C1398 A Welldeserved Reputation

"You really do have a knack for causing trouble," Green Willow remarked, gazing at the scattered meteorites and the eerily silent expanse of stars.

Hei Xun, Indigo Wraith, and White Bone each wore an amused look, as if Yu Yuan's infamous moniker 'Plaguebringer' had naturally come to mind...

"Before we arrived, we encountered Qiao Yuling from Tempest's Edge. She predicted that a major catastrophe was imminent in the Glimmerdrift Nebula," the Stormcrowned Emperor said with a boisterous laugh. "Hei Xun was skeptical, doubting anything would come of it. Haha, do you believe it now?"

Hei Xun, the former Guardian of Devil Palace, responded with a grave tone, "I've underestimated him."

All eyes instinctively converged on Yu Yuan, feeling the peculiar vital energy of his Solar Spirit. This assembly of beings, all considered devils within the Everlands, felt no surprise.

"How are things with Taishi?" Zhou You inquired.

"President Lyi and Taishi will divide Alonso between them. Taishi desires Alonso's soul, while President Lyi covets his blood, bones, and his Golden Heart," Jun Chen replied, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Once this is settled, and a new seat opens up in the Everlands, President Lyi is poised to claim it!"

The Skyreach Consortium, in alliance with Boulderdawn, required the presence of a primordial spirit.

Years ago, President Lyi's attempt to reach the primordial spirit level failed due to an unstable foundation and lack of approval from the five Supreme Beings, leading to a tragic outcome.

Now, stronger than ever and having secured all within his grasp, he only lacked one thing: a vacancy in the Supreme God seats.

Jun Chen's fervor stemmed from his clear understanding that once President Lyi ascended, he too might have a shot at a new seat.

"What's the fate of the Abyssal Leviathan?" Yu Yuan asked with curiosity.

"The Dawnbringers have deployed both of their tenth-level warriors, supported by numerous ninth-level champions from the Shadowkin and Wingkind. The Abyssal Leviathan will likely lose a significant portion of flesh, with much of its lifeblood extracted. Its Sunsorrow, the giant beast's amber, brimming with the essence of life, has a multitude of applications," Green Willow stated coolly.

"Two tenth-level experts?" Yu Yuan was taken aback.

"Yes."

Green Willow nodded. "Brie of the Shadowkin and some elders of the Wingkind require the blood and flesh of the Abyssal Leviathan. Cardo has lived far too long; only the Sunsorrow from the Abyssal Leviathan can help her extend her life a bit longer. Eventually, all Otherkin from beyond our world must confront the issue of dwindling life force."

The commander of Shadow's Keep spoke with a hint of melancholy in his tone.

He gave the Dire Bear a glance, a flicker of surprise passing through the green vertical pupil of his eye.

As an archdemon of the Everlands, he was not a human capable of cultivating a primordial spirit. In the Everlands, even after ancient evilkind ascended to become Dark Deities, they too faced mortality.

Thus, the deities enshrined in Shadow's Keep were not immortal.

The sole exception was the Dark Phoenix.

For this reason, he had sought answers from the Dark Phoenix, but, regrettably, he never received a satisfactory explanation.

Green Willow had also ventured to the Godsblight Marsh to converse with the ancient giant ape, gleaning insights that spurred him to continue his quest for answers.

He believed he had indeed found the answer.

Yet, he was quickly branded a traitor by the Supreme Being of Shadow's Keep and marked for death by the Dark Phoenix. Captured by Nie Qingtian while fleeing into the extraterrestrial realms, he was confined within the Sword Prison.

Years later, he remained convinced that the answer he had uncovered was correct.

He harbored the hope that one day he would return to Shadow's Keep, confront the Supreme Being there, and challenge the Dark Phoenix before the Kylin and the Moonfang Tiger to ascertain whether Green Willow was mistaken.

Jun Chen, Tian Zang, and the others engaged in animated discussion.

Yu Yuan, listening on the sidelines, quickly grasped what was about to unfold in the Glimmerdrift Nebula.

Members of the Dawnbringers of both eighth and ninth levels, the Solar Spirits from the Skyreach Consortium, the Unbound cultivators of Boulderdawn, and individuals from the Shadowkin and Otherkin would soon converge here.

These individuals, along with the Otherkin, would scavenge for remnants of Sunsilver and cold ore within the Domain that had been ravaged by the celestial forces.

This was reminiscent of the time they had salvaged precious magic items from meteorites within the Brugeth.

Such resourcefulness was the epitome of making the most of what was left behind.

"The Zekrica of the Kuvrepros?" Yu Yuan pondered before turning to Tian Zang, "Has it appeared in the Annihilation Nebula?"

Tian Zang shook his head, "I'm not sure about that."

"Indeed, that unique little world has materialized out of thin air in the Annihilation Nebula."

Jun Chen, the leading counselor of the Skyreach Consortium and a practitioner of the Star Sect's spells, spoke openly, "You needn't worry. The Zekrica won't face any hostility in the Annihilation Nebula. Since that realm was bequeathed by a certain individual and has now emerged in the Annihilation Nebula, it must be related to an agreement with Taishi."

"Taishi will surely look after it."

Tian Zang, Hei Xun, and the others nodded in agreement.

Some time passed.

"Yu Yuan, you should head back to Darkpinion first. There, Yan Qiling and the Crucible of Evil await you. With the Deathwing Lair at your disposal, you can make a grand re-entry into the Everlands," Hei Xun advised earnestly.

"Now?" Yu Yuan expressed his surprise.

"Yes, and I can accompany you. Regarding the Wintermaw, and..."

Hei Xun looked up at the snow bear, hesitated for a few seconds, and then added, "Once you're back in Darkpinion, I'm sure Boulderdawn will have a plan and resolution in place."

"You'll accompany me!" Yu Yuan declared, looking intently at the creature.

The snow bear gave a gentle nod.

...

Time seemed to blur.

On the fringes of the Silver Sands, Lin Yan of the Ebon Star stood at the fan-shaped Starway, his eyes suddenly brightening, "Finally, he has returned!"

Above the Starway, dozens of cultivators from Euwrea had been waiting, seemingly for quite some time.

First came Cao Jiaze's Emerald Palace, followed shortly by Lingxu, Huanmiao, Wei Zhuo, and others, all crossing realms in succession.

"Mr. Mo, are you alright?"

Xu Jingyao of the Sunlit Order approached with a few Solar Spirits as soon as Mo Baichuan appeared.

Ling Que, the lord of Phoenix Ridge, had traveled all the way from the Everlands. Seeing Mo Baichuan unharmed, he breathed a sigh of relief and inquired, "What's the status over there?"

Ling Que, much like Mo Baichuan, was in the middle period of the Unbound Realm. Known for his gentle demeanor and adept social skills, he maintained good relations with all parties.

He was a man who took everything in stride, including... the death of Zhu Huan.

Mo Baichuan simply shook his head in response.

"The Glimmerdrift Nebula is gone, but thankfully, Yu Yuan has secured Wintermaw and we're temporarily based at the Dragon Slaying Stage."

Cao Jiaze, with palpable relief, pulled a counterfeit Banner of Duality from his chest, saying, "Without this, I would've been ripped to pieces."

With a pop, the Banner of Duality transformed into a dark yellow spell and burst into flames before everyone's eyes.

"Fake? It's fake?" Yue Mu exclaimed, staring at Cao Jiaze in disbelief. "How could you fake this? And what about that so-called great disaster you mentioned? Is that fake too?"

"Shh!" Cao Jiaze gestured for silence, his attention fixed on the spell as it burned.

As the spell consumed itself in fire, his myriad thoughts, inner voice, and memories infused the flames.

He transmitted all he knew to the true Banner of Duality, allowing Han Miaoyuan to witness and understand the events that had transpired in the Glimmerdrift Nebula.

During this process, a trace of Han Miaoyuan's essence seeped through the burning spell.

Meanwhile, Cao Jiaze was discreetly attuning himself to it through another Mark of the Celestials.

Only after the fake Banner of Duality had turned to ash did Cao Jiaze regain his composure and address Yue Mu, "The banner may be a fake, but the catastrophe in the Everlands was indeed foreseen by our sect master. He has forewarned that soon, we may lose one to three of our Supreme Gods."

"One to three!?"

Everyone was taken aback by his statement.

...