C1131 Blood Seeped Through
Yu Yuan's demeanor instantly became grave. The oncoming scarlet bloodlines triggered the Altar of Rebirth within him, threatening to burst forth uncontrollably. Narrowing his eyes, he tapped into his soul and aura to perceive them. The bloodlines, in a blink, seemed to expand manifold, revealing myriad tiny sparks and blood crystals intricately imprinted with the essence of life's bloodlines. Within them, he detected the scents of the Dawnbringers, mighty archdemons, Shura, and a host of other exotic entities. Each scarlet thread appeared to encapsulate a universe of life, carrying the scents of dozens, perhaps hundreds, of creatures' flesh and blood.
In the vast expanse of the Star River, only a Demon God born with such a peculiar Altar of Rebirth could accomplish this feat. Yu Yuan's face contorted with alarm. His knowledge of Grec, coupled with his experiences in the Moonfall Sanctuary, left him acutely aware of Grec's horror. The seemingly delicate bloodlines, lacking apparent force, transformed in his eyes into lethal weapons.
"It's Grec's scent," Chen Qinghuang murmured, deeply stirred. Her eyes shifted to a pale gray-white, exuding an intense, indissoluble aura of death.
With a swift motion, she confronted the hurtling scarlet bloodlines. Her hands formed the sign of death, and a wave of bizarre light ripples emanated from her, engulfing the oncoming bloodlines.
In the midst of the gray-white luminescence, the intricacies within the bloodlines were eroded by her law of mortality. The deathly force swiftly shattered the refined blood light, scattering the vital energy within the bloodlines to the winds.
"Don't resort to Bloodhell, and secure the Dragon Slaying Stage!" Chen Qinghuang's urgent voice rang out, a clear caution for Yu Yuan. Clutching the Dragon Slaying Stage and on the verge of invoking the Baneblade, Bloodhell, Yu Yuan regained his composure at her words.
He made a resolute decision to alter his course, refraining from summoning the Baneblade and instead submerging the Dragon Slaying Stage into his acupoint.
"Since we're up against the Great Demon God Grec..." The scabbard of the Titanblade within the Cosmos Ring materialized abruptly. Grasping it firmly, he faced three bloodlines, akin to crimson wraiths, surging towards him. Without hesitation, he unleashed the Moonfall Strike to counter them.
Scarlet sword light accurately pierced the blood-red lines, one after another. The fierce will contained within the sword light tore through the heavens, instantly reducing the blood-red lines to mere specks of light.
Whoosh!
Simultaneously, the impatient Altar of Rebirth within him burst forth, transforming into a spinning vortex of crimson that eagerly captured every speck of blood light emanating from Grec. As the blood light descended, it was like a nourishing rain, swiftly revitalizing his Altar of Rebirth.
Yu Yuan watched in amazement as the specks of blood light solidified into blood crystals before bursting apart. Instantly, the intricacies of various creatures' bloodlines dispersed into his Altar of Rebirth, patching and filling it.
A surge of joy overwhelmed him.
The Altar of Rebirth of the archdemon Grec shared a similar mysterious function to his own, amassing the lifeblood of different races to draw strength and understand the subtleties of their blood, thereby enhancing its own power.
The true Grec, now ensnared within Ionodios, was in dire straits. The power he left in this realm, along with his residual will and blood, were engaged in a resurrection ceremony. Although Grec's lingering power could instinctively lash out at intruders, it was considerably weaker. Once overcome, it could be engulfed and refined by Yu Yuan's Altar of Rebirth, aiding in its transformation.
"Grec's residual essence of flesh and blood is not something the Baneblade Bloodhell can refine," observed Chen Qinghuang. As Yu Yuan used his Altar of Rebirth to gather the blood light, she gestured for him to approach. Pointing to the ashen ripples of death and the light turned into blood crystals by the impact, she advised, "Ensure it doesn't infiltrate the Dragon Slaying Stage."
Understanding her intent, Yu Yuan once again departed from the Crucible of Evil. With his Altar of Rebirth floating before him, he flew to Chen Qinghuang's side to collect the tiny blood crystals.
As each blood crystal entered the Altar of Rebirth, the vital energy of numerous races transformed into a multitude of message imprints within the altar. The crimson altar grew increasingly crystalline and translucent, hinting at an imminent advancement.
"The blood rays and blood crystals are the profound truths that Grec has discerned from the blood of various races. You must refine and merge them with the Altar of Rebirth. Once the altar undergoes its transformation, immerse your heaven soul within it. Engage with it wholeheartedly to comprehend and allow the heaven soul to perfectly align with it. It will then become the vessel for the heaven soul."
Chen Qinghuang clarified for him.
The process of refining the Solar Spirit Body was articulated with clarity by the Songbird Queen, as if she was sharing her genuine insights.
Upon hearing this, Yu Yuan's eyes sparkled with realization. He understood that the empress had summoned him to harvest the vital energy Grec had bequeathed.
He could vividly sense that the vital energy left by the Blood Fiend Clan's patriarch was indeed conducive to the evolution of his Altar of Rebirth.
Excitedly, he turned his gaze to the others who had also been struck by the blood rays.
What he saw next took him aback.
The elders of the Moonlit Wanderers, Silvermoon Queen Lee Yupan, and Yue Fei of the ancient Moonfiend Clan, were all clad in a layer of silvery hard armor, as if donning exquisitely crafted armor tailored to their forms.
"Moonshield?"
Yu Yuan was taken aback, then noticed the subtle bloodlines in Winona's eyes—the very same that had attacked him and Chen Qinghuang.
The delicate bloodlines appeared to be corroding Winona's will and gnawing at her soul, intent on possession.
Winona's expression was one of agony as she trembled in midair, struggling with fear and helplessness against the bloodlines in her eyes, desperately clinging to consciousness.
Yet, Yu Yuan feared she might not withstand much longer.
She was up against the residual might of the archdemon Grec, which had already penetrated her flesh and soul.
"The moon energy we've absorbed harbors Grec's clandestine power; all Moonshields are intermingled with Grec's force!" The crescent-shaped instrument Tan Junshan wielded was engulfed in a mist of blood energy, transforming the once silvery crescent into a Blood Moon.
He chose to channel the power of the Moonshields through the instrument rather than his own physique.
As a result, it was the crescent-shaped instruments that suffered the corruption of Grec's will and vital energy, sparing his own body and spirit.
However, Winona, Lee Yupan, and Yue Fei weren't as fortunate.
Aside from Winona, the blood light in the eyes of Lee Yupan and Yue Fei was also becoming increasingly pronounced. They were aware of Grec's power permeating their beings even before Tan Junshan could address the issue. They responded more swiftly than Winona, already taking steps to dissolve and assimilate it.
"The blood light and blood crystals you seek are now within their bodies and those items."
Chen Qinghuang's demeanor grew cold, her eyes brimming with a rich death aura as she regarded Winona, Lee Yupan, and Yue Fei as though they were mere objects.
"If they cannot free themselves from Grec's will and extract his vital energy on their own, then we have no choice but to kill them to prevent them from being subjugated by Grec, becoming his blood bound slaves, and turning against us."
Her words were delivered as if they were self-evident.
Upon hearing this, the faces of Winona, Lee Yupan, and Yue Fei contorted with even greater anguish.