C1450 The Defiled World

Loong Jie's strength was undeniable, as Yu Yuan had just witnessed firsthand. His evident dread of the world deep beneath the earth's surface suggested that the Defiled World was a place of unimaginable danger, far beyond his current ability to contend with.

"Is there really no way to deal with her and the Terra Fiend?" Yu Yuan inquired, seeking guidance.

"Not necessarily," Loong Jie replied, his brow furrowed as he stood on the ocean floor. "Once they emerge from the Defiled World below, whether in the sea or across the continents of the Everlands, neither the Bloodbrawlers nor the Terra Fiends pose a significant threat."

He glanced at the sky above the sea and noticed that the two white clouds had disappeared. With the absence of the white clouds and the realization that the Everlands were supreme, the old dragon visibly relaxed. However, he expressed his confusion, "I can't detain that Bloodbrawler woman, but if the beings above intervene, she won't make it to the Defiled World."

He was well aware that with those two white clouds aloft, the supreme beings of the Everlands could arrive in a flash. How could the woman wielding the Spectre Binding Scroll possibly escape the grasp of a supreme primordial spirit?

"I suspect they're also curious about who has emboldened the Bloodbrawlers and the Terra Fiend," Yu Yuan stated gravely.

"Do they truly have a patron?" Loong Jie was taken aback.

The mysterious woman's promise still resonated with him; she had assured the Nagas three seats among the Supreme Gods, enabling the birth of three Dragon Gods—at the very least. For Loong Jie, the offer was incredibly enticing.

If the promise had come from a presence more significant than the Bloodbrawlers and the Terra Fiend, he might have given it serious consideration.

"Ever heard of the Origin Deity?" Yu Yuan ventured.

Loong Jie was taken aback. "At Skyreach Peak, there's the fabled Origin Gate, said to lead to an unknown domain accessible only to soul spirits. Here in the Everlands, those who delve into space magic are most susceptible to corruption. I'm convinced of the Origin Deity's existence."

The old dragon shook his head and lamented, "It's a pity no one has truly seen it. Its existence remains uncertain."

"It is real," Yu Yuan assured Loong Jie, candidly sharing his discovery. "In the Brugeth, within the void, I genuinely encountered the so-called Origin Deity. Though he manifested through Diggs of the Shadowkin, I am convinced of his existence. The presence of the Origin Deity felt somewhat akin to the Root of the Lunar Meridian."

Loong Jie's expression shifted dramatically. "Could you elaborate?"

"Certainly," Yu Yuan agreed, proceeding to describe to the ancient dragon of the Everlands how he felt as if he was drawn to the surface entrance of the Maw of Oblivion, where he sensed an aura of ancient evil that was immeasurably mysterious.

That aura bore a striking resemblance to the will emanating from the Root of the Lunar Meridian.

"The Origin Deity, the enigmatic Origin Realm, it truly exists."

After Yu Yuan finished, Loong Jie's massive dragon eyes brimmed with confusion and uncertainty. The old dragon hung his head as if trying to peer through the seabed's rocks into the so-called Defiled World.

After a moment's pause, Loong Jie spoke softly, "Do you know the origins of the Defiled World where the Terra Fiends slumber?"

Yu Yuan's demeanor turned earnest. "Please, enlighten me."

"Have you noticed how the shadow energy in the Bloodbrawlers' domain is incredibly dense yet wildly chaotic and twisted?"

"Yes, I have."

"And during your time in the Land of Terror, did you feel a resemblance between that place and the sea?"

"Yes!"

Loong Jie posed the questions, and Yu Yuan responded. Then, there was silence.

As Loong Jie carefully weighed his words, his cautious expression made Yu Yuan's heart grow heavy. He sensed that what this lecherous dragon, who had lived for eons, was about to reveal was of great significance.

"Beneath the Land of Terror lies the Root of the Lunar Meridian. Its vast branches will eventually converge at the source. Yet, whether it's the branches, the source itself, or even within the Land of Terror, the Yin Qi remains pure."

"These shadow energies can be absorbed by any ghost without disturbing their consciousness or nature."

"Shadow energy forms from the souls of all living beings—humans, demons, birds—anything with a soul. Upon death, their souls disperse and become shadow energy, returning to the Everlands. They travel through the branches of the Lunar Meridian and eventually reach the source."

"Insects and birds, lacking higher intelligence, produce a purer form of shadow energy upon death, free from contamination."

"Humans, even common folk, accumulate so much experience throughout their lives that their deaths are accompanied by negative emotions and malicious thoughts, all of which taint their essence. The more powerful the individual, the more tainted their thoughts at the time of death, and this holds true for archdemons as well."

"Once they pass away, their souls transform into shadow energy and enter the underground tributaries of the Lunar Meridian, where it is cleansed."

"The Lunar Meridian retains only the purest shadow energy. Only this pure energy can merge with the Root of the Lunar Meridian and ignite the flame of new life—the soulfire of a newborn."

"The cleansed impurities, however, cannot be left to drift through the Everlands; they flow instead to the Defiled World."

Loong Jie elucidated.

Yu Yuan's understanding dawned upon hearing this intriguing explanation. Noticing the old dragon pausing, he interjected, "Is it similar to the Blood Altar of the Star-Spawned Terror? Where pure power merges with the Blood and Soul Altars, and the impurities enter the Spawn of Chaos?"

"That's one way to look at it," Loong Jie replied, intrigued by the novel interpretation and elaborated, "Terra Fiends dwell in the subterranean filth, with the Rainbow Ocean serving merely as their facade. The mixed evil thoughts and shadow energy from the Everlands' beings are the sustenance for the Terra Fiends."

"The Voodoo Shades cultivated by the Bloodbrawlers can also thrive in the Defiled World. Naturally, their growth in such an environment is a manifestation of the inherent evil in all beings, resulting in many becoming malevolent entities."

"Now, do you understand why the Bloodbrawlers and the Terra Fiend are natural allies?" Loong Jie spoke with undisguised contempt for both the Terra Fiend and the Bloodbrawlers. "Creatures that scrape by in the filth and muck have no right to ally with the Nagas. Back when the Nagas were at the height of their glory, they strictly prohibited the Terra Fiend from wreaking havoc in the Everlands and went to great lengths to suppress the Bloodbrawlers at their emergence."

"Filthy creatures belong in the Defiled World. Should they dare to stir up trouble here, they must be utterly purged!" He firmly believed that having the Dragon Slaying Stage suppress the ghosts and Terra Fiends alongside the Nagas was a slight against their esteemed dragon lineage.

The remnants of the Bloodbrawlers and the Terra Fiends lurking in the Defiled World saw themselves as victims akin to the Nagas and thought they should band together. The old dragon, however, clearly despised them for their filthiness.

...

At the Celestial Isle.

Yu Yuan's Solar Spirit was deep in confidential conversation with Loong Jie when Razses, the Ghost King, emerged exhausted from his refined Soul Locking Diagram.

Within the diagram, grand buildings and palaces dissipated into smoke and were obliterated in an instant. Nearly a third of the ghosts and minions he had placed inside perished.

Razses, adorned in the garb of a young emperor, emerged with a gloomy demeanor. He addressed Taruer and Qi Lingyu, saying, "A force, chaotic yet originating from the same source as the Land of Terror, has infiltrated my diagram from the outside world. I'm at a loss, as I cannot discern how they managed it."

He appeared weary. "If this continues, I fear all my subordinates will be lost."

With a whoosh, Yu Yuan's real body descended. He gazed at the peculiar diagram originating from the Bloodbrawlers, and after a moment's thought, he advised, "You'd best return to the Land of Terror soon."

When the Bloodbrawlers and the Terra Fiend conspire to wreak havoc upon this realm, a ghost like Razses would become the prime target.

However, the Soul Locking Diagram that Razses had refined originated from the Bloodbrawlers, which could potentially allow them to exert a subtle influence over it.

He was concerned that if Razses, the Ghost King, continued to wander outside and was targeted a few more times, he might end up becoming a Voodoo Shade under the Bloodbrawlers' control.

"I'm of the same mind. With White Bone here, I feel secure against ambushes while in the Land of Terror," Razses wisely acknowledged, without any intention of engaging in a reckless struggle. He added, "To prevent any mishaps, I'll head straight back to my corresponding River Styx!"

"And you?" He turned his gaze to Taruer.

"I haven't refined any of the Bloodbrawlers' artifacts, so I'm not burdened with such worries," Taruer replied, shaking his head and giving a dismissive snort. "Besides, with Luo Yue's incident, I'm keen on uncovering the cause."

"Given my unique situation, I'll take my leave first. Please, no offense meant."

Without further ado, Razzes left these words behind. His spirited body transformed into a wisp of green smoke and faded away.

And so, nothing unforeseen occurred.

...

At the desert bordering the territories of the Skyblight Cult and the Terror Claws.

The Dragon Slaying Stage hovered above, where Yu Yuan's Lunar Spirit materialized a distinct silhouette. He observed the activity below and continued to employ this divine object to probe beneath the earth.

"The Defiled World?"

The Solar Spirit had received intelligence from Loong Jie, and the Lunar Spirit was immediately informed. They were aware that several formidable Terra Fiends, as long as they remained within the Defiled World, were beyond the reach of even the Supreme Gods of the Everlands.

After all, the Defiled World below was the Terra Fiends' domain.

Whoosh!

A skeletal form, radiant as jade, quietly arrived through a tear in space, settling on the parched earth beneath the Dragon Slaying Stage.

The skeletal form of White Bone, now deified!

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