C1263 Demon Tide

Without any surprises, an eighth-level Golden Rock Beast, bereft of its spiritual wisdom, was effortlessly slain by the Baneblade. The beast's entire body, including its demon soul, was consumed by the Baneblade. Yu Yuan's remnant soul penetrated the scene, clearly observing the bizarre, blood-colored world within the blade now shimmering with a larger blood-colored light. This new addition paled in comparison to the seven Bloodwraith clusters, which were not on the same level. After all, those seven Bloodwraiths were the former masters of Bloodhell, either ninth-level Monster Lords or equally ferocious Otherkin.

The larger blood-colored light within the Baneblade was sliced and ground down by the crisscrossing blood light. At that moment, refined and pure vital energy began to flow from the hilt held by Yu Yuan, infusing his palm with a warm sensation and willingly entering his body. It traveled through the veins in his palm, coursing towards his organs, bones, and muscles. Yu Yuan's eyebrows quivered slightly as he silently reflected, realizing that the Altar of Rebirth, undergoing its metamorphosis within the little world of vitality, showed no desire to partake.

The Heaven Soul, deeply integrated with the Altar of Rebirth and the Solar Spirit, was self-sustaining, no longer seeking external aid. Yet, the complete unification of the Heaven Soul and the altar seemed to require more time. "Evil Body Refining!" With a shudder of his shoulders, the essence of the vital energy that had entered his body vanished like golden spectral lightning into the depths of his organs, propelled by the dark arts. His heart pounded fiercely, and his spleen, like parched earth, eagerly absorbed the golden energy.

Moments later, he wore a look of yearning for more. "There's ample room to fortify my physique and vital energy. It seems that hunting the archdemons of Shadow's Keep is not such a burdensome task for me." He mused, "The key is to maintain my winning streak." With a bright smile, he tightened his grip on the Baneblade. Glancing to his left, he soon spotted an eighth-level blood-traced beast charging mindlessly towards him. Yu Yuan gripped his blade and advanced.

...

"Princess Elena, let's return to the Glimmerdrift Nebula. That is your true home."

Berthold of the Shura earnestly implored Elena, hoping the young lady with unparalleled talent would cease her wanderings in the Brugeth. "Your combat prowess and the advancement of your bloodline should be focused in the Glimmerdrift Nebula. Your Highness, I even believe you should start preparing for the trials in the Dark Realm!"

The other Shura warriors on the meteorite nodded in agreement.

They had all witnessed Elena's innate divine strength recently, observing the terrifying destructive force she unleashed with her hammer, channeling the power of her bloodline.

They were convinced that once Elena endured the trials of the Dark Realm and became an esteemed Shura, she would undoubtedly surpass Lord Fernand and transform the Glimmerdrift Nebula into a sacred site for the Shura.

"What's the rush? The Brugeth is bustling with activity these days. Why not stay a bit longer and enjoy the scene?" Elena said, exuding serenity as she sat on the edge of the meteorite, gazing into the distance.

"I'm also curious about the outcome in Kuvrepros. I wonder if Ciara and the others will join the fray on the extraterritorial battlefield. I sense that this place is growing more perilous, yet it's brimming with opportunities."

Berthold spoke gravely, "Have you considered that the prodigies from the Sunlit Order and Ebon Star might also flee to this location?"

"What's there to fear? The leader of the Starborn is in Kuvrepros; what's there to worry about?" Elena replied nonchalantly.

"Our decisions have strayed from those of our king and the philosophies of many other clans," Berthold said cautiously, choosing his words with care. "The Starborn, they don't look kindly upon us."

Elena was about to argue that the Starborn wouldn't trouble her, especially with Gheirat there, when suddenly her bloodline pulsed intensely.

She fell silent at once, her attention riveted on the disturbance within her bloodline. She could faintly discern specks of golden light converging towards a single point.

"The Golden Rock Beasts are starting to converge, rapidly moving towards a specific location!" Elena exclaimed in surprise. As she spoke, she drew a silver medallion etched with intricate patterns from her chest and pointed to the Golden Rock Beast's blood on it. "I can only track the Golden Rock Beasts' movements within a certain range."

Berthold and the others immediately leaned in for a closer look.

They had previously acquired the demon blood of the Golden Rock Beast and entrusted it to Elena, who branded it onto the clan's vessels to track the creature's movements. Their intent was not to slay the Golden Rock Beast but to safely avoid it, for they were well aware that the Golden Rock Beasts hunting the Otherkin in the Star River hunted in packs, and rumors were that they awaited the arrival of Ogeus.

With numerous eighth-level Golden Rock Beasts and the Monster Lord Ogeus himself, Berthold and his companions knew they were outmatched. Slaying even one could alert the others and provoke a lethal pack response, an outcome they deemed too costly.

"Has Ogeus arrived?" Berthold pondered with a grave tone. "We all know the humans from the Everlands have a concealed Starway on the extraterritorial battlefield that shifts its location. It's possible that Ogeus used it to reach us and has now called his kin to him."

This insight weighed heavily on the hearts of the Shura warriors gathered there.

"Let's move on. No more risks. We'll find a new spot and then consider heading home," Elena advised with caution. Her words brought a collective sigh of relief from the Shura warriors.

Whoosh! Just then, a dark streak of lightning shot through a distant meteorite and vanished in the blink of an eye. Within the lightning, the vague outline of a robust, naked male with a towering demonic aura could be seen.

Berthold's blood ran cold at the sight. "A ninth-level archdemon!" he exclaimed.

"He must have seen us, yet he didn't engage!" one Shura warrior cried out in disbelief.

"Something's not right, very not right," Berthold murmured.

...

Atop the frigid meteorite, Yu Yuan stood with the Baneblade in hand, his smile menacing as he faced the unexpected visitor. The towering figure before him, a black man with a curved horn atop his head, bore natural demonic patterns across his largely bare skin. This was a Monster Lord in human form, and unlike the Golden Rock Beasts, Blood Stripe Beasts, and Wind Wolves that had been easily dispatched, there was a glint of spiritual wisdom in the eyes of this formidable being.

It was clear that his spiritual wisdom remained intact, unscathed by the drop of blood from Chen Qinghuang.

"Bloodhell!"

As the dark-skinned giant landed, he caught sight of the Baneblade and his face drained of color in shock.

"You recognize it?"

Yu Yuan brandished the Baneblade, his wrist twisting to send out rings of bloody light, then pointed it at the Monster Lord, his battle intent surging incrementally.

Within his acupoints, there lay the Divine Artifact, Dragon Slaying Stage, capable of binding and imprisoning Otherkin, then methodically refining and annihilating them.

Additionally, there was the sheath of the Titanblade, so sharp it could penetrate any realm's wall.

Armed with the subdued Baneblade "Bloodhell" and his body, forged through relentless tempering, Yu Yuan felt no fear facing a ninth-level Monster Lord, even without a fully formed Solar Spirit.

And if all else failed, the secular bird slumbered beneath his feet. What was there to fear?

"Recognize it? Of course, I do. The blade's first master was once my leader."

The burly man smirked, holding back from advancing as he scanned the area, clearly piecing together Yu Yuan's background. "I heard you vanished from the Dark Star Region with her. That blood... it must come from her, right?"

Licking his lips with avarice, the dark patterns on the giant's skin began to undergo wondrous transformations.

The patterns morphed into cold, black scale armor, shielding his heart and other vital areas.

"Is she gravely wounded?"

The hunger in the archdemon's eyes flared like dark fire at the thought of the legendary secular bird, possibly lying defeated in his own pool of blood, within the meteorite below. To the Monster Lord, it seemed he had glimpsed the very ladder to ascend to Dark Deity.

"Yes, gravely wounded, barely clinging to life," Yu Yuan sighed.

In the cave, Yan Ziyang stole a glance at the peacefully slumbering queen, his heart pounding.

​