C1605 Accidentally Stumbled upon Her

With his long, jet-black hair casually cascading over his shoulders, Taishi emerged silently above the bronze coffin. His posture was erect, exuding an air of unruffled serenity. Life or death, the rise and fall of the world, seemed to hold no sway over him; he appeared to have seen through it all, with nothing left to fear.

The instant Taishi made his presence known, Yu Yuan could no longer detect even a trace of the Dark Phoenix's essence. Upon awakening and stepping forth from the temporal layer, he had reclaimed his place as the master of the bronze coffin.

Yu Yuan had the impression that Taishi's combat prowess had surged since their last encounter, even more so than before their collective effort to slay the Kylin. There was no hint of lingering injury about him...

"So that's the secret," Taishi, the God-King, declared as he levitated, his profound gaze fixed on the violet gold dragon egg. "It seems that the true completion requires the current you, combined with a Titan Spinosaurus hatchling."

"What... What have you perceived?" Yu Yuan inquired, his curiosity piqued.

"It's not about sight; it's about sensation," Taishi replied, his face lighting up with satisfaction. "Did you visit the Primal Blood Continent? I'm astounded. How did you manage to bypass the Solar Meridian and access the depths where the Primal Blood resides? And in what manner did the Primal Blood etch the profound meaning of the Secrets of Life into your Solar Spirit?"

Taishi, who had been slumbering within the temporal layer, seemed to have glimpsed all that had transpired upon his awakening.

Yu Yuan was taken aback. "What else are you aware of?"

"You've encountered the Great Demon God Bertain, haven't you?" Taishi asked, his voice tinged with amusement.

Yu Yuan nodded in affirmation. "Yes, I met him before my arrival in Ionodios."

"The Great Demon God, with his boundless knowledge and omnipotence, is indeed impressive," Taishi mused with a hint of awe. "The hatchling seized by the Dark Phoenix pales in comparison to yours. Nonetheless, its acquisition must have bolstered the Dark Phoenix's resolve and self-assurance."

"If I'm not mistaken, after acquiring the hatchling, the Dark Phoenix likely ventured into the extraterrestrial realm to assimilate the alien beasts of the Star River."

"Ultimately, her path leads to the Dark Star, to the Primal Blood Continent, where she will confront the Root of the Solar Meridian head-on."

"Initially, without your Titan Spinosaurus and your prior approval from the Primal Blood, I admit I would have been at a loss. But now..."

"We've stumbled upon a masterstroke!"

Taishi clapped his hands, chuckling with delight.

"The Dark Phoenix yearns to capture all the profound meanings related to the Secrets of Life, just like the Titan Spinosaurus once did. Unfortunately, since the Solar Meridian has long dominated the Primal Blood Continent, she has been thwarted in her desires."

"That young beast must have bolstered her confidence. She will spare no effort in her next assault on the Dark Star, determined to reach the Primal Blood Continent."

"In the meantime, do your best to steer clear of her and keep out of sight. Let her and the Solar Meridian duke it out."

"I'm curious to see the outcome of her struggle to reach the Primal Blood Continent after her fierce battles with the Solar Meridian and the Blood Fiend."

"She..."

Taishi suddenly burst into a sardonic laugh, "Even if she manages to break through the Solar Meridian and Grec's blockade, and even if she reaches the depths of the Primal Blood Continent, she won't elicit a response from the Primal Blood."

"After its awakening, the Primal Blood chose to create you. It lacks the energy and capacity to shape another being like the Dark Phoenix."

As a co-founder of Boulderdawn, Taishi was well-versed in the secrets of the Everlands and the Primal Blood Continent.

Once he finished speaking, Yu Yuan grasped the implication. He recounted how he had communicated with the Primal Blood through Ann Ziqing and, with the help of the Dragon Slaying Stage, constructed a bridge that allowed Ann Ziqing to connect with it before anyone else could enter the Dark Star, prompting the transformation of the Solar Spirit.

"Incredible. The Primal Blood is a mysterious entity beyond our comprehension. I never imagined that your gift of life to Ann Ziqing, prompting her to seek purification underground, would stir the Primal Blood. It launched a widespread search for both you and the Abyssal Leviathan."

A peculiar gleam shone in Taishi's eyes as he gazed intently at Yu Yuan. "Since awakening in this lifetime, it seems the scales of fate have been tipping in your favor."

"Are you alright now?" Yu Yuan asked.

"I'm fine, feeling much better now."

Taishi nodded with a smile, his eyes settling on the violet gold dragon egg. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Since you have gained the favor of the Primal Blood, our Gui Xu God-King should also be able to return and transform into Taixu."

Yu Yuan was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"In the battle long ago, he lost his God-King form. You've encountered him in the Everlands and beyond, yet you've never seen his true form. This is because he no longer has a body of his own, and can only attach himself to external objects, much like the Sky Fiend. But he had a contingency in place back then; he was just missing one crucial element."

"Now, you are that missing piece, the so-called crucial element."

As Taishi spoke these words, the bronze coffin on the ground took flight towards him and the Dragon Slaying Stage.

"We must keep the existence of this Titan Spinosaurus confidential for the time being. Let's not discuss it too openly, even among ourselves. I also want to observe who our real allies are and who might kick us when we're down or even exploit our vulnerabilities."

With a whoosh, he stepped onto the bronze coffin and soared away from the Dragon Slaying Stage.

"The Gui Xu God-King's return to his Taixu form hinges on his body..." Yu Yuan stroked his chin, pondering aloud as he watched the bronze coffin vanish.

His thoughts drifted to Green Willow...

Before Green Willow's attempt to ascend to Dark Deity status, on the mid-lake island within the Forgotten Ruins, he had catalyzed a drop of his lifeblood, creating a miniature green snake, effectively giving himself an extra life.

The Taixu God-King had perished upon his return to the Everlands, yet he had left a contingency in the extraterrestrial realm.

This contingency had now become the current Gui Xu God-King.

But it seemed he had never seen his body. Gui Xu appeared to exist only as a pure soul, sometimes attaching to sinister statues, stone pillars, or even flora.

Facing opponents like Lin Daoke or Tan Xiaotian, such a state would surely put Gui Xu at a disadvantage.

...

Outside the grand palace, sect disciples like Jiang Miaojie, Hua Xin, and entities such as the Indigo Wraith and the White Walker waited with bated breath, enduring an agonizing wait.

They had also learned that the Dark Phoenix had been rallying numerous alien beasts in the extraterrestrial Star River.

"The Dark Phoenix seems intent on launching a major assault on the Dark Star Region."

Hua Xin furrowed her brow, conversing in hushed tones with the surrounding Unbound cultivators and Solar Spirits, "From what we've gathered, no force has ever completely triumphed in the Dark Star. The Dark Phoenix is formidable, but on foreign soil, it's uncertain whether she'll have the upper hand."

"This time it's different."

A tall, slender young man with fine eyebrows appeared somewhat frail in his flowing robe, which fluttered in the breeze as if he were swaying. "The Dark Phoenix has summoned a multitude of extraterrestrial alien beasts. Seven ninth-level beasts have already reached the Kobran Realm. And more ninth-level beasts are en route from across the Star River."

His cultivation level surpassed Hua Xin's, being in the middle period of the Unbound Realm. With a grave expression, he continued, "Several seventh and eighth-level alien beasts have recently achieved breakthroughs! If the ninth-level beasts manage to do the same, then..."

"Impossible!"

"How could that be possible? Alien beasts reaching the tenth level?"

The younger members of the Boulderdawn sect shook their heads in disbelief, dismissing the idea as preposterous since such an event had never occurred before.

"It is possible..."

God-King Tianqi emerged from the shadowy palace, his towering figure alighting upon the ground and fixing his intense gaze on the sealed door. "The Dark Phoenix possesses the power to induce their metamorphosis!"

He had heard the whispers of Gui Xu...

As Jiang Miaojie, Hua Xin, and the others looked on in astonishment, High Priest Reid, Sky Fiend Youqian, Brie, and Rebecca flew out from another nearby palace.

A series of formidable figures landed by the sealed door, their faces etched with amazement.

With a creak, the long-shut door slowly swung open from within.

Taishi and the hovering Evil Statue were positioned on either side of the doorway.

Yu Yuan stood between the two God-Kings...

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