C1559 Onesided Love
The Chronowyrm, Zhong Chichen!
An ancient Seven-Colored Dragon, he was the most formidable of his kind in bygone eras, a Dragon God nearly impossible to vanquish.
Setting aside past animosities, who could be more fitting for the task?
Han Miaoyuan has stated that even the combined might of the Great Demon God Bertain and the Origin Deity, fresh from the Abyss, could only wound the Origin Deity thanks to the Dragon Slaying Stage.
It was the Chronowyrm's body within the Dragon Slaying Stage that created the Chronospatial Lock, which dealt a significant blow to the Origin Deity.
He nearly perished upon his emergence from the Abyss.
Upon learning that Han Miaoyuan's candidate was the Chronowyrm, none of the supreme beings of the Everlands doubted its capabilities.
Their concerns lay elsewhere.
The ancient Nagas, having been overthrown by humans and evilkind alike, would surely bear a grudge against all powers within the Everlands!
Not only the five supreme beings but also the Boulderdawn, the Bloodbrawlers, and the Terra Fiend had played their part.
Having been deified by the Dragon God, Zhong Chichen, once dead, was likely beyond killing now.
The strength of the Nagas was well known; restoring Zhong Chichen to his prime might be akin to harboring a potential threat.
"I understand your concerns," Han Miaoyuan began, his confidence evident in his smile. "Times have changed! With tens of thousands of years of growth, the deities of your generation surpass those of old. Moreover, our numbers are sufficient!"
"Even at his peak, he poses no threat to us. The worst-case scenario is that we may not be able to slay him."
"The combat prowess of the current deities far exceeds those from the ancient times. We needn't overly fret about the presence of a single Dragon God."
He persuaded them with sound arguments.
"My esteemed senior brother, Zhong Chichen..."
Yu Yuan was taken aback, not expecting such a drastic turn of events.
After his awakening, my senior brother feared becoming a target for Han Miaoyuan and Dark Phoenix, so he hastily fled the Everlands and sought refuge in the Star River of the extraterrestrial realm, yearning for freedom.
Who would have guessed that due to the immense threat posed by the Origin Gate, and the Everlands' urgent need for a deity skilled in space magic, Han Miaoyuan would be the first to think of him?
Once Ji Tianyu's Sacred Heart shatters, her spirit will break as well. Even if she clings to life, it's unlikely she'll ever be able to forge a new Sacred Heart.
The intelligence we have suggests that the second supreme of Ebon Star isn't particularly outstanding in combat, and Han Miaoyuan is fervently nurturing Cao Jiaze.
Yu Yuan is convinced that Ji Tianyu's Sacred Heart is doomed to break, and she may succumb to her sorrow.
The stronger, more promising Cao Jiaze is bound to take her place, becoming a pinnacle of human strength like Lin Daoke and Tan Xiaotian.
Despite being the leader of Ebon Star, Han Miaoyuan's sights are set far beyond his own sect.
Whenever a human of exceptional potential emerges, no matter their affiliation—be it Devil Palace, Ruby Hand, or any other—he covertly fosters their growth.
Lin Daoke, Tan Xiaotian, Yuwen Hao, Qin Luo...
Each of these human titans has been shielded by Han Miaoyuan, who has quietly supported them on their path to divinity.
Han Miaoyuan, self-proclaimed champion of humanity, has dedicated his efforts to the race's flourishing, transcending any single sect or faction.
In this regard, the man is utterly selfless, his integrity beyond reproach.
The human race owes its current standing to his significant contributions.
It's no surprise, then, that Lin Daoke, Tan Xiaotian, and even Yuwen Hao, despite their personal grievances, stand united behind him when it matters most.
Yuwen Hao's absence is due to his decision to let Qin Luo claim the sacred way after Lee Tianxin's demise, a move that disadvantaged the Sunlit Order.
Yet, Yuwen Hao recognizes that with Qin Luo controlling the sacred way and stationed in the extraterrestrial realm, the Everlands are better defended.
The strength of the human race within the Everlands had been bolstered as a result. The damage wrought by Lee Tianxin's death was mitigated to the lowest degree possible.
Despite some reluctance, Yuwen Hao made arrangements for Mo Baichuan to be present.
He was aware that Han Miaoyuan's plans were not for his own benefit, nor for the Ebon Star, but for the welfare of the entire human race.
In the face of threats to the Everlands, it was he who stepped forward, prompting Ji Tianyu to relinquish her divine seat to make way for Zhong Chichen.
"I'm not particularly fond of that Seven-Colored Dragon. However, there's something I need to address."
Youyu, the God of Ghosts, interjected unexpectedly.
Yu Yuan and Zu Ann looked at him with astonishment, puzzled by his interruption.
"Please, continue."
Even Han Miaoyuan, from within the Banner of Duality, showed him considerable respect.
"The Voidweaver named Rovi is destined to perish in the Defiled World, and the Seven-Colored Dragon played a significant role in this. His Chronospatial Lock is extraordinarily potent! Without it, Rovi would never have met his end in the Everlands at the hands of myself or Yu Yuan."
When he brought up Yu Yuan, the others cast a brief glance his way, though they didn't seem to attach much importance to it.
It was common knowledge that Yu Yuan had inflicted a grave wound on Rovi's physical form by piercing his heart with the Dragon Slaying Stage. They naturally assumed that the sheer terror of the Dragon Slaying Stage was the cause, not Yu Yuan's prowess...
"The Seven-Colored Dragon, now known as Zhong Chichen, is still within the Unbound Realm. Once he ascends to godhood, wielding the Chronospatial Lock with divine authority, I'm convinced he will pose a significant threat to the Origin Deity. I suspect it was his Chronospatial Lock that enabled the Demon God Bertain to harm the Origin Deity."
"Therefore, his ascension to godhood should not be seen as merely a solution to the issue of the Everlands' Origin Gate."
"He could also become a threat to the Origin Deity."
Youyu shared his insights.
Han Miaoyuan nodded in agreement. "Our thoughts are in perfect alignment."
He had already contemplated granting Zhong Chichen a divine seat and his subsequent ascension to godhood even before convening the council.
Zhou You's casual mention of his trip to the Skyreach Consortium belied his deep-seated skepticism. He truly didn't believe Zhou You had the strength to contend with the Origin Deity.
He was also concerned that if Zhou You were to ascend to godhood, he might end up like the Voidweaver, a devout follower of the Origin Deity.
"So, let's put it to a vote. Are there any objections to granting Zhong Chichen a divine seat?" Han Miaoyuan asked, turning first to Mo Baichuan.
"I agree," Mo Baichuan replied blankly.
Next, Han Miaoyuan looked at Qin Luo, the dark sphere representing Tan Xiaotian, as well as Zu Ann, Youyu, Yu Yuan, and the Untamed.
"I agree," they all responded, nodding with little hesitation.
He purposefully skipped Lin Daoke, knowing that asking him would be futile and that Lin Daoke would likely find it bothersome. So, he moved on.
Finally, he turned to the Astral Tiger, the emissary of Shadow's Keep, his expression growing solemn. "What is your stance?"
The individual in question was none other than the supreme leader of Shadow's Keep—the Dark Phoenix. Most of the human faction was persuaded by him, and after much discussion, Zu Ann, the Untamed, Yu Yuan, and Youyu had given their approval.
Yet, he was still at a loss when it came to the Dark Phoenix, unable to predict her thoughts. Throughout the years, the one enigma in the vast Everlands that he had never been able to decipher was the Dark Phoenix.
With the Astral Tiger present, he was confident that it could communicate the proceedings to the Dark Phoenix and also convey her response.
As Han Miaoyuan's gaze settled on the Moonfang Tiger, all the other formidable beings present also fixed their eyes on the majestic creature, as if they knew it was in the midst of a silent dialogue with her.
After a moment, the Astral Tiger gave a slight nod.
Han Miaoyuan's furrowed brow relaxed, a sign that the most challenging hurdle had been effortlessly cleared with the supreme being of Shadow's Keep's approval.
His greatest uncertainty had been the Dark Phoenix's attitude, especially since he was well aware of her intense animosity towards the Nagas.
The Nagas felt the same...
In truth, both the Nagas and the ancient evilkind were part of the Everlands' evilkind. The Nagas were once the leaders, reigning over all the ancient evilkind.
The Dark Phoenix was the sole entity capable of conversing with the Nagas and the only one they respected.
Yet, she chose to join forces with the Boulderdawn, the Bloodbrawlers, the Terra Fiend, and other supreme human beings that emerged later, to topple the reign of the Nagas.
Consequently, the Nagas harbored a hatred for the Dark Phoenix that surpassed even that of the Everlands' humans.
The Dark Phoenix, in turn, relentlessly oppressed the Nagas, leaving them no chance for a comeback.
That was until Yu Yuan returned from beyond the stars with a young Titan Spinosaurus and the Dragon Slaying Stage, shattering the cosmic order that had bound the Nagas.
Thus, the Nagas were presented with an opportunity to ascend to divinity once more!
Moreover, due to the grave threat posed by the Origin Gate, the Everlands urgently required the return of the Seven-Colored Dragon.
Han Miaoyuan's greatest concern was the Dark Phoenix's approval; he feared her refusal would significantly complicate matters.
"That's good. With no further hindrances, I'll ensure the message is spread far and wide, making our stance and sincerity clear to Zhong Chichen. Then, all we have to do is wait for him..."
Mid-sentence, Han Miaoyuan abruptly halted, as if detecting something amiss.
His silhouette within the Banner of Duality froze.
Narrowing his eyes, he tuned into his surroundings, then declared, "Fine, since you've got something to say, go ahead and speak!"
A portal, the Wintermaw, materialized within the Banner of Duality, and through it echoed Zhong Chichen's mocking laughter. "So, now you're pleading for me to return and ascend to godhood? Han, you whelp, and you, old crone, shouldn't you be asking whether I'll even consent to your plea?"
His laughter then swelled to an unrestrained crescendo. "I refuse to ascend. I'll continue to wander the cosmos. What can you possibly do to me? The fate of the Everlands means nothing to me! In fact, I might relish the sight of it dissolving into oblivion, watching your sects and disciples perish in an instant!"
Upon hearing these words, the brows of the assembled peak masters at the edge of the abyss furrowed deeply.
Everyone could envision where Zhong Chichen was at that moment. He was undoubtedly in another location within the Frostfell.
The Wintermaw in question was a cave that served as a conduit to the Frozen Hellscape, overseen by the soul of Han Miaoyuan.
Being the Chronowyrm, he had collaborated with the frost wyrm to construct the Wintermaw situated in the extraterrestrial. It was imbued with his residual chronospatial power.
Incredibly, he managed to project his voice to the Wintermaw in the Frostfell, allowing all those gathered to hear him.
He referred to them dismissively as "brat" and "old witch."
The mention of the "old witch" brought forth a wave of unmasked, towering hatred that seemed to spill out from the Wintermaw within the Banner of Duality!
His loathing for the Dark Phoenix was so intense and profound that it was palpable to everyone present.
