C1280 Lin Zhuyun's Confidence
In the depths of the frigid flames, Lin Zhuyun stood like a mysterious deity, aloof from the world.
She radiated an extraordinary aura that elevated her above all creatures.
To her, every living being was insignificant, mere ants not worth a second glance.
No one could stir her emotions or hold a place in her heart.
Seconds later, her icy gaze seemed to pierce through space, reflecting deep contemplation.
She no longer gave Yuan Lianyao a moment's notice, nor did she spare another look for the fiery lotuses...
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Her heartbeat quickened suddenly, as rich vital energy coursed through her veins like a tumultuous river, infusing her with an overwhelming vitality.
"It's time to exert my full power! My Ghoul King has suffered too many losses!"
Amidst the gray-brown haze, the Ghoul King manipulated the Ghouls with his remnant soul, ensnaring the cultivators of the Everlands, yet unable to contain the ninth level archdemon, Ogeus.
Ogeus, with his mountainous and robust form, rampaged through the Ghouls, leaving the Otherkin's Ghouls fractured and shattered in his wake.
They stood no chance against him.
"Now that he has seen it, he should be on his way. Indeed, the time has come."
Lin Zhuyun whispered to herself within the icy flames, her presence suddenly shifting.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Beams of crystalline light, interwoven with the bizarre surge of vital energy from within her, streaked from her back, targeting the enigmatic rare stone that, though small, contained an entire cosmos.
Within the stone, in a world crafted to mirror the Embers Sea, beneath the azure depths,
massive stone pillars, etched with endless demonic scripts, emerged from the sea's embrace, bathed in dazzling light.
As if released from an age-long burial, they surfaced, shedding their ancient dust to reveal a mystical, serene glow.
The world within the rare stone grew incredibly complex, a surreal tapestry unfolding as celestial bodies appeared, spinning chaotically in the firmament.
As if millions of gargantuan demons had stepped forth from eons past, their howls shook the very stars!
The towering stone columns stood sentinel in this realm, with demon energy surging and blanketing everything in its presence.
The Embers Sea, a facsimile of the cosmos, and the long-refined rare stone seemed to exist solely to conceal their true nature.
Among the columns, some shone like Gold Mountain, others were as dark as ink-stained flood dragons, some as white as a silvery river, and some as sharp as swords...
One column, gray and skeletal, stood out as particularly unique and special.
Had Yu Yuan been present, he would have instantly recognized this skeletal column as the Bone-Devouring Shuttle.
It had been reworked, infused with additional white bones and platinum, and after multiple polishings, it was etched with numerous ancient demonic scripts, transforming it into something wondrous.
"Evilkind, totem-poles!"
"Starborne Ritual of Primeval Demons!"
"Thirty-six totem-poles!"
Ogeus from Shadow's Keep, upon witnessing the first massive stone column being awakened by the psionic power behind Lin Zhuyun, erupted in a bizarre, eerie scream as it emerged from the rare stone.
The formidable Golden Rock Beast King trembled in his demon soul, his vital energy aflame.
His robust body, reminiscent of golden mountains, wavered in the void, gradually descending.
The overwhelming demonic aura emanating from the totem-pole pressed down upon him, almost compelling him to kneel in veneration before the majestic columns.
He understood all too well the significance of these colossal pillars to the evilkind.
Legend had it that the Everlands were once home to the mightiest thirty-six ancient evilkind tribes!
Each tribe had crafted a massive totem-pole, inscribing their glory, victories, and newly developed demonic arts, allowing future generations to gaze upon them and draw inspiration from their illustrious and arduous history.
In times past, evilkind with totem-poles were considered nobility, symbols of power and prestige!
The thirty-six totem-poles stood as testaments to the supreme honor of the thirty-six ancient tribes, harboring mysteries beyond imagination and holding deep significance for today's archdemons.
Over time, after numerous wars, most of these ancient tribes either perished or faded into obscurity.
Shadow's Keep has done away with the totem pole as a symbol of nobility, shifting focus from the might of ancient evilkind to the emergence of new species graced by the birth of a Dark Deity. Regardless of age, any evilkind that has ever produced a Dark Deity is instantly elevated to nobility within their ranks. Over time, the tales of ancient evilkind faded into obscurity.
Yet, it's undeniable that the ancient evilkind, the first beings to emerge in the Everlands, were also the most formidable creatures from the beginning. The Nagas, initially considered part of the ancient evilkind, were one of its branches. In the Embers Sea, the Abyssal Leviathan was held captive by the Starborne Ritual of Primeval Demons, a grand creation of Shadow's Keep, crafted with reference to the thirty-six ancient evilkind.
The Dark Phoenix, another enduring member of the ancient evilkind, has never faded into silence. It crafted totem poles that pinned the real body of the Abyssal Leviathan, rendering the cosmic giant beast immobile in the Embers Sea, unable to break free for many years.
Now, the totem poles that once restrained the Abyssal Leviathan have been re-enchanted with mystical powers by him after his escape from the extraterrestrial Star River. Moreover, he has encased them in a rare stone, entrusting Lin Zhuyun with their control.
Boom! As the thirty-six totem poles emerged and hovered in the area, Ogeus was overwhelmed and brought to his knees. His Demonic Eyes were wide with terror and disbelief, his bloodline frozen, and his demon soul clouded. He sensed a profound equilibrium emanating from one of the gleaming golden totem poles.
He was the mightiest among those present, including Faang Yao. But as the totem poles soared into the air, he was rendered incapable of even contemplating battle and collapsed, sending waves of panic through the ranks.
"Our lord has been re-sacralizing these totem poles since departing the Everlands," explained a follower. "Each one has been seeking the perfect spot within the extraterrestrial Star River for purification. Our journey to Brugeth was undertaken for the express purpose of tempering these totem poles."
The Ghoul King spoke with a serene demeanor, yet his words had the power to shake the very foundations of the world.
"My master has been confined within the Embers Sea for many years due to the totem-poles of the Shadow's Keep. His goal is to harness these totem-poles and the thirty-six ancient tribes of evilkind associated with them, with the ultimate aim of turning the tables on the evilkind one day!"
The Ghoul King's face was alight with fervor and adoration as he spoke.
"However, as of now, the thirty-six totem-poles have not been fully refined, and there are still some deficiencies. I, for one, am eager to witness the day when my master wields the thirty-six totem-poles, forcing all archdemons to prostrate themselves, powerless to resist."
"This includes the White Tiger and the Kylin!"
With this bold proclamation, the Ghoul King concluded his speech.
The White Tiger and the Kylin are revered as Dark Deities!
The Abyssal Leviathan harbors the ambition to employ the thirty-six totem-poles to compel these two tenth-level Dark Deities to bow down, utterly restrained by the totem-poles' might!
Boom!
Faang Yao, like a massive fireball, was struck down by a totem-pole, his Solar Spirit Body shattering instantly, leaving him grievously wounded from the encounter.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The remaining totem-poles oscillated through the void, sending the Solar Spirit cultivators of the Land of Quiescence tumbling chaotically through the air.
Lin Zhuyun, having invoked the thirty-six totem-poles and the Starborne Ritual of Primeval Demons, displayed a combat prowess that was truly earth-shaking.
Her stance was so formidable that not only the present Solar Spirit cultivators but even a cultivator of the Unbound Stage would be compelled to submit.
Should an archdemon from the Shadow's Keep arrive, they would likely find themselves dominated and forced to kneel, just like Ogeus, upon entry.
"He will come for you. I will wait for his attempt to rescue you. And I am curious to see by what means he intends to save you."
Lin Zhuyun's expression was icy as she glided in front of Yuan Lianyao, positioning herself before a glacier smooth as glass. With her remnant soul acting as a sculptor's chisel, she began to etch an image onto the icy surface—an image of a figure that had repeatedly haunted Yuan Lianyao's dreams, rapidly taking form before her eyes.
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