C1460 Sevencolored Lake

Beneath the surface, in the Defiled World, Yu Yuan's Lunar Spirit found itself within the Dragon Slaying Stage, soaring alongside White Bone and Yuan Qingxi. The presence of the scroll caused the normally rampant evil spirits to recoil in fear, instinctively steering clear of their path.

White Bone refrained from unfurling the scroll. As they journeyed, he would sporadically inquire about matters that crossed his mind. Yuan Qingxi, ever humble, answered each question with exhaustive detail.

Neither White Bone nor Yuan Qingxi concealed anything from Yu Yuan, affording him insight into numerous secrets. According to Yuan Qingxi, White Bone had perished in the Battle of the Divine, the Devilish, and the Supernatural. Yet, White Bone had prudently crafted a fallback using the arcane arts of the Bloodbrawlers. Upon his demise, this contingency sprang into action, transforming into the Bloodbrawlers' anomaly—the Voodoo Shade.

This Voodoo Shade, a manifestation of his residual spirit, was initially feeble. After lying dormant for tens of thousands of years, it abruptly awoke in the Land of Terror. Gradually, it evolved, amassing strength until it ascended to the status of Ghost King Youling.

To evade detection and prevent mishaps, the Voodoo Shade locked away all memories of its past life, etching them into the unopened scroll. The Voodoo Shade's emergence in the Land of Terror after eons was a matter of timing—awaiting the decline of Boulderdawn's era and influence. Moreover, it required an extensive period to transcribe its past memories and experiences onto the canvas.

Upon its emergence, Youling was a clean slate, a true rebirth. Beginning as a mere ghost in the Land of Terror, it gradually amassed power, rising to become a Ghost King capable of challenging Dhoreus itself!

It's worth noting that Dhoreus, a legend born from the Root of the Lunar Meridian, was exceptionally favored. That Youling, from the same epoch, posed a threat to Dhoreus speaks volumes of his formidable might.

Youling was well aware that the Land of Terror could not give rise to a God of Ghosts during that era, so he resolutely chose to be reborn.

This act gave rise to the Evil King, Yu Xi.

From his birth to his reincarnation, Yuan Qingxi refrained from bringing the painting to Youling, choosing not to awaken him.

For he knew that upon awakening, there would be but one outcome for him—death.

Only after the Evil King transcended his primordial spirit and ventured into the Star River beyond our world did Yuan Qingxi obey his command and secretly locate him.

Yet, despite all efforts, he could not evade his destiny and ultimately met his demise.

"Zhu Zhenlin, that cursed scoundrel, that despicable traitor! It was we, the Bloodbrawlers, who made him what he was. He was one of our own before he turned his back on us and became our adversary!" Yuan Qingxi spat out the curse with venom.

Yu Yuan's words caused the phantom within the Dragon Slaying Stage to flicker.

Zhu Zhenlin, the Devil Palace's second-in-command, had his origins in the Bloodbrawlers!

One of the primordial spirits of the Devil Palace was, in fact, once part of this enigmatic sect!

"He was once with us?"

Even White Bone was taken aback. He recalled Zhu Zhenlin's malice and antagonism from his past life and surmised that Yun Hao had pledged allegiance to him.

Yet, it was unfathomable to White Bone that Zhu Zhenlin had once been affiliated with the Bloodbrawlers.

"Because he was familiar with us and possessed exceptional talent, we entrusted him with too many secrets. That's how he knew you were once a leader among us. My oversight is to blame; I failed to arrange things meticulously, leading to your downfall beyond the heavens seven hundred years ago," Yuan Qingxi lamented with deep regret.

"I understand," White Bone responded, nodding lightly, his expression devoid of any disturbance. It seemed as though he had been privy to so many secrets that nothing could astonish him anymore.

"This life is different for you! Here, in the Land of Terror, you are unbeatable!"

"No primordial spirit can defeat you here! Moreover, with Boulderdawn and the five paramount forces in conflict, we find ourselves with an opportunity," Yuan Qingxi declared, his gaze ablaze with fervor.

Even as a primordial spirit, the Evil King Yu Xi would face certain death against the elite warriors of the Otherkin in the Star River beyond our world.

In the Land of Terror and the Defiled World, White Bone, the God of Ghosts, stood unafraid of the other supreme beings in the Everlands!

Yuan Qingxi had presented the scroll for this very reason.

He aimed to prevent the truth from being discovered when he awoke, which could lead to his downfall once again.

"Based on what you've said, Zhu Zhenlin should have known that I am the leader of the Bloodbrawlers. I declared my identity as Yu Xi to the outside world when I was on the verge of becoming a God of Ghosts..."

"Why then did he and those who wish me dead not show up in the Land of Terror?"

White Bone inquired further.

"The Boulderdawn Sect has returned, and the Bloodbrawlers' demise was their doing. I suspect that the five supreme forces might also relish the thought of you, the leader of the Bloodbrawlers' remnants, turning your blade against the Boulderdawn Sect," Yuan Qingxi elucidated.

White Bone uttered an "Oh" and lapsed into contemplative silence.

During their conversation, he didn't glance at the Dragon Slaying Stage behind him, nor did he acknowledge Yu Yuan.

Yu Yuan, severed from his real body, remained silent throughout, like an outsider, merely listening.

And so, they reached the resting place of the Crucible of Evil.

The lake, shrouded in a murky aura, displayed a spectrum of seven colors, as if seven different paints had been mixed into its waters, rendering it strikingly beautiful.

Above the Seven-Colored Lake hung a thick miasma, teeming with innumerable ghosts and Terra Fiends.

A colossal demon, bloated and mountainous, floated in the lake, its body festooned with repulsive tentacles.

These tentacles ensnared the Crucible of Evil, pinning it to the Seven-Colored Lake, the demon itself a composite of numerous devil souls.

It was engaged in a solitary dialogue, arguing and debating with itself.

Atop the demon's head sat a figure, head bowed, seemingly lost in thought.

The Dragon Slaying Stage came to a halt before the lake, the Crucible of Evil visible ahead, entwined in countless tentacles. Yet, at this moment, his Lunar Spirit could not detect the presence of Yu Yiyi.

However, he knew that Yu Yiyi must be inside the cauldron.

The seven-colored lake contained a deadly concoction of poison and filth, the very essence of the Defiled World's psionic power. The miasma hovering over the lake was identical to that of the Rainbow Ocean.

He even suspected that the pervasive miasma of the Rainbow Ocean originated from the evaporation of the Seven-Colored Lake.

With this thought, his Lunar Spirit gazed upward from the Dragon Slaying Stage, observing the miasma above the lake piercing through like a beam of light reaching the surface.

"Is the Rainbow Ocean above us? Is it the enigmatic forbidden area of the Everlands?"

The thought involuntarily crossed his mind.

"Sir."

At that moment, Yuan Qingxi approached the Seven-Colored Lake. He eyed the bloated devil and the pensive mysterious figure, "I require an item."

His demeanor, once again, became cold and haughty.

It seemed that only in the presence of White Bone did he exhibit restraint and humility.

Beyond White Bone, Yuan Qingxi appeared to have never shown deference to anyone, nor had anyone ever made him bow or scrape.

Not even all the Primordial Spirits and Dark Deities of the Everlands could achieve that.

Nor could the Terra Fiend before him, despite being a formidable ally.

"Yuan Qingxi, what is it that you desire?"

"You're not after the Crucible of Evil, are you?"

"We've only just managed to claim it, and now you demand it?"

A cacophony erupted from the numerous tentacles on the corpulent demon's body, as if a multitude were speaking and questioning Yuan Qingxi simultaneously.

With an impassive face, Yuan Qingxi reiterated, "I require the Crucible of Evil."

"Give it to him."

The contemplative mysterious person, head bowed, uttered softly.

"Oh, very well."

The bloated demon spoke in unison from all its mouths, releasing the tentacles entwined around the Crucible of Evil, revealing it at last.

Yu Yuan and Yu Yiyi instantly reestablished their connection.

"Run! Hurry!"

Yu Yiyi's piercing scream suddenly filled the air.

...