C1871 The Invitation from the Abyss

In the void, the Secular Bird Queen materialized in her human form. Upon her arrival, the young Starpierced Armor retreated into the earth, too intimidated to even breathe. As the mightiest of the giant beasts still in existence, her presence instilled a profound dread in the Starpierced Armor. She possessed the power to usurp its bloodline, a fate that had recently befallen the Chaos Serpent.

Surrounding her were three nests of pure energy, emanating the scents of death, destruction, and venom. The Nest of Perdition, situated in the vast Everlands, and the Deathwing Lair, located within the Darkpinion Astral Domain, had their energies siphoned by her and manifested at her side. Behind her, the energy nest brimming with lethal poison appeared mottled, as if formed by the slithering of numerous serpents—those were the bloodline rules she had acquired from the Chaos Serpent.

"Secular Bird Queen!" Cultivators of humankind and the elite Blood Warriors of the Otherkin looked up to her in awe.

"Such a resplendent secular bird," Cardo of the Dawnbringers remarked, her eyes shining with admiration. She licked her lips and added with a smile, "I truly wish for immortality."

Chen Qinghuang, having journeyed from Tyria, paid no mind to the murmured wishes. Among those who had once conspired against her were members of the Dawnbringers.

Chen Qinghuang gazed down at the people within the wall and declared, "The Moonfang Tiger of the Everlands and the newly exalted Yu Zhu have been deprived of their essence."

"Deprived?" The crowd's spirits plummeted, recalling the Starpierced Armor's recent plight and the strange disturbances from the Everlands' azure star, which sparked a flurry of speculation.

With a whoosh, Yu Yuan stepped onto the Dragon Slaying Stage, rising above the shattered terrain. He looked at the Secular Bird Queen with concern, "Are you alright?"

"I owe it my thanks," Chen Qinghuang replied, her voice cool and detached. A mysterious glow radiated from beneath her pearl curtain as she continued softly, "Without its intervention, escaping the Darkpinion would have been a challenge." A faint smile played on her lips, sending a ripple of thought through Yu Yuan's mind.

In the Great Marsh, I encountered two Dragon Gods, Zhong Chichen and Loong Jie. I detected that the Nest of Perdition had been sealed by an aura. As the Seven-Colored Dragon was impaled by branches, draining its vital energy, an unusual force infiltrated it."

"That force originated from the very heart of Zhong Chichen, unbeknownst to him."

Chen Qinghuang clarified, "I was reluctant to have you traverse the Everlands' nest, nor did I want the Dragon Gods to enter. I feared it was scheming against me."

"Previously in the Ashlands, the two Dragon Gods had allied with the little spinosaurus to seize my bloodline."

"I've since realized my mistake."

Chen Qinghuang refrained from further explanation, but Yu Yuan grasped the situation. The target was the Dark Phoenix.

"The Dark Phoenix has grown much stronger. The subterranean creatures of the Everlands cannot be commanded by their Origin to discipline the Dark Phoenix. Its only recourse is to reclaim its Origin, weakening the Dark Phoenix by stripping away two of its powerful allies."

Following a brief exchange of covert messages, Chen Qinghuang stated, "I require time to heal."

Yu Yuan acknowledged with a somber nod.

Chen Qinghuang surveyed the trio of energy-infused nests before soaring towards the Phoenix Ashes and the Uxthar Tree. Once the divine tree matured and she received some branches, she could fashion them into a new nest.

"Is she suggesting that Everlands has stripped the Astral Tiger and Yu Zhu of their Origin?" Tan Junshan pondered aloud, his face etched with alarm, after the Secular Bird Queen departed. "Is it possible that the Will of Everlands can arbitrarily reclaim its Origin? This is unheard of!"

"It seems unable to reclaim the supreme Dark Phoenix," Taishi declared.

"It's more than just reclamation..."

Having witnessed the events firsthand, Duan Yisheng, Jun Chen, Tan Junshan, and the others observed the Primal Soul, representing the Will of Everlands, strike down the Starpierced. It appeared capable of subtly influencing all those merged with their Origin. Both the supreme beings from Everlands and the Dark Deities with an Origin could be manipulated by its will.

"It usually lies dormant, awakening only briefly."

"Currently, it seems to be in a rare state of consciousness, perhaps a once-in-tens-of-thousands-of-years event."

Yu Yuan left something unsaid.

The last awakening likely coincided with the destruction of Boulderdawn.

At that time, Han Miaoyuan and the Dark Phoenix had plotted together, with the supreme beings responding in kind. It may well have been an expression of its will.

"We need to rethink our approach."

Duan Yisheng turned away as he watched Ballo, Leo, and the other Starborn hastily depart. The Starchild's dire state wasn't the work of Starpierced.

It was the Will of Everlands.

Chen Qinghuang's revelation, along with the loss of the Moonfang Tiger and Yu Zhu's origin, sent a shiver of apprehension through him. He earnestly contemplated the alternative offered by Yu Yuan and Taishi.

—To forge a Divine Throne from the New Everlands!

Boulderdawn had once depended on Everlands, now robust once more. Why not let Taishi, Taixu, and Tianqi refine their divine positions in the original Everlands?

Why did the Soul-Capturing Divine Throne inexplicably return to Everlands?

Why go through the effort and resources to create New Everlands instead of merging with an existing Divine Throne? What was Boulderdawn's true aim?

To break free from the Will of Everlands!

Duan Yisheng had an epiphany, instantly grasping why Yu Yuan had sent the Old Ape from the Marsh away and sealed the passage between Eiwrone and Everlands, barring entry to other supreme beings.

Yu Yuan was guarding against the Will of the Deep from Everlands.

"We don't need to rush back to Everlands. As for those three primal sources... let's just observe for now."

Resolved, Duan Yisheng gestured to Tan Junshan and Jun Chen to stay put and keep their cool within the sanctuary of the Starpierced Armor. "Let's wait patiently, for the transformation of Starpierced to complete, and for more news from Everlands."

"I'll take your advice."

Tan Junshan smiled and took his leave.

"The Everlands certainly offer a diverse array of activities."

Filled with curiosity, Cardo gazed at Yu Yuan and blinked, a slight smile playing at the corners of her mouth. She suddenly said, "If there's a need for combat strength at the Abyssal Gate, I'm available to assist."

Yu Yuan was taken aback.

"The Abyssal Gate? Is there something amiss there?" Rebecca asked, puzzled.

Reid, the High Priest of the Sky Fiend Clan, with dark fire swirling in his deep-set eyes, spoke in a low tone, "Yu Yuan, there's no need to worry about Lord Bertain. Whether in our realm or in the Abyss, he is not in mortal danger. I am convinced that Lord Bertain has transcended the Titan Spinosaurus."

"That's a fact!"

Cardo declared earnestly, "The era is always advancing, and all beings are progressing. Bertain is no exception, and neither is the Dark Phoenix. Lin Daoke and Tan Xiaotian are continually working miracles, and others like Tan Xiaotian are emerging."

"Even the ancient and once invincible can be surpassed!"

...

At the Abyssal Gate.

"That was a close call!"

From a swiftly formed Origin Gate, Jihui emerged, his soul wrapped in the Wraithbanner, followed by Tan Xiaotian, who was seated on an Ebon Meditation Mat.

The Demon Lord, draped in a flowing black cape and straightening his disheveled hair, looked somber. "The tiger didn't die in battle but left behind his essence! Odd, his and Yu Zhu's essence vanished, yet mine remains unaffected?"

"Hmm!"

Looking up, Tan Xiaotian first noticed the Abyssal Leviathan and the Abyssal Greater Basilisk, as well as the little spinosaurus transformed into a formidable young man.

After a soft exclamation, he spotted Yu Yuan across the colorful expanse of the sea and couldn't help but snort disdainfully, "Just my luck. I had a feeling things wouldn't go smoothly the moment I saw you at the Abyssal Gate!"

"The Dark Phoenix likely won't come now," Jihui remarked with a sigh.

"Has something gone awry with the essence condensed within the Everlands? Otherwise, how did the tiger and Yu Zhu suddenly lose their essence?" Tan Xiaotian furrowed his brow.

"What's your take on this?" Jihui inquired, turning to Yu Yuan.

"Why is the Origin Deity so desperate to reach the underground? What is he trying to connect with? And since you've been adrift in the Abyss for so long, have you ever heard of any Abyssal Treasures?" Yu Yuan countered with his own questions instead of responding.

"If you're curious about the answer, perhaps you should see for yourself," Jihui suggested.

In his soul form, Jihui gestured towards the Origin Gate he had manifested and beckoned to Yu Yuan. "You've always wanted to explore it, haven't you? Maybe once you're inside, you'll find the answers you're looking for."

"Absolutely not!" The Abyssal Leviathan and the little spinosaurus exclaimed in unison.

Tan Xiaotian let out a sinister chuckle. "The Origin Realm isn't dangerous. It's merely the souls of the Abyss's denizens that are adrift. If you wish to enter, I can guide you."

"Are we talking about entering the Origin Realm or the Abyss?" Yu Yuan asked, a smile playing on his lips.

"Either is possible. If you're willing, I can escort your soul into the Abyss," Jihui offered, bowing in invitation.

"Why bother with such complications? What if I simply shatter the Abyssal Gate?" Yu Yuan mused.

Rising slowly from his seated position, the colorful ripples at his feet began to churn intensely as clouds of vibrant hues converged upon him. "One stomp from me, and this gate will be no more."

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