C1959 Two Phoenixes!
"Sister, I've encountered the individual you spoke of."
On a meteorite strewn with withered branches at the edge of the Darkpinion, the fire phoenix from Aihoyari quietly materialized.
Her smile was radiant, and she asked with heartfelt warmth, "Why choose this place for our meeting?"
The Supreme of Shadow's Keep, who had been gazing into the void of Brugeth, turned to face her as she arrived, a rare warmth coloring the exquisite features of the Dark Phoenix.
As soon as the fire phoenix emerged in the Darkpinion, she had sent a message across the cosmos, summoning her to this rendezvous.
The fire phoenix had heeded the call.
"I'm curious to see if that old Ape is still lurking around."
The Dark Phoenix spoke with a gentleness reserved for her kin, a stark contrast to her usual tone with other Beast Gods and Dark Deities.
Now in her human form, the fire phoenix was a vision of allure, the Serpentflame at the hem of her skirt flickering like fire. She smiled and relayed, "He mentioned he misses you dearly."
The Dark Phoenix, ever stoic before others, showed a hint of resignation in the presence of the Phoenix Clan leader, her kin. "We won't discuss him," she insisted.
On her journey here, the fire phoenix had shared that she and Alex were now separate entities, a feat made possible by Yu Yuan.
Through their bloodline connection, they had exchanged ample information, keeping abreast of each other's recent affairs.
"Very well, we'll drop the subject. But what of the old Ape?" the fire phoenix asked, her smile fading.
With serious matters at hand, the Dark Phoenix's brow furrowed slightly as she replied coolly, "The old Ape from the Everlands has likely been enticed by the Wasteland. I always knew this day would come."
The silver wolf had sent confirmation that this development was unrelated to Boulderdawn or Yu Yuan.
Moreover, both the Untamed and Green Willow were still among the living.
The Dark Phoenix surmised that the old Ape, who had long secluded himself in the Marsh, must have gained an opportunity through a visitor from the Wasteland.
—He had achieved immortality.
"Ever since my first encounter with the Wasteland, I suspected it had ties to the apes and anticipated this outcome," she mused.
The Dark Phoenix scoffed lightly, her lips curling in a manner that suggested she had long pegged the Untamed as a turncoat.
Both being of the ape lineage, the Lord of Ruin had won the favor of the Primal Blood from another realm. It was far too easy for him to gain the Untamed's approval. Moreover, he possessed the ability to resolve all of the Untamed's troubles. Bestowing eternal life upon the mightiest Beast God was, in fact, a power the Lord of Ruin used to subjugate the alien beasts. The Ape, being of his own kind, naturally found it even simpler to earn the Lord of Ruin's recognition. Knowing this, she had always sensed that the Ape would eventually go his separate way from her whenever she gazed upon him in the Everlands. And now, her intuition had been confirmed.
"Just like you and me, some things are immutable," the fire phoenix observed with clarity, unfazed by the revelation. She spoke with a nonchalant air, "That Green Willow must have been swayed by the white boa. The Beast God who accompanied them carried three Dark Towers, and the third is in the possession of the white boa."
The leaders of the Phoenix from two worlds engaged in conversation, referring to each other as sisters, their rapport surprisingly strong. "Why choose this unremarkable Darkpinion?" she inquired after a brief pause, revealing her puzzlement.
As she traveled, the fire phoenix had noticed that many stars within the Darkpinion were fractured, and the cosmic energy was not particularly rich. Apart from Greenshadow, only a handful of stars were suitable for alien beasts; the rest were inconsequential. Given the Dark Phoenix's strength and her current allies, she surely had better options, even if she was eager to establish a stronghold for the alien beasts. Yet, she had deliberately chosen Darkpinion.
"Darkpinion is the homeland of that wretch. All of Wingkind worship her as a deity. My aim is to establish a foothold in her territory, to ensure that she and her kin have a home they can never return to!" the Dark Phoenix declared with vehemence.
The fire phoenix was taken aback. "She is known as the secular bird, possessing the incredible gift of rebirth! Rebirth is a facet of life, traditionally exclusive to our Phoenix Clan. I will not tolerate any beings other than our Phoenix having access to such a power!"
"The Cosmic Giant Beast won't do!"
Dark Phoenix huffed.
"Prepare yourself. I'm going to devise a way to draw out a man named Mo Baichuan. He's in the Everlands, having ascended to great heights with the power of Earthfire. His Divine Throne is inscribed with a fragment of the Blazing Fire rule."
Dark Phoenix abruptly shifted the conversation to reveal the true reason she had summoned the fire phoenix. "If you wish to meld with the Earthfire, you must first eliminate him. You'll need to decipher the mysteries of the Blazing Fire through his Divine Throne."
The fire phoenix's eyes sparkled with excitement. She let out a soft chuckle and said, "Sister, aren't you concerned that once I assimilate the Blazing Fire, I might become more powerful than you?"
"Once I reach the eleventh level, you may find it difficult to hold me back."
The fire phoenix boasted with pride.
"We'll address that once you've achieved the eleventh level."
Dark Phoenix arched an eyebrow, her lips curving into a smug smile, her confidence in her own strength unwavering.
Even if her kin, the fire phoenix, were to ascend once more.
...
In Stellar Oblivion.
"Youyu is alright. He's in the Wraithlands, repairing the imperfections of his Shadow-Form. There's no need for concern."
Within his grand hall, reserved for the God-King, Yu Yuan received Xuanli and the delegation from the Bloodbrawlers.
Yu Yuan's gaze deepened, probing the essence of the Ghost Kings Razses, Taruer, and Luo Yue as if unveiling their most profound secrets.
He felt a sense of dominion over the three Ghost Kings before him.
The Lunar Spirit presiding over the Wraithlands was the origin of these Ghost Kings. In Yu Yuan's presence, their Spirit Magic would be rendered ineffective.
On a spiritual level, he was leagues beyond them.
Even after forging a unique body, the three Ghost Kings, still bound to their ghostly nature, felt an overwhelming pressure under his gaze.
"Teacher, Teacher."
Luo Yue's voice quivered as she sensed her Ghost King Body being drawn by Yu Yuan's soulful magnetism, yearning to merge with a river flowing deep within Stellar Oblivion.
They had traveled via the Starway, and upon the emergence of Stellar Oblivion, they had already felt the presence of the Path of Undead.
The Path of Undead, dormant for millennia, stirred with their presence, as if drawn by a newfound gravity.
Yu Yuan's very existence seemed to amplify this pull to an infinite degree.
Xuanli, Yuan Qingxi, Lianjing, and other formidable members of the Bloodbrawlers stood before Yu Yuan, subtly feeling the oppressive force of the source.
It was reminiscent of confronting the Root of the Lunar Meridian once more.
The Bloodbrawlers' Spirit Magic and Voodoo Shade techniques, many intertwined with the Root of the Lunar Meridian, had been refined by Yu Yuan, the First Undead Dominator, during his ascension to God of Ghosts.
Recently, Yu Yuan had tapped into the power of the Lunar Spirit while combating an alien beast in Aihoyari, leaving him with a lingering essence of the Lunar Spirit.
Xuanli and the others, who had followed Yu Yuan from the Ashlands, naturally sensed this residual aura.
"There is a Path of Undead within the Stellar Oblivion. You've likely sensed it too. This path allows you, pure ghosts, to travel directly to the Wraithlands."
"Once in the Wraithlands, you'll undoubtedly encounter Youyu. However..."
Yu Yuan paused, then added, "Souls and ghosts entering the Wraithlands cannot leave unless they ascend to become a God of Ghosts. You should consider this, as there are spare opportunities in the Wraithlands to foster a God of Ghosts. If you're confident, then heading to the Wraithlands might be your best course."
He was encouraging ghosts like Razses and Luo Yue.
"Xuanli, this isn't for you."
Yu Yuan shook his head and continued, "Your divine seat isn't aligned with the path of the God of Ghosts. There's no need to rush. Since you've emerged, you must be aware of the anomalies within the origin of the Everlands, correct?"
Xuanli replied in a disheartened tone, "I've sensed it."
"He could easily progress further." Kaiya, who had been quietly observing, suddenly chimed in. She gazed at Xuanli and offered a reassuring smile, "At Boulderdawn, we have methods that would allow you to ascend to the highest without relying on the origin."
"Tianqi, Taixu, Taishi..."
...
