C1699 Anxious Grec

"This isn't Skyward Swordplay!"

As Grec, the Demon God, watched the crystal-clear sword lights weave together, evolving into various profound sword wills, he couldn't contain his astonishment.

A massive orb of light quickly formed, nearly engulfing the dark red boulder beneath his feet.

Slash!

Warpbeasts and the blood-crafted fiends charged at the mesh of sword lights, only to be shredded into a bloody downpour.

He let out a stifled groan.

The dark will residing in his blood was effortlessly erased by the sword light, and the hidden power within his blood was similarly extinguished.

It was as if numerous Grand Sword Immortals from the Sword Sect had joined forces to wield this sword.

With the true essence of different sword spells, they eradicated his dark will and vital energy, meticulously extracting and annihilating each part of the Warpbeasts and blood puppets that belonged to him.

As the spherical sword light threatened to envelop him and the dark red boulder, a realization dawned on him.

"The Heaven-Opening Sword Array!"

He cried out, instantly invoking his blood magic.

Among the blood rain scattered by the sword light, one droplet suddenly surged with his vitality.

The tiny crimson droplet swelled in an instant, filled with his blood energy and soul.

His body, perched atop the boulder, seemed to be drained of life, shrinking continuously until it was reduced to a mere speck of blood light.

The Warpbeasts and stone-wrapped creatures, along with the birds and beasts he had formed from his lifeblood, were all devoured by the spherical sword light of the Heaven-Opening Sword Array.

Crack! Pop! Pop!

Accompanied by the grating sounds of penetration and slicing, the boulder crumbled to dust, and all the animated entities turned to ash, leaving no trace behind.

Outside the sphere of light, Grec, who had used his theurgy to transfer his core strength from the boulder, quickly returned to his original state. Gazing at the area now reduced to dust, he called out, still shaken, "How can you alone wield the Heaven-Opening Sword Array?!"

Yu Yuan offered a nonchalant smile. "You sure made a quick getaway."

After a single stroke of his sword, the spherical Heaven-Opening Sword Array began to contract, steadily diminishing until it burst with a loud pop, and the sword light flowed back into the Divine Sword.

He was astonished to discover that he had only lost a portion of his spiritual energy, while his vital energy and remnant soul had almost entirely returned.

Since Grec had fled, the Heaven-Opening Sword Array hadn't expended much power, allowing for its recovery.

Whoosh!

Pure spiritual energy burst forth from the Dragon Slaying Stage beneath him, infusing his Golden Sanctum's little world, filling each "pool" and replenishing his spiritual energy.

The Dragon Slaying Stage glowed with a pearly sheen, breathing in the Ashlands' diverse energies.

Though not as rapid as in its youth, it could still absorb and purify the Ashlands' cosmic energy, transforming it into pure spiritual energy.

Crucially, the divine force within the Dragon Slaying Stage could restore what he had lost.

This miraculous stone had become an extension of his Golden Sanctum's little world, replenishing his elixir field whenever he depleted too much spiritual energy in battle.

"Long ago, I witnessed the Grand Sword Immortals from the Everlands join forces to form an array in the extraterrestrial realm. I've heard it said that the Sword Sect's Heaven-Opening Sword Array requires the combined effort of many to unleash its full potential."

Grec's face grew somber, his earlier ease gone as he deliberately increased the distance between himself and Yu Yuan.

Hua! Hua!

A deep red mist began to form, slowly enveloping him.

Within the blood mist, Grec's soul's presence grew faint, as though it could be concealed.

His vital energy field, typically hidden within the deep red mist, was now exposed.

But his current adversary was Yu Yuan.

Under the discerning gaze of Yu Yuan's Solar Spirit, the Demon God Grec shone brightly, unable to hide his unique breath of life.

"Uh!"

Yu Yuan's Solar Spirit, amidst the scattering droplets of blood rain, deciphered a wondrous aspect of life.

It pertained to the creation of new beings!

The dark red, blood-like floating stone where Grec had been seated, the carvings of birds and beasts, and the sudden emergence of Stoneborn individuals appeared to be some sort of experiment by Grec.

He was attempting to determine whether his strength could unlock the Secrets of Life!

It appeared that his explorations into the mysteries of existence within the Ashlands would remain undetected by the Solar Meridian.

"Do you seek to escape it? To break free from your creator?"

Yu Yuan didn't rush to wield his sword but instead furrowed his brow slightly, looking at Grec with surprise.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Grec feigned confusion.

"It gave rise to the Blood Fiends, it rules over all of you. You are bound to obey, unable to ever break free. Are you seeking a method to liberate yourself from its control by delving into the arcane of the Ashlands? Grec, it seems you too harbor a spirit of defiance."

Yu Yuan let out a peculiar chuckle.

Grec remained contemplatively silent.

"Is it because Ann Ziqing has traveled to the Primal Blood Continent and is on the verge of ascending to Demon God status that you think she might replace you?" Yu Yuan stroked his chin, pondering slowly, "Or do you believe that it's destined to lose to the Dark Phoenix? Are you afraid that once it's consumed by the Dark Phoenix, the entire Blood Fiend race will face extinction?"

A harsh light began to emerge in Grec's crimson eyes. "You're fond of baseless speculation, aren't you?"

"Have you considered throwing in your lot with me?"

Yu Yuan pointed to his chest, to the little world of his vitality, and burst into a wide grin. "You're aware that my Solar Spirit contains the complete Secrets of Life! What the Abyssal Leviathan lacks, what the Dark Phoenix has not comprehended, I possess in full!"

"You've seen it with your own eyes. The first Demon God of your Blood Fiend race, Andre, was transformed by me into a Taixu entity."

"Grec, if you sincerely pledge yourself to me, acknowledge me as your master, you might just succeed in freeing yourself."

"Give it some thought. Could I be your best option?"

Upon realizing that Grec harbored ulterior motives, Yu Yuan lost his sense of urgency.

"What fantasies are you indulging in?"

Grec regarded Yu Yuan as one might look at a monstrous apparition, incredulous that Yu Yuan could be so deluded as to suggest he abandon the Root of the Solar Meridian that created him.

"I'll be waiting in the Ashlands. Take your time to consider it," Yu Yuan stated gravely.

He knew Grec might struggle to accept his proposal. Yet, if Grec truly desired to break free from the Root of the Solar Meridian and was not hopeful about the conflict between the Solar Meridian and the Dark Phoenix, then he would indeed be an excellent choice for survival after the Solar Meridian's disappearance.

Of course, should Grec prove strong enough to defeat him and assimilate his Solar Spirit, extracting all the Secrets of Life, that would be an entirely different matter.

"I won't even submit to an old man, and you think I'd join you?" Grec scoffed.

"There are some things he can't offer you," Yu Yuan mused before adding, "If you help me deliver Ann Ziqing to the Ashlands, I might just have the power to sever the bloodline connection between you and it. Then you would gain true freedom, no longer bound to its commands."

Whoosh!

The Dragon Slaying Stage vanished in an instant.

Grec, bracing for Yu Yuan's next assault amidst a cloud of deep red mist, was visibly perplexed as he murmured, "Has he lost his mind? He wants me to betray the progenitor and send that girl to the Ashlands. But could he truly sever my bloodline connection with the progenitor?"

"If he manages to unlock all the Secrets of Life within his Solar Spirit and ascend to the highest echelon, transforming into a Titan Spinosaurus, perhaps it's possible."

"But..."

Grec was suddenly gripped by anxiety.

Elsewhere.

Yu Yuan stood upon the Dragon Slaying Stage, blocking the path of the Abyssal Greater Basilisk. With a smile, he advised, "This way is closed. I recommend you leave the Ashlands promptly to avoid further complications."

"Just you?" The Shadowkin elder sneered.

Yu Yuan nodded earnestly and replied, "And this sword of mine."

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Streams of thick crimson sword light surged towards the Shadowkin elder and the three Silverscale Tribe warriors like flowing rivers.

Boom!

The Dragon Slaying Stage expanded dramatically, transforming into a massive, elongated spike that thrust directly at the Abyssal Greater Basilisk with its metallic point.

"Youngster, who gave you the audacity to challenge me?"

The Abyssal Greater Basilisk's slender eyes glinted with a cold and detached amusement as it taunted, "Even in their prime, the Nagas never dared to provoke me. Do you really think you can harm me with a mere fragment of the Heaven-Opening Stone?"

*Whoosh!*

Before the Dragon Slaying Stage, a rift tore through the starry expanse, unleashing a myriad of swirling storms.

As the Dragon Slaying Stage advanced toward the Abyssal Greater Basilisk, it appeared to be mired in a quagmire. Its pace drastically reduced, hemorrhaging energy with each stride it made.

"..."