C1590 Peaceful Interaction
Munch gazed at the spot where Yu Yuan had vanished.
He witnessed a vast golden wave ripple forth, effortlessly extinguishing the blood magic that had bled from the red moon.
Despite the spread of vital energy from their creator nearby, it failed to produce the intended effect.
Previously, it was nearly impossible for enemies to withdraw once the creator had marked them.
The Dark Deity Kylin, who had previously caused a stir, also suffered a setback before departing from the Dark Star.
Anyone from the outside world who lingered in the Dark Star for an extended period would find it impossible to leave unharmed.
Yu Yuan had not only escaped but was also unaffected by the blood magic, unbound by any bloodline constraints.
The rules their creator had mastered, the web of blood magic woven across this Astral Domain, were utterly ineffective against Yu Yuan.
So, they could only watch helplessly as the golden bridge that stretched from the outside slowly withdrew, unable to intervene.
Whoosh!
A massive blood-colored silhouette soared from the red moon, attempting to pursue the gradually vanishing Yu Yuan.
The red moon suddenly brightened.
The pursuing blood-colored shadow, as if sensing the will of the Root of the Solar Meridian, was compelled to halt.
Gradually, the blood-colored shadow took on the form of Ann Ziqing.
She stood alone in the dark red void, bathed in the light of the red moon, her demonic blood-red eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment.
Simultaneously, ninth-level Demon Gods like Munch received their creator's message.
The Root of the Solar Meridian instructed them that henceforth, in the absence of the Great Demon God Grec, they were to obey Ann Ziqing, showing her the same loyalty they had for Grec.
"She's won favor so easily?"
A young Blood Fiend warrior, on the cusp of proving his mettle, watched Ann Ziqing from a distance and grumbled with dissatisfaction, "She's just transformed from a human to one of us. I can't simply pledge my loyalty to her on the spot. She needs to prove herself first!"
"I agree completely!"
"So do I!"
Two other Blood Fiend powerhouses echoed his sentiment.
Munch gazed at the three overconfident individuals with a look of pity, feeling sorry for their ignorance.
Puff! Puff! Puff!
The three Blood Fiend warriors, brimming with untapped potential, instantly transformed into puffs of blood mist and swiftly dissipated right before Munch's eyes.
Others who harbored dissenting opinions began to shudder in midair.
They understood all too well that the creator of the entire Blood Fiend Clan tolerated no disagreement.
Their fates were not their own; they lived or died at the creator's whim.
Beneath the glow of the red moon in the Dark Star, they had no leverage to negotiate the terms of their existence.
"Ah."
With a heavy sigh, Munch proactively sought out Ann Ziqing, ready to be the first to declare his allegiance.
"I..."
Ann Ziqing, still bewildered, hovered in the cosmos, her lips, stained with the hue of blood, quivering faintly.
She gazed toward the vanishing point of Yu Yuan, faintly sensing the departure of the Dragon Slaying Stage. She yearned to follow, yet she heeded the will of the Root of the Solar Meridian.
She had received a command...
She was to first solidify her current state within the Dark Star, to delve into the bloodline mysteries etched within her Solar Spirit, and to further temper her physique.
Only then would she be permitted to depart from the Dark Star to pursue the formidable archdemons of the Everlands.
Several names had surfaced in her mind, among them Green Willow, with whom she was well-acquainted.
Unbeknownst to her and the Root of the Solar Meridian, Green Willow had already embarked on the Path to Godhood within the Everlands.
The Root of the Solar Meridian had informed her that once she emerged from the Dark Star, the Dark Phoenix would be unable to detect her presence.
She was also faced with two critical decisions.
She could either unite with the Demon God Grec to conceive a child, heralding a new era for the Blood Fiend Clan.
Alternatively, she could seek out Yu Yuan and conceive through him.
Between Yu Yuan and the Demon God Grec, she had to choose, striving above all to bear a child for the Root of the Solar Meridian.
The Solar Meridian seemed more inclined for her to select Yu Yuan.
It appeared to be her predestined fate, as well as the Root of the Solar Meridian's highest hope for her.
...
Yu Yuan made his way back to the Dragon Slaying Stage.
At that moment, he sensed something odd because Ann Ziqing had seemingly dashed out from the red moon.
Her expression was charged with excitement, as though she had something urgent to say.
But midway, Ann Ziqing came to an abrupt halt, as if the Root of the Solar Meridian had forcefully intervened, preventing her from leaving the Dark Star and getting too close to him too soon.
Next, his attention turned to the human-shaped Abyssal Leviathan and the visibly uncomfortable Zhou Cangmin.
Zhou Cangmin was keeping his distance from the Abyssal Leviathan, looking as if he were on high alert.
Yu Yuan felt moved.
Despite knowing the presence of the cosmic giant beast and the danger it posed, Zhou Cangmin had still made the journey from Kobran.
Zhou Cangmin had braved significant risks, arriving in his real body rather than just sending a Solar Spirit.
Such a risk meant that if Zhou Cangmin were to be slain by the Abyssal Leviathan, resurrection would be nearly impossible.
Luckily, the Abyssal Leviathan, preoccupied with the happenings in the Dark Star Region and too fearful to bother, spared Zhou Cangmin any confrontation.
Yu Yuan, looking at the Abyssal Leviathan, expressed his astonishment, "Why didn't you flee?"
"Why would I flee?" retorted the Abyssal Leviathan, its face dark with menace and eyes blazing with ferocity. "You're not capable of killing me! The ones I fear do not currently include you! Kid, do you fancy yourself the Dark Phoenix?"
"Both of you..." interjected Zhou Cangmin with a pained expression, clearing his throat, "Shall we relocate to another spot?"
"There's no sign of Grec, and that creature... usually doesn't stray from the Dark Star. What is there to fear?" the Abyssal Leviathan suddenly regained its bravado.
Yu Yuan, taken aback, questioned, "How do you know Grec isn't here?"
The red moon had shifted, yet Grec was nowhere to be seen. He definitely wasn't in the Dark Star at the moment. The Abyssal Leviathan rolled its eyes, clearly well-acquainted with the Dark Star. "A bunch of fools from the Everlands. They've only managed to make the Dark Star stronger, and Grec has become even more powerful because of them."
This unfortunate cosmic giant beast seemed to harbor some fear towards the current leader of the Blood Fiend.
"I never expected him to become even more formidable after his death in Ionodios," the Abyssal Leviathan said, regaining its composure. It glanced at Yu Yuan with one red and one white eye. "It seems I'm at a loss with you now. But whether you have the power to do anything to me is another matter."
"We're heading to Kobran," Yu Yuan declared, flashing a bright smile at Zhou Cangmin, and without further attention to the Abyssal Leviathan, he flew off towards their destination.
Understanding the Abyssal Leviathan's dire straits gave Yu Yuan a different perspective on the cosmic giant beast. With the complete Secrets of Life branded in his Solar Spirit, he needed time to understand it, and his mind was brimming with questions. He suspected that the Abyssal Leviathan was just as full of doubts about him.
Sure enough...
As he and Zhou Cangmin set off for Kobran, the Abyssal Leviathan hesitated only briefly before slowly following suit.
"What's the deal with the Abyssal Leviathan?" Zhou Cangmin whispered.
The entire journey, this Hellbreed from the Ruby Hand was on edge. Back in the Everlands, he had witnessed the Abyssal Leviathan's savagery and brutality, watching it go on a killing spree.
Having regained its strength after escaping the Everlands, rumors swirled that the Abyssal Leviathan had decimated the elite of various clans outside Ionodios. Although it hadn't reached its peak, this cosmic giant beast was more formidable than Ji Tianyu, and for Zhou Cangmin, who had only recently entered the Unbound Realm, the Abyssal Leviathan was a force to be reckoned with.
Then, Zhou Cangmin's expression took on an odd look. He suddenly realized that not too long ago, Yu Yuan had fought the Abyssal Leviathan to a standstill using his mystical Divine Visage.
The Abyssal Leviathan, which had initially appeared intent on tearing Yu Yuan to shreds, was now surprisingly at peace with him. The High Oracle instantly realized that, unbeknownst to all, Yu Yuan's personal combat prowess had quietly reached parity with that of the Abyssal Leviathan. Without having secured a divine position in the Everlands, Yu Yuan had already achieved supreme battle strength. Zhou Cangmin's heart was tinged with bitterness as he reflected on their first encounter when Yu Yuan's cultivation level was hardly worth mentioning. He pondered the past events, marveling at Yu Yuan's miraculous rise, his rapid succession of breakthroughs, and how Divine Artifacts seemed magnetically drawn to him. The comparisons were maddening.
Zhou Cangmin was filled with a mix of emotions. "He came all this way wanting to kill me, only to find he couldn't, and now he's so furious he's practically steaming," Yu Yuan said with a smile, choosing not to divulge too much about the secrets hidden beneath the Dark Star, other than the Root of the Solar Meridian. "Everything's been quiet in the Everlands, hasn't it?"
It was then that Yu Yuan remembered his promise to Reid, the High Priest of the Sky Fiend Clan. He had agreed to visit the Hellmouth to meet with Reid and then the Great Demon God, Bertain, after the council's conclusion. Sensing something beneath the Primal Blood Continent, he had dropped everything to come.
His promise to the High Priest had, as a result, been broken. "The Starway is currently closed, and until it reopens, I can't return. If there's any major news from my homeland, I'm out of the loop," Zhou Cangmin explained.
"Hold on!" The Abyssal Leviathan suddenly called out from behind them, its voice filled with shock.
Yu Yuan turned to face the creature, asking with curiosity, "What's got you so worked up?"
"Loong Jie from the Everlands and a fellow named Zhong Chichen, who appears to be the Chronowyrm, were ambushed by the Blood King Sabonis and the Voidweaver. Then, out of nowhere, Lin Daoke showed up. Diggs was killed, and the Voidweaver fled with severe injuries."
The Abyssal Leviathan had picked up some news from an unknown source. "Loong Jie and the Blood King are still locked in combat. It looks like Blood King Sabonis is in a tight spot. He's likely to meet his end at the hands of Loong Jie."
"The more their battle drags on, the slimmer his chances of victory become," the Abyssal Leviathan declared loudly.
