C1149 Something Strange
Deep within the dense, toxic fog, the immense form of Yu Zhu was barely discernible.
A staggering demonic energy burst forth, and Yu Zhu's shadow within the smoke climbed higher, growing increasingly large and otherworldly.
As she expanded, the venomous smoke shrouding her spread out wildly.
In the Outland Star River, a mix of over a hundred different powers mingled. Some, drawn to the smoke, merged with it and were swiftly refined into minuscule particles, becoming one of Yu Zhu's power sources.
The surrounding demons sensed her metamorphosis and swiftly moved aside as the toxic smoke billowed out.
The Golden Elephant Ancient God reverted to human form, standing atop the shimmering golden peak. He gazed down at the expanding spider body within the thick fog, bolstered by the surging demonic power.
"Ninth Level bloodline."
The Golden Elephant Ancient God nodded in approval, his face reflecting sincere joy for Yu Zhu's advancement.
Yu Yuan, having fallen into the Evil Cauldron, watched Yu Zhu's transformation. The Life Altar within him seemed to resonate subtly with Yu Zhu.
Within the Life Altar lay a blood-colored crystal, while another melted within Yu Zhu's demon heart.
Both crystals were linked to the Great Demon God, Grec, concealing layers of shared knowledge and blood-related secret arts.
This insight led him to realize that although Yu Zhu could momentarily break the bloodline barrier, truly assimilating Grec's blood-colored crystal and unlocking its profound mysteries would not be an overnight achievement.
Like him, Yu Zhu would require an extensive period to grasp the full benefits of the blood-colored crystal.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
In Yu Zhu's demon heart, the crystal from the Great Demon God, Grec, fragmented.
Only Yu Zhu, with her demon soul's perception, could see that the shattered crystal precisely matched the broken stars beneath her.
The blood-colored fragments, millions of times smaller, mirrored the arrangement of the now-broken stars.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Within the fragmented stars, another force vibrated, pulverizing the massive boulders into dust.
Yu Zhu let out a stifled grunt, then fixed a wary gaze on Cao Yi, who radiated an aura of unwavering righteousness.
"Cao Yi!"
The Golden Elephant Ancient God roared in rage. The golden mountain beneath him shimmered, its surface coming alive with countless golden demonic inscriptions.
The profound power of the Great Dao of Metal manifested instantly.
The demon blood of the Golden Elephant Ancient God boiled over, and two intertwining golden light rivers materialized in an instant, transforming into colossal golden scissors poised to sever Cao Yi's body.
Boom!
Another horrific tremor shattered the star completely, sending it into an explosive disintegration.
Countless massive rocks cascaded towards the depths of the Gloom Star River like a meteor shower.
The Demon Lord's corpse began to contract slowly, as if drawing the surrounding blood energy into its hollow chest.
"It wasn't me!"
Cao Yi's face showed a hint of concern. He called out to the Golden Elephant Ancient God before urgently turning to the menacing Yu Yuan, "I assure you, I had nothing to do with this! I was willing to give you the first blood crystal, and I wouldn't be petty enough to sabotage the second one!"
"Yu Yuan, there must be some unforeseen changes at play here, something beyond our expectations! But rest assured, I am not the one behind this. Moreover, you need to act quickly and use the Dragon Slash Platform to forge a path to the Blood Devil Clan's forbidden territory. I fear any delay could lead to further complications!"
Cao Yi's frustration was palpable; he was deeply concerned that this unforeseen event might disrupt the intricate array concealed within the Demon Lord's remains.
His urgency and visible distress brought a measure of calm to Yu Yuan.
He then attempted to reach out to Yu Zhu.
Connecting his soul with Yu Zhu's, he tapped into her innermost thoughts.
"It's not him, he's not the one causing mischief. I... I've glimpsed a residual image, an imprint deep within my mother's bloodline..."
As her voice reached him, the Yin God within Yu Yuan's Consciousness Little World quivered slightly.
In the next instant, Yu Yuan beheld the scene she had witnessed.
A vast purple wing, seemingly capable of slicing through the void, cleaved the Domain Boundary, comparable in size to the Nirvana Realm, with ease.
As the purple wing swept through, time appeared to stand still, and a blinding divine light erupted.
Once the Realm was split in two, a gigantic eight-legged spider emerged from a fragment of land, fleeing in disarray towards an unknown Outland Star River.
This Star River was resplendent with stars, a sun, and a luminous moon.
The breath of life permeated the Star River, suggesting the presence of numerous advanced intelligent races.
Yet the colossal eight-legged spider could not escape; as the purple wings unleashed their immense demonic power and harnessed the wonders of their bloodline, the spider seemed to be struck by an invisible, crushing force.
The purple wings swiftly drew near, unleashing a barrage of cold purple lightning that pierced the giant spider's Demon Soul and Demon Heart.
Without much struggle, the giant spider met its end in the Outland Star River, a nameless expanse.
Eager to pursue other formidable foes, the purple wings didn't linger and silently departed.
"Grec's blood-colored crystal has awakened a sealed fragment of my mother's consciousness within me," Yu Zhu's voice echoed anxiously in Yu Yuan's mind. Since her departure from Chilly Wind Valley, her journey had been smooth, and she had become a favored seed of potential within the Demon Palace. Now, for the first time, she was gripped by fear and unease.
She feared the scene she had witnessed, a memory that should have remained hidden.
She sensed that without the blood-colored crystal's activation, she might not have been able to unlock it, even as a Demon Lord at the Peak of Ninth Level.
The power sealing this fragment of consciousness likely originated from someone within the Demon Palace...
"If she was the one who killed my mother, why has she nurtured me so diligently? Does she have ulterior motives, or does she genuinely believe that I will never uncover the truth?" Yu Zhu's whispers continued to resonate in Yu Yuan's mind.
The shattered stars were gone, leaving only the Galo Demon Corpse adrift in the void, surrounded by scattered Demon Palace and Devil Palace elites, including Tan Junshan and Chen Qinghuang.
Yu Yuan maintained a stoic expression, though his heart was roiling with tumultuous emotions.
He had an inkling that the massive eight-legged spider was affiliated with the Demon Palace, yet he was unaware that its demise was the handiwork of the Demon Phoenix herself.
The Demon Phoenix, exalted within the Demon Palace, exhibited chilling detachment and ruthlessness in her killing, leaving Yu Yuan inwardly astonished.
What baffled him even more was the Demon Palace's fervent efforts to woo and cultivate Yu Zhu from the moment they learned of her existence.
They lavished her with the finest resources and repeatedly escorted her to the Demon Palace to bolster her strength.
He couldn't fathom that the Demon Phoenix was oblivious to Yu Zhu's heritage.
After all, it was she who had slain the progenitor of Yu Zhu's bloodline. Fully aware of the truth, yet still investing in her growth, could she truly be unafraid that Yu Zhu might ascend to Demon God status, seek out the truth, and exact her revenge?
What's going through your mind?
A surge of complex emotions suddenly flooded his heart with the emergence of that thought.
For some inexplicable reason, when he recalled the purple wings and pondered the Demon Palace Sovereign, he was struck by a sense of familiarity. It was as though he had known the Demon Phoenix for tens of thousands of years.
"Can it be?"
