C1601 Blood Lock

The bronze coffin's lid and walls were graced by the presence of fluttering purple phoenixes. It seemed as though the Dark Phoenix's vibrant purple blood had eroded the tiny inscriptions, revealing numerous purple phoenixes across the surface of the coffin.

Rebecca, the leader of the enchantress tribe, unleashed tens of thousands of pale green soul threads. As they made contact with the coffin lid, the vital energy left by the Dark Phoenix seemed to stir to life. The pale green lightning danced with the fluttering phoenixes in a brief but intense clash atop the lid.

Subsequently, Rebecca's strength was clearly overwhelmed, with a significant portion dissipating swiftly. The enchantress matriarch, hunched over and sitting cross-legged on a mat woven from her hair, bore a somber expression. In the depths of her eerie green eyes, tiny evil spell symbols emerged, morphing into even smaller purple phoenixes.

With a huff, she pressed her fingertips to her eyelids, quenching the demon energy that was creeping into her brain. The green lightning that had infiltrated the coffin lid also vanished in an instant, retreating back into the mat beneath her.

Upon reopening her eyes, Rebecca found that the peculiar phoenix shaped by the demon energy had disappeared, yet her face remained grave. "I need to attempt it again," she declared solemnly.

"There's no rush," Gui Xu responded gently.

Yu Yuan, who had been observing her efforts, felt his previous unease dissipate. He recognized that the enchantress leader's mind was preoccupied with unraveling the Dark Phoenix's lingering power and finding a way to liberate Taishi as quickly as possible. Her indifference upon his arrival was a testament to her focus on devising a strategy to free Taishi.

"Wasn't Taishi supposed to be alright?" Yu Yuan asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

The God-King's statue, embodying benevolence, turned towards him and clarified, "Taishi is indeed unharmed, but he requires someone to awaken him before he can emerge from the coffin."

Yu Yuan looked puzzled.

Youqian, aware that Yu Yuan's memories were still dormant, took it upon himself to explain on behalf of Gui Xu.

The bronze coffin housing Taishi is quite extraordinary, as it is divided into two layers. The lower layer was crafted by the God-King Jihui and possesses the magical ability to halt time.

Brie and Reid of the Shadowkin, upon hearing this, couldn't help but marvel at the concept, and Yu Yuan was equally astonished.

"As long as Taishi remains on the lower level of the bronze coffin, he is effectively immortal. In addition to the time-stopping lower level, there's another layer above it, rich with life force. That particular life force was a gift from the Dark Phoenix during a time of alliance between Boulderdawn and Shadow's Keep," Youqian explained.

Yu Yuan's expression turned peculiar at these words.

He didn't need to ponder to realize that the life force within one of the layers probably originated from the Abyssal Leviathan.

It was likely on that very level that Taishi incubated the dragon egg of the Titan Spinosaurus.

Following the demise of the Great Demon God Grec at the hands of Boulderdawn, he too was placed on that level, along with the Kylin's blood, all to sustain the dragon egg.

Taishi's survival post the fragmentation of his Divine Throne was partly due to the Abyssal Leviathan's blood, which extended his lifespan.

Moreover, he spent most of his time in the layer where time stood still.

In this timeless layer, not only did Taishi's life cease to ebb away, but he also remained in a constant state, neither growing stronger nor weaker.

"He's alright. He just needs an external force to rouse him from the layer where time is at a standstill, because even his soul is paused there," Gui Xu interjected.

"Back in the Moonfall Sanctuary, he spent the majority of his time in that static layer. Only when disturbed by someone or an alien soul would he ascend to the upper layer to connect with the Soulforge Pool and catch up on the changes in the outside world."

"If he deems the time isn't right, he'll return to the lower layer to continue his existence in the suspended timeline."

"And now..."

Gui Xu's voice betrayed a sense of resignation, "He remains in the stillness of time, yet the surface of the bronze coffin is imbued with the vital energy of the Dark Phoenix, which bars us from lifting the lid to awaken him."

"The most challenging aspect is that we must neutralize the residual power left by the Dark Phoenix; we can't just forcibly break through it."

Tianqi, the God-King with a firm grasp on reality, was slowly clenching his fists at this moment.

He was as restless as a caged animal, with violent vital energy and spiritual energy swirling within his massive fist.

Gradually, the terrifying force accumulating in his fist seemed capable of obliterating a small Domain.

"I can shatter the lid of the bronze coffin and obliterate the vital energy left by the Dark Phoenix, but I'd also destroy the time-stopping layer beneath the lid. If that layer were to suddenly burst while Taishi is still asleep, his soul and memories could become disordered, potentially causing him severe harm."

The God-King, known for his voracious appetite in the Moonfall Sanctuary, rubbed his hair in frustration.

Yu Yuan's eyes followed Tianqi's fist as it slowly unclenched.

With the evolution of the Solar Spirit, Yu Yuan's sensitivity to vital energy had sharpened. He noticed that although Tianqi's blood energy wasn't as overwhelming as that of the evilkind, Tianqi had discovered a peculiar way to fuse vital energy with spiritual energy.

He blended a portion of his vital energy with some of his spiritual energy, constantly colliding and intertwining within his clenched hand, seemingly amplifying his power with each cycle.

Moreover, this ever-amplifying force remained contained, ready to explode at his command.

Once unleashed, the resulting shockwave would be unimaginably devastating, at least that's how it felt to Yu Yuan.

Given enough time to build up his strength, Tianqi's punch could instantly obliterate even the Kylin and the White Tiger—if he could land a direct hit.

Yu Yuan silently acknowledged this fact.

Initially, he had somewhat underestimated the members of the Boulderdawn from beyond the stars, but his opinion had changed.

This formidable God-King Tianqi was the epitome of brute force, the polar opposite of Gui Xu's approach.

Tianqi might lack finesse, but if he could immobilize his enemies and prepare his strike, few in the Everlands could withstand his blow.

His only drawback was the need for a suitable ally; after all, no one would willingly be his target, standing still for his attack.

"The Dark Phoenix was well aware of the secrets of this bronze coffin. Her actions were to ensure that Taishi was sealed within the time-stopping layer, locking the coffin securely."

"The lock cannot be forcibly broken; otherwise, it would severely injure Lord Taishi," Youqian said, his voice tinged with defeat.

"In the extraterrestrial realms, Rebecca is the foremost expert on all kinds of restrictions, barriers, and arrays. If even she can't manage it, then we're really in trouble..." Brie, seated upon the Azurewood Sceptre, rubbed his temples in frustration after witnessing the enchantress leader's multiple failed attempts.

"Yu Yuan, perhaps you should give it a try."

From within his cloak, Reid's two devil souls, blazing like purple flames, suddenly spoke in the pure tongue of the Everlanders.

"Him?"

The enchantress leader finally gave Yu Yuan a contemptuous glance. Reid had previously suggested that if Rebecca failed, they could wait for Yu Yuan to arrive in Ionodios and let him have a go at it.

Rebecca had been less than pleased with the idea. After all, she was the expert specifically invited by Boulderdawn for this task.

If she couldn't unlock the Blood Lock left by the Dark Phoenix, she believed that only someone of greater strength, like Bertain, could open the bronze coffin and awaken Taishi from his temporal stasis. She only acknowledged those who were stronger than herself.

Yu Yuan was just a junior member of Boulderdawn, fortunate at best. Why should he be able to challenge her expertise?

So when High Priest Reid revisited the topic, Rebecca, already irritated by the Blood Lock, grew even more displeased.

"Him? By what right does he attempt to break it?" Tianqi, the God-King, who also harbored dissatisfaction towards Yu Yuan, scoffed.

"Our former patriarch believes that Yu Yuan has the potential to break the Blood Lock left by the Dark Phoenix and awaken Taishi," Reid said with a smile.

Bertain!

Rebecca and Tianqi, ready to scoff further, were suddenly silenced by the mention of the Demon God's name. They might doubt Yu Yuan, but they dared not disregard the Demon God Bertain.

"Then I shall give it a try."

Yu Yuan inhaled deeply, his gaze fixed intently on the bronze coffin hovering within the pit. This would be his first true encounter with the power of the Dark Phoenix.

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