Zenith, glass. Sunlight filters through the stained-glass windows, scattering within this immense triangular space, revealing a sacred radiance.
A red carpet stretches directly towards a golden platform in the distance, flanked by statues of various expressions. Each statue is incredibly legendary, depicting heroes familiar to all automatons.
Jasmine gazes at the massive statues lining the path, recognizing each of these automatons one by one.
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“General Tianpeng, the Great Ancestor…”
“Is this the highest point of the Automaton City? Truly extraordinary.” Jiang Wen surveys the hall, praising the solemn and sacred scenery.
His gaze falls upon the golden platform, where a massive golden coffin rests peacefully.
“There, that should be where the sacred body of the Automaton Mother lies.” Jasmine is extremely excited; this will be her first time meeting the Automaton Mother. For an automaton, this is undoubtedly the most sacred event.
The Automaton Mother is the ancestral god who created all automatons in the world, the supreme being in the hearts of automatons. The lifelong dream of any automaton is to meet the Automaton Mother once.
Now that dream is within reach, something Jasmine never dared to imagine.
“Auspicious day of dreams, we worship the Holy Mother of Heaven;
Grasping the long sword's jade hilt, its melodious sounds echo.”
…
Jasmine sings an ancient song, slowly walking towards the golden coffin.
The three of them, one after another, arrive before the sacred body of the Automaton Mother.
Inside the golden coffin, a woman lies in eternal slumber. She is a human, the same as Jiang Wen.
But now, having truly seen the sacred body of the Automaton Mother, she is told that the Holy Mother has not died. This discrepancy is too great, causing Jasmine's mind to spin.
“My soul core is about to crash; I need to calm down.” Jasmine mutters to herself, walking aside and forcing herself to calm down. She seems to have a new understanding of this world.
“Why do you believe the words of the Taifu?” Jiang Wen says. “Before, you were confidently saying that the Taifu had problems and even stole evidence from them. Now, you believe their words again?”
“I… I probably don't believe that the Holy Mother is still alive either.” Jasmine sighs, hearing Jiang Wen's words. “After all, the Automaton Mother created everything for automatons. If she is still alive, then are we really created by the Automaton Mother…?”
Jasmine's tone is filled with doubt. She feels lost about her origins. After all, if the Automaton Mother's creation is false, then who are they? And where do they come from?
“Whether it is true or false, ask your Automaton Mother, and you will know.” Jiang Wen looks at the Holy Mother in the coffin, reaching out a hand to touch her forehead. He makes a sword gesture with his hand, gently tapping her forehead.
The next moment, a light appears above the Automaton Mother's head, and a surging spiritual energy continuously pours into her body, slowly bringing color to her pale face and gradually filling out her withered limbs.
The already withered wings emit a glow, and her whole body seems to be coated with a layer of light, revealing a milky white radiance.
Jasmine beside her widens her eyes, looking at the transformed Holy Mother in the coffin, her heart filled with endless shock and bewilderment.
“Awake.” Jiang Wen's faint voice comes, and the Holy Mother in the coffin's eyes tremble slightly, then slowly open little by little.
A pair of clear blue eyes looks out of the coffin, reflecting the figures of Jiang Wen and the others.
“She's awake!” Jasmine exclaims, feeling her soul core trembling wildly, her whole body in a daze.
“I… I can't. I feel like my soul core is about to collapse…” Jasmine stutters, her whole body shaking. Jiang Wen looks at her like this and reaches out to stroke her head.
Feeling the triangular body in Jasmine's mind, like a magic weapon, is tearing apart, he takes action to slowly soothe it.
Gradually, Jasmine calms her breathing. Her mind returns to normal, and she is no longer like a madwoman.
“I roughly understand what's going on with you.” Jiang Wen says, looking at Jasmine. Just now, by using his magic to soothe Jasmine, he came into contact with the triangular body. He saw the process of the soul core gradually tearing, a manifestation of gradually shattering like glass.
“Is she alright?” Wuming asks.
“It's nothing serious; it's just that her soul core is a bit unstable and prone to cracking.” Jiang Wen smiles, then looks at the Holy Mother in the coffin again.
She has already awakened from her slumber, her whole person appearing bewildered. Perhaps she is bewildered by where she is, or perhaps she is bewildered by who the three people before her are.
She surveys the surrounding environment, looks at Jiang Wen, and asks softly, “Has the fog… dissipated?”
“The fog?” Jiang Wen is somewhat surprised to hear this word. He knows what the fog is and understands that ordinary people who are in the fog for a long time will become mad and frenzied.
But this does not seem to be the Great Dry Old Land. Could the fog also appear here? Jiang Wen looks at the Holy Mother and asks, “Are you talking about the fog?”
“Yes, the fog. You… who are you? And who are you? Why am I here?” The Holy Mother asks blankly.
“We are people from Tianyuan City. You should be a member of the Yuyun tribe, right?” Jiang Wen asks tentatively.
“Tianyuan City… Could it be that you are here to capture me?! We have already left Tianyuan City; will you not let us go?!” The Holy Mother says with a distressed expression. “You betrayed the Heavenly King, why do you have to exterminate us! Are you not afraid of retribution?!”
Jiang Wen feels like he has heard something incredible, takes a deep breath, and stares at the Holy Mother: “Are you saying that the people of Tianyuan City betrayed Jiang Wenji?”
“Jiang Wenji, how do you know the name of the Emperor Venerable Saint King?” The Holy Mother is somewhat surprised. She examines Jiang Wen again, suddenly seeming to discover something incredible, pointing at him with a trembling voice. “You, you are… Shennong?!”
