C1824 Andrea
Andrea.
Clearly, this was not a typical name for the Boundless Human Race.
She was known by this title among the Outland Devaputra Race during her time with the Great Demon God, Beilstein.
Emerging from the Grim River, she stood resolutely in the center of the grand palace within the Sword Prison, towering over Han Qi. The flow of spiritual energy and blood within her was completely unaffected by the Dark Mountain.
She had traversed the galaxy, as if she had performed a spatial teleportation, arriving at the Sword Prison from afar.
She had utilized the power of the 'Grim River' etched into the stone tablet behind Han Qi, a feat that was nothing short of miraculous.
Andrea was a woman destined to capture the attention of many and to be immortalized in the history of the stars.
At her arrival, the deep sword scars on the exterior walls of the Sword Prison seemed to be forcibly erased by her presence.
The Dark Mountain, which Han Qi had transformed into the Sword Prison, was instantly permeated with her aura and demonic thoughts.
Despite being a newcomer, she seized control of most of the Sword Prison's authority in an instant, establishing herself as a ruler on par with Han Qi.
Her influence extended to the Dark Mountain in the Demonic Domain as well, with her power flowing freely and unhindered.
Lee Yuchan, who had been standing with her head bowed, was suddenly taken aback by Andrea's abrupt appearance.
To Lee Yuchan, Andrea radiated a mysterious glow so intense that she found it difficult to maintain her gaze.
She couldn't help but feel inferior in her presence.
Andrea was the most enigmatic and formidable Divine King of the Divine Soul Sect. Lee Yuchan had already heard Han Qi speak of her with great emphasis during their journey.
Even the Yin Meridian that her master had longed to refine had been preemptively claimed by Andrea.
Such an awe-inspiring woman, upon entering her master's domain, seemed to barely acknowledge him, conversing instead with Yu Yuan in a calm manner.
Had Yu Yuan already achieved such distinction within the Divine Soul Sect?
Lee Yuchan was suddenly filled with self-pity.
"The Yin Spirit Rope from the Demonic Domain."
Andrea immediately recognized the rope encircling Tan Junshan's Yin Spirit's neck and seemed to know its provenance. She declared confidently, "I'll remove the seal first."
Spreading her hands, a sphere of gray-white luminescence emerged, within which two rivers—one clear, the other murky—intertwined.
The point where the rivers intersected suddenly flared with light.
The ropes entwined around Tan Junshan's neck, as well as those draped over the souls of Duan Yisheng and Zhongli, seemed to respond to the Great Dao that she had mastered, racing out as if summoned. They swiftly descended into the orb of gray-white light cradled in her palm, at the confluence of two rivers.
Upon her arrival, the cultivators who had been confined in the Sword Prison and stripped of their Yin God powers by Han Qi were immediately liberated.
"Yu Yuan, you're not like the others. We... should be closer," Andrea said.
In her true form, Andrea exuded an air of confidence and grace, a stark contrast to her concealed presence in the Boundless Human Race's realm. "I've heard he's called Han Qi. He's after the Yin Meridian that I've imprisoned in the Vast Ocean, aiming to compete with Youyu for its power. You're not pleased with that, are you?"
"Of course not," Yu Yuan replied with a smile, nodding. His true body, which should have been outside the Sword Prison, zipped through the rock wall in a flash.
Andrea had opened a door for him.
If the words of the Great Demon God Beilstein were true, then Andrea, being Beilstein's daughter, could be considered his... junior sister.
The Yin God and his true body merged in an instant.
Standing on the chilly stone floor, Yu Yuan gripped the Dragon Slash Platform, once again fixing his gaze on Han Qi. "I have no intention of letting you control the cycle of life and death in the Vast Ocean. The Divine Soul Sect and I have always supported Youyu, and it's only Youyu whom I trust."
Han Qi's brow furrowed.
Andrea, having tracked the Grim River's essence and tapped into the power of the Yin Meridian's source, had surprisingly appeared here, leaving the battlefield and catching Han Qi off guard.
Han Qi had planned for Lin Daoke to triumph by revealing Andrea's true form, but Andrea's presence here was unexpected.
Even more astonishing was Andrea's ability to not only identify the Yin Spirit Rope but also to effortlessly neutralize it.
"It appears you've not only mastered the intricate Soul Arts of the Yin Meridian but have also scoured its memories," Han Qi realized, massaging his chin thoughtfully. After a moment's contemplation, he instructed, "Yuchan, return to your room for now."
"Master, I..." Lee Yuchan protested with dissatisfaction.
"Silly girl, you're not going to be any help."
Without waiting for her consent, Han Qi waved his sleeve, and Lee Yuchan found herself transported back to the cave.
Boom!
The door to the cave slammed shut. A faint Yin energy turned into a dense white fog, engulfing the cave and Lee Yuchan.
Through a tiny crack, Lee Yuchan's inscrutable eyes peered out.
"Because you had an epiphany about the Grim River after awakening from the Yin Meridians in Horror Land, you were able to make it here so swiftly."
Having settled Lee Yuchan, Han Qi pieced together the sequence of events and said, "You've managed to come, but what about Lin Daoke..."
His eyes betrayed his concern.
Shoo! Shoo!
In the heart of the Sword Prison, sword lights writhed within the silvery walls of the magical hall like serpents.
The blinding sword light emerged from the wall's surface before Yu Yuan, Han Qi, and Andrea, quickly coalescing into a crystalline, spiritual figure.
It was Lin Daoke's Yang God!
"I didn't summon you and the Sword Prison here."
Lin Daoke, unarmed yet embodying the essence of a Divine Sword, confronted Han Qi, "My battle with the Divine King of the Divine Soul Sect should not be meddled with by external forces. I can tolerate other Divine Kings from the Divine Soul Sect entering, but I will not allow anyone from my side to intervene!"
Lin Daoke, composed of countless sword lights, assumed the stance of thrusting a sword.
Sword beams burst forth from his Yang God form.
Crack!
The Outer Sword Prison, reconstructed by Han Qi under Han Miaoyuan's direction, was penetrated from within by the sword beams, resembling a colossal honeycomb.
Rip! Rip! Rip!
The escaping sword light forced Jun Chen, Zhou You, and Tan Junshan, all Unrestrained Stage cultivators, to flee in disarray, narrowly evading the fearsome beams.
Taishi, as if a phantom, remained unharmed as the sword light passed right through him.
"Duan!"
Jun Chen shouted in a surge of excitement. While dodging the razor-sharp sword light, he made his way to the perforated Sword Prison and darted through one of the sword holes.
He brandished his bamboo flute, unleashing a cascade of stars that expanded the sword hole even further.
Shortly thereafter, he reached the slowly awakening Duan Yisheng's cave and freed the Star Sect leader—who was no longer bound by the "Yin Spirit Rope"—from the newly constructed Outer Sword Prison.
"Zhongli!"
Zhou You was even more efficient. After witnessing the Sword Prison's breach, he instantly teleported to Zhongli's location and escorted the Ancient Desolate Sect's leader to safety.
Subsequently, Zhou You continued to dart in and out of the scene.
One by one, the cultivators who had previously aligned with the Divine Soul Sect and the Chamber of Commerce, following Han Miaoyuan's orders, were liberated by Zhou You.
Before long, the Sword Prison was deserted.
"Lin Daoke."
The Void Divine King, Devaputra Yuv Qian, Qin Yun, and others gradually converged on the scene, encircling the Sword Prison.
The newcomers were unaware that Han Qi, a being of the Divine Spirit Realm, was still inside. They were puzzled as to why Lin Daoke would sabotage his own stronghold.
"Sect Master Lin, what is the meaning of this?"
Han Qi was visibly embarrassed, having invested considerable effort into constructing the Outer Sword Prison, only to see it partially dismantled by Lin Daoke.
To restore the Sword Prison to its former function and form, he would need to return to the Realm of Demons.
The crux of the matter was that once the prisoners were released, he could no longer siphon their Yin God essence with the "Yin Spirit Ropes."
"They were in the way."
Impatience was etched across Lin Daoke's face.
Across the cosmos, a stunning sword light raced at an incomparable speed.
That was Lin Daoke's true form, wielding the sword.
"Tell Senior Han that I will comply with everything else, but he must never meddle with my duel. From the moment my sword is drawn until I sheathe it, I will not tolerate any interruptions."
The Sword Sect Lord lifted his foot and slammed it down once more.
Boom!
Amid Han Qi's lamentations, the vast Sword Prison crumbled, and the cells of the imprisoned powerhouses drifted away like lanterns floating in the void, leaving the grand palace behind.
This included the caves where Loong Tianxiao and Lee Yuchan were confined.
In the eyes of Taishi and the others, they witnessed various-sized boulders suddenly splitting away from the Sword Prison. What remained was a towering stone palace, akin to the grand halls of the underworld, silently suspended in mid-air. The palace boasted a dome and a stone floor through which a chilling aura flowed. Seven thick, gray-white stone columns supported the hall, which stood starkly without walls on any side.
Yu Yuan's true form, Andrea of equal stature, Lin Daoke's Yang God, and the seemingly insignificant yet striking Han Qi were now revealed to all. The Sword Prison was emptied, leaving only a wall-less hall and four individuals.
"Godly Spirit Stage!"
"Another Godly Spirit!"
"Han Qi! It's actually Han Qi!"
Han Qi, the least conspicuous among them, suddenly stood out as extraordinary and exceptional, positioned between Shehun, Yu Yuan, and Lin Daoke.
"Sect Master!"
Yue Mu, Van Heqing, and other Unrestrained Stage Great Sword Immortals from the Sword Sect hurried over from the Plover Realm, drawn by the unexpected involvement of Han Qi. Lin Daoke's decree for the Plover Realm had been ignored due to the excessively prolonged battle between him and Shehun.
Other formidable beings, like the Abyss Goanna, the Chaos Roc, and Rebecca, along with dignitaries such as Beru and Leo, were also watching the scene unfold, using various arcane methods and vessels.
The newly revealed Andrea, the suddenly emerging Yu Yuan, and the enigmatic Han Qi captivated the gazes of many. Their presence commanded the undivided attention of countless onlookers.
