C1606 The Godslayer!
"Taishi!"
"Lord Taishi!"
As Taishi appeared before the open doors of the grand hall, the gathered powerhouses from various factions were visibly moved.
In their hearts, Taishi was the linchpin of Boulderdawn, the mastermind behind all strategies and policies.
It was Taishi who quietly fostered alliances among the races, guiding everyone forward.
With Taishi present, as long as he lived, they could trust they were on the right path.
Taishi's influence within Boulderdawn, and his standing among the races, was unparalleled by the God-Kings Tianqi and Gui Xu.
"I'm alright. Yu Yuan roused me from the bronze coffin."
Taishi, with his handsome features, greeted everyone with a warm smile. His effortless composure as he acknowledged each person with a nod conveyed his reassuring state of being.
Each person who met his gaze felt an instant sense of serenity, their fears for the future dissipating.
It seemed that with Taishi at the helm of Boulderdawn, as long as he lived, they could boldly face the uncertainties ahead.
"Rebecca, I'm particularly grateful for your presence."
Taishi's gaze, as comforting as a spring breeze, settled on the enchantress chieftain. He bowed slightly, "Your people will always be friends of our Boulderdawn. The Domain under our care will forever welcome the members of the evilkind."
"It's my pleasure. As long as you're awake, I'm relieved."
Rebecca, seated on a cushion woven from her own hair, had found Yu Yuan irritating earlier in the hall. Yet, in Taishi's presence, she seemed utterly captivated by his charismatic aura, her green eyes shimmering with barely noticeable adoration.
Deep down, she harbored a fervent awe and admiration for Taishi of Boulderdawn.
"You've got some skill, I'll give you that."
Her demeanor towards Yu Yuan softened, "You've managed what I could not. You've proven yourself worthy of the Dragon Slaying Stage."
"Very good," murmured Reid, the high priest.
"Lord Taishi, the Dark Phoenix is rallying the alien beasts from beyond our world. Now..."
Jiang Miaojie, with her radiant smile and pearly teeth, seized the moment to inform everyone of the latest developments.
Numerous ninth-level alien beasts are converging on Kobran. The Moonfang Tiger has issued a warning, advising humans from the Everlands to avoid traveling to Kobran for the time being. It seems that the Dark Phoenix is poised to lead the archdemons of Shadow's Keep in a ferocious and bloody conflict with the forces of the Dark Star.
Taishi glanced at Yu Yuan with a smile.
Yu Yuan, internally shaken, managed to maintain a composed facade. He was astounded by Taishi's strategic foresight. Who would have thought that Taishi, from within the time dimension, could deduce the unfolding events based on Yu Yuan's experiences in the Dark Star, even foreseeing the Dark Phoenix's madness?
"Let's hear about any other significant events," Taishi said, encouraging everyone to share.
Hua Xin, Jiang Miaojie, and the Sky Fiend Indigo Wraith began to recount how the Blood King Sabonis was nearly killed by Loong Jie. They also spoke of Tan Xiaotian, Youyu, Xuanli, and Yan Qiling, who had mysteriously vanished within the Domain Channel.
There had also been major incidents in the Everlands and the extraterrestrial Star River. Through the group's candid discussions, Taishi was brought fully up to speed.
"No, this isn't right!"
Taishi, who had been listening intently, sensed something amiss and his demeanor abruptly shifted. His change in expression sent a wave of anxiety through the crowd, who looked on, puzzled.
"As long as I'm not beneath that first layer of the bronze coffin, no matter where I am, I feel a subtle connection with the land of the Everlands," he explained, his face growing increasingly grave.
Fresh from the time layer and the Dragon Slaying Stage, Taishi seemed to have sharply detected a momentous upheaval far away in the Everlands.
"A new divine seat has been taken, likely orchestrated by Han Miaoyuan," Taishi declared emphatically.
"What?"
"The new divine seat stolen? By Han Miaoyuan? Has he lost his mind?"
"Is it even possible to steal a divine seat?"
"Lord Taishi, are you certain that a divine seat was extracted from the core of the Everlands and integrated into someone, creating a new divine seat?"
"There's been no word of this!"
Everyone was abuzz with shock and bewilderment.
Yu Yuan stood frozen, his gaze filled with bewilderment as he looked to Taishi, awaiting an answer. The successive falls of Yuwen Hao, Ji Tianyu, and the Kylin had left three divine seats vacant in the Everlands. Loong Jie and Green Willow each claimed a seat for themselves.
Another seat, meant for Zhong Chichen, had descended into the very core of the earth in his absence. This divine seat was reserved by unspoken consensus and at the specific request of Han Miaoyuan, left empty for Zhong Chichen's return. It was unthinkable that someone else could have intercepted the divine seat right under Han Miaoyuan's watchful eye.
Han Miaoyuan was present in the Everlands. If he was unaware, if he hadn't implicitly consented, such an event would have been impossible. Thus, when Taishi confirmed the disappearance of the Origin power reserved for Zhong Chichen deep within the Everlands, he didn't need to speculate further; it was clear that Han Miaoyuan was in the know.
It had to be Han Miaoyuan who had deceived the heavens, shielding the fates to allow someone to ascend to godhood in secret. But who could it be? The same question echoed in everyone's minds, prompting deep reflection.
After the initial shock subsided, no one questioned Taishi's assessment. Instead, they began to think along his lines. "The Dark Phoenix is absent from the Everlands. The Moonfang Tiger is in Kobran. Untamed is guarding Green Willow in the Marsh. Tan Xiaotian and Youyu have vanished into the Domain Channel, and Ji Ningshuang has plunged into the Dark Realm..."
Brie of the Shadowkin laid the groundwork before speaking, "Shortly after the conference concluded, nearly all the gods departed for extraterrestrial realms."
"The only one left capable of controlling the situation is Han Miaoyuan. If he wished to select someone for the divine seat, there couldn't be a more opportune moment." Everyone paused to consider her words and realized she was right. It was no surprise then that Taishi had suggested someone had stealthily usurped a divine position under Han Miaoyuan's directive.
For various reasons, the gods were absent from the Everlands, and those who remained might have been swayed by Han Miaoyuan upon sensing any disturbance.
The one thing he excelled at was convincing others to heed his advice.
Whoosh!
A silhouette shot across the sky from the direction of the Starway like a bolt of lightning.
"Zhu Peining!"
Yu Yuan narrowed his eyes and to his surprise, he recognized Zhu Peining, who had advanced to a Solar Spirit.
He had heard that after Zhu Peining had crafted her Solar Spirit, she was assigned to reside permanently at the Hellmouth.
Even though the Domain Channel connecting the Hellmouth and the Everlands had been sealed off again, the Hellmouth still maintained its link to other portals through the Starway.
But what could have made Zhu Peining rush over so urgently?
It wasn't long before the Chamber of Commerce official, who had ventured from the Forgotten Ruins to the Serpent Spine Mountains and the Hellmouth, descended in her Solar Spirit Body.
"Qi Yunhong from the Tempest's Edge in the extraterrestrial realm, after sustaining severe injuries, fled to the Hellmouth via the Starway, bringing with him a shocking revelation," Zhu Peining announced as soon as she steadied herself. "Wei Zhuo of the Thunder Sect, wielding the might of the supreme primordial spirit, has massacred the Tempest's Edge."
"Qi Yunhong's mentor, Qiao Yuling, was obliterated by Wei Zhuo on the spot. All the Unbound realm powerhouses from the Tempest's Edge were given a choice: swear fealty to the Thunder Sect or be utterly destroyed."
With a glance at Yu Yuan, Zhu Peining continued, "Xie Bin of the Obsidian Thunder Sect, Sect Master Rong Xun, and Lee Yu... whether their physical forms were in the Everlands or their Solar Spirits were in the extraterrestrial realm, all have perished."
"The Glacial Storm Seal has been assimilated into Wei Zhuo's Thunder Pool, which he has evolved into a Divine Artifact."
"Wei Zhuo is now known as the Thunderbolt Tyrant. The Thunder Sect has overtaken the Sunlit Order on the Euwrea Continent, ascending to the status of a new upper sect."
Wei Zhuo's ascension to godhood and his unification of the Obsidian Thunder Sect and the Tempest's Edge had elevated the Thunder Sect to an upper sect!
Zhu Peining's information revealed that the cunning mastermind behind the theft of a divine position was none other than this formidable figure from the Thunder Sect.
"What is Han Miaoyuan up to?" Tianqi demanded furiously.
"He must be aware that the Blood King is undoubtedly doomed, and Ji Ningshuang has already made her way to the Dark Realm. The Wintermaw has been preemptively claimed by Tan Xiaotian. New seats of power will soon be cultivated, and it's these additional seats he's reserving for Zhong Chichen," Taishi said with a sigh, his voice tinged with respect. "Truly, a masterful strategist."
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