C1664 I Won't Leave

The Maw of Oblivion continued to whirl, exuding a force capable of consuming all mortal souls and matter.

Thanks to the presence of the soul stone, the pressure on everyone's souls had significantly diminished, enabling them to withstand the soul-sucking power of the Maw of Oblivion.

"Empress..."

Yu Yuan stepped onto the Dragon Slaying Stage and approached the entrance of the Maw of Oblivion. He gazed at the deep-sea reflection shimmering on the surface of a crystal-clear bubble.

The thought of the Chaos Serpent conspiring with the Origin Deity to harm Chen Qinghuang in a secret location within the Ashlands filled him with unrest.

In that moment, it was clear to him how deeply he cared for Qinghuang.

He couldn't bear the thought of her coming to any harm.

"I hope you're safe. I hope I'm not too late," Yu Yuan whispered to himself.

Hiss hiss!

The Chaos Serpent, within the deep-sea reflection, seemed to detect the presence of two peers, the Abyssal Leviathan and Youyu, using arcane arts to observe her.

Her twin colossal heads flicked their tongues into the void, as if intending to scatter chaos, warfare, and ceaseless carnage across the reaches of space and worlds within her grasp.

Worlds inhabited by intelligent life would be plunged into a maelstrom of conflict and bloodshed under the influence of her chaotic energies.

Meanwhile, she would thrive on this turmoil, secretly amassing power and nourishing her own being.

In an instant, the deep-sea reflection vanished.

"Don't enter!"

The Abyssal Leviathan's expression grew grim. After a sharp, cold call, he urgently added, "The final scene is located in a peculiar area deep within the Ashlands. We can go there, but not through the Maw of Oblivion."

Youyu nodded in agreement, "Understood."

When the Maw of Oblivion was activated, it ensnared only President Lyi, thanks to the soul stone's intervention and the Abyssal Leviathan's intervention, sparing the others from having their souls wrenched away.

As Youyu projected the final scene, he felt an ease as if an unseen force was aiding the silent unveiling of the vision.

Who needed to witness this scene? Who would be most anxious for it?

Youyu cast a quick glance at Yu Yuan and immediately knew that the Origin Deity had orchestrated the event. "He wants you to witness the final scene, to lose your composure and recklessly charge into the Maw of Oblivion. The Maw is linked to numerous Domain Gates and harbors immense peril. Even if you were to enter with the Dragon Slaying Stage, the risks would be substantial."

He had learned from a past mistake. His battle with Tan Xiaotian had taken place within the Domain Channel. When the Origin Deity intervened, he, along with Tan Xiaotian, Xuanli, and Yan Qiling, found themselves powerless to resist.

It was for this reason that he found himself in the Ashlands, manipulated by the Origin Deity.

Yu Yuan paused, a moment of realization dawning on him.

With a swift motion, Taixu, the God-King, drifted closer, his gaze fixed on the immense spatial vortex. The occasional streaks of bizarre light and lightning hinted at the enigma that permeated the area. "An entrance to the Abyssal Gate likely lies within. Yet, the majority are Origin Gates, connecting to realms beyond."

"He must have assimilated the Maw of Oblivion, drawing power from various worlds and even the Abyssal Gate itself."

"Don't be deceived! Do not venture into the Maw of Oblivion to battle him!"

As he spoke, a peculiar look crossed Taixu's face. "I never imagined that the Chaos Serpent would be swayed by him." The mention of the Chaos Serpent brought a touch of melancholy to the refined God-King.

Yu Yuan regarded him with curiosity.

"As you're aware, the original statue that housed my soul was carved from wood. Its malevolent aspect brought turmoil and bloodshed to the Everlands, igniting endless wars among the empires. Conversely, its benevolent side could usher in peace for the nations, allowing people to thrive in harmony and prosperity."

Lost in nostalgia, Taixu spoke softly, "I've visited the Ashlands before. I've encountered the Chaos Serpent. I... even traveled alongside her. When we met, she was in a tranquil phase and quite amicable towards me. Hence, I hold her in high regard."

The malevolent statue and the Chaos Serpent!

Yu Yuan was taken aback, having never imagined that the Taixu God-King's early adventures were so vivid and varied.

He had journeyed alongside the Chaos Serpent, which had shown him remarkable kindness, even sharing the secret of sowing discord. With this knowledge, Yu Yuan crafted a two-faced statue imbued with the mystical power to incite wars and bloodshed.

"Your Boulderdawn Sect certainly casts a wide net. You really do reach far and wide," exclaimed the Abyssal Leviathan in astonishment.

"If you refuse to emerge and enter the soul stone, maintaining the Maw of Oblivion is pointless, isn't it?" Youyu remarked coldly, directing a snort at the vast vortex in space.

Whoosh!

As if realizing there would be no further gains, the Maw of Oblivion swiftly shifted backward and vanished from sight in mere moments.

"He's afraid to wage war on multiple fronts and to enter the soul stone. Since he couldn't tempt us inside, he had no choice but to withdraw," observed the Abyssal Leviathan.

"Youyu!" Xuanli called out, waving his hand on the ochre terrain. As the others turned to look, he bellowed, "If the Origin Deity is beyond our reach, why not attempt to obliterate Greco?"

"Sooner or later, I will reforge you into a blood bound slave!"

The Demon God Greco, transformed into a crimson tide, surged towards the spot where the Maw of Oblivion had disappeared, miles upon miles away.

As the others contemplated action, Greco vanished just like the Maw of Oblivion, eluding capture and comprehension.

"We'd be wise to depart."

With Greco gone, Xuanli spoke up once more, addressing Youyu, his most trusted ally, "The Origin Deity, now aware of your success in refining the soul stone, won't be duped. Lingering in the Ashlands, we're likely to face an even more formidable Origin Deity, empowered by the demise of the secular bird."

Xuanli's tone was grave, "Facing such an empowered Origin Deity, even if he dares to penetrate the soul stone, you may not be able to withstand him."

"While he's preoccupied with the secular bird and the Chaos Serpent, let's seize the moment to escape the Ashlands. That would be a triumph in itself."

As he and Youyu had journeyed to the star where the Mirage of the Mind was being refined, Youyu had confided that securing and refining the soul stone would significantly amplify his power.

Just as Taiyin once acquired the Dragon Slaying Stage, Youyu's situation was similar. Without the soul stone, Youyu would have been heavily dependent on the Root of the Lunar Meridian for Soul Power. However, with the soul stone in hand, Youyu, now a high-ranking Lunar Spirit and spokesperson for the Root of the Lunar Meridian, earned the right to engage in direct discourse with the Root itself.

Even the Root of the Lunar Meridian, which had been instrumental in Youyu's creation and rise to deity status within the Bloodbrawlers, was now obliged to treat Youyu with considerable respect. Should the Root's commands or directives conflict with Youyu's policies, he had the authority to refuse them. The soul stone's presence granted him the power to break free from the Lunar Meridian's influence!

Yu Yuan, Taixu, and the Abyssal Leviathan from Boulderdawn were unconcerned with their objectives in the Ashlands. Yu Yuan's primary concern was whether Youyu, now in possession of the soul stone, could safely make his way back to the Everlands. Once back in the Everlands, Youyu, bolstered by the soul stone and the Root of the Lunar Meridian, would be untouchable by the Origin Deity.

"Now is the time to leave..." muttered the Abyssal Leviathan, his brow furrowed in concern. If Yu Yuan intended to aid the secular bird, he would have to confront the Origin Deity, a being adept in both spatial and Soul Power, capable of imposing constraints on Yu Yuan's soul. Without having awakened Taiyin's power, Yu Yuan's words held no sway over the Origin Deity in matters of the soul.

Should Youyu choose to withdraw at this moment, Yu Yuan was still determined to delve deeper, despite the risks and challenges multiplying exponentially. This would also expose him to even greater peril. Hence, the Abyssal Leviathan reasoned that if Youyu were convinced by Xuanli to seize the opportunity to depart the Ashlands, he would certainly not join Yu Yuan in facing the formidable alliance of the Chaos Serpent and the Origin Deity.

The Chaos Serpent, an ancient giant beast and one of the secular bird's archenemies, was not to be underestimated, certainly not by the likes of the Mirage of the Mind.

The Abyssal Leviathan was aware that the Origin Deity could summon numerous allies from the Maw of Oblivion to aid in battle.

Besides the Voidweavers, there were many other powerful beings seduced by the Origin Deity who could also descend through the Maw of Oblivion, becoming obstacles in their path.

Taixu, too, looked concerned. He shared the Abyssal Leviathan's worries...

Worried that Youyu, persuaded by Xuanli and having acquired the soul stone, might seize the opportunity to leave swiftly amidst the Origin Deity's schemes.

"I won't leave."

Without allowing for further contemplation, the soul stone beneath Youyu's feet began to shrink. Shortly thereafter, he swallowed it once more.

He glanced at Yu Yuan, then swiftly joined Xuanli, stating calmly, "I understand that returning to the Everlands is the best and most sensible choice. But since I've been brought to the Ashlands, now that I'm here, I'm determined to uncover the secrets that lie deep within the Ashlands."

Taixu's eyes sparkled as he smiled and said, "I will lead you to the Chaos Serpent's lair."

After a brief pause, he added, "I believe I still possess the ability to affect the Chaos Serpent's spiritual wisdom. If she retains her own consciousness and can come to her senses, I will attempt to convince her to break free from the Origin Deity."

"It will be difficult..."

The Abyssal Leviathan interjected without elaborating further.

He then turned to Yin Tiehua, whose face was etched with lines, and proposed, "Your land could merge with my star. I can allocate a space for your territory. Once we've finished exploring the Ashlands, you'll be able to take your refined land and depart on your own."

Upon hearing this, Yin Tiehua looked to Taixu for confirmation. With his nod, she accepted the offer.

With a thunderous rumble, the ochre land soared toward the star refined by the Abyssal Leviathan and soon settled into place.

Yu Yuan, Taixu, Youyu, Xuanli, and the three alien beasts all gathered on the land she had refined.

"Do you have extensive knowledge about the depths of the Ashlands?" Xuanli asked Taixu, the handsome God-King, with a scowl. "During your tenure overseeing the Everlands, why did your group explore the Ashlands? The name 'Chaos Serpent' doesn't exactly inspire confidence. Why would you associate with such a creature?"

Xuanli's mood soured as Youyu stubbornly refused to leave. Understanding Youyu's stubborn streak and knowing persuasion was futile, he resorted to picking fights out of sheer frustration.

Taixu, on the other hand, ignored it all.

"If President Lyi manages to make his way back to the Everlands, he'll traverse the Order of Healing's Fireheart Mountains and attempt to descend into the Earthfire," Yin Tiehua interjected abruptly.

"The Fireheart Mountains?"

Yu Yuan's demeanor shifted at the mention, his thoughts turning to Mo Baichuan, who was currently within them. Mo Baichuan was using the Earthfire to reconstruct his Solar Spirit Body and intended to merge with the Fireheart Mountains to ascend to the Unbound Realm.

Mo Baichuan was resolute in his quest to unravel the mysteries of the Earthfire, aiming to ascend to divinity through this ultimate path of flame.

Would President Lyi inevitably cross paths with Mo Baichuan in the Fireheart Mountains upon his return to the Everlands?

Was Mo Baichuan's present combat prowess and condition sufficient to confront President Lyi?

Yu Yuan's brow creased with concern for his stoic friend.

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