Chapter 77: Old Friend

She looked back—Mu Wenxin came slow from the lab—gaze long and yearning.
In an ordinary family—mother and daughter—even foster—should be warm—she only felt sick.
Mu raised a hand—Liu-ge and the rest stopped—stood at two ends.
“Child—you made me search so hard—even consciousness phantom couldn’t find you.” Mu’s smile just right. “Come back—I’ll release them all. Useless lot—not worth one finger of yours.”
Seeing disbelief—Mu ordered: “Liu—release the one we brought yesterday.”
Soon Liu-ge dragged out an ability user half dead from torture.
Seeing Mu—the man’s pupils shrank—before Mu spoke—knelt—voice shaking: “Director—Director Mu—please let me go…”
Mu’s look—Liu-ge barked: “Scram.”
Joy on his face—he crawled and ran.
“See? I keep my word.” Mu looked at her. “I only want you. Stay—I free everyone.”
Cold laugh: “Who wants a deal with you.”
Words fell—both sides fought again.
“They outnumber us.” Bai Yanci sword ready—defense barrier up. “They’re draining us.”
Bai Yanci was right—these were far stronger than before—God-Making Plan results.
Hold awhile—but endless opponents—strength would end.
“Child—see?” Mu spread arms—admiring her work—laughing wider. “This is God-Making Plan—mortal bodies—match immortals. I am the pioneer—humanity’s future!”
“Seize her.” Mu’s eyes fanatic—looking at her like the perfect artwork.
Invisible force bound her—before consciousness faded—three words from Bai Yanci faint: God-Binding Net.
Woke again—small lab—empty.
God-Binding Net—artifact to bind immortals—power great—the name. Mu had such a tool—not afraid she’d run.
On the desk—files—God-Making Plan.
First pages—Wangshu Orphanage experiments—live tests—many dead—then drugs to maximize ability trigger.
Ordinary ability users couldn’t bear—dead or mad.
Bureau experimenters—even Liu-ge—only Mu’s pieces. No better subject—experimenters become subjects.
A fine hunter—doesn’t treasure trophies.
That night at the orphanage—Mu noticed Yi Ke.
Wangshu was only her slaughterhouse—director—Yang Yufei—all pieces.
She didn’t care for weak—bullied children—not even piece material.
But that night’s moon was bright—she stopped—looked twice.
Far off—the child called Yi Ke wronged—no cry no fuss—Yang Yufei soothed—stood again—clear as snow that never melts.
That holy look—only seen a thousand years ago.
Yi Ke absorbed in reading—Mu’s steps light—beside her—spoke: “Seen enough?”
Yi Ke not shocked—Mu’s territory—foster mother appeared from nowhere—wouldn’t surprise if she crawled from underground.
Files not finished—Mu didn’t stop. Left them for Yi Ke to read.
Brow up—mood not bad: “Why stop reading?”
Yi Ke didn’t know the game—turned to last page.
Yellowed paper—one line: Holy Lady—I have found you at last.
Attached file—her name.
Fallen god—danger rank SSS—experimental subject.
“Holy Lady”—four characters—shocking in her eyes.
Writer too excited—last stroke tore the paper.
“Child—I didn’t want this either—you forced me—you forced me.” Mu calmest tone—words hard to parse.
Bad feeling spread—cold all over—looked at Mu: “What are you? You’re not human.”
“How could I not be?” Mu complex gaze—soft. “Child—I am human—but not like those fools. So I opened God-Making Plan.”
Mu spread arms—laughed loud: “I waited too long—so long I forgot. When you have full consciousness—I finish the plan—gain divine power—become true god—replace you!”
“My plan almost succeeds—human fire passes on—only waiting for you.”
Frown—shouted: “Mu Wenxin—what nonsense!”
“Holy Lady—you remember nothing?” In an instant Mu raised hand—changed into lavish ritual robes—“How about this?”
Pupils shrank—face aged—but overlapped the figure in deep memory.
At last: “You’re the High Priest.”
A thousand years ago—consciousness broken—fallen to earth—that sect made her Holy Lady.
And in the end—High Priest—called her witch—burned her alive.
“Long time since I heard that title.” Mu smiled. “Holy Lady—you remember—best comfort. Before my great work—an old friend stays.”
“After you died—I knew—you were the true god. The god I sought was beside me—I didn’t cherish. I swore—find the fallen god again—never miss the chance.”
Low: “How are you still alive.”
Mu didn’t deny human. Ordinary humans—a century—how a thousand years?
Then she understood at once.
That consciousness phantom—Life God’s power clinging. Even if it ran out someday—enough to keep Mu alive a millennium.
Phantom power nearly spent—Mu aged—no longer young.
Mu raised hand—phantom appeared in palm.
“You wonder—human—how learn construction? You don’t know—after fallen god fell—consciousness remnants become phantoms—your last grace to the sect.”
After her god-death—that consciousness alone—Mu learned she was fallen god.
Too late—fallen god “dead.”
Mu used phantom power—held life till now—originally for greater power—taste supreme rule.
Fallen god’s return lit Mu’s fire—changed plan—seize divine power—take the god seat.
Power and endless years both.
Mu again: “You are Life God—all living things—spirit flame. Why not bless—grant humans immortality?”
Unchanged—as a thousand years ago: “Mu Wenxin—all things have measure—humans have a century—force reversal—break the world’s law.”
“Law? What a joke!” Mu cold. “When I’m true god—even heaven’s wrath—I defy heaven. Since you won’t grant immortality—I become the god!”
This lab built for her—barriers all around—divine power nearly dry.
Mu raised her years—High Priest then—knew her well.
Hard breach—useless.
Could only watch Mu raise hand—strip her consciousness.
Pain tore from the heart—knelt—little power left—flowed to Mu’s side.
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She bore the pain—cold laugh: “Even take all my consciousness—you won’t be true god.”
Mu thought deathbed talk: “Stop bluffing. With consciousness—how not god?”
“Gods need great immortal to draw thunder tribulation—then ascend. Human flesh is frail—only great immortal spirit body can call tribulation. Your force—force absorb consciousness—you’ll explode.”
“Stop stalling.” But Mu hesitated.
Just absorbed some divine power—couldn’t hold—ability and divine power didn’t merge—attacked each other—ability flow rebelled.
Stolen consciousness—they didn’t accept this master.
Power wild—Mu panicked: “How—how!”
Stolen consciousness circled—returned to Yi Ke.
Mu backlash—phantom stopped feeding. God-Binding Net failed—barrier shattered.
Metal door strong—but without barrier—paper to ability users.
Door crashed—Jiang Ran and others burst in.
Lin Qingzhu behind Jiang Ran—gun at Mu: “Team leader—we’re here.”