C1981 Sitting down
The rough-hewn palace, built from massive stones, resembled a giant beast crouching before the onlookers. It had always been a source of comfort, offering a sense of safety and tranquility.
But when the Demon Phoenix penetrated the stone walls, a palpable shift overtook everyone's mood.
The palace, where Yu Yuan secluded himself for cultivation and which signified his status as the Divine King, now seemed like a giant beast slowly opening its jaws, ready to consume anyone in its path.
"Taishi," Cadorath addressed him directly.
"There's no need to worry. We just wait," Taishi responded, unruffled. He made no significant moves despite the Demon Phoenix's intrusion.
With a whoosh, the Chaos Roc and the Abyss Goanna materialized behind Taishi at the Galaxy Crossing, swiftly arriving at the palace gates. These two Starry Behemoths positioned themselves on either side of the sealed stone doors, ready to burst through and confront the Demon Phoenix at Taishi's command.
Having slain the Beast God and feasted on its flesh within the Gray Domain, these creatures were now at the peak of their strength.
In addition to them, Cadorath, Reid, Taishi, and Tianqi were present. Even the Great Demon God Beilstein, facing this formidable assembly alone, would likely find himself in a difficult predicament.
Suddenly, a purple wraith emerged on the eaves of her exclusive palace, smiling as she announced, "The issue with Xuanli is resolved. I can summon the dispersed Devil Souls to this location for battle at any moment."
"Shehun!" came the call.
She had manifested one of her Devil Souls here in response to Reid's summons from the sacred grounds of the Devaputra Race. With the ability to freely concentrate or disperse her power among her Devil Souls, she could indeed amass her strength here swiftly.
The emergence of the Demon Phoenix had prompted the Divine Kings of the Divine Soul Sect to ready themselves.
"Let's all take a moment to calm down," Taishi urged, raising his hand to silence the crowd. Once the clamor subsided, he continued, "You've all overlooked one thing."
The crowd looked on, confused.
"Yu Yuan's Yang God is attuned to his physical form. The Yang God can instantly travel here using the Dragon Slash Platform. The current Yang God Yu Yuan is second to none, and should he deem it necessary, the Yang God will make his presence known."
Taishi remained composed as he declared, "The absence of the Yang God indicates that it is not necessary."
"If the Yang God were to appear..."
"The guest of the Demon Palace might find it not as easy as in the Dim Starfield."
Taishi's statement was clear to all present: there was no need for them to exert themselves. Should Yu Yuan sense danger, the Yang God alone could contend with the Demon Phoenix.
"Indeed."
The Chaos Roc and the Abyss Goanna nodded subtly.
The Devil Soul, formed by Shehun, let out a light chuckle and addressed Reid, "You should heed Taishi's plan."
"Understood."
The Devaputra Pontiff bowed respectfully.
Their consensus left no doubt among those gathered.
Yu Yuan's Yang God form was now capable of battling the Demon Phoenix across any Outer Star River—no longer confined to the Dim Starfield or the Gray Domain.
...
Within the dimly lit hall.
The Demon Phoenix could hear all the commotion outside, Taishi's counsel, and the fleeting presence of the Shehun Demon Shadow, but she disregarded it all.
Upon entering, she had focused all her attention on Yu Yuan's chest.
His garment torn open, Yu Yuan's bare chest throbbed rhythmically, emitting a radiant glow of blood light.
The blood light, like a young sapling, took root above his heart and began to grow steadily.
His heart was in the midst of merging with the Life Stoste from the King of Desolate Realm.
To the Demon Phoenix's astonishment, the Eleventh Level Life Stoste from the King of Desolate Realm did not voraciously consume Yu Yuan's flesh and blood.
Yu Yuan's Unrestrained Stage body was, astonishingly, able to bear the Life Stoste from the King of the Realm!
"Your true form is unexpectedly powerful."
The Demon Phoenix advanced step by step.
Yu Yuan, who had been gazing downward at the subtle changes in his heart, suddenly looked up.
His eyes, like twin soul vortices, exuded depth and mystery.
At a glance, they bore a resemblance to the vortex of Star Power erupting from the vicinity of the Tia Main Planet in the Gray Domain.
He watched the Demon Phoenix in silence.
After locking eyes with him, the Demon Phoenix came to a halt, then stared entranced into his eyes and said, "Your face has changed, but your eyes... they finally evoke a sense of familiarity in me."
"Zhiya."
Yu Yuan's voice was deep and resonant.
The Demon Phoenix shuddered, her body momentarily rigid. She licked her lips and steadied her mind before tentatively asking, "What did you just call me?"
"Zhiya," Yu Yuan repeated.
The Demon Phoenix inhaled sharply, her chest rising. The frosty gaze that commanded awe softened, "It's been tens of thousands of years since anyone has uttered those two words to me. I find myself... somewhat nostalgic, longing for those not-so-pleasant times."
She chuckled and shook her head.
Her sudden display of tenderness would surely baffle the Demon Gods and Beast Gods of the Demon Palace in the Desolate Realm, who served her faithfully. They would doubt their own eyes.
The Demon Palace Sovereign, known for her ruthlessness, vindictiveness, and capricious wrath, had never shown such a side to them.
Even the phoenix she considered her younger sister could not fathom that this formidable sibling harbored a tender side.
Yu Yuan let his heart within his chest fuse with the Life Stoste, forming a pathway toward the Life Keychain.
Since he was sitting up straight, he had to tilt his head up to meet the Demon Phoenix's gaze.
This slight inconvenience irked him, prompting him to frown and command, "Sit down."
He disliked, and was unaccustomed to, craning his neck to look up at someone while seated.
That was unacceptable for anyone.
The Demon Phoenix's expression softened, and a smile graced her lips as she obediently and gracefully seated herself cross-legged before him, "So you've finally awakened? Your demise was indeed my doing."
She raised her pale, delicate hands before Yu Yuan, swaying them gently, "These very hands."
"Are you upset? When you saved that wretch, did you ever consider what I might do? Let me tell you, she will still die. As long as I walk this earth, her end is inevitable."
Her words flowed as if she were casually conversing with an old friend, yet each sentence was laced with violence.
Despite Yu Yuan addressing her by her former name and the fact that he was still alive, she surprisingly did not rage at the loss of her dominion over all living creatures.
She remained fixated on Yu Yuan's past act of saving the Secular Bird Queen, as if it were of utmost importance.
Her ability to distinguish what was primary from what was secondary had become muddled.
"We'll settle our differences after I've ventured into the heart of the Boundless Underground and witnessed its true form," Yu Yuan stated.
"Haven't you seen it already?" the Demon Phoenix asked, taken aback.
Yu Yuan nodded and explained, "All memories connected to it are still under seal. I have this inkling that even if I ascend to the level of a Primordial Spirit, those memories might still remain hidden."
The Demon Phoenix furrowed her brow. "Is it sealing them, or are you sealing them yourself?"
"I don't know," Yu Yuan admitted, shaking his head. "But I am certain of one thing: unlocking this final fragment of my memory will trigger a change of unimaginable proportions."
"And there's more..."
"That young upstart, Cao Jiaze, ascended using a similar divine path. Yet, after he became a Primordial Spirit, he manifested within my soul."
"He appeared deep within my soul, just as I can perceive Zhong Chichen, Loong Jie, and the Cold Domain Bear through the Life Keychain. When I think of him, I can see Cao Jiaze, and perhaps... I might even be able to warp his thoughts."
Yu Yuan offered this explanation.
The Demon Phoenix paused, momentarily taken aback.
She then produced two greenish-black orbs, the embodiment of the Boundless Origin, and held one in each hand.
"Are you suggesting that, like the entity in the Boundless Underground, it can use the Origin to lock onto and exert influence over all supreme beings, treating Cao Jiaze in the same manner?"
The Demon Phoenix gazed at the two Origins, noting how one had integrated with her Demon Heart and was attempting to twist her thoughts.
Meanwhile, the Old Ape's intelligence was eroding, nearly driving him to madness and turning him into a mere instrument of slaughter.
"Essentially, yes," Yu Yuan confirmed.
