C1125 The Artifact Entered the Body

Thud! Thud! Thud!

A vigorous heartbeat emanated from the Dragon Slaying Stage within Yu Yuan's sleeve, causing his frame to shudder. His complexion took on an unnatural hue as a remnant soul ventured into the inner realm of the Dragon Slaying Stage. There, he could see the tenth-level Chronowyrm and the fragmented remains of the frost wyrm quivering ever so slightly.

How could the corpses of two tenth-level Dragon Gods, dead for untold years and interred within the Dragon Slaying Stage, suddenly exhibit such anomalies? It seemed as though a force, awakening from billions of miles away, was drawing the dragon corpses within the Dragon Slaying Stage, compelling the soulless remains to break free from this realm and gravitate towards the slowly intensifying power.

This was the second time Yu Yuan had perceived that immense heartbeat, and he could only hazily surmise that this eerie pulsation originated from Ionodios. His connection to the Dragon Slaying Stage allowed him this awareness, an insight unbeknownst to anyone else present.

Chen Qinghuang's suspicion was piqued by his peculiar behavior. The empress's enigmatic and profound gaze fell upon him briefly. Without uttering a word, her expressive eyes conveyed volumes.

"I sensed a heartbeat from Ionodios earlier on the journey; this was the second occurrence," Yu Yuan explained with composure.

"Is it possible that the dragon corpses within the Dragon Slaying Stage have been infused with an unusual power?" Chen Qinghuang asked, her lips curving into a look of surprise.

Yu Yuan gave a slow nod.

Chen Qinghuang's ethereal beauty was marked by a contemplative air. "A divine object like the Dragon Slaying Stage would likely be quite challenging to store in the Cosmos Ring. You shouldn't keep it on display. Perhaps you could dedicate one of your many acupoints to house the Dragon Slaying Stage. I would recommend the Shenque acupoint."

She then turned her attention to the center of Yu Yuan's chest. "The Baneblade could be placed within the Tan Zhong acupoint."

Yu Yuan, taken aback, questioned, "Is that necessary?"

"Absolutely, it's necessary!" Tan Junshan affirmed with a series of nods. "Forget the Dragon Slaying Stage; even the Baneblade and Bloodhell, if left exposed, could easily be detected by those with ill intentions. Since you've already refined them and they bear your essence, you can store them in the acupoints just like the Crucible of Evil."

"Let's wait for one more person, and in the meantime, explore the wonders of this place," Winona of the Moonlit Wanderers said as she transformed into a radiant beam of moonlight and headed toward a distant rift in the canyon.

Tan Junshan, clutching a silver fork, let out a low chuckle and casually waved his hand over the ground. The earth split open abruptly, and he vanished into the crevice with a swift flash.

The Songbird Queen squinted her eyes, observing the Deathwing Lair that hung midair, emanating a death aura. Under her watchful gaze, the massive Deathwing Lair began to shrink slowly. Within a matter of seconds, the lair condensed to the size of a fingernail and vanished into the secret acupoint nestled between her lower and middle elixir fields.

"The location of this lair is far too conspicuous. Keeping it out in the open makes it easy to attract attention," she remarked.

Whoosh! A black-purple kitten darted out from the Crucible of Evil and affectionately nuzzled Yu Yiyi's feet.

"Shadowfox!" Yu Yuan exclaimed softly, his surprise evident.

The Shadowfox, once one of the formidable twelve Banes and brought by the Tempest's Edge in exchange for Qi Yunhong's freedom, was not to be taken lightly, even in its weakened state. Moreover, after recently taking refuge in the Crucible of Evil, it had been nurtured by the lesser Banes and ascended from the eighth to the ninth level.

It was now second only to the Frost Queen, who resided at the tenth level. How long had it taken for the Frost Queen to reach the ninth level? Shadowfox had managed to achieve this in just half a year, positioning itself just below the Frost Queen.

The malevolent and savage gleam in Shadowfox's eyes made Yu Yuan frown. Only Yu Yiyi, who had materialized her form, seemed capable of calming it, encouraging it to willingly draw near.

In that moment, Yu Yiyi crouched down, cradling Shadowfox in her arms. She gently petted its soft fur and whispered a few words before letting it go, saying, "Go on."

Instantly, Shadowfox transformed into a streak of black lightning, plunging into the depths of the earth and vanishing without a trace.

Crack! Snap!

Soon after, a series of explosive sounds erupted from the ground beneath them. Whether it was the aftermath of Tan Junshan's disruption or Shadowfox's wild dash remained uncertain.

Yu Yiyi and the Frost Queen stood shoulder to shoulder, casting a brief glance at Chen Qinghuang before Yu Yiyi addressed Yu Yuan, "This involves the body of a Dark Deity, and it's also the domain sealed by the Great Demon God Grec. Master, you must be as cautious as possible. Be careful not to be unwittingly ensnared by others, to the point of risking your life for their cause and even compensating them for it."

Yu Yuan chuckled in response, unable to suppress his amusement.

Chen Qinghuang remained stoic, seemingly indifferent to Yu Yiyi's hostility as she coolly suggested, "Do your best to integrate the Dragon Slaying Stage and the Baneblade Bloodhell into the acupoints you've opened."

With those words, she vanished on the spot, leaving behind no trace of her presence or remnant soul.

"Master, she and Tan Junshan have been conspiring for a long time, keeping their plans secret and not sharing anything with us beforehand. We need to stay vigilant," Yu Yiyi remarked with a twist of her lips, her head bowed. She continued, "Back in Ionodios, if she hadn't abruptly destroyed the passageway linking to the Dark Realm, the Divine Sword would have already been reclaimed."

"If Lord Taishi had wielded the Divine Sword, he could have quelled that calamity long ago."

"Master, you're a member of the Boulderdawn Sect, through and through. Her actions have actually undermined the interests of the Boulderdawn Sect. It's only because she still holds value, and seems to share a significant past with you, that Lord Taishi has refrained from taking action. Nevertheless, we must remain cautious of her potential ulterior motives."

"…"

Yu Yiyi was deliberate in her choice of words, mindful of Yu Yuan's feelings as she spoke of Chen Qinghuang's misdeeds.

Having regained most of her memories, she was aware of her original role as a servant to the dragon slayer and a member of the Boulderdawn Sect. It was only natural for her to consider the interests of the Boulderdawn.

Yu Yiyi harbored a deep-seated discontent for Chen Qinghuang, who had thwarted the strategies of Taishi and President Lyi, preventing the Titanblade from returning successfully.

"Understood, I'll be cautious."

Yu Yuan maintained a steady gaze as he discreetly watched the cauldron spirit. He sensed that the previously reserved spirit, which had significantly altered its demeanor towards him, had gone through a period of self-adjustment. It was gradually reverting to the Yu Yiyi he knew well, not the one who had knelt in the Dissolving Fortress, too frightened to even breathe.

Interacting with Yu Yiyi now felt more comfortable, and he had grown more accustomed to her presence.

He then disregarded Chen Qinghuang, Tan Junshan, and Winona, and their potential plans. Under the watchful eyes of Yu Yiyi and the Frost Queen, he attempted to position the Baneblade, Bloodhell, and the Dragon Slaying Stage within various acupoints.

To his surprise, the task presented no challenge whatsoever.

The Shenque acupoint at his navel, activated by the Shadow Moon Essence and rich vitality, was in close proximity to the lower elixir field of the Golden Sanctum, and was shrouded in a mist of spiritual energy.

With a whoosh, the elongated, gray-white Dragon Slaying Stage connected to the middle elixir field and the little world of the Golden Sanctum, drawing in an influx of spiritual fog. The pure vitality, imbued with the force of creation, flowed into it as well.

Yu Yuan was momentarily startled and quickly concentrated, wary of any unforeseen developments.

After observing for some time, he realized that the spiritual energy and vitality from the lower and middle elixir fields were merely enveloping the Dragon Slaying Stage. His own power and essence were permeating the stage in such a way that it seemed to be a method of nurturing the weapon and seeking a deeper synergy.

The Baneblade, upon being placed in the little world, established a delicate link with the vitality.

The crimson Altar of Rebirth rotated silently, as if intimidating the multitude of Bloodwraiths within the Baneblade.

Yu Yuan felt that if he were to cast the Baneblade into the Altar of Rebirth and set his mind to refining it, the seven Bloodwraiths and all the blood-hued glimmers within the blade could be completely absorbed by the altar.

The altar, forged by the cosmic giant beast known as the Abyssal Leviathan, was inherently superior to the Baneblade. Over the years, it had grown in power, assimilating the lifeblood of formidable beings from various races, as well as the heart and bones of the archdemon. This extraordinary altar possessed infinite applications, far beyond the capabilities of the Bloodwraiths within the Baneblade.

Yu Yuan, having settled the Dragon Slaying Stage and the Baneblade into separate acupoints, took a moment to reflect. That day, an unexpected cold moon emerged in the sky. Narrowing his eyes for a closer look, a chilling smile slowly spread across his face.

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