C1809 The Shadow of the Otherworld
In the depths of eerie silence, just beyond the bridge beneath the Dark Phoenix's feet, the scene seemed to transform into the projection of another realm.
Perched atop a towering inferno, a fire lion, with teeth bared, glared at the golden deer that appeared to stand close by.
Thousands of flame meteors, casually conjured by the fire lion, relentlessly pursued the fleeing golden deer.
Nearby, a massive frog clutched seven suns in its maw, while a black goat with icy eyes fixated on the Dark Phoenix's spine.
Upon closer inspection, the black goat's wool, magnified a million times, revealed itself to be a kind of mystical soul crystal.
Each strand of wool appeared to imprison the souls of numerous beings, which, once sealed by the goat's bloodline power, were slowly refined into crystalline forms.
In the profound void, at the limits of Yu Yuan's vision, stood a mountain of inconceivable height.
Stars fluttered around it like butterflies.
The summit, a relatively flat expanse of land, was even more immense than the Everlands, a magical world unto itself.
These stars each represented their own independent Domain, yet they seemed minuscule in the shadow of the mountain.
A myriad of bizarre and spectacular palaces dotted the landscape—some constructed from the bones of beasts, others from colossal trees, resembling a realm of myriad creatures.
A dense population of alien beasts swarmed the mountaintop world, swarming in and out of these palaces like ants and locusts.
Yu Yuan's gaze remained transfixed on this world, staring in awe at the enigmatic mountain range.
*Howl!*
A roar, as if capable of piercing through worlds, emanated from the mountain's core, shattering the Otherworld materialized behind the Dark Phoenix.
Before the Otherworld crumbled, Yu Yuan witnessed the golden deer, the fire lion, the sun-clutching frog, and the black goat all displaying looks of awe.
The entity atop the peak radiated an authority far surpassing theirs.
It was as if they beheld their sovereign.
With a resounding boom, the fantastical vision vanished, and the bridge that seemed to link two worlds reverted back to the Dark Phoenix's purple Divine Throne.
She regarded Yu Yuan with an enigmatic smile, her eyes brimming with expectation, and asked, "What are your thoughts?"
"A tenth level Beast God?" Yu Yuan inquired calmly.
"It appears you have either encountered or heard of such a being before."
The Dark Phoenix showed no sign of surprise, almost as if she had anticipated that Yu Yuan would learn this high-level secret through the Abyssal Greater Basilisk, Taishi, or Soul-Capturing. "In that realm, alien beasts of the tenth level are revered as Beast Gods. They have a leader whose status in that world is akin to Bertain's here."
"Is that the one who let out the roar?" Yu Yuan sought confirmation.
"Yes."
Rather than engaging immediately, Dark Phoenix chose to converse patiently with Yu Yuan within the Otherworldly space she had crafted, where both their Solar Spirits resided.
In her eyes, Yu Yuan had become a worthy adversary after consuming the Root of the Solar Meridian and acquiring the complete life sequence.
It had been ages since she had encountered such a formidable opponent.
For nearly ten thousand years, no one had intrigued her enough to share her innermost thoughts or discuss the marvels of that other world.
"Can you travel there? Or have you been before?"
Seizing the rare chance for dialogue, Yu Yuan was eager to continue the conversation with Dark Phoenix.
"I've certainly been there. Bertain knows all, yet he cannot travel there. He is a Star-Spawned Terror with a demonform, but lacks a corporeal body. Only I and living creatures like you can traverse to that world."
A mix of mockery and resignation played across Dark Phoenix's lips. "Of course, the Abyss remains beyond my reach."
She volunteered more information before Yu Yuan could pose another question.
"It's somewhat amusing. The role I play in that world mirrors that of the Origin Deity in ours. I've gathered followers there, and Beast Gods who eagerly await my arrival, hoping I'll topple that tyrant."
"Some welcome me, while others do not."
As she spoke, Yu Yuan's thoughts turned to the black goat, which regarded Dark Phoenix with a chilling glare, as though it longed to sink its teeth into her.
Clearly, the black goat was among the Beast Gods that did not welcome her.
"The Beast Gods that have faith in me, convinced that I can transform their world and dethrone the tyrant, have recently fallen on hard times. In moments of peril, they gravitate towards the juncture of our two worlds. And from my Phoenix Shrine, I can sense them and offer my aid."
As soon as she spoke, Yu Yuan immediately realized that the frog clutching the sun and the golden deer were disciples of the Dark Phoenix.
Like the venerable Kylin and the Moonfang Tiger, they revered the Dark Phoenix as their supreme leader.
Yu Yuan was astounded by the Dark Phoenix's terrifying influence. She, who appeared to wander aimlessly through the cosmos with the Phoenix Shrine, had managed to extend her reach to another realm and even recruit its Beast Gods, amassing a new cadre of followers.
"The sovereign of that realm has ways to witness some of the upheavals in our world at specific times. It's aware of Bertain's existence and has felt the full brunt of his might. It previously refrained from coming here because it knew it would have to contend with Bertain's wrath, in addition to facing me," Yu Yuan mused.
"It realizes that it stands no chance of victory."
The Dark Phoenix let out a derisive laugh.
"However, it has learned that Bertain has departed and won't return soon. This has emboldened it, stirring it into action as it frequently rallies its forces along the fringes of its world. And the Beast Gods that worship me, overwhelmed by immense pressure, have been desperately calling out for my aid."
After a moment of contemplation, the Dark Phoenix's gaze lingered on Yu Yuan's face. "Of course, I must intervene. If I don't, they will come here," she declared.
"Taking advantage of the absence of the Great Demon God Bertain."
Hua! Hua! Hua!
The Dark Phoenix's massive purple wings fluttered gently behind her, and waves of pale purple demon energy rippled outward like the tide.
"With the Solar Meridian and the complete life sequence in my possession, I am fully confident. Even if you hadn't shown up, I believed I would be the chosen of the Primal Blood. Clearly, I am the superior representative, capable of extending its reach to another stellar realm."
"I can accomplish feats beyond even the Old Titan Spinosaurus, and I am already in the process of doing so."
A fierce glint flashed in the Dark Phoenix's eyes.
"Unfortunately, my luck was poor. When it awoke from its long slumber, my real body was elsewhere. And you, you managed to gain its favor before me, receiving the complete Secrets of Life and becoming its cherished one."
"This is a mistake."
"I should have convinced it. I should have been able to sway it with the visions I previously revealed to you, to make it choose me. You were merely fortunate. Yet, even now, I firmly believe that upon witnessing these visions and understanding my actions, it will reconsider its initial decision!"
"It will rectify its erroneous choice!"
*Crack!*
The otherworldly realm, brimming with her potent demon energy, seemed to suddenly rip open, enabling Yu Yuan, seated upon the Dragon Slaying Stage, to re-establish contact with the external world.
The sword spirit of his true form, the Divine Sword, the Dark Star, the Primal Blood Continent—he felt them all once more.
Moreover, a sudden, intimate connection between him and the Primal Blood emerged.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The scenes he had witnessed in this other dimension—the Beast Gods of another realm, the summit encircled by stars, and the declarations of the Dark Phoenix...
All of it was swiftly conveyed to the Primal Blood.
At that moment, Yu Yuan realized why the supreme Dark Phoenix had trapped him in this dimension, cut off from the outside world, showing him the Beast Gods of another world—she had a purpose.
He was the sole being in the entire Star River favored by the Primal Blood, possessing a complete life sequence—his Solar Spirit.
And after the Primal Blood returned to slumber, the only hope to communicate with it, to transmit visions and messages, rested with him—Yu Yuan alone!
The Dark Phoenix intended to use his Solar Spirit to relay the images and messages he had seen to the dormant Primal Blood, prompting it to alter its focus of attention!
The Dark Phoenix was brimming with confidence.
She believed that her actions in the alternate world would prove to be a superior choice compared to Yu Yuan's!
By gaining the Primal Blood's cherished favor and mastering all the Secrets of Life associated with it, she could, as the chosen of the Primal Blood, effortlessly infiltrate the other world and usurp its ruler.
The Primal Blood's sphere of influence would expand through her, enabling her to eclipse the former Titan Spinosaurus and, in turn, strengthen the Primal Blood even further.
A symbiotic exchange.
She sat contentedly upon the Divine Throne, seemingly with victory well in hand.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The deep purple demon energy surged above the palace, drawing the gaze of every Dark Deity and beast king. It was also distinctly observed by the Great Demon God Reid, Yu Yuan, and Ji Ningshuang.
At the instant when the Solar Spirit and the real body synchronized, Yu Yuan's real body, still upon the frost-covered earth, abruptly looked downward.
Beneath him, a faint and chaotic consciousness seemed to be stealthily converging.
Like a life that had slumbered for ages, caught between waking and dreaming, it struggled to sort through its thoughts, desperate to understand what had transpired.
The Primal Blood hadn't fully awakened, yet it had definitely received images and messages from his Solar Spirit.
"What's the matter?"
Ji Ningshuang was puzzled. Noticing Yu Yuan's grave expression, she nudged his shoulder lightly. "Has your Solar Spirit been compromised? I can join this fight. There's no need to seal the Solar Meridian anymore; it can keep empowering me. I'm here to assist you."
The Grand Sword Immortal's icy gaze shifted to the purple demon energy outside the Domain as she spoke.
She was aware that Yu Yuan's Solar Spirit and the Dragon Slaying Stage were both there.
"It's nothing, just a minor setback."
Yu Yuan shook his head, politely declining her offer.
Upon grasping the Dark Phoenix's intentions, Yu Yuan realized that both he and the Dark Phoenix needed to await a response from the Primal Blood.
He was aware that he had been manipulated by the Dark Phoenix. The grand designs of the so-called Beast Gods from another world, along with the Dark Phoenix's ambitious projects, were the source of its confidence.
But what about him? What could he use to counter the Dark Phoenix? What could ensure the Primal Blood's resilience?
Would the Primal Blood switch its allegiance as the Dark Phoenix had predicted?
...
In the Everlands, amidst the Fireheart Mountains, the Forge of the Sun nestled close to the intense flames and the Primal Soul at the Heart of the Everlands.
With a whoosh, Mo Baichuan materialized above the furnace lid. His eyes, like blazing torches, peered into the magma pool below, sensing the tumultuous boil of the fiery waters.
A mysterious energy was slowly taking shape at the Heart of the Everlands.
The Origin!
A new and extraordinarily powerful origin had emerged, seemingly potent enough to form two entirely new Divine Thrones!
Then, Mo Baichuan sensed the will of the blazing fire.
There was a place that was undoubtedly his, Mo Baichuan!
...
Moonfall Sanctuary.
The Taishi God-King appeared out of nowhere, having hurried back from the Annihilation Nebula with the assistance of Zhong Chichen.
He, attuned to the Everlands, stared in astonishment at this familiar world and exclaimed, "Who is it? Who has expanded the borders of the Everlands and brought forth a new Origin?"
The Taishi God-King was aware that an Origin was taking shape, yet he was clueless about its origins and whereabouts. He murmured to himself, "Could it be Tan Xiaotian again? Impossible, all his efforts are focused on the Abyss; he couldn't possibly have the leisure for this."
"Perhaps, I should venture into the Dark Star to uncover the reality of the situation," Zhong Chichen declared.
"Dark Star! Yes, it must be the Dark Star!"
...
