C1142 To Take Advantage of the Tiger's Skin

As the Dragon Slaying Stage began to absorb and merge with the violet gold dragon egg, Cao Yi of the Ebon Star swiftly weighed his options. In no time, he had reached a decision.

The sinister bloodlight in his gaze abruptly vanished, replaced by a long robe radiating an emerald glow, supplanting the dark red of his previous garment. The malevolent aura that once clung to him was cleansed away in an instant.

He transformed before their eyes into a figure of gentle refinement, his smile as warm as the look in his eyes. A righteous aura filled his being, coursing through his meridians and acupoints. Soft rings of light emerged behind him, lending him an even more distinguished air.

"I will join forces with Tan Junshan to put an end to the resurrection ceremony here," he declared, taking a measured breath and standing with his hands clasped behind him. He addressed Yu Yuan and Chen Qinghuang with unwavering confidence, "The fragments of the Titan Spinosaurus dragon egg, including the essence of its young spirit, have now integrated with the Dragon Slaying Stage. I trust you will handle them appropriately. As for this heart, once Tan Junshan and I have erased Grec's lingering mark, it will be yours to refine."

Yu Yuan, sensing the wonder of the Dragon Slaying Stage, paused in surprise. "Since when have you become so agreeable?"

Back in the Moonfall Sanctuary, Cao Yi, masquerading as Ann Jieshan, was far from amiable. And in Gloomhollow, as well as many other places, his presence meant decisive and merciless action, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. It was precisely for this reason that neither Yu Yuan nor anyone else could have imagined that he was not Ann Jieshan, but rather Cao Yi from the Ebon Star. After all, would a cultivator of the Ebon Star blatantly commit such senseless slaughter?

"We've known each other for more than a day. I've come to know quite a bit about you, yet you... you know very little about me," Cao Yi said with an easy smile. "In time, I'll show you exactly who I am."

With a whoosh, he transformed into a cluster of auspicious clouds, radiating a pure, gentle light that seemed to cleanse the world's impurities. He moved toward the heart that was steadily drawing in the Lunarphite's residual vital energy. The clouds condensed to the size of a thumb, shimmering with a prismatic brilliance.

Grec, the Demon God, alongside Sabonis, the Blood King, are hell-bent on annihilating the inhabitants of the Everlands. These two are not just your adversaries but the sworn enemies of all humanity within the Everlands. Our objectives align when it comes to the demise of Grec, so I will begin by demonstrating my good faith."

The voice of Cao Yi emanated from a heart that seemed to be on the brink of withering away. Despite its appearance, a significant portion of the Lunarphite's vital energy had already been siphoned off.

Within the core of the shriveled heart, the residual lifeblood of Demon God Grec had solidified into a blood crystal the size of a grinding stone.

The reformation of the Great Demon God's flesh and bones was taking place within this blood crystal.

The heart's inherent power, the Lunarphite's vital energy, and the force stealthily drawn from the Titan Spinosaurus's dragon egg, all converged within the blood crystal.

As Cao Yi made his entrance, auspicious clouds swirled around the heart's perimeter, methodically repairing the blood vessels and sinews that Tan Junshan had been relentlessly severing.

Tan Junshan was solely focused on cutting them, only to witness the severed vessels and tendons regenerate.

Cao Yi, however, approached the task differently. He transformed into clouds that acted as precise chisels and divine hands, severing certain vessels while ingeniously connecting others to new vascular structures, arranging the bloodlines in a pattern he had discerned.

He wasn't engaging in the wanton destruction that characterized Tan Junshan's approach. Rather, he was like a master of the Blood Fiend's resurrection ceremony, meticulously fine-tuning with innovative techniques.

Clearly, he had a deep understanding of the intricate and esoteric aspects of the Blood Fiend's resurrection ceremony.

"I will relinquish all of Grec's crystallized essence to you, Yu Yuan, without claiming any for myself."

Cao Yi's voice continued to drift leisurely from the heart, "What I require of you is patience. Once I've neutralized all the latent threats in this forbidden area, you can utilize the Dragon Slaying Stage's extraordinary power to transport me—and all of us—to another forbidden area."

"Our next objective lies within the forbidden area housing the demonform. We must obliterate his secondary line of defense!"

"After that, there will be a third forbidden area, a place where the Blood Fiend elders reside, and it will be a veritable battlefield!"

"I hope we can join forces to thwart the resurrection ceremony of the Great Demon God Grec, ensuring its complete destruction."

"..."

Years ago, the Ebon Star's prodigy was earnestly sabotaging the resurrection ceremony before him while revealing his true intentions.

Whoosh!

A slender beam of moonlight, conjured by Tan Junshan, burst forth from the heart, rapidly expanding into the shape of a person.

When Cao Yi entered and began targeting the resurrection ceremony of the Great Demon God with auspicious clouds, Tan Junshan realized that Cao Yi was the one truly hitting the nail on the head.

What Tan Junshan couldn't achieve, Cao Yi proved he could.

"This man is undeniably cunning and ruthless, willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals. One moment he's a sworn enemy, the next, he's ready to collaborate," Tan Junshan remarked as he emerged, casting a glance at the Lunarphite at his feet. "He knows that Greco can only be completely vanquished if the resurrection ceremonies in all three forbidden areas are destroyed."

"When sects from the Everlands, Euwrea, and the Land of Quiescence face an invasion, they band together like a group seeking warmth. I believe we can indeed cooperate on the matter of Grec's demise."

"Moreover, the sincerity Cao Yi has shown seems quite genuine."

Tan Junshan said this while looking towards Yu Yuan, and Chen Qinghuang followed suit with her gaze.

To venture into another forbidden area of the Blood Fiend and engage in battle with the Blood Fiend elders, Cao Yi would need the strength of Tan Junshan, Chen Qinghuang, and Yu Yiyi.

However, to access the other two forbidden areas, they would depend on the Dragon Slaying Stage.

Chen Qinghuang, who controlled the Deathwing Lair, lacked the power to transport them from a withered heart to the other two.

Cao Yi was well aware of this, which is why he so generously forfeited the potential gains from this particular forbidden area.

His aim was Yu Yuan's current agreement and approval, possibly to make other calculations at the last forbidden area, after ensuring the complete failure of Grec's resurrection ceremony.

"Let's first assess his sincerity and see if his knowledge of the resurrection ceremony is as extensive as he claims," Yu Yuan stated gravely.

"Hahaha!"

Cao Yi's laughter echoed from each vibrant auspicious cloud. "From the soul of Ann Jieshan, I learned of their connection with the Blood Fiend. When I acquired the residual memories of the Blood Fiend's Chief Elder from the previous generation, I began to study the Blood Fiend's resurrection ceremony. The object of my desire is something I'm willing to scheme for over decades, even centuries."

"I am here because I have the confidence to be here!"

"Just wait a moment, and you'll see whether I'm boasting or not."

The tiny lights within the miniature heart multiplied, and gradually, everyone sensed that the flow of vital energy from the Lunarphite had ceased. Grec's resurrection ceremony, at least for now, had come to a halt.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

All the peculiar lights and auspicious clouds converged on the blood crystal at the heart's core.

Outside, Yu Yuan and his companions exchanged glances, silently signaling each other to remain vigilant as they awaited the outcome.

After a quarter of an hour, the shrunken heart began to expand and swell like a balloon being inflated.

Cao Yi, clad in a green robe shimmering with an emerald glow, emerged within the expanding heart, cradling a blood crystal enveloped in a dense mist of spiritual energy.

Within the crystal, a skeletal figure was faintly visible, seemingly fleshing out with muscles and veins.

Cao Yi pointed at the blood crystal and grinned at Yu Yuan, "This can only be processed with your Altar of Rebirth. Of course, I have the capability as well, but I won't compete with you for it just yet."

Yu Yuan was taken aback.

"Would you prefer I come to you, or should I bring it out to you?" Cao Yi asked with a mischievous laugh. "If you're worried I might play tricks, I'll bring it out to you."

"Then please, bring it out," Yu Yuan responded cautiously.

He had always been cautious of this enigmatic prodigy from the Ebon Star, never one to act rashly or foolishly by charging in without thought.

"Very well."

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