C1545 High Priest of the Sky Fiend

Positioned between two stone pillars intricately carved in the likeness of Titans, sat a formidable man. With meticulous motions, he used a fine knife and fork to slice through the assortment of food on his table. Yet, his gaze was fixedly directed outward.

Yu Yuan, standing at the palace entrance, locked eyes with him, feeling as though he was confronting a savage beast. The man's vitality was so potent that Yu Yuan had never witnessed its like in any human expert, including Zhongli Dapan from Forgeroses, Ann Wen from Colddeath, and the Devil Palace's cultivator renowned for his exceptional physique. None could compare.

Beyond his robust vitality, his spiritual energy and Soul Power were equally remarkable, perfectly balanced with no discernible weakness. Unlike the typically frail-bodied cultivators of Boulderdawn, this man bore no such disadvantage. Yu Yuan realized that the new generation of Boulderdawn, born beyond the stars, had indeed overcome the inherent frailty of the human form, placing significant emphasis on physical fortification.

"Lord Tianqi," Yu Yuan acknowledged the man's identity with a slight bow, maintaining a respectful yet confident demeanor.

Within an unremarkable grey stone pillar, the phantom of God-King Gui Xu was distinctly visible. After Yu Yuan's greeting, Gui Xu spoke softly, "We have been waiting for you for quite some time."

"Greetings, Master Gui Xu," Yu Yuan said with a smile.

"You may call me Gui Xu or Taixu. As for 'lord,' let's dispense with that from now on," the voice of God-King Gui Xu was neutral, betraying no emotion.

Yet, Yu Yuan understood the unspoken message: "You are my lord."

With a nod, Yu Yuan acknowledged the mutual understanding, sparing further pleasantries. His attention then shifted to another unfamiliar presence within the hall.

Enshrouded in a black cloak that hovered lightly above the ground, a specter pulsed within. At the head of the cloak, two purple devil souls flickered like demonic eyes.

Was this a Star-Spawned Terror Demon God, or perhaps a Great Demon God? Merely cloaked in darkness, he had boldly manifested within the Moonfall Sanctuary.

Aren't you afraid of the five great supreme forces of the Everlands?

Rovi only dared to lurk beneath the earth, too fearful to show his face, yet he still met his end.

Lee Sha, with her Otherkin bloodline, didn't last three seconds before Lin Daoke struck her down.

The Everlands have less tolerance for extraterrestrial visitors with greater combat power.

So, what's the story with this individual before me?

In that moment, Yu Yuan instantly grasped why the Soulforge Matrix was active and why, even from above the Dragon Slaying Stage, he couldn't glimpse the scene within the great hall.

The external array and the hall he stood in were both shielding this extraterrestrial guest, concealing his presence from the supreme beings of the Everlands.

"Who is he?"

Yu Yuan inquired of the God-King, who was subservient to him within the gray stone pillar.

Just as Gui Xu, the God-King, was about to disclose the guest's identity, the visitor spoke up: "We've had contact across the Dark Star Region before. I've longed to visit, but the Chronospatial Lock has thwarted me."

His command of the Everlands language was impeccable, surpassing that of any Otherkin. In Yu Yuan's view, not even the humans or the archdemons from Shadow's Keep could match his pronunciation.

"Dark Star Region?" Yu Yuan was taken aback.

"You fully unleashed the power of the Dragon Slaying Stage, and in the moment you and the secular bird vanished, Quealy and the entire Blood Fiend clan were obliterated. It was only after you departed that I managed to break the Chronospatial Lock and reach the Dark Star," the guest explained, seemingly with a smile.

Yu Yuan had an epiphany.

Amidst overwhelming pressure, he had cast aside all caution to protect Chen Qinghuang, invoking a force from another realm that enabled their successful escape.

Consequently, he had lain on the Upper Continent of Zekrica for an extended period, drained of vitality, as vulnerable as any ordinary mortal.

Before his departure from the Dark Star, he had indeed seen a deep, shadowy expanse behind Adler and Mitts.

He had also sensed something desperately clawing at the fabric of the temporal barrier, eager to break through.

Due to Chen Qinghuang's identity as a secular bird being revealed, everyone wanted her dead. The most significant threat to her was the entity attempting to traverse the heavens!

Namely, the Sky Fiend before him, cloaked in black...

"Yu Yuan, he is our tribe's High Priest—Lord Reid!"

Ghost King Tian Zang finally made his appearance behind him, and as he spoke, the stone hall's doors slammed shut, leaving even Yan Qiling on the outside.

"High Priest Reid!"

Yu Yuan was taken aback. He was aware that the Demon God before him was ranked ninth in combat power within the extraterrestrial Star River.

The presence of a Demon God in the Everlands, particularly in the Moonfall Sanctuary, was far from ordinary.

"I have come to the Everlands with the permission of Han Miaoyuan from the Ebon Star. My purpose is to convey certain information about the Maw of Oblivion and the Origin Deity to Han Miaoyuan, ensuring his council can proceed smoothly."

High Priest Reid was calm and collected, seemingly aware of Yu Yuan's concerns. "I am also here by the command of our chieftain."

Upon his mentioning the Great Demon God Bertain, Tianqi, Gui Xu, and Tian Zang, who was once a Sky Fiend himself, all showed their deep respect.

Gui Xu, once known as the Taixu God-King, was well aware of the Great Demon God's fearsome reputation.

Although Tianqi was not well-acquainted with the Everlands, the Boulderdawn had occasional encounters with Star-Spawned Terrors at the fringes of the starry sky.

He might have misjudged Lin Daoke's combat abilities, but he would never underestimate the Great Demon God Bertain.

Bertain is recognized as the strongest entity in the extraterrestrial universe, eternal and undying.

Every intelligent species beyond our world shares tales of this Great Demon God, believing him to be the mightiest force in the Infinite Galaxy since the era of the cosmic giant beasts.

This Infinite Galaxy includes the Everlands as well.

Since the fall of the Titan Spinosaurus, the Everlands civilization has evolved, starting with the Nagas and leading up to the emergence of Boulderdawn, with countless formidable entities emerging from the five great powers.

Yet, to date, no one, not even a Dark Deity, has proven capable of defeating Bertain.

The Everlands' greatest strength lies in the human race. Their primordial spirits are exquisitely crafted, taking only a millennium to cultivate, and those with exceptional talent need merely a few centuries. In contrast, the peak warriors of the extraterrestrial domains require tenfold or more time to achieve the same.

Moreover, the human race boasts a vast population and an abundance of Supreme God seats. Entities like those from the Sword Sect, fearless in the face of death, willingly trade blows with the Otherkin's mightiest. When a human supreme being falls, a successor ascends swiftly, ensuring the continuity of their martial prowess.

Conversely, when the Otherkin lose a tenth-level warrior, their path to resurgence is painfully protracted. Even for the mightiest among the extraterrestrial beings, the Star-Spawned Terrors, having more than five Demon Gods at once is a rarity; an era with four coexisting is already considered prosperous.

The Supreme God seats of the Everlands have long stood at twelve, but recently expanded to thirteen, showcasing unity to the outer realms. This unity is the bedrock of the Everlands' power.

Yet, in single combat...

The only one who could stand toe-to-toe with Bertain without faltering was the one in his prime, wielding the Dragon Slaying Stage. Demon Lords, Dark Deities, and countless others like Tan Xiaotian have perished at Bertain's hand.

Against this formidable Demon God, aside from the era of the dragon slayer, the Everlands has always required the combined might of at least two supreme beings. Whether it's the Dark Phoenix with Lin Daoke, or with Tan Xiaotian, or alongside multiple Everlands supremes, the Dark Phoenix is invariably a key ally. Yet, even with her, victory is never assured.

In the annals of the Everlands, only one battle is recorded where the Demon God Bertain faced defeat—when he clashed with the dragon slayer and the Dark Phoenix.

As Reid spoke of the Great Demon God Bertain, everyone in the hall listened with solemn respect. "I have relayed his message to Han Miaoyuan, who will soon depart the Everlands via the Domain Channel. My presence here is to await you after the council," Reid said, his voice warm within the shadows of his cloak. "The Patriarch wishes to meet with you once the council concludes."

"Anywhere outside of the Everlands is fine. I'll be waiting for you in the Hellmouth."

Reid's devil soul seemed to bow within his dark cloak.

Tianqi, Gui Xu, and Tian Zang were visibly shaken by his words. They looked at Reid, then at Yu Yuan, puzzled as to why the overlord of the Sky Fiend Clan sought an audience with Yu Yuan.

"I'm looking forward to our meeting, Taiyin."

A peculiar notion surfaced in Yu Yuan's Heart Lake, an insight originating from within his consciousness.

This thought wasn't an external intrusion...

Nor was it a voice.

It was Yu Yuan's own contemplation, akin to an inner monologue or soliloquy, as if he were conversing with himself...

Yet, the sentiment expressed by this thought seemed to emanate from another.

The sensation was uncanny, prompting Yu Yuan to glance sharply at Reid, suspecting his covert influence.

But the Star-Spawned Terror within the cloak simply shook its head gently. "My task here is done. Yu Yuan, please be sure to visit the Hellmouth after the council concludes." With those words, the high priest of the Star-Spawned Terror hurried off.

Though he had Han Miaoyuan's blessing, the Everlands concealed too many secrets, and hostility towards outsiders like him was rampant.

Recently, even Rovi, a master of space magic, perished here.

Rovi's demise had cast a shadow over the Everlands in the eyes of the peak warriors from the Extraterrestrial Star River, making it seem even more formidable.

From the outside, the azure beauty of the Everlands belied the presence of a terror lurking within, ready to burst forth and shred any foreign Otherkin.

Reid, too, harbored a deep reverence for the Everlands.

As he was about to withdraw and navigate the Domain Channel to the Hellmouth, the twin purple dark fires within his cloak flickered intensely.

"If it's alright with you, may I observe this battle?"

He posed the question to Tianqi, Gui Xu, and Yu Yuan.

In that moment, Yu Yuan, the central figure of the impending clash, was well aware that his Solar Spirit and Hua Xin, a newcomer from Boulderdawn, had already commenced their duel in the training field.

With Hua Xin trembling and his own dominant presence and Lunar Spirit now absent, he felt a sense of ease wash over him.

Thus, his courage surged through him once again.

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