C1763 The Eyes in the Darkness!

Tan Xiaotian has returned to the Everlands!

Those unfamiliar with the Ashlands were clueless about what had befallen Tan Xiaotian, who vanished alongside Youyu and others.

Subsequently, Youyu and Xuanli gradually made their way back, yet Tan Xiaotian remained conspicuously absent.

Even when Han Miaoyuan was sought out by Yu Yuan and the Nine Palaces Array was breached, there was still no sign of Tan Xiaotian.

The heads of the various sects were aware that Han Miaoyuan could send messages to the human race's highest echelons through the Nine Palaces Array, summoning them back to the Everlands as needed.

So why, when Lin Daoke ventured alone to Ionodios, did Tan Xiaotian not show himself?

Few knew that after leaving the Ashlands, Tan Xiaotian had traveled to the City of Light in the Luminous Planet, where he was subdued by the formidable extraterrestrial powers of Cardo and Ballo.

Many speculated that the defiant Tan Xiaotian, possibly out of discontent with Han Miaoyuan, chose to wander in the extraterrestrial realms to evade conflict.

Yet now, Tan Xiaotian had unexpectedly come back. What intentions did he harbor by choosing this moment to return?

Uncertain of Tan Xiaotian's temperament and intentions, his reappearance caused a stir, with many keeping a vigilant eye on the Devil Palace for any shifts.

Whoosh!

In the pitch-black void, a pair of eyes, indistinguishable from the surrounding darkness, slowly materialized with the essence of Soul Power.

Since the eyes were the same hue as the darkness, and because the darkness was Tan Xiaotian's domain, they should have been imperceptible.

Across the entire Everlands, not even Zu Ann, the keeper of the Mirror of Fates, could discern the black pupils hidden within the depths of the dark.

This darkness was an extension of Tan Xiaotian himself. Once it manifested in the Everlands, not even Cardo of the Dawnbringers could glimpse the hidden tableau.

Yet Yu Yuan saw it.

Or more accurately, the eye within the darkness chose to reveal itself to Yu Yuan.

As the eye took shape, it seemed to lock gazes with Yu Yuan from within the Darkland, Tan Xiaotian's domain, radiating an aura of profound wisdom.

A wave of recognition washed over Yu Yuan.

"I'm back."

The voice emerged, a whisper heard only by Yu Yuan.

After the voice faded, the eyes in the darkness vanished, and the oppressive darkness that had shrouded the northern part of the Land of Quiescence receded like a retreating tide, flowing into Tan Xiaotian's Ebon Meditation Mat.

Whoosh!

A blazing column of heavenly fire shot from the Ruby Hand towards the Devil Palace, transforming into Qin Luo.

"Welcome back!"

Qin Luo, the Sect Master of the Ruby Hand, watched as Tan Xiaotian leisurely straightened his long black hair and greeted him with a smile, "Everlands has been in utter chaos in your absence. Without you, I've been like a ship without a rudder."

He had secured a divine seat largely due to Tan Xiaotian's strong endorsement, which left him feeling deeply indebted to Tan Xiaotian.

In Qin Luo's heart, Tan Xiaotian's favor weighed heavier than that of Han Miaoyuan, and he was more inclined to heed Tan Xiaotian's advice—even though Tan Xiaotian's actions were often unpredictable.

"What's got everyone so panicked?"

Tan Xiaotian hovered high above the Devil Palace, casting a stern glance at the dark adepts below. The eager-to-speak Unbound cultivators suddenly fell silent.

They had intended to inform Tan Xiaotian that Han Miaoyuan had departed the Everlands and that Yu Yuan, representing the Boulderdawn, was acting with impunity. They hoped Tan Xiaotian would resume control.

Their anxiety had been palpable, but upon confirming Tan Xiaotian's presence, a sense of calm washed over them.

With Tan Xiaotian's return, as long as he remained in the Devil Palace, there seemed little to fear.

"I'm concerned that the Everlands will succumb to internal conflict," Qin Luo said with a wry smile.

"Is Han Miaoyuan dead?" Tan Xiaotian asked, his lips curling slightly.

Qin Luo paused, then answered, "No."

"Has Lin Daoke died?"

"No."

"Have I died?"

"No!"

"Then what's there to worry about?"

Following this rapid exchange, the cultivators from the Devil Palace, the Ruby Hand, and the nearby sects and forces—even those on the extraterrestrial moon monitoring the Devil Palace—found themselves inexplicably reassured.

Indeed, with the strongest sword Lin Daoke still among the living, the human leader Han Miaoyuan still breathing, and Tan Xiaotian, who had expanded the Everlands and secured additional Divine Thrones, very much alive, there was no reason for despair.

What was there to fear in the Everlands?

The highest authority of Shadow's Keep had arrived with a multitude of archdemons and alien beasts. It was a clear invasion of the Sky Fiend's domain, stirring up a storm of bloodshed under the stars.

Yu Yuan, along with the other titans of Boulderdawn, were integral to the Everlands, weren't they?

With the formidable Demon God Bertain, who had given all the mighty in the Everlands such headaches, now in the Abyss due to the Origin Deity, surely we were entering a golden age.

What cause was there for alarm?

It was the Otherkin from beyond who should be worried!

"Yu Yuan."

Tan Xiaotian's voice boomed across the Dragon Slaying Stage.

"Congratulations on your escape."

Yu Yuan, perched atop the Dragon Slaying Stage, gazed at the receding darkness of the Devil Palace, unable to spot the fleeting eye. He pondered the whereabouts of the stranger who had arrived with Tan Xiaotian.

"Zu Ann, have Mo Baichuan keep an eye on President Lyi within the Earthfire," he communicated telepathically to Zu Ann.

Zu Ann's face took on a hint of concern. "What's the matter?"

"The shroud of darkness that enveloped Tan Xiaotian was transported here through space magic. The darkness concealed the space magic, which is why you didn't notice it earlier. Whoever sent Tan Xiaotian back must be intimately familiar with the Everlands' Translocation Circles, and it's likely they're also responsible for the space blade that attacked Shadow's Keep."

"Who is it?"

"It's Jihui from Boulderdawn. Since his fall into the Abyss, it's unclear where his allegiances lie. I'm concerned that he's after President Lyi because of the Origin Deity within him, as both he and the Origin Deity are Evil Gods from the Abyss."

Upon hearing this, Zu Ann's heart raced, and without another question, he took to the winds.

It was one thing for Soul-Capturing to have returned within Denise, but how was Jihui, long thought dead, still alive? And why return now, of all times?

And to return alongside Tan Xiaotian!

Even Zu Ann, who had ascended to the highest ranks, felt his thoughts in disarray. The turmoil in the Everlands was far beyond his expectations, and there were too many unknowns. It seemed inevitable that these tensions would eventually ignite.

"I don't need you to tell me the location of the Origin Gate anymore."

Tan Xiaotian arrived on his Ebon Meditation Mat. His flight from the Devil Palace to the Dragon Slaying Stage cast a shadow over the faces of Jun Chen, Shi Jing'er, Feng Zhong, and the rest, deepening their expressions with concern.

Yin Tiehua of the Artifact Sect, along with the siblings Senior Sister Hu Po and Senior Brother Hu Po, were equally plagued by headaches.

"The Demon Lord..."

Yuan Lianyao, Zhou Cangmin, Zhang Guanyu, Tong Laoqian, and others who were on good terms with Yu Yuan and Han Miaoyuan were startled by Tan Xiaotian's bold move.

Was Tan Xiaotian about to take action on behalf of Han Miaoyuan?

Over the years, Tan Xiaotian had a reputation for being unreliable in many aspects, but his combat prowess was unquestionably dependable!

Before Lin Daoke came into his own, Tan Xiaotian was already renowned as the bravest and most skilled warrior, notorious for his love of battle and his proficiency in it. Yet, often Han Miaoyuan couldn't even persuade him to lend a hand.

However, when the survival of the Everlands was at stake, he was sure to make an appearance—like right now.

"I know you've already found your own way."

Yu Yuan remained vigilant, knowing that the Everlands were not the Ashlands. Until he could discern Tan Xiaotian's motives, he maintained his caution and summoned the Titanblade.

His Solar Spirit, stationed far in the Ashlands, was also quietly preparing to join the fray.

Given that Jihui had returned with Tan Xiaotian, it was clear that Tan Xiaotian's liberation was somehow connected to Jihui.

Jihui, having chosen to descend into the Abyss, was well-versed in its dark powers, which had long been missing a true leader—someone like Tan Xiaotian to claim the throne of the Dark Deity.

Had Jihui extended an invitation to Tan Xiaotian, promising to guide his soul to the Abyss to rally those beings who had delved into the darkness?

Could it be that these two had formed an alliance?

The more Yu Yuan pondered, the more plausible it seemed, prompting him to exercise even greater caution.

"Heh, even the Lunar Meridian has its day."

The Demon Lord arrived above the Dragon Slaying Stage without a glance downward, yet he was acutely aware of the unfolding events.

"Greetings, Lord Demon Lord!" Cao Jiaze quickly bowed in respect.

As Tan Xiaotian approached, the three great Ghost Kings were already plotting their escape.

Tan Xiaotian harbored no fondness for Youyu, for during his battles in the extraterrestrial realms, Zhu Zhenlin—a peer of the highest echelon within the Devil Palace—had been slain by Youyu. Bearing allegiance to Youyu, they couldn't help but feel terror and unrest in Tan Xiaotian's presence.

Besides them, numerous ghosts, having returned from various regions of the Everlands, found themselves thwarted by the Dragon Slaying Stage, unable to penetrate the Land of Terror to bolster the Lunar Meridian.

Devoid of the protective five-colored halos around their spirited bodies, the enslaving soul marks of the Lunar Meridian remained, driving them to frantically collide with the Dragon Slaying Stage.

Even as their souls shattered, they persisted in their mindless assault.

"Pitiful ants," Tan Xiaotian remarked with a shake of his head and a bizarre chuckle. The Ebon Meditation Mat beneath him roiled and, in a surprising turn, devoured the hapless ghosts.

Yu Yuan's gaze turned grim as he sensed a spatial vortex within his own Ebon Meditation Mat.

The consumed ghosts appeared to be sucked into the spatial vortex within the Ebon Meditation Mat, only to be instantly transported elsewhere.

It was highly probable that they had been delivered to Jihui, the harbinger of darkness.

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