Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 3580: Cause Behind Awakening

More often than not, the appearance of Beast Qi was simply a matter of chance.

Yet Lin Mu had produced two large spheres of it as if it were nothing.

Lin Mu simply smiled faintly and replied, "I have my methods."

The two Guardian Spirits exchanged glances but did not press further. In their minds, the explanation was already obvious. If Lin Mu possessed something strange or impossible, the answer was simple.

Xukong.

Anything unusual about Lin Mu could easily be attributed to the influence of the Void Weaver Spider. Whether it was rare techniques, strange energies, or unimaginable treasures, the reasoning was always the same.

It must be Xukong.

They no longer even tried to question the logic behind it.

As they continued staring at the glowing spheres of Beast Qi, another thought slowly formed in their minds. The Vermilion Bird was the first to voice it.

She looked from the energy spheres back to Lin Mu and then spoke quietly. "Wait."

Her fiery eyes narrowed slightly as she studied the aura more carefully.

The Azure Dragon followed her gaze and suddenly reached the same conclusion.

The two spirits looked at each other with sudden realization.

If Lin Mu possessed such concentrated Beast Qi, and if traces of their own bloodline aura were also present within him, then the resonance that awakened them earlier finally made sense. The mixture of pure Beast Qi and Guardian Beast aura could easily trigger the spiritual contract embedded within the temple statues.

The Vermilion Bird nodded slowly. "This explains it."

The Azure Dragon’s voice rumbled in agreement. "The Beast Qi strengthened the resonance."

Lin Mu listened quietly as they reached their conclusion, then raised the two glowing spheres slightly higher. "Regardless of the reason, these are my gifts to the honored guardians. I hope you will accept them."

The two ancient spirits looked at the energy spheres again.

And for the first time since awakening, they felt genuinely pleased.

The two luminous spheres of Beast Qi floated gently in the air between Lin Mu and the two Guardian Spirits.

The energy within them pulsed softly, like two small suns of living vitality. Even Temple Head Puyi, who had spent centuries around powerful spiritual energies, could feel the rich and pure essence emanating from them.

The Qi was incredibly refined, carrying a primal vitality that was unmistakably tied to the Beast Path. For beings like the Azure Dragon and the Vermilion Bird, such energy was not merely valuable. It was profoundly meaningful, almost like tasting a drop of ancient ancestry.

Yet instead of immediately accepting the offering, the two spirits exchanged another glance.

Their immense illusory forms hovered silently for a moment as they seemed to deliberate through a private spiritual exchange. Lin Mu watched quietly, sensing that they were considering something carefully.

After a short pause, the Azure Dragon finally spoke.

"Honorable Disciple," the dragon said in a calm and steady tone, "rather than giving this Beast Qi to us directly, we would ask something else of you."

The Vermilion Bird nodded slowly in agreement. "If you are willing to help us with a certain matter, that would already be more than sufficient as a gift. In fact, even attempting it would be enough. If you cannot succeed, we will not hold it against you."

Lin Mu looked slightly curious but not surprised.

He lowered the spheres of Beast Qi slightly while asking, "What matter do the honored guardians wish to discuss?"

The Azure Dragon’s eyes shifted toward the distant horizon beyond the temple walls as if contemplating the world outside. "You may have already heard about the foxkin of this world."

Lin Mu nodded. "I have learned a little about them during my travels here. I understand that several foxkin clans inhabit this world and that they hold significant authority over its regions."

The Vermilion Bird replied gently, "Then you already know part of the story. From the outside, things appear normal. The foxkin kingdoms function well, and their populations are large. However, beneath that appearance lies a problem that has troubled them for a long time."

Before Lin Mu could ask further, Temple Head Puyi suddenly spoke in surprise.

His ears twitched as realization dawned on him. "Do the honored guardians mean the issue of the Bloodline Degeneration?"

Both spirits turned their heads toward him and nodded at the same time.

"Indeed," said the Azure Dragon.

Lin Mu’s expression grew thoughtful. "Bloodline degeneration?"

He had encountered discussions about such phenomena in several texts before, but he had not expected it to become relevant here. "Could the honored guardians explain further?"

The Vermilion Bird answered calmly. "The issue concerns the two strongest foxkin tribes on this world."

Lin Mu considered this for a moment before responding. "Do you mean the Flame Fur Foxkin Clan and the Frost Fox Clan?"

Temple Head Puyi nodded quickly. "It seems you have heard of them already."

"Only a little," Lin Mu replied. "I know that the Flame Fur Foxkin are considered the most powerful clan here, while the Frost Fox clan holds authority over the eastern continent."

The Azure Dragon lowered his massive head slightly. "Once, they were indeed clans worthy of that title. But now their populations have diminished to such an extent that the term ’clan’ may no longer be appropriate. If their decline continues, they will soon resemble mere tribes rather than great bloodline houses."

Lin Mu frowned slightly. "What exactly is causing this decline?"

The Vermilion Bird answered slowly, as if choosing her words carefully. "Their bloodlines are degenerating."

Lin Mu raised an eyebrow at that statement. "From what I have read, bloodline degeneration normally refers to the dilution of ancestral power over generations. When powerful bloodlines mix with weaker ones, the descendants lose some of their original strength or talent. However, such degeneration usually does not affect fertility. Even if the bloodline becomes diluted, offspring can still be produced normally."

The two spirits nodded slightly.

"That is usually the case," the Azure Dragon agreed.

"But not here," the Vermilion Bird continued. "The degeneration affecting these two tribes is unusual."