Transmigrating Into a Fantasy World: Signing in During Pregnancy, Reaching the Summit with My Childhood Sweetheart

85: Chapter 85: The Earth Mother’s Spiritual Root and the Ancient Remnants”Waiting for... us?” Su Muxue’s pupils constricted slightly. Her hand gripping the sword did not relax at all; instead, it tightened further. Lin Mo’s light orb also hovered quietly, the power of the nirvana star core contained within and ready to fire, maintaining the highest level of vigilance against this mysterious being before them who called himself ’Yan’.

The way they had been led here was so convoluted and perilous that it was truly hard to believe his claim of no ill intent now. Furthermore, the other party had exposed Lin Mo’s identity as a ’Star Core Holder’ in a single sentence.

Yan seemed to see through their wariness. No surprise appeared on that handsome, inhuman face, and his molten gold eyes remained calm. He did not stand, still sitting cross-legged beneath the earth mother spirit root, but merely raised a hand slightly, pointing to the empty ground beside him.

”This place is the Core of the earth veins; it is safe and secure. You two might as well sit and talk. Perhaps I can answer a few of the many doubts in your hearts.” His voice carried an ancient rhythm, as if it could soothe the restlessness of the human heart.

Su Muxue and Lin Mo exchanged a thought. For now, friend or foe was unclear, but the opponent’s strength was unfathomable, and there seemed to be no sign of an immediate move; a rash conflict was definitely not the best course of action. After a moment’s deliberation, Su Muxue followed his words and stepped forward several paces, sitting cross-legged several yards away from Yan—a distance from which she could both attack and retreat. Lin Mo’s light orb hovered by her shoulder, the nirvana star core’s Perception firmly locked onto the opponent.

”Who are you? What is your relationship with the Star Palace? And why do you say you were waiting for us?” Su Muxue got straight to the point, her questions hitting the Core.

Yan’s gaze swept over that swaying golden plant, his eyes revealing an indescribable warmth and vicissitude as he spoke slowly: ”I am the guardian of this place. As you have heard, my name is ’Yan’. As for my race... you can call us the ’Earth Spirit Clan’. We are the descendants of beings born from the will of the earth veins during the Great Ancient Era. With the Star Palace... we are half-colleagues, and also... the final gravediggers.”

”Gravediggers?” Su Muxue caught the word.

”Yes, gravediggers.” Yan’s voice lowered, carrying a hint of sorrow, ”Gravediggers for that ’Heavenly Patrol Era’ which was once brilliant but ultimately brought about its own destruction through arrogance and greed. And gravediggers for this world that is being constantly eroded by the ’soul-eroding miasma’ and is withering day by day.”

His gaze turned once more to Lin Mo’s light orb: ”And waiting for you, especially you, unique Star Core, is because the ancient prophecies and the fading vitality of this ’earth mother spirit root’ tell us that the only variable perhaps lies at the intersection of ’Nirvana’ and ’New Life’.”

He paused, seemingly organizing his words on how to tell the secrets of the ages.

”The past of the Star Palace is something you may have glimpsed in the ruins. They discovered the ’heavenly patrol ancient path’ and mistakenly thought it was a shortcut to a higher dimension, but in truth, it was a trap set by an unspeakable existence, a ’tentacle’ extended by Him.” Yan’s tone carried deep mockery and sorrow. ”Active observation invited reverse pollution, which is the source of the ’soul-eroding miasma’. It can corrode spirituality, twist the mind, and assimilate all things. The destruction of the Star Palace lay precisely in this.”

”And we, the Earth Spirit Clan, were born from the earth veins and breathe with the earth. Back then, we were also on good terms with the Star Palace, jointly monitoring the world. When the cataclysm came, the Star Palace bore the brunt of it, while we, relying on the relatively isolated environment deep within the earth veins and... the protection of the earth mother spirit root, managed to survive until now.” He looked at the golden plant with affection. ”But the soul-eroding miasma is omnipresent; it is still slowly penetrating the earth veins and polluting the Spiritual Root. I can feel that the earth is falling ill, that it is dying.”

”Then the bone rotting grass...” Su Muxue asked urgently.

”bone rotting grass is merely a shallow manifestation of the soul-eroding miasma’s power. It is just a poison produced when that terrifying power penetrates into the present world and combines with certain sinister Qi,” Yan explained. ”The true soul-eroding miasma is a higher level of power, a pollution based on ’cognition’ and ’observation’. The more you know of Him, the more you think of Him, the deeper His erosion of you becomes. It is impossible to guard against.”

As these words were spoken, both Su Muxue and Lin Mo felt a chill rise from the depths of their hearts. This was far more bizarre and terrifying than they had imagined.

”Then City Lord Bai He, and the Sha Chi Clan...” Lin Mo’s intent sent out a question.

”City Lord Bai He?” Yan frowned slightly, seemingly unfamiliar with the name, but then understood. ”You mean those fellows who usurped some of the peripheral ruins of the Star Palace and act all high and mighty relying on a few scraps of Legacy and the power of slightly polluted earth vein branches? They are but frogs at the bottom of a well, not even realizing that the essence of their power is already impure, having become shallow servants of the miasma without knowing it. As for the Sha Chi Clan... they are just one of many races underground eroded to varying degrees by the miasma, violent and bloodthirsty, with dim intelligence.”

”Then why did you lead us here? And what is this prophecy you speak of?” Su Muxue pressed.

Yan’s expression became extremely solemn: ”The prophecy originates from the final revelation of the earth mother spirit root. Its general meaning is: When the foreign star carrying the power of ’Nirvana’ meets the variable burdened with the fate of ’Taiyin’, and they descend upon the land of the Spiritual Root when the earth veins are about to be exhausted, they may bring a glimmer of an end to this world, or perhaps a glimmer of new life.”

His eyes burned as he looked at Lin Mo and Su Muxue: ”The power of Nirvana undoubtedly lies within your unique Star Core. And as I observe this young lady, her Profound Yin Qi is incomparably pure, and there is even a trace of Innate Taiyin Origin hidden within; she must be the ’Fate of Taiyin’. Both of you arriving here together, is that not exactly in line with the prophecy?”

”As for what is the end and what is the new life...” Yan shook his head. ”The prophecy did not explicitly state it. But I have guarded this place for too long, witnessing the earth veins becoming increasingly clogged and foul, and the vitality of the Spiritual Root constantly draining away... I am inclined to believe that what you bring is the hope of new life. Especially you,” he looked at Lin Mo again, ”your power of Nirvana seems able to restrain, or even... purify that filth?”

Lin Mo was silent for a moment before responding: ”My Star Core can indeed devour that energy, but the process is difficult, and I am also affected by it.” He did not fully confess the changes in the Star Core’s dark patterns.

”That is enough!” A light of hope erupted in Yan’s eyes. ”The earth mother spirit root is the transformation of the earth vein Core and is the key to purifying the world’s filth. But now she is trapped by the source of the miasma and cannot detoxify herself. If your nirvana star core can help her purify the miasma accumulated in her Core, even just a trace, it can buy her more time, or even... gradual recovery!”

He stood up, leaving his spot for the first time and walking before the earth mother spirit root, his tone carrying earnestness: ”I did not lead you here to force you, but to request you. Please, lend the earth mother spirit root a hand. Regardless of success or failure, as a reward, I will tell you everything you want to know—including how to safely return to the surface, and... the whereabouts of that Sword Cultivator you are seeking.”

His molten gold eyes looked sincerely at Su Muxue: ”I did indeed perceive the aura of a powerful Sword Cultivator falling underground. I can perhaps provide more accurate clues about the location of his fall and even some subsequent movements than the outside world.”

Nangong Xuan’s whereabouts!

Su Muxue’s heart leaped. This corroborated the rumors from the Know-it-all; the possibility was very high.

She looked at Lin Mo. The key to this matter lay in whether Lin Mo’s Star Core could withstand it.

Lin Mo’s intent quickly came through: ”It’s worth a try. The energy here is pure, and the aura of the Spiritual Root is beneficial rather than harmful to my Star Core. Although devouring and purifying that miasma source is dangerous, it is also an opportunity for the Star Core’s transformation. And... I can indeed sense the pain and longing coming from the Core of the Spiritual Root.”

Su Muxue took a deep breath and looked at Yan: ”We agree. But safety must be ensured; if it becomes impossible, we will stop immediately.”

A heartfelt smile appeared on Yan’s face, like snow beginning to melt: ”Naturally! I will use the power of the earth veins to act as your Protector!”

His hands formed an ancient and complex seal, and his entire body emitted a gentle yet vast earthy yellow light, resonating with the energy of the entire inner earth world. Instantly, the fluorescent fungi around the plaza shone brightly, and pure earth vein primal energy gathered like a tide, forming a solid and warm protective field around Su Muxue and Lin Mo.

”Please calm your mind and spirit, and slowly probe the power of the Star Core into the Core of the Spiritual Root,” Yan guided, his expression solemn.

Su Muxue stayed by Lin Mo’s side, on full alert.

Lin Mo’s light orb slowly flew toward the earth mother spirit root, hovering above its golden branches and leaves. The dark patterns on the surface of the light orb flickered violently, and a pure and cold power of Nirvana, like tiny tentacles, cautiously probed toward the Core of the Spiritual Root—a Core that contained boundless vitality but was also entwined with countless dark purple toxins.

A purification concerning the vitality of the earth veins, the transformation of the Star Core, and the path of the future quietly began here.