C1557 The Shocking News
"Zu Ann, please enlighten us on the kind of catastrophe the Origin Gate could ultimately bring about."
Within the Banner of Duality, Han Miaoyuan's gaze was intently focused on Zu Ann, gesturing for him to clarify the situation.
The council convened so swiftly because Han Miaoyuan had learned from Zu Ann about the cataclysmic events that had transpired in Brugeth, and the potential for such events to occur in the Everlands.
The meeting was situated here precisely because both Zu Ann and the Origin Gate were present.
"Very well."
As the assembly's attention shifted from the Banner of Duality to Zu Ann, he recounted the words shared with him by Yu Yuan and Youyu.
He explained that once the Origin Gate had amassed sufficient power, it would inevitably transform into the "Maw of Oblivion."
The "Maw of Oblivion" was characterized by its insatiable appetite, consuming everything within its reach!
Typically, it manifested in the starry expanse of the extraterrestrial, its movements unpredictable and fleeting, vanishing without warning.
It appeared abruptly, stealthily preying upon whatever it encountered, never lingering long or in any fixed location.
However, the "Maw of Oblivion" that evolved from the Origin Gate seemed far more perilous, capable of being manipulated by sentient forces to unleash catastrophic might.
The desolation of Brugeth was a testament to the "Maw of Oblivion's" destructive prowess.
Should the Origin Gate within the valley before them continue to grow, it too would become a "Maw of Oblivion," capable of engulfing the entirety of the Everlands.
As Zu Ann concluded, the faces of the assembled powerhouses darkened.
Through his account, they understood that the Origin Gate could metamorphose into the Maw of Oblivion and that beyond this Maw lay the enigmatic Abyssal Gate.
Beneath the Abyssal Gate was the fabled Abyss, an enigma yet to be explored by any.
Even the formidable Demon God Bertain, though he had stood before the Abyssal Gate on numerous occasions, had never dared to cross its threshold.
"The Everlands are our shared bedrock. Should the calamity that befell Brugeth befall us, we may endure, but the common folk, the lands, the rivers, and all their energies would be utterly obliterated."
"The Everlands are not something just anyone can handle, right?"
Zu Ann's gaze drifted over the gathered individuals.
"Furthermore, not long ago, Yan Qiling of Boulderdawn and Zhou Xiao from the Chamber of Commerce visited, bringing news. In the Domain Channel that the Chronowyrm once pierced, another Origin Gate has emerged!" Zu Ann declared.
"Another one?"
Qin Luo of the Ruby Hand became the next to speak, following Han Miaoyuan and Zu Ann.
The Astral Tiger, now in human form, was visibly concerned, his brow furrowed.
Through the Dark Phoenix, he had learned of the peculiar nature of the Origin Gate and felt apprehensive about the Everlands.
"Yes, a new Origin Gate has appeared. It seems to form only in areas of extreme spatial turbulence. The valley where an Origin Gate has appeared is likely the place where the God-King Jihui perished. The other is within the Domain Channel carved by the Chronowyrm, where the space magic is equally vast and complex."
Zu Ann clarified before adding, "The good news is that the new Origin Gate in the Domain Channel is a long way from stabilizing. It's merely drawing various forms of energy from within the Domain Channel to grow stronger."
"Additionally, the Domain Channel is just one path into the Everlands. If necessary, we can sever it!"
"So, for the time being, the new Origin Gate is not an immediate concern. Our attention should be on the current situation."
Then, Zu Ann, aware that the Sky Fiend High Priest Reid had visited, turned his attention to Han Miaoyuan within the Banner of Duality and posed the same question Yu Yuan had asked earlier, "What is the relationship between the Origin Deity and the Abyss?"
"The Abyss..." Han Miaoyuan murmured.
All eyes shifted to him.
"The Origin Deity is the only Abyssal creature we currently know of," Han Miaoyuan said, his expression growing solemn with his words. "He is also the only entity capable of extending his influence beyond the Abyss."
"This is because his soul is not only immensely powerful, but he is also a master of space magic."
"The combination of these abilities allows him to project his soul out of the Abyss using the Spatial Divine Technique, enabling him to corrupt beings like the Voidweaver, the Uxthar Tree, and the Shadowkin's Diggs."
"The Origin Realm isn't the Abyss; it seems to be merely his mind."
"To this day, no one knows whether the Origin Deity is like the Star-Spawned Terror, existing solely as a spiritual form, or if he possesses a flesh-and-blood body."
"If he does have a body, it likely cannot yet break through the Abyssal Gate to leave the Abyss."
"Yet, while he was still in the Abyss, he managed to corrupt both the Voidweaver and the Uxthar Tree."
"The Voidweaver and the Uxthar Tree, separated from their spirited bodies, had to traverse the Maw of Oblivion and stand atop the Abyssal Gate to make contact with him."
"Unlike Bertain, they lacked the resolve and were swiftly tainted, then concealed within the Maw of Oblivion."
"It appears that the Origin Deity, through those two, gained a deeper understanding of our world, prompting him to decide to break through the Abyssal Gate and cross over in his pure spiritual form."
The news from Han Miaoyuan came from the Demon God Reid, and it left him deeply shaken.
He was utterly ignorant about the Abyss.
The human race of the Everlands had soared across the vast Star River for merely tens of thousands of years.
Their focus had been solely on the known intelligent life within the Star River, intent on conquering more territories and forging additional divine thrones.
As for the Great Demon God Bertain, no one knew how many years he had lived. This immortal Demon God had been an unbeatable force since the era of the Titan Spinosaurus.
He had reigned supreme over the heavens and the Star River.
To this day, no so-called peak powerhouse could claim to have bested him.
Having lived invincibly for so long, he alone knew how many enigmatic forbidden areas he had explored. Thus, only he could confront the Abyssal Gate and would often visit it, gazing intently at the developments below.
"Bertain has sent the High Priest of the Sky Fiend Race, Reid, with some news for us. Let me share it with you all," Han Miaoyuan said, his eyes resting on Yu Yuan's Lunar Spirit, his expression tinged with complexity.
He spoke with a hint of hesitation.
"According to Bertain, tens of thousands of years ago, when the Origin Deity first crossed the Abyssal Gate as a soul, he was gravely wounded by both Bertain and the Taiyin God-King."
The previous human leader, aside from possessing an incredibly powerful soul that could almost rival the Demon God, also wielded the Dragon Slaying Stage. This artifact, housing the body of the Chronowyrm, had the power to constrain the Origin Deity in spatial matters.
Consequently, the Origin Deity's first passage through the Abyss nearly resulted in his demise.
Yet, he managed to flee, concealing himself within an unnamed Maw of Oblivion for many years.
Later, the Dragon Slaying Stage was returned to the Everlands, and the Great Demon God Bertain searched alone for a time but failed to unearth the Origin Deity.
Gradually, he ceased his relentless pursuit.
As years turned into centuries, the Boulderdawn Sect fell, and Taiyin perished. Meanwhile, the Origin Deity regained some of his strength and began to discreetly plant Origin Gates in various locations.
He grew more cautious and careful, always ready to vanish quietly at any hint of Bertain's attention—or retreat back into the Abyss.
Over tens of thousands of years, with the blossoming and fruition of each Origin Gate, he likely restored much of his power. The calamitous destruction of the Spirit World is a potent testament to his growing boldness and recklessness.
According to the Great Demon God Bertain, we must swiftly address the Origin Gate in the Everlands. He believes that the current Origin Deity, still not daring to confront him directly, is aware that his power remains insufficient.
But should the Origin Deity consume the Everlands as well...
Even Bertain is uncertain how formidable the Origin Deity might become, doubting his own ability to suppress him.
With that, Han Miaoyuan fell silent.
All the paramount beings of the Everlands, Yu Yuan included, were stunned by his revelation.
Only Youyu's gaze lingered on Yu Yuan, surprised that his once close friend had actually collaborated with the Great Demon God Bertain.
Without Bertain's disclosure, none in the Everlands would have known this chapter of history.
They all suddenly grasped the gravity of the situation: had it not been for Bertain and the wielder of the Dragon Slaying Stage delivering a crushing blow to the Origin Deity as he first emerged from the Abyss, the cosmic order might be very different today.
At the same time, Yu Yuan suddenly realized why the Great Demon God Bertain had specifically requested Reid to summon him for a meeting beyond the stars after the council. Knowing Yu Yuan's identity and considering the extent to which the Origin Deity had grown, Bertain naturally thought of him.
The Origin Deity was formidable, mastering both soul and space magic.
Bertain likely believed that Yu Yuan's original self was so spiritually strong that he could resist the Origin Deity's temptations and control. Not only was his combat prowess astonishing, but he also possessed the Dragon Slaying Stage, which could limit the Origin Deity's spatial abilities.
He could collaborate with Bertain to severely wound or even slay the Origin Deity once more.
Perhaps Bertain's willingness to join the project to forge the New Everlands was influenced by these factors.
Because Yu Yuan was still alive and capable of assisting him, Bertain kept a close watch on every action taken by the Boulderdawn.
"Yu Yuan has encountered the Origin Deity in the Spirit World. He was even led through the Maw of Oblivion and stood atop the Abyssal Gate," Zu Ann said, clearing his throat to draw the crowd's attention to Yu Yuan's Lunar Spirit.
Their gazes were filled with surprise and confusion.
"Yu Yuan mentioned that within the Abyss, there are creatures of unimaginable size, and likely more than one. Perhaps there are others on par with the Origin Deity, who simply lack the understanding of space magic's intricacies, preventing them from crossing the Abyss."
As he spoke, a wave of shock washed over the crowd.
