C1871 The Invitation of the Abyss

Suspended in the void, the Secular Bird Queen manifested in human form.

Upon her arrival, the ground beetle retreated into the earth, too intimidated to even draw breath. As the most powerful being among the Giant Beasts, she instilled a profound trepidation in the juvenile ground beetle.

Her ability to usurp the ground beetle's bloodline was the cause of this fear, especially since the Disaster Snake had recently perished at her hand.

Three nests of pure energy orbited her, exuding the essences of death, destruction, and venom.

The Destruction Nest sprawled in the vastness, while the Death Nest resided within the Dark Wing Starfield. She had siphoned the energy that constructed these nests, materializing it beside her.

The energy nest behind her, teeming with toxic power, resembled a mass of serpents writhing into existence.

This was the bloodline law she had acquired from the Disaster Snake.

"Secular Bird Queen!"

Human practitioners and esteemed Bloodline warriors from various races all gazed upward at her.

"Such a resplendent Secular Bird."

Cadorath of the Bright Clan's eyes sparkled with appreciation. She licked her lips and said with a smile, "How I wish for eternal life."

Chen Qinghuang, having traveled from the Tia Main Planet, paid no heed to her musings.

Among those who had sought to slay Chen Qinghuang a hundred millennia prior were members of the Bright Clan.

Chen Qinghuang looked down at the people within the translucent barrier and declared, "The White Divine Tiger of the vast expanse and the newly exalted Yu Zhu have been deprived of their essence."

"Deprived?"

A wave of unease swept over the crowd as they remembered the ground beetle's recent plight and the disturbances from the azure star of the vast expanse, prompting a flurry of speculation.

With a whoosh, Yu Yuan and the Secular Bird Queen stepped onto the Dragon Slash Platform, expressing concern, "Are you unharmed?"

"I owe it gratitude," Chen Qinghuang replied with an icy tone, her face beneath the beaded curtain aglow with an otherworldly light. "Without its intervention, escaping the Dark Wing Starfield would have been exceedingly difficult."

A subtle smile played on her lips as her thoughts echoed in Yu Yuan's mind.

"Back in the Great Swamp, I detected that the Destruction Nest was targeted by a peculiar force. As the seven-colored dragon was impaled and drained by the branches, an extraordinary power infiltrated."

"That power originates from the very heart of Zhong Chichen, a force he himself can't even detect."

Chen Qinghuang clarified, "I didn't want you to traverse the vast nest of the Great Swamp, nor did I want the two Dragon Gods to enter. I feared it was plotting to harm me."

"Last time in the Gray Domain, the two Dragon Gods conspired with the young spinosaurus to seize my bloodline."

"I've come to realize I was mistaken."

Chen Qinghuang refrained from going into detail, but Yu Yuan had already grasped that the target was the Demon Phoenix.

"The Demon Phoenix is much more formidable now. The entities beneath the Great Swamp cannot compel the Sky Tiger and Yu Zhu to discipline the Demon Phoenix. What it can do is retract its essence, depriving the Demon Phoenix of two powerful allies."

Following a brief covert communication, Chen Qinghuang stated, "I need time to heal."

Yu Yuan acknowledged with a somber nod.

Chen Qinghuang circled the energy-formed nests, then soared toward the Muddy Divine Soil and the direction of the Hannya Divine Tree. Once the divine tree matured and she received some of its branches, she could weave them into a new nest.

"Is she suggesting that the Great Swamp has stripped the Sky Tiger and Yu Zhu of their original essence?"

Tan Junshan waited until the Secular Bird Queen had departed before speaking with a look of alarm, "Does this mean the will of the Great Swamp can arbitrarily reclaim its essence? We've never heard of such a thing before!"

"The Supreme Demon Phoenix seems immune to such deprivation," Taishi declared.

"But it's more than just taking it back..."

Given the current circumstances, Duan Yisheng, Jun Chen, Tan Junshan, and the others had witnessed the Origin Soul, embodying the will of the Great Swamp, strike down the ground beetle. It appeared capable of subtly influencing all those merged with their essence. Both the Supreme Demon Phoenix and the Demon Gods with an essence would be under its sway.

"It typically lies dormant, awakening only briefly."

"Now, it seems to be in a rare moment of lucidity, perhaps once in several millennia."

Yu Yuan left one detail unsaid.

The last awakening likely coincided with the destruction of the Divine Soul Sect.

Han Miaoyuan and the Demon Phoenix had once conspired together, with the supreme beings of various realms responding in kind. Perhaps this was also a display of its will.

"We need to rethink our strategy."

Duan Yisheng turned away, watching Barol, Leo, and other members of the Star Race hastily depart. The "Child of the Stars" had not been undone by the ground beetle.

It was the will of the Boundless Underground.

The words of Chen Qinghuang, coupled with the loss of the White Divine Tiger and Yu Zhu's origin souls, had unsettled him. He seriously considered the alternative presented by Yu Yuan and Taishi.

—To forge a Divine Throne from the new Boundless World!

The Divine Soul Sect had depended on the Boundless World, and now, with renewed strength, why not use the original Boundless Great World to condense the Divine Throne?

Why had the Divine Throne inexplicably returned to the Boundless World?

The Boundless World already had a Divine Throne ready to merge with, so why did the Divine Soul Sect insist on expending more effort and resources to create a new Boundless World? What was their ultimate goal?

They sought to free themselves from the constraints of the Boundless World's will!

Duan Yisheng had an epiphany and immediately grasped Yu Yuan's intentions. He realized why Yu Yuan had sent the Old Ape from the Great Swamp away and sealed the passage between Heaven Opening Flare Star and the Boundless World, preventing other supreme beings from entering.

Yu Yuan was wary of the will beneath the Boundless World.

"We don't have to rush back to the Boundless World. Regarding those three original sources... let's just observe how things unfold."

With his decision made, Duan Yisheng gestured to Tan Junshan and Jun Chen to stay calm and not leave the sanctuary where the ground beetle was concealed. "Let's wait patiently, wait for the ground beetle's transformation to be complete, and wait for more news from the Boundless World."

"I'll follow your lead."

Tan Junshan said with a smile before staying behind.

"The internal affairs of the Boundless World are indeed complex and varied."

Cadorath, brimming with curiosity, fixed her gaze on Yu Yuan and blinked. A slight smile graced her lips as she suddenly offered, "If the Abyss Gate requires combat support, I'm available to assist."

Yu Yuan was taken aback.

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

The High Priest of the Devaputra Race, Reid, spoke with a deep voice from within his shadowy eye sockets, the magical fire churning. "Yu Yuan, there's no need to worry about Lord Beilstein. Whether in our realm or the abyss, his life is not in jeopardy. I am convinced that Lord Beilstein has transcended the likes of the original Titan and the spinosaurus."

"It's the truth!"

Cadorath, with a stern face, declared, "Times are ever advancing, and all creatures are progressing. Beilstein is no exception, nor is the Demon Phoenix. Lin Daoke, along with individuals like Tan Xiaotian, are continually crafting miracles."

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

...

At the Abyss Gate.

"That was a close call!"

From the swiftly forming Origin Realm Gate, Extreme Wisdom emerged, his soul wrapped in the Soul Summoning Flag, followed by Tan Xiaotian, who rose from the Dark Cushion.

The Demon Master, clad in a flowing black cape, straightened his disheveled hair, his expression somber. "The tiger did not perish in battle, yet he left behind his origin! Odd, his and Yu Zhu's origins have vanished, yet mine remains unaffected?"

"Hmm!"

Looking up, Tan Xiaotian first noticed the Chaos Roc and the Abyss Goanna, as well as the young spinosaurus transformed into a formidable youth.

After a soft exclamation, he spotted Yu Yuan above the multicolored sea and couldn't help but scoff, "Such misfortune! I knew it wouldn't be easy the moment I saw you at the Abyss Gate!"

"The Demon Phoenix likely won't come now," sighed Extreme Wisdom.

"Something must have happened to the condensed essence deep within the ocean. Otherwise, how could the Barbarian Tiger and Yu Zhu have suddenly lost their origins?" Tan Xiaotian furrowed his brow.

"What's your take on this?" Extreme Wisdom turned to Yu Yuan.

"What exactly is the Origin Realm God desperate to find underground? And during your long drift through the abyss, have you ever heard of any Abyss Treasures going missing?" Yu Yuan countered with his own questions.

"If you're seeking answers, perhaps you should take a closer look," suggested Extreme Wisdom, his soul form gesturing towards the Origin Realm Gate, beckoning Yu Yuan. "Weren't you curious to explore it yourself once upon a time? Maybe after you step inside, you'll find the answers you're looking for."

"No way!"

The Chaos Roc and the smaller spinosaurus exclaimed in unison.

Tan Xiaotian let out a sinister laugh, "The Origin Realm isn't dangerous. It's merely the souls of the Abyss's creatures that are wandering. If you'd like to enter, I can guide you."

"Are we talking about entering the Origin Realm or the Abyss with our souls?" Yu Yuan asked, smiling.

"Either is possible. If you're willing, I can escort your soul into the Abyss," Ji Hui offered, bowing slightly.

"Why go through all that trouble? How about I just shatter the Abyss Gate instead?"

Yu Yuan, who had been sitting, rose slowly. The colorful ripples at his feet began to churn intensely as clusters of colorful clouds converged upon him. "One stomp from me, and this gate will be no more."

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