C1764 A Stab from the Back!
Yu Yuan believed that Jihui's clandestine return was aimed at the Origin Deity deep within the Abyss, as both were Evil Gods of that realm.
However, Jihui and the Origin Deity appeared to hold differing philosophies, leading to some discord between them.
According to Awkwafina of the Shadowkin, the Origin Deity was well aware of the absence of a Dark Deity in the Abyss, and Tan Xiaotian was the prime candidate for the role.
Yet, the Origin Deity kept this information hidden, choosing not to inform the dark creatures of the Abyss or to entice Tan Xiaotian with this knowledge.
After transporting Tan Xiaotian and Youyu to the Ashlands, he merely exiled Tan Xiaotian to a confined little world, without disclosing the truth.
The self-serving Origin Deity feared that Tan Xiaotian, once in the Abyss, would become a Dark Deity revered by both worlds, thereby threatening his own status.
His plan was to amass enough power in this world first, to become unbeatable in the Abyss.
The Origin Deity aspired to emulate Bertain's dominance in the Abyss, to achieve absolute sovereignty over it.
Only after ensuring he could overpower all other Evil Gods, including the Dreadlord and Jihui, would he dare to welcome Tan Xiaotian, allowing for the existence of such a Dark Deity.
Regrettably, Bertain thwarted his grand designs.
Currently, the Abyss was in utter turmoil due to the arrival of the Demon God Bertain.
The bulk of the Origin Deity's power, upon returning to the Abyss, was likely focused on joining forces with the other Evil Gods to confront Bertain.
Although Jihui was an Evil God from the Abyss, his origins lay in the Everlands.
This God-King, once a sage, possessed a generosity and tolerance surpassing that of the Origin Deity, even persuading Pei Yuling to join his ranks.
He extended an olive branch to Tan Xiaotian, first aiding in his escape from the City of Light, then promising to elevate him to the supreme ruler of darkness across both realms.
Was this how he managed to sway Tan Xiaotian?
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
As Yu Yuan contemplated, more souls and ghosts from various places were devoured by Tan Xiaotian's Ebon Meditation Mat, silencing the three mighty Ghost Kings.
"Don't be afraid; I'm not like Youyu. That despicable Youyu took the opportunity to slaughter the vulnerable in my Devil Palace while I was away," Tan Xiaotian said, his words dripping with scorn. He gestured toward the Ghost King, bathed in a five-colored aura, and the Spectres and Celestial Shades who had sworn fealty to Youyu long ago, adding, "I merely seized the chance to claim some ghosts for myself. After all, they were destined to be sacrificed by the Lunar Meridian. Why not let me benefit instead?"
He paused, his tone chilling, "When I, Tan Xiaotian, seek vengeance, I go after your God of Ghosts, not indulge in a senseless massacre in his absence."
His commanding presence as a Devil Palace Lord was unmistakable.
With a whoosh, the Ebon Meditation Mat soared, circling above the Dragon Slaying Stage, hunting down distant ghosts and spirits.
The three great Ghost Kings clung to Yu Yuan in panic, fearing that getting too close to the unpredictable Tan Xiaotian might spell their doom.
Even a Ghost King, with combat prowess on par with an Unbound cultivator, stood no chance against a devilish force like Tan Xiaotian. The disparity in their strength was simply too vast.
"Youyu, having ascended to godhood through the Lunar Meridian's necromancy, has inevitably absorbed some of its devious essence. Maybe once the Lunar Meridian is no more, Youyu can shed this aspect. Frankly, I have little respect for him. Had he sought revenge against Zhu Zhenlin during my time in the Everlands, I might have admired him."
"I would have even refrained from intervening, allowing two supreme primordial spirits to battle it out, to determine life and death on their own."
"He's already stooped low by striking in my absence. Moreover, by involving innocents in his assault on Zhu Zhenlin, he's caused the deaths of numerous dark adepts within my Devil Palace!"
Tan Xiaotian's declaration resonated with all who heard it, prompting the cultivators above and within the Everlands to ponder deeply.
If I, Tan Xiaotian, acted like him and sought revenge in his manner, the three great Ghost Kings, the Skyblight Cult, and the Yu family would have been eradicated from the Everlands long ago!
Tan Xiaotian let out a cold snort.
"Comparatively speaking, I find your methods more admirable." He suddenly turned his gaze to Yu Yuan and then glanced toward Euwrea, saying, "You nearly wiped out all the cultivators of the Thunder Sect, yet when you struck, Wei Zhuo, who was at the highest level, was right there! Wei Zhuo was one level above you, but he couldn't stop you. Your attack was forthright."
"At the Ebon Star, when you shattered the Nine Palaces Array, you had the power to let those sword lights rain down, causing massive casualties in an instant. But you refrained from doing so because of Cao."
"You are far more honorable than Youyu!"
The Demon Lord's words were laced with scorn for Youyu, accusing him of sneakily attacking his dark adepts while he was away from the Everlands, influenced by the taint of the Lunar Meridian.
Yet, after his declaration, not even Luo Yue, Taruer, Youyu, or the other Ghost Kings could offer a rebuttal.
Because it was the truth.
"Zhu Zhenlin once practiced the arcane arts of the Bloodbrawlers. He was constantly at a disadvantage due to Youyu's restrictions. The fight was never fair from the start!" Tan Xiaotian huffed and looked down at the earth beneath him. "Moreover, with the Lunar Meridian's secret support, it's no wonder Zhu Zhenlin met his end. Yet, whether it was Han Miaoyuan or the individual from Shadow's Keep, they all seemed to forget that I was still out there, expanding the frontiers of the Everlands beyond our world. They just stood by and watched Zhu Zhenlin die!"
"So they don't care about showing me respect, huh? Haha!"
Crack!
Not too far away, the statue of the Dark Phoenix in the Shadow's Keep was overwhelmed by a barrage of spatial light blades. Pillars of purple demon energy were torn asunder.
Suddenly, a small black vortex appeared, and the ghosts devoured by Tan Xiaotian encircled a solitary black eye.
Black eyes drew Soul Power from the vortex, channeling it into the spatial light blades that shredded the statue of the supreme Dark Phoenix into fragments, grinding the purple feathers into a mix of light and dust.
The elegant purple phoenix, poised to soar into the heavens, finally burst apart.
Her real body, far away in the Dark Star Region, was locked in a contest with the Root of the Solar Meridian, the formidable Blood Fiends, and Reid's reinforcements. They sensed the disturbance at Shadow's Keep.
But she couldn't return.
Not only was she unable to return, but the link between her real body and Shadow's Keep was also weakening due to the attack on the purple phoenix statue, gradually severing the blood connection with the Everlands.
"Shadow's Keep!"
"Shadow's Keep is trembling, with sharp Rift Cutters appearing inside the hall!"
"Who is attacking Shadow's Keep?"
"It has to be Zhong Chichen, the Chronowyrm. He must have seized the opportunity to return amidst the chaos and strike at Shadow's Keep!"
Cultivators from all the major sects, along with the moon's valiant warriors, gazed in shock toward the northern reaches of the Land of Quiescence, toward the sacred site of the evilkind—Shadow's Keep.
"The Shadow's Keep is under attack!"
Yu Yuan's face showed utter astonishment. He hadn't anticipated that Jihui, who had arrived stealthily with Tan Xiaotian, would amass Soul Power and manipulate the Cosmic Order of the Everlands to strike at the statue symbolizing the supreme Dark Phoenix.
And it was Tan Xiaotian who had paved the way for him!
Without Tan Xiaotian's assistance, Jihui, the Evil God from the Abyss, could not have returned so silently, nor could he have bypassed the demon energy defenses surrounding Shadow's Keep.
Jihui's initial assault with the Rift Cutters failed to breach Shadow's Keep.
After all, like Ebon Star and Sword Sect, Shadow's Keep was protected by ancient Infernal Traps of the seventh level.
For Jihui to appear within the hall and target the statue of the purple phoenix, he must have had Tan Xiaotian's support!
"You should not be surprised."
Tan Xiaotian said nonchalantly, gesturing to make more ghosts uncontrollably descend onto his Ebon Meditation Mat. "Such deep-seated hatred cannot simply be forgotten with time. The valley at Skyreach Peak became his grave. He prided himself on his intelligence, yet he was outwitted and betrayed by those two."
"The humiliation etched in my Sacred Heart is something I'll never forget."
"Even if I'm cast into another world, even if I transform into an Evil God, I will settle this score. As for me, I can only confront those not of my kind. The old man and I are both human, so I won't assist you."
The Demon Lord disclosed his pact with Jihui.
He was aware that the Dark Phoenix sought to establish her own dominion by invading the Primal Blood Continent to escape the Everlands. Moreover, as a member of the evilkind, she aspired to become the King of the Monsters within the Star River. He was more than willing to betray the Dark Phoenix.
His disdain for the Dark Phoenix was no secret!
Previously, without any warning, the Dark Phoenix had launched an attack on the Sunlit Order and Yuwen Hao, which instantly enraged Tan Xiaotian. Disregarding Han Miaoyuan's attempts to dissuade him and the turmoil within the Everlands, he immediately retaliated against the Dark Phoenix.
Bearing a deep-seated grudge and now privy to the Dark Phoenix's plans, coupled with Jihui's enticing offer, Tan Xiaotian readily accepted the deal.
No matter the outcome of the Dark Phoenix's endeavors in the Dark Star Region, he would first aid Jihui, the God-King, in severing her ties to the Everlands!
He was determined to thwart the Dark Phoenix's easy return and her attempts to effortlessly harness the power of the Everlands through the blood of all beings!
