C1119 Taishi's First Appearance!

The immense bronze coffin tore through the earth of Ionodios, revealing itself to the awe-struck onlookers.

It lay sprawled across the fractured terrain, dominating the landscape.

Beneath the coffin, the Absolute Darkness churned, yet it was contained by a layer of greenish-black psionic power, preventing any escape.

A man of tall stature, yet without displaying a Divine Visage, gracefully emerged from the bronze coffin.

In comparison to the colossal coffin, he seemed minuscule, but the aura he exuded, one that seemed to split the heavens, captured everyone's gaze.

His long, black hair fell casually over his shoulders, his upper body bare, adorned with innumerable glyphs that appeared etched into his skin.

These glyphs matched the minute inscriptions on both the tombstone and the inside of the coffin, as if imbued with a mysterious force.

The rumble of the cosmic order emanated from within him, as if he were the living embodiment of the Way of Heaven in Ionodios, a crystallization of its rules, a singular deity.

Spectacular lights and rainbow hues danced around him, along with the ethereal silhouettes of Divine Birds, Kylins, and Dragon Snakes that flickered into existence and then vanished just as quickly.

His handsome features bore an ancient resemblance to Zu Ann's, yet they were even more pristine.

His eyes were like a pristine, undiscovered mountain lake, clear and utterly tranquil, without a hint of disturbance.

Upon his arrival, he simply smiled at Yu Yuan, who stood beside the Dissolving Fortress and in the Soulforge Pool.

A voice, deeply familiar, resonated from the depths of Yu Yuan's soul.

"Since you do not wish to awaken, I shall honor your desire."

With those words, Yu Yuan noticed the Soulforge Pool beneath him suddenly become void and insubstantial.

Looking again, he saw the enigmatic pool had settled at the feet of the figure before him.

The sword scars once etched into the Soulforge Pool had vanished, now replaced by a tapestry of intricate and complex glyphs.

"Nie Qingtian, with his mastery of swordsmanship, had inscribed the Soulforge Pool to balance my power on behalf of the three great upper sects," spoke the figure, his voice serene and soothing, "He once stood as the guardian of the Moonfall Sanctuary and was the creator of the Sword Prison in the extraterrestrial Star River."

He was ultimately persuaded by me to pursue a new Way of Heaven, one that diverged sharply from the paths of the five great supreme powers.

And it was this choice that led to his downfall.

The man standing upon the Soulforge Pool ascended calmly into the sky, his demeanor unruffled.

Yu Yuan felt a jolt in his spirit.

Suddenly, he remembered the secret rumors about the cultivator known as Moon Slayer.

Whispers and hushed tales suggested that Nie Qingtian had been seduced by demonic forces, leading him astray. The three great upper sects had foreseen the danger and, to avert a catastrophe, they combined the might of the peak warriors from various extraterrestrial races with their own, resulting in the shattering of Nie Qingtian's soul.

Nie Qingtian, once the warden of Moonfall Sanctuary, had performed the Moon Slayer, drawing numerous Lunar Meteorites into the forbidden area to complete the rune circle.

Within that area, the entity revered by the five supreme forces as the greatest evil, the master of the bronze coffin before us, was also the rightful possessor of the Soulforge Pool.

—Taishi, the God-King!

Nie Qingtian had etched numerous sword scars into the Soulforge Pool to contain its mysteries and confine Taishi.

Yet, who could have foreseen that after eons, Taishi, lying within the bronze coffin, would subtly influence Nie Qingtian, turning the upper sects' sharpest sword to a different path, ultimately leading to his own destruction.

"His sword spell is inscribed on the walls of the Soulforge Pool. I can naturally decipher it," Taishi said with a gentle smile. "I had hoped to wield the Titanblade myself and witness its full potential. Alas..."

Chen Qinghuang stood within the Deathwing Lair, a deep chill creeping into her core.

For the first time, the visage of the once unshakeable first empress, hidden behind the pearl curtain, betrayed a hint of unease.

She was acutely aware that Taishi, having stepped onto the Soulforge Pool and slowly risen from the bronze coffin, wielded near limitless power within Ionodios, now sealed by his divine might.

The chill in Chen Qinghuang's heart stemmed from the knowledge that Taishi had the power to end her life, and she had no means of escape.

The Blood King, Sabonis, had used the ice energy of the Dark Realm to solidify the wall of the Deathwing Lair, yet she possessed the strength to shatter it.

At the very least, she could forsake the Deathwing Lair and, by leveraging her connection to the Nest of Perdition, teleport instantaneously. But now, witnessing the Demon God Grec unable to penetrate the wall inscribed with tiny glyphs, she realized that without Taishi's permission, she couldn't extricate herself from Ionodios.

"Though there are regrets, I won't delve deeper into them. After all, you were invited to Ionodios and collaborated with Yu Yuan to successfully repair the Deathwing Lair. The Blood King and the Demon God Grec's arrival owe much to your assistance and merit. Let's consider it even," Taishi said.

Standing atop the Soulforge Pool, Taishi finally reached the same level as the Blood King and Demon God Grec. He exchanged a glance with President Lyi.

President Lyi gave a subtle nod, signaling that he would take the lead, his stance reflecting that of the Chamber of Commerce.

"Those uninvolved, please exit now," Taishi commanded, gesturing towards the Deathwing Lair where Chen Qinghuang was and then towards the Dissolving Fortress. His voice resonated in the depths of many hearts.

Canli of the Dawnbringers hesitated briefly before instructing the warriors beside her, "Let's go."

Beru and Leo of the Starborn, without much hesitation, swiftly took flight.

Survivors from the extraterrestrial Otherkin, all guided by Taishi, assisted the wounded, gathered their belongings, and one by one ascended towards the sky, their destination being the Dissolving Fortress.

"Understood," Chen Qinghuang murmured softly. With her spellcasting, the Deathwing Lair, once rooted in a deep pit, rose abruptly, encircling the Dissolving Fortress in no time. It resembled the original Nest of Perdition, enveloping the fortress.

Whether it was the Blood King Sabonis or Grec, neither spoke as they observed the unfolding scene.

Once the Otherkin survivors, along with numerous lesser cultivators and archdemons, entered the Dissolving Fortress, Sabonis finally spoke, "You desire only Grec and me. May my people pass?"

Taishi smiled, "Certainly, but please wait a moment longer."

Sabonis lapsed into silence once more.

As the Soulforge Pool departed, Yu Yuan, who had also entered the Dissolving Fortress, watched the growing number of familiar faces around him with a somewhat bewildered look.

Whoosh!

Chen Qinghuang materialized once again, standing beside him. She spoke with a detached tone, "The Divine War unfolding below might spell the end of Ionodios, whether it be the death of the God-King or the demise of Sabonis and Grec. Only those of the stature of President Lyi, Jun Chen, Green Willow, and Zhongli Dapan can afford to stay and witness the battle."

"Anyone else caught in the crossfire of the Divine War will either perish or be gravely wounded."

Her veiled voice echoed in Yu Yuan's mind.

"The representatives of the various races are merely caught in the fray, with no duty to fight. Taishi has not held me accountable because he intends to use my lair and the Dissolving Fortress to evacuate everyone from Ionodios at once. As for the Abyssal Leviathan beyond our realm, I suspect it will no longer pose a threat and will likely depart in silence."

She spoke with confidence, having unraveled numerous secrets.

Yu Yuan gave a subtle nod in agreement.

It was then that Taishi, one of the venerable God-Kings from the Boulderdawn, fixed his gaze upon him once more.

"Depart first."

Taishi commanded succinctly.

Yet, the look in his eyes stirred a profound sense of familiarity within Yu Yuan, as if they had known each other for millennia.

Beside him, Chen Qinghuang lifted her beaded curtain for the first time, allowing her enigmatic and profound gaze to settle on him.

Tian Zang, Hei Xun, the Stormcrowned Emperor, and Indigo Wraith no longer stood guard with such vigilance. They offered a slight bow in his direction before dispersing into the distance.

Whoosh!

The Baneblade Bloodhell, seeking its rightful owner, slipped seamlessly into the scabbard on his back.

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