C1762 The Return of the Demon Lord!

In the vastness of outer space, the Brilliance Starfield shimmered with activity. Space Light Blades, bright and numerous, cascaded like a flurry of snowflakes upon the ever-moving City of Light.

Above Pei Yuling, the Void Mirror floated majestically, casting a sea of Space Light Blades from its reflective surface. With each rip and sizzle, the surrounding void was shredded, preventing the glow of nearby stars and celestial bodies from piercing through to the City of Light.

The blades descended upon the grand City of Light, dissecting the luminous arrays etched deep within its walls and stone slabs. The arrays, once spread throughout the city, now twisted and contorted under the influence of the Space Light Blades, exposing vulnerabilities in the once-flawless light array.

In that moment, Tan Xiaotian, having sensed the disturbance, burst into triumphant laughter. "Haha, you two didn't see this coming, did you? Even I, Tan Xiaotian, have allies!"

"Human!"

"Pei Yuling!"

Barol and Cadorath's voices echoed from within the City of Light. Above Pei Yuling, within the depths of the Void Mirror, an eye brimming with wisdom took shape. The Space Edges moving throughout the City of Light seemed to gain an even more mystical quality from this insightful gaze.

The light array, a masterpiece crafted by the Bright Clan's strongest, using divine gold and secret treasures, came to an abrupt halt. In an instant, the City of Light's brilliance waned.

During that brief dimming, a dark sea as black as ink surged forth from the City of Light. It quickly took form, revealing Tan Xiaotian, his black hair cascading down to merge with his Dark Cushion below.

Surveying the spatial rifts and Pei Yuling's forced laughter, he shook his head. "It's not you."

"It's me."

With a single word, the wise eye in the Void Mirror left the Demon Lord astounded, then chuckling in agreement.

"Time to go!"

With a nonchalant step, Tan Xiaotian slipped into a spatial rift. Enveloped in the Void Mirror's glow, Pei Yuling vanished into another rift, departing from the scene.

No sooner had they left than the light array sprang back to life. Infinite radiance spread across each micro array, mending the torn fabric of the void with swift precision.

The sun, moon, and stars cast their light upon the City of Light once more, as if nothing had ever changed. Yet, every member of the Bright Clan was well aware that Tan Xiaotian, who had been held down in the City of Light due to external forces, had at last managed to break free.

...

The Demon Region, one of the Starry Forbidden Grounds.

Han Miaoyuan, absent for some time, stood at the entrance of the Demon Region, the Profound Dao Flag in hand. He did not rush in; instead, he seemed to be waiting for something—or someone.

After a considerable wait, Han Miaoyuan offered a knowing smile to the unexpectedly arriving Youyu, "I just knew you would come looking."

"Han Miaoyuan!"

Youyu was taken aback, not having anticipated that Han Miaoyuan, the human race's leader, would be waiting at the very entrance to the Demon Region he had so painstakingly located.

"If you could deduce that the Yin Meridian originated from the Demon Region, then naturally, I could too."

Han Miaoyuan casually stroked his beard, seemingly unfazed by the turmoil in the Realm of Vast Water. He felt no shame in his strategic retreat. "To witness the Yin Meridian and the Divine Soul Sect at odds, and to see Shehun descend upon the Realm of Vast Water, my withdrawal has served its purpose. If I had stayed, Shehun might not have been so decisive in making an appearance."

Youyu kept his silence.

"You, on the other hand, have truly surprised me," Han Miaoyuan continued, still smiling. "You, Youyu, ascended to a ghost god with its aid, yet you've been cautiously guarding against it. You've not only secretly investigated its origins but also discovered this place. Could it be that you knew it didn't belong to the Realm of Vast Water thousands of years ago?"

Youyu remained mute.

"Well, it doesn't matter anymore," Han Miaoyuan said with a shake of his head and a frown. "Let's proceed. I too shall enter the Demon Region. I intend to uncover its origins and background. Moreover, the integrity of the Realm of Vast Water's soul reincarnation cycle must not be disrupted by it. Should it fail, Youyu, you must be ready to step in!"

Youyu finally spoke up, his voice icy, "For this, I have been preparing for tens of thousands of years."

Han Miaoyuan's eyes sparkled as he chuckled, "Nice one, Youyu!"

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Simultaneously, the two of them dove into a tiny speck of void dust, entering the Demon Realm—one of the Starry Forbidden Grounds. The Demon Realm was the true homeland of the Yin Meridian.

...

Atop the Dragon Slash Platform, which spanned the entirety of Horror Land, an unexpected visitor arrived.

"I've located the newly opened Outer Sword Prison beyond the heavens."

Zu Ann hovered half a meter above the Dragon Slash Platform, resembling an ancient immortal stepping out from a mythical painting. He hadn't brought the Skywatch Mirror with him, yet he was well aware of the soul battle raging deep beneath the earth.

"We can postpone that matter," Yu Yuan said with a smile.

He was confident that Lin Daoke and Shehun would face no mortal danger before the decisive battle in the Plover Realm.

"I understand," Zu Ann nodded, glancing at Cao Jiaze before adding, "I'm still uneasy about Han Miaoyuan. The old fox has never been bested so thoroughly. He didn't give his all in the fight with you, and then he vanished without a trace. I suspect he's up to something behind the scenes."

"If he's out of sight, our worrying won't help," Yu Yuan remarked.

As they conversed, Cao Jiaze of the Profound Sky Sect interjected with an embarrassed look, "Hey, hey, hey, could you please refrain from speaking ill of my sect master in front of me?"

"He's committed his fair share of misdeeds," Zu Ann retorted with a cold huff.

"He did it for the people of the Vast Expanse!" Cao Jiaze defended.

"Perhaps not," Zu Ann countered, shaking his head.

In that instant, the Skywatch Mirror at the summit of Ascension Peak burst into a brilliant glow, as if it had detected a trace of something.

"He's finally shown himself!"

Zu Ann was instantly invigorated. With a mere thought, the images of Han Miaoyuan and Youyu, as revealed by the Skywatch Mirror, flooded his mind.

"Han Miaoyuan and Youyu have both arrived at the entrance of the Demon Realm. After a brief exchange, they set off into the Demon Realm together!"

Zu Ann didn't shy away from discussing matters in front of Cao Jiaze or the three Ghost Kings. He expressed his confusion, "The Demon Realm appears to be the actual source of the Yin Meridian. Han Miaoyuan seems eager for the Divine Soul Sect to strike at the Yin Meridian, hoping to permanently eliminate this hidden danger."

"Demon Realm!"

Upon hearing these words, the spirits of Chu Ling, Luo Yue, and Qianjie trembled intensely. The term "Demon Realm" seemed to exert a mysterious pull on them, even exerting a certain level of control, stirring both excitement and fear within them.

They were unclear about the reason, and although this was their first encounter with the term, it felt eerily familiar.

"It looks like the Yin Meridian has imprinted something about this term deep within your souls."

After a quick glance at the three Ghost Kings, Zu Ann surmised the truth. He then inquired, "Yu Yuan, after the conflict with the Yin Meridian is resolved, who will govern the cycle of reincarnation for all living creatures in the future?"

"Youyu," Yu Yuan replied.

Zu Ann immediately felt reassured and nodded in agreement, "Youyu is the right choice. Even though she's part of your Divine Soul Sect, I'm not entirely comfortable with her controlling the great power of soul reincarnation."

"She won't often be present in the cycle of all living creatures," Yu Yuan assured.

"That's a relief!"

Zu Ann's anxiety subsided. He was concerned that Shehun, if victorious, might settle in the deep underground pool and meddle with the path of soul reincarnation for all living creatures.

"Devil Lord!"

Zu Ann's face turned pale as he looked toward the Devil Palace in alarm. He saw an impenetrable darkness enveloping the north of the Quietus Continent like a colossal hand.

Tan Xiaotian had returned!

Before Han Miaoyuan departed to battle Yu Yuan beyond the heavens, he had warned Zu Ann that if either Lin Daoke or Tan Xiaotian returned, his divine position would be shattered.

"This is sooner than I anticipated."

Yu Yuan faced the north, his brow furrowing as he murmured, "There's a surge of spatial energy within the darkness. Tan Xiaotian isn't known for his mastery of spatial forces, so whose growing spatial power could this be?"

The moment the thought crossed his mind, he glimpsed an eye taking shape within the shadows, visible through the Dragon Slash Platform.

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