C1509 A Difficult Problem

Ann Wen has provided immense assistance to Yu Yuan and the entire Yu family.

Even Yu Zhu acquired the body of an eight-legged spider after Ann Wen's visit to the Forgotten Ruins.

When Yu Yuan and the powerful representatives from various clans were ensnared in the Moonfall Sanctuary, Ann Wen, on behalf of the Colddeath, was the first to declare his allegiance, siding with Boulderdawn and the Chamber of Commerce.

It was after this that Zu Ann ascended to godhood, Youyu advanced to become a God of Ghosts, and Untamed God emerged from the Marsh.

This laid the foundation for the coalition led by Boulderdawn and the Chamber of Commerce to stand against the five supreme powers of the Everlands.

"Honored Senior Ann."

Yu Yuan bowed respectfully, then tossed the Dragon Slaying Stage he was holding into the Shadowflame Blight Array behind him. He discreetly activated the Chronowyrm's psionic power, causing the swamp's space to undergo a bizarre transformation.

Ann Ziqing, dominated by her inner demon, had shredded much of her clothing, leaving her figure largely exposed.

Yu Yuan did not want her to emerge from the array in such a state, bare and vulnerable, before Ann Wen in the Rainbow Ocean.

Once the Dragon Slaying Stage settled back into the array, the space began to warp, creating numerous illusory little worlds, enough to disorient Ann Ziqing.

"Ling Yuan..."

He began to explain, his face etched with distress.

He realized that Ann Wen must have witnessed the scene within the Shadowflame Blight Array.

He saw the uncontrolled Ann Ziqing entwined with him in a wild and fervent manner.

"No need for explanations; I understand everything," Ann Wen said, gesturing dismissively. His eyes, red as blood, conveyed a profound resignation. "Her presence in the Rainbow Ocean was at my behest. I truly had no other option."

Yu Yuan paused, then looked at the legendary figure before him with a sense of astonishment.

Even at the pinnacle of the Unbound Realm, while holding the Dragon Slaying Stage, he could not discern the fluctuations in Ann Wen's vitality or the presence of the Solar Spirit within his vitality's little world.

All he could sense was a tumultuous surge of vitality before him.

"What do you mean, Senior?" Yu Yuan asked after a moment's thought. "Has Ling Yuan already informed you about the entity similar to the Root of the Lunar Meridian located beneath the Primal Blood Continent, where the Blood Fiend resides?"

Ann Wen nodded. "I definitely sensed its presence on that girl. And you're saying that all the spells and arcane arts related to blood that the Colddeath Sect has developed are derived from it?"

"I believe so," Yu Yuan replied.

"In that case, what can I do?" A bitter smile tugged at Ann Wen's lips.

Just then, the Fallen Star Eyes in the star-studded night sky shone brightly.

Liu Ying of the Starmoon Sect detected Ann Wen's presence and shone the artifact briefly.

"Don't worry, I'm just going to have a word with The Hon.," Yu Yuan reassured her, waving a hand through the air as a sign for Liu Ying to be at ease.

Upon recognizing Ann Wen, Liu Ying discreetly ceased her surveillance with the Fallen Star Eyes. She was aware of the deep ties between the Colddeath Sect and Yu Yuan and knew Ann Wen meant no harm to him.

Subsequently, Yu Yuan and Ann Wen conversed outside the Shadowflame Blight Array.

With a sense of resignation, Ann Wen confided in Yu Yuan that after detecting the aura and existence of the Root of the Solar Meridian within Ann Ziqing, he dared not make any rash moves and had to feign ignorance.

Ann Wen believed that none who practiced the Colddeath Sect's arcane arts, including himself, could stand against the Root of the Solar Meridian—they were powerless against it. After all, their entire sect's foundation originated from it.

He had been silently monitoring his daughter's peculiar condition and had witnessed the same phenomena Yu Yuan had observed. He realized that due to the favor of the Root of the Solar Meridian, his daughter's Solar Spirit was marked with enigmatic bloodline chains.

Inevitably, she was compelled to continually refine the lifeblood of various races, leading to an accumulation of impurities in her soul, body, and Solar Spirit.

Simultaneously, the two inner demon seeds hidden within his daughter's heart began to grow at an alarming rate.

Ann Wen was uncertain whether this was a deliberate act by the Root of the Solar Meridian or a side effect of the bloodline chains inscribed on the Solar Spirit.

All he knew was that he, Ann Wen, was utterly incapable of opposing the Root of the Solar Meridian. And the inner demons that his daughter was increasingly struggling to control—all originated from Yu Yuan...

In a desperate move, he had sent Ann Ziqing to the Rainbow Ocean.

He was curious to see if Yu Yuan had a solution to the problem.

He was well aware that his daughter stood no chance against Yu Yuan and that the Rainbow Ocean would trigger the eruption of the two inner demons.

His reasoning was that since satisfying either of his daughter's inner demons would resolve the issue, and she was outmatched by Yu Yuan...

The worst-case scenario would be that Yu Yuan would be claimed by his daughter, thereby neutralizing the inner demon.

He was quite open-minded about the situation and didn't object to it happening—in fact, he might even be looking forward to it.

"You're aware that I sent her to the Yu family years ago, hoping that you two might become partners. You're a descendant of my old friend, with considerable potential and talent. This girl, she can be rather ruthless with others, but she's been decent to you," Ann Wen said, smiling.

Yu Yuan wore a peculiar expression.

He hadn't anticipated that the leader of the Colddeath would send Ann Ziqing to the Rainbow Ocean with the intention of having her 'claim' him, thus resolving her inner demon.

Truly befitting of a... Demon Lord.

He silently scoffed to himself.

"Yu, what's lacking in my daughter? You two have clearly had a meaningful exchange, and her inner demon has been resolved. What loss could you possibly suffer?" Ann Wen seemed to read his mind, glaring at him and chiding, "A grown man, hemming and hawing, why can't you be more straightforward?"

"Senior, you're oversimplifying things," Yu Yuan replied with a wry smile.

"Isn't it clear? Either kill me or... and the inner demon is gone. What's so complex about that?" Ann Wen retorted, clearly displeased.

"It's not as straightforward as you think," Yu Yuan said, shaking his head. After a moment's hesitation, he added, "That entity on the other side of the Star River wants to use Ling Yuan to extract something from me."

"If Ling Yuan were to kill me, she could use Bloodforging and blood magic to consume me entirely. I have a feeling that even if I were to unite with Ling Yuan, that entity would still manage to get what it wants during the process."

"Regardless of which of Ling Yuan's inner demons is vanquished, it would enable her to successfully acquire it."

He gestured to his chest and explained, "Within my Solar Spirit, there lies a fragment of the Secrets of Life that the Abyssal Leviathan once excavated."

After his revelation, Ann Wen lapsed into silence, his eyes narrowing in deep contemplation.

As the leader of Colddeath, Ann Wen was certainly not foolish; he simply lacked a deeper understanding of the situation.

Following a discussion with Yu Yuan, when it became apparent that the Abyssal Leviathan, that cosmic giant beast, might have siphoned off some of the most refined elements from the Root of the Solar Meridian and assimilated them into its own heart, everything clicked for Ann Wen.

Understanding the situation was one thing, but the pair still faced an insurmountable challenge.

Ann Ziqing's inner demon had fully erupted in the Rainbow Ocean due to Ann Wen's misguided efforts. Now, reining it in was no longer an option.

Without dispelling the inner demon, Ann Ziqing would only encounter more problems, potentially leading to the disintegration of her soul.

Yet, vanquishing the inner demon would empower the Root of the Solar Meridian, granting the aberration's desires.

Yu Yuan himself was uncertain if he could survive this ordeal.

"Should we consider employing Qiyan?" Yu Yuan proposed.

"No! We will not resort to him unless absolutely necessary!" Ann Wen declared emphatically.

"You're aware of his return?" Yu Yuan asked, taken aback.

"Absolutely. I would never have resorted to such a strategy if I wasn't sure that upon his return to the Everlands, Qiyan would inevitably come to the Rainbow Ocean," Ann Wen confessed openly. "Qiyan is my final safeguard."

While they were grappling with their dilemma...

A brilliant space rift materialized, and Yan Qiling emerged from the constricted passageway, his face contorted with fury, followed by Hu Caiyun.

The rift vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

"Ah, Hierarch Ann!"

Yan Qiling straightened his attire and bowed with a forced smile.

"Ann Wen?"

Hu Caiyun appeared equally taken aback, clearly not expecting the Hierarch of Colddeath to be present.

"Why such a sour expression?" Yu Yuan inquired with curiosity.

"I'm being ousted by the Boulderdawn Sect!" Hu Caiyun shot back, her eyes blazing. "You were the one who promised me!"

"What's the matter?" Yu Yuan turned his gaze to Yan Qiling, seeking an explanation.

Taishi is currently in deep seclusion within the Moonfall Sanctuary, preoccupied with pressing matters and thus unable to return. Meanwhile, in the same sanctuary, a new generation from the Boulderdawn Sect has been attempting to decipher the secrets of the Dragon Slaying Stage, which holds dominion over the Nagas. Yan Qiling offered an awkward smile. "That exceptional individual, a newcomer to the vast expanse of the Everlands, seems to have just had a breakthrough."

"Out of nowhere, the Dragon Slaying Stage ripped through the fabric of space and took flight right before his eyes."

"And it ended up in your possession."

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