C1700 The Power of the Old Lizard

The Dragon Slaying Stage, resembling a colossal blade, found itself ensnared by a deluge of mud and sand, its movements increasingly hindered like a boa in a quagmire.

The energy within the mire, brimming with the bloodline aura of the Abyssal Greater Basilisk, was a manifestation of its innate theurgy.

Before it encountered the Abyss and remained untainted by its powers, it was known as the Starborne Lizard.

Its mastery of space magic, while not on par with the Voidweaver or the Seven-Colored Dragon, was nonetheless remarkable.

This prowess stemmed from a fierce battle among giant beasts, where it vanquished a kin who had also mastered space magic and usurped their bloodline.

Just as the Secular Bird Queen annihilated the Deathwings and the Behemoth of Ruin, seizing the forces of death and destruction for herself.

Its courage to venture into the Maw of Oblivion was the very reason it could now tear open a rift in the heavens.

With a gaze of sheer contempt, the Abyssal Greater Basilisk's brown eyes shimmered as it taunted, "You are not the Taiyin God-King of old. How much power can you possibly wield with the Dragon Slaying Stage?"

No sooner had it spoken than broad torrents of mud and sand burst forth from the swirling storms, engulfing the Dragon Slaying Stage in an instant.

The bizarre mudflow, laced with the Abyssal Greater Basilisk's blood magic, swiftly petrified upon engulfing the Dragon Slaying Stage. Chains and shackles emerged, layer by layer binding the radiant white light, the spectrum of colors, and the golden edges emanating from the stage.

Thus, the Dragon Slaying Stage vanished from Yu Yuan's sight and senses.

"Without ascending to the highest echelon, your vulnerabilities and the insufficient synergy with your artifacts are but a futile attempt to thwart my advance. It's like a mantis trying to stop a chariot," the Abyssal Greater Basilisk scoffed with derision.

The Titanblade's crimson sword light, in comparison to its massive form, was as slender as steel pins.

With a dismissive snort, the Lizard watched as the Shadowkin's elder and the three Silverscale Tribe warriors silently withdrew.

With a thunderous roar, it bared its gaping maw, unleashing a howl at the crimson sword light. The cosmic energy that erupted from its jaws transformed into a tempest, ensnaring and shredding the sword light in its violent embrace.

In comparison to the tempest, the sword light, as fine as a strand of hair, burst into nothingness.

Yu Yuan stood in midair, sword in hand, appearing as insignificant as a gnat before the Starborne Lizard, almost unworthy of mention.

"Once you've ascended to godhood in the Everlands and fully mastered the Dragon Slaying Stage, when you can wield your sword with your primordial spirit, maybe then you'll pose a threat to me," sneered the Abyssal Greater Basilisk as it gradually retracted its massive form, transforming into an elder from the Silverscale Tribe, deliberately matching Yu Yuan's stature.

"The only ones in the Everlands who truly concern me are the Dark Phoenix, Lin Daoke, and that reclusive Untamed," he boasted, seemingly in no rush to move on. He didn't even bother to mention Tan Xiaotian, the Demon Lord renowned for his love of combat.

"Lord Untamed..."

Yu Yuan paused, taken aback that the Ape of the Godsblight Marsh was held in such high esteem by the Abyssal Greater Basilisk.

"That Ape's feud with the Dark Phoenix is well-known, but his raw power is nothing short of world-shaking. When he first ascended as a Dark Deity, he roamed the Star River beyond our world, and I've had dealings with him."

The Abyssal Greater Basilisk, now in the guise of a Silverscale Tribe elder, spoke with a hint of gravity, "Even though it's been many years since he's shown himself, I'm aware of his combat prowess; in the Everlands, it's likely only surpassed by the Dark Phoenix and Lin Daoke. That Demon Lord is still young; his experience falls somewhat short."

Mid-speech, the Abyssal Greater Basilisk's brow furrowed, and he let out a cold huff.

From within the fissure in the void, a violet-gold eye seemed to lurk, spying on him from an unseen realm, causing him discomfort.

So...

He glanced at the crack and nonchalantly flicked his sleeve.

From within, thousands of mudstone torrents, imbued with his bloodline rules, surged forth like a barrage of arrows toward the crack, aiming for the hidden youngling in the shadows.

These mudstone flows, broader than the swiftest rivers of the Everlands, possessed a force that could effortlessly obliterate an entire realm.

Yu Yuan was certain that neither Zekrica nor the Nirvana Realm could withstand a single strike from the Abyssal Greater Basilisk. The entire world, with all its creatures, flora, mountains, lakes, and rivers, would be obliterated by a devastating mudslide.

In the hidden place within the maw, the young beast suddenly growled. Billions of golden and purple bolts of lightning wove together in a dense, blinding display, revealing bloodline mysteries that made Yu Yuan feel as if another Everlands lay within. Amidst the golden and purple lightning, there was a cosmic order akin to that of the Everlands.

This cosmic order took the form of golden and purple lightning, weaving together within the maw to create a nascent Everlands. At that moment, a new idea flickered through Yu Yuan's mind. The Bloodline Revelation etched into his Solar Spirit, a tangible form of the bloodline rules, could potentially be integrated into the Heaven-Opening Sword Array. Could he invoke the sword array using the Otherkin's bloodline chain and sword spell, powered by his own soul's consciousness? This fleeting thought crystallized into a part of his memory and spiritual insight.

With a thunderous rumble, he witnessed the world-ending mudslide and the interwoven purple and golden lightning collide and surge, widening the fissure ever more.

"Your growth is astonishing," remarked the Lizard, his face clouded with concern.

Inside the vast chasm, the young beast's lightning stripped away the cosmic energy from the Lizard's bloodline mysteries, and a fierce battle ensued between the bloodline mysteries and his vital energy.

In the unseen rifts of the Ashlands, where Yu Yuan, Jessica, and the others could not peer, a kaleidoscope of light burst forth. Numerous bloodline rules transformed into dazzling meteors, disintegrating across the expanse.

With a series of cracks, the petrified sand encasing the Dragon Slaying Stage shattered like an eggshell, releasing a radiant white glow. As the light emerged, Yu Yuan's connection to the Dragon Slaying Stage was instantly established, and he could hear the young beast's disgruntled growl.

The young beast complained that Yu Yuan had not called for reinforcements, urging him to summon Taixu, Youyu, and Xuanli from Eiwrone for assistance.

The Dragon Slaying Stage and Eiwrone were linked, even after parting ways with the Origin Deity. Despite this, the young beast had willingly relinquished control to him. If necessary, he could summon Youyu, Taixu, and others through the Dragon Slaying Stage to ambush the Abyssal Greater Basilisk. Yet, he chose not to, leaving himself in a somewhat precarious position.

Engulfed by a landslide, the Dragon Slaying Stage was unusable for instant spatial travel. Left with no other option, he had to confront the Abyssal Greater Basilisk, an elder of the Shadowkin, and three Silverscale Tribe warriors with nothing but his sword. The young beast, fearing for his safety and potential harm from the Abyssal Greater Basilisk, was compelled to emerge prematurely.

"It's heartwarming to see you're still looking out for me," he mused.

At Yu Yuan's mere thought, the Dragon Slaying Stage materialized beneath him as a radiant expanse of white land. He watched with a smile as the young beast and the Abyssal Greater Basilisk sparred within the fissure, feeling the Divine Thunder and bloodline rules that threatened to rend heaven and earth, clashing millions of times each second.

He found himself agreeing with the Lizard's sentiment. The growth rate of this young beast in the Ashlands was nothing short of remarkable. With several feedings, the assimilation of the old spinosaurus's remains, and the limbs of a Voidweaver, it had the audacity to use its mastery of the Ashlands to burst forth and disrupt the Lizard's assassination attempt. Given more time, it might indeed reach maturity.

"The Phoenix Ashes are essential to me!" the Lizard exclaimed in a fit of rage. Dark brown scales sprouted on his skin as he transformed, heading straight for the crevice. His body expanded wildly as he did so.

"Take out that youngster," he commanded, transforming further and directing the elder Shadowkin and Jessica, of the tenth level, to execute his order.

"Phoenix Ashes?" Yu Yuan whispered in surprise. He hadn't anticipated the Lizard's intense desire for the Phoenix Ashes.

Wasn't that marshy land inherently the Uxthar Tree's domain? It had been seized by the Old Titan Spinosaurus and concealed within the Ashlands all this time. What significance could it possibly hold for the Lizard?

...