C1754 The One Who Provoked the Shadow's Keep

The Everlands were shrouded in darkness as deep as ink.

Crack!

A Rift Cutter that illuminated the entire Land of Quiescence struck the Shadow's Keep, causing the revered palace to suddenly display a web of dense cracks.

A majestic demon energy, suffocating even to the gods, emerged with a surge of dark purple flames, swiftly enveloping the Shadow's Keep.

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!

Seven more Rift Cutters, each more dazzling than the last, flew out from various space rifts, striking the Shadow's Keep.

Wrapped in purple flames, the Shadow's Keep trembled with a thunderous rumble, instilling fear and unease in all living beings.

Purple feathers, each imbued with a myriad of bloodline rules, fluttered out from the Shadow's Keep. Like enormous fans, they extinguished the Rift Cutters one by one.

Then, the mysterious space rifts healed rapidly.

No further Rift Cutters emerged from the fissures, nor did anyone else attack the Shadow's Keep.

It seemed like a test, a warning, or perhaps a challenge!

But who would dare provoke the Shadow's Keep?

Around the palace, the images of phoenixes, sacred elephants, and Astral Serpents came to life, pulsing with the thick flow of demonic blood.

The Python Queen, Xu Zixi, along with Zhao Yafu, Zhan Tianxiang, and other juniors who had cultivated the dark arts in human form, had not followed the pure evilkind to the Dark Star. Now, they were all assembled at the Shadow's Keep.

Their gazes were heavy, seemingly unable to come to terms with the attack on the Shadow's Keep, disbelieving the scene before them.

"Who could it be?"

Xu Zixi's remnant soul reached out, but she detected nothing.

The Skyreach Consortium, the Ruby Hand, the Devil Palace, and other sects and powers of the Land of Quiescence all fixed their eyes on the Shadow's Keep, echoing Xu Zixi's confusion.

Who could it be?

Who in the world would so boldly challenge the Shadow's Keep? Who would dare strike at this sacred place?

Moreover, with a Rift Cutter so resplendently lethal!

The Voidweaver perished in the Ashlands, and Rovi met his end deep within the core of the Everlands, slain by the combined forces of Youyu, Zhong Chichen, and Yu Yuan. The Origin Deity was driven back to the Abyss by the Great Demon God, Bertain.

In the vast expanse of the Star River, who could wield such a fearsome Rift Cutter?

Mastering space magic to such a degree, who else could be so versed in the space rules of the Everlands and harbor such deep-seated hatred for the Dark Phoenix?

A name emerged in the minds of all.

——The Chronowyrm, Zhong Chichen!

The Nagas loathed the Dark Phoenix for her ancient betrayal, for conspiring with the Boulderdawn, the Bloodbrawlers, and the Terra Fiend to subvert their kind.

Zhong Chichen's ability to eradicate the Origin Gate was a testament to his profound knowledge of the space rules of the Everlands. Moreover, he was the only one in the Star River who had attained such a pinnacle.

"There's no mistake. It has to be Zhong Chichen!"

"Are the Nagas finally making their move against the Dark Phoenix?"

"It makes perfect sense! After all, Zhong Chichen and Loong Jie have been intent on avenging themselves upon the Dark Phoenix from the start! In today's world, only Zhong Chichen could rip through the Everlands' space rift and unleash such a dreadful blade of spatial light against the Shadow's Keep!"

Countless people were convinced that the assailant was none other than the Chronowyrm, Zhong Chichen.

...

Within the Ebon Star sect.

In a floating palace, Cao Jiaze, whose realm had plummeted from Unbound to Solar Spirit due to the breach of the Nine Palaces Array, suddenly clutched his head and howled in agony.

Tears of blood streamed from his eyes and nose as he cried out, his visage one of utter despair.

Before long, he was unable to remain seated, contorting and rolling on the frigid stone floor in torment.

A vivid gash had opened on his forehead, as if an overwhelming will had pierced through, plunging deep into his soul.

His dominant soul had already retreated into his Solar Spirit, fragmented and dispersed among the nine Marks of the Celestials.

A chilling presence had taken hold of his Mindscape, submerging his Lunar Spirit and still seeking the traces of his dominant soul.

"Ze!"

Lin Yue burst in, finding Cao Jiaze on the ground, writhing in pain. He quickly stuffed a pill into his mouth, commanding, "Place it on your forehead!"

"Is this a poison pill?" Cao Jiaze shuddered.

Hiss!

Within the copper-colored pill, streaks of scarlet lightning crackled, unmistakably the Soulsear Bolt from the Tempest's Edge!

"It's working!" Lin Yue called out urgently.

Battling the throbbing pain in his mind, Cao Jiaze couldn't afford to hesitate. He quickly pressed the copper pill to his forehead.

Crackle!

Instantly, beams of the Soulsear Bolt burst forth from the pill, darting towards his Mindscape. They skillfully dodged his Lunar Spirit and eradicated the invading Frost Spirit remnants.

Curiously, the Soulsear Bolt emanating from the pill caused him no harm; it seemed to recognize his soul's essence.

After a short time, Cao Jiaze's excruciating headache ceased. His Lunar Spirit, once obscured by a chilling aura, was now clear once more.

His dominant soul, previously dispersed and concealed within the nine Marks of the Celestials, reconvened in his Mindscape.

With a pallid complexion, Cao Jiaze looked at Lin Yue, whose face was etched with concern. Taking a deep breath, he said, "The enemy aims to scour all traces within my dominant soul, particularly the aspects of my Spirit Magic practice, focusing on elements related to Boulderdawn."

"But..."

He paused momentarily, then added, "It's not Boulderdawn's method."

The Spirit Magic Han Miaoyuan had taught him blended teachings from both the Bloodbrawlers and Boulderdawn, designed to one day enable him to ascend to divinity through Mind Magic and thereafter engage with the Primal Soul beneath the earth.

Thus, had a Boulderdawn cultivator attempted to invade his Mindscape with their soul, he would have undoubtedly detected it.

"Right, I had my suspicions," Lin Yue said with a slight nod, seemingly unsurprised.

"Ah!" Cao Jiaze's expression shifted.

"The Sect Master anticipated this day might come, so he confided the pill's location to me in secret before departing the Everlands. He entrusted this information solely to me; no one else is aware. He also instructed me to keep an eye on you and to administer the pill should I notice anything amiss," Lin Yue explained.

Cao Jiaze grew increasingly astonished. "Who is the Sect Master guarding against?"

"Think about it carefully. Did you feel any familiarity with the aura that invaded your Mindscape? You've been to the Land of Terror before, and your Lunar Spirit has been tempered there. It left traces of its aura," Lin Yue prompted.

Cao Jiaze was taken aback, "It? How could it dare?!"

"Because the Sect Master avoided the battle with Yu Yuan, because Tan Xiaotian was trapped in the City of Light, because Dark Phoenix went to the Dark Star, because Lin Daoke was powerless to act."

Lin Yue gave a cold smile, looking towards the Land of Terror, and said, "It wants to uncover more secrets about the soul from the Spirit Magic the Sect Master taught you. Moreover, it seems to have encountered a formidable enemy in the extraterrestrial. It wants to master the techniques of the Boulderdawn to better know its enemy."

"The Boulderdawn is going to confront it?" Cao Jiaze was astonished.

"I've heard that it took over a tributary in Zekrica through Soul-Capturing. Youyu has been dispatched by it to operate in the Extraterrestrial Star River, apparently because other tributaries there are also facing difficulties," Lin Yue answered.

"This is incredibly complex," Cao Jiaze said, feeling overwhelmed.

...

At the Skyreach Consortium.

Shi Jing'er, Jun Chen, Zhou You, Feng Zhong, and others were assembled in a secret chamber. They were unanimous in their belief that the only one capable of challenging the Shadow's Keep was Zhong Chichen, as there was no other viable contender.

Whoosh!

The array that isolated sound and soul suddenly flared with light, startling the consortium's tycoons, who were clueless about who was attempting to spy.

Jun Chen's expression was icy. As he was about to expose the intruder, he caught a whisper of thought.

His demeanor softened, yet he maintained a stern face and let out a cold huff.

Shi Jing'er pinpointed the issue. Her anxiety vanished, and she softly announced, "Let's welcome Yu back in triumph!"

After returning to the Everlands with his true body, Yu Yuan, having landed safely, informed those in the secret chamber, "I've returned to retrieve Liu Ying's true body. I discovered the Starpierced in the Ashlands. I'm curious to see if Liu Ying is fortunate enough to obtain the Starpierced."

Returning to the Everlands in his real body, Yu Yuan quietly settled in and addressed the few people in the secret chamber, "I'm back to take Liu Ying's real body away. I found the Starpierced in the Ashlands, and I want to see if Liu Ying is fortunate enough to gain the favor of the Starpierced."

After he spoke, his gaze fell upon Jun Chen's face.

Jun Chen, slightly excited, asked, "Starpierced? The one naturally marked with the true essence of the stars, a genuine cosmic giant beast?"

Yu Yuan nodded with a smile.

"You've put some thought into this," Jun Chen remarked, the chill in his eyes thawing somewhat. However, he continued, "Duan Yisheng from the Starmoon Sect is still detained by the Sword Sect off-world. Aren't you going to do something about it?" He still harbored resentment towards Duan Yisheng and refrained from calling him father.

"The Sword Sect has assured us he'll be safe for now. As for the Sword Prison off-world, if they don't release him this time, it's likely to be breached once again," Yu Yuan replied earnestly. "I've promised Liu Ying and Mr. Tan that your father won't be harmed."

With that, Jun Chen held his peace.

"Liu Ying is indeed at the Skyreach Consortium. Thanks to your connection, Jun Chen, we've taken good care of her," Zhou You said, whisking his horsetail whisk and bowing slightly to Shi Jing'er. "I'll go and bring her over."

"Are the Nagas planning to strike at the Shadow's Keep?" inquired Shi Jing'er.

"Not at all," Yu Yuan assured.

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