C1883 The Announcement
Sword Sect.
"Shuangshuang has lost her divine seat!"
Du Yuan, with shock and anger etched across his face, stood alongside the Grand Sword Immortals of the Unbound Stage before Lin Daoke, who was seated in a meditative pose.
An ancient essence, imbued with the subtle essence of stardust and frost, had returned from the extraterrestrial Star River, resonating with the Unbound Stage cultivators of the Sword Sect.
They quickly ascertained that this essence belonged to Ji Ningshuang!
Ji Ningshuang had set out for the Ashlands with Zhong Chichen, Loong Jie, Zu Ann, Mo Baichuan, and Untamed, intending to negotiate face-to-face with Yu Yuan—a plan endorsed by Lin Daoke.
Her divine seat had shattered unexpectedly, her essence had returned, and her fate was uncertain.
The revelation sent tremors through the ranks of the Sword Sect's Grand Sword Immortals, prompting even those stationed on the extraterrestrial moon and dispersed across the Sundering Isles and other strategic locations to hasten back.
"It has to be Boulderdawn's doing!"
Lu Hongpeng, bearer of the Sword of Seven Emotions, spoke with a grave tone, his eyes ablaze with fury. "In the remote reaches of the Star River, only Boulderdawn would dare such an act against her! Not even powerhouses like Cardo and Ballo would dare strike without cause, given the presence of our Sect Master!"
"Boulderdawn has gone too far!" Xue Jiu bellowed.
Gu Xingkui had lost his divine seat, and Du Yuan had been gravely injured. Ji Ningshuang, who had only just ascended to the highest echelons, had not even had the chance to illuminate the heavens before her divine seat was shattered.
The proud Sword Sect could no longer contain their indignation!
"In the depths of the Everlands, there are three sources capable of creating the highest beings. Our Sect Master has conveyed that all three sources could be offered to Boulderdawn for their judgment, provided Yu Yuan returns with the Solar Spirit. With such favorable terms, why would Boulderdawn refuse, and why would they target Shuangshuang?"
Du Yuan's frustration grew as he pondered the situation, his face quivering with anger.
After a torrent of impassioned condemnation, the eyes of the Grand Sword Immortals, all at the Unbound Stage, turned expectantly to Lin Daoke.
"Wait for the news to come back."
Lin Daoke leaned against a stone pillar, his head bowed, not looking at the angry Grand Sword Immortals. "Stay close to the Everlands for now, or remain within the inner areas, at most venturing to the extraterrestrial sun and moon."
He could intervene in time with his sword if any Grand Sword Immortals from the Sword Sect were ambushed in the Everlands.
As long as he could wield his sword, he could save the lives of the sect's Grand Sword Immortals, ensuring their survival.
"Sect Master!"
Several Grand Sword Immortals voiced their discontent.
"Mr. Han should be returning soon. We need him to inform us about the events transpiring outside," Lin Daoke said with restraint.
"Mr. Han?"
Upon hearing that Han Miaoyuan was due back shortly, the Sword Sect's experts, eager to delve into the Ashlands due to Ji Ningshuang's situation, forced themselves to remain calm.
Shortly thereafter, the ground shook violently. Boom! Boom! Boom! The Euwrea Continent, home to the Sword Sect, Ebon Star, and Sunlit Order, quaked as numerous mountains crumbled and sect buildings shattered.
The strange tremors originated from deep within the earth!
Simultaneously, a colossal cavern appeared in the Godsblight Marsh on the distant Aetherius Continent, resembling a gigantic finger piercing the ground.
"The cosmic order deep within the earth has been disturbed," Lin Daoke said with a slight squint and a stoic face. "Only Taishi of the Boulderdawn could manipulate the cosmic order of the Everlands and cause such upheaval across both continents."
"Boulderdawn is indeed causing trouble!" Xue Jiu exclaimed, standing up in a fit of anger.
Lin Daoke gave him a frowning glance. Xue Jiu, intent on making his way to the Moonfall Sanctuary, sat back down obediently, grumbling, "The Boulderdawn and the Skyreach Consortium have many people in the Everlands."
"Wait," Lin Daoke commanded, his expression chilling.
Xue Jiu, not daring to contravene, nodded in agreement, "Understood."
The Shadow's Keep.
Crow Hag, previously wavering, gazed upon the archdemons loyal to the Shadow's Keep and the human warriors adept in the dark arts. With resolve, she declared, "We will migrate beyond the stars, setting our sights on the Darkpinion region."
The loss of the Astral Tiger and Yu Zhu's essence had shattered her pride and confidence.
Uncertain of the fate that awaited if they remained in the Everlands, she feared that Untamed's savage nature might erupt, leading to a slaughter within the Shadow's Keep.
Moreover, the return of Ji Ningshuang's essence had sent Crow Hag into a state of utter panic.
The Everlands had never before been as opulent as they were on this day!
Four primal essences lay deep within the earth, suppressed by Lin Daoke, with no one daring to merge with them and ascend to the highest echelon.
It was all too peculiar and eerie.
Crow Hag increasingly sensed that the entire Everlands were repelling them, perhaps on the verge of a bloody purge at any moment.
The sooner they departed, the better!
Thus, under Crow Hag's directive, archdemons of the eighth level, Monster Lords of the ninth level, and Solar Spirit powerhouses like Zhan Tianxiang formed an evilkind army and embarked on their extraterrestrial migration.
Crow Hag remained in the Everlands, activating several Voidfarers previously seized from the Otherkin, intending to transport the lower echelons of the evilkind.
Even before Han Miaoyuan returned with news of Taishi, Crow Hag had already commenced the relocation of the evilkind.
...
Tyria.
When Taishi reemerged before the crowd in his bronze coffin, Zhou You approached Shi Jing'er, Jun Chen, and the others, his forehead beaded with sweat, his voice quivering. "Lord Taishi intends to cleanse the Everlands."
"What?" Shi Jing'er was taken aback.
Zhou You concisely recounted the events.
Duan Yisheng, Zhongli Dapan, Shi Jing'er, and the rest, including Zhou Cangmin and Yuan Lianyao who had arrived from the Everlands, were left dumbfounded by the ultimatum issued to Han Miaoyuan.
Three years!
They were to grant Han Miaoyuan three years to relocate the inhabitants of the Everlands. After that period, he would return with Yu Yuan and the God-Kings of the Boulderdawn to resolve the longstanding feuds.
He would not hesitate to shatter the mountains and rivers of the Everlands and smash the so-called Central World that had astonished the myriad races of the extraterrestrial realms!
"Are you serious?"
Duan Yisheng of the Starmoon Sect found his voice strained as he spoke, "So many mortals, so many sects... are we truly going to... just leave the Everlands behind?"
"I gave a deadline."
Taishi, who had shown remarkable resolve, glanced at the Dragon Slaying Stage and said, "This was probably what Taiyin had in mind back in the day. I'm merely voicing his thoughts and putting them into action. If I truly had no regard for consequences, I could sneak back into the Everlands and fracture its very ground into countless pieces before Lin Daoke could draw his sword."
Taking a deep breath, Taishi continued, "As you've all seen, the Ashlands are filled with numerous stars, and the situation beyond our world has changed. You can certainly use the Voidfarer to transport your sect's disciples to the starry worlds beyond, where protective walls exist."
He glanced at Taixu and instructed, "Keep a close watch on the Starpierced. Its maturation is of utmost importance! Once it matures, we'll need it to create a barrier that can isolate and cleanse the cosmic energies for some of the stars within the Ashlands."
Taixu departed with a smile, having waited for this moment for tens of thousands of years.
"Prepare yourselves," Taishi advised Shi Jing'er, Duan Yisheng, and Zhongli Dapan. "If the Everlands fall apart, all supreme beings and Origins might be destroyed in an instant. Ascending to divinity through the Origin of the Everlands might not be the wisest choice. I trust you all have some thoughts on this matter."
"The Tiger, Yu Zhu, Ji Ningshuang, and other bearers of divine positions could lose them just as easily."
"You've observed the will of the Everlands through the Starpierced Armor. It lacks human emotions, possessing intelligence but existing as a being on an entirely different plane."
"Moreover, it may have been compromised!"
...
At the edge of the colorful sea.
Yu Yuan and Tan Xiaotian's brows furrowed as they suddenly turned their attention to Jihui, who had remained behind in anticipation of the Dark Phoenix's descent. They sensed an unusual disturbance.
"Dark Phoenix!"
The Abyssal Leviathan and the Abyssal Greater Basilisk were suddenly invigorated.
Whoosh!
A figure darted in, petite with dark skin, her body encased in a seven-colored crystalline blood membrane, resembling a divine being not yet emerged from its chrysalis.
"Yu Zhu?"
Tan Xiaotian huffed, his interest waning abruptly. He sensed that Jihui might have already unraveled her scheme against the Dark Phoenix.
"Don't touch the ground!"
Yu Yuan called out, streaking over the colorful sea like a streak of blood-colored lightning, steadying Yu Zhu who had just stepped through the Origin Gate and was curiously about to set foot on the sea's surface.
Knowing it was Yu Zhu, not the Dark Phoenix, how could Yu Yuan allow her to be stripped of her vitality by the Abyssal Gate?
Especially since she had already lost her divine status.
