C1908 Enhanced Soulforge Matrix

After Jihui and Yu Yuan had vanished, in a nearby run-down human village, the robust young man who had earlier earned Jihui's approval was nestled in a house made of dark stone blocks.

In the dim room, his pitch-black eyes glowed as if lit from within. The chaotic and violent energies of the Abyss converged on him from the shadows. His face was alight with wild joy as he sat with his arms crossed over his chest, practicing the cultivation method Jihui had imparted to him. He could sense a mysterious force, a gift from Jihui at an acupoint in his chest, aiding him in gathering energy. The energies, omnipresent and both familiar and feared by the Abyss's human inhabitants, now seemed to yield to him.

Previously, the tribe's elders and many robust, well-trained warriors had attempted to assimilate this energy into their bodies, as other Abyss clans had done. They either perished, unable to withstand the energy's violent and chaotic nature, or, despite their efforts, failed to incorporate the Abyss's power into their bodies. He was the first to succeed.

"This is incredible!" he exclaimed, unable to contain his exuberance in the darkness.

"Uh, Grandpa Zhang?" he suddenly uttered, noticing a large head poking through the broken tiles outside his humble dwelling. This was the village's mainstay, the chief who taught them how to combat Abyss creatures, how to construct traps, and how to slice and preserve meat.

"I've stumbled upon a spell for cultivating the soul. Give it a try," the towering elder said, tossing a tome bound in animal hide into the room.

With a smile, he added, "Strengthening the soul might offer us a path forward. I know you're striving to find a way out for us. So, give it a shot. Maybe this spell will assist you."

Leaving the book and his words behind, the old man slipped away quietly. In the seventh layer of the Abyss, a world that Jihui and Yu Yuan had visited but not thoroughly explored, the old man traversed the human villages. He was the chief of those villages, the leader of the intelligent life, revered by all.

Now, he stood by a deep, seemingly bottomless ancient well, looking up and silently chuckling with a wide grin. His tall figure was framed by a thick, fiery red beard that covered most of his cheeks, and his eyes were bloodshot, adding to his intense appearance.

His devil soul was bound to various creatures of the Abyss, extending beyond merely the human race.

Nor was it confined to the seventh level alone.

Currently, there are hundreds of his devil souls active within the Abyss, subtly influencing its major dynamics in his unique way.

Jihui, Soulreaver Grimes, and the other so-called Evil Gods were unable to locate him across the vast expanse of the Abyss.

"Good disciple, I'm eager to see what choice you'll make."

After a moment, he beamed, squinting as if envisioning the numerous pathways connecting to the Origin Realm. He chuckled to himself, "Trying to send me back? Ha, haven't you heard that it's easy to summon a god but hard to dismiss one?"

...

In the Origin Realm.

Next to the open Origin Gate that led to the Abyss stood a massive, prism-shaped Dreadlord, a colossal, green-leaf-like Realm Devourer, Soulreaver Grimes, and many other bizarre Evil Gods. They loomed above, observing the scene below with a detached coolness.

Youyu, Kaiya, and two Gods of Ghosts from the Wraithlands also awaited at the gateway.

All exhibited remarkable self-control and patience.

They were all anticipating Jihui's return with Yu Yuan's Lunar Spirit, curious about the decision Yu Yuan would make upon his return.

This was particularly true for the Evil Gods of the Abyss who aspired to explore another world.

Through Grimes, they learned that Yu Yuan's peculiar Solar Spirit, overseeing the Abyssal Gate, was crucial for the two worlds to interconnect. Consequently, no one dared to underestimate him.

Jihui had persuaded most of the Evil Gods to embrace the risk and attempt to reach the Everlands once the Abyssal Gate shattered. After all, they all originated from the same Abyss.

The Evil Gods also believed that once Jihui escorted Yu Yuan into the Abyss, Yu Yuan, having emerged from the Everlands, would likely become a formidable ally upon discovering the Abyss's secrets.

The humans who had established themselves in the Everlands through that very means had grown incredibly powerful and would surely welcome them.

Given the vastness and mystery of that world, with its connections to other realms, they were naturally entitled to a share of its riches.

If the former ruler of the Abyss had already taken the lead, their subsequent arrival should be met with open arms, shouldn't it?

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Jihui and Yu Yuan made their return. The intelligent lifeforms scattered around the Origin Gate, be they the Evil Gods of the Abyss or the Gods of Ghosts from the Wraithlands, naturally turned their attention to them.

"Sir," Jihui said with increasing reverence in both speech and demeanor. He deeply admired the leader who had elevated the Boulderdawn among the human race and had dispersed the remnants of the Naga's influence, the Titan Spinosaurus. "You've seen our predicament in the Abyss."

"I know you'll have to make a choice. Regardless of our future stance, I will respect your decision."

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Jihui's soul, wrapped in a cyan-black cape that had journeyed through the Abyss, seemed to have absorbed the violent, chaotic energies there and brought them back to the illusory Origin Realm. He appeared to have grown suddenly stronger.

The cape, with its surface shimmering like ripples on water, concealed within it the Dark Reincarnation Technique tied to the Mindscape. It seemed he had re-consecrated the Lunar Meridian in the Abyss, transforming it into one of his divine abilities.

"My apologies for the long wait," Jihui said with a note of regret to the three Gods of Ghosts and to Kaiya.

But then, he cast off the cyan-black cape, now imbued with the Abyss's power. It spread across the sky of the Origin Realm, giving the otherwise skyless Mindscape a new, cyan-black canopy.

The sky was dark, oppressive, and suffocating, releasing a maddening power that seemed all too familiar to Yu Yuan. It resembled the sky over the Moonfall Sanctuary, an enhanced version of the Soulforge Matrix.

Within this cyan-black expanse, there were numerous Spirit Arts and truths from the Mind Magic, the Root of the Lunar Meridian, the Wraithlands, and beyond. It was akin to the blood-red sky of the Primal Blood Continent, except it transformed the vital energy and mystique of all living blood into Soul Power and a myriad of cosmic orders of Spirit Magic.

"I will gladly accept the Origin Realm and the Mindscape."

Jihui's ethereal soul form settled between Youyu, Matina, and Wagner. He focused on Youyu, saying, "You have died, losing the flesh and blood body of humanity. The puppet body you later crafted from Shadow Moon Essence is no longer of human kin."

"Without the essence of humanity, you, now merely a Spirit of the Dead, are no longer part of our race."

Youyu didn't quite grasp his meaning, but he didn't question it.

"Furthermore, your persistent resistance led to its ultimate rejection of you."

As Jihui continued to speak, divine punishment rained down from above.

Bolts of thick, eerie green lightning, as if refined by the powers of the Abyss, materialized in the Origin Realm's skies, plummeting from the dark blue heavens.

Youyu, now in the God of Ghosts Realm, was instantly engulfed by the green lightning.

He appeared to be at the center of a colossal lightning column, withstanding the relentless assault of countless bolts.

Within the massive column, Youyu's God of Ghosts spirited body dissipated into wisps of smoke, coalescing only to be scattered anew by the relentless strikes.

Youyu didn't perish immediately. Having reached the God of Ghosts Realm, he was evidently fighting for survival.

Yet, upon losing his origin, much of his Spirit Magic was stripped away, and what remained was now in Jihui's possession, leaving Youyu at a clear disadvantage.

"Lightning like this has no place in the Origin Realm!" Matina exclaimed.

"It's the Mirage of the Mind's illusion!"

Youyu's cries echoed from within the lightning column, emanating from his smoke-like spirited body, "Upon his return to the Abyss, he became tainted with its power, emerging far stronger."

"The origin can grow stronger in the Abyss?"

Matina, Wagner, and Kaiya were stunned by Youyu's revelation.

"Sir."

Jihui, standing beside the column of light, addressed Yu Yuan with courteous formality, "You are free to leave. You may return to the Wraithlands or venture beyond. In the tangible world, your soul and the Solar Spirit can commune. Take your time to reflect and decide your next course of action."

"As for them..."

Jihui gazed at Matina, Wagner, and Kaiya, who approached with a devil soul in tow, and expressed his regret, "I'm sorry, but there's no way out for them now. Han Qi has also received that individual's endorsement. He's set to take charge of the Wraithlands and attempt to master the workings of the Primal Vitality."

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