C1869 It Was Very Anxious

Lin Daoke of the Sword Sect made a commitment to the Divine Soul Sect: if Yu Yuan could neutralize the Demon Phoenix's threat to the lifeblood of all beings, the Divine Soul Sect would have the privilege of selecting individuals to refine the three primal sources that would emerge in succession.

The news sent shockwaves throughout the Vast Expanse and quickly spread to the Outer Star River. Suddenly, every hopeful contender for the pinnacle of power in the Vast Expanse was abuzz with anticipation.

Before long, another bombshell dropped. The White Divine Tiger of the Demon Palace, along with the newly risen Demon God Yu Zhu, had both mysteriously lost their primal sources in the Dark Wing Starfield, leaving their fates unknown.

With the return of these two primal sources to the Vast Expanse, and the addition of the one previously owned by Wei Zhuo and seized by Shehun, the Vast Expanse found itself with three primal sources at once! The potential to create three supreme positions had the powerhouses of various sects and the elite from foreign domains watching the Vast Expanse with bated breath.

Questions began to arise. How had the tiger, which had tirelessly carved out new territories for the Vast Expanse, suddenly met with disaster and lost its primal source? And why had Yu Zhu, who had only recently ascended to the highest echelon, also lost hers?

Those seeking answers slowly learned of a mysterious force in the Winged Race's Dark Wing Starfield that had sealed off the area and restricted spatial laws. Gradually, word spread from those who had fled the Dark Wing Starfield that the Secular Bird Queen had teamed up with Extreme Intelligence and Tan Xiaotian to wage war against the Demon Phoenix there.

Both the Sky Tiger and Yu Zhu had been caught up in the conflict! Those unable to reach the Dark Wing Starfield speculated that the demise of the Sky Tiger and Yu Zhu was the work of the Secular Bird Queen, along with the might of Tan Xiaotian.

"The new supreme seats!" they exclaimed. "Three vacancies have suddenly opened up! Even that venerable Han Miaoyuan and the Demon Phoenix seem unable to return to the Vast Expanse!"

"In the past, it was Han Miaoyuan and the Demon Phoenix who determined the supreme ownership of the Vast Expanse. We never had a chance. But now, at last, there's a change!"

"Has the Divine Soul Sect been rekindled? Lin Daoke, why did you hand over the right to decide the Divine Throne to the Divine Soul Sect?"

"Let's head back and take a look!"

In the remote starry skies of the outer domain, some ancient beings who had ventured out of the Vast Expanse and reached the late Unrestrained Stage stirred upon hearing the news.

Among these venerable figures were Evil Devils who had eluded Nie Qingtian's pursuit and avoided confinement in the Sword Prison.

Others were revered elders from noble factions who, after failing to claim the Divine Throne internally, had retreated to live in obscurity beyond the heavens.

Suddenly, they learned that three supreme seats in the Vast Expanse were vacant, and with Han Miaoyuan and the Demon Phoenix absent, they were naturally enticed to vie for the positions.

Using various means, they began their return from the Outer Star River to the Vast Expanse, each seeking to secure one of the coveted seats.

...

Fallen Moon Forbidden Area.

At the underground passage leading to the Delude Devil Abyss, Heixun, Green Incubus, and White Ghost from the Devil Palace gazed downward with frustration.

The Divine Kings of their sect had, seemingly in unison, chosen not to return to the Vast Expanse.

Reluctantly, they found themselves stepping forward to welcome visitors and confront the mounting pressures from all sides.

Whoosh!

"I hail from the Filthy Spirit Sect, and my name is Tang Dongjun. I've come to pay my respects to Taishi of the Divine Soul Sect."

A white-faced old man in ragged clothes hurried back to the Vast Expanse from the Delude Devil Abyss.

He gave Heixun a slight nod and stated with pride, "If you haven't heard of me, it simply means you're too young."

"The Sect Master of the Filthy Spirit Sect, nine thousand years ago, believed you had long since perished."

Green Incubus, suppressed in the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area, regarded the shabbily dressed yet dignified Tang Dongjun and remarked, "You've been to the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area before. I remember you."

"Who might you be?" inquired Tang Dongjun, filled with curiosity.

"I've refined that coffin lid," Green Incubus said with a chuckle.

"So it was you."

Having reached the Late Period of the Unrestrained Stage, Tang Dongjun, who had yet to be summoned by Han Miaoyuan or the Demon Phoenix, tempered his pride and stated, "I've specifically returned from the Outer Star River to pay my respects to Taishi."

"Well, you'll have to wait your turn," Green Incubus replied, neither overbearing nor servile.

"Get in line at the back!"

Xuanli's gaze was icy as he mocked Tang Dongjun, who had hurried back, eager to claim a piece of the action, "Those three sources of origin will never be yours."

"And who might you be?"

Tang Dongjun, out of touch after a long absence from Hao Ran, eyed Xuanli with confusion.

"I ascended to godhood ten thousand years ago. I am Xuanli, one of the leaders of the Ghost Wizard Sect. Alongside Youyu, I battled against the Demon Clan and the Divine Soul Sect. Before my fall, your Filthy Spirit Sect hadn't even been founded!"

"Ghost Wizard Sect, Lord Xuanli!" Tang Dongjun exclaimed, his demeanor shifting to one of reverence.

The Filthy Spirit Sect's cultivation methods, including the very foundation of the sect, traced back to deep roots with the Ghost Wizard Sect, and Tang Dongjun was well aware of their value.

"There's also me."

An elder, exuding an aura of wisdom and holding a red jade staff, smiled at Tang Dongjun and jested, "Young Tang, do you remember me?"

"You? Are you Old God Xu from the Cloud Water Sect?" Tang Dongjun, taken aback, lamented inwardly, "But didn't you pass away a long time ago?"

"Not entirely."

Xu Mingze glanced toward the Primordial Yang Sect and let out a wistful sigh. "Back when I vied for the divine throne against Lee Tianxin, he had the support of the Primordial Yang Sect, which led to his successful ascension to the highest echelon. As for me, I left the vast expanse and ceased to serve the five great powers, choosing instead to tend to my flowers and plants in the Outland Star River."

He continued with a hint of melancholy, "I never imagined I'd still be alive while Lee Tianxin has already passed on. It's quite unexpected."

After his enthusiastic return from the Outer Star River, Tang Dongjun's heart grew increasingly colder as he observed the scene unfold beyond Xuanli and Xu Mingze.

"Taiyuan Sect's Geng Tianhao!"

"Spirit Void Sect's Cao Ji!"

Tang Dongjun couldn't help but smile bitterly, realizing for the first time that there were many other enigmatic figures from the vast expanse, just like him. Without the Origin, they had no hope of attaining godhood, so they chose to remain in the Outer Star River indefinitely.

Now, with word spreading of three unclaimed Origins, all sorts of beings were emerging from the Outer Star River, eager to return.

...

In the Gray Domain, the Luan Bird, transformed into a beautiful girl in green, suddenly perked up next to the "Rebirth Nest" and let out an excited shriek, "Empress!"

Whoosh!

The nest, which had ceased its relentless absorption of Galaxy Extraordinary Talent, was engulfed in a dazzling divine glow, releasing a rich essence of plant energy.

The Hannya Divine Tree, now reduced in size, was the first to emerge within the nest, its roots intertwined with the Muddy Divine Soil. It swiftly rose from the nest, the divine tree and Muddy Divine Soil levitating in the air.

They knew the Gray Domain well. Having departed from the Tia Main Planet, they navigated past massive energy vortices, now seeking an ideal place to settle.

They dared not root themselves on the Tia Main Planet or continue to draw power from the star selected by Yu Yuan.

"Hannya Divine Tree!"

"Secular Bird Queen!"

High Priest Reid, Devaputra Yuv Qian, along with members from the Bright Clan, Star Race, and Banshee Clan, including Cadorath, Barol, and Rebecca, witnessed the Hannya Divine Tree and Muddy Divine Soil departing from the Tia Main Planet. They instantly sensed the gravity of the situation and were drawn closer involuntarily.

Shortly thereafter, the Secular Bird Queen, living up to expectations, also made her appearance within the nest.

In her human form, she wore a regal crown, her graceful figure surrounded by numerous ribbons of light, each brimming with energy that sent shivers down one's spine.

"The White Divine Tiger and Yu Zhu have been forcibly stripped of their Origin. They are now in the Phoenix Shrine."

With those words, she gestured lightly, and materialized high above the Tia Main Planet, beneath the swirling energy vortices.

She gazed across the distance at Yu Yuan.

"Understood."

Yu Yuan stepped out from the neck of the ground beetle armor, standing before Taishi, Ann Ziqing, and the others. He observed the Silver Moon Sect and their allies, all poised for confrontation, and fixed his gaze on the formidable Zhongli.

"I really don't appreciate being pressured by others."

It all started with Mo Baichuan relaying a message on behalf of the Geocentric Fire. This was followed by Zhong Chichen's demands on Xueyin, the wrath of the Desolate God, and the effort to pull Ji Ningshuang into the Gray Domain for assistance.

And now, they've resorted to using three primal sources as bait.

"Yu Yuan, I want to make it clear that I'm not in any rush. Please, don't get the wrong idea," Tan Junshan stated with composure.

"Perhaps you're not, but it certainly seems to be in quite a hurry."

"What?"

Tan Junshan was utterly baffled.

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