C1811 They Taught Each Other
No one could have fathomed that Yu Yuan's Solar Spirit Body, after absorbing the Root of the Solar Meridian, would be capable of striking the Dark Phoenix at close range with that blade.
At the point where the blade met the spear shaft, the dazzling, rice-sized speck of light seemed to transform into a treasury for the lifeblood of all beings.
Aside from Reid and Mitts, who were inherently without a corporeal body, everyone else—including members of the Blood Fiend clan, the Monster Lord of the Everlands, the Dark Deity, the alien beasts from the Star River—found their hearts eerily ceasing to beat just by gazing at that tiny point of light.
Neither Untamed, Ji Ningshuang, nor the Astral Tiger were exceptions to this phenomenon!
The enigmatic force emanating from that minuscule speck seemed to have the power to influence the flow of bloodlines in all living creatures!
Whoosh!
Another figure emerged from the fissure, his handsome face awash with astonishment as he softly exclaimed, "To think it's come to this..." His gaze locked onto Yu Yuan and the formidable Dark Phoenix, scarcely believing that Yu Yuan could now withstand the Dark Phoenix in combat.
This was God-King Taishi, who had hurried from the Everlands through the "door" opened by Zhong Chichen.
As Taishi observed the clash between Yu Yuan and the Dark Phoenix, his eyes lingered on the Dragon Slaying Stage—a symbol of Boulderdawn's esteemed status—and the Dark Phoenix wielding her violet gold spear. After a moment of stunned silence, he whispered to himself, "Such a familiar tableau."
How many similar battles had these two adversaries fought in the past?
The capricious Dark Phoenix was known to overturn tables in the midst of meetings, lashing out at anyone who displeased her.
Back then, Han Miaoyuan had no say, relegated to standing on the sidelines without even a seat at the table.
The only one who could confront her and demand her composure was the dragon slayer of old.
Their method was straightforward.
The pair would instantly dash towards the extraterrestrial Star River, and after a fierce skirmish, it was typically the Dark Phoenix who would sulk back to the Shadow's Keep, while God-King Taiyin would return to the council as if nothing had transpired, urging everyone to resume their deliberations on pressing matters without concern for the Dark Phoenix or the stance of the Shadow's Keep.
There were times, however, when Taiyin returned still as the God-King, yet the previous agenda had already shifted.
The proposal came from the Dark Phoenix. Yet, every time the two finished their heated debates, it was always Taiyin who returned—either to the Phoenix Shrine in the extraterrestrial realms or remaining silent within the confines of Shadow's Keep.
During the era when the Nagas' rule was being toppled, and even after their downfall, the Everlands were advancing into the extraterrestrial Star River. The Dark Phoenix's sudden frenzy and the forceful intervention by the God-King Taiyin led to the council's suspension. Time and again, everyone had no choice but to await the outcome of their confrontations.
"I really miss those days when everyone was brimming with vitality, striving toward a shared dream. Despite the conflicts, we always found a way to resolve them amicably. It's just unfortunate that those good times couldn't last," Taishi reflected with a heavy heart.
Upon setting foot on the Primal Blood Continent and laying eyes on Yu Yuan, he instantly recognized that the architect of the Everlands' new origin was none other than Yu Yuan, from beyond the wall.
"Surprised? So am I," remarked Zhong Chichen, who was also privy to Yu Yuan's true identity. He had stowed the Book of Time and, with his hands tucked into his colorful, billowing sleeves, commented, "It happened too quickly, more swiftly than I had anticipated. The residual power of the Solar Meridian has turned into the Bloodwraith of the Baneblade, signifying the Solar Meridian's utter defeat."
"That doesn't surprise me in the slightest," he added.
As the two from the Everlands caught sight of Yu Yuan's real body and Ji Ningshuang, they had already crossed beyond the wall.
Taishi, who hadn't had the chance to exchange words with Yu Yuan's real body, looked down at the icy earth beneath him and remarked, "The Bloody River is but a minor feature within the inner Primal Blood Continent. Given the presence of that intense cold resonance in someone else's domain, the Solar Meridian couldn't possibly have achieved anything significant."
"After all, it wouldn't have remained fruitless after enduring for millennia," he mused.
The secret that Yu Yuan had unraveled was something Taishi had long since inferred. He had always understood that the Root of the Solar Meridian in the Dark Star was nothing more than a decoy.
The true master was always the dormant Primal Blood; the Solar Meridian was merely a puppet.
The moment Primal Blood endowed Yu Yuan with a complete life sequence, it signified that upon awakening, Primal Blood had chosen Yu Yuan as its representative.
One was a puppet, the other a spokesperson laden with expectations. The Solar Meridian could hardly usurp such a role.
Given that Primal Blood had been permitted to act freely, there was undoubtedly a method to address it, depending on whether there was the will or necessity to do so.
The Bloody River, created by the Solar Meridian, cascaded onto the frigid earth below. This extreme cold, inherently aligned with Primal Blood, was the ace up the sleeve for handling the Solar Meridian.
Taishi surveyed the scene, realizing what had transpired when he noticed the ground still glistening with ice.
His speculations were proven to be quite accurate.
"Excellent, this is very good."
Taishi's worries subsided, and he affectionately patted Zhong Chichen's shoulder, prompting the Seven-Colored Dragon to recoil with a look of disdain.
"You've earned my commendation!"
Taishi's smile was carefree, unconcerned by Zhong Chichen's strong reaction. "Nagas, as long as you avoid the chaos of old, a place for you in the future is assured."
"It's as if you believe he's already triumphed," Zhong Chichen scoffed.
"He won't lose, because he is who he is, and because she is who she is. When these two engage in battle beyond our world, without external interference, he seldom loses," Taishi stated with a profound undertone.
Yet, Yu Yuan, the one Taishi had such high hopes for, experienced a sudden rupture in the meridians of his arms, which were as delicate as red crystal threads, while wielding his sabers.
In a flash, the Dragon Slaying Stage retreated. In a mere moment, the severed meridians in Yu Yuan's arms, the limbs of the Solar Spirit, reconnected, and he brought his saber down once more.
Amidst the vast expanse of violet clouds, the Dark Phoenix appeared to effortlessly parry with her spear.
A fresh speck of light emerged.
Within the tiny dot, no larger than a grain of rice, countless beings from this world took on Yu Yuan's visage and the Otherkin's bloodline traits and secrets, evolving their own blood magic.
Shura, Shadowkin, Wingkind, Dawnbringers, enchantress, Silverscale Tribe, Moonlit Wanderers, Stoneborn.
The warriors of the Otherkin, active within the Star River, had the most profound aspects of their bloodlines refined by Yu Yuan and propelled forward in a world of light.
Ahead lay numerous ancient archdemons, extraterrestrial alien beasts, and a scattering of cosmic giant beasts.
The Dark Phoenix, through her demon energy, materialized the core profound meanings of the giant beasts.
The clash of blade and spear marked the tiny world where Yu Yuan's bloodline rules collided, a frenzied impact of their vast seas of knowledge and blood.
The bloodline powers of the alien beasts and archdemons could be layered upon one another.
The raging storm carried within it sharp glints of ice and mysterious thunder, along with a life sequence designed to amplify vital energy.
The Golden Rock Beast's bloodline manifested, sending boulders weighing thousands of tons plummeting from the sky, each suddenly subject to a gravity field a thousand times stronger.
The force and momentum of the falling boulders increased a hundredfold, crushing the Wingkind and Silverscale Tribe warriors into a spray of blood.
Behind the innumerable archdemons, alien beasts, and the occasional cosmic giant beast, a vague phoenix silhouette hovered.
She observed from within that tiny point of light as Yu Yuan's boundless vital energy gave rise to myriad intelligent lifeforms, witnessed the array of unique blood magic, and the innovative Secrets of Life, all combining into extraordinary methods of combat.
In the microcosmic world, a sea of red crystal and deep purple each dominated half the void.
Within these seas, tangible bloodline chains and the solidified red crystals that Yu Yuan had mastered clashed, shattering into showers of light and fragments.
Yet, these confrontations were fleeting.
Yu Yuan's red crystals, though wondrous, were not yet mastered to perfection, and their cohesion was insufficient, leading them to falter first.
He had yet to fully grasp how to seamlessly blend the blood magic with the Secrets of Life.
When on the brink of defeat, the first sign would be the rupturing of the Solar Spirit Body's tendons.
He would use the Dragon Slaying Stage to make a temporary retreat, regroup, and then return to the fray with his blade raised.
As the blade fell, new crystals formed, and more powerful Shura, Shadowkin, and Moonlit Wanderers emerged. The Dark Phoenix stood as the mightiest adversary, a grandmaster of both blood magic and the Secrets of Life. This entity, who ascended to the Way of Heaven through the blood of the Everlands, possessed unique insights into the ancient archdemons and Nagas, as well as the bloodline rules of the alien beasts.
She could effortlessly weave and transform, crafting increasingly complex blood magic. With her vital energy, she could mold the form of a myriad of beasts. In each clash of blade and spear with Yu Yuan, a myriad of arcane combinations and the impact of countless rules and Secrets of Life were revealed, enlightening him.
Yet, Yu Yuan slowly came to a realization. The Dark Phoenix was also covertly absorbing the myriad Secrets of Life he had gleaned from the Primal Blood during his demonstrations of life's miracles.
With that thought, he swiftly withdrew his blade, and through his remnant soul, connected with the Dragon Slaying Stage. He noticed that the massive violet orbs of demon energy no longer burst forth from the twin vast seas of purple demon energy.
The Dark Phoenix, gripping her spear, was serene and expectant, eagerly awaiting his relentless strikes.
"Have you just figured it out?" The Dark Phoenix scoffed, stretching languidly before Yu Yuan, unabashedly displaying her elegant form. It seemed the prolonged defense had left her feeling somewhat constrained. "If it won't favor me, won't bestow upon me the complete life sequence, then I shall take it for myself."
"Honestly, I've already gleaned a portion from that Old Titan's Spinosaurus. Within the corporeal bodies of the living creatures, the Fellbeasts, and the ancient archdemons of the Everlands, there lies some of it."
"The Solar Meridian and the Colddeath Cult are also sprinkled with fragments of the Secrets of Life."
"And the Abyssal Leviathan, which I've kept sealed in the Embers Sea, bleeding it from time to time, also harbors a portion of its true essence."
"I've even seized her." The Dark Phoenix brandished her spear. "Within this young Titan Spinosaurus, there exists a segment of the blood magic left by the old one. Having wandered the extraterrestrial realms for years, I've also amassed some. All these pieces, when combined..."
"In reality, I'm not lacking much anymore."
"And you've just revealed a bit more to me. I'm not sure if it's all there, but I'm starting to feel more confident. If I were to go now, I believe my chances of victory are pretty good."
Whoosh!
The two halves of purple demon energy, cleaved by the Baneblade, suddenly converged like closing feathers, enveloping Yu Yuan once more.
"I was wondering who could stand toe-to-toe with me up to this point, who could earn its favor and even cause it to abandon me."
The Dark Phoenix, with her spear resting across her thighs, reclined languidly, her back flush against the violet Divine Throne, and spoke in an utterly relaxed tone, "Turns out, it's you."
