C1930 The Gods Have Arrived!

A minuscule sapling, radiant like a polished red crystal, silently took root in his heart. As it emerged, Loong Jie felt his very soul illuminated, basking in a warmth and serenity that touched his spirit. The sapling was nothing short of miraculous, brimming with the breath of life, its slender branches, fine as strands of hair, intertwining with the sinews and blood vessels in his heart.

With a faint sizzle, the tiny yet potent force of life surged through the sapling and his dragon tendon, swift as lightning. Deep within his heart, numerous dormant bloodline chains, dimmed from losing their essence, were rekindled by the life current from the sapling, shining anew with vigor.

One by one, they lit up—nine, twelve in total. The bloodline chains that had briefly glowed upon his breakthrough to the tenth level, only to fade away, now shone with renewed brilliance, more radiant than ever. His heart radiated an astonishing divine light, each bloodline chain transforming into a resplendent galaxy, a spectacle to behold.

The arcane blood magic, exclusive to a tenth level Dragon God, reignited within him like a once-extinguished flame brought back to life. Loong Jie trembled as he realized it was the sapling, its branches nurturing his heart.

"It's the Life Keychain," Yu Yuan's voice echoed within Loong Jie, "As long as it remains alive, you shall not perish."

A wave of the purest breath of life cascaded into Loong Jie's heart, causing the golden dragon to shiver gently. Prostrate on the ground, his form resembling a golden mountain range, tears of gold seemed poised to spill from his eyes. He let out a low, mournful cry, his words garbled in the ancient dragon language, "Ancestors, I, we..."

Zhong Chichen, intently observing the transformation of his dragon form, commanded with a grave tone, "Embrace the sensation!"

"I am, I... I might achieve immortality!" Loong Jie could no longer contain his emotions. As he connected with the sapling, now known as the Life Keychain, he spoke with a quivering voice, "I will not only reclaim my status among the Dragon Gods, but I might also become the first dragon to attain eternal life!"

"What? Eternal life?!" Zhong Chichen's eyes flew open, his composure shattered. Overwhelmed, he exclaimed in astonishment.

"Eternal life?"

"Eternal life for the Nagas?!"

Tianqi, Kaiya, and those who could see and hear despite the seals were all stunned by Loong Jie's proclamation.

Aside from the primordial spirit of humans, only the cosmic giant beast was known to live forever.

This was a universally acknowledged truth.

Born in the vast Everlands, all Dark Deities, with the exception of the Dark Phoenix, lacked the capacity for immortality.

But now, Loong Jie, who had suffered a fall from grace, claimed he had attained eternal life?

Was it because the Dragon Slaying Stage had landed on his dragon heart?

"Has this golden dragon lost its mind?"

A Starborn man, floating above the lands of Taixu, whispered to his companion, "His bloodline has diminished, and the splendor of the Nagas is on the brink of cessation. Could he be delusional?"

"Perhaps," replied his friend.

The Boulderdawn sect members, confused by the turn of events, were skeptical of Loong Jie's claims at this time. They suspected that after his successive defeats, he might have become mentally unstable.

"Hmm!"

Yu Yuan, perched on Loong Jie's abdomen, raised an eyebrow and gazed northward.

Following his lead, Tianqi, clutching the Sphere of Eternal Motion, and Kaiya also sensed something amiss. They, too, peered intently toward the north, brows furrowed.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

At the far northern reaches of the five continents, a mysterious halo began to form in the depths of the cold, empty void.

The enigmatic and vibrant halo shifted continuously, much like the Northern Lights, seemingly revealing something hidden.

Shortly after, a massive, indistinct black goat appeared to be watching from within the halo's depths, its icy gaze fixed on this location.

It appeared to have detected something.

Behind it lay an expanse of darkness, reminiscent of the most desolate place in the world, devoid of any strange phenomena.

"A Beast God from the Otherworld!"

"It's that black goat!"

The Boulderdawn disciples residing here seemed aware of the Wasteland's existence, and many had heard of or even witnessed this black goat, prompting exclamations of surprise.

Tianqi let out a derisive snort, seized the Sphere of Eternal Motion, and traversed the void to stand before the enigmatic halo.

Despite the barrier separating the two realms, he stared down the black goat with a cold indifference, his mouth twisting into a silent, menacing smile, as he gestured provocatively for the creature to come forth.

Boom!

The "Sphere of Eternal Motion" in his grasp erupted with an infinite crimson glow, surging towards the luminescent barrier separating the two realms.

A derisive sneer flashed in the eyes of the black goat, as if mocking his presumption.

Countless streams of vital energy plunged into the barrier and vanished without a trace, leaving the black goat completely unaffected.

"Let it watch. Pay it no mind," Yu Yuan commanded.

Tianqi, ready to unleash greater power, lowered his hand that had been slowly gathering strength and stood silently, locking eyes with the black goat.

"Zhao Lan!" Kaiya called out abruptly.

A gaunt man overseeing the Starway atop the central continent rose slowly, his face set in a grave expression, "Sir, I am present."

"Relocate those below the Unbound Stage to the Ashlands. We don't need any more complications," Kaiya instructed, then turned to the preoccupied Zhong Chichen. "Mr. Zhong, can the Time Gate you constructed on Tyria's main planet in the Ashlands connect to this Starway?"

"I'll give it a try," Zhong Chichen finally snapped out of his reverie, his gaze reluctantly shifting from the Dragon Slaying Stage.

After a moment's consideration, he added, "If Yu Yuan hasn't maintained the seal, it should indeed be passable."

Kaiya nodded, "Much appreciated, Mr. Zhong."

Acknowledging the task, Zhong Chichen rose and, despite his weariness and numerous wounds, made his way toward the land housing the Starway.

His eyes shone with an unwavering light, for he understood the implications of Loong Jie's words.

If Loong Jie could achieve immortality, then...

The entire Naga race would be transformed through Loong Jie. Henceforth, any Naga ascending to Dragon God status could attain eternal life by steadfastly aligning with Yu Yuan.

A wave of profound relief washed over him.

He was grateful for having made the most astute choice between the vast Everlands and Yu Yuan.

His decision had not only rejuvenated the Nagas but had also freed Loong Jie and himself from the chains of their origin—and, in turn, secured immortality!

This marked a monumental leap forward for the Nagas.

The Time Gate on Tyria is no longer under seal. I will also bring the Dire Bear here and help him forge his path to immortality." Yu Yuan gave Zhong Chichen a sidelong glance, his lips curling into a smile brimming with confidence. "The same goes for you."

Zhong Chichen beamed, nodding incessantly.

"Really?"

"It's true... It's actually true!"

Upon hearing Yu Yuan's declaration, and observing the reactions of Loong Jie, Zhong Chichen, Tianqi, and Kaiya, the members of Boulderdawn and other sects across the continent reached a stunning conclusion.

This powerful figure, who had emerged from the Everlands, could indeed bestow eternal life upon Loong Jie and even pave the way for the Dire Bear's immortality!

Whoosh!

Kaiya, suspended in the void, gazed upon the people spread across the five continents. She pointed towards Yu Yuan and reintroduced him with a resonant voice, "He is our Boulderdawn's guide, our sect's trailblazer, and the original creator. Now, he has finally come back."

At her words, the Boulderdawn disciples who had lived there all along fell into a collective hush.

Then, a hesitant voice broke the silence.

"He... is Taiyin?"

"Yes."

Kaiya confirmed it herself.

All the elders and disciples of Boulderdawn erupted in excitement. When they looked at Yu Yuan again, their eyes shone with nothing but reverence and adoration.

He was their deity and their creed!

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