C1525 Position
Since Yu Zhu was involved, Yu Yuan was bound to make an appearance.
In a blink, the Dragon Slash Platform sliced through the air and transported him right beside Youyu.
The platform under his feet was nearly at the same height as the Spectral Palace where Youyu was seated.
They stood shoulder to shoulder.
It was as though they were back in a time, millions of years ago.
...
Atop Ascension Peak.
Surrounded by the Skywatch Mirror, Zu Ann and the Desolate God witnessed Yu Yuan and the Dragon Slash Platform materialize within the mirror, now resembling a small pond.
All eyes were on them.
"That young man?"
The Desolate God, having set aside his smoking pipe, crouched on a greyish-white stone. Yu Yuan and the Dragon Slash Platform were reflected in his Demonic Eye. "What's his rush?"
Zu Ann, adorned in his traditional attire, adjusted his feathered crown. As he was about to speak, he suddenly turned to the rock beside him.
He sensed a change in the unremarkable stone.
As the deity of the entire Ascension Mountain Range, nothing unusual could escape his detection.
No matter how well it was hidden.
"Guixu?"
Zu Ann ventured a guess.
"Forgive the intrusion," came the calm voice of the Ruins Divine King from within the stone. A barely visible shadow materialized within it. "Desolate Lord, Mister Zu, your focus has been on Youyu, the Iridescent Cloud Miasma Sea, and Dragon Island, which is why you've overlooked one place."
"Which place?" Zu Ann inquired.
"The Absence Relic," the Ruins Divine King revealed without hesitation. "The girl named Yu Zhu has vanished without a trace. Before her disappearance, seven Dao Laws linked to the Foul World slipped underground. If I'm not mistaken, those seven Dao Laws... have entered the Foul World."
"The seven Dao Laws associated with the Foul World are known as Qiyan, intelligent Earth Demons of an unusual kind." Zu Ann, who spent his days on Ascension Peak observing the vast earth, was well-informed. "He recently returned from beyond the heavens. Interestingly, he shares a unique connection with Yu Zhu..." Zu Ann trailed off, lost in thought.
In just a moment, he called out sharply, "Yu Zhu!"
The Desolate God broke into a wide, eerie grin. "Fascinating, truly fascinating! That old coot from the Profound Sky Sect probably never imagined that Youyu's chosen one would be Yu Zhu!"
Zu Ann and the Desolate God quickly grasped the situation.
"Yu Zhu..."
Upon realizing what had transpired, the Ruins Divine King's typically impassive visage betrayed a hint of concern. "We made a promise to President Lyi. With Xuanli unable to return and Huangyin no longer posing a threat, our duty was to fully support his ascension to divinity. I was ready to convince Youyu to wait for the next divine seat to become available."
The Ruins Divine King let out a soft sigh.
His initial strategy was to secure a divine seat for President Lyi and then assure Youyu and the Ghost Wizard Sect that they would be next in line for any new divine seat that emerged.
This decision was reinforced by Youyu's slaying of Zhu Zhenchao and his command over the Spectral Palace, with the two rivers, one clear and one murky, below. It was clear to him and Tianqi the extent of Youyu's might.
He had faith that, with Xuanli gone and Huangyin eliminated by Han Miaoyuan, Youyu would have no better option but to agree, given the circumstances.
Yet, who could have predicted that Youyu's heart's choice would remain unscathed and had already covertly reached the Foul Land!
"I can't see into that world, not even with all my might."
Zu Ann's hands were firmly placed on the pond formed by the Skywatch Mirror, channeling his divine power and the Dao he had mastered in an attempt to peer through it.
But the Foul Land had become even more impenetrable than in Youyu's time.
"If it's her, perhaps we should advise President Lyi to wait a bit longer."
The scene within the Skywatch Mirror under Zu Ann's control shifted, revealing Yu Yuan standing atop the Dragon Slash Platform, gazing intently at Ascension Peak.
Yu Yuan's eyes radiated a steely resolve, reflecting his current resolve.
"You're all aware of my history with Hong Qi. I've kept an eye on that young lady since the day he took her to the Jade Peak. Regardless of Youyu's motives, since he has chosen her and Hong Qi has made his decision, I stand with Hong Qi."
Zu Ann was concerned that his previous explanation hadn't been clear enough, so he decided to restate his position.
Inside the mountain, Guixu, who had once been the Void Divine King, seemed to have caught Yu Yuan's gaze through the Skywatch Mirror. Accustomed to supporting that individual since ancient times, he now spoke up.
"I'll persuade Tianqi and also reach out to President Lyi."
The Ruins Divine King declared his stance.
"And you?" Zu Ann asked, his expression serene as he regarded the Old Ape before him.
"Hehe, I don't have much of a connection with Youyu or Yu Yuan. But that little spider, Yu Zhu, carries half of our Demon Race's bloodline! Plus, her mother made quite an impression when she visited the Great Swamp."
The Desolate God revealed a broad smile, his gaze shifting toward the Demon Palace, his expression turning grave.
"I have an inkling as to why there's been no word from the Demon Palace. It's likely that the Demon Phoenix has sensed that her carefully nurtured charge is poised to ascend to a supreme divine position," he said in a deep tone.
At the mention of the Demon Phoenix, both Zu Ann and the Ruins Divine King within the rock lapsed into silence.
After a considerable pause, Zu Ann spoke up again. "The Blood God Cult discarded the body of the eight-legged spider in the Absence Relic. From what I've gathered, there's something amiss about its demise."
"No need for subtlety. The Demon Phoenix killed her," the Desolate God interjected with a huff. "You're wondering why the Demon Phoenix would allow it, aren't you?"
Zu Ann nodded, while Guixu remained silent.
"She views the issue from a different plane. How many eras has she lived through? Such vendettas are trivial to her. Her aim is to see a surge of powerful beings within the Demon Clan in the Boundless Great World! To put it simply, the more formidable the Demon Clan becomes in the Boundless Great World, the more powerful she grows."
"As a Demon God, I not only have the autonomy to establish my own domain in the Great Swamp, but I also command Demon Kings and a host of Great Demons."
"If she sees that Yu Zhu has the potential to become a Demon God, she will foster that potential and do everything in her power to facilitate her growth. She isn't concerned about Yu Zhu uncovering the truth or seeking retribution in the future. In fact, if the truth and the resulting enmity make Yu Zhu stronger, she would gladly have her know it all."
"The more formidable the demons become, the more powerful she grows."
"She desires a Demon Clan that can match or even surpass the Human Clan."
"With this goal in mind, all else is trivial. Whether Yu Zhu learns from me and strikes out on her own in Absence Relic or takes over the Iridescent Cloud Miasma Sea, she won't be upset—in fact, she'll be pleased."
"I suspect she also wants to challenge that individual using Yu Zhu's partial demon lineage."
The Desolate God gazed at the Spectral Palace, where two intersecting streams flowed. "The stronger Yu Zhu becomes, the stronger the Demon Clan will be, and the more Demon Gods will arise. And she will grow ever more powerful."
After hearing the Desolate God's revelation, Zu Ann and Guixu were plunged into a prolonged silence, contemplating the unveiled truths.
...
Beneath the peach tree in the Iridescent Cloud Miasma Sea, Hu Caiyun wept without pleading for the Profound Dao Flag, knowing it would be futile. Her master's decisions were unchangeable by anyone.
And she was helpless to stop Huangyin's conflagration.
Whoosh!
A massive black cauldron plummeted from the heavens, trapping Huangyin's Devil Soul and his body, which was ablaze with the Flowing Flames.
The Ice Concubine, having departed from the Dragon Slash Platform, utilized the utmost cold within the cauldron's miniature world, along with a fraction of the Frost Dragon's Frost Energy, to counter the vibrant flames.
Yu Yiyi's gentle form emerged on the cauldron's side, addressing Hu Caiyun, "I have obeyed my master's orders to preserve Huangyin's Devil Soul. But his survival is not something master can assure. Even if a shred of his soul consciousness remains, for him to fully awaken and recall you might take centuries."
Hu Caiyun looked on, bewildered.
Yu Yiyi offered no further explanation.
Should Huangyin's Devil Soul indeed endure, she would transform it into a malevolent demon and begin anew within the cauldron, ascending from the lowest ranks.
Huangyin's potential return to the echelons of supreme malevolent demons hinged on fate—a certainty she could not provide.
"It turns out to be Yu Zhu."
Tianzang remained in control of the Fallen Star Eyes. Witnessing Yu Yuan's departure on the Dragon Slash Platform, he grasped the truth and turned his gaze toward Youyu, expressing his admiration: "It makes sense now. Whether it was Xuanli or Huangyin, Yu Yuan had his reasons for not lending his full support. But with Yu Zhu involved, everything falls into place."
"Sect Master Han!"
Yu Yuan stood resplendent on the Dragon Slash Platform, his true form shining brightly. As the crystalline river symbolizing a divine seat neared the Iridescent Cloud Miasma Sea, he fixed his eyes on the Profound Dao Flag and let out a thunderous call.
Whoosh!
The Profound Dao Flag soared, shooting up into the clouds in an instant. Within the spiritually charged fabric, a vague silhouette appeared, seemingly hanging on Yu Yuan's every word.
"If you scatter this divine seat, then we go to war," Yu Yuan declared with a laugh.
"Go to war? Do you speak for the entire Divine Soul Sect?"
Han Miaoyuan's voice emanated from the Profound Dao Flag, tinged with a mocking tone that suggested Yu Yuan was overreaching and unaware of his own standing.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
At Ascension Peak, three beams of divine light erupted skyward like towering pillars. Their imposing presence caused all creatures to shudder as if three ancient deities had descended to impart wisdom and redefine the cosmic laws.
After a brief silence, Han Miaoyuan from within the Profound Dao Flag inquired, "To whom does the divine seat belong?"
Xuanli was absent, Huangyin lacked the mettle, and the Foul World below remained unseen. The question of who was worthy to take on the divine seat lingered.
"Yu Zhu," Yu Yuan stated boldly, revealing the truth.
In that instant, the Demon Palace in the north of the Quietus Continent echoed with a phoenix's cry. Every great demon, regardless of their allegiance, ceased their actions and turned their attention to the north—toward the Demon Palace.
Within the Demon Palace, sacred to the Demon Phoenix, Qilin, and White Divine Tiger, the very heart of the demon race's heritage in the Boundless Great World was enshrined.
With the phoenix's call, the Demon Palace made its stance clear. Han Miaoyuan, within the Profound Dao Flag, subtly shifted his form.
It appeared to be the first time he had been caught off guard.
"I never expected you to have a hand in this. It's no wonder I couldn't connect the dots to that trinket. Every time I pondered over it, I would inadvertently overlook the Absence Relic, as if the heavens themselves had obscured it from my mind."
Han Miaoyuan let out a soft sigh. With a flicker, the Profound Dao Flag waved in the void before vanishing into thin air.
The crystalline river, symbolizing a divine throne, swept away all barriers, forging a path straight into the heart of the Iridescent Cloud Miasma Sea!
