C1521 The New Seat

Zhu Zhenlin's divine seat had just shattered.

At Ebon Star.

Cao Jiaze stood suspended in the sky, hands clasped behind his back, gazing toward the Devil Palace in the direction of the Land of Quiescence.

The two exquisite, multicolored pagodas deep within his eyes seemed to have been infused within him, allowing him to discern the general state of the Devil Palace from Ebon Star's heavens.

A shadow, barely more visible than a wisp of smoke, materialized suddenly beside him.

It was a woman...

She rested her elbow lightly on the balustrade, her voice as melodious as a mountain stream, "The Sect Master wants you to reach out to the Skyreach Consortium and deliver a message to President Lyi."

"Ms. Ji, you've returned as well?"

Cao Jiaze greeted her with a warm smile and a respectful bow, foregoing any questions.

Before him stood the ethereal Lunar Spirit of Ji Tianyu.

Ji Tianyu was the second primordial spirit of Ebon Star, after Han Miaoyuan.

She didn't turn to face Cao Jiaze, her gaze seemingly fixed on the Devil Palace. "I only returned after learning that Youyu had approached Zhu Zhenlin; it put my mind at ease."

Cao Jiaze's spirit quivered at her words. "Ms. Ji, what do you mean by that?"

"I had assumed Youyu would target me first."

Ji Tianyu, present only as a Lunar Spirit, was so insubstantial and serene that her features were indistinct, yet her voice carried an unmistakable sense of relief.

"Because I am weaker than Zhu Zhenlin, an easier target."

Her tone carried a hint of despondency.

"Youyu had a reason to go after Zhu Zhenlin, but why you?" Cao Jiaze was confused.

"Ze, you're unaware of our longstanding feud with the Bloodbrawlers. To put it simply, when the Bloodbrawlers fell, Ebon Star acquired the lion's share of their treasures. Our Sect Master ascended to become a primordial spirit as a result. The Marks of the Celestials you wield were actually crafted from the 'earthly palace' of the Bloodbrawlers, dating back to ancient times."

"Earthly palace?" Cao Jiaze expressed his astonishment.

"Yes, the Bloodbrawlers' edifice in the Rainbow Ocean was forged from a variety of ancient and rare magic items. After Youyu and Xuanli perished, we claimed the earthly palace. Through our subsequent refinements, it was transformed into the Marks of the Celestials."

"Our Ebon Star now boasts numerous Heavenly Palaces, and the pavilions beneath us might well be considered replicas."

With Youyu's emergence and full awakening, there was no longer any need for secrecy.

Ji Tianyu recognized Cao Jiaze's intelligence and reputable background, so she saw no point in concealing the truth any longer.

"Yet, the Heavenly Palaces we've crafted, though modeled after the earthly palaces, are even more wondrous than the original Bloodbrawlers' abodes," Ji Tianyu said with a hint of a smile.

She allowed Cao Jiaze a moment to process this before dropping a bombshell.

"The very ancestor of your Cao Family whom you hold in high esteem, Cao Yi, was another leader of the Bloodbrawlers. He was as renowned as Youyu, known by the name Xuanli."

"I myself only learned of this from the Sect Master very recently."

Ji Tianyu, a fellow Primordial Spirit Realm practitioner, felt a twinge of fear as she spoke.

The Sect Master was terrifyingly formidable.

He had nurtured Xuanli for years, quietly observing as he consumed Ann Jieshan, and granted Xuanli complete freedom in the Moonfall Sanctuary, to thrive or perish like wild grass.

It was only during the journey to Colddeath, with Yu Yuan's assistance, that he revealed himself.

Wasn't he concerned about nurturing a threat? Did he not fear that upon awakening, Xuanli might turn against the sect?

Ji Tianyu couldn't help but smile wryly.

"Xuanli is Cao Yi?"

Cao Jiaze, esteemed as the strongest in his realm with the most solid foundation, was visibly shaken, trembling at the revelation.

"If the Sect Master says it is so, then it is," Ji Tianyu affirmed.

The more she pondered, the more enigmatic Han Miaoyuan seemed, forever beyond her grasp. "The Sect Master has already coordinated with the Sunlit Order and the Sword Sect. They have been tasked with intercepting Cao Yi beyond the Everlands, ensuring he does not return at this time. Furthermore, effective immediately, Cao Yi has been expelled from Ebon Star and is now considered a traitor to the sect."

Cao Jiaze stood there, stunned.

After a considerable pause, he seemed to finally come to his senses. "Sect Master, what message should I convey to the Chamber of Commerce?"

"It's quite straightforward. Inform President Lyi that Cao Yi is indeed Xuanli, and he may already be on his way back," Ji Tianyu said with a detached tone. "We've initiated an interception outside the Everlands. He'll know what actions to take."

"Understood."

...

Suspended in the air was a massive teleportation circle.

Following a subtle spatial ripple, a petite woman with a round face materialized out of nowhere.

Despite her age, she retained a youthful naivety, her features were pretty, and her eyes seemed perpetually brimming with laughter, as if she were eternally optimistic about the future.

"President Shi."

"President Shi."

Feng Zhong, Zhou You, Jun Chen, and the others warmly greeted her with smiles.

Only they had truly seen the Skyreach Consortium's president in the Everlands, aware that this unassuming woman had been quietly running the company since President Lyi's enigmatic disappearance.

"Jing'er, what brings you here so unexpectedly?"

Upon seeing her, President Lyi's face lit up with a warm, caring smile. "You're not in the best of health. Didn't I advise you against making public appearances?"

"Cao Jiaze reached out to me," Shi Jing'er explained softly. "He revealed that Ebon Star's former prodigy, Xuanli, is the same Xuanli from the Bloodbrawlers. Furthermore, Youyu's assault on Zhu Zhenlin suggests he's located Xuanli in the extraterrestrial realms, and Xuanli might be on his return journey."

"Cao Yi!"

"Xuanli!"

Individuals like Green Willow, Zhongli Dapan, and Yan Qiling were deeply stirred by the news, yet upon reflection, it all seemed to make sense.

"Mr. Han clearly does not wish for Xuanli to return and reclaim his divine status. After all, the godly seat he occupies was once Xuanli's. He has already liaised with the Sunlit Order and the Sword Sect to intercept Cao Yi in the extraterrestrial realms, preventing his return. He's aware that we control two pathways and arrays that lead directly to the outer world."

Shi Jing'er glanced at Yan Qiling as she mentioned this.

Yan Qiling nodded in acknowledgment. "I will consult with Lord Tianqi for his guidance."

As he finished speaking, he swiftly created a spatial passage from the Skyreach Consortium on the Land of Quiescence and instantly traveled to the Moonfall Sanctuary. His stay was brief, and he quickly returned, the passage still open behind him.

"Lord Tianqi has sealed the passage connecting to the Hellmouth. And Lord Xu has sought the assistance of the Untamed, who has agreed to temporarily seal the Songbird Queen's nest from access," Yan Qiling stated earnestly.

"Thank you," Shi Jing'er replied with a smile.

"It's the least I could do," Yan Qiling responded promptly.

Beyond the Everlands, the three upper sects were intercepting, and the internal routes to the outside world were temporarily closed. Xuanli, even if he wished to return, likely found it impossible now.

...

On Dragon Island, Loong Jie, coiled in the sky, glared in the direction of the Devil Palace. His golden pupils emitted thousands of golden lightning bolts.

The lightning reached deep into the ocean, seemingly connecting to the rules of the earth through the nearby mountains and valleys.

Loong Jie was ready.

The giant dragons encircling him also waited in eager anticipation for the outcome.

Suddenly, a slender green figure descended onto Loong Jie's golden head from above.

Tall and lean, his clothing was dust-laden, devoid of any adornments, without a storage ring or bracelet to be seen.

He bore only a single sword on his back.

It seemed he was accustomed to neglecting his appearance, or perhaps he had been in seclusion for so long that dust and cobwebs adorned him.

With a mere thought, he could have cleansed himself, presenting an immaculate appearance, yet he appeared indifferent to such concerns.

His gaze, expressions, and mannerisms all conveyed a sense of naivety, as if he were unfamiliar with worldly matters and unschooled in social graces.

Indeed, he seemed uncomfortable with social interaction.

But upon his arrival, perched atop Loong Jie's head, all the gathered giant dragons, regardless of their bloodline level or past ferocity, fell into a hushed silence.

They dared not even draw a loud breath.

With a sudden tear, all the protective enchantments on Dragon Island shattered in an instant. The entire island, along with the surrounding isles, plummeted violently, sinking beneath the sea's surface. All that remained were the giant dragons hovering in the air, with no trace of the island below. Suspended above each Dragon Soul was a sword, poised to strike at any moment. A single thrust would pierce the Dragon Soul, spelling certain death for them.

"Lin Daoke! Do you dare to thwart my ascension to godhood?!" Loong Jie bellowed, his massive golden pupils seemingly overflowing with blood, on the brink of madness.

"Yes," the man replied succinctly.

"Why?!" Loong Jie demanded, seething with rage.

"Mr. Han instructed me to," the man stated.

"You, as the head of the Sword Sect and the mightiest among the three upper sects, why heed the words of that old fool?" Loong Jie's roar shook the heavens, his dragon tail stirring waves of golden light across the sky, yet he refrained from any desperate struggle or true defiance.

"I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed. He's always had everyone's best interests at heart, so I follow his lead," the man explained with a serene acceptance of his own limitations, devoid of any shame or self-pity. "He mentioned that the Nagas still need to be kept in check. Therefore, you're not allowed to make any rash moves this time."

"If you dare to act, you'll meet your end."

...

Within the Chronicle of the Shadows, Yu Yuan was oblivious to the fact that, due to the imminent emergence of a divine seat—a seat likely preordained by Youyu—Han Miaoyuan of the Ebon Star had already taken action. Instead of confronting the Root of the Lunar Meridian directly, Han Miaoyuan severed Xuanli's route of return.

Yu Yuan could only observe the divine seat, symbolic of Zhu Zhenlin, undergoing constant transformations. At times it became an immense pillar, at others an altar, and occasionally it appeared as a tangible throne. Each form was inscribed with his insights into the cosmos and the doctrines of the sacred way he practiced.

Yu Yuan's wait was not prolonged. Once all remnants of Zhu Zhenlin's shattered divine seat were wiped clean, it transitioned from a crystalline solid into a fluid state.

Gradually, it transformed into a pristine river, brimming with the profound essence of the Everlands' depths.

The river was crystal clear and devoid of color, as though it awaited any hue to be added at will. It was receptive to thoughts, soulful memories, and the profound meanings of cosmic rules, nurturing and refining them within its flow.

Be they human, demon, or devil, anyone who immersed themselves in its waters, provided their souls were sufficiently powerful, could merge with it.

This enigmatic and ineffable river represented the second manifestation of the divine throne.

Youyu remained silent, foregoing any communication with his Lunar Spirit as he levitated the Dark Court and stepped onto the confluence of the two intertwining streams.

Meanwhile, in the external realm.

Yu Yuan, with the Dragon Slaying Stage in hand, watched as the space enveloped by the Chronicle of the Shadows fractured like a shattered mirror.

Abruptly, Youyu materialized where the two enigmatic rivers intersected in midair, with the Dark Court settling at their juncture.

Above the Dark Court, he grasped the blank Chronicle of the Shadows and cast his gaze toward the Rainbow Ocean.

The colorless river, emblematic of the divine throne, surged directly toward the Rainbow Ocean.

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