, the Spring Sacrifice.

Just wait another month, and Qing Province’s task will be complete.

Moreover, given the current situation, it would be a fool’s dream for the Yun Province rebels to take the Qing Province within a month.

A counselor stroked his beard and smiled:

“These Yun Province troops came on so fiercely, I thought they were really strong. But they’re nothing special.”