C1560 A Demand That Was too Much
Yu Yuan's gaze, heavy with meaning, settled on the Banner of Duality as a flurry of thoughts raced through his mind.
Simultaneously, he connected his Lunar Spirit to his physical form.
On an inconspicuous island in the Embers Sea, he called forth the Dragon Slaying Stage. Grasping it with one hand, his Solar Spirit left his body and swiftly entered the little world within the Dragon Slaying Stage.
He meticulously searched the burial site of the Chronowyrm but discovered nothing out of the ordinary.
As the master of the Dragon Slaying Stage and the sovereign of its three little worlds, he knew that if Zhong Chichen had attempted to probe his mind through the severed dragon corpse, he would have undoubtedly found some trace.
Yet, after careful sensing, he concluded this was not the case.
Zhong Chichen had not learned of the meeting's subject or its outcome through the Lunar Spirit.
If not him, then who could it be?
How did Senior Brother Zhong Chichen come to know that the supreme powers of the Everlands had convened in the secluded valleys of Skyreach Peak to deliberate on the appointment of a Most High skilled in space magic?
Who had informed him? From where had he obtained this news?
Yu Yuan's Lunar Spirit, amidst the deep valley, observed Zu Ann, Youyu, Untamed, the dark presence representing Tan Xiaotian, as well as Mo Baichuan and Qin Luo.
He scrutinized each one, doubting that any of those present would have notified Senior Brother Zhong Chichen.
He sensed that the other powerful attendees of the council were also unaware that Han Miaoyuan intended to nominate a Most High of space magic.
The idea that Han Miaoyuan's candidate was the Chronowyrm had not crossed their minds, making it highly unlikely that they would have tipped off Zhong Chichen.
Yet, Zhong Chichen, right after the consensus was reached and everyone had nodded in agreement, used the link between Wintermaw and the Frozen Hellscape to seek out the very cave that Han Miaoyuan was protecting...
Such a coincidence seemed too contrived, didn't it?
Who could have located him in the Star River of the extraterrestrial realms beforehand, who could have preempted Han Miaoyuan's intentions, who was most concerned about the transformation of the Everlands's Origin Gate into the Maw of Oblivion?
Who was capable of all this?
In the Embers Sea, within the Solar Spirit at the Dragon Slaying Stage, a name surfaced in Yu Yuan's mind.
The Great Demon God Bertain!
He alone!
Bertain was the one who orchestrated Reid's arrival, secretly informing Han Miaoyuan, the leader of the human race, about the Abyss and the Origin Deity. He pressed Han Miaoyuan to address the issue promptly.
But how?
In the vast Everlands, who could withstand the Origin Deity's seduction and ascend to godhood swiftly? None other than the ancient Chronowyrm.
Han Miaoyuan had already made his choice before even convening the council.
He was left with no alternatives.
The Great Demon God Bertain must have foreseen Han Miaoyuan's decision!
Perhaps as soon as the news that Zhong Chichen was still alive in the Defiled World's core surfaced, Bertain had already considered him.
Even before Han Miaoyuan!
Reid's arrival and the revelation about the Abyss and the Origin Deity served as a stark reminder to Han Miaoyuan that time was short, and options were few.
The seat of divinity, surely intended for his senior brother Zhong Chichen, must have been Bertain's plan!
Han Miaoyuan was merely executing that very plan!
Undoubtedly, it was Bertain who, whether through his own actions or by dispatching a messenger, located his senior brother.
He informed his senior brother of the impending events, hence positioning him at the Wintermaw, ready to signal once the Everlands' verdict was reached.
Han Miaoyuan, with his soul guarding the cavern at the base of the Wintermaw, had no choice but to allow his senior brother to emerge when he discovered his presence.
Yet his senior brother vociferously refused, proclaiming his indifference to the fate of the Everlands...
Reflecting on this, Yu Yuan had a clear understanding.
The bond between his Lunar Spirit and his true self had loosened, and his gaze upon the Banner of Duality grew peculiar.
If he truly didn't care, why would he bother transmitting his voice?
Yu Yuan let out a soft snort.
"Are you done ranting?"
The wily Han Miaoyuan let out a weary sigh from within the Banner of Duality, evidently troubled by the situation.
"That felt amazing! I haven't had such a thrill in ages!" Zhong Chichen's boisterous laughter echoed from within the Wintermaw.
"Alright, let's hear your terms. What exactly do we need to do for you to agree to ascend to godhood? To agree to help the Everlands by excising this thorn in our side?" Han Miaoyuan asked with a sense of resignation.
He was clearly well-acquainted with the ancient Chronowyrm, aware that this creature was no easy mark, and wouldn't take action without seeing a clear benefit.
He also understood that Zhong Chichen's voice carrying over meant he took the matter very seriously.
And he would certainly seize the opportunity to gain as much as possible!
"Since you've seen through my intentions, I won't bother to conceal them," Zhong Chichen said with a light chuckle, not the least bit embarrassed, as if the earlier opportunistic insults hadn't come from him at all.
"My demands are few. Our Naga had five Dragon Gods back in the day. Hasn't our clan contributed to the Everlands reaching its current state? Weren't the Frozen Hellscape and the various Wintermaw openings crafted by our Naga?"
"Yes, our rule over the Everlands might have been somewhat domineering."
"But without our Naga and the five Dragon Gods, where would the human race's rise to power be? Where would the current strength of the evilkind come from?"
Zhong Chichen spoke with a chilling tone, "Without us, the beings of the Everlands would have been eradicated by other intelligent lifeforms long ago!"
"As soon as we began our ventures in the extraterrestrial Star River, all the formidable races guessed the wonders of the Everlands. To them, the Everlands were a succulent morsel, and everyone wanted a bite, ideally to devour it whole!"
"In that era, without our Naga, could you have withstood their onslaught?"
He boldly asserted the Naga's contributions to the Everlands, his words resonating with a sense of justified pride.
It was as though without the Naga's guardianship, the Everlands would have been breached by extraterrestrial intelligent life since ancient times, leaving humans and the current evilkind either exterminated or reduced to mere sustenance for the invaders.
"Enough with the games! If it weren't for your Nagas rampaging and looting everywhere, the Everlands would still be shrouded in obscurity!" Han Miaoyuan's face darkened as he spoke with impatience, "And you, of all beings! You, the Seven-Colored Dragon, have brought the most infamy to the Everlands!"
Zhong Chichen fell silent.
After a moment, he spoke again, "I demand two Divine Thrones. I want to witness Loong Jie ascend to Dragon God first. Once he ascends, I'll return to the Everlands to seal the Origin Gate and address the second Origin Gate at Skyreach Peak."
"Two Divine Thrones? Don't be so audacious!" Han Miaoyuan erupted in anger.
Two Divine Thrones!
The onlookers in the valley cast complex glances at the Banner of Duality.
Ji Tianyu could secure one Divine Throne, while Tan Xiaotian had claimed another in the extraterrestrial realms. However, it would take time for it to become a Divine Throne that could integrate with the Banner of Duality.
Meanwhile, as the Origin Deity swelled in power, the Origin Gate in the valley continued to gather strength.
They and the Everlands simply didn't have the luxury of time to await the emergence of another Divine Throne.
"Bottom line, if Loong Jie doesn't advance to Dragon God, I refuse to forge a Divine Throne," Zhong Chichen's voice echoed from the Wintermaw, exuding an air of nonchalance.
Yu Yuan was convinced that if the Everlands didn't need him at this moment, Lin Daoke, Tan Xiaotian, and the others, fierce as tigers, would have already stormed into the extraterrestrial realms, hunting him down across the cosmos.
"We're out of time! We don't have the luxury to wait for a new Divine Throne to form!" Han Miaoyuan bellowed.
"That's your dilemma," Zhong Chichen stood firm, leaving no room for discussion. He knew this was his only chance. "I don't care how you do it, but I need to see Loong Jie enshrined as a god first! Without his ascension, I will not return to the Everlands!"
"As for the second Divine Throne, it's up to you to figure out a solution in time."
"I'm weary, and I'm about to depart from this Wintermaw. But before I go, I have one last thing to say."
His voice came to an abrupt halt.
Instinctively, everyone's gaze shifted to the Banner of Duality, to the Wintermaw, in anticipation of his final words.
But it seemed as if he was toying with them, remaining silent for an uncomfortably long time, making everyone fix their eyes on the Wintermaw. He appeared to relish the moment.
"Spit it out already!" Untamed blurted out, unable to contain his frustration.
"Wow, you little monkey, got quite the temper, don't you? Back when I was causing a stir across the Everlands and making waves in the Star River, you were probably still perched on a tree relieving yourself, not even able to talk," Zhong Chichen's taunting voice floated over leisurely. "You've been hopping around for how long, and now you think you can strut around like you're something special?"
"Spit it out already!"
Yu Yuan, equally irritated, echoed the sentiment with a coarse outburst.
Youyu looked on, his expression peculiar.
The Moonfang Tiger, Qin Luo, Mo Baichuan, and even Tan Xiaotian, shrouded in darkness, all turned their gazes toward him in astonishment. It seemed they hadn't expected Yu Yuan to speak up.
The kid had guts!
As a representative of the Boulderdawn, the faction that had once been instrumental in vanquishing the Nagas, he dared to address the Seven-Colored Dragon so boldly!
They all wondered if the Chronowyrm, notorious for its unpredictable behavior, might lash out or use this as a pretext to coerce Han Miaoyuan into disciplining Yu Yuan.
If he were to speak up, given Han Miaoyuan's nature, he might indeed take action for the greater good.
"Don't interfere!" Zu Ann hissed under his breath, annoyed at Yu Yuan's impromptu interjection.
Yet, after Yu Yuan spoke up, Zhong Chichen didn't immediately counter.
This was out of character...
"We're brothers from the same sect, after all. I could disregard the old hag, Han, anyone really. But for you... never mind, I'll stop toying with them," Zhong Chichen said, pausing briefly before continuing, "The human race has already made considerable sacrifices. My advice is, since the Kylin is on its last legs and lacks vitality, it might as well meet its end sooner rather than later."
With that, the Wintermaw within the Banner of Duality vanished.
He wanted the Kylin to die!
He was suggesting that Ji Tianyu of the human race and the Kylin of the evilkind each vacate a divine throne.
It was clear that his hatred for the evilkind ran even deeper.
