C1615 Discovered by Accident

As the embodiment of the Root of the Lunar Meridian's will and the first God of Ghosts in history, Youyu would undoubtedly be able to resurrect Jiang Yuan'er. If Youyu could come into contact with the Phantom Orb, which held Jiang Yuan'er's residual soul, Nie Qingtian's beloved could have his soul restored. He might exist in the form of a ghost or use the power of the Root of the Lunar Meridian to embark on the cycle of reincarnation once more. The regrets of Nie Qingtian's past could now be rectified. Sadly, Nie Qingtian was no longer alive.

"You should also be vigilant. Your body contains the Shadow Moon Essence, and it has opened several acupoints in your chest. While the Shadow Moon Essence can certainly augment your strength, it originates from the Root of the Lunar Meridian," Youqian explained. Having been purified by the Demon God Bertain, he held no reverence for the Root of the Lunar Meridian. His concern was for Yu Yuan's well-being.

He had purposefully brought Yu Yuan to Zekrica to reveal the secrets of the underground and to urge caution. "I believe the Divine Sword has remained underground to deter the branch of the Root of the Lunar Meridian," Youqian added.

"The Root of the Lunar Meridian is in the Everlands. Can it sense the changes in Zekrica through its underground branch?" Yu Yuan inquired with curiosity.

"I'm not entirely sure," Youqian admitted, shaking his head.

After a moment of thought, Yu Yuan declared, "I'm not actually worried. As long as I take one more step forward, as long as I achieve divinity, the Root of the Lunar Meridian in the Everlands will have no hold over me. It doesn't matter that I've only opened a few acupoints with the Shadow Moon Essence; even if I were filled with it like Pei Yuling, I could still refine it."

"I have the power to completely assimilate it and wield it for my own purposes."

His confidence stemmed from his previous exchanges with Bertain and the knowledge that in his first life, he had traversed the Earthfire and reached the location of the Primal Soul. Like the Root of the Solar Meridian's designs on the Primal Blood, the Root of the Lunar Meridian sought the Primal Soul. But once he reclaimed his divine status, given his close connection to the Primal Soul, the mere Lunar Meridian would pose no concern.

"I understand," Youqian said with a smile, nodding his head. "Just keep an eye on it. After all, you haven't successfully ascended to godhood yet."

"What are you guys talking about? I can't make heads or tails of it."

Denise stood some distance away from the deep cave, her blue dress trailing on the ground. Her eyes, bright as stars, sparkled with curiosity as she watched Yu Yuan and Youqian from afar. They hadn't made any effort to exclude her, so she could hear their conversation clearly.

Upon Yu Yuan's arrival, he had simply smiled and nodded in greeting. Then, he had turned his attention to Youqian, engaging him in conversation. Denise had been considerate, not interrupting until they paused, at which point she finally spoke up.

"Why are you in Zekrica?"

Yu Yuan, having summoned the Dragon Slaying Stage, asked the question offhandedly. Holding the stage, his perception and field of vision dramatically widened. He could see everything: the populations of the Upper and Lower Continents of Zekrica, the structure beneath the earth, the positions of the Lunar Meridian tributaries, the resting place of the Titanblade, and even the Phantom Orb submerged within a Lunar Meridian tributary—all were laid bare before him.

He noticed that Zekrica had not changed significantly since his departure; the divine force remained constant. It was the presence of the Divine Sword that made the difference. Strands of the sword's will acted like mystical chains, binding the two landmasses tightly together. Zekrica, formed from two separate continents, had previously been joined less securely. With the Divine Sword underground, the bond between the continents had been reinforced. The sword's will that emanated from the Divine Sword merged with the world's energy, aiding in the evolution of the inhabitants' bloodlines.

"I'm here because I've sensed some novel energy patterns," Denise said, her smile radiant. "Lately, when our people delve into the intricacies of their bloodlines, they often experience a surge of insight, thanks to a certain power." She explained to Yu Yuan with animated detail.

Yu Yuan silently acknowledged her words. He understood that the sword sheath, lying deep below, held not only the Nine Celestial Slashes but also numerous sword spells that the cultivators of the Sword Sect had meditated upon.

The Divine Sword scattered its exquisite sword's will throughout Zekrica, stirring the hearts of the Otherkin who dwelled there.

Denise, along with other intelligent lifeforms, some exceptionally gifted, could sense the enigmatic traces of the sword's will, which in turn wrought wondrous changes in their bloodlines.

"If you find that your grasp of cosmic energy and the rules has deepened here in Zekrica, staying might be beneficial," Yu Yuan suggested with a smile.

At that moment, he pondered whether to retrieve the "Phantom Orb" from its hiding place deep within the underground Lunar Meridian. With Youyu and Tan Xiaotian missing, he worried about the impact on Jiang Yuan'er's residual soul within the orb if Youyu remained elusive.

His brow furrowed once more.

"I intend to make Zekrica my home for the foreseeable future," Denise declared earnestly.

"The Divine Sword's magic is most potent when it resides here for an extended period."

Yu Yuan rubbed his chin, eyeing Denise thoughtfully. Could a being from the extraterrestrial realms like Denise, who might decipher an unconventional sword spell from the Divine Sword's will, be considered a successor of the Sword Sect?

"Elena has ventured to the Dark Realm for training. I've heard that..."

Denise's gaze dimmed, and with a sidelong look at Yu Yuan, she murmured, "I'm aware of the Shura's plight. It seems the Dark Realm is on the brink of falling to the Everlands. Elena, being a Shura of the Dark Realm, I fear for her safety."

Yu Yuan was taken aback.

He suddenly realized that it had been ages since he'd spared a thought for the Shura woman. The fleeting romance from his early days beyond the stars came flooding back, thanks to Denise's mention.

"Elena..."

Yu Yuan mumbled, turning his attention to the Sky Fiend, Youqian.

"In truth, as long as she claims to be your friend, she should be safe in the Dark Realm. Cough, cough. As for Ms. Ji, I can't make any promises," Youqian said with an odd look, pausing before adding, "I believe even Ms. Ji wouldn't go so far as to harm her."

"With Tan Xiaotian missing, the Devil Palace's cultivators have yet to make a significant move into the Dark Realm."

"Meanwhile, several giant dragons from Dragon Island have already made their way into the Dark Realm via the entrance of the Frozen Hellscape. Given your esteemed status among the Nagas, you're more than capable of managing the situation."

Youqian assured him there was no need for concern.

"You can deal with the Nagas too?" Denise said in amazement.

The resurgence of the Nagas in the Everlands was no secret, especially since Loong Jie had ascended to godhood and ventured into the Star River beyond the sky.

Denise, having spent a considerable amount of time in Zekrica and occasionally visiting Ionodios, was well aware of the growing power of the Nagas. She also knew they had once been the dominant force in the Everlands, causing significant headaches for the other extraterrestrial races.

At that moment, Youqian claimed Yu Yuan could handle the Nagas, and it seemed Loong Jie had slain Sabonis. There was even someone named Zhong Chichen, a Chronowyrm, involved.

Denise's thoughts were in turmoil.

"Yu Yuan, Lord Taishi also mentioned that he detected a distinct presence within the Root of the Lunar Meridian beneath Zekrica. This presence seems to recognize only you, and you alone can communicate with it," Youqian continued, shifting the topic away from anything related to Elena. He gestured towards the deep cavern, indicating to Yu Yuan, "Experience it for yourself."

Yu Yuan looked intrigued. "Another presence?"

With the Dragon Slaying Stage in his possession, his soul's sensitivity had been greatly amplified. However, due to his wariness of the Root of the Lunar Meridian, he hadn't intentionally extended his soul's awareness into the subterranean Lunar Meridian branch while surveying Zekrica.

He had previously communicated with the Root of the Lunar Meridian in the Land of Terror, and they had maintained a relatively peaceful relationship.

Having aided Youyu in his ascension and having harvested a wealth of "Shadow Moon Essence" himself, even Yu Zhu's divine position was aligned with the 'turbidity' of the Lunar Meridian. Thus, he continued to approach the Root of the Lunar Meridian with due reverence.

But with Youqian's statement, and Taishi's directive, he was determined to investigate further.

Without invoking the Lunar Spirit, he simply allowed his remnant soul to seep into the earth, leveraging the influence of the Dragon Slaying Stage to detect a hidden branch of the Lunar Meridian deep within Zekrica.

Whoosh!

He suddenly sensed that this branch of the Lunar Meridian in Zekrica bore a resemblance to the River Styx, yet it paled in comparison to the crystalline clarity of the Everlands.

The sensation was markedly more turbid. The Soul Power within was tainted with a myriad of chaotic, malevolent, and sinister thoughts.

It appeared that the souls of the Otherkin absorbed into it had not been thoroughly purified.

"Hmm?"

With his heightened senses, he indeed detected a faint scent that was difficult to perceive.

That scent belonged to Yu Zhu.

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