C1976 A New Ascender

In the Everlands, within the Ebon Star, as the supreme experts conversed, twin sword energies burst forth into the heavens. The distinct sword's will coalesced in the void, transforming into formidable rules of swordsmanship discernible only by the Most High.

Leaning against the cool stone wall, Lin Daoke, who had been silent for the better part of the day, furrowed his brows slightly. Opening his eyes, he silently took in the moment before calmly stating, "It's done."

Han Miaoyuan's face brightened with delight. "The folks from the Sword Sect never disappoint!"

Qin Luo and Zu Ann emerged from the floating palace, gazing towards the Sword Sect. They witnessed the aftermath of the sword energies, as the Sword Cave of the Sword Sect resonated with a symphony of a thousand swords.

Bright beams of sword light shot out from the Sword Cave, racing into the sky like bolts of lightning, heralding the emergence of new Most Highs.

"It's done!"

"Our Sword Sect has given rise to two Most Highs simultaneously!"

"Master Lu, Master Van!"

Shouts and cheers erupted from the elders and disciples of the Sword Sect.

"Sword of Seven Emotions" Lu Hongpeng and "Shatterblade" Van Heqing, drawing upon the rich core energy of the Everlands, ascended to the highest echelon, becoming Divine Level warriors with primordial spirits.

Following Cao Ji of the Ethereal Void, they were the latest Most Highs of the Everlands, living up to Lin Daoke's expectations. This was significant, as many Unbound old-timers had recently attempted to ascend to Most High status in secret, only to meet their demise.

"Wuran is already on his way back," announced Tan Xiaotian, seated cross-legged in black attire, casually watching Han Miaoyuan. "With plenty of origin energy underground, I'll reserve a spot for Wuran."

"Wuran!"

"The Half-Demon!"

Qin Luo and Zu Ann's faces turned grim.

Lin Daoke's frown deepened. "He's still alive?"

Tan Xiaotian's smile was carefree as he replied, "Indeed, he lives. He's avoided Everlands these years simply because he knew he'd angered you."

"He's not up to the task. If he returns, I'm still determined to end him," Lin Daoke declared, shaking his head.

Wuran, once a revered elder of the Devil Palace before Zhu Zhenlin, was notorious for his bloodlust, his hands stained with the blood of countless victims.

In the Everlands, Wuran only held Tan Xiaotian in high regard, dismissing the likes of Han Miaoyuan, Lin Daoke, and Dark Phoenix, among others.

He once clashed with a Grand Sword Immortal from the Sword Sect on an extraterritorial battlefield. Disregarding the unity within the Everlands, Wuran stealthily eliminated the Grand Sword Immortal.

The incident wasn't well-concealed and eventually came to light. Lin Daoke vowed to kill him, and since then, Wuran has vanished.

Thousands of years have passed, and Wuran has not stepped foot in the Everlands or shown himself in the extraterrestrial realms where humans dwell.

"Mr. Han, Wuran has always heeded my advice. You're well aware of his formidable strength. Tang Dongjun and his ilk are unreliable; even with more Origin, they wouldn't improve," Tan Xiaotian asserted.

"With our dire need for combat power, let's have Wuran merge with a supreme force. Since Zhu Zhenlin has perished, it's time for a new Most High to emerge in the Devil Palace."

Tan Xiaotian disregarded Lin Daoke, addressing only Han Miaoyuan.

With the increasing dark energy he had assimilated, and the prospect of fusing with the Dark Anima in the Abyss as Jihui had mentioned, Tan Xiaotian grew indifferent to Lin Daoke's stance.

"Wuran can return," Han Miaoyuan finally said, albeit with hesitation. "But you must keep a tight rein on him. He's a double-edged sword, even more rebellious than you! I won't have his return cause a rift within our ranks."

"My stance is clear. After Wuran ascends to the Most High, we'll reassess following the next battle," Tan Xiaotian said with a sly smile, glancing at Lin Daoke. "Once the fight is over, if you still wish to pursue him, Lin Daoke, we'll see if you're up to the task."

"You're defending him?" Lin Daoke challenged.

"After our battle with Boulderdawn concludes, if we're both still standing, it'll be time to settle scores. For years, the elders have deemed you the strongest among our kind, but I've never been quite convinced."

Tan Xiaotian's eyes narrowed as he let out a soft, knowing laugh.

Qin Luo, Zu Ann, and Lin Yue felt a surge of tension upon hearing his words.

It seemed that Demon Lord Tan Xiaotian had long harbored the idea of challenging Lin Daoke. His confidence had only grown after years of battling in the extraterrestrial realms.

"Alright."

Lin Daoke nodded in agreement.

"You can fight if you wish, but I have one condition: wait until Yu Yuan and Dark Phoenix are dead, and Boulderdawn has fallen. After that, you can fight however you please," Han Miaoyuan said with a hint of exhaustion.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a surge of primal energy was triggered deep within the Everlands.

The Most Highs, those who had reached the pinnacle of cultivation, felt a slight tremor in their divine seats and immediately became aware of the disturbance.

"Finally!"

Han Miaoyuan slapped his thigh, unable to contain his excitement, and looked towards the floating palace opposite him, exclaiming, "Cao's path to ascension has begun!"

"Once he forges his divine seat, he will become the new dragon slayer! By advancing through the Spirit Magic, he will surely dominate this path. If Yu Yuan tries to refine his primordial spirit with his dominant soul, the difficulty will skyrocket!"

From the start, Cao Jiaze was his chess piece to secure this crucial sacred way.

Cao Jiaze's mastery of Spirit Magic was a blend of the arcane knowledge from the Bloodbrawlers and Boulderdawn, further refined with the will of the earth's core, all tailored specifically for him.

Once Cao Jiaze ascends to divinity, he will resonate with the Primal Soul beneath the earth and claim the sacred way for himself.

Knowing that Yu Yuan was Taiyin, Han Miaoyuan refrained from making bold claims.

Otherwise, he would assert that once Cao Jiaze achieved godhood, Yu Yuan would have no chance of reaching the zenith of power through his soul!

...

Stellar Oblivion served as the Boulderdawn's extraterrestrial stronghold.

Leveraging the time travel power of the Dragon Slaying Stage, the jade box holding a drop of the Lord of Ruin's lifeblood had just been delivered to Yu Yuan, who had recently returned through the Abyssal Gate. He trembled suddenly.

He stood within his secluded palace.

Deep within his Mindscape, his most enigmatic dominant soul abruptly assumed the form of a colossal phantom.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The colossal phantom morphed into an expansive Sea of Souls, shrouded in thick fog.

Deep within the Sea of Souls, numerous indistinct clusters seemed eternally sealed, their true forms never to be revealed.

At that moment, his dominant soul's transformation into the Sea of Souls caused massive waves to rise within the dense fog, churning violently.

Imprints, sealed for tens of thousands of years, began to emerge with increasing clarity.

Yu Yuan sensed a presence amidst the obscurity.

"Cao Jiaze!"

In the Stellar Oblivion, he was aware that Cao Jiaze, within the Everlands, was merging with a primal source to ascend to divinity.

Cao Jiaze was integrating with the Primal Soul at the core of the Everlands!

The trigger for Cao Jiaze's Path to Godhood unexpectedly stirred his own dominant soul, coaxing the deeply buried memories in his mind to the surface.

...

In Zagreus, the domain of the Star-Spawned Terror, an endless ice field stretched above a frigid sea.

Beside an ice cave resembling a well's mouth stood the enchanting Dark Phoenix and a Fire Phoenix, which had deliberately suppressed its fiery essence, appearing out of place in this world.

"Sister, why have we come here?"

The Fire Phoenix was puzzled.

The Dark Phoenix, positioned by the ice cave, held a dark magic ball in each hand.

The magic balls writhed as if sentient, desperately struggling in her grasp to escape and return to their rightful place.

Yet, no matter how fiercely the green and black magic balls fought, they could not break free.

"It's about to start."

The Dark Phoenix announced abruptly.

She extended the green and black magic balls in her hands toward the ice cave below, using them like eyes to peer into the depths.

The ice cave was the mouth of the Wintermaw, and the green and black magic balls were two vast sources from the Everlands.

One was inherently hers, while the other she had acquired after Mo Baichuan's demise.

"Perhaps, only with these can one bypass the seal of the Frozen Hellscape and glimpse the state of the Everlands."

Her hands stretched infinitely downwards, reaching the very bottom of the ice cave.

The green and black magic ball, akin to an eye, softly adhered to the barrier that obstructed everything.

The eye stealthily surveyed the Frozen Hellscape, seeking to understand the vastness of the Everlands.

"I knew it."

Dark Phoenix let out a mocking laugh, quickly realizing that as the two primal forces made contact with the barrier at the Wintermaw, the wall of the Everlands abruptly responded, alerting others.

Han Miaoyuan, Lin Daoke, and Tan Xiaotian were simultaneously roused.

"Dark Phoenix!"

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