C1708 The Separation of the Solar Meridian
The Demon God Grec furrowed his brow in deep thought.
Crackle!
Tiny dragon-shaped spells condensed into strands of ghostly electricity, coursing through the space around Grec, snuffing out probing thoughts from distant lands.
Grec's expression shifted dramatically as he exclaimed in astonishment, "It's calling out to me!"
In the Ashlands, the will of the Root of the Solar Meridian was linked to his bloodline. However, the supreme cosmic order of the Ashlands limited this connection, preventing the Root of the Solar Meridian from descending through Grec directly.
Nor could it continuously channel vital energy into Grec's body from afar, bestowing upon him limitless strength.
Yet, it was still capable of communicating with Grec, imparting instructions to him.
Recently, when Yu Yuan had offered Grec advice, the latter had been in turmoil and had deliberately distanced himself from the Root of the Solar Meridian, weakening their bond.
He had been tempted by an opening and had intended to sever the blood bond with the Root of the Solar Meridian before coming over.
It must have been Grec's actions that aroused suspicion in the Root of the Solar Meridian, prompting it to extend its will from the distant Dark Star.
"It must realize now that you're facing trouble."
Yu Yuan's unique Solar Spirit, composed of numerous crystals, subtly shifted into a more conventional human form.
He turned, offering Grec a reassuring smile, and said, "I'll sever its search. It will detect that the resistance comes not from you, Grec, but from the swift and decisive intervention of the Ashlands' rules."
"In doing so, it will not overthink the situation, merely assuming you're ensnared in a complex web."
"Grec, don't you see how considerate I'm being?"
Yu Yuan gently coaxed.
"If it can't find me and can't reestablish our blood bond, it will send another Blood Fiend from the clan to make haste to the Ashlands," Grec stated gravely.
"And what of it? Another Blood Fiend arriving in the Ashlands will be just as lost as a pebble in the ocean!" Yu Yuan declared confidently, "If it can't even locate you, any new Blood Fiend that arrives will have its blood bond severed just as easily the moment I detect its presence!"
Upon hearing those words, Grec was rendered speechless.
Not long ago, the same young man he had pursued through the Moonfall Sanctuary, who had been forced to vanish into the Domain Channel, was now capable of controlling the Ashlands? The very nest of the supreme Titan Spinosaurus!
Could it be that this young man might dominate the heavens like the Old Titan Spinosaurus, compelling all intelligent lifeforms to bow before him?
In the absence of the Demon God Bertain, and with the favor of Primal Blood, if he advanced to the realm of the primordial spirit and truly grasped the Secrets of Life, could he indeed overpower the Dark Phoenix?
Grec's mind was awash with thoughts, his hesitation growing, his expression increasingly grave.
"I'll give you more time to consider. Leave the Ashlands for now. As for how you'll explain this, take your time to deliberate before responding. Feel free to join the conflict between the Dark Phoenix and it, but remember my stance and what I desire."
"Once you've reached a decision, you can return to the Ashlands directly, or..."
Suddenly, the projection of Eiwrone materialized before the Demon God, with Youyu, Xuanli, the Abyssal Leviathan, and the Abyssal Greater Basilisk all present within it.
The dark caverns above the stars stood out prominently.
"Each of these caverns atop the star is connected to the external cosmos. You're aware of this. When you've made your decision, there's no need to trek to the Ashlands; you can come through the Star River that links to Eiwrone."
"You, Ann Ziqing, and that war..."
These words were conveyed through the Blood Secret Word within Grec's Altar of Rebirth.
Grec was increasingly astonished. Within his innate Altar of Rebirth, he witnessed the emergence of Yu Yuan's consciousness, pleading with him to prevent any harm to Yu Zhu and to avoid a bloody conflict between her and Ann Ziqing. He was urged to intervene as much as possible to avert a tragedy.
Moreover, the secret location connected to Eiwrone, the space rift, the twisted magnetic field, and its hidden coordinates were all disclosed.
Yu Yuan's secretive thoughts had been etched onto his Altar of Rebirth, allowing him to perceive them clearly.
"Before you depart from the Ashlands, conceal these memories and excise them from your Altar of Rebirth to avoid detection by the Solar Meridian. Your altar, after all, was forged with its vital energy," Yu Yuan advised with caution.
He noticed Grec's hesitation, understanding that the great Demon God of the Blood Fiend lacked confidence in the battle between the Solar Meridian and the Dark Phoenix, and thus offered Grec an alternative.
Grec's face shifted between hope and despair as he grappled with his thoughts. He glanced at the Chronowyrm, then at the pitiful state of the golden dragon.
He also noted that even the young Titan Spinosaurus harbored a deep fear of Yu Yuan.
"Let's consider this choice a backup plan," Grec mused silently, keeping his thoughts to himself. Abruptly, he transformed into a streak of crimson light and sped away from the Ashlands.
Chen Qinghuang, sitting beneath the Uxthar Tree, detected something amiss in her gaze. She sensed that Grec, as he became a beam of bloody light fleeing the Ashlands, had begun to erase certain traces from his Altar of Rebirth.
This was Grec's deception aimed at the Root of the Solar Meridian!
He didn't want the Root of the Solar Meridian to glean his experiences in the Ashlands through the Altar of Rebirth within him!
What exactly transpired during the disconnection from the Solar Meridian? It was either oblivious or fooled by Grec's fabricated visions.
Grec's subtle actions revealed that the great Demon God of the Blood Fiend harbored a spirit of defiance.
As Grec departed, the young creature concealed in the fissure let out a low, mournful dragon cry, its massive body slowly retracting.
The dragon's lament conveyed to Yu Yuan that Grec's change of heart was due to the overwhelming might of the Dark Phoenix!
It suggested that even Grec, who revered the Solar Meridian as his progenitor, felt his end was near in the face of the frenzied Dark Phoenix, which is why Yu Yuan's persuasion had some influence.
The young beast confided that the Root of the Solar Meridian had taken over the Primal Blood Continent, yet the Dark Phoenix had been unable to lay a finger on it. This might well have been by the design of the Demon God Bertain.
Bertain appeared aware that the power of the Solar Meridian was no match for the biting cold, ensuring that it would never come into contact with the Primal Blood.
Since the Solar Meridian wasn't favored by the Primal Blood, it was unlikely to receive its blessing or be endowed with the full Secrets of Life.
As a result, the Solar Meridian, despite its control over the Primal Blood Continent, could only grasp fragments of the Secrets of Life.
The Solar Meridian's diligent efforts in the Dark Star, its creation of the Blood Fiend, and its steadfast grip on the Primal Blood Continent actually served as another layer of protection for the Primal Blood.
This protection barred the Dark Phoenix from accessing the Primal Blood, and should she dare to intrude, Bertain would strike her down without hesitation.
Bertain would not permit such an event!
He would not allow the Dark Phoenix to obliterate the Solar Meridian and take its place as the ruler of the Primal Blood Continent, nor did he wish to see her ascend as the new Titan Spinosaurus!
The young beast slowly backed away, retreating to the Alien Planet it had staunchly defended.
On that Alien Planet, the Nagas from the Everlands were also howling in agony, suffering under the Draconic Soul Shackle just like Zhong Chichen and Loong Jie, wishing for an end to their torment.
With its departure, the space rift began to heal rapidly.
Yu Yuan reflected for a moment before his Solar Spirit abruptly returned to his personal realm of vitality.
If what the young beast had said was true, without Demon God Bertain's balancing intervention, could the Dark Phoenix truly lead her forces of alien beasts and evilkind to conquer the Dark Star Region?
It was no wonder Grec was petrified with fear!
"If you don't cease now, I... might even lose my divine status."
Zhong Chichen's dragon cry was laced with frustration and bitterness. As he let out a low growl, more vibrant blood spilled, pooling around his colorful dragon form like a series of crimson ponds.
"Don't you enjoy pulling strings from the shadows?"
Yu Yuan, who had been stepping on his forehead, distanced himself and loosened several constraints, allowing the previously suppressed bloodlines to be reactivated.
Whoosh!
Zhong Chichen transformed into a human form, his screams echoing with agony.
His iridescent Solar Spirit was riddled with fine cracks, with blood continuously seeping out. He appeared as though he was enduring a brutal, drawn-out punishment.
At last, he shifted from the Seven-Colored Dragon form to a human one. His vividly colored eyes were brimming with sorrow and resignation.
"And you!"
Yu Yuan turned his gaze to Loong Jie, issuing a cold huff.
The serpentine golden dragon, Loong Jie, resembling a golden rampart, was also able to morph into a human form as the bloodline restrictions were eased.
Whoosh!
In his human form, Loong Jie resembled a Golden Armored Titan, the kind venerated within temple halls, clad in golden armor with a face shining like burnished bronze.
At the center of his forehead was a tiny vortex, constantly spinning inward.
It seemed that with each rotation, a portion of his Dragon Soul was obliterated.
Loong Jie remained defiant, not bending even in the face of such a dire and passive predicament.
"Our Naga bloodline originates from the supreme ruler of the Ashlands! My willingness to heed your commands was due to it. It is the beacon of hope for our Naga, the only force capable of leading us to dominate this Astral Domain once more!"
