C1625 Entered the Ashlands

"I've definitely been here before."

As Yu Yuan stepped into the fringes of the Ashlands alongside the Abyssal Leviathan, a wave of familiarity washed over him.

Though there was no burst of memory sparkle, he was certain he had visited this place.

More than once!

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Thick cosmic energy converged from all directions, flowing towards the Dragon Slaying Stage nestled within his Shenque acupoint.

Within the little world of the Dragon Slaying Stage, the violet-gold dragon egg sheltering the young Titan Spinosaurus shone brilliantly.

The young creature stretched contentedly inside the egg, as if it had returned home, to the very source of its lineage.

Neither the dragon egg, the Dragon Slaying Stage, nor Yu Yuan's Shenque acupoint could prevent it from drawing in the cosmic energy.

The psionic power in the Ashlands, denser than the outside world, was actively drawn in from all around, rushing towards the Dragon Slaying Stage due to the creature's presence and breaths.

For some reason, at that moment, Yu Yuan sensed something.

The dragon egg was destined to crack open in the Ashlands, and the young Titan Spinosaurus would emerge from the Dragon Slaying Stage, making its appearance in the Ashlands!

It was an inevitable truth that he could neither stop nor change.

"The Dragon Slaying Stage was initially created from the shed cocoon of a Voidweaver. In an Otherworld like the Ashlands, all cosmic giant beasts can easily amass vast amounts of cosmic energy. Yet, the World-Sundering Stone is not a Voidweaver, and the disturbance from your Dragon Slaying Stage seems rather excessive," the Abyssal Leviathan observed, eyeing the Shenque acupoint with astonishment.

"The Ashlands..."

Yu Yuan murmured, releasing his remnant soul without the aid of the Dragon Slaying Stage, allowing it to expand outward.

As his soul consciousness rippled forward, he felt stifled, as if encountering resistance at every turn.

It was like a toddler's faltering steps in a muddy pond, each movement made more arduous by the challenging environment, rendering every step agonizing.

His soul's sensing abilities were significantly diminished within the Ashlands.

"The people of the Everlands, before attaining a divine seat or ascending to the highest echelons, find their souls severely weakened in the Ashlands. Oddly enough, once they possess a primordial spirit, they seem unaffected by the Ashlands."

The Abyssal Leviathan did not rush to depart. As Yu Yuan delved into the enigmas of the Ashlands, it offered him insights to clear his confusion.

"Besides the cosmic giant beasts, the Sky Fiends are the best at adapting to the Ashlands. Their devil souls, much like those of the cosmic giant beasts, thrive in the Ashlands. Their sensing abilities are not only unaffected but also slightly enhanced."

"It's quite peculiar, actually."

Yu Yuan was unaware that at the moment a human's primordial spirit transformed, it essentially became a Primal Demon among the Sky Fiends.

This is because once the primordial spirit of a human's supreme expert is formed, it changes instantly, enabling effortless perception throughout the Ashlands.

"Peculiar..."

Yu Yuan decided to call forth the Dragon Slaying Stage, holding it in his palm to sense it once more. He quickly discovered that the space magic within seemed to be constrained by an unseen cosmic order.

That is to say, he seemed unable to harness the Chronowyrm's residual psionic power for short-distance void travel.

Yet, if the Ashlands impose restrictions on space magic, why then did the Origin Deity transport individuals like Youyu and Tan Xiaotian into this place via the Domain Channel?

He expressed his bewilderment.

"All I know is that deep within the Ashlands lies a bizarre region from which terrifying spatial ripples constantly emanate," the Abyssal Leviathan responded. "In the Star River, beings who have mastered space magic to a certain extent and possess enough courage sometimes venture there. Sadly, most never return."

Whoosh!

A gossamer veil of spiritual energy enveloped Yu Yuan, shielding him from the cosmic energy of the Ashlands.

This was necessary because the Ashlands contained at least a dozen types of cosmic energy that posed a significant threat to human flesh.

Even his well-tempered real body began to feel discomfort.

The psionic power seeping into his pores caused his skin to burn and redden as if stung by needles.

Of course, he knew that if he manifested his Solar Spirit instead of his real body, he would remain unaffected.

The Solar Spirit, like the Abyssal Leviathan and the Dragon Slaying Stage, could directly harness and purify all the cosmic energy within this unique environment.

"The archdemon of Shadow's Keep, having reached the level of a Monster Lord, is no longer susceptible to influence."

The Abyssal Leviathan discerned the purpose behind his condensation of spiritual energy: to shield his real body from the relentless erosion of the dense cosmic energy. "There's no way around it," it remarked. "In the vastness of space, intelligent life forms with bodies even more delicate than those of humans are exceedingly rare."

"For the humans of the Everlands, no matter how many times their real bodies are forged and tempered, they struggle to attain the resilience of evilkind. The physical frailty has always been a human shortcoming, not something that can be overcome overnight."

"Of course, your Solar Spirit is an exception."

As Yu Yuan gradually acclimated, the Abyssal Leviathan, in the guise of a gaunt old man, pressed on deeper into the unknown.

Following behind, Yu Yuan noticed the puddle beneath the Leviathan's feet, where the water essence was growing increasingly concentrated. Even without assuming the form of a giant beast, he thrived in this environment.

Moreover, the injuries within his body and the ruptured tendons were healing more rapidly.

Had he not been assaulted by formidable foes in the Ashlands or become the focus of other mighty entities, this place would have been ideal for recuperating and bolstering his strength.

"Open!"

With a soft command, he tapped into the Dragon Slaying Stage's power and activated his Third Eye.

The thick grey fog before him dissipated, becoming a mere haze with the Third Eye's unveiling.

He observed a multitude of minuscule impurities and soul-warping dust particles, along with swarms of bizarre insects, each a fraction of the size of a grain of rice, engaged in a relentless hunt.

The Ashlands were starkly different from the fringe of the cosmos.

Here, the concentrated cosmic energy gave rise to a diversity of life forms.

"Life..." Yu Yuan silently mused with a smile.

Roughly half an hour later, he noticed the Abyssal Leviathan had come to a halt, its brow furrowed as it gazed intently at the Sea of Bones to the left.

A myriad of bones had formed an eerie Sea of Bones, shrouded deep within the dark red blood mist.

A massive skull, devoid of flesh and hair and resembling a lion, shimmered with a faint golden glow, radiating waves of demonic energy.

Within the empty eye sockets of the lion's skull, two beings sat as if they were neighbors. A platinum Shura and a Demon God occupied the cavernous spaces where eyes should have been.

It appeared they had made their home there for an exceedingly long time. The eye sockets, more spacious than any house, contained rudimentary furniture crafted from bones—chairs and tables that seemed to have been haphazardly assembled from the more valuable remains found in the nearby Sea of Bones.

"Bertain has forsaken the Blood King beyond the Ashlands. Who would have thought that within, a platinum Shura and a Demon God would be cohabiting the Golden Lion King's skull?" The Abyssal Leviathan scoffed, its face betraying little surprise. Despite its injuries, it felt superior to the platinum Shura and Demon God who had fashioned a home atop the lion's skull amidst a Sea of Bones.

"We've barely stepped into the Ashlands and already we've stumbled upon such formidable beings. This indicates the true peril that lies within."

Yu Yuan's brow furrowed; he wasn't as dismissive. "They may be weak and pose no threat to us, but that doesn't mean all we encounter here will be the same."

Suddenly, the Sea of Bones and the enormous lion's head surged towards him and the Abyssal Leviathan.

"It seems they're eager to leave the Ashlands," the Abyssal Leviathan murmured, signaling Yu Yuan to hold back and suggesting he stow away the Dragon Slaying Stage.

Yu Yuan complied.

"You two..." began the Abyssal Leviathan, but before it could finish, it and the puddle beneath it shifted dozens of miles to the forefront of the advancing Sea of Bones.

"Are you so desperate to leave the Ashlands? Has some calamity befallen its depths? Don't be foolish!"

Before the Abyssal Leviathan could complete its warning, the Demon God and the platinum Shura from the Sky Fiend Clan launched their attack.

Within the Sea of Bones, the shattered remains were seemingly manipulated by the Platinum Shura, transforming into a myriad of razor-sharp blades that shimmered with an icy glow, each etched with the immutable Cosmic Order of Sunsilver.

Meanwhile, the ninth level Demon God unleashed a soul-piercing demonic wail, spawning innumerable specters within the mind of the Abyssal Leviathan.

"..."