C1805 Unfortunately There Were No Ifs

Majestic purple demonic energy surged from the wings of the Supreme Demon Phoenix, infusing the blood-red firmament within the world wall with its power. The once dark red sky gradually took on a light purple hue, casting the Origin Blood Continent below in a dreamlike and magnificent light.

The blood energy she had drawn coursed through her unparalleled Demon Body, seamlessly assimilating into her being. Once reintroduced into the world wall, the blood energy obliterated all traces of the Yang Meridian, supplanting the sealed Yang Meridian as the de facto ruler of the world wall.

Yu Yuan's influence was meticulously purged by her, leaving not a single mark. At that moment, Yu Yuan and the Great Demon Gods on the Origin Blood Continent suddenly felt cut off from the world beyond.

When Yu Yuan attempted to reach out to Jee Ningshuang, he discovered that his voice could not penetrate the now light purple world wall. The Demon Phoenix had sealed off this realm!

With a thunderous crash, the ice encrusting the outer layer of the world wall shattered into myriad crystals. These fragments transformed into beams of piercingly cold ice light, which were then devoured by the divine image of Jee Ningshuang.

In the blink of an eye, the Great Sword Immortal from the Sword Sect reverted to her natural form. Clutching the Starfrost Sword, she stood resplendent outside the light purple world wall, as if grasping a shimmering galaxy in her hand.

Looking down, she could see Yu Yuan's figure below, his mouth moving as if calling out to her. Yet, she could hear no sound.

Her demeanor remained serene. As she bathed in the icy radiance, the enigmatic laws of ice etched themselves within her unrevealed Yang God physique. Her gaze then shifted to the Desolate God standing close by. The Desolate God, the White Divine Tiger, and Lvliu—the three formidable Demon Gods—exchanged knowing looks, yet none made a move.

Jee Ningshuang, a paramount figure of the Vast Expanse and a Great Sword Immortal of the Sword Sect, had clearly drawn her sword to impede the Demon Phoenix's incursion. Despite this, the Demon Palace and the human faction led by Han Miaoyuan remained in an alliance, at least in name.

Furthermore, the Desolate God and Lvliu were not unwaveringly devoted to the Demon Phoenix. While they were willing to confront the Blood Devil Clan, they would not so readily comply if Jee Ningshuang were their target.

Ji Ningshuang, unable to return to the Origin Blood Continent after being separated by the power of the Demon Phoenix, stood outside the dreamlike purple barrier, remarkably unassailed by the Demon Gods.

"She's the enemy!"

In the depths of the shattered Ember Waters, Lim Zhuyun was enshrouded in demonic energy. The Totem Pillars that had sunk to the sea's depths now emerged in the configuration of the Ancient Fey Formation.

Seizing what she thought was an opportunity, she moved the Ember Waters next to the imposing Sky Tiger and pointed at the solitary Ji Ningshuang, saying, "Across this galaxy, she brandished her sword at the Hall Master. You all saw it. Before, it was she who thwarted the Hall Master. Shouldn't you take action?"

The Sky Tiger transformed into a rugged human man with tiger stripes furrowing his brow. He spoke with a frosty voice, "This is not your place to speak."

Old Ape flashed a mischievous grin, "Lvliu and I aren't part of the Demon Palace. We ventured to the Dim Starfield only because of her promise. But now, that young spinosaurus has nearly been flayed by her. I wonder if her promise can still be honored."

"Heh!"

Old Ape gestured towards Lvliu, "Yu Yuan and the Divine Soul Sect have invested heavily in his ascent to Demon God! I've always had a closer bond with the Divine Soul Sect. You naive girl, can't you see the lay of the land?"

"Ah, it's no surprise, no surprise at all that Yu Yuan looks down on you!"

As his words fell, Ji Ningshuang, wielding the Starfrost Sword, appeared in the Ember Waters like a phantom. With a few casual strokes of her blade, she encased the area in new ice.

The Demon Totem Pillars and the despairing Lim Zhuyun were instantly turned to ice crystals.

"Clearly, you don't know what's good for you."

Ji Ningshuang stood before the crystalline figure of Lim Zhuyun, gazing directly into her eyes, and spoke dispassionately, "You've lost all value. From the moment I entered the Dim Starfield and was favored by the extreme cold, your fate was sealed. Let me be clear, the extreme cold chose me, sought closeness with me, all because of Yu Yuan."

She stated the truth with an air of nonchalance, "I merely basked in his reflected glory."

"And you..."

Jee Ningshuang shook her head, "Had you truly become his fiancée, had you earned his recognition and trust, your life and destiny would have diverged completely from the moment you left Darkmoon. Perhaps, with the support of the Divine Soul Sect, you would have ascended to the supreme rank before me."

"Or maybe, shortly after your arrival in the Dim Starfield, you would have been selected by the extreme subterranean cold."

"Sadly, there are no what-ifs."

Amidst her despair and bitterness, under the barrage of Jee Ningshuang's mocking jeers, Lim Zhuyun shattered like an ice sculpture with a resounding crash.

She disintegrated into fragments of ice, which then mingled with the shards of the rare stone designed to mimic the Ember Waters.

Yu Yuan's fiancée was gone just like that, without leaving behind a single trace.

Twisted by hatred, she only recognized at the moment of her death that all her mistakes were of her own making.

The choices she made, the actions she willfully ignored, had all led her to drift further away from Yu Yuan.

Until her demise at the hands of the woman Yu Yuan had loved in a past life.

The Desolate God, Lvliu, the White Divine Tiger, and the Demon and Beast Kings all appeared indifferent to her death.

After all, she was human.

"A stubbornly foolish woman."

Jee Ningshuang huffed coldly amidst the swirling ice dust, alighting upon the barrier filled with demonic energy, contemplating her next move in the battle.

None of the Great Demons or Beast Kings retaliated for Lim Zhuyun's demise.

The Desolate God, Lvliu, and the Sky Tiger-like Demon Gods, for various reasons, did not strike her down. The Beast Kings beyond the heavens, not having broken through to the Tenth Level Bloodline, were powerless even if they had the will.

Unexpectedly, the Supreme Demon Phoenix within the barrier seemed unconcerned with Lim Zhuyun's death.

After enveloping the barrier in her deep purple demonic energy, her first act was to target Munch for elimination!

Her demonic gaze fixed on Munch, she declared, "You played a significant role in Qilin's grave injuries. Many Demon Kings under my command fell because of you. You've been cautious all these years, always lurking within the Dim Starfield, making you difficult to find."

As he spoke, Munch felt as though he had been struck by a massive force. His body abruptly became rigid, and the circulation of his demonic blood ceased.

The Supreme Demon Phoenix gently lifted her hand.

An invisible yet palpable power surged, enveloping Munch and lifting the eldest patriarch of the Blood Devil Clan into the air.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Behind Munch, colossal blood-colored demonic shadows materialized, taking the form of the Heaven Shaking Ape, warriors from the Silver Scale Clan, the Platinum Asura, and renowned Unrestrained Stage human experts.

Regrettably, as soon as they took shape, they were dissipated by a mere gesture from the Demon Phoenix, vanishing into nothingness.

Munch, suspended uncontrollably in midair, called out in desperation, his Devil Soul reaching out through his heart's Yang Meridian, seeking salvation from the Founder.

Yet, there was no answer to his pleas.

Boom!

Munch exploded into a shower of crimson light, but instead of plummeting to the ground, it flowed anomalously towards the purple barrier behind the expansive wings of the Demon Phoenix.

Yu Yuan's eyes flashed with an unusual light.

The desperate cries of Munch echoed in his heart, as if he had become the Founder of the Blood Devil Clan, hearing Munch's calls for help.

"Take this!"

The black cape that High Priest Reid had draped over himself now fell upon Flake of the Night Demon Clan, another Tenth Level Great Demon God. With a pained expression, Flake nodded slowly, understanding the gravity of the situation, "I got it."

The cape, a prized possession of Reid, was imbued with dark powers that Flake could harness.

Reid's actions signaled his readiness to fight to the bitter end. He removed the dark cape, a relic stripped from a former Demon Lord, entrusting Flake to unleash its full potential.

The Devil Soul and secret arts of the Night Demon Clan, combined with the cape, could at least give Flake a fighting chance to withstand the onslaught.

The gaunt figure of Reid, with demonic fire swirling in his eye sockets, watched as the sealed Origin Blood Continent became alive with Devil Souls emerging from every corner.

A staff, resembling a withered branch, was grasped in Reid's hands, aiding his soft incantations.

The myriad Devil Souls became vividly clear, revealing themselves to be the lost souls from the Dim Starfield, including those from the Mondnacht Clan, Crypt Clan, Fire Lizard Tribe, and Shadow Clan, as well as fallen members of the Blood Devil Clan and other fierce alien beasts and demons. Any soul that had not dissipated into the void was now under Reid's command, forming a powerful collective of spirits.

The staff remained, yet High Priest Reid's shadow had silently blended into the multitude of Devil Souls.

A vast ocean of colorful souls filled the other side of the void on the Origin Blood Continent, attempting to counter the Demon Phoenix's formidable power.

"You're deluding yourself."

The Demon Phoenix scoffed with contempt.

Her majestic figure, as if plummeting from the heavens, materialized within a vast canyon.

With her hands placed on either side of the canyon, she exerted force to pry it apart!

Crack!

As the Origin Blood Continent shook violently and dust billowed from the land, numerous mountains crumbled, and the fissures in the canyon widened dramatically.

Beneath the crevices, a sinister depth was suddenly pierced by a streak of blood-red light!

"Yang Meridian!"

"Ancestor!"

Flake and Grec exclaimed in unison.

Whoosh!

Yu Yuan stood atop the Dragon Slash Platform, gazing down at the canyon she had forced open, observing the towering figure deep below the surface.

That was his Yang God!

Seated within the blood-red river beneath the earth, which no longer seemed so extensive, innumerable blood-colored filaments and bolts of lightning zipped through, converging upon his Yang God.

Like myriad rivulets flowing into the vast ocean.

"Yang Meridian, Yu Yuan, and..."

The Supreme Demon Phoenix paid no heed to High Priest Reid or to Flake, who was prepared to fight to the death. She gracefully descended onto the immense purple divine throne and watched indifferently from above. "Everything I've sought has finally come together. Let's hope you don't let me down."

She had the Heavenly Barrier within her grasp, able to summon anyone or anything from the outside world at will.

The purple divine throne that bore her hovered over the canyon, pausing briefly before descending steadily.

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