C1569 Shattering the Gods

Inside a palace suspended in the air at Ebon Star, Ji Tianyu and Cao Jiaze were seated on the floor. This time, Ji Tianyu was present in her real body, not merely as a Lunar Spirit.

"Ms. Ji, you really are..." Cao Jiaze began, but his words trailed off.

Ji Tianyu was clad in a simple green robe, unadorned by any jewelry, which gave her a refreshingly serene and carefree appearance. She exuded a unique, ethereal quality. A natural fragrance, reminiscent of fresh vegetation, emanated from her, delightfully pleasant to the senses.

She had a way of putting people at ease, making it difficult for anyone to feel guarded around her. She was like a crystal-clear spring in a mountain brook or a gentle breeze whispering through the trees.

"The outcome has always been inevitable," Ji Tianyu said with a smile, sensing the genuine sorrow in Cao Jiaze's heart for her plight.

"Ze, there's no need for sorrow. I merged with the Dao of nature, and though my time as a deity was brief, even if my divine status is shattered, I will continue to exist in this world."

Instead, she was the one offering comfort to Cao Jiaze. "Previously, my presence slightly enhanced the sect master's abilities. Lin Daoke, Gu Xingkui, and our human race's peak cultivators—I was able to offer them some assistance when they were gravely injured."

"But fighting has never been my strong suit; it's simply not in my nature," she said with a resigned shake of her head. Then, with a sudden seriousness, she added, "When I learned that the Uxthar Tree had reemerged in the Spirit World of Brugeth, I understood it was time for me to relinquish my divine position."

Cao Jiaze felt a jolt at the mention of the Blightwood. "The Blightwood Tree?"

"Yes, it may have fallen and been corrupted by the Origin Deity, but it remains the Uxthar Tree. In the vast expanse of the Star River, there are wonders that we in the Everlands cannot match. Faced with it, the Grass God of the Everlands was utterly powerless."

"And..." Ji Tianyu, still within the palace, gazed toward Skyreach Peak with a sigh. "Even with Zu Ann's protection, because I am the deity of the Everlands' flora, I can still faintly sense it trying to beguile me, calling me to Skyreach Peak."

Hearing this, Cao Jiaze's face turned pale with concern. "Is the Blightwood truly that fearsome?"

"To others, it might not seem so terrifying. Figures like Lin Daoke and Tan Xiaotian possess the strength to sever the Uxthar Tree," Ji Tianyu said with a wry smile. "I, on the other hand, cannot."

"Facing it, I was overwhelmed at every turn. I could have easily been seduced by it and dragged down into the Origin Realm."

"Zhong Chichen is a Chronowyrm. His command of time and space rivals that of the Voidweaver, and he might even have an edge. But me..." Ji Tianyu felt a profound sense of helplessness.

"In the future, I'll help you cut down that Blightwood," Cao Jiaze declared gently.

A touch of relief flickered across Ji Tianyu's face as she let out a light chuckle. "The Uxthar Tree is just one reason. The truth is, I'm somewhat weak and struggling to keep pace with the times."

Cao Jiaze consistently referred to it as the Blightwood, yet she always honored it with the name Uxthar Tree.

At her core, she harbored a deep respect for the divine tree, even though it had been tainted by the Origin Deity and had fallen from grace.

"Tan Xiaotian seems to suggest he's carved out a new divine seat, though it's not yet ready to be claimed," Cao Jiaze earnestly considered. "Ms. Ji, don't hold it against the Sect Master. Perhaps, when the time is right, that divine seat will be yours."

Ji Tianyu shook her head, her mind crystal clear. She recognized that Ebon Star's destiny would eventually grant her another exalted seat.

Yet, that exalted position had been earmarked for Cao Jiaze ever since Han Miaoyuan discovered her potential.

In essence, while it appeared she was making room for Loong Jie and the Chronowyrm, she was in fact stepping aside for Cao Jiaze.

The divine seat she relinquished now would surely be reclaimed by Han Miaoyuan in the future. He would use all his resources to elevate Cao Jiaze to the highest echelon.

To Han Miaoyuan, Cao Jiaze was a gem beyond compare, on par with the likes of Lin Daoke and Tan Xiaotian.

"When do you plan to merge with the Dao?" she asked, deftly steering the conversation in a new direction.

Cao Jiaze paused briefly before responding, "In the near future."

"And the items for merging with the Dao?"

"Nine Marks of the Celestials."

After exchanging words, they lapsed into silence.

Ji Tianyu's thoughts stirred, and the suspended palace seemed to be suddenly shrouded in her divine presence. "Is this the Sect Master's intention?" she inquired once more.

Cao Jiaze nodded affirmatively, "Mmm."

"Your Lunar Spirit can now split into nine?" Ji Tianyu expressed in astonishment.

With a soft chuckle, Cao Jiaze released nine Lunar Spirits from his forehead. He produced several Marks of the Celestials, allowing the Lunar Spirits to inhabit them.

The Marks of the Celestials danced lightly around the palace, revealing a variety of wonders and performing different magic arts.

"Alright, gather them up now."

Watching Cao Jiaze present the items as if they were treasures, the woman attuned to plant magic smiled and nodded. Then, she suddenly remarked, "Doesn't this remind you of the Sword Sect's Heaven-Opening Sword Array?"

Cao Jiaze spoke candidly, "The Heaven-Opening Sword Array of the Sword Sect was a collaborative creation by our Sect Master and the previous Sword Sect Master, wasn't it? The array requires the combined efforts of numerous Grand Sword Immortals to operate. Yet, I've heard that Yu Yuan managed to wield the array single-handedly in the Glimmerdrift Nebula, inflicting serious damage on the Abyssal Leviathan."

"You're capable of that as well," Ji Tianyu stated earnestly.

Cao Jiaze fell silent once more, pondering for a moment before giving a nod of acknowledgment.

"Even though the Sect Master isn't your mentor, he is the one who found you. You can't imagine his excitement and amazement upon discovering your innate talent for multitasking."

"Since the day he found you, your path in the Way of Heaven has been set. Your master may be your guide, but the Sect Master has silently prepared everything for you in advance."

"The nine Marks of the Celestials correspond to the nine palaces of Ebon Star, modeled after the subterranean halls of the Bloodbrawlers."

"Being able to effortlessly control the nine Marks of the Celestials means you can handle even more. I'm aware that you're nearly versed in all of Ebon Star's magic arts. Inside the sect, no one but the Sect Master knows about your core Mind Magic. And I, I've only managed to guess as much..."

"Sect Master, he crafted a unique Spirit Magic specifically for you by combining the Spirit Magic of the Bloodbrawlers with all the exquisite Spirit Magic he has mastered, possibly including elements from the Boulderdawn Sect as well."

"I'm not sure to what heights this Spirit Magic can take you, or if it can forge a complete sacred way."

"However, I have this feeling that he's guiding you... towards the path of the dragon slayer," Ji Tianyu spoke softly.

She couldn't fathom Han Miaoyuan's plans; she could only speculate based on her intuition.

"The Way of Heaven is interconnected. The Spirit Magic I practice shares similarities with that of the Bloodbrawlers and Boulderdawn, yet it's distinct. What lies at the end of my path is a mystery to me. The Sect Master himself admitted his uncertainty, only suggesting that it should be successful."

Cao Jiaze carefully chose his words, his face alight with an enigmatic glow, "You might find this amusing, but ever since I first met Yu Yuan, I've felt a strong urge to be close to him. There's a sense of familiarity. Perhaps our paths within the Way of Heaven share some resemblance. But habitually, I've never disclosed the Spirit Magic I practice, and no one else is aware of it."

"He's the one who asked you to keep it a secret, isn't he?" Ji Tianyu's lips curled slightly.

With a chuckle, Cao Jiaze responded, "Indeed, the sect master did advise caution."

"Of course, he wouldn't want it known. He and Dark Phoenix conspired against that individual, deeming his philosophies and methods erroneous," Ji Tianyu's eyes gleamed with a hint of scorn. "Yet now, he treasures you, zealously grooming you for that very path."

"Isn't he just contradicting himself?"

Cao Jiaze's face turned serious. "Ms. Ji, I'd rather you not speak of it in such terms."

"I'm resolved to relinquish my divine seat. What harm is there in speaking my mind? I've dedicated countless years to the Everlands, striving to enhance its spiritual energy. I've saved numerous lives. Have I ever betrayed his trust? My ascension to this divine seat was for his sake, for the sect, for the greater good of the Everlands. I've done nothing wrong..."

Ji Tianyu slowly closed her eyes, overwhelmed by a sorrow that eclipsed the very notion of death itself.

Crack!

A crisp sound echoed in her mind, like a piece of green jade plummeting to the ground and shattering into fragments.

...

Dragon Island was suddenly enveloped in an infinite golden divine radiance, obscuring both the sky and the sea.

The deep blue sea transformed into a resplendent golden hue, and the sky was saturated with the same golden brilliance.

At that moment, powerful beings and archdemons alike, regardless of their location, sensed the extraordinary changes emanating from Dragon Island.

"Loong Jie is on the verge of ascending to divinity!"

"A surge of primal energy has shot straight from the Ebon Star towards Dragon Island!"

"The pull of primal energy towards Loong Jie is incredibly potent! The scale of his ascension is simply staggering, isn't it?"

Countless onlookers marveled, their gazes fixated on Dragon Island.

With Dragon Island at its epicenter, the surrounding ten thousand miles of sea and sky were aglow with gold.

Spiritual energy from all directions converged, and the sea roared like a roused giant beast.

Aoao!

A dragon's cry pierced through every corner of the Everlands, like a deity imprisoned for millennia finally breaking free to ascend and soar once more across the starry heavens.

The paths to godhood for Zu Ann, Yu Zhu, and Ji Ningshuang paled in comparison to Loong Jie's.

In that moment, many realized that the Nagas, confined for tens of thousands of years, were the true darlings of the Everlands. It dawned on them that the Nagas were once the supreme rulers of this realm.

The Everlands' creatures and their formidable reputation were known far and wide, primarily because of the Nagas.

...

At the Skyreach Consortium.

Shi Jing'er, Green Willow, Zhongli Dapan, Feng Zhong, Jun Chen, and others were suspended in the air, gazing towards Dragon Island from a distance.

Though Dragon Island was far from them, the brilliant golden light was impossible to ignore.

"This spectacle..."

Zhongli Dapan was astounded, having never imagined that Loong Jie's path to godhood would be so momentous, beyond comparison to any other.

"Taishi, please make your way to the Godsblight Marsh at your earliest convenience. Additionally, refrain from departing the area for the foreseeable future."

Out of the blue, the voice of the God-King Gui Xu resonated from within Green Willow's form.

Taken aback, Green Willow inquired internally, "Is this a positive development, or is it not?"

"A positive one."

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