You should know that I am already a dead person, and it is not my wish to return. This time... no matter what, I have gained something.
Yu Mu gently stroked the leaves of the Heavenly Dao seedling, but his eyes were cold, seemingly devoid of any human emotion.
"Emperor, it's not what you think."
The spirit of the Heavenly Dao appeared again. However, this time it was not just a face, but an illusory figure!
The spirit of the Heavenly Dao... could be considered a unique type of being, but its level of existence is much higher than that of ordinary beings. There is no distinction of gender, personality, or appearance. Mountains, rivers, lakes, seas, birds, beasts, fish, insects— it can take any form, representing all living things.
But now, although the spirit of the Heavenly Dao had an illusory form, its features were clear and bore a striking resemblance to Yu Mu.
It clasped its hands but did not appear humble as before: "Emperor, do not overthink; I have no intention to harm you."
"Connected by life and death, yet you dare to speak recklessly."
Yu Mu smiled, but that smile held no warmth.
"You have limbs now; you have a form. You've gained quite a bit from me, haven't you?"
The spirit of the Heavenly Dao also smiled: "Just a little, just a little."
Yu Mu's imperial luck and the power emanating from his transcendent soul indeed provided significant benefits to it. But hadn't that already been shared with Yu Mu? Without him, Yu Mu would merely watch those powers dissipate.
"Emperor, in this life, you fully possess the confidence to crush the son of fate! Even if I cannot remove his luck, I can make you the true representative of the Heavenly Dao!
As the Demon Emperor, you should reclaim everything you once lost! Erase all who have harmed you and restore your glory! Instead of entangling with this spirit here."
The spirit of the Heavenly Dao felt it had succeeded. Yu Mu... after all, was merely a living being; when he first returned, his thoughts must have been chaotic.
The spirit took advantage of that moment to plant the seed of the Heavenly Dao. Yu Mu had little thought to guard against it. Moreover, now that the seedling was deeply rooted, Yu Mu... could no longer pull it out.
As for world destruction? The spirit of the Heavenly Dao truly wasn't worried that Yu Mu would do such a thing! It understood Yu Mu well; no matter what.. He was a person with flesh and blood; he cultivated the path of guardianship (protection); he was not like Ye Tian.
"Emperor, this spirit... can completely help you; this spirit only wishes to survive."
The tone of the spirit was relaxed. Perhaps due to its connection with Yu Mu's life, it fully understood human emotions. It also wanted to see Yu Mu trample Ye Tian underfoot and make those loyal dogs regret their actions and come crawling back.
It possessed Yu Mu's past memories and knew what pain felt like; it wanted to cleanse the bloodstains from Yu Mu's soul.
"Is that so?"
Yu Mu's soul revealed a brilliant and warm smile, like the sun in winter or a summer breeze.
"You are willing to help me?"
"Through fire and water for you, Emperor!"
The spirit of the Heavenly Dao was excited! These... were not emotions it should possess; originally, spirits had no feelings.
"Boom!!"
But in the next moment, Yu Mu's terrifying soul power erupted completely! The entire sea of consciousness surged violently! He grasped the Heavenly Dao seedling tightly and yanked it out! Even though it was excruciatingly painful—so painful that his powerful soul began to accelerate its dissipation!
Outside, Elder Yun had already fallen into deep meditation; otherwise, he would have seen Yu Mu sitting beside him drenched in cold sweat.
"Yu Mu! Are you throwing your life away!!"
The spirit of the Heavenly Dao was immediately alarmed. Its power was directed elsewhere; moreover, even if it had power, it could not interfere with Yu Mu.
Coexistence meant it had to lower its status and be on equal footing with Yu Mu as a living being!
However... although the spirit appeared frantic, it felt no urgency at all. Sure enough! After an unknown amount of time passed, Yu Mu's soul slumped weakly on the ground. The Heavenly Dao seedling had been stripped bare but remained firmly rooted...
"Emperor, I am still a part of the Heavenly Dao."
The illusory figure of the spirit rummaged through Yu Mu's dissipating soul power—this was all valuable stuff!
"Can you stop being so disrespectful? We are not enemies."
While grumbling about this, it turned around and met Yu Mu's icy gaze!
Suddenly, Yu Mu smiled as well.
"What a clever scheme! I encountered Ye Tian and changed what happened in my previous life; I must have fallen into your trap."
"How can you say it's a trap!" The spirit absorbed those soul powers into itself. Immediately! The stripped Heavenly Dao seedling sprouted new branches and leaves. Yu Mu's previously depleted soul also received some replenishment.
"Emperor, you've lived for thousands of years as a soul; I know how difficult it is to maintain your original intention. But you cannot be naive anymore."
It sat beside Yu Mu; from afar they looked like brothers.
"In fact, some things we cannot escape." Suddenly, the spirit said to Yu Mu.
"You can certainly follow your own path. Ye Tian is created by me; I understand him well. Now that our lives are connected, I understand even more. What you want is merely to avoid the world—ascending before Ye Tian destroys it—but… can that really be done?"
"If I don't try it out how will I know?" Yu Mu's emotions calmed down as well.
"After all, you are still a living being. In this case, I will not interfere nor can I interfere; you may certainly give it a try."
The spirit of the Heavenly Dao was incredibly certain.
The pieces and the player depend on Yu Mu's own choices.
However, wanting to transcend the game is impossible.
After all, even the spirit of the Heavenly Dao is part of the game.
"I believe your thoughts will eventually change."
"Oh?" Yu Mu became interested.
"Because, Emperor, no matter how you disguise yourself, your heart remains passionate. You have love and tenderness; you are a real person, flesh and blood."
...
After a jolt, when Yu Mu's will returned to his physical body, he felt a splitting headache. Indeed, he could not sever the connection with the spirit of the Heavenly Dao.
However, there was one thing he was very confident about.
This coexistence? It doesn't require much; he just needed to return to his peak from his previous life. Untangling it shouldn't be too difficult.
Yet… there were some things in the spirit's words that he truly did not understand.
But he had already grasped his own situation and had also indirectly confirmed from the spirit of the Heavenly Dao what he had missed during his confrontation with Ye Tian.
His situation was not overly negative; he just needed to focus on his cultivation.
As for Ye Tian? As long as he didn't engage with him, the causal connection was still shallow, so he wouldn't be locked onto by Ye Tian's Heavenly Dao luck, avoiding further entanglements.
Moreover…
"What I have lost must indeed be reclaimed, but only what is precious. As for trash… why bother picking it up? It would only dirty my hands."
He glanced at his master's kind and serene face and recalled how he had once escaped from battle to find him, only to see a headless corpse. His heart ached at the memory.
"Master."
"Yes?"
Elder Yun opened his eyes wide.
"I will protect you well."
"You little rascal! Do I need your protection? You think too much!" A small branch tapped Yu Mu on the head as Elder Yun laughed and scolded him.
Yet Yu Mu truly enjoyed this genuine warmth.