C1761 The Separation of Worlds
Youyu's Path into Shadow was forged by the power of the Lunar Meridian, for which he was naturally thankful. However, when he discovered that the Lunar Meridian was covertly communicating with the Origin Deity within President Lyi's body and desired the voluntary surrender of the soul stone, Youyu withdrew to the Star River beyond our world.
He had no desire to become entangled in the affair, nor did he wish to become an adversary of the Lunar Meridian, leaving him no choice but to flee. Under the guise of purifying the souls of Luo Yue and others, he clandestinely imbued his own strange power into the spirited bodies of those servants who had remained steadfastly loyal to him. Any ghost cleansed by him and secretly endowed with his power could withstand the call of the Lunar Meridian.
The array of enchantments, illusions, and defenses against psychic assaults were derived from the theurgy innate to the Mirage of the Mind, which Youyu had clearly mastered. It was only through the use of Mind Magic, independent of the Lunar Meridian, that he could oppose it and ensure that his devoted followers would not be sent to their doom. Youyu had truly succeeded!
"We..."
Razses and Taruer, enveloped in a radiant, multicolored aura, approached Luo Yue in a daze, having overheard her revelations. The two Ghost Kings struggled to accept the clandestine actions of the Root of the Lunar Meridian. Their spirited bodies were momentarily paralyzed with shock.
The Lunar Meridian, revered by them as divine, was secretly engaging with an entity from the Abyss, even expecting Youyu to willingly present the soul stone. What could its intentions be?
"Our Sect Master once said that it doesn't belong to the Everlands; it has always been an extraterrestrial entity," Cao Jiaze remarked darkly upon hearing Luo Yue's words. "It has become indispensable, tied to the cycle of reincarnation for all beings in the Everlands. Everyone fears that any harm to it would upset the balance of souls here, leaving us no choice but to tolerate its presence and continue our coexistence within the Everlands."
"An extraterrestrial entity?!" The three Ghost Kings were increasingly astounded. They had never dared to contemplate such matters, nor had anyone ever disclosed these secrets to them.
The Lunar Meridian, revered by the Bloodbrawlers as their origin, turned out to be an extraterrestrial anomaly?
"It has taken root in the Soul Swamp, connected to the souls of all beings in the Everlands, drawing power to sustain itself. It..."
Cao Jiaze felt a tremor of realization. He suddenly recalled the Mind Magic he had mastered, along with the Boulderdawn's Taiyin, and a revelation dawned on him.
The Taiyin God-King had once merged with the Primal Soul deep underground, ascending to great heights. Had the Nagas not posed a threat, wouldn't they have inevitably become adversaries?
Cao Jiaze was acutely aware of its desires and schemes.
Taiyin, as the voice of the Primal Soul, was well aware of the existence of an oddity like the Lunar Meridian beneath the earth and knew its intentions. It was clear that a confrontation was inevitable.
However, at that time, the Nagas' reign of terror posed a greater danger, prompting the decision to eliminate them first.
It was later discovered that the Bloodbrawlers' two Primordial Spirits had been suppressed by the frost wyrm and the Chronowyrm, leading to the demise of Youyu, Xuanli, and the founding Terra Fiends.
"The time has come to address this lingering threat."
Yu Yuan also expressed a sense of urgency, as long-buried memories surfaced, stirring something within him.
After the fall of the Dragon Clan, he had intended to honor his promise to help Youyu and Xuanli reclaim their essence. He was even prepared to take action.
He was aware that the Lunar Meridian stood behind Youyu and Xuanli, an entity destined to become his adversary.
Yet, when he sought to implement his plan, he faced fierce opposition from Han Miaoyuan and Dark Phoenix. With a scarcity of divine thrones, reviving the two Bloodbrawlers meant one less for the Dark Deities, and the Primordial Spirits of the Sword Sect and Sunlit Order would be lost.
Those with vested interests naturally disagreed.
However, when Boulderdawn faced the onslaught of Han Miaoyuan and Dark Phoenix, it seemed to offer no assistance.
It opted for a detached observation.
Perhaps its dislike stemmed from the numerous underhanded tactics it employed in secret, as it had never truly and willingly allied with Boulderdawn.
The only one who had ever truly allied with Boulderdawn was Youyu.
"The Terra Fiend has betrayed us."
Razses, the Ghost King, sighed softly after receiving news from Yuan Qingxi. "Qiyan of the Defiled World seems to have been swayed by someone and no longer obeys him. Moreover, the ghost spirits that were meant to flow towards the Land of Terror have been intercepted by the Terra Fiend, diminishing its power."
"Terra Fiend..." Cao Jiaze was taken aback.
Yu Yuan, aware that the Terra Fiend was actually the Sky Fiend, instantly realized that Soul-Capturing's return, especially under the guise of the Sky Fiend, must have successfully swayed the Terra Fiends of the Everlands.
She was the daughter of Bertain, the embodiment of legitimacy!
All Terra Fiends born in the Everlands were originally pure Star-Spawned Terrors, members of the Primal Demon clan, before being tainted by the Lunar Meridian.
And the eternal patriarch of the Primal Demon clan was Bertain, their spiritual cornerstone!
"You are no longer needed in this battle."
Soul-Capturing's voice echoed in Yu Yuan's mind once more. She chuckled and said, "Youyu has surprised me. I underestimated this ancient leader. He not only grasps profound truths but also prepared a contingency in silence. Without those Ghost Kings, the Bloodbrawlers' champions, and the influx of more souls, the Lunar Meridian cannot stand against me."
"Because I am privy to all its secrets and the essence of its soul, while it knows nothing about me!"
Whoosh!
Dense clusters of purple Soul Power, too thick to dissipate, flowed into the silver-gray mist, seeping into the River Styx and igniting Denise's blood.
Her radiant blood instantly crystallized into amethyst-like Alien Planets, casting light upon the River Styx and the silver-gray mist.
Countless ghosts and spirits were reduced to ash in an instant.
"Help me conceal the skies over the Land of Terror. For the time being, ensure that neither the inhabitants of the Everlands nor the archdemons discover that I am a Star-Spawned Terror," she implored Yu Yuan with her final request.
Yu Yuan's face momentarily registered shock before subtly transforming as he hastily responded, "Alright!"
With a whoosh, the Dragon Slaying Stage dramatically expanded, covering the Land of Terror like a colossal lid. The soul perceptions of the Everlands' mighty could no longer penetrate the shroud over the Land of Terror.
In that instant, Soul-Capturing unleashed his full might. Below, a torrent of dense purple devil souls surged, unmistakably manifesting the presence of a Star-Spawned Terror!
The people and archdemons of the Everlands could come to terms with a God-King from Boulderdawn clashing with the Lunar Meridian, and even with Yu Yuan's own falling out with the Lunar Meridian. However, they would likely struggle to accept an extraterrestrial Sky Fiend launching an assault on the Lunar Meridian, the guardian of the Everlands' cycle of souls.
Despite Soul-Capturing being a native Sky Fiend of the Everlands and the Lunar Meridian being the foreign entity, ignorance bred misunderstanding. They perceived this as an invasion by the Sky Fiend, eroding the essence of the Everlands, potentially rallying all forces to converge on the Land of Terror.
The sect's ingrained doctrines and rules did not permit a Star-Spawned Terror to brazenly attack the native beings of the Everlands.
"We can't see anything either!" Razses, momentarily taken aback, soon realized that everyone was atop the Dragon Slaying Stage, which had transformed into a silver-white expanse, pressing down upon the Land of Terror.
Even as Ghost Kings, they struggled to peer through the Dragon Slaying Stage to witness the battle below.
"There's no need to strain yourselves looking. If you watch too closely, I fear you'll be dragged underground by the Lunar Meridian," Yu Yuan cautioned, glancing upward at the wall, noting that numerous cultivators on the moon were also observing the battle.
"The strength bestowed upon you by Youyu is not infinite; it cannot endlessly withstand the will of the Lunar Meridian's encroachment. The presence and separation afforded by the Dragon Slaying Stage will prevent the Lunar Meridian from continuing to enslave your souls. Trust in Lord Youyu; if he has made arrangements, it is surely with your best interests at heart."
"We trust in our lord!" Razses declared emphatically.
And so it was, at that very moment.
"The Dragon Slaying Stage has vanished from the Land of Terror!"
"The Land of Terror is gone!"
"We can't see or feel anything anymore!"
"..."
Many were exclaiming in terror. Members of the Skyreach Consortium, Ruby Hand, Devil Palace, Ebon Star, and Sunlit Order, particularly those with the ability to spy through magical items, as well as cultivators who had stealthily approached the area, were left stunned.
The majority of people were unaware of the Soul-Capturing entity. They believed that Yu Yuan was single-handedly attempting to transform the Land of Terror!
Wasn't Youyu his close friend?
Wasn't it Yu Yuan who had assisted Youyu in establishing his position as the God of Ghosts in the Land of Terror, using layers of power?
Why then did Yu Yuan meddle in the Land of Terror after Youyu's departure, compelling the will of the subterranean Lunar Meridian to summon Spectres, Celestial Shades, and ghosts for battle?
It was a mystery to everyone.
