C2038 It Still Came
In the Dark Domain, Jee Ningshuang's life force surged like the vast ocean, marking her as a pinnacle being akin to Barol. Her soul had not yet evolved into a Primordial Spirit, and her body bore the imprints of numerous extreme cold laws, seemingly absorbing the chill of the cosmos at every moment.
The sword qi that naturally radiated from her carried not only the essence of extreme cold and the mysteries of the stars but also the keen edge of the Asura Clan. It appeared as though the Origin Blood had intentionally endowed her with this attribute.
The Origin Blood, deeply appreciative of the millennia of protection by the cold, bestowed a power upon Jee Ningshuang while the extreme cold was diligently shaping her. It seemed to be a way to empower Jee Ningshuang to take on the mantle of guarding the Dark Domain.
Thus, although she and Yu Yuan's Yang God resided in separate Starry Forbidden Grounds, they were mysteriously attuned to each other. Yu Yuan could distinctly track Jee Ningshuang's movements within the Dark Domain and even glimpse scenes from it through her travels.
The domain's darkness had no hold over her; she shone like a radiant, icy star, casting light upon the Dark Domain.
Having shed a portion of her essence, Jee Ningshuang, once fallen from the highest echelons, had been remade by the extreme cold and the gift of the Origin Blood, emerging more formidable than ever.
Now, Jee Ningshuang surpassed even the fire phoenix from the Desolate Realm, ascending to the stature of Cadorath. She possessed the credentials to challenge the Eleventh Level!
Favored by the extreme cold and granted the most profound ice laws of the universe, she became the voice of the extreme cold. Yet, Yu Yuan harbored concerns, for she had been sent to the perilous Dark Domain at this critical juncture by the extreme cold itself.
Within the Dark Domain lurked Yuen Li, the Old Ape, and the purple phoenix. The Hannya Divine Tree suggested that the Tree rooted in the abyssal darkness was poised to strike at the Dark Domain, where a thunderous source spirit resided.
Tan Xiaotian might also join the fray. With these formidable beings frequently traversing the Dark Domain, Yu Yuan had to proceed with the utmost caution.
"If you come across an issue you can't resolve, notify me right away. With your presence in the Dark Domain, I should be able to sense our bloodline connection and cross over to assist you in battle." After tuning in for a moment, Yu Yuan discovered an exceptionally strong connection between his Yang God and Jee Ningshuang's bloodline.
This newfound realization bolstered his confidence.
If Jee Ningshuang was indeed in the Dark Domain facing an insurmountable challenge, he felt assured that he could make it there in time.
With this in mind, he focused on the two black and green origins in his palm, contemplating how to refine them using the body of a ghost god and the might of the Undead Ruler.
Meanwhile, his gaze remained fixed on the true form of Hao Yu, which continued its flight unabated.
The link between Hao Yu and the Gray Domain remained unbroken.
He had sealed all the entry and exit points to the Gray Domain, and the numerous caverns of the Heaven Opening Flare Star were obscured by a blood-red glow, effectively isolating the Gray Domain from the Origin Realm.
The inhabitants of the Origin Realm, by all logic, should not be able to detect the Gray Domain's presence.
Yet the trajectory of the burning Hao Yu, along with the composure of Han Miaoyuan and others, indicated that the fiery entity was completely unaffected.
"Do I need to destroy all the Origins and extinguish the spirit of the Extreme Flame?"
Yu Yuan was indecisive, knowing that such an action would instantly result in Zu Ann's death.
"Sir, the Origins are not easily refined. Please don't hastily destroy them," Ji Hui suddenly implored. "The Origins can forge a Primordial Spirit, and its strength is directly linked to yours. The stronger it is, the stronger you become. While killing supreme beings like Cao Ji and Wu Rann has no impact, you must refrain from destroying the Origins."
"Destroying the Origins would mean eradicating a source of your future strength. Please proceed with utmost caution!"
Ji Hui's plea was both frantic and urgent.
As Ji Hui was making his case, the blazing Hao Yu abruptly halted, a sight both strange and ominous.
It stood amidst an alien starry sea, like a colossal fireball, devouring all sources of fire and amassing the flame power of this realm.
With a crackling sound, the surface of Hao Yu burned fiercely, its dreadful flame energy capable of reducing any creature to ashes in mere moments.
The Starry Behemoth, the Beast God of the Desolate Realm, and the mightiest warriors of other races would all meet their demise if they dared to come into contact with Hao Yu at that moment.
Yu Yuan was momentarily taken aback when it came to an abrupt halt.
Whoosh!
Two figures emerged slowly from the flames, a master and his disciple—Cao Jiaze and Han Qi.
Han Qi, who had descended into the Foul Land, had ascended to a ghostly deity using his primal source. Despite what should have been a moment of triumph, he was exceedingly restrained and cautious in the presence of Cao Jiaze.
His demeanor towards Cao Jiaze was no longer that of a master to his disciple; the ease that once was had vanished.
He didn't dare meet the gaze of Cao Jiaze's silhouette, instead keeping his head bowed in utmost humility.
Yu Yuan, who had intended to obliterate two primal sources in the Gray Domain using the might of a ghost, ceased his actions immediately upon Cao Jiaze's arrival.
Seated on the Dragon Slash Platform, his true form experienced a chilling sensation, as if a formidable adversary had appeared.
Cao Jiaze, with a primal source and a soul pillar within his consciousness, hovered amidst the tumultuous flames, observing calmly.
Yu Yuan inhaled deeply.
The Dragon Slash Platform and his Yang God form were in peak readiness, prepared for an all-out effort.
Yu Yuan then realized that Han Qi's deference and caution were not directed at Cao Jiaze of the Profound Sky Sect, nor at his own disciple.
Han Qi's humility was aimed at the deep heart of the Vast Earth, the human Founder known as the Origin Soul.
This soul, originating from the abyss, had infused a thread of its consciousness into the soul pillar within Cao Jiaze's mind. Using Cao Jiaze's body and divine status, it was as if it had emerged from the core of the Vast Earth.
Coming from the abyss, it had tainted the Origin Soul of the vast expanse, allowing the human race to establish itself in the Origin Realm and gradually erode it. Now, it was finally making its presence known.
It seemed that Yu Yuan's attempt to destroy the two refined primal sources had stirred it into action.
It observed Yu Yuan quietly through Cao Jiaze's eyes.
Crack!
In Yu Yuan's sea of consciousness, the memory shackles bound by numerous dark soul threads appeared to fracture under its intense scrutiny.
Yu Yuan was immediately rendered motionless.
The anomaly in his true form had repercussions for his Yang God and Ghost God Body within the Gray Domain.
Both aspects of himself in the depths of the Gray Domain were as if struck by an unnamed force, becoming as unresponsive as his main body.
Their eyes were vacant, their expressions rigid, as if their thoughts were being constrained through the ether.
Ji Hui, who had been earnestly trying to persuade him, let out a sigh of relief upon witnessing Yu Yuan's current state.
"Sir, it's time for you to return."
Ji Hui called out with reverence, treating Yu Yuan with the same respect that Han Qi showed Cao Jiaze.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
In the Gray Domain, the two sources that had been under Yu Yuan's control were suddenly set free.
Before Tianqi and Xuanli could even react, the sources plunged into their foreheads like twin streaks of azure and black lightning.
In a flash, the sources began to integrate with the two Divine Kings.
A distant will from the Starfield, carrying an air of irrefutable authority, commanded Tianqi and Xuanli to comply.
The defensive barriers they had painstakingly erected, like fragile sandbanks against a torrential river, were swiftly breached, leaving them bereft of control over their own souls.
"Tianqi!"
"Xuanli!"
Taishi and Taixu, the two Divine Kings, were still unaware of Yu Yuan's condition when they were startled by the plight of Tianqi and Xuanli.
"Has it... emerged?"
Han Miaoyuan inquired cautiously.
Ji Hui nodded slowly.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
In a burst of brilliant sword light, the five stars that had been refined by Yu Yuan exploded into a sea of meteorites.
In the instant that Yang God Yu became dazed, Lin Daoke detected a halt in the operation of the Five Elements Great Seal. With a single sword stroke, he shattered the seal and freed himself.
The entrance to the Heaven Opening Flare Star, previously sealed, erupted with intense flames, dissolving the barrier imposed by Yu Yuan.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
The Heaven Opening Flare Star itself was pried open by a force. The spatial abilities that pervaded the star converged into a stream of light, slicing through the starry expanse.
A vast rift was cleaved into the starry sky of the Gray Domain, and through it, a burning star rapidly approached.
The star shimmered with a resplendent halo, as though it were navigating through layers of the void.
"Hao Yue!"
"It has finally arrived!"
All the powerhouses of the Gray Domain gasped in astonishment upon witnessing the emergence of the familiar star.
Yet, both Yu Yuans remained motionless, seemingly oblivious to the roaring Hao Yue.
...
Before May Day, I decided to take my wife and kids to my mother-in-law's house early to enjoy some leisure time and celebrate the holiday.
Luck was not on my side. A positive case suddenly emerged in the neighboring town, and I found myself trapped in a rural town, subjected to daily nucleic acid tests.
I had hoped it would all be resolved in a few days, but here I am on day ten, effectively in quarantine for ten days with no clue when I'll be able to return to Yangzhou.
Feeling down today, unsure of when I can go home, I couldn't even bring myself to type this morning.
