Chapter 3282: Mortality
Chapter 3282: Mortality
It all came rushing back in fragments.
The endless storm of battle.
The roar of the Tree.
The Saintess’s chains of wind binding the monstrous roots.
The voice of the Sword Spirit echoing within him.
And then... silence.
After that, nothing but darkness.
No dreams. No time. Just stillness.
He took a slow breath, grounding himself once more in the present. "I remember everything," he said softly. "The battle... the sword... everything."
The Lotus Spirit nodded, relief evident in her gentle smile. "Then your mind is intact. That is good."
She paused for a moment before adding, "Your sacrifice saved everyone, Lin Mu. The Ephemera Tree is gone, and peace has returned to the Silent Lotus World. The people are safe because of you."
Lin Mu’s lips curved upward faintly. "Then it was worth it."
He exhaled deeply, his body relaxing against the lotus petal that supported him. "That’s good. That’s... really good."
For the first time since the war five years ago, a sense of calm filled him.
He looked up once more, and his expression softened. "Thank you, Lotus Spirit. For everything."
The Lotus Spirit smiled again, but before she could reply, a soft shimmer of light filled the air.
Lin Mu turned toward the source and felt a presence he had not sensed in years.
A woman materialized from a swirl of white clouds, her robes as soft as mist and her veil concealing her face. Only her eyes, luminous green and filled with quiet power were visible.
Even before she spoke, Lin Mu could feel the concern radiating from her.
"You are awake," the Saintess said simply.
Lin Mu smiled faintly. "Yes, Saintess. It seems I’ve troubled you once again. Thank you for your help."
The Saintess did not reply immediately. She stepped closer, her expression unreadable behind her veil. A soft hum resonated in the air as her senses spread through the space, scanning Lin Mu’s body with precision beyond mortal comprehension.
Every inch of his flesh, every vein, every trace of Qi was laid bare beneath her perception.
Yet her brows furrowed.
’Strange.’
Her senses detected no internal injuries, no damage to his Dantian, no scars upon his soul. And yet, the vitality flowing through his body was faint, weaker than that of a mortal farmer.
"You... are still weak," she murmured, confusion flickering in her eyes. "Your overflowing vitality is almost nonexistent. It is as if you were a mortal."
Lin Mu frowned, startled by her words. "A mortal?"
He extended his immortal sense inward... or tried to. Immediately, a wave of resistance struck him. It was like trying to lift a mountain with a single finger. His consciousness strained against an invisible weight, his mind burning from the effort.
He gasped softly and fell back slightly.
"Do not force it," the Lotus Spirit said quickly, her tone worried. She placed a glowing hand on his shoulder, infusing a soothing green energy into his body. "You are still recovering. It may take time before your strength returns."
Lin Mu let out a slow breath, his heart still pounding. "But... I have never felt this weak before," he admitted. His voice carried disbelief... almost fear. "Even as a child, I wasn’t like this. My body feels... hollow."
The Saintess crossed her arms, her expression grave. "It may be a consequence of invoking the Xian Sword Spirit. Its power was beyond even Celestial means. That sword’s existence defies the Dao itself. To wield it in an Immortal world..." She trailed off, her eyes narrowing. "There is always a price."
Lin Mu’s mind churned. The Xian Sword Spirit... its light, its voice, its will. He had not merely summoned it, he had become its vessel in this world.
"Will I recover?" he asked finally, his tone steady despite the uncertainty in his heart.
The Lotus Spirit and the Saintess exchanged glances. The silence between them lasted longer than it should have.
Finally, the Lotus Spirit spoke softly. "You will recover. But it will not be easy, Lin Mu. Your soul is still strong, but your body has been reset to its most fragile state. You might have to let it recover from the start."
Lin Mu took that in quietly, his expression calm.
"I see," he said at last. "Then I’ll start again."
He could tell both his qi and body cultivaiton were still there, so he wasn’t too worried about that. They were merely slumbering for now.
His voice was soft, but behind it was the unshakable resolve of a man who had faced death and defied heaven itself.
The Saintess’s eyes softened. "Rest for now," she said. "There will be time for everything else later."
Lin Mu nodded, leaning back against the lotus petal as the gentle hum of life surrounded him once more.
Outside, the monks continued their daily prayers, their voices echoing faintly through the clouds, a hymn of gratitude for the man who had saved their world and now, once again, begun to awaken within it.
The news of Lin Mu’s awakening spread like the soft rustle of wind through spring blossoms.
It began with whispers among the monks at the base of Green Urim Peak and soon rippled through the Silent Lotus Temple, across sects, cities, and distant mountain passes. The savior of the world had awoken.
Yet despite the excitement that stirred across the land, no one dared to approach the peak uninvited.
The Saintess and the Lotus Spirit made it known that Lin Mu was in an extremely delicate condition. His recovery was slow, his strength fragile. Any disturbance, no matter how small, could hinder his healing.
Because of this, his visitors came one by one.
It was not that Lin Mu did not wish to see them all at once. His heart longed to meet everyone again, to laugh and speak freely as he once did. But those who loved and respected him most refused to take that risk. They knew his state and would rather wait patiently than cause him harm.