C1978 A Suggestion

A phantom's image slowly made its way through the Abyssal Gate.

Jihui, in his pure soul form, returned from the Abyss with a weathered expression. He gazed at Yu Yuan, whose face was etched with solemnity, while holding a jade box that contained a vial of life dew.

"Do you intend to refine this substance?"

Jihui, who had left his physical form and essence behind in the Abyss, crossed over with his soul and asked in astonishment.

Yu Yuan was taken aback.

He was puzzled as to why Jihui, who had been lost to the Abyss, would suddenly emerge with an interest in the object he held.

"I cannot refine it," Yu Yuan stated icily, his brow furrowed. "Isn't remaining in the Abyss preferable?"

"My lord..."

Jihui's gaze was laden with complexity. He bowed deeply, even more deferential than before, "In the Evil God's Temple within the Abyss, I uncovered some information."

"What information?" Yu Yuan asked brusquely.

"I cannot disclose it," Jihui shook his head and sighed. "My lord, I will await your descent in the Everlands. I, too, am eager to see what has become of it, enveloped by the Earthfire after the cataclysm in the Everlands."

Yu Yuan chose not to pursue the topic further and instead presented the solidified crystal of life dew, "Are you familiar with this item?"

"I've heard of it. The exalted Titan Spinosaurus of old could refine such a thing," Jihui replied, then after a brief pause, he added, "My lord, are you unable to refine it?"

Yu Yuan nodded.

"I have a proposal."

With a grave demeanor, Jihui spoke earnestly, "This item must merge with a heart to reveal its wondrous properties. Sir, it seems challenging for this unique Solar Spirit of yours to assimilate with the item. Perhaps you could attempt to merge it with the heart of your real body."

Yu Yuan's expression darkened, "That would create a Life Keychain. Yet, this is not the life dew I have crafted, but rather it comes from a sovereign of another realm!"

"You're already aware of the Life Keychain and the concept of life dew, I see," Jihui noted with a smile. After pondering for a moment, he added cryptically, "Nevertheless, once it merges with your real body, you should be able to wield full control over it."

Yu Yuan was taken aback.

Could his real body, frail in comparison to the Solar Spirit and even the current Lunar Spirit, truly merge with the life dew of the Lord of Ruin?

If the fusion occurred, wouldn't his every thought become perceptible to the Lord of Ruin?

It was akin to how he could utilize the Life Keychain to precisely target Zhong Chichen, Loong Jie, and the Dire Bear, even tuning into their emotional shifts.

The Life Keychain, bestowed upon the Ape by a significant Beast God, was a means of exerting control.

If he merged with this substance using his real body rather than through the Solar Spirit, wouldn't he fall under the sway of the Lord of Ruin?

"Sir, you are far stronger than you realize."

Jihui grinned enigmatically, "If you're willing to trust me just this once, merge your real body with the life dew from the King of the Monsters of the outer realm."

"Trust me, you're in for a remarkable surprise." With those words, Jihui drifted away, adding, "I shall await your return in the Everlands."

...

In the Everlands, Cao Jiaze of Ebon Star had successfully crafted a divine seat using the essence that surged from the heart of the earth.

It was a Soul Pillar of a dark, teal hue.

This radiant Soul Pillar, a fusion of his primordial spirit and essence, was radiating an abundance of Mind Magic.

The Mind Magic flickered within the Soul Pillar like stars, unfolding into a myriad of wonders.

Cao Jiaze was engrossed in assimilation, exploring novel applications of the soul through the Soul Pillar.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

At the mere impulse of his remnant soul, phantoms of Cao Jiaze burst forth from the Soul Pillar, darting through his Mindscape.

Streams of Soul Power in his Mindscape were now converging towards the Soul Pillar.

Suddenly, the Soul Pillar became a conduit, connecting him to a consciousness deep beneath the earth.

He glimpsed the Sea of Souls.

But in an instant, the expansive Sea of Souls vanished without a trace.

Before it faded, an image of Yu Yuan materialized in his mind, revealing Yu Yuan seated in a vast, shadowy palace, deep in thought.

"What's the matter?"

Han Miaoyuan's voice echoed through the suspended palace before he materialized.

Gazing at the meditative Cao Jiaze, Han Miaoyuan inquired with concern, "Did you sense it?"

"I saw the Sea of Souls and felt its vague intent," Cao Jiaze admitted candidly.

"Did it invite you to descend and meet with it?" Han Miaoyuan inquired.

"No."

Cao Jiaze shook his head.

Upon hearing this, Han Miaoyuan scratched his head, puzzled. "There's a rumor that when Taiyin ascended to the supreme level in the Everlands, due to a resonance with the Spirit Magic, it was granted the Mind Magic. Moreover, it was received by it, crossing the Earthfire with its soul and witnessing it firsthand."

"You've also made your breakthrough via this sacred way, and even your practice bears its mark."

"You've clearly ascended, so why hasn't it received you? Why hasn't it allowed your primordial spirit to depart and journey to the depths?"

Han Miaoyuan was baffled.

"Sect Master, have you devoted yourself to my cultivation in hopes that one day, I might venture underground to see what it looks like?" Cao Jiaze asked with curiosity.

"Indeed, I've entertained such thoughts."

Han Miaoyuan didn't deny it. "We all wish to know what it truly looks like. We're curious about how it formed its essence."

"Then I'm afraid I've let you down, Sect Master," Cao Jiaze said with a wry smile.

...

Frozen World.

"Sooner or later, I will slay Tan Xiaotian."

The enchanting Dark Phoenix retracted her hands from the edge of the Wintermaw, feeling the tremors from afar, and angrily declared, "He has destroyed the Wintermaw, obscuring my view."

The two dimming black magic balls were still clutched in her hands.

"Sister, what exactly are you trying to see?" the fire phoenix asked, bewildered.

"By using these two Origins, born of it, I hope to perceive its will. I aim to bypass Han Miaoyuan and the rest to engage in direct dialogue with it," the Dark Phoenix explained.

"Why?" The fire phoenix grew even more perplexed and asked curiously, "Wouldn't it be the same to wait until the Everlands fractures and reveals itself completely?"

"Absolutely not!"

The Dark Phoenix shook her head.

Suddenly, she shivered slightly, as if she had just learned a significant piece of news.

"The individual from the Wasteland, intent on aiding Cardo with the life dew, has been thwarted—Yu Yuan has acquired it."

The Dark Phoenix's eyebrows quivered slightly as she mused, "The leader of the Dawnbringers withstood the temptation. She has forsaken the Key of Eternity and the Light Spirit."

She recounted to the fire phoenix the events that had unfolded at the Boulderdawn's extraterrestrial base camp in the Stellar Oblivion as though she had witnessed them firsthand.

"Cardo, you are indeed a formidable force to be reckoned with!" The fire phoenix exclaimed with reverence, "Truth be told, if you weren't part of the phoenix lineage and hadn't promised to aid me in my search for the Fire Spirit in the Everlands, I might not have found myself opposing you."

"To resist eternal life and the Light Spirit, Cardo's willpower is truly astonishing!"

The fire phoenix felt a deep sense of admiration.

"Trying to steal the chicken only to lose the rice. The life dew might just have an extraordinary effect in Yu Yuan's hands," the Dark Phoenix said with a hint of schadenfreude.

"It's futile. You're aware that he's incapable of assimilating the life dew. The one who dared to bring the life dew into this world surely did so with unwavering confidence."

"They believe that in this realm, no one can refine the life dew; it must be fused with the heart."

"Those whose bloodline level is insufficient will perish from a heart explosion if they attempt to merge forcefully. Those who are eligible for the merger will end up like the old Ape, becoming its devoted followers."

The fire phoenix shared her perspective.

"Indeed."

The Dark Phoenix nodded in agreement, but suddenly, her expression darkened.

"Damnation, he's actually merged with his real body!"

"I'm heading to the Stellar Oblivion!"

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