C1909 It Wanted to Kill Him

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Columns of greenish-black light materialized from nowhere, skillfully conjured by Jihui. Black tiles spread out, and stones of the same hue were rapidly stacked, quickly forming a grand and solemn palace.

Once the palace was upheld by the pillars of light, the Evil Gods from the Abyss transformed into more normal appearances.

They dispersed, softly chuckling with ill intent beside the columns of greenish-black light.

The Dreadlord assumed the form of a seductive Shadowkin woman, her hands deftly holding a small prism as if she were applying makeup in a mirror, meticulously crafting her unfamiliar shape.

This was to avoid causing panic in the other world once the Abyssal Gate shattered.

In her true form, she would face many inconveniences and be seen as an aberration, a heretic.

Her plan was to first dominate the Shadowkin, gaining their allegiance with her divine image, and then gradually extend her influence to the other creatures of that world.

The Realm Devourer took on the guise of a gaunt Shadowkin man, his features and brooding gaze eerily reminiscent of the deceased Diggs.

Diggs, a Shadowkin who had once entered the Origin Realm, had worshipped him as an Evil God—never the Origin Deity.

The pus-covered Soulreaver morphed into an alien beast resembling a Stormwraith, its boils transforming into mere bumps. Though still unsightly, it was at least less revolting.

The other Evil Gods underwent transformations within the temple as well, some becoming humans, others Starborn, warriors of the Silverscale Tribe, or battle-hungry Shura.

These Evil Gods were evidently well-versed in the structure of the Everlands. They hadn't yet arrived in their real bodies but had already devised plans for their activities once the Abyssal Gate fell.

"Sir, please return first."

Within the confines of the sealed temple, Jihui gestured with courteous dismissal. Yu Yuan's Lunar Spirit promptly departed.

He gazed upon the temple that merged with the dark blue firmament, aware that Youyu, Matina, Wagner, and Kaiya were all trapped within.

His Lunar Spirit, possessing only the strength of a Ghost King, seemed powerless to rescue Youyu.

He carefully weighed his options, contemplating whether he should return to the Wraithlands first.

...

In the Wraithlands, above the dark soil coveted by Han Qi, not only were Yu Yuan and Kaiya present, but also Yu Yiyi, who had been led there, along with Wagner's Skeleton Horse and Fernand. The Origin Gate stood open, yet it was unclear what had transpired, as no more ghosts dared to venture through. The Origin Gate, bridged to the Mindscape by Youyu, was now seen by the formidable ghosts as a horrifying black hole. Those ghosts near the Origin Gate felt as though their souls were on the verge of being shredded.

Yu Yuan and the ghosts sensed that something was amiss, though they were mostly in the dark about the truth. Kaiya was the exception. "Your Lunar Spirit was summoned by Jihui to the Abyss. Despite everyone's warnings against it, you wouldn't listen," she said. "The new Evil Gods from the Abyss are more powerful than before. It seems they've struck a deal with Jihui and are following his lead. I, Matina, and the other Evil Gods are all waiting for you and Jihui to emerge."

"..."

"You've returned!" she exclaimed. "You seem hesitant. I can't fathom what you've been through in the Abyss, but you look deeply troubled, as if wrestling with some complex issue."

"Jihui made his move out of the blue, trapping Youyu and striking him with a column of lightning. He, along with the Origin that entered the Abyss, has returned much stronger. The Origin of the Everlands has transformed into a green-black sky in the Origin Realm, reminiscent of our Boulderdawn's Soulforge Matrix!"

"This is troubling; Youyu can't break free. And we... we've been left behind in the Origin Realm by Jihui. You seem to be constantly hesitating about something."

"..."

Beneath the ancient tree, the towering and valiant Kaiya, akin to the Demon God Bertain, narrated the events unfolding in the Origin Realm in real-time. Thanks to her account, Yu Yuan, Yu Yiyi, and the Skeleton Horse were all apprised of the current situation in the Origin Realm.

"Jihui has declared that Han Qi has won the favor of the Will of Everlands and will assume control of the Wraithlands. This is because Wagner and Matina, the two Gods of Ghosts, have been detained in the Origin Realm by Jihui and may never return."

Kaiya shifted her gaze from Yu Yuan to the ancient tree, maintaining her composure as she spoke. "The loss of one of my devil souls in the Origin Realm is merely a minor setback for me. However, for Wagner and your chosen Matina, if their Spirits of the Dead are extinguished in the Origin Realm..."

With a deliberate shrug, Kaiya seemed to taunt the Undead Lord. "They would be... dead, wouldn't they?"

Rustle!

The Undead Lord, whose presence was intertwined with the evil spirits and ghosts and manifested as an ancient tree, was visibly unsettled by Kaiya's words.

It was as though eyes had opened among the leaves, scouring the entirety of the Wraithlands for something. "I will find Han Qi, immediately!"

In a cluster of leaves...

Han Qi was concealed beneath a massive cactus near the Thornsnare, his gaunt and towering form barely distinguishable from the plant itself. Shrouded by the shadow energy he had mastered, he seemed to blend into the landscape, resembling yet another peculiar cactus.

He kept a vigilant watch on the Thornsnare, seemingly anticipating someone to breach its confines and join him as a formidable ally, aiding him in securing victory in the Wraithlands.

"Han Qi!"

"What is he waiting for?"

Fernand and Yu Yiyi exclaimed in unison.

From beneath the ancient tree, Yu Yuan observed Han Qi's demeanor and muttered with a furrowed brow, "He's likely waiting for other Supreme Beings from the Everlands."

Han Miaoyuan was well aware of the precise location of the Wraithlands' ingress and egress. This human leader had the means to instruct numerous Supreme Beings to enter the Wraithlands covertly.

Tan Xiaotian, Untamed, Qin Luo, Zu Ann, and even Lin Daoke were all potential arrivals.

"Kill him. Once Yu Yuan's Lunar Spirit has returned, I will assist him in forging a God of Ghosts within the Wraithlands. Once a God of Ghosts takes form here, not even I, the Undead Lord, will be capable of destroying it."

The ancient tree conveyed this message through its Soul Voice.

Its vast canopy slowly extended outward, enveloping everyone but Kaiya, including Yu Yuan, Yu Yiyi, and the Skeleton Horse, drawing in all those who might contribute to the effort against Han Qi.

Fernand found himself excluded.

"I'll take you there."

In the Wraithlands, under the dominion of the Undead Lord, space and distance seemed irrelevant.

Yu Yuan and his companions, sheltered beneath the ancient tree, suddenly noticed their surroundings blur, as if countless different scenes flickered into existence in a mere moment.

Yu Yuan instantly realized that the Undead Lord had transported them through the void.

Sure enough, in just a moment's confusion, he reemerged near the Thornsnare, directly before Han Qi.

"They've actually found us."

Han Qi's expression grew somber. With a cold huff, he shook the bell and attempted to use the power of the God of Ghosts to teleport away.

This time, however, he was unsuccessful.

Innumerable dense strands of shadow energy, like pliable cotton, filled the vast emptiness.

The various escape techniques of Spirit Magic that Han Qi had mastered, along with his connection to the Levi River, had ceased functioning with the arrival of the ancient tree.

The omnipresent shadow energy of the Wraithlands and the flowing strands of the Levi River were no longer at Han Qi's disposal.

The presence of the Undead Lord, harboring a murderous intent towards Han Qi, meant that all shadow energy in the vicinity, every strand of the Levi River, had to obey its will.

Han Qi's strength was significantly diminished.

"Taiyin! You should be on my side. Once your Lunar Spirit returns, you'll surely recognize that we are allies!" Han Qi cried out, his gaze fixed on the Thornsnare, as if expecting the mightiest of the Everlands to appear at any moment.

"We both hail from the Everlands; we are both human. We should unite as one force!"

Han Qi continued to shout, drawing closer to the Thornsnare, seemingly eager to make another attempt.

He was desperate to escape the Wraithlands.

He also seemed aware that if the Undead Lord decided to pursue him, seeking to eliminate him within the Wraithlands, he would be at a considerable disadvantage.

"No one can enter now; I've sealed off the Wraithlands."

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