C1475 Why Me?

On the surface, Zhong Chichen, who was inside the furnace, had already opened his eyes. Deep within his pupils, two balls of purple flames burned fiercely, driving him to relentlessly slam against the lid of the furnace. However, Loong Jie, pressing down with a single hand, kept the lid firmly in place. Without his spiritual wisdom, relying solely on instinct and raw strength, Zhong Chichen was clearly unable to influence the lid that Loong Jie was holding down.

The old dragon spoke with a detached tone, "He's on the verge of turning into a demon. It would be best if I could deal with him sooner rather than later." Du Yazi, Tong Rui, and Ye Hen turned their anxious gazes toward Feng Zhong, their eyes filled with desperate pleas for help.

Feng Zhong was well aware that the lecherous dragon, Loong Jie, couldn't care less about Zhong Chichen's fate. He was only assisting with the furnace lid out of respect for Yu Yuan. In reality, even if Zhong Chichen transformed into a Terra Fiend, he would stand no chance against Loong Jie in this place.

Suddenly, a remnant soul message transmitted from the jade pendant hanging around Feng Zhong's neck, causing his expression to contort oddly. "Has there been any news from the Merchant Union?" Loong Jie asked, grinning.

The old dragon could tell from the change in Feng Zhong's demeanor that the Merchant Union had indeed responded. The other three counselors from the Order of Healing watched with alarm and trepidation, concerned that the union might decide to eliminate Zhong Chichen to avert future threats.

"Mr. Feng, Mr. Zhong has never wronged anyone. He's a man of great kindness and generosity, always looking out for us. His reputation for good character is well-established, and his current plight is the result of being wronged by others. Please, show mercy!" Tong Rui implored earnestly.

"Don't worry, it's not as you imagine," Feng Zhong said, his expression peculiar. "President Lyi has personally instructed that Mr. Loong should merely keep an eye on Zhong Chichen for now, ensuring he doesn't escape the furnace. Regarding Yu Yuan..."

Feng Zhong gazed at the ground beneath him and cleared his throat before speaking. "President Lyi has been assured by the Boulderdawn Sect that there's no need to fret over Yu Yuan's safety underground. They seem to have great faith in him, believing that even in a region favorable to the Terra Fiend and the Bloodbrawlers, he won't be at a disadvantage."

Upon hearing this, Loong Jie and the trio from the Order of Healing were taken aback.

Could the Boulderdawn Sect truly be so confident in Yu Yuan?

...

Deep beneath the earth's surface.

As the glyph array of the Crucible of Evil shifted into the Soulforge Matrix, a deluge of demons and ghosts cascaded like rain.

In mere moments, tens of thousands of these spirits were engulfed, refined within the crucible's little world by Yu Yiyi, who was on the cusp of a new Bane evolution.

Yu Yiyi was thrilled.

She moved through the crucible, sensing the dark Soul Power seeping from its walls, understanding that the emergence of the Soulforge Matrix signified an increase in the arcane knowledge that Boulderdawn had mastered.

The gap was closing!

And the Crucible of Evil was set to undergo a radical transformation from this bounty!

The number of Bane that had amassed since her awakening paled in comparison to this haul!

Swoosh!

A streak of crimson lightning burst forth from Yu Yuan's chest, aimed directly at Huangyin.

The lightning transformed into his Solar Spirit Body mid-flight, wielding the Baneblade, Bloodhell, and delivered a swift strike to the Flood Dragon emerging from the lake.

The Flood Dragon, spewing earthfire and preying on the Seven-Colored Dragon, was cleaved in two by Bloodhell's blade and plunged back into the lake's depths.

As the Flood Dragon attempted to reform, Yu Yuan's Solar Spirit was already upon Huangyin, unleashing a flurry of blood-red beams that engulfed him.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The body Huangyin had taken over rang out with the sound of Sunsilver being forged as it was struck by the blade light and edge of Bloodhell, sending a shower of dazzling sparks into the air.

The body Huangyin had transformed into a demonform was as tough as divine iron!

"A shell that had once housed a primordial spirit, even after your later refinements, still possesses some tricks."

Yu Yuan, still stationed on the Dragon Slaying Stage and wielding the Soulforge Matrix, watched the Solar Spirit wield the Baneblade. Yet Huangyin's demonform did not shatter, prompting Yu Yuan to voice his admiration.

As he marveled, the swarm of dark demons and ghosts in the sky had already greatly diminished.

Those not caught within the Soulforge Matrix's reach began to flee in a frenzy.

"Mr. Yuan, will you only stand by as a spectator, or do you plan to step into the fray?"

With Huangyin remaining silent, Yu Yuan turned his gaze toward the elder of the Bloodbrawlers.

"Are you somewhat taken aback? Heh, you're aware that as Spirit Magic grew in strength, the myriad arcane techniques developed were specifically designed to combat the Star-Spawned Terror. To stand against these celestial fiends in the vast cosmos."

"The Terra Fiend born of the Everlands and the extraterrestrial Sky Fiend seem quite similar to me."

"Isn't it fitting that I use the Spirit Magic and formations of Boulderdawn to vanquish Huangyin's legion of demons?"

Yu Yuan laughed heartily.

Meanwhile, Yuan Qingxi's expression darkened. The body before White Bone that he had been kneeling over suddenly straightened up.

Whoosh!

In a blink, he stood shoulder to shoulder with the gray fox in the long robe.

The gray fox, another creation of the Terra Fiend, showed no surprise at Yuan Qingxi's sudden approach, even nodding in acknowledgment.

Then, the gray fox slowly opened its mouth.

One by one, the Voodoo Shades, like moths to a flame, willingly entered the gaping maw of the gray fox.

Within the gray fox, the Voodoo Shades tore at each other, merging like tattered cloth into a single mass.

"Mr. Yuan, I'm quite curious, why did you take such an early interest in me? Back when I was Hong Qi, I couldn't cultivate at all and had only a slight talent for alchemy. Yet, you chose me, went to great lengths to set up the Circle of Spectral Rebirth to enhance my three souls, and even taught me how to craft the Reincarnation Pill..."

"Why me?"

Amidst the fierce battle between Huangyin and the Solar Spirit, Yu Yuan's real body chatted with Yuan Qingxi, a smile playing on his lips. He had discerned that Yuan Qingxi's fusion of the Voodoo Shade into the gray fox was an attempt to forge a new Evil Curse.

The gray fox's form was capable of harnessing the power of this curse, capable of unleashing its might. This was unlike Du Jing, who would be reduced to ashes upon the slightest backlash.

Yet, Yu Yuan was unconcerned.

"You've been to the Order of Healing, seen the formation in the secret chamber? You even know it's called the Circle of Spectral Rebirth," Yuan Qingxi remarked, somewhat astonished. "Knowing I bear you no ill will, why do you persist in opposing the Bloodbrawlers?"

"Because I belong to Boulderdawn," Yu Yuan replied, giving him a look that suggested he thought Yuan Qingxi was missing the obvious.

After a moment of silence, Yuan Qingxi spoke, "You were meant to be one of us."

He spoke with a sense of profound loss, pride in his judgment mingling with regret. The greater Yu Yuan's displayed power, the more accurate Yuan Qingxi's initial assessment seemed.

His regret lay in the fact that such a promising cultivator had aligned with Boulderdawn instead!

He couldn't bear the thought.

How wonderful it would have been if he were one of us...

As these thoughts crossed his mind, Yuan Qingxi looked skyward, his face twisted with malice. "Zhong Chichen thwarted our plans! Without him, you'd be renowned across the lands as a Bloodbrawler! Without him, you would have already unified the Binders of Shadows and the Poison Cult!"

"Three hundred years! An entire three hundred years squandered. What might you have become with an extra three hundred years?"

Yuan Qingxi's roar echoed, followed by the emergence of intricate glyphs across his face, neck, and any bare skin.

A ferocious aura was gathering within him.

"Wasted... three hundred years?" Yu Yuan murmured, eyes narrowed in contemplation.

It seemed Yuan Qingxi had prepared everything for him, believing he could have united the sects had he awakened earlier and joined the Bloodbrawlers, potentially dominating the world.

He could have had a life filled with splendor and wonder.

"But the question remains, why me?" Yu Yuan asked once more.

Yuan Qingxi suddenly turned his gaze to White Bone.

Startled, White Bone responded with a puzzled expression, "Why are you looking at me?"

"It was your choice."

...

Then, the whole city plunged into chaos. The neighborhood was partially locked down, and every family was required to undergo DNA testing. The endless queues, the rush at the supermarkets, the hoarding of supplies.

Just picture that. You'd understand why I'm in this situation. Why there's only one chapter, my apologies.