C1288 He Did Not Leave Even If He Begged!

In the fabricated Embers Sea, the Dragon Slaying Stage was moving with unbridled freedom!

The thirty-six totem-poles of the evilkind, combined to form the Starborne Ritual of Primeval Demons, proved utterly ineffective against the Dragon Slaying Stage!

Lin Zhuyun's attempts to use the totem-poles to bombard the Dragon Slaying Stage all ended in failure. Moreover, she began to sense that something was amiss.

She observed that the considerable demon energy concealed within the totem-poles was mysteriously being drained as the Dragon Slaying Stage weaved through them.

Although she could wield the Starborne Ritual of Primeval Demons and manipulate some of the totem-poles, she was not their true master—she was not the Abyssal Leviathan. Consequently, she lacked the ability to detect the most subtle of changes.

"The Starborne Ritual of Primeval Demons can't contain the Dragon Slaying Stage!" declared the Ghoul King, his brow furrowed as he stood above the island. As an observer, he noticed something peculiar.

"Could the Dragon Slaying Stage, which has the power to suppress the destiny of the Everlands' Nagas, actually surpass the evilkind's totem-poles? Why can't the Infernal Trap, formed by these totem-poles, restrain the Dragon Slaying Stage?"

"It's clear that the Dragon Slaying Stage is also incomplete!"

The Abyssal Leviathan, master of the thirty-six totem-poles, had managed to refine twenty of them after breaking free from the extraterrestrial Star River. As a result, the Starborne Ritual of Primeval Demons was unable to exhibit its full potential.

Yet, Yu Yuan had only taken two pieces from the Dragon Slaying Stage. The Ghoul King was perplexed.

As he pondered, his gaze shifted to the hidden burial ground beneath the island. Several creatures, emanating an intensely thick death aura, seemed to resonate with his thoughts. Their still hearts emitted an eerie beat once more.

The Ghoul King weighed his options. If the evilkind's totem-poles truly couldn't stand against the Dragon Slaying Stage, he wondered whether the strongest Wights he had painstakingly refined could prove useful.

Furthermore, if the totem-poles and the Starborne Ritual of Primeval Demons were compromised, how would he confront the wrath of the Abyssal Leviathan?

At that thought, the Ghoul King was struck with a chilling fear.

Whoosh!

The Dragon Slaying Stage, resembling a flying shuttle, zipped past the spider web-like totem-pole, ensnaring dozens of miniature eight-legged spiders in its psionic pull.

The tiny spiders were immediately drawn into the Dragon Slaying Stage and subsequently devoured by the violet-gold dragon egg.

Yu Yuan's Lunar Spirit had witnessed this spectacle numerous times before.

Inside the dragon egg, the young creature that had taken on a tangible form thrived in this hidden place, covertly drawing the exquisite demon energy from the evilkind's totem-poles.

Knowing that the Starborne Ritual of Primeval Demons couldn't contain the Dragon Slaying Stage, Yu Yuan's mind was at ease.

He was now convinced that by fully unleashing the power of the Dragon Slaying Stage and harnessing the space magic bequeathed by the Chronowyrm, he could shatter the barrier within the rare stone.

He was ready to depart, and with the Abyssal Leviathan absent, there would be no difficulty.

Yet, he realized he could seize even greater advantages!

So, even if Lin Zhuyun pleaded with him to go, he had no intention of leaving!

"It's a marvelous sensation. The Lunar Spirit operating the Dragon Slaying Stage feels like navigating a novel body. Though it can't morph into a human form, it serves perfectly as a razor-sharp blade."

With a slash, the Dragon Slaying Stage, like a colossal blade, dove down and cleaved the island, once under the dominion of Shadow's Keep, cleanly in two.

The massive island was split asunder.

Yu Yuan vividly recalled that the Dusk Raven once presided over this island in the Embers Sea, where he and Hei Xun from the Devil Palace jointly conducted the underwater trial.

"Ghoul King, are you aware of the origins of your legacy?"

The Dragon Slaying Stage soared into the heavens once more, drawing in the numerous tiger-shaped demonic inscriptions from another towering totem-pole. "The Animate Dead technique you've mastered originates from the Evil King Yu Xi. He is an ancestor of the Yu family and the current Bone Wraith God! So, in truth, your allegiance should lie with White Bone!"

The Ghoul King was taken aback.

"Evil King? Bone Wraith God?"

He appeared slightly perplexed, then furrowed his brow in deep contemplation.

"I really have no clue."

Yu Yuan shook his head. Initially, he intended to use the Dragon Slaying Stage to slice through the island heavy with death aura, but he abandoned that thought, allowing the Ghoul King additional time to ponder.

At that moment, he turned his attention to the violet-gold dragon egg.

The young creature within was voraciously absorbing the demon text and demon energy from the totem-pole, seemingly accelerating its growth.

"If the Dark Phoenix truly is an extraterrestrial species, what does she seek in the Everlands?"

"Titan Spinosaurus!"

"Perhaps what the Dark Phoenix truly desires is the severely wounded Titan Spinosaurus that perished in the Everlands! Sadly, after the demise of the Titan Spinosaurus, the Nagas were born, and five tenth-level Dragon Gods emerged! The Dark Phoenix, unable to contend with those Dragon Gods, had no choice but to continue concealing her identity."

"No wonder she allied with humanity to dethrone the Nagas."

"Being an outsider, I wonder if the upper sects and those two from the Devil Palace are aware of her true nature? Did the God-Kings from Boulderdawn have any inkling?"

"..."

A myriad of thoughts streamed through Yu Yuan's mind as he commandeered the Dragon Slaying Stage, plundering the demon text and demon energy from the evilkind totem-poles like a marauder, all the while meticulously unraveling the mystery.

Time passed.

"The Dragon Slaying Stage is pillaging the thirty-six totem-poles!"

Lin Zhuyun finally grasped this harsh truth, letting out a cry of alarm for the first time within the confines of the rare stone's world.

"I sensed something was amiss from the start..."

The Ghoul King added meekly, then hung his head in despair. "We're doomed. When our Master returns and finds the totem-poles he so carefully cultivated have been significantly weakened, I fear he'll ruthlessly execute us on the spot."

A shiver ran down Lin Zhuyun's spine.

Outside.

Yu Yuan's real body, clutching the sword sheath, wore a mischievous grin as he watched the elusive rare stone. "This is exhilarating!"

All the evilkind totem-poles were reclaimed into the rare stone, and the space was restored to normal.

Faang Yao, Chu Yao, and the other surviving Solar Spirit cultivators were now free to move about as they pleased.

Chu Yao chose to remain silent and kept his distance from Yu Yuan, seeking refuge among the remnants of the Skyblight Cult and Poison Cult. He didn't dare to confront Yu Yuan or meet his gaze.

Yu Yuan paid him little mind, casting only a questioning glance at Faang Yao from a distance.

"What?" Faang Yao was bewildered.

"Yuanyuan's real body is still with the Ruby Hand. If I rescue her, will it cause her trouble? Should I eliminate everyone here to ensure the news doesn't leak out?"

The voice of a remnant soul echoed in Faang Yao's mind.

He paused, then noticed the Crucible of Evil, which had previously flown away, now drifting back toward him. It was the dark cauldron that carried the remnant soul's voice!

Faang Yao's face stiffened.

Inside the cauldron's little world, Yuan Lianyao also heard the voice of Yu Yuan's remnant soul. She observed the black-robed old woman who kept her head bowed, muttering to herself incessantly.

The voice belonged to the Bane known as Chebus, manifesting her divine power.

Chebus continued to mutter with her head down, but now it was Yu Yuan's voice that emerged.

The scene was slightly eerie...

"Don't worry about me. Lin Zhuyun and the Ghoul King are so distraught they can't even shed a tear. In the little world created by the Abyssal Leviathan, they'd beg me to let the Dragon Slaying Stage and my Lunar Spirit leave!" Yu Yuan's voice taunted.

"Faang Yao, Yuanyuan, what do you think? Should we take out everyone here?"

"That includes Chu Yao!"

Yu Yuan's stern voice resonated from the base of the Crucible of Evil and within Faang Yao's mind.

Naturally, neither of them knew exactly what was happening inside that rare stone.

Yet, it was clear to them that Yu Yuan wouldn't speak so boldly unless he had seized complete control and gained a decisive upper hand.

How could this be?!

Faang Yao's bald head was reeling, his face a mask of astonishment.

He had seen firsthand the fearsome power of the thirty-six totem-poles and the renown of the Starborne Ritual of Primeval Demons.

Ogeus had been pulverized by just a few totem-poles, meeting a grisly end right before his eyes.

They were battered and bruised by the totem-poles, helpless under the might of the Infernal Trap. How had Yu Yuan managed to gain such an overwhelming advantage?

The Dragon Slaying Stage and Yu Yuan's Lunar Spirit had both been sucked into the rare stone!

Faang Yao struggled to comprehend it.

Yet, he suddenly recalled the brutal tactics employed by the God of Medicine in his past life.

With a subconscious glance at Chu Yao, who was shrinking back within the crowd, Faang Yao couldn't help but find the sight of him at this moment utterly ridiculous.

With a slight shake of his head, Faang Yao thought to himself, "No need for such measures."

Before Yu Yuan's remnant soul could respond, he quickly interjected, "I can easily explain things to the Ruby Hand. And as for the others, you essentially rescued them from Lin Zhuyun's clutches. What complaints could they possibly have? Leave them to me; I can take care of it. There's no need for a bloodbath!"

"I've got this under control! Just trust me!"

His subsequent plea was almost desperate, imploring Yu Yuan to refrain from a massacre.

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