The light of dawn in Tian Yuan's realm did not come from a sun.
It came from him.
The energy he cultivated radiated through the land, illuminating the mountains, the rivers, and the sacred groves that shimmered with divine dew.
Beneath one of the radiant trees lay Mu Qingyi, sleeping within a pool of liquid light. The water pulsed with gentle warmth divine qi mixed with purging herbs, the kind only a god who was once a farmer could craft. Every breath she took released a small puff of dark mist remnants of the void essence still lodged deep within her soul.
Tian Yuan stood nearby, watching. His expression was calm, but his aura moved like tides serene on the surface, violent beneath.
The system's voice echoed lazily in his mind.
"Master, she's recovering faster than expected. At this rate, her divine core will stabilize in three cycles. Pretty impressive, for a mortal-turned-saintess who almost got erased by the void, huh?"
He said nothing, his gaze distant.
After a moment, he replied, "That's not what worries me."
"Oh? Then what worries you, oh Supreme Turnip Planter of Realms?" the system teased.
"The void energy lingering inside her." His tone was quiet, but every word carried weight. "It's not fading. It's adapting."
The system went silent for a moment.
Then, in a softer tone, "You mean it's alive."
"Yes."
They both turned their attention toward the pool again. For a brief instant, the water rippled unnaturally like something beneath the surface had stirred. But when Tian Yuan's divine sense swept over it, there was nothing. Only silence.
He sighed softly. "She's bound to it somehow. Whatever happened in the upper realm wasn't just war. Someone or something wanted her alive."
---
Hours later, the Saintess stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, reflecting the glow of the divine sky above. For a moment, she thought she was still dreaming. Then she saw him the man standing before her, his long dark hair rippling softly in the wind, robes plain yet carrying the quiet majesty of one who commands creation itself.
"Tian Yuan…" she whispered, the name tasting like an old prayer on her lips.
He turned slightly. "You should rest more."
"I've rested long enough," she said, attempting to stand, only to falter. He caught her gently, steadying her with one arm. For a heartbeat, she felt his qi vast, endless, yet strangely gentle. It didn't burn or overwhelm; it comforted.
"You've grown stronger," she murmured. "So much stronger."
He smiled faintly. "That's debatable."
Her lips curved into a weak smile. "You still make light of everything."
"Habit," he replied simply.
She glanced around, taking in the vast landscape the flowing divine rivers, the gentle hum of sacred trees, and the Golden Dragon coiled around a mountain peak, watching with half-closed eyes. "This realm… it's alive. You made it breathe."
"It was barren when I arrived," he said, eyes distant. "The system helped me plant the first roots. Now it grows on its own."
Her expression softened. "You've always been a cultivator who plants rather than destroys."
He didn't reply. Instead, his gaze lifted to the horizon where a faint shimmer of distortion lingered in the sky.
Mu Qingyi followed his eyes and frowned. "That's not part of your formation, is it?"
"No," he said quietly. "It's watching us."
Her breath hitched. "The void?"
"Not yet," he replied. "But soon."
The wind grew colder for a moment, and even the divine trees swayed uneasily.
---
Later that day, Tian Yuan sat on the steps of his divine manor. The system floated beside him, manifesting as a tiny, glowing spirit orb with cartoonish eyes.
"So," it said, "our lovely guest is awake, void energy is crawling around like an uninvited worm, and the realm's stability is at ninety-nine percent. I'd say we're one catastrophic event away from a plot twist."
Tian Yuan raised a brow. "You've been reading my thoughts again."
"Someone has to make this story entertaining."
He chuckled softly. "You've become too sentient."
"I prefer charismatically self-aware, thank you."
Their banter was interrupted by a surge of divine light.
The sky trembled just slightly and a bell-like sound echoed across the realm.
Mu Qingyi appeared beside them, still weak but determined. "Tian Yuan… I think I understand why the void targeted me."
He looked at her. "Explain."
She pressed her hand to her chest, where the faint lotus mark still glowed. "This symbol it isn't just from my temple. It's a seal. A key that holds back one of the gateways to the abyss. The Shadow Lord must have discovered it. That's why they tried to corrupt me."
Tian Yuan's eyes narrowed. "And if that seal breaks?"
Her gaze turned grim. "Then even the gods will tremble."
The air fell silent. The system, unusually quiet, finally said,
"Master… looks like your 'no interference' rule is about to get tested."
He didn't respond immediately.
Then, standing slowly, his eyes reflected the shimmering horizon the sky of his realm beginning to shift from gold to deep crimson, as if the heavens themselves sensed what was coming.
"If the void dares to reach here," he said softly, "then it will learn what it means to be consumed by life itself."
A single seed of light formed in his palm the embodiment of creation. He let it drift upward, planting itself into the sky, and instantly, a radiant tree began to grow, its branches spreading across the clouds.
"System," he murmured, "start preparing. We'll need every formation, every beast, and every leaf ready."
The system blinked, voice now steady but tinged with awe.
"Acknowledged, Master. Realm Defense Protocol: Seed of Eternity activated."
As the divine tree expanded, light rippled across the land.
The Saintess watched in silent wonder, realizing that Tian Yuan was no longer just a man who tilled the earth.
He was the soil itself.
And for the first time in countless eons, the heavens felt the quiet heartbeat of something greater than godhood balance.
End Of Chapter 76