C1866 The Secret Threat
"Otherworld? Beast God?"
Shi Jing'er of the Skyreach Consortium was visibly shocked after Yu Yuan briefly described the situation in the Darkpinion Astral Domain.
Feng Zhong, along with Unbound experts Zhou You and Zhongli Dapan, were equally taken aback by the revelation, seemingly unaware until now of another realm on par with the Abyss.
In contrast, Taishi maintained a composed demeanor, as did Tianqi and Taixu, who both appeared quite serene.
"You... You've known all along?"
Feng Zhong, visibly agitated, glared at the Boulderdawn luminaries, exclaiming, "The Consortium has been allied with your Boulderdawn for so long, and you've kept such critical information hidden?"
"We haven't concealed anything; we simply didn't know much before," Taixu responded without a hint of embarrassment, speaking frankly. "To be precise, it was the great Demon God Bertain who had more insight into the world where the Beast God resides. Our knowledge at Boulderdawn was limited to what we learned from Kaiya's messages and our own investigations, always aware of the lurking malice from that world."
Taixu carefully omitted any details about the relationship between Kaiya and Bertain.
Observing the Rebirth Nest voraciously absorbing cosmic energy, Taishi quickly regained his composure. After exchanging a knowing look with Yu Yuan, he advised, "Don't hurry off to Darkpinion."
Yu Yuan's brow furrowed in concern.
"Your true battlefields and domains are the Dark Star Region and the Ashlands. There, your Solar Spirit wields boundless power. The fact that the Dark Phoenix couldn't gain the upper hand in the Dark Star Region speaks volumes."
Taishi continued his analysis, "From what you've described, the Dark Phoenix has become far too formidable. If you leave the Ashlands and the Dark Star Region to recklessly enter Darkpinion, you won't be able to fully harness your formidable powers. I suspect the Dark Phoenix would prefer you to do just that, so she can handle you on her own turf in Darkpinion."
"The Secular Bird Queen must have realized this as well, which is why she doesn't want you to go."
"Instead, she has chosen to move the Rebirth Nest from the Shadowkin's cosmos into the Ashlands."
Following Taishi's lead, both Taixu, the God-King, and Ann Ziqing joined in the effort to dissuade him.
On the other side, Yu Yuan sat perched atop the Abyssal Gate, having briefed the Abyssal Greater Basilisk and the Abyssal Leviathan on the current state of affairs in Darkpinion. The two cosmic giant beasts concurred with Taishi's stance—
—Do not recklessly invade Darkpinion.
They were also aware of Jihui's failed scheme, which now made their presence here all the more challenging.
Beneath the vibrant sea, the denizens of the Abyss had grown remarkably subdued, long having ceased their assaults on the Abyssal Gate, sparing Yu Yuan any additional stress.
His Solar Spirit, clear as a red crystal, hovered above the colored waters, constantly suppressing the urge within.
He fought the temptation to plunder the bloodline mysteries hidden within the Abyssal Gate and assimilate them into his Solar Spirit.
He was acutely aware that by refining the Abyssal Gate, he could take a significant shortcut.
The Old Titan Spinosaurus had painstakingly gathered the bloodlines of numerous giant beasts through hunting. Yu Yuan could claim them instantaneously.
Powered by the Root of the Solar Meridian, his vital energy surged. With the addition of numerous giant beast bloodlines, his Solar Spirit would rival the might of the ancient Titan Spinosaurus.
Such power would enable him to break free from the confines of Dark Star and Ashlands and venture into Darkpinion without fear of the Dark Phoenix.
However...
Should the Abyssal Gate shatter, the two realms would merge, allowing the Evil Gods of the Abyss to breach this world.
In this realm, the Dark Phoenix had already summoned three tenth-level Beast Gods, signaling the arrival of supreme forces from the Otherworld.
Faced with the Evil Gods from the Abyss as well, would he not be caught between two formidable foes? And Bertain was currently unaccounted for.
The Everlands, too, were rife with issues.
Indecisive, he once again employed arcane magic to forge the Bloody River, dispersing fragments of his will. He sought to gauge the state of the Everlands through the experiences of Colddeath disciples like Lin Yue.
His sliver of consciousness had just taken root within Xueyin.
"Chronowyrm Zhong Chichen has visited; he wishes to see you," came the message.
"Moreover, the Untamed from the Marsh has grown increasingly volatile. Recently, he manifested in the Moonfall Sanctuary as a spectral apparition. He has communicated through Hei Xun, requesting your assistance in resurrecting his progeny."
"Loong Jie and Ms. Ji attempted to venture into the Ashlands, but their efforts were in vain."
"..."
Xueyin, having proactively reached out to Yu Yuan, was completely transparent in his communication, relaying all the information he had at his disposal.
"I understand. Relay a message to the Ape for me. Tell him I've agreed to the revival of his progeny using lifeblood. Inform Zhong Chichen and the wielders of the ice sword that I'm working on resolving their perplexing issue."
"However, I require time."
Yu Yuan, adept at multitasking, gathered insights into the shifting dynamics of the Everlands through Lin Yue of the Colddeath sect and various other followers.
He discovered that the most powerful beings of the Everlands had recently convened at the Sword Sect to strategize on addressing the formidable challenge posed by the Dark Phoenix's threat to all living creatures.
The news had also reached the cultivators from the great empires, families, and sects, sending them into a state of panic.
They were all convinced that the intransigent Dark Phoenix was serious this time and might indeed bring ruin to the inhabitants of the Everlands.
Fear of death was universal; no one wished to see their lineage extinguished, so pleas for salvation were rampant.
Mo Baichuan, representing Earthfire, had delivered a message to the supreme beings of the Everlands, placing their collective hope in their Solar Spirit.
"It feels like being chased by someone with a knife, forced into making a sacrifice," Yu Yuan muttered at the Abyssal Gate.
Days later, Tong Laoqian, now a member of the Skyreach Consortium, rushed from the Annihilation Nebula to Eiwrone, then hurriedly proceeded to Tyria, bringing with him dire news.
A new primal force had returned from the extraterrestrial Star River, integrating into the core of the planet.
This primal force was none other than the Soul-Capturing entity trapped in the Wraithlands!
"Kaiya is in trouble!"
"Her newly established Divine Throne has shattered!"
Beneath the towering tree, Tianqi and Taixu abruptly rose to their feet.
With the Dragon Slaying Stage in hand, Yu Yuan's Divine Sense swept across the domains of the Ashlands, monitoring the activities of powerful beings from various races. His consciousness suddenly sharpened with focus.
Whoosh!
The Dragon Slaying Stage materialized into a luminescent white ring, encircling Taishi, Tianqi, and Taixu.
"I'm here to clear up your confusion, but my answers are for the three of you alone."
The white ring created a barrier, making it impossible for anyone on Tyria to eavesdrop on their conversation or peer through the ring to see inside.
"It was Kaiya who sent a message through the fiend Qiyan, instructing my Solar Spirit to avoid returning to the Everlands. She warned that the Primal Soul of the Everlands might have been compromised by an Abyssal Treasure."
Yu Yuan disclosed the hidden truth, "She cautioned me to be wary of all supreme beings merged with the Origin Soul! She mentioned that I should have detected this issue in my first life, which is why I had to rebuild the Everlands in an extraterrestrial realm."
"She also implied that the downfall of Boulderdawn and our own demise are connected to this matter."
Upon hearing this, even the usually stoic Taishi's expression turned grave.
The Primal Soul of the Everlands, the source of a mystical object and the spiritual backbone for all, was a source of pride for everyone.
To suddenly learn that the Primal Soul they revered might be tainted by an Abyssal Treasure was too much to bear, leaving them struggling to come to terms with the revelation.
"Could Kaiya's shattered divine seat be linked to this?" Taixu exclaimed, alarmed.
"Without her divine seat, she won't perish. She's not bound by a lifespan; she's immortal. My concern is that Han Miaoyuan and Han Qi might exploit her vulnerability now that her divine seat is fractured," Taishi said with a furrowed brow. "Yu Yuan, we need the Starpierced to reach maturity quickly. We require the star chart from its carapace!"
"We need precise coordinates for both the Wraithlands and the Otherworld!"
Taishi's urgency was a rare sight.
"Understood."
As Yu Yuan responded, his Divine Sense shifted, and he saw Duan Yisheng, Jun Chen, Tan Junshan, and the others selecting the meteorite containing the Starpierced Armor.
Meanwhile, Ballo, Leo, Beru, and the rest of the Starborn were also closely monitoring the situation.
Ballo had previously stated his wish to examine the star chart when the Starpierced reached maturity.
"What? A new Origin?"
Clutching a jade stone, Jun Chen received a transmission from Shi Jing'er. He turned to Tan Junshan with a surge of excitement, "A new Origin has emerged in the Everlands. This is your opportunity."
"New Origin!" Duan Yisheng's voice rose with excitement as he exclaimed, "Boulderdawn promised us, and it's time they kept that promise!"
Tan Junshan's mastery of the Moonfall arcane was unsealed, and he had more than enough experience.
"We must head back to the Everlands at once!"