C1711 Forget It!

The two Starry Behemoths fell silent in the face of the formidable threat posed by the Demon Phoenix and the Yang Meridian source. If the Chaos Roc and Abyss Goanna were to join forces with Jessica and Awkwafina, they might have the courage to wander the vast starry sky and encounter the Demon Phoenix without as much fear. However, the Demon Phoenix was not alone; she had a formidable entourage. Accompanied by the Desolate God, the White Divine Tiger, Lvliu, and Yu Zhu, she could rally these Demon Gods for battle, leaving the Chaos Roc and Abyss Goanna with no chance of victory. And one can't help but wonder, how much has the other youngling of the Demon Phoenix grown?

"The Secular Bird Queen's nest has a connection to the Divine Soul Sect. If Lvliu, the Desolate God, and Yu Zhu learn that their hunt's target is the Secular Bird Queen, they're unlikely to join the fight," someone mentioned. "The various Divine Kings of the Divine Soul Sect will join this battle to repay the Secular Bird Queen for her past assistance."

"But do you two have any significant allies?" Yu Yuan asked, his smile not reaching his eyes.

The two behemoths remained silent.

Yu Yuan produced a porcelain bottle containing a drop of the Disaster Snake's blood and handed it to an eager Tai Xu. As Tai Xu carefully accepted it, Yu Yuan inquired, "Are you heading to the Oblivion Starfield or somewhere else?"

"Is either option viable?" Tai Xu asked, surprised.

Yu Yuan nodded with a smile. "Either will do."

The Dragon Slash Platform rested upon the Heaven Opening Flare Star, where tendrils of spatial lightning threaded into numerous deep caverns, casting visions into his mind. The platform's original material was sourced from the Heaven Opening Flare Star itself, but after countless rituals in his past life, the contributions of three Dragon Gods, numerous Ninth Level dragon carcasses, Rovi's blood, and an array of laws tied to the vast expanse, the Divine Stone had transcended its origins, becoming even more miraculous than the Heaven Opening Flare Star itself.

If the Heaven Opening Flare Star was a lock, then the Dragon Slash Platform was the master key. This key could unlock the myriad deep caverns of the star and even reach the Main Planet of the Gray Domain, transporting Yu Yuan to the various realms within the Gray Domain.

The Dragon Slash Platform is the key to unlocking the entire Gray Domain, having transformed into its central hub, akin to the Artifact Soul of an object.

Yu Yuan's consciousness followed the delicate threads of light, and before long, he detected a familiar scent within a deep cavern.

The Realm passageway linking the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area with the Delude Devil Abyss!

"Begin the connection!"

At his command, a new fork materialized within the passageway brimming with countless streams of light and stardust, linking directly to the Delude Devil Abyss.

The once straight passageway branched into a three-way intersection, with a mysterious node at the center connecting to the cavernous depths of the Heaven Opening Flare Star.

This enigmatic node appeared to be controlled solely by the Dragon Slash Platform.

As the ruler of the Gray Domain, Yu Yuan had the power to open or seal this realm at will.

Anyone wishing to traverse the Gray Domain via the Heaven Opening Flare Star required his explicit consent.

"If you descend from here, you'll find yourself in the passageway to the Delude Devil Abyss. It's somewhat congested at the moment, so you might run into a bit of trouble. However..."

Yu Yuan gestured towards the luminous cave entrance and indicated the direction to Tai Xu, but then he caught sight of Zhou You.

With an amused smile, he nodded at Zhou You, "With Mr. Zhou leading the way, those minor inconveniences in the Realm passageway should be easily managed."

Zhou You, having recuperated from the draining encounter with the Origin Realm God, had regained his robust appearance.

As a formidable practitioner at the Unrestrained Stage, with his mastery of spatial forces, he was indeed the ideal guide.

Moreover, he was likely eager to return to the vast expanses and seek the Chamber of Commerce's aid in his recovery.

Zhou You, upon being addressed, gave Yu Yuan an awkward chuckle and said, "Without the likes of the Origin Realm God causing mischief in the passageway, I should be able to escort Lord Tai Xu safely through the congestion back to the vast expanses."

"I'm here too!" Xuanli eagerly added.

Yu Yuan turned and nodded at him with a smile, "The Divine Soul Sect owes a debt to your Ghost Wizard Sect, and I intend to find a way to repay it. That is, assuming the Ghost Wizard Sect remains, as in ancient times, a steadfast ally to the Divine Soul Sect."

"Forget it! I have no intention of becoming your ally! I fear someone might sneak up on me in the dead of night and shatter my divine throne." Xuanli pursed his lips, his heart heavy with grievances that had built up over tens of thousands of years, grievances that Yu Yuan's few words couldn't possibly dispel.

Tai Xu coughed awkwardly.

The Chaos Roc, privy to the secrets, remained silent for a long while before suddenly breaking into a bizarre, cackling laugh.

Xuanli's remark caused Yu Yuan's smile to stiffen; he knew he was at fault and chose not to defend himself further.

"I need to return to the Vast Expanse to commune with the Sea of Hearts and address the issues of the Origin Realm."

Youyu spoke up nonchalantly, defusing the tension and sparing Yu Yuan the discomfort of dwelling on past events.

"The Origin Realm God may have left, but the Origin Realm he forged isn't inaccessible. With this heart stone, I might find a way to enter the Origin Realm."

As Youyu spoke, he shifted his gaze from Yu Yuan to Awkwafina of the Shadow Clan.

"I'm intrigued by the likes of the Evil God in the Abyss. The Origin Realm isn't just a figment of the Origin Realm God's imagination. Since it's akin to the Sea of Hearts within this Divine Stone, the Origin Realm should persist even after the Origin Realm God's demise."

"A spiritual bridge for the mighty souls of both worlds, allowing the formidable of each realm to exchange souls through the Origin Realm."

"This daring concept shouldn't cease with the Origin Realm God; I believe it's worth pursuing further."

Youyu murmured quietly.

At these words, Awkwafina was the first to react with excitement, exclaiming, "The abyss isn't ruled by the Origin Realm God's whims; it's a realm of chaos, dominated by numerous Evil Gods! The Origin Realm God's combat prowess barely places him in the top five there, and he's only deemed exceptional because of his mastery over spatial powers, which allows him to traverse our world with ease!"

"Top five?" The Chaos Roc was inwardly stirred.

"If it weren't for his significant contributions to the abyss and his role as a trailblazer in this realm, he wouldn't even make the top five!" Awkwafina ranted.

She seemed to harbor a multitude of grievances against the Origin Realm God, grievances she had previously kept to herself but now seemed eager to unleash.

Suddenly, Youyu turned to Yu Yuan and declared, "I will find the answer!"

A strange light interwove like a river in Youyu's grayish-white eyes, clearly indicating his intense fascination with the abyss.

"Watch out for the Yin Meridian."

Yu Yuan's warning echoed in Youyu's mind, severing his connection with the outside world.

Acknowledging with a slight nod, Youyu understood and promptly made his way toward the shadowy cavern.

Once he departed, Xuanli gave Yu Yuan an exasperated eye roll and huffed before descending into the cave himself.

Xuanli was aware that Yu Yuan represented the Great Yin. Had it not been for Youyu's intervention, and had he himself reached the pinnacle of his power, he might have already challenged Yu Yuan to a battle.

"I'll inform Taishi about everything that's transpired in the Gray Domain so he can make preparations."

Having acquired a drop of the Disaster Snake's blood essence, Tai Xu was in high spirits as he extended an invitation to Yinn Tiehua, "It's been many years since you've been home. Don't you want to take a look? The landscapes of the Artifact Sect's continent, some old acquaintances—don't you want to see them?"

"Is that possible?"

Yinn Tiehua's wrinkled face showed a flicker of hope as her hand, clutching her iron crutch, trembled.

How many years had it been?

She had been feigning death, concealed in the Gray Domain, oblivious to the passage of time and the sweeping changes of the era. The thought of Hao Yu always brought a pang of sorrow.

She yearned to return home.

She yearned for recognition, to see the familiar landscapes once more, to witness what had become of the sect that had shaped her.

"In the past, it wasn't possible, but now, there are no obstacles. The Babel Chamber of Commerce is now openly trading a vast array of artifacts with various clans from the Heavenly Domain. The deeds of your past are insignificant by today's standards."

Tai Xu was earnest, knowing that Yinn Tiehua's concerns were now unfounded.

"Well then, that settles it! I'll go with you. I trust you!" Yinn Tiehua said, her voice quivering with emotion.

"Allow me to guide you."

Mr. Zhou, with deep respect for Yinn Tiehua, who was of higher status and renown, bowed deeply before soaring into the cave entrance, ready to escort her down.

"Thank you, Mr. Zhou."

"It's nothing."

Zhou You, Youyu, and Xuanli followed suit, entering the cave and returning to the Boundless Great World after Youyu and Xuanli.

...

"Don't rush. Take some time to think about your next steps in the Gray Domain. Meanwhile, I'll reacquaint myself with the Gray Domain to uncover what secrets this fascinating world holds."

With those words, Yu Yuan and the Dragon Slash Platform vanished, leaving behind four Ninth Level alien beasts.

As soon as he left, the alien beasts were visibly nervous and uneasy, especially in the presence of the Chaos Roc and the Abyss Goanna.

"Relax. If we dared to harm you, we'd be playing right into that young man's hands."

The Chaos Roc's expression was somber, uncertain of Yu Yuan's true intentions and concerned that if they lingered too long in the Gray Domain, the young beast might grow strong enough to turn on him and the old goanna.

Whoosh!

Shortly thereafter, the Dragon Slash Platform reemerged in a secluded area of the Gray Domain.

Whirlpools of starry energy churned violently ahead, the storm brimming with a powerful force capable of annihilating life. At the heart of these tumultuous whirlpools, a massive pale golden star emerged, radiating an extraordinary divine light.

"This place is much larger than the Boundless Great World, more than tenfold! Unfortunately, without a natural barrier, any weak beings that settle here will quickly turn into mutated monsters, if they manage to survive at all."

Yu Yuan, observing from the shadows, murmured to himself before his ears caught the anguished cries of the Nagas.

Dragons of the Ninth and Eighth Levels poured out from Dragon Island, hoping to glide through the cosmos and rapidly evolve their lineage with the aid of Zhong Chichen and Loong Jie. Instead, they found themselves bound by talismans that suppressed their dragon blood, constantly lashed by the laws of the Dao.

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