C1694 The Carefree Sevencolored Dragon

In the deep valleys of the Everlands, nestled against Skyreach Peak:

Zhong Chichen's Solar Spirit, shimmering like iridescent glass, was drawing strands of light from the open Origin Gate and weaving them into his colorful form.

Consequently, not a whisper of spiritual energy continued to seep into the valley's depths.

Moments later, the snow-white lightning, an embodiment of the space rules, coursed through Zhong Chichen's Solar Spirit Body, refining into delicate meridians.

He let out a satisfied burp and licked his lips, his face beaming as if he'd just enjoyed a hearty meal.

With a whoosh, the Origin Gate, which had been a thorn in the side of the Everlands' mightiest, vanished without leaving the slightest hint of danger.

"Han, I've kept my word to you."

Once the Solar Spirit merged back into his physical form, Zhong Chichen, clad in his vibrant attire, swung his wide, billowing sleeves and called out to the earth beneath him.

He was aware that Han Miaoyuan could hear him, but the lack of a response from Han left him feeling slightly irked.

In an instant, he stepped beyond the valley and burst into triumphant laughter, "Effortlessly, these so-called Origin Gates have become my nourishing elixirs. The pills I've crafted to fortify my soul and bones pale in comparison to the sustenance of a single Origin Gate."

Without his reminder, everyone might have forgotten his current identity and his knowledge of alchemy.

He produced a rainbow-hued toothpick from nowhere, picking at his teeth while grinning, "I need to head out again soon. With that fellow gone, many Origin Gates have been revealed. I'll take it upon myself to do a good deed and eliminate each troublesome Origin Gate for the Otherkin."

With their masters gone, the Origin Gates were now fully exposed, beyond the capabilities of those unversed in space magic.

With both Voidweaver and Rovi deceased, who else but Zhong Chichen could handle these Origin Gates?

For him, the space rules and potent space magic within each gate were his to consume and assimilate.

The act of dismantling the Origin Gates also served to amplify his strength and further temper his Solar Spirit.

He was confident that the Otherkin's champions would greet him with open arms, perhaps even offering him fine wines, sumptuous feasts, and the company of beautiful companions.

As he contemplated the smooth and rewarding journey ahead, he couldn't help but flash a toothy grin once more.

Yet, to Taishi and Zu Ann, that grin seemed to exude an indescribable lewdness.

Zu Ann's brow furrowed in concern, pondering whether the situation in the Everlands might spiral out of control all too soon.

With the departure of the great Demon God Bertain and the vanishing threat of the Origin Deity, he knew that without a common foe or external threats, the Everlands would enter a phase of settling old scores and grievances.

The longstanding enmities between Boulderdawn and Han Miaoyuan, the human race and the Nagas, the ancient evilkind and the dragons—were all these conflicts about to be addressed?

This thought prompted Zu Ann to cast a glance at Taishi and the Sword Sect Master, who stood there as stoic as a statue.

"It's like this..."

As if struck by a sudden realization, Zhong Chichen's playful demeanor vanished, and he gestured towards the deep valley behind him with a toothpick. "The Origin Gate, constructed upon the space rules of the Everlands, can pinpoint loopholes with uncanny precision. Something about that doesn't sit right with me. The Everlands are unlike any other domain; its walls are enigmatic, and the cosmic order is densely intricate and chaotic."

"The Origin Deity, being an outsider, would struggle to create the Origin Gate without guidance, without someone revealing the space rules of the Everlands to him."

"The one who has delved deepest into the realm of space magic in the Everlands after me... that would be Jihui, right?"

He turned his gaze to Taishi.

Unruffled, Taishi affirmed, "Correct."

"If it wasn't me, then it must have been him. There's no doubt about it."

Zhong Chichen's conviction was palpable; he was sure that the one who had assisted the Origin Deity, enabling him to grasp the spatial intricacies of the Everlands and erect the Origin Gate, was none other than the late God-King Jihui.

Suddenly, Lin Daoke, the impassive 'wooden man,' arched an eyebrow, his eyes sharp as blades.

"By all accounts, he should have perished at the hands of Han and Dark Phoenix," Taishi remarked coolly.

"No, that's definitely not the case," Zhong Chichen said, shaking his head. After a moment of contemplation, he added thoughtfully, "My guess is that he's become the Origin Deity beneath the Abyss."

Lin Daoke, who usually avoided deep thought, looked stunned by this revelation.

Zu Ann was visibly shaken.

Taishi, understanding the implications of Zhong Chichen's words, offered no reply. Instead, he simply smiled and seamlessly blended into the earth beneath him like water.

"So, you're suggesting that the residual soul of the God-King Jihui has ventured into the Abyss? Similar to how an Origin Deity, adept in space magic and with a formidable soul, would come to our world? Did Jihui traverse the Abyss in the same manner, encountering the Origin Deity there?" Zu Ann sought confirmation.

"Something like that," Zhong Chichen replied nonchalantly, shrugging. "But really, it's none of my concern. Oh, right!"

He slapped his forehead and turned to Zu Ann with a question, "What about President Lyi? I brought him back to the Everlands from the depths of the Ashlands, hoping that Han and Taishi would deal with him. Have they taken care of it?"

Zu Ann's expression turned rigid. "You're the one who sent him?"

"Yes, I specifically sent him back to the Everlands for Han and Taishi to handle," Zhong Chichen said with a wide grin, giving Lin Daoke a mocking side glance. "We're out there fighting tooth and nail in the extraterrestrial realms; we can't let them just sit idle in the Everlands, can we? After all, isn't President Lyi's predicament the result of Han and Boulderdawn's doing?"

"Why should I clean up their mess? Grand Sword Immortal, wouldn't you agree?"

"Hey, why are you closing your eyes? You're such a drag. Always siding with Han Miaoyuan—aren't you tired of it? Why not think about what's best for yourself and the Sword Sect for a change?"

Zhong Chichen, showing no respect, referred to Han Miaoyuan dismissively. He was well aware that Han Miaoyuan, who was searching for the Root of the Lunar Meridian, could hear him.

"Old Lin, why not just strike down Han Miaoyuan with your sword and take over as the leader of the human race? To be honest, I find you a bit more agreeable. What's the deal with Han Miaoyuan, that insufferable Taishi, and the hideous Dark Phoenix? They're all just making a mess of our beautiful Everlands!"

Zhong Chichen, with his loose sleeves flailing, railed against the high and mighty, cursing them one by one.

Yet, he spared the God-King Taiyin from his tirade.

"When the Dark Phoenix was here, why didn't you come back and scold her like this?"

Taishi's voice, filled with anger, rose from beneath the ground.

"I was too busy at the time!"

Zhong Chichen burst into hearty laughter, seemingly more joyful than he had been in tens of thousands of years.

Before Taishi could respond, Zhong Chichen preempted him, "You'd better shut up! You still need me to open the Domain Channel connected to the Hellmouth. If you have any sense, you'll avoid making things unpleasant!"

Taishi did indeed fall silent, not even letting out a huff.

"Ah, what a group of spineless individuals. How utterly dull. You're not even a match for Tan Xiaotian. No one has his flair for action, his readiness to do as he pleases, even if it means disregarding the destruction of Everlands."

With a wave of his hand, as if bidding a temporary farewell to Everlands, he vanished in a blink, reappearing at the bottom of the Frozen Hellscape.

And just like that, he was gone, off to revel in the extraterrestrial Star River.

"I wish I could be as carefree as him."

After Zhong Chichen's departure, Zu Ann, wearing a look of sorrow, gazed at the spot where he had stood and sighed with envy.

Lin Daoke opened his eyes and stared blankly at Zu Ann, instructing, "Take good care of Everlands."

With a huff, Zu Ann flew back to the summit of Skyreach Peak.

...

Deep within the Ashlands.

Regardless of the chaos unfolding in the outside world, regardless of the world-ending battles, the Chaos Serpent never ceased its relentless combat.

This massive serpent, with a head at each end, continued its struggle, slowly drifting away from the Phoenix Ashes, yet never leaving the sight of Yu Yuan and his companions.

"Since you can communicate with that young creature, tell it that I will take the Phoenix Ashes and the newly sprouted tree out of the Ashlands," Chen Qinghuang suddenly declared.

Yu Yuan nodded. "I will convey the message."

*Crack!*

The sound of a neck snapping echoed, followed by distant flashes of lightning and peals of thunder. Green blood spurted forth, mingling with the Astral Serpent's shrieks.

Everyone turned their attention to the scene, where they witnessed one of the Chaos Serpent's heads being bitten off by another. Yu Yuan, after the prolonged battle and constant shifting of positions, could no longer distinguish which head was the tail and which was the actual head.

Boom!

A wildly turbulent wave of twisted psionic power burst forth from the Chaos Serpent, spreading in all directions. This distorted force seemed capable of affecting all nearby living beings, whether it was Yu Yuan, Taixu, or Chen Qinghuang, they were all jolted by its intensity.

Simultaneously, Yu Yuan acutely sensed the presence of a young Titan Spinosaurus and quickly realized that a strange force was cutting him off from the outside world. The psionic power of the Chaos Serpent was thwarted by this force, unable to reach Yu Yuan's flesh and soul.

"Don't!"

He heard Taixu's desperate shout and saw him recklessly lunging toward the Secular Bird Queen. In a flash, Her Majesty transformed into the Azure Bird, her sharp wings shimmering with the luster of destruction and death, sending shivers down one's spine.

The Queen had long awaited this moment, biding her time for the Chaos Serpent to resolve its own internal struggle and to reveal herself in her most formidable form. She also waited for her power of ruin to fully surge forth before reigniting the battle.

It appeared that the corrupting psionic power was also under the Queen's control; she had not succumbed to madness or fallen into a state of self-destructive frenzy.

"You have been waiting for this day for a long time, haven't you?"

Terrifying waves of soul energy coalesced into a sky-spanning inferno of destruction, interwoven with the chilling bolts of death, engulfing the world of the Chaos Serpent like a deluge.

Taixu, amidst his screams, was consumed by the space tunnel and instantly transported to Eiwrone. His cries were now meaningless.

The one who sent him away was the same young creature that had brought him here, unwilling to let his presence disrupt the inevitable clash.

​