C1514 Qing and Zhu

Deep within a cave, where shadow energy was at its purest and most concentrated, Youyu emerged from the Root of the Lunar Meridian. Clutching two scrolls in his hands, his usually impassive and frosty face betrayed signs of weariness and astonishment.

With a rustle, he released specks of Shadow Moon Essence, elfin entities composed of the chill of pure essence, from the Root of the Lunar Meridian into the Spectre Binding Scroll.

He handed the Spectre Binding Scroll to Lianjing first.

Lianjing, attendant to Xuanli, gratefully accepted the scroll with a humble and respectful demeanor.

She was acutely aware that the Shadow Moon Essence might be the most pristine and mystical shadow energy in the cosmos, capable of aiding all souls in their transformative evolution, and of refining an object like the Spectre Binding Scroll.

As the Shadow Moon Essence infused the scroll, the Voodoo Shades she had tamed began to voraciously consume the essence, their chaotic nature seemingly infused with newfound spiritual wisdom.

"Thank you for your generous gift," Lianjing expressed her gratitude once more.

The second scroll in Youyu's possession quivered, and the three Ghost Kings—Razses, Luo Yue, and Taruer—drifted out, looking as fatigued as Youyu.

They had just experienced what seemed like a brief fusion with their own River Styx, soaring through the vast starry heavens as if in a dream.

In that profound dream, they became extensions of Youyu, acting as hands of the Root of the Lunar Meridian, manipulating the fabric of time and space beyond our world.

They sensed the Root of the Lunar Meridian's profound connection to the cycle of rebirth in the Everlands.

"Master, have you found him?" Yuan Qingxi inquired eagerly.

"And Tian Zang?" Luo Yue added nonchalantly.

"The following discussion isn't for his ears; let him remain where he is," Youyu replied, his expression cool as he gestured for everyone to take a seat. Once Yuan Qingxi and Lianjing had settled themselves on the ground, he began to speak again.

"I've located Xuanli and successfully roused him from his slumber. As for what he chooses to do upon awakening, I won't interfere."

"Before disclosing his identity, I must share with you the origins of the Bloodbrawlers. It was only after advancing to a God of Ghosts in the Land of Terror, and upon my full awakening in the Defiled World, that I truly understood—after delving into the Root of the Lunar Meridian."

"Yet, even after dying tens of thousands of years ago, I hadn't fully grasped it."

His demeanor was grave.

Yuan Qingxi and Lianjing, the venerable ancestors of the Bloodbrawlers, along with Razses, Luo Yue, and Taruer, the three Ghost Kings, recognized his solemnity. They straightened up, ready to listen with rapt attention.

"Deep within our boundless land lies the Root of the Lunar Meridian, the most enigmatic source, which is divided into two parts. The pure part represents the Land of Terror and the Root of the Lunar Meridian beneath us."

"The tainted part corresponds to the Rainbow Ocean and the Defiled World below it."

"Regardless of purity or corruption, it is all one entity."

"When the Nagas wreaked havoc across the Everlands, the world's order was thrown into disarray. The cosmic order was warped by the Dragon Gods, causing it to lose clarity and succumb to prolonged periods of chaotic slumber."

"Yet, even in such a state, it occasionally regained consciousness. This fleeting awareness often did not manifest in the Land of Terror or the Root of the Lunar Meridian beneath."

"Rather, it emerged in the Defiled World, spreading from there to the Rainbow Ocean."

"Back then, the Human Race had not yet discovered a complete path to cultivation and were subjugated like cattle and slaves by the Nagas and the ancient evilkind. Some humans, desperate for liberation, fled to the Rainbow Ocean and came under its notice."

"In their dreams, they experienced sudden revelations, uncovering ways to empower themselves."

"This was the genesis of the Bloodbrawlers, with the Rainbow Ocean serving as our earliest cradle."

"The source of our Bloodbrawlers can be traced back to this very essence."

"The pioneering ancestors of the Bloodbrawlers who discovered this method, if fortunate enough to ascend to the Lunar Spirit Realm, would find their Lunar Spirit capable of leaving their physical form. Guided by it, they could journey to the Land of Terror and employ the pure shadow energy to temper their souls."

The inability to awaken humans in the Land of Terror stemmed from the fact that humans were too feeble at the time. The Land of Terror could only accommodate souls. Its briefly conscious will happened to manifest in the Rainbow Ocean and encountered us there."

"Our Bloodbrawlers sect has been under its protection from the very beginning until now."

Youyu paused briefly.

Yuan Qingxi, Lianjing, Razses, Taruer, and Luo Yue listened intently, and the initial reservations held by the latter three Ghost Kings dissipated entirely.

Taruer, Razses, and Luo Yue understood that the Bloodbrawlers were established from the very start due to the Root of the Lunar Meridian, and thus their concerns were allayed.

"Overthrowing the Nagas' dominion and restoring the Everlands to their primal state has always been our mission."

"We do not trace the origins of Huangyin from the Terra Fiend, Xuanying, or the earliest ancient Terra Fiends."

"By choosing to root themselves in the Defiled World, they absorbed more miasma, poison, and filth, with only a trace of shadow energy. Their use of psionic power was heavily tainted, but fundamentally, they too drew strength from it and grew."

"Our Bloodbrawlers' cultivators began their journey by refining shadow energy and purifying their souls. Initially, in the Rainbow Ocean, we endeavored to rid ourselves of all distractions and malevolent thoughts, forging the shadow energy to empower ourselves."

"In stark contrast, the Terra Fiends embraced the chaotic and murky aspects, drawing strength from disorder."

"Purity gave rise to us, while impurity spawned the Terra Fiends."

"Constrained by our human forms, we couldn't venture to the Land of Terror right away; hence, we first sought to enhance our cultivation in the Rainbow Ocean. Only upon reaching the Lunar Spirit realm could we depart the Rainbow Ocean and naturally progress to the Land of Terror."

"To this day, humans who achieve the Lunar Spirit and Spirit Walk levels journey to the Land of Terror to wander, continuing our legacy."

"Through its nourishment and will, we allied with the Boulderdawn and ancient evilkind to wage war against the Nagas."

"However, the dragons, having dominated the Everlands for years and being aware of its presence, were well-prepared. This led to Xuanli, Huangyin, and Lianjing being inherently overpowered by the frost wyrm and the Chronowyrm."

"You all know the outcome," he said.

"One by one, we fell, and it too was gravely wounded, succumbing to an extended hibernation. Yet, it remains the eternal master of the cycle of life and death in the Everlands, occasionally stirring and awakening to do what it can."

"That's how I was able to resurrect as Youling, then transform into White Bone, and persist to this day."

"And Xuanli, in this era, has become... Cao Yi of the Ebon Star Sect."

A cold smirk played on Youyu's lips.

"Cao Yi!"

"The same Cao Yi who nearly brought Colddeath to its knees? The one who devoured Ann Jieshan?"

"Rumor has it, he even came close to seizing the Demon God Grec!"

Yuan Qingxi, Lianjing, and the three Ghost Kings were all taken aback.

Cao Yi was undeniably a legend.

Anyone familiar with his story would be in awe, recognizing the sheer terror of his might.

"The reason Xuanli turned into Cao Yi," Youyu continued, "is because after his demise, Han Miaoyuan of the Ebon Star Sect claimed his Supreme God seat. Years after the dragon wars ended and stability returned, when Boulderdawn suggested allocating the new seat to the Bloodbrawlers, Han Miaoyuan was the most vehement opponent."

Youyu glanced at Yuan Qingxi as he spoke.

Yuan Qingxi responded, "This secret came at a steep price for us. Thousands of years ago, many promising ascendants perished in battles across the extraterrestrial Star River. Han Miaoyuan is one of the few survivors, still alive to this day."

"Huangyin's choice to possess that prodigy from the Ebon Star Sect was a deliberate move against them," Lianjing interjected.

She and Yuan Qingxi had long understood that Han Miaoyuan was the ringleader of those obstructing the Bloodbrawlers and Terra Fiend from regaining their strength and rejecting Boulderdawn's proposal.

"Ann Jieshan of Colddeath really drew the short straw! He dared to target Lord Xuanli, who, even in slumber, is far beyond his reach!"

Pride swelled in Lianjing's expression as she spoke of Xuanli, "Our Bloodbrawlers' grasp of the soul is second to none, rivaling even the Soul Sect. Ann Jieshan, a mere practitioner of blood magic, thought he could stand against Lord Xuanli?"

Youyu suddenly declared, "The enlightenment that Ann Jieshan offers is no minor feat."

Aside from Yuan Qingxi, Lianjing and the three Ghost Kings looked on, puzzled.

"It represents another power, one we are at odds with beyond our world. I even suspect that the old fox, Han Miaoyuan, has seen through it all. That's why he's using the still dormant Xuanli to confront the Colddeath Sect and Ann Wen," Yuan Qingxi stated bitterly.

As a devout follower of Youyu, he was privy to the existence of the Root of the Solar Meridian. He was also aware that the Colddeath Sect might have unwittingly become a line of the Solar Meridian, nurtured within the Everlands.

"Ann Wen..."

Youyu let out a gentle sigh.

Ann Wen, from the Colddeath Sect, was once Yu Xi's comrade-in-arms.

Yet upon awakening and aligning with the Root of the Lunar Meridian, he realized that the Bloodbrawlers' foundation was the very Root of the Lunar Meridian under his feet.

Ann Wen and the Colddeath Sect were both unknowingly delving into the vital energy of the Root of the Solar Meridian.

In time, their paths might diverge into enmity, driven apart by the opposing forces of the Way of Heaven and their origins.

Such is the capricious nature of the world, ever so unpredictable.

...

At the Rainbow Ocean.

Ann Wen, accompanied by the newly awakened Ann Ziqing, departed with a troubled mind, seemingly weighing Yu Yuan's proposal.

He pondered whether to venture to the extraterrestrial Star River to seek the origins of the Colddeath Sect and embark on a comprehensive metamorphosis of life.

Yu Yuan, outside his thatched hut, retrieved the Dragon Slaying Stage and delved deep into contemplation, surveying the vast expanse of void and the underworld for millions of miles around.

He observed Liu Ying on the Fallen Star Eyes, casting concerned glances below.

He saw Hu Caiyun weeping softly beneath the freshly planted peach tree.

He also noted the venomous river, isolated by Qiyan within the dense miasma above Hu Caiyun, as if it were silently watching over her.

The malevolent devil souls of the forbidden area had grown more active of late, roaming freely.

Deep underground, no vast reserves of vitality or souls could escape the detection of the Dragon Slaying Stage.

However...

The person who abruptly spoke those words left no trace to be found.

Someone who could elude Ann Wen and project their voice from within his body was certainly no ordinary individual.

Who could it be?

He claimed he hadn't changed and that he would support him. But how would he offer his support?

What significance did his support hold? And what effect could it possibly have?

Yu Yuan was completely baffled.

"As the keeper of the Dragon Slaying Stage, your dwelling is quite modest," she remarked.

One day, a woman of ethereal beauty, dressed in a moon-white gown, glided over the Shadowflame Blight Array as if she were a spirit of the night.

"My name is Jiang Miaojie, hailing from the same Boulderdawn sect as you. This is my first visit to our ancestral land."

The woman introduced herself with a warm smile.

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