C2004 The Follower

At the summit of the Abyss.

Shortly after Yu Yuan and his companions departed, a succession of figures began to emerge from the spatial gate through which Tan Xiaotian had previously entered.

Among them were Han Miaoyuan, Lin Daoke, Zu Ann, Qin Luo, and Van Heqing, supreme beings who had merged with the origin.

Others, like Lin Yue, who possessed exceptional talent and were Unbound Realm cultivators, had been invited as well.

They arrived via the newly-formed Origin Gate nestled in the secluded valley of Skyreach Peak.

Previously, the Origin Gate was destroyed at the cost of Yuwen Hao's life. Ji Tianyu sacrificed her divine status and life, facilitating the deification of Zhong Chichen and Loong Jie.

Yet now, the Origin Gate had manifested once again.

At present, most of those who had been brought over, enveloped in the Wraithbanner by Jihui and the spirited body he had mysteriously acquired, were bewildered, unaware of the events that had transpired.

The one thing they were certain of was that Tan Xiaotian had preceded them.

"What place is this?"

Zu Ann caught sight of another Jihui, materializing on the opposite side of the "door," flesh and blood intact, which only deepened his confusion.

Upon their arrival, Qin Luo, Van Heqing, and the others noticed several young humans standing next to Jihui.

The attire of these youths and their reserved demeanor struck Qin Luo and the rest as peculiar.

It was as if they were witnessing the human race during the ancient era, amidst the pioneering of the Everlands, a glimpse into a nascent form of civilization.

"This is the Abyss."

Jihui, having regained his composure and no longer consumed by anger, explained, "The land beneath us is the uppermost layer of the Abyss. Below us lie numerous other Abyssal continents, each comparable in scale to the world beneath."

"As for them..."

Jihui paused briefly before continuing, "They are humans of the Abyss, just like us!"

Aside from Han Miaoyuan, who was privy to the truth, even Lin Daoke was visibly shaken. The normally reticent leader of the Sword Sect exclaimed, "How can there be humans?"

"We humans have always been the sovereigns of the Abyss, for it is here that we originated."

Jihui meticulously laid out all the secrets of the Abyss, sharing with them the truths that Yu Yuan was privy to.

Predictably, even beings as exalted as themselves were staggered by the revelations, taking a considerable time to regain their composure.

"I realize you need some time to process this information. For now, I'll just clarify our connection with the Abyss. The human race originated from there, and I can take you to see it," Jihui offered.

"What about Bertain? Is the great Demon God of the Origin Realm alive or dead?"

Han Miaoyuan bypassed the previous discussion, focusing on the crux of the matter. "If Bertain lives, he remains our greatest peril. What's his status?"

"He's restrained by the Evil Gods within the Holy Temple of the Abyss," Jihui replied.

"Is it possible for us, along with Tan Xiaotian and Lin Daoke, to eliminate him?" Han Miaoyuan inquired.

Shaking his head, Jihui responded, "No, we cannot."

"Why can't we?" Han Miaoyuan pressed, his brow furrowed.

"There are many mysteries I have yet to unravel. But Bertain, in the darkest depths of the Abyss, continues to amass Soul Power. Even the kind that benefits our race and resembles the Origin Qi—he can absorb it too. That's what makes him so problematic."

Jihui expressed his frustration.

"I'll guide you through the various strata of the Abyss so you can experience it firsthand. Oh, and you're free to absorb as much of the Abyss's power as you wish, which can rectify the frailties of your corporeal bodies."

"Traverse the layers of the Abyss, and your real bodies will undergo a profound transformation!" Jihui declared with a hearty laugh.

"I'm already sensing it."

Zu Ann observed his hands, feeling the tumultuous and ferocious power continuously infusing them.

His corporeal body, which he had nearly forsaken since forging his Solar Spirit, now surged with astonishing vitality.

His bones, sinews, and organs were infused with an unfamiliar yet formidable force.

...

In the Stellar Oblivion.

"I will accompany you to the Everlands."

The Secular Bird Queen, her face of unparalleled beauty obscured behind a beaded curtain, and crowned with an imperial diadem, stood before Brie of the Shadowkin, with members of the Wingkind arrayed behind her.

"The Shadowkin and the Wingkind will proceed with relocating our gifted kin to the Ashlands, adhering to our original strategy."

Chen Qinghuang's single declaration determined the fate of two tribes.

Beneath her beaded curtain, only a small section of her pure white chin was visible, glowing with the luster of jade.

Brilliant, rainbow-like halos encircled her, revealing the mysteries of death, destruction, rebirth, and deadly poison.

Upon hearing her stance, Brie and the elders of the Wingkind bowed in unison.

Even those among the Shadowkin and Wingkind who harbored doubts and dissatisfaction refrained from speaking out.

These two tribes of intelligent beings were deeply connected to the Uxthar Tree and the Secular Bird Queen, and the resurrected Divine Tree heeded only the Secular Bird Queen.

Thus, her opinion was decisive for both the Shadowkin and Wingkind.

Yu Yuan gave her a slight nod, sparing any further words.

"I, too, will accompany you to the Everlands."

Kaiya, with her tall and elegant figure, stepped forward after the Secular Bird Queen. She positioned herself before the High Priest Reid and the mighty Demon God Youqian.

After declaring her position, Kaiya turned to face Reid, Youqian, and several ninth-level Demon Gods.

"I am not speaking as the Soul-Capturing God-King of Boulderdawn, but as the leader of the Sky Fiend. This is my decision," Kaiya stated, her voice shedding any hint of languor and adopting a tone of gravity.

Reid and Youqian briefly hesitated before bowing respectfully and responding in unison, "Understood!"

Behind them, a ninth-level Demon God, blind to the situation and bound to a massive skeleton and bizarre artifacts, challenged Kaiya loudly.

"What gives you the right to decide as the leader of the Sky Fiend?"

"Within our Sky Fiend ranks, only Lord Bertain has the authority to make such decisions!"

"We will only heed Lord Bertain!"

Members of the Frostfiend, Nightfiend, and Icefiend, as well as those from the inner demon tribe, harbored animosity towards Kaiya due to her human form.

Kaiya shot Reid a look and commanded, "Explain it to them."

Understanding her cue, Reid's eyes, where the purple devil soul churned, called out firmly, "As the High Priest of the Sky Fiend Clan, allow me to reintroduce Kaiya to you all. Many here are unaware of her true identity."

Reid pointed at Kaiya with a grave expression and declared, "She is the daughter of Lord Bertain!"

"His very own daughter!"

"Let's not concern ourselves with how Lord Bertain came to have a human daughter. As the High Priest of our clan, I assure you that every word I speak is true. She is indeed Lord Bertain's daughter!"

"And furthermore!"

Reid's voice resonated as he continued under the astonished stares of the Sky Fiend clansmen and the equally stunned looks of many other formidable beings, "Before Lord Bertain departed for the Abyss from the Ashlands, he left a message with me. He stated that no matter what transpires in the future, Kaiya is authorized to act on his behalf!"

"In his absence from this world, Kaiya is the bearer of his will!"

With these words, it was made unequivocally clear to all the Sky Fiends present that Kaiya was not only the Soul-Capturing God-King of the Boulderdawn but also the princess of the Sky Fiend Clan.

Below one demon, yet above ten thousand demons.

"Do any of you still have objections?"

Once Reid invoked the Great Demon God Bertain and revealed her true identity, Kaiya coldly fixed her gaze on the few Demon Gods who had been the most vocal.

"None."

"If the High Priest has spoken, and since you are... his daughter, then we are prepared to follow your commands."

"Our loyalty to Lord Bertain is eternal. As his daughter, you have our full recognition."

"We too are willing to heed your guidance."

The Demon Gods from the various branches of the Sky Fiend clan shifted their stance simply because Kaiya was Bertain's daughter.

The name Bertain, within the Sky Fiend clan, was synonymous with divinity, possessing unmatched magical power that made the vast majority of the clan willingly obey.

Grec, who was among the crowd but not aligned with the Sky Fiends, felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

It was only at this moment that he fully grasped the unassailable status of the Great Demon God Bertain within the Sky Fiend race—a status that he, a young Blood Fiend, could not hope to challenge.

The schemes he had plotted over the years to supplant Bertain now seemed laughable.

Perhaps, in Bertain's eyes, his so-called grand achievements were nothing more than trifles.

They were merely minor ripples in the Origin Realm, hardly worth a mention.

"Lord Reid, what about Cardo?"

Ballo from the Starborn, after scanning the area and not spotting his old friend, finally couldn't contain his curiosity and inquired.

"She..."

Reid cast a glance at Taixu, who appeared equally perplexed.

"I haven't discussed it with Taixu, so they're unaware that Cardo encountered the Light Spirit at the pinnacle of the Abyss," Yu Yuan interjected. Noticing Canli's concerned look, he frowned and added, "Since I didn't know what choice she would make after her inheritance concluded, I refrained from mentioning her."

"The Light Spirit, in the Abyss? Wasn't it said to be in the Wasteland?" Ballo exclaimed in surprise.

If the Light Spirit was at the top of the Abyss and Cardo was already undergoing the inheritance, did that mean Cardo was on the brink of succumbing to the Abyss?

"We'll only find out what happened when she reappears," Yu Yuan stated, choosing not to elaborate further. After a brief pause, he turned his attention to Kaiya and said, "Your father..."

"I'm aware," Kaiya responded with a nod.

"What exactly do you know?" Yu Yuan inquired, intrigued.

"His devil soul is ensnared in the perpetual darkness at the Abyss's lowest depths, within the Evil Temple located on the Genesis Continent. Currently, he is still being suppressed by a host of Evil Gods, along with the Holy Temple and its Guardians, and is temporarily unable to extricate himself from that palace," Kaiya explained with a serene demeanor.

Yu Yuan's expression shifted upon hearing this revelation, and all the Star-Spawned Terrors, including Reid and Youqian, were visibly stunned, clearly hearing this news for the first time.

"What? The Great Demon God Bertain is trapped in the Abyss?"

"How could that be?"

"Bertain is our leader. Shouldn't we venture into the Abyss to aid him in breaking free from the Holy Temple?"

"I refuse to believe this!"

The news had struck a chord with the Otherkin warriors, who had always revered the Great Demon God Bertain.

They were in an uproar, ready to set aside the Beast God of the Wasteland and rally their forces to storm the Abyss and rescue Bertain from the clutches of the Evil Temple.

"It's precisely because he is within that Holy Temple that the Evil Gods were unable to flood into our realm after the Abyssal Gate was shattered," Kaiya remarked, her lips curling in disdain as she regarded the most vociferous among them. "If even my father can't break free from the Evil Temple, what good would your efforts do?"

Those individuals were promptly silenced by her retort.

"Thank goodness you didn't go in. As long as you stay out, he won't be harmed."

Kaiya's gaze, heavy with implication, settled on Yu Yuan as she elucidated, "Once the Abyssal Gate fractured, it enabled my father, with his power, to forge a link with my soul. In that moment you witnessed him within the Holy Temple, he imparted a message to you."

"He provided guidance for me as well."

"He instructed me to heed your words, to back every choice you make, to be at your side," Kaiya murmured softly.

"..."