C1784 Tyria Main Planet

The fragmented Voodoo Charm, resembling a kite torn asunder, dangled above Ji Ningshuang's head. Wisps of icy Soul Power seeping from her mind further shattered the charm into tinier fragments, severing all ninety-six miraculous Soul Nexus associated with the Lunar Meridian.

Bathed in the chill moonlight, the Sword Sect's newly ascended Supreme Elder exhibited a formidable power that commanded universal awe.

Alone, with her sword, she pacified the overwhelming disaster of the Voodoo Shade.

Her detached and icy demeanor suggested she was an ascetic immortal, indifferent to the mundane world.

In that instant, numerous formidable figures gazed upon her with reverence, their admiration tinged with envy towards Yu Yuan.

Since Hong Qi's era, the aloof Grand Sword Immortal had harbored a deep, unwavering affection for Yu Yuan.

And it persisted to this day.

Despite Yu Yuan's reincarnation as part of Boulderdawn, and despite their conflicting allegiances, the resolute Stardust Blade had always shielded him upon recognizing his true identity.

Ji Ningshuang's partiality towards Yu Yuan was an open secret among the older generation of cultivators, and now the younger ones were witnessing it firsthand.

They were undeniably envious.

"Do you have a problem with me?"

Ji Ningshuang's icy gaze fell upon Xuanli as she casually gripped her sword's hilt and arched an eyebrow, "Is it because I've slain many from your Bloodbrawlers?"

Xuanli gave a wry smile, "No, it's not because of that."

Silence hung as Ji Ningshuang waited for him to elaborate.

"The sword spell you've mastered seems to suppress both me and Youyu. Our Mind Magic, largely tied to the Lunar Meridian and the arcane secrets brought from the Wraithlands, appears to be..."

Xuanli sighed heavily, reluctant to concede that even the cultivators of his Bloodbrawlers and the divine Youyu might be overpowered by Ji Ningshuang in the future.

Involuntarily, his mind wandered to ancient battles against the frost wyrm, where many Voodoo Shades and venomous insects he commanded were frozen into dust and ice shards mid-assault.

Could it be that the vast and icy expanse of the Everlands inherently limits the Spirit Magic at the Root of the Lunar Meridian?

Otherwise, why would the Dragon Slaying Stage still be able to suppress the highest echelons of necromancy even after the burial site of the frost wyrm? Why couldn't the Bloodbrawlers produce a supreme power?

"Alright."

Yu Yuan offered a serene smile. As he watched the fragmented Voodoo Charm slowly fade away, he extended a hand to Ji Ningshuang atop the Dragon Slaying Stage. "Join me on a trip to the Serpent Spine Mountains. Once we've dealt with Jiang Xingwen, we can depart the Everlands."

He saw potential in Ji Ningshuang!

Her grasp of the Way of Frost might just garner the favor of the Extreme Frost deep within the Primal Blood Continent, potentially unlocking the secrets of its highest order.

This subterranean chill was one that even the Demon God Bertain found insurmountable.

Now, with the power of the Everlands' frost sealing her divinity, Ji Ningshuang had gained insight into the frost wyrm's icy might. After honing her skills in the Dark Realm, she could counter the Lunar Meridian's influence in the Wraithlands.

Should Ji Ningshuang once again tap into the Extreme Frost of the Primal Blood Continent, wouldn't her power become even more formidable?

He harbored no concerns about what might happen after Ji Ningshuang mastered the ultimate frost force. He knew their bond was unshakeable.

His Solar Spirit and Ji Ningshuang would forever remain close.

"Hmm."

The icy figure returned to the Dragon Slaying Stage.

Xuanli looked up to see the stage bathed in a spectrum of light, leaving the domain of the Bloodbrawlers behind.

Only after the pair had vanished did Yuan Qingxi, Lianjing, Lin Tianming, and the other cultivators emerge from their hiding places.

"Is the Ghost Tide over just like that?"

Yuan Qingxi approached Xuanli, his eyes scanning the multitude of frozen corpses before resting on the Unbound cultivator. "Lord Xuanli, when Ji Ningshuang drew her sword, I felt an intense stabbing pain in my soul. And when the Voodoo Charm broke, my spirit was in such agony it nearly split apart."

"Me too!" Lianjing exclaimed with surprise.

"We..."

A few Bloodbrawler cultivators, still shaken, approached Xuanli to share their harrowing experiences.

After a moment of reflection, Xuanli revealed, "To be frank, the cold-hearted girl's mastery of the Way of Frost could likely suppress us. But once Youyu returns from his extraterrestrial journey, he should be able to resist her rule. Youyu is no longer like us—he's different!"

"He is destined to transcend the Lunar Meridian and achieve a unique form of greatness!"

...

In the Serpent Spine Mountains.

Yu Yiyi perched atop the dark cauldron, squinting at Jiang Xingwen, who was wailing in despair. Disgust deepened in her eyes as she listened to Jiang's muffled murmurs.

"She's beyond saving."

Xuan Ge, with a furrowed brow, reflected on the cultivators lost to Jiang Xingwen's actions. Gazing at the soulless remains, he declared, "Her thoughts have been corrupted by the Lunar Meridian's poison, her soul tarnished. Moreover, as long as she lives, she could continue to unleash a Voodoo Shade catastrophe."

Gao Qin remained silent, offering only a solemn nod in agreement.

Whoosh!

The Dragon Slaying Stage reappeared.

"You monster! Both of you are fiends!"

A deranged Jiang Xingwen pointed accusingly at Yu Yuan and Ji Ningshuang, cursing them as Ghoul Glyphs attempted to form on her once-beautiful face.

"She's nothing but a Voodoo Charm, the trigger for all other Voodoo Charms. She was meant to set herself ablaze after each cultivator was turned," Ji Ningshuang assessed coldly, and without seeking consent, she struck Jiang Xingwen with her sword.

The sword light penetrated Jiang Xingwen's brow.

The Voodoo Charm that had tried to manifest on her face vanished as her spirit shattered, silencing her curses and grotesque behavior.

Yu Yiyi playfully stuck out her tongue before quickly withdrawing into the Crucible of Evil, suddenly appearing much more docile.

"Please continue to watch over the Yu family for me."

Yu Yuan gazed towards Thylethlume, where the hopeful figure of the elder and the presence of his parents filled his view, yet he chose not to return home this time.

Xuan Ge declared with solemnity, "This task was entrusted to me by President Shi! Rest assured, as long as I draw breath, I will not permit anyone to breach the Yu family's defenses!"

"Much appreciated."

Yu Yuan offered a smile and a respectful bow, then seized the Crucible of Evil and soared toward the Moonfall Sanctuary aboard the Dragon Slaying Stage.

"I wouldn't presume to!"

...

"He's gone."

Perched atop a crimson meteorite outside our world, Qin Luo of the Ruby Hand gazed at Lingxu, his divine visage riddled with holes from the piercing starlight, and cautioned, "Until Mr. Han returns, put aside thoughts of vengeance or returning to the Everlands."

"Huanmiao is dead," Lingxu stated blankly.

While Yu Yuan, Jihui, Tan Xiaotian, and Ji Ningshuang were locked in a standoff, and Ji Ningshuang was quelling the Voodoo Shade surge, Lingxu and Huanmiao were being hunted across the starry expanse by powerful cultivators from the Chamber of Commerce, including Jun Chen, Zhou You, Feng Zhong, Tong Laoqian, and others.

Qin Luo had been observing dispassionately.

It wasn't until he witnessed Yu Yuan, Ji Ningshuang, Liu Ying, and Denise vanish into the Moonfall Sanctuary that he finally intervened, rescuing Lingxu in the nick of time.

Had he hesitated any longer, the head of the Ethereal Void Sect might have met the same fate as Huanmiao.

"You're still alive, and the Ethereal Void Sect's foundation remains intact. What more could you ask for?"

Qin Luo scoffed, pointing toward a section of the Euwrea Continent. "The Abyssal Dawn Sect has been annihilated; all its disciples transformed into Voodoo Shades, and Ji Ningshuang has slain them all. And what of the Bloodbrawlers, the Sundering Isles, and Winter's Bite? How many cultivators have perished in this disaster?"

"Huanmiao is dead, yet you live. You should count yourself fortunate."

Lingxu, his Divine Visage shattered by Jun Chen and facing potential downfall if not promptly restored, refused to resign himself to fate and retorted fiercely, "I will not rest until I've settled this score."

"As you wish."

Qin Luo gestured dismissively, implying Lingxu was free to do as he pleased, "Just remember, don't rashly return to the Everlands. If Jun Chen and his ilk decide to kill you there, with Zu Ann watching, even I can't save you."

Lingxu stormed off, clearly not heading toward the Everlands.

"At least he knows his place," Qin Luo grumbled.

...

In the Ashlands on the main planet of Tyria, Zhong Chichen, the Seven-Colored Dragon, stood before a colossal archway. Divine and immortal radiance spilled forth, enticing the nearby dragons to greedily swallow the light.

Clang! Crack!

The archway shook and gradually parted, revealing a deep crimson hue.

"Rainbow Sage!"

Loong Jie, resembling a winding golden mountain range, gazed at the blood-red light seeping through the gap and couldn't hide his shock. He bellowed, "That's the scent of the Dark Deity's flesh!"

Zhong Chichen nodded gravely, "The great battle has commenced. Its ferocity surpasses all expectations. The outcome remains uncertain."

"Yu Yuan?"

Loong Jie's voice dropped to a whisper when he uttered the name, his tone laced with caution.

The dragons nearby, who had been scavenging the divine glow by the arch, cast wary glances around at the mention of that name.

Here in the Ashlands, under his tight grip, even speaking his name might be overheard by him.

"He made a trip to the Everlands. Judging by the time, he should be returning soon."

A chill spread across Zhong Chichen's face, frustration and helplessness evident in his demeanor. "Since he took the Dragon Slaying Stage, the Solar Spirit he left behind in the Ashlands isn't able to traverse space at will. Nonetheless, we must keep one thing in mind—the Dark Phoenix is the sworn enemy of our Naga race! We must prevent her from obtaining the Primal Blood at all costs!"

"My esteemed senior brother, your profound sense of duty brings me great comfort!"

A streak of blood-red light drifted in, materializing into Yu Yuan's Solar Spirit Body. He glanced at the arch and his face darkened as he exclaimed, "Why is it the blood of Green Willow and Yu Zhu?"

​