C1647 See Youyu

"Youyu."

Yu Yuan's furrowed brows eased as he gazed upon the solitary and austere figure, his eyes lighting up with pleasure. His journey to the Ashlands was prompted by a conversation with Yu Zhu back in Zekrica, where he learned of the Everlands' Root of the Lunar Meridian and sought to ensure Youyu's well-being.

The news of Youyu, Tan Xiaotian, Xuanli, and Yan Qiling being transported to the Ashlands through the Domain Channel had also reached him via the Root of the Lunar Meridian. Now, witnessing Youyu's God of Ghosts spirited body appear in the Mindscape, he was immediately reassured.

Youyu was not only safe but also powerful enough to strike at the Mindscape, eradicating the souls of nearby alien beasts and Otherkin.

"Do you recognize him?" The Mirage of the Mind Beast was out of sight, yet her gentle, elusive voice continued to resonate.

"It's the God of Ghosts, Youyu!" The phantom of the Abyssal Leviathan materialized before Yu Yuan's Lunar Spirit. Although the Abyssal Leviathan couldn't hear the Mirage of the Mind, it saw the scene she had crafted for Yu Yuan. It had been closely watching Yu Yuan and his Lunar Spirit, quickly detecting the anomaly.

"Yu Yuan, Youyu is unlike any of us. Our ascension and rise to the highest echelons involve transforming the dominant soul into the primordial spirit."

"He's different."

"He has infinitely fortified the Lunar Spirit, allowing it to evolve through numerous cycles, embarking on the unprecedented Path into Shadow. Youyu's deification in this life diverges starkly from his first. In his initial existence, he too transformed the dominant soul into the primordial spirit."

"And this peculiar Mindscape... why does it seem so familiar to Youyu?" The Abyssal Leviathan's voice trembled with astonishment.

Yu Yuan listened, equally astounded.

The first God of Ghosts in history, his Path to Godhood, was unlike that of any human in the Everlands!

Youyu had indeed ascended to godhood through the Lunar Spirit.

"He seems to understand this place; he's actually familiar with the Mindscape that I created!"

The voice of the Mirage of the Mind was tinged with panic, as though it had encountered the Origin Deity itself.

Because Youyu had entered, she who could not seal the Mindscape, realized that Youyu was attempting to decipher the mysteries of the Sea of Anomalies using his Mind Magic. He was trying to take control of the Sea of Anomalies, which was intimately connected to her, and she was alarmed.

Yu Yuan called out into the void, "Transport me to that guy's location!"

"I lack such power."

The gaunt form of the Abyssal Leviathan shook his head within the Mindscape, his countenance shadowed with gloom. "Yu Yuan, you know Youyu well. You two... used to be close. I get that you want to see him, to understand what he's been through, but I'm not the Mirage of the Mind. I can't transport you."

"I wasn't speaking to you," Yu Yuan said, the corner of his mouth curling up.

Upon hearing this, the Abyssal Leviathan paused, then exclaimed in surprise, "Is she the one communicating with you? Do you trust her? Do you realize that an alien beast skilled in Mind Magic could easily ensnare you in illusions, making you act on her whims without even realizing it?"

"Leo, and those three alien beasts that attacked me because of her—you've just seen it with your own eyes!"

The Abyssal Leviathan grew frantic upon discovering that Yu Yuan had been secretly communicating with the Mirage of the Mind.

He assumed that the Mirage of the Mind had used her illusionary powers and mental influence to ensnare Yu Yuan.

"How could I be so easily deceived by her?"

Yu Yuan scoffed, choosing not to engage further with the Abyssal Leviathan. He stated with gravity, "I trust in your ability to bring me face to face with the intruder. Rest assured, I can handle him and prevent any further chaos."

"Are you certain?" the Mirage of the Mind asked tentatively.

"Absolutely!" Yu Yuan affirmed.

"Very well."

With a reluctant agreement, the Mirage of the Mind activated her innate abilities. Yu Yuan, standing beside the Abyssal Leviathan, felt as though he was traversing a hidden pathway created by the Ashen Shadowmist, as if he were swiftly passing through the cerebral vessels and meridians of some enigmatic alien spirit.

He even detected a faint briny scent...

It was as though he were inside the body of a massive clam or within a mindscape.

Whoosh!

When his Lunar Spirit came to a halt, he materialized not far from Youyu. "Seeing you here in the extraterrestrial Star River is truly a pleasant surprise," Yu Yuan said with an easy smile.

"Tai... Yu Yuan!"

Youyu, who nearly called out Taiyin, was startled by Yu Yuan's abrupt appearance. Yet, almost instantly, Youyu regained his composure as if all the pieces had suddenly fallen into place.

"The moment I arrived, I sensed the oddity of this world and immediately thought of you."

"The Sea of Demons, the ocean of the heart and inner demons, you really brought it into existence. We once discussed and envisioned such a Sea of Anomalies, and here you've gone and created it within the Ashlands using a cosmic giant beast," Youyu remarked, his voice tinged with nostalgia.

"Sea of Demons!"

Yu Yuan, however, was momentarily taken aback by his statement.

"The Mindscape, the Sea of Inner Demons, the Sea of Demons—it doesn't matter what it's called. Essentially, this is the Sea of Anomalies we once dreamed up, one I never expected to see before my demise."

A trace of delight crossed Youyu's face. "When we were validating our theories on Spirit Magic, you and I..."

He abruptly cut himself off.

"Don't attempt to delve into my thoughts. Since you've come, why not reveal yourself? I am Youyu, hailing from the Everlands, the living embodiment of the Lunar Meridian's will."

From the moment he began elucidating the enigma of this realm, none of the soul consciousnesses present could grasp his words.

This included the creator, the Mirage of the Mind.

For he had used his powers as the God of Ghosts to submerge the nearby Mindscape, claiming it as his dominion. He had effectively wrested a portion of territory from the Mirage of the Mind.

In this domain, Youyu was the sole deity.

He ceased speaking because the Mirage of the Mind had swiftly approached, eager to overhear his exchange with Yu Yuan, curious about the unfolding events.

Whoosh!

The Mirage of the Mind, ensconced within two shells, emerged once again from concealment. Its indistinct phantom form appeared fragile and submissive, as though it were voluntarily showing vulnerability.

However, as the creator of the Mindscape, she found herself obstructed by a layer of gray-white light.

She simply couldn't enter.

"She's familiar with you, which is why she's playing up her feminine vulnerability to elicit your sympathy. The moment I arrived, I noticed this adult giant beast. She's not nearly as fragile as she appears to others. Countless individuals and creatures have perished at her hands," Youyu said with a cold snort.

Then, with a meaningful look, the wraith shot a glance at Yu Yuan and asked, "Does she know who you are?"

"She believes I'm her heir," Yu Yuan responded to Youyu, his words coming out a bit awkwardly.

Youyu understood.

"Watch out for the Origin Deity! The Origin Deity has been searching for this Mindscape. You've made it impossible for me to close the door, and I fear he might find his way here!" the Mirage of the Mind shrieked from outside.

"The Origin Deity!"

A hint of gravity finally touched Youyu's expression.

"Now I get it. The Origin Deity brought me here because he knew the Sea of Demons was concealed within the Ashlands. It looks like he intends to use me to locate the Sea of Demons, forged by the giant beast."

Whoosh!

Billions of strands of gray light burst forth from his God of Ghosts spirited body, swarming like a multitude of locusts throughout the enigmatic sea.

"Let's see if any of his followers are already in place. He can manifest through any one of them using their soul. The Origin Realm shares similarities with this Sea of Demons. He's planning to engulf and assimilate the Sea of Demons using the Origin Realm, targeting the souls of all living beings in our world."

"Ultimately, he's aiming to leverage this in a showdown with the Demon God Bertain."

Youyu, his brow furrowed, paid no heed to the Mirage of the Mind's clamoring and didn't withdraw his power. He had no intention of closing off the Sea of Anomalies.

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