C1563 Let's Talk about It after We Fight!!
Devil Lord Tan Xiaotian descended in his true form.
Everyone had assumed he was still engaged in battle deep within the Outland Star River, light-years away. They never imagined he had already returned.
Han Miaoyuan was clearly aware of this.
So, when he sensed trouble brewing, Han Miaoyuan called out his name, signaling that it was time for him to make an appearance.
And so, he revealed himself, just as Han Miaoyuan had intended.
In that moment, everyone in the Boundless Great World felt an odd sensation.
The entire world seemed to dim!
Some gazed at the sun, previously too intense to bear, only to find its fierce glow had mysteriously softened. Even staring directly into the sun, their eyes could now withstand the light.
Others sat in dimly lit chambers, contemplating the flickering of an oil lamp, when they noticed the flame grow faint, its light failing to reach as far as before.
The gems and pearls set into the cave walls no longer shimmered with their usual brilliance.
Those huddled in mountain caves, warming their hands by the fire, watched as the glow gradually faded away.
Later on, the mighty beings from the Heavenly Source and Quietus Continents, along with the grand cultivators on the islands of the deep sea, looked to the heavens to find that the light of the sun, moon, and stars seemed unable to penetrate the Boundless Great World.
Light was slowly ebbing away from the three continents of the Boundless Great World, the vast ocean depths, and every nook and cranny.
Without warning and for no apparent reason.
Yet the truly esteemed and sky-reaching experts understood the anomaly in the Boundless Great World; something had occurred.
The Demon Lord, who sought to master all sources of darkness, must have returned from the Outer Star River, not bothering to conceal his dark power, allowing it to influence the Boundless Great World.
...
At the Primordial Yang Sect.
The cultivators, once enveloped in despair, suddenly found their world turned on its head.
The bright daylight was instantly replaced by an endless, dark night.
But the cultivators of the Primordial Yang Sect were neither fearful nor did they cry out. Instead, they were invigorated.
The perpetual darkness that now cloaked the lands of the Primordial Yang Sect seemed to serve as their shield, offering a tranquil harbor for their souls.
In the dead of night, many sensed an additional shroud of darkness swiftly advancing towards Elemental Mountain!
"Tan Xiaotian!"
"Can it really be Tan Xiaotian?"
Excited cheers and exclamations erupted from the crowd.
...
Within the Ascension Mountain Range, the mountainous expanse, fused with Zu Ann's Dao, lost its luster as Tan Xiaotian made his presence known, confronting the Demon Palace and Youyu.
Qin Luo of the Red Devil Sect offered a wry smile, yet remained silent.
The Great Sun he had refined was no longer able to cast even a sliver of sunlight.
Unexpectedly, Tan Xiaotian, who had always scorned Yuwen Hao, had stepped forward to confront the Demon Phoenix.
Qin Luo was well aware that Tan Xiaotian, the Demon Lord, had been the principal supporter behind his divine seat.
Thus, once Tan Xiaotian declared his stance, Qin Luo didn't hesitate. He quickly abandoned any illusions and chose to unite with Tan Xiaotian.
"You!"
Han Miaoyuan, emerging from the Profound Dao Flag, watched the Demon Lord's sudden arrival erase the relief from his face in a flash.
Han Miaoyuan's glare at Tan Xiaotian was fierce, his hand pointing at him shaking uncontrollably.
For Tan Xiaotian had taken action!
As his true form blended with the darkness, this rebellious and unbridled figure had, without any warning, shrouded the entire Primordial Yang Sect in darkness, concentrating the forces of darkness to take part in the assault on Yuwen Hao by the Demon Phoenix.
Though Tan Xiaotian was stationed in the Ascension Mountain Range, the bulk of his dark powers had converged on the Primordial Yang Sect!
The entire Primordial Yang Sect, along with the neighboring lands spanning millions of miles, had been transformed into a realm of darkness.
It seemed as though an immense black veil had been draped over the region, forbidding any external light from penetrating even the slightest bit.
"What's wrong with me?"
Tan Xiaotian, suspended in midair, bared his teeth in a sinister grin, "Lin Daoke might be inclined to hear your explanation, but I'm not interested! Didn't you just call out loudly for me to come back and fight? If you weren't looking for a fight, why summon me at all?"
While speaking, he continued to wield the power of darkness, which relentlessly consumed Elemental Mountain.
Han Miaoyuan was just about to offer an explanation when...
"Let's settle this with a fight."
Lin Daoke, cocking his head to the side, had grown impatient. He drew the sword from his back and gripped it lightly in his hand.
Whoosh!
In an instant, Lin Daoke and his sword became one with the silver-white beam of light that pierced the vast sky, forming a sword intent so fierce it seemed capable of slaying all life.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Around the sword light, countless Spiritual Energy storms erupted.
These storms appeared to draw in the dense Spiritual Qi from various regions of the Boundless Great World, converging towards the sword.
At that moment, numerous human cultivators found themselves unable to gather Spiritual Qi from their usual places of practice.
Han Miaoyuan, attuned to the Spiritual Qi of the Boundless Great World, felt this most acutely and realized that persuading Lin Daoke to cease his frenzied absorption of Spiritual Qi was futile.
He could prevent the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth from being drawn into the sword, but not Lin Daoke's strike.
The abundant sword energy and Spiritual Power that Lin Daoke had assimilated into his Yellow Court Little World were beyond his influence.
All he could attempt to halt was the flow of Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth currently being channeled into the sword.
But by then, any intervention was pointless.
"Don't fight here in the Boundless Great World! Take it outside!"
Ultimately, Han Miaoyuan could only implore Lin Daoke and Tan Xiaotian with a tone of resigned frustration, begging them to take their conflict to the Outer Star River.
If Lin Daoke and Tan Xiaotian were absent from the fray, the Demon Phoenix's prowess might confine the battle to Elemental Mountain. Perhaps it could simultaneously vanquish Yuwen Hao and spare the Boundless Great World from ruin.
Yuwen Hao, having ascended to the Unrestrained Stage and chosen to merge with the Dao, did not bind himself to the land of the Primordial Yang Sect. He had no intention of defending a single sect or territory.
His fusion was with the Artifact, aiming to maximize its potential and complement his divine path to unleash his ultimate combat strength.
Such a Yuwen Hao, even when waging war in the Outland Star River, wielded an Artifact of boundless might.
Yet, he later spent years secluded within the Primordial Yang Sect, never fully showcasing the Artifact's edge in the Outland Star River.
Some of his practices had Han Miaoyuan, Tan Xiaotian, Gu Xingkui, and others expressing their disapproval.
At the time, his decision to merge with an Artifact was driven by fervor. He was eager to charge into battle for the Boundless Great World and engage in life-or-death struggles with the Peak experts from the Outland Star River.
His fearlessness is what prompted Han Miaoyuan to support him in securing a divine seat.
But as time wore on, his zeal faded. He grew as decrepit as a Qilin, losing his vitality, yet he couldn't bear the thought of his divine seat shattering.
He did not wish to die...
As a result, he managed to dodge the most ferocious and brutal battles in the Outer Star River with a variety of excuses.
Once respected for his formidable combat abilities and his divine seat, not to mention the extraordinary power of his Artifact, which he could wield even in the Outer Star River, he gradually became underestimated by all.
Thus, the first to perish was Lee Tianxin of the Primordial Yang Sect. And when the Boundless Great World desperately needed a god, the Demon Phoenix came seeking.
"Tell her to pull the entire Elemental Mountain into the sky!"
Watching Demon Lord Tan Xiaotian fade away before his eyes, Han Miaoyuan shot a stern look at Sky Tiger.
Sky Tiger calmly nodded in acknowledgment.
"Bai, you stay put right here. Don't venture elsewhere."
Next to Sky Tiger, Old Ape wore a half-hearted smile as he addressed Han Miaoyuan, Qin Luo, Mo Baichuan, and the rest. "Han Miaoyuan, you may target the Demon Phoenix, but keep your schemes away from Bai."
At these words, a subtle shift occurred in everyone's demeanor.
The Desolate God was known for his animosity towards the Demon Phoenix and the Qilin. It was common knowledge.
It was also known that he held White Tiger in high regard, despite White Tiger's allegiance to the Demon Palace and his staunch loyalty to both the palace and the Demon Phoenix.
In light of this, the Desolate God made a point to declare his stance: should a conflict arise here, he would stand firmly behind White Tiger.
"Lin Daoke, Tan Xiaotian, and you, Han Miaoyuan, if you're capable enough, I'd actually relish seeing you defeat the Demon Phoenix. As for the Demon Clan, I've already got my picks — Bai and Lvliu!"
"If the Demon Phoenix and the Qilin truly perish, let them continue to lead the vast demon clans."
Old Ape revealed a sly grin, clearly having entertained this idea for some time. He was all too eager for the demise of the Demon Phoenix and the Qilin.
Out with the old, in with the new.
In the demon ranks, there were certainly those he deemed worthy of ascending to the status of Demon God.
He much preferred the idea of the Sky Tiger and the fresh faces like Lvliu taking the reins to lead the world's great demons.
"Keep dreaming!"
Han Miaoyuan let out a cold snort. After Lin Daoke and Tan Xiaotian vanished, he too entered the Profound Dao Flag.
The moment he disappeared, the ground shook with tremendous force.
Everyone looked up...
Before their eyes, Elemental Mountain, which should have stood firm on the Heavenly Source Continent, was torn from its roots, resembling a colossal fiery meteor hurtling toward the outer domain.
Deep purple demonic energy pulsed within Elemental Mountain like a river of blood, while darkness from the outer edge slowly crept inward.
In the dim expanse, the sword wielded by Lin Daoke shone so brilliantly it was almost unbearable to gaze upon.
The radiant sword light, devoid of any attributes, simply exuded purity and followed Elemental Mountain at a measured pace, waiting for it to break free from the vast expanse.
Countless onlookers gazed skyward, utterly captivated by the spectacle.
Yu Yuan was no exception.
...
In the uncharted reaches of the Outland Star River.
A crimson streak of bloodlight flickered momentarily in the icy, dark cosmos.
Ann Wen, the leader of the Blood God Cult, executed the "Blood Escape" technique over and over, sparing no expense of his blood energy to reappear as far away as possible in the blink of an eye.
Whoosh!
Ann Wen materialized atop a star that had been lifeless for eons, his face ghastly pale from the excessive loss of blood, betraying his overwhelming fatigue.
In the distance, beneath a dim star, a massive demonic shadow had him in its sights the moment he touched down.
The colossal demon shadow, having discerned his location, surged towards him once more.
Despair gripped Ann Wen.
Each use of "Blood Escape" drained a vast amount of his blood energy, yet it was not a spatial technique capable of instantaneously transporting him across the starry expanse to another galaxy.
Because the distance wasn't sufficient, he couldn't shake off his pursuer. When he reemerged, he was immediately locked onto.
He was no match for his opponent's speed, and his Blood Escape technique was ineffective. The inevitable outcome was the depletion of his blood energy, leaving him unable to perform Blood Escape. His adversary then easily struck him down.
As the sinister shadow drew nearer, Ann Wen let out a resigned sigh, bracing himself to attempt Blood Escape once more.
It was his only option.
Suddenly, he sensed a subtle yet miraculous shift in the desolate earth beneath him.
Ann Wen paused, his gaze filled with astonishment and confusion as he stared at the ground.
"How can this be?"
Ann Wen whispered to himself in disbelief.
