C2006 The Land Landed
Yu Yuan's expression turned peculiar.
In the Everlands, when the wall existed, cosmic energy was purified by this barrier, further refined to form a pristine divine force that nourished humans, evilkinds, and all beings born of the Everlands' vital energy.
Such pure spiritual energy gave rise to human cultivators and spawned countless archdemons.
Nagas, Terra Fiends, and ghosts all thrived on this pure spiritual energy.
Due to Han Miaoyuan's decision, the wall that had encircled the Everlands year-round vanished, allowing impure cosmic energy to flood in unchecked.
Unexpectedly, the pervasive energy from the Star River of the Origin Realm began to subtly transform within the current Everlands.
It was gradually aligning with the power of the Abyss.
The Everlands seemed to be breathing, and the strange artifacts hidden in the depths of the earth were undoubtedly altering the Everlands, making it resemble the Abyss.
Before long, the human experts remaining in the Everlands might detect the odd power erupting from the ground fissures, a power they could directly assimilate.
It could fully integrate into their corporeal bodies, fortifying their bones and flesh, endowing them with the robustness of the Otherkin.
The psionic power of the Abyss wouldn't enter their Golden Sanctum within the elixir field, differing from their spellcasting methods. It was akin to the direct body tempering practiced by the Otherkin and evilkind.
Amidst Yu Yuan's silent astonishment, he suddenly became aware of Cao Jiaze.
Embracing the Way of Heaven's Soul, as eagerly anticipated by Han Miaoyuan, Cao Jiaze had forged a Divine Position from his soul's essence and acquired a Soul Pillar within his sea of consciousness. Currently, he was not at the Ebon Star but in the Moonfall Sanctuary.
Cao Jiaze stood at the pit connected to the Hellmouth, vigilant for the foreign entity that might arrive at any moment.
He was attempting to connect with the Will of the Deep through his primordial spirit.
As he did so, Yu Yuan, stationed outside the Everlands, was unexpectedly stirred and perceived Cao Jiaze's actions.
"Do you truly possess wisdom and consciousness?"
"Between God-King Jihui and our sect's Mr. Han, whom should I believe?"
"Why do I sometimes feel like you are within the Everlands and at other times, somewhere beyond the stars?"
The soulful voice of Cao Jiaze caused ripples within Yu Yuan's consciousness and his dominant soul.
Cao Jiaze, who was in communion with the Will of the Deep, found his every whisper resonating with Yu Yuan's spirit.
It gave Yu Yuan the uncanny impression that he was being interrogated by the likes of Zhong Chichen, Taixu, and Ann Ziqing.
Such an anomaly only deepened Yu Yuan's conviction.
There had to be traces of an abyssal entity deeply etched within the recesses of his sealed dominant soul!
This entity, having tainted or consumed the Primal Soul, allowed Cao Jiaze's communications to partially reflect upon himself.
Suddenly, a will from beneath the earth began to ascend.
As this will merged with Cao Jiaze's soul, it took the form of a vague yet familiar phantom within the Soul Pillar in Cao Jiaze's mind.
In that instant, the psychic link between Yu Yuan and Cao Jiaze was abruptly severed.
He could no longer sense Cao Jiaze's presence.
The indistinct figure within the Soul Pillar was an embodiment of the current Will of the Deep.
It had heeded Cao Jiaze's mental summons and, upon responding, must have detected its own existence.
It possessed the power to sever the psychic bond between itself and Cao Jiaze!
...
"Mr. Hong."
The Grand Sword Immortal, known as "Rillrender" from the Sword Sect, flew in from the cold, distant moon. He halted in the void, not daring to approach Yu Yuan and the Dragon Slaying Stage, and greeted him with a respectful bow. "There are still about ten days left before the appointed time, Mr. Hong. Have you come to survey the scene ahead of time?"
Yue Mu was courteous yet maintained a reserved air.
"I have arrived, and they can follow at any moment."
Beneath Yu Yuan's feet, the Dragon Slaying Stage radiated with a spectrum of light, sending waves of spatial ripples outward, transforming the resplendent dais into the most wondrous Starway.
From the Ashlands to the Stellar Oblivion, the Annihilation Nebula to the Hellmouth, cultivators of Boulderdawn could instantly materialize atop the Dragon Slaying Stage, provided they were within a region housing a Starway of the Boulderdawn Sect.
At this moment, Yu Yuan was confident that within the current Origin Realm, there was no one capable of destroying the Starway he had constructed using the Dragon Slaying Stage. Even if the Voidweaver and Rovi were resurrected, and Arthurs broke away from the Evil Temple, they wouldn't possess the space magic needed to dismantle the ferry he had established.
"It's like this," Yue Mu began, hesitating briefly before continuing, "Since the appointed time hasn't arrived, Mr. Han, our Sect Master, Zu Ann, and others have departed through the Warp Gate at Skyreach Peak, following Jihui's invitation."
"The supreme beings of the Everlands have not yet returned," Yue Mu admitted, even though they were on opposing sides. Perhaps he realized that concealing the truth was futile.
"Jihui's invitation? I have an idea of where they've gone," Yu Yuan said with a light nod and a smile. "Let's do this—you accompany me on a walk through the Everlands. Without Taishi's presence, this wondrous continent won't just crumble away."
"Oh, and even with Taishi here, it wouldn't be easy to shatter this realm," Yu Yuan remarked, reflecting on the changes.
The Everlands had undergone a transformation, becoming unlike what it was before, with many foundational rules now exhibiting anomalies.
"Now?" Yue Mu asked, taken aback.
"Don't worry, I'll wait for Han Miaoyuan and the others to return before we proceed," Yu Yuan reassured, gesturing for Yue Mu to lead the way. "I didn't traverse the Hellmouth or use a direct void shift to get here. I chose to approach openly and deliberately from the outside as a gesture of my intentions."
After a moment of silence, Yue Mu steeled himself and said, "Alright then."
Thus, the Grand Sword Immortal, who had reached the late Unbound Stage and was soon to challenge for the Supreme God position, personally guided Yu Yuan.
As the two passed by the moon, they didn't pause for even an instant. Many Unbound and Solar Spirit cultivators, witnessing Yue Mu and Yu Yuan heading towards the Everlands, felt a heavy sense of foreboding. They frequently gazed into the distance, anticipating that Taishi, Taixu, and the fabled Soul-Capturing might soon make their presence known.
"Is it just Yu Yuan?"
"If I'm not mistaken, that's Yu Yuan's true form, isn't it? Like us, he's still a cultivator within the Unbound Realm?"
"That kid's got some nerve!"
"Why is he only using his Unbound Stage body? What's Yue Mu so worried about?"
After the two had left, the cultivators from Winter's Bite, Ethereal Void, and Abyssal Dawn began to converse.
These folks weren't the most informed. They were only aware that Yu Yuan's Solar Spirit was remarkably powerful, capable of battling the Dark Phoenix.
Han Miaoyuan had consistently extended an olive branch to Yu Yuan, specifically asking for the return of his Solar Spirit.
As a result, those in the Everlands regarded Yu Yuan's Solar Spirit as a formidable weapon.
Yu Yuan's real body, being merely at the Unbound Stage without an ascended primordial spirit, seemed insignificant to them.
The anxiety and gravity that Yue Mu exhibited upon seeing Yu Yuan and the Dragon Slaying Stage emerge in the distance seemed to them an overreaction.
...
"Order of Healing, Fireheart Mountains."
Gazing at the reddish-brown expanse before him, Yu Yuan spoke with a hint of reminiscence, "This place holds many memories for me. I'll start by settling down here."
"Okay."
Yue Mu dutifully took the lead.
"Yu Yuan!"
"Yu Yuan!"
Across the vast Everlands, many craned their necks skyward, catching sight of Yue Mu alongside the Dragon Slaying Stage.
And on that stage stood a solitary figure!
Only the seasoned veterans from various sects, those who had waged wars in the Star River, and a few venerable beings who had returned from the extraterrestrial realms due to their ample origins, remained in the Everlands.
These individuals, just a step below those with primordial spirits, were aware that an epochal battle was on the horizon and were making preparations.
Yet the time had not come, and Han Miaoyuan and his party had only just departed.
Why then had Yu Yuan made such an unexpected appearance?
A multitude of astonished and uncertain eyes tracked Yu Yuan's silhouette through the void, watching as he and Yue Mu made their way toward the Fireheart Mountains.
In the shadows, a web of messages crisscrossed, converging upon Ebon Star, Sword Sect, and Devil Palace.
"Why have you... suddenly come?"
In the Fireheart Mountains, Yuan Lianyao fished her Red Demon Bell from the fiery core of an active volcano.
Suddenly, she noticed Yu Yuan and Yue Mu descending from the heavens. Her lovely face, usually full of charm and radiance, was now etched with surprise as she exclaimed, "Is it just you?"
"Are you attempting to use the Earthfire to ascend to the highest path?" Yu Yuan inquired.
Panic rippled through Yuan Lianyao's heart as she hurriedly responded, "The state preceptor told me that my ultimate path lies right beneath my feet. I must try, no matter what."
She worried that Yu Yuan was displeased.
Not long ago, she and Zhou Cangmin were in the Ashlands, on the enigmatic planet of Tyria.
After Taishi declared his intention to confront Han Miaoyuan in the Everlands, she and Zhou Cangmin left the Ashlands and returned to the Everlands. In hindsight, their decision seemed questionable.
"There's no harm in trying."
Yu Yuan nodded slightly, aware of the numerous watchful eyes hidden in the shadows.
Confronted with the beauty who had traveled from the Ashlands due to Mo Baichuan's death, he refrained from further comment. Instead, he asked, "But was there a fire phoenix involved?"
"A fire phoenix, born from a flame Bloodwraith, took refuge within the state preceptor and was drawn below," Yuan Lianyao answered.
"Below ground?" Yu Yuan's brow furrowed. He descended onto the Dragon Slaying Stage and crouched down, pressing a hand to the earth as he said, "Let me have a look."
