C1284 The Transaction Was Successful!
"The Nagas have totem poles as well!"
Suddenly, Yu Yuan had an epiphany and grasped Lin Zhuyun's intentions. He realized why she was solely interested in the Dragon Slaying Stage.
The high-ranking dragon corpses within the Dragon Slaying Stage would aid the Abyssal Leviathan in assimilating the ancient totem poles of the evilkind!
At that moment!
An intricate array of dragon patterns and beams of light began to weave across the five totem poles.
These five totem poles, strategically placed in a secluded corner, burst forth with a divine radiance that immediately captured the attention of all present.
Without needing any explanation, anyone who laid eyes on these five totem poles could distinguish their uniqueness from the rest.
They stood taller and exuded an otherworldly presence!
As the dragon patterns emerged, onlookers felt as though they were witnessing extraordinary dragons navigating the Star River, each one showcasing the ancient Nagas' formidable strength, grandeur, and indomitable power.
The dragon's breath wafting from the five totem poles caused even Ogeus, an archdemon of great stature, to shudder deep within.
"This sensation is utterly different from the dragons at Dragon Lake!"
As the Golden Rock Beast King of Shadow's Keep, Ogeus had encountered the Nagas of Dragon Lake during his travels through the vast seas. They always approached him with deference, careful not to provoke his ire.
The presence of these Nagas was starkly different from what emanated from the totem poles!
He had never sensed fear or disquiet from the Nagas of Dragon Lake, and had, in fact, always held a certain disdain for them.
He had even dismissed the storied glory of the Nagas as mere myth.
He never believed in the strength of the Nagas, having neither seen nor felt it.
Until now!
The five totem poles, corresponding to the ancient Nagas, bore the dragon's breath and patterns derived from the giant dragons seized by Shadow's Keep from Dragon Lake.
Yet, the Dark Phoenix, with her awe-inspiring might, had brought the power of the present-day giant dragons a step closer to that of the ancient Nagas.
To keep the potency of the Starborne Ritual of Primeval Demons at an appropriate level, the Dark Phoenix utilized the enigmatic artifacts at her disposal and her profound knowledge to imbue the five ancient Naga totem poles with a fraction of the power the Nagas wielded in their heyday.
The increase in power was significant, yet it managed to shock Ogeus to his core, sending shivers down his spine.
"You are truly devoted."
Yu Yuan let out a sneer. With a mere flicker of his thoughts, the dark cauldron hovering above his head made a beeline for the totem-pole encasing Yuan Lianyao in ice. "I'll use this cauldron to summon her. The Dragon Slaying Stage is yours to handle."
Inside the cauldron's miniature world, the Frost Queen awaited. Chebus, Armor Crusher, Shadowfox, and other high-ranking Banes stood solemnly in preparation.
They remained out of sight, ready to greet Yuan Lianyao's arrival at a moment's notice.
"My master has bestowed upon me a Solar Spirit Body, granting me a new lease on life as a human. It is only right that I prioritize his needs."
Lin Zhuyun spoke with a cool detachment, observing the release of the Crucible of Evil without intervention. However, as she spoke, she covertly maneuvered a totem-pole belonging to the evilkind.
Boom!
Faang Yao, freshly recovered, was struck by an evilkind totem-pole, causing his Solar Spirit Body to fracture extensively.
Bald-headed Faang Yao, reeling from the impact, was pinned down by a dark green totem-pole.
Pinned against a meteorite, Faang Yao was immobilized like a grasshopper nailed down by a steel spike, unable to move.
Clearly, Lin Zhuyun had grown tired of his chatter and had decided to silence him in this manner.
"Toss it here, towards this rock."
At her command, the rare stone that had been floating mysteriously behind her took flight.
The Ghoul King's gaze was fixed on the rare stone.
Though modest in size, the stone was enigmatic, harboring vastness within. It glided through the evilkind totem-poles at a steady pace, eventually hovering before Yu Yuan.
The rare stone came to a halt.
Yu Yuan narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the stone. He could see the Embers Sea, now reduced to a fraction of its original size, with its myriad islands and the infinite azure depths.
Memories of the past surged forward, filling him with a sense of nostalgia.
It was in these very depths that he had encountered the Abyssal Leviathan, acquired the Crucible of Evil, and ignited a deadly rivalry with Mo Yan.
The Abyssal Leviathan, a cosmic giant beast, had a real body resembling a giant fish, which meant the rare stone was undoubtedly connected to it. By utilizing the totem-poles of the evilkind, the Abyssal Leviathan could potentially refine the Dragon Slaying Stage.
Yu Yuan found himself hesitating. He was concerned about the Titan Spinosaurus within the Dragon Slaying Stage; it was still immature. He wondered if it could survive the peculiar little world that the Abyssal Leviathan had refined.
"Entering the Dragon Slaying Stage will release her from the ice," Lin Zhuyun remarked with an eerily calm demeanor, gesturing towards Yuan Lianyao. "Her Solar Spirit Body is inherently flawed. Having been sealed by the totem-pole for an extended period, the icy demon energy from the serpents has been permeating her body, which will inevitably lead to further damage."
Lin Zhuyun's threat was delivered with a nonchalant ease. Yu Yuan was aware that her words held truth. Yuan Lianyao, who practiced the Pyreheart Incantations, was wrapped in the frigid embrace of serpents at the heart of the evilkind's totem-pole, enduring their relentless assault.
He had just noticed the cracks on Yuan Lianyao's neck growing more pronounced. If this continued, her Solar Spirit Body might be irreparably damaged.
"Hmm?" Yu Yuan suddenly picked up on the enigmatic sound of a butterfly's wings. He covertly watched Lin Zhuyun, the Ghoul King, and the rest. Their expressions were unchanged, showing no signs of astonishment, and their gazes remained steady.
This meant that he was likely the only one who could hear the butterfly's wings. It had to be related to the Dragon Slaying Stage. The Stage, once a part of a divine cocoon, surely had a profound link to it.
Previously, when the Dragon Slaying Stage was placed within an acupoint he had opened in his body, it could still channel its unique space magic through the Mystic Gate, transforming into a myriad of vibrant butterflies within his acupoint.
The Dragon Slaying Stage was now fully revealed, presenting itself openly before him. The former Supreme of Shadow's Keep had channeled the formidable demon energy of the Abyssal Leviathan through the totem-pole, transforming it into clusters of purple smoke imbued with the enigmatic properties of space magic.
Yu Yuan had a hunch about what was happening. The Voidweaver was closely observing the changes here, especially the Dragon Slaying Stage, through an undetectable method, silently watching from the shadows.
It had suddenly flapped its wings, audible only to him. What could this signify?
"Since you also wish to be involved, very well," Yu Yuan resolved. Without further hesitation, he focused all his thoughts and hurled the Dragon Slaying Stage toward the rare stone.
"The Dragon Slaying Stage is yours. Prepare to release her, and I trust you'll honor your word!"
The elongated stone, bathed in divine light, followed a precise path as it descended toward the rare stone processed by the Abyssal Leviathan. Yu Yuan watched intently, not daring to blink.
He feared an unexpected swarm of butterflies might emerge and whisk the Dragon Slaying Stage away. Yet, to his surprise, nothing of the sort occurred.
The Dragon Slaying Stage, significantly larger than the rare stone, was abruptly drawn into it as it approached and vanished in an instant. As soon as the Dragon Slaying Stage disappeared, the spiritual bond between Yu Yuan and the Hex Stone was severed.
He was not taken aback by this. The Abyssal Leviathan, a cosmic giant beast in its own right, had refined this peculiar place. Had it not severed the connection between him and the Dragon Slaying Stage, that would have been truly astonishing.
"Just her? I could kill her any time we meet again; what's there to worry about?" Lin Zhuyun scoffed with contempt. With a mere flicker of her remnant soul, Yuan Lianyao's Solar Spirit Body was released from the evilkind's totem-pole.
The Crucible of Evil, already primed for action, caught Yuan Lianyao at once, drawing her into its internal little world.
The Frost Queen promptly set to work, addressing the residual Arctic Breath within Yuan Lianyao's body. She meticulously ground down numerous tiny ice crystals and consumed them. These ice crystals, rich with the essence of extreme cold, were fully assimilated by her.
The remaining Bane stood in formation, vigilant against the subtle power of the evilkind's totem-pole, ready to obliterate Yuan Lianyao's soul and ensure her demise from the onslaught that followed.
"Dragon Slaying Stage!"
Only now, as Lin Zhuyun truly grasped victory, did a flicker of excitement shine through the depths of her icy gaze.
"Now, we can finally resolve our longstanding feud."
She steadied her breath and regained her composure. With a dismissive wave of her hand, she said, "That woman from the Ruby Hand, dispose of her. Her fate is inconsequential now."
"I..."
Ogeus, sprawled on the ground, let out a pained howl.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three massive totem-poles came crashing down in succession, pulverizing the formidable Golden Rock Beast King into a pulp, shattering its demon soul and Demon Heart alike.
