Earth Mother Goddess

When vibrant life force permeated the mountain, it signaled the arrival of the Earth Mother Goddess.

She came like a spring deity.

The mountains were her body, lakes her eyes, clouds her hair, the sun and stars mere ornaments in her tresses.

Formless yet omnipresent.

When she chose to manifest, she could take human form, vast and bountiful.

Standing tall, her shoulders aligned with the sun and moon, birds circled her hair.

She cradled the mountain—home to wolf and deer clans, forests, rivers, grasses, and countless creatures—as easily as holding a handful of sand.

Her immense presence wasn’t fearsome. Anyone seeing her would yearn to nestle in her embrace, like a fledgling in its mother’s wings or a cub under its mother’s belly, whining, “Mama.”

Her arms were a sanctuary of peace.

Su Qing felt a profound tremor, an unfamiliar emotion overwhelming her.

Unsure how to handle it, she averted her gaze.

The Wolf King arrived with its pack, landing on the peak. Moon, spotting its mother, howled guiltily yet defiantly.

The majestic, godlike Wolf King licked Moon’s forehead gently, then curled around its daughter, lying down as if in their mother’s embrace.

Even as a clan leader and mother, before the Earth Mother, it was but a daughter.

Since shedding her tear, the Vine Demon, A’Luo, had been silent, staring at the plum blossom on the sword. Su Qing left it there.

With her cultivation gone, A’Luo couldn’t control Man Qing Sword.

Soon, the five light swords merged back into one heavy sword, flying to Su Qing’s hand.

Though not sentient, Man Qing Sword had spirit, loyal only to Su Qing. Whatever its materials’ past, from its forging, it was born to live and die with her.

A’Luo stared at her empty hand, lost in thought. The plum blossom bloomed for her tear but wouldn’t stay.

The Earth Mother called softly, “Little A’Luo.”

She sighed, her voice melting into the breeze. “No one, be it plant, beast, human, god, or immortal, escapes death… But A’Luo, death isn’t the end. It lets you meet again.”
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A’Luo gazed blankly, uncomprehending. Despite a thousand years, she remained simple as blank paper.

“You’ve much to learn,” the Earth Mother chuckled. Birds perched on branches. “After this ordeal, you’re weary. Sleep, and ponder when you wake.”

A breeze stirred the valley. A’Luo closed her eyes, turning into a green vine, sinking into the soil, exhausted.

The Earth Mother turned to Su Qing, not visibly, but Su Qing felt her gentle, approving, joyful, proud gaze. The wind slowed.

“Will you share your story, my child?”

“Where to begin?” she mused, as lake waters rippled. The Earth Mother named them: “This is Little Moon, Little Red Tassel—everything has a name. What’s yours?”

As she spoke, Su Qing felt light, like a wilted plant soaked in clear springs, brimming with joy and vitality.

No wonder back mountain creatures schemed to be near the Earth Mother—her presence soothed the soul and boosted cultivation.

“My name is Su Qing.”

“Qing? With the sun radical?” The Earth Mother knew all languages. “A little sun, then.”

“Wonderful. Besides a Little Moon, I now have a sun.” She laughed, leaves rustling. “Now, sun and moon rest in my arms.”

“Just a nice wish, nothing grand,” Su Qing said, shaking her head. “Can I be your child?”

The Earth Mother didn’t refute. “All who walk the earth are my children. But whether you choose to be mine is up to your heart.”
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Su Qing pondered silently. Since transmigrating, the strongest she’d seen were Elder Qingfeng from the entrance exam and Elder Danxia during the thunder tribulation. Could they hold a mountain? Command creatures, winds, streams, or rare life force?

She hadn’t seen it, but her gut said no.

What was the Earth Mother’s cultivation? Above Soul Transformation—Void Refining, Unity, Tribulation Crossing? Or a god lingering post-ascension?

Did anyone truly ascend? The mightiest, Carefree Immortal, fell before ascending. Was there proof of that path?

Su Qing saw a carrot dangled before all cultivators.

Moon wriggled from its mother’s embrace, shaking its fur, leaping to the peak, looking up. “Earth Mother, why did A’Luo cry?”

Its usual brash tone softened, almost squeaky, before her.

The previous night’s victims—tiger demon, iron-eating beast, golden peng, flower demon—wore complicated expressions.

“It’s A’Luo’s matter. Ask her when she wakes, if she feels the time’s right,” the Earth Mother said patiently, then turned to Su Qing. “She wronged you. When she wakes, ask for an apology.”

Su Qing shook her head. “She didn’t go all out.”

The Vine Demon’s power far exceeded hers.

Without holding back, Su Qing wouldn’t have survived the first strikes. Her killing intent was real but restrained, perhaps to avoid harming Moon or to test Su Qing.

This fight, though brutal, let Su Qing grasp a new sword technique, temper her body, and taste mid-Foundation Establishment power. She profited—an apology wasn’t needed, as long as her sword stayed hers.

Su Qing asked, “If I haven’t decided to be your child, can I still visit?”

Moon bared its teeth at her, as if saying, *Are you dumb? Who cares whose child you are? This is the Earth Mother, goddess of the earth—being hers is a win!*

The Wolf King glared, smacking Moon’s head.

Moon whimpered, covering its head, daring not to retort. Nearby beasts smirked, gleefully recounting Moon’s misdeeds to the Wolf King while the Earth Mother spoke.

Kids present, yet they snitched to the parent.

The Wolf King twitched its ears, pretending not to hear.

Su Qing understood but couldn’t accept such a bond lightly—it deserved careful thought.

The Earth Mother loved bold children. “Of course! Stay all day if you like. I’ll tell Little Wang Quan, if back mountain beings can study at Sword Sect, why can’t Sword Sect’s people stay with me? I’ve awaited you for a long, long time.”

A long time ago?

Su Qing realized Xiaocao, a back mountain being, must have spoken of her.

Reverse-studying at the back mountain? She wasn’t done learning at Sword Sect.

She thanked earnestly, “Then I’ll visit often, senior.”

In the Earth Mother’s hands, the mountain was a mere mound, Su Qing smaller than a sprout, yet she knew the Earth Mother saw her clearly.

And she did.

“I must give you a token for free passage.”

She winked playfully. Su Qing suddenly understood the beasts’ speech.

Before, their sounds were background noise, unintelligible. Moon and Hong Ying used human speech for her sake. Now, she understood.

Sparrows on branches debated whose feathers were brighter, discussing bird clan fashion.

Beasts around the Wolf King complained: the iron-eating beast mourned a century’s jade bamboo sap, the golden peng its finest feather, the red-furred bat its singed fur, the spirit deer Moon’s midnight howling.

Moon hid in the pack, ready to bolt as wind.

Beast speech varied, but in Su Qing’s ears, it became human language, conveying meaning and emotion.

Incredible.

The Earth Mother sent a wry message: *[Ignorance is bliss. At least I wouldn’t wake to settle disputes daily.]*
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All were her children, heart and back—she was in a bind.

Who’d think the earth’s goddess had such woes? Su Qing smiled.

*[That’s a girl’s look—smile more. Come here to be happy, or it defies the purpose.]*

The Earth Mother blew softly. The jade in Su Qing’s dantian sank deeper, sealed by a restriction. Only those far above her could sense it.

Few could.

Su Qing sent, *[Earth Mother, what is this thing?]*

Her lake-like eyes replied, *[Telling you robs it of meaning. Find the answer yourself.]*

After two weeks in the back mountain, Su Qing returned to Sword Sect under Moon’s reluctant gaze.

It had played wildly. The Wolf King grew increasingly displeased—once Su Qing left, a beating loomed.

Su Qing was helpless in this family spat.

Soon after, the second secret realm opening was due.

But the sect leader canceled it due to a beast tide crisis in Yinlan City, replacing it with an off-campus practical mission.

All first-year Sword Sect students were to head to the frontlines to aid Yinlan City.
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