C1988 Arrived as Scheduled

Whoosh!

Yet another Dark Tower pierced through the fragmented Secret Realm of Time, materializing instantaneously from a distant corner of the cosmos.

The three enigmatic towers, crafted by the Lord of Ruin, Yuan Le, capable of inter-tower teleportation and endowed with the mysteries of space, had all descended upon this place.

A tenth-level flamingo beat its wings, and a meteoric firestorm abruptly took shape.

An immense Kylin emerged, its vitality surging like a mighty river, with lightning flashing and thunder rumbling deep within its vast eyes, reminiscent of an apocalyptic scene.

Around the Stormwraith God, hundreds of thunder balls hovered, each one seemingly powerful enough to rend the heavens and earth asunder.

A tenth-level Starbeast, previously unseen in the Origin Realm, stepped down, and where its pillar-like hooves touched, a miniature Star River spontaneously manifested.

These Beast Gods, along with the ice phoenix Alex, the white boa Sanha, the nine-tailed black fox, the Rat God Panot, and all the surviving Beast Gods from their incursion into the Origin Realm, were now fully unveiled.

Additionally, there was the Untamed, wielding the Heaven-Shattering Hammer, his formidable might sending shockwaves through the hearts of all beings.

The Ape, renowned for his raw strength, had received a portion of Yuan Le's life dew. Upon forming the Life Keychain within himself and achieving immortality, his ancient and pure simian lineage joyously evolved with the life dew, gaining a fraction of Yuan Le's dominion.

In the Origin Realm or the Wasteland, other living creatures that refined Yuan Le's life dew could at most achieve immortality, along with bodily enhancement and blessings.

Only the Untamed before us could inherit a part of Yuan Le's bloodline power, as they were of the same species.

He was indeed the greatest beneficiary!

"Untamed!"

Zhong Chichen, clutching the Book of Time in one hand, tore a vast rift in the heavens. As the Secret Realm began to collapse and shatter once more, he sensed an ominous turn.

Back when he battled as the Seven-Colored Dragon, the Ape from the Godsblight Marsh was of little consequence.

Except for the supreme entity of Shadow's Keep, all beings from the Everlands were but juniors in his eyes, which is why he addressed the Ape simply as 'Untamed,' without any additional honorifics.

"Do you truly intend to see this path through to its darkest end?"

Zhong Chichen's other hand, empty, transformed as if scooping water from thin air, channeling the scattered sands and mysterious rainbows of light into the Book of Time.

The brilliant sparks and divine rainbows made the Book of Time significantly more substantial.

Zhong Chichen's actions suggested that this fragmented Secret Realm of Time might very well undergo a new cycle of rebirth within the Book of Time under his control.

He was assimilating the Secret Realm of Time, shaping it into a self-contained microcosm within the Book of Time, much like the world within the Dragon Slaying Stage.

"Mr. Zhong, my bloodline's origin never belonged to this realm from the outset."

The imposing Ape addressed Zhong Chichen with deference. Upon being questioned, he showed a willingness to engage in dialogue rather than hastily continue his assault on Loong Jie.

His words caused the assembled Beast Gods to hold back, refraining from immediate action.

Sanha, the white boa, signaled for patience, allowing the Ape room to articulate his thoughts.

This venerable Ape, sharing the same lineage as their sovereign, earned their respect; the display of Untamed's might had revealed to them the visage of their monarch.

"I hail from the Wasteland. My immortality was a gift from the chieftain of my clan. My ability to strike Loong Jie with such force is not drawn from my own original power."

He gave the Heaven-Shattering Hammer a casual swing.

His vital energy, transformed into a cataclysmic blaze, once again forged a majestic Holy Mountain amidst the stars.

The indistinct Holy Mountain seemed to conceal the Primal Blood of the Wasteland, harboring the secret essence of all its creatures.

With the Life Keychain in his heart, the Ape conjured the Holy Mountain's spectral presence, endowing it with immense divine might capable of overpowering Loong Jie's golden dragon lineage.

Should the core of the golden dragon's bloodline fail to circulate, the Ultimate Golden Body would falter, unable to endure the relentless onslaught of the Heaven-Shattering Hammer.

"The Dark Phoenix could not provide what I sought, and Yu Yuan has yet to honor his promise. But our chieftain, he has granted it to me."

He stood apart from the other Beast Gods; he did not address him as "my king" but as "patriarch" instead.

The term "patriarch" felt more intimate.

This indicated that unlike the other Beast Gods, he belonged to the same tribe as Yuan Le.

"Summon Yu Yuan. As the Solar Spirit guarding the Abyssal Gate, only his arrival can rescue the two of you," the Untamed God said bluntly. "With three Dark Towers here, even you, Mr. Zhong, would struggle to escape, let alone Loong Jie, who remains here."

Boom!

The Heaven-Shattering Hammer, gleaming like a massive silver star, crashed down upon Loong Jie's head, splattering his skull with blood and flesh.

The Heaven-Shattering Hammer, unlifted, bore down on Loong Jie like a mountain, pinning him in place.

Regardless of Loong Jie's roars and frantic writhing, he couldn't dislodge the Heaven-Shattering Hammer.

A destructive blaze burst forth from the hammer, engulfing Loong Jie's head.

The fearsome flames lashed out at Loong Jie's dragon horns, nostrils, ears, and snout.

The flesh on Loong Jie's head began to decay rapidly, and aside from his still-shining horns, his neck, whiskers, mouth, and nose were slowly vanishing, as if devoured by the flames.

Loong Jie, who had been howling in agony, now found himself unable to make a sound.

"There's no need to summon him. He became aware of our predicament the moment you shattered the Secret Realm of Time," Zhong Chichen said, his eyes resting on the gruesome sight of Loong Jie's head, his voice cool and detached.

"Gurgle."

Blood bubbled from Loong Jie's mouth and nose, quickly consumed by the flames.

The golden dragon god seemed desperate to speak, but with its tongue gone, it could only produce a pitiful gurgling of blood. The sight was heart-wrenchingly tragic.

Yet, Zhong Chichen understood its intended plea.

Loong Jie was trying to call out for... the Rainbow Sage.

"Fear not. This old Ape is not the eleventh-level Lord of Ruin; he merely borrows a fraction of the Lord's power. He may dissolve your flesh and blood, your dragon form, but your Ultimate Golden Body, your dragon bones, horns, and heart are beyond his reach!"

"Don't worry, you won't die!"

"The blood and flesh of these Beast Gods gathered here will aid your recovery. No matter the extent of your injuries, Loong Jie, as long as your dragon bones, horns, and heart remain, you can regenerate."

Zhong Chichen offered his cold comfort.

"Mr. Zhong, do you really believe our Lord of Ruin hasn't descended into this world, convinced that Loong Jie is invincible?"

The white boa coiled within the Dark Tower, not bothering to assume a human form in the absence of Green Willow, deeming it unnecessary. "Do you truly think that Lord Untamed can only severely wound Loong Jie, without the power to end him?"

The white boa used a respectful title for Untamed, acknowledging the Ape's formidable prowess, now ranking among the Wasteland's mightiest.

"No, I'm aware that your king has already arrived."

Zhong Chichen shook his head, his statement leaving many Beast Gods in the Secret Realm of Time bewildered.

A flicker of intrigue crossed the white boa's icy gaze.

"He's aware because Yu Yuan is in the know."

Deep within the Spirit Temple, a ninth-level black goat manifested a second soul form on its forehead.

The black goat god from the Otherworld spoke icily, "What's odd is that Yu Yuan, the Solar Spirit at the Abyssal Gate, has made no move. It's unclear what Mr. Zhong is waiting for."

"He's waiting for my real body to assimilate the life dew you sent from Yuan Le."

Yu Yuan's voice emanated from a dazzling stream of light next to Zhong Chichen, and shortly after, the Dragon Slaying Stage materialized.

The Ape, gazing down from the heavens, set aside his Heaven-Shattering Hammer and wrapped his furry arms across his chest, striking a contented pose. Upon seeing Yu Yuan's real body also emerge on the Dragon Slaying Stage, the Ape gasped in surprise, "Just the real body!?"

Sanha, the white boa, let out a cold chuckle. The Beast God, adorned with black and white patterns, had a sneer in her eyes. "Have you come to meet your end?"

The other Beast Gods scrutinized Yu Yuan, who had descended in his real body at the Unbound Realm, their gazes filled with amusement.

They had been active in the Origin Realm for some time, taking particular interest in the origins of the Dark Phoenix and the humans, who had made a significant mark on the Origin Realm.

They were well-versed in the human race's cultivation system, the progression of the three souls of heaven, earth, and man, and the form of the Most High.

Cultivators who had not ascended to the Primordial Spirit Stage were beneath their notice.

Yu Yuan, even with the Dragon Slaying Stage, a Divine Artifact, at his disposal and descending in his real body, was simply seeking his own demise against their overwhelming numbers.

Ultimately, they had convened in the Secret Realm of Time to confront Yu Yuan's Solar Spirit.

It was Yu Yuan, a mere step away from the eleventh level and the one who had gathered the complete life sequence of this realm, who was the cause of their assembly.

"Gulp!"

The golden dragon god, its head eroded by flames, spewed blood at the sight of Yu Yuan.

Loong Jie's golden dragon eyes, under the oppression of the Heaven-Shattering Hammer, looked as though they were dissolving into molten goldsteel.

"You will survive this."

Yu Yuan whispered words of comfort and shared a meaningful look with Zhong Chichen, saying, "After tens of thousands of years, you and I... can truly stand shoulder to shoulder once more."

Zhong Chichen was taken aback.

He reassessed Yu Yuan, his gaze drawn to Yu Yuan's enigmatic and profound eyes, brimming with the profound meanings of countless souls, as if he had come to a realization.

"The black goat from the Wasteland."

Yu Yuan's gaze settled on the centerpiece of the Spirit Temple, the ninth level black goat, and the Beast God adept in Mind Magic.

Between Yu Yuan's brows, a dark well emerged.

At the bottom of this unfathomable well, dark-green Soul Chains tugged, as if a host of deities were desperately dragging at something in its depths.

In a flash!

A beast soul of a tenth level black goat from the Otherworld, residing in the black goat's forehead, was suddenly yanked out by the Soul Power of the enigmatic well.

The ninth level black goat's skull burst open, its brain matter spilling out.

The tenth level black goat beast soul appeared for only a moment before vanishing into Yu Yuan's brow, seemingly dragged to the bottom of the well by its mysterious force.

"Yu Yuan!"

The black goat god from the Otherworld emitted a harrowing scream before Yu Yuan's gaze.

Then, silence ensued.

The Soul Prison.

Within the Crucible of Evil lay a Soul Nexus known as the Soul Prison, derived from the very concept of the Soul Prison itself.

This was a form of Mind Magic that Yu Yuan, during his time as a dragon slayer, had mastered. It was the technique he had once employed to vanquish the Sky Fiend.

Using it against a simple beast soul was overkill.

"You've finally decided to wake up?"

The Ape's arms, which had been encircling his chest, naturally dropped, his palms descending past his knees as if reaching into the depths of the Secret Realm of Time.

His fingers were continuously contracting.

The Heaven-Shattering Hammer, which had been dominating Loong Jie, seemed to respond to that beckoning hand. It writhed above Loong Jie's bloodied head, casting forth an even greater blaze.

It appeared intent on obliterating Loong Jie completely before claiming the Heaven-Shattering Hammer.

"Untamed, you've repeatedly harmed those close to me. I can no longer overlook our past camaraderie," Yu Yuan stated gravely.

The Ape flashed a grotesque smile. "Let's wait for your Solar Spirit to arrive before we talk."

"What Yuan Le desires is for me, the Solar Spirit, to come here, ideally without breaking the Abyssal Gate, so he can be the one to shatter it, correct?" Yu Yuan hurled the Dragon Slaying Stage at Loong Jie's head, a violet-golden realm slowly enveloping both the Heaven-Shattering Hammer and Loong Jie's serpentine dragon form.

Simultaneously, Yu Yuan looked up at the Ape and summoned a Divine Visage as imposing as the Ape himself.

His gaze locked onto the Untamed's eyes, and in that instant of eye contact, the Ape was bombarded with the whispers of countless beings within the recesses of his demon soul, gnawing and ripping at his beast soul.

The psychic link between him and the Heaven-Shattering Hammer was thrown into chaos.

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