C1266 The Demon Tide

In the emerald glow of a frigid cave, Yan Ziyang of the Wraithcult gazed with a furrowed brow at a kaleidoscope of fish cascading down from an opening above. The icy river, enriched by the Frost Vein, carried a drop of the Songbird Queen's vibrant green blood, casting a radiant light that brightened the shadowy cavern and lent the fish an enchanting beauty.

Yan Ziyang, a seasoned Great Cultivator of the Solar Spirit from the Wraithcult, who had battled across the Star River in extraterrestrial realms, recognized at once that these fish were crafted from the blood of the female archdemon of Shadow's Keep.

"Do I need to intervene? But if I do, might I reveal myself?" Yan Ziyang pondered, indecisive.

Suddenly, the verdant blood in the river sent out mesmerizing ripples. A bizarre psionic power that could twist the soul surged, filling the cave and creeping upwards. Confusion clouded Yan Ziyang's eyes.

As the colorful fish neared the river's surface, an unseen force yanked them back, propelling them upwards. In no time, all the fish the female archdemon had released from her sleeves were reabsorbed into her demon form.

The female archdemon bared her teeth in a grotesque snarl, letting out a series of shrill cries. She abruptly lost her spiritual wisdom and lunged at the Tar-Backed Bull.

"Insane hag, are you seeking death?" The Tar-Backed Bull recoiled in shock, hastily retreating while cursing, "I didn't frame your aquatic tribe's leader. Why take your anger out on me?"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The fish, once confined within the woman's sleeve, burst forth anew, swelling into a ravenous swarm that viciously attacked the Tar-Backed Bull, whose body was as durable as black iron.

The woman's mouth stretched wider, and within, skeletons devoid of flesh shattered. Then, like arrows, bone spikes shot out with lethal precision toward the Tar-Backed Bull.

The sky was a maelstrom of vibrant fish and bone arrows. The Tar-Backed Bull, still cursing, caught sight of a tiny green flame flickering in her pupils. The black cattle's demeanor shifted dramatically as it grasped the gravity of the situation.

With a couple of irate bellows, it prepared to flee the meteorite, just as the demon soul seemed to respond to the distant call of a bird.

The call of a bird echoed as if it had traversed time and space from a hundred thousand years in the past.

The ninth level Tar-Backed Bull's unique bloodline was instantly stirred to life. In a flash, it transformed into its true black bull form, with black, viscous oil seeping from its pores and igniting on contact with the air.

Whoosh!

The black demonic flames raged wildly as the towering Tar-Backed Bull bellowed incessantly within them.

The bloodthirsty, multicolored fish were crisped by the relentless black demonic flames.

Sharp bone spikes aimed at it struck its robust demon body, clanging as if Sunsilver clashed with Sunsilver.

Enraged, the bull charged, shrouded in towering black demonic flames, directly at the female archdemon who was also transforming and revealing her true form.

The two combatants swiftly engaged in a fierce battle, tumbling through the black demonic fire.

High above, Yu Yuan, who had just landed a punch on the head of a Golden Rock Beast, looked down in astonishment as the beast plummeted to the ground.

Considering the disturbances caused by the Songbird Queen's awakenings, he was convinced that even if two ninth level Monster Lords had stormed the cave, they would achieve little.

Moreover, the Songbird Queen had mentioned before her slumber that her drop of blood was not something just anyone could claim.

It was this faith in the Songbird Queen's prowess that allowed Yu Yuan to wield the Baneblade and hunt the rampaging Golden Rock Beasts without fearing that the two Monster Lords could pose a real threat to Chen Qinghuang.

Yet, the scene unfolding below still managed to startle Yu Yuan.

The Songbird Queen remained in deep slumber, and the luminous green droplet of her blood in the cave showed no sign of disturbance.

Strangely enough, the two Monster Lords had already turned on each other in a deadly conflict.

"An eighth level archdemon goes mad before even nearing her blood. A ninth level Monster Lord lands on that meteorite, and any slight disturbance triggers the influence of her strange power?"

"Could it be that a cosmic giant beast born in the era of chaos naturally possesses such force?"

"It's no wonder she showed little interest in Demon God Grec's blood crystal."

With newfound understanding, Yu Yuan summoned the sheath of the Titanblade, skewering a Golden Rock Beast through its midsection. He then ascended once more, alighting upon another meteorite.

From his elevated vantage point, he surveyed the surroundings, spotting more eighth level archdemons and alien beasts from the extraterrestrial realms.

After a rough estimate, he concluded that at least thirty eighth-level archdemons and alien beasts of the same rank had been lured here by a single drop of the Songbird Queen's blood.

"The two Monster Lords, if they collide in the meteorite's fall, will slaughter each other. The Everlands' monsters and the extraterrestrial alien beasts are natural enemies. I suppose... they will engage in a deadly battle as well?"

No sooner had this thought taken shape than he had his answer. Golden Rock Beasts at a great distance, along with Starbeasts and the rarer Darkfire Beasts he had previously encountered, were already clashing miles away.

The Starbeasts and Darkfire Beasts, originating from the neighboring Astral Domains of Kuvrepros and Silver Sands respectively, roamed the Brugeth in search of unique items to empower themselves.

The alien beasts of the Everlands harbored an innate loathing for the archdemons, predisposed to fight on sight.

The two distinct factions of creatures had converged in large numbers due to the Queen's blood. Even without losing their sanity or succumbing to madness, they were likely to commence a brutal conflict at any moment.

Moreover, that single drop of blood was warping their spiritual wisdom.

"It's no wonder the Divine Bird is a harbinger of death and destruction. Its path is marked by bloodshed, leaving no place untouched by chaos," Yu Yuan mused with a hint of awe.

Then it struck him that during his time in the Everlands, he too was secretly referred to as the God of Plagues.

"Quite the coincidence."

With a shake of his head, Yu Yuan dismissed the thought, gripping the sheath of the Titanblade firmly as he unleashed the full finesse of the Nine Celestial Slashes.

Crimson sword light streaked towards a nearby Golden Rock Beast, each strike potent enough to penetrate its flesh and bones.

Yet the life force of an eighth-level Golden Rock Beast was remarkably tenacious. Unless its Demon Heart was pierced, it would not succumb completely, capable of continuing the fight despite its wounds.

Even with its skull cracked open by the sheath, the Golden Rock Beast wouldn't perish instantly.

"The heart is the vital weakness, unlike with human cultivators," Yu Yuan noted mentally. His subsequent strikes would target the chest of the Golden Rock Beast, aiming to puncture the Demon Heart of such Fellbeasts with lethal precision.

"Howl! Howl!"

Thousands of miles away in the Star River, the earth-shaking roar of a dire beast echoed through the heavens.

"Ogeus!"

Yu Yuan listened intently, his expression growing colder, yet he harbored no fear.

Ogeus, the Tar-Backed Bull, and the female archdemon were all ninth-level Monster Lords.

Since the Monster Lords were also susceptible to the secular bird's psionic power, there was a significant chance they would lose their sanity. What was there for him to fear?

Moreover...

Yu Yuan narrowed his eyes, a silent laugh escaping him.

He could feel the presence of the Crucible of Evil, and he was acutely aware that the cauldron spirit, Yu Yiyi, was closing in rapidly.

Yu Yiyi alone was on par with the ninth level of the Unbound Realm. Coupled with the Frost Queen and numerous high-level Banes, his combat power was set to surge dramatically!

Elsewhere.

Deep within the extraterritorial battlefield, there lay a peculiar meteorite closely monitored by the Ghoul King and Lin Zhuyun.

Pei Yuling emerged from the earth's core, the Mirror of the Infinite hovering above his head. His face was somber as he sensed the land's stirrings and murmured, "This isn't right, it shouldn't be like this..."

The famed extraterritorial battlefield, by his estimation, was frequented by many Otherkin and archdemons.

Numerous Solar Spirits from the Everlands also came here to hone their skills.

The enigmatic activity underground should have drawn a crowd of beings eager to investigate or simply join in the excitement to unravel the mystery.

Yet, he had waited a long time and encountered very few beings. This anomaly had him deeply concerned.

Pei Yuling was growing increasingly anxious.

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