C2046 The Dark Realm's Change

In the heart of the Evil Temple, a shadow materialized on the vacant throne, revealing none other than Yu Yuan, the Lord of the Abyss. Several Evil Gods, whose bodies were frail but whose souls were immensely powerful, bowed deeply before the figure seated upon the throne. Having long retired from the conflicts among their kind, these years had seen them serve as mentors to the newer generation of Evil Gods.

These reclusive deities, who had spent years hidden within the secret recesses of the Abyss, now watched with eyes brimming with excitement and anticipation. They had been summoned by the younger Evil Gods to track down Bertain, the Great Demon God. Guided by a guardian, they lent their wisdom, strategies, and a measure of their strength to confine Bertain's devil soul within the grandeur of this hall.

The ancient Evil Gods, who had lived for untold ages, had their suspicions confirmed upon witnessing the apparition of Yu Yuan. Indeed, he was the former Lord of the Abyss. Recently, at Jihui's behest, Yu Yuan had ventured into this realm of darkness in his real body. They had sensed an anomaly in the Soul Power and a gentleness in the rules of the Abyss, which, coupled with the guardian's reverence, suggested a connection to Yu Yuan.

Though the guardian neither confirmed nor denied their speculations, the revelation had already sent shockwaves through the ranks of the Evil Gods. Thus, when Yu Yuan arrived at the Genesis Continent and stood before the gates of the Evil Temple, the doors swung wide open, and the gazes that met him were filled with respect and humility.

The ancient Evil Gods' conjectures were now validated. Younger deities like the Dreadlord, the Soulreaver, and the Realm Devourer emerged one by one from the hall's stone columns. Towering figures, they gazed upon the modest throne and the mere projection of Yu Yuan, not even a true soul, and murmured amongst themselves in hushed tones.

"It's truly him," they whispered in disbelief.

"The Lord of the Abyss, who once journeyed to the Origin Realm aboard the Titan Spinosaurus, taking it along. In the vastness of the Origin Realm's Everlands, the humans born of the Abyss took root and flourished, spreading their reach to its many worlds."

"They are the favored of the Gods, a race cherished and crafted by divine hands."

The Evil Gods collectively sighed in wonder.

"Yu Yuan was once my master, the God-King who brought light to the Abyss. And it is because of him that this hall was constructed," the guardian's ancient and profound voice echoed throughout the hall.

The Evil Gods looked up to see a beam of light piercing through the dome of the hall, cascading down upon the chair and casting the image of Yu Yuan.

Yu Yuan, depicted within the chair, was not seated but standing, as if lost in contemplation. A dark green mark adorned his forehead, swirling like a vortex of the soul.

In that instant, the Evil Gods came to the startling realization that the Holy Temple, shrouded in perpetual darkness, had somehow departed from the lowest depths of the Abyss.

The light that descended from above originated from the highest tier of the Abyss, where a Light Spirit resided, its radiance reaching through the Abyss's many layers.

With a whoosh, the towering figure of Bertain, an elderly man with a red beard, materialized within a massive column of ink jade stone, surrounded by a labyrinth of rune chains and restrained by the Soul Power of numerous Evil Gods.

"Guardian!" cried the Evil Gods, who had entered the stone pillar with the daunting task of subduing Bertain.

They felt an overwhelming pressure, as if their combined strength was barely enough to contain Bertain.

"There's no need for concern," the unseen guardian reassured in a gentle voice.

At these words, the alarmed Evil Gods breathed a sigh of relief, easing off the force they had been exerting, which in turn granted Bertain's devil soul a brief respite.

Bertain, still tightly bound, turned his gaze to Yu Yuan, who seemed to be deep in thought within the chair.

"I knew it," Bertain said with a wide grin, breaking into a hearty laugh.

"When did you come to know?" the guardian inquired suddenly.

"As I roamed the various layers of the Abyss, I encountered many ancient tomes and learned that the Lord of the Abyss was named Yu Yuan. That name, Yu Yuan, was what the earliest inhabitants of the Abyss called it," Bertain explained with a casual air, his demeanor and tone unaffected by his captive state. "If the Abyss itself is Yu Yuan, then how could I not have realized that the Yu Yuan of today is none other than the original Lord of the Abyss?"

Inside the pillar, the Demon God burst into applause and laughter, clearly reveling in his own insight. "Hey, I too am a participant in this grand scheme. It's quite a marvelous feeling. To have once mentored the Lord of the Abyss is an honor beyond measure."

"Are you still attempting to deceive him?" the guardian asked with a cold huff.

"Deceive?"

Bertain shook his head gently, his expression complex as he spoke, "He is somewhat of a trailblazer for me. In the Origin Realm, after receiving the inheritance of the Everlands Primal Soul, I never once considered standing against it."

"The Titan Spinosaurus, upon its arrival in the Everlands, acted through me, regardless of whether I consented."

"In the years that followed, it continued to guide me, insisting I adhere strictly to its will."

"There were actions that went against my very nature, yet I never contemplated resistance."

Bertain paused before continuing with a steady voice, "In this regard, I am no match for Yu Yuan. I came to the startling realization that Yu Yuan was consistently and repeatedly defying the primal source."

"This revelation utterly overturned my thinking and beliefs, leaving me profoundly shaken."

"At that moment, I recognized his greater courage. He had the audacity to challenge the creator, to be his authentic self."

"When I learned the truth in the Abyss and discovered he was the Lord of the Abyss, I suddenly understood..."

A look of respect washed over Bertain's face within the stone pillar as he softly exclaimed, "He not only dared to rebel against the Primal Anima that created him, but he also attempted an act of defiance that, to me, was utterly unthinkable."

"He tried to subjugate and refine his own Primal Anima to bend it to his will."

"Though he ultimately failed, his boldness to undertake such an act was undeniable."

"Therefore, he stands as my guide, showing me an alternative path."

Bertain murmured to himself.

As another being shaped by the Primal Soul, a formidable entity at the eleventh level, he had always obeyed the Everlands Primal Soul without question.

Yet, in the Abyss, Yu Yuan, who had reached the eleventh level before him with the Abyss Primal Soul, dared to attempt the fusion of the Primal Soul!

Such audacity left Bertain, who eventually came to know the truth, in awe.

This was also why, when Yu Yuan returned to seek entry into the Evil Temple, Bertain fought to break free and offer a warning.

He earnestly hoped that Yu Yuan, his fellow pioneer, would not become a thrall to the Abyss's Primal Soul.

Above all, he wished for someone to succeed on this path, to escape the dominion of the Primal Anima.

Seeing Yu Yuan's soul projection seated at the center of the Holy Temple, along with his current expression, Bertain couldn't help but feel disheartened.

He was aware that Yu Yuan had reached the very heart of the Everlands.

The Abyss's Root of the Lunar Meridian had been tainted by the Primal Soul of the Everlands, the Blazing Fire, and the Root of the Lunar Meridian, along with the numerous God-Kings of humanity. It had grown incredibly powerful through the assimilation of various Primal Souls.

In the Three Realms, it was the strongest Primal Soul.

Could Yu Yuan, now awakened once more, withstand it? Could he break free from its grasp?

Even with the involvement of Primal Blood and Primal Vitality, Bertain felt the prospects were bleak.

...

In the Dark Realm.

The Tree of Life, vast enough to eclipse the heavens, scattered enormous leaves across the expanse of the starry sky.

These leaves, born from the tree, fell upon the stars of the Dark Realm, drawing in all their power like sponges soaking up water, endowing the leaves with magical properties.

The largest leaf transformed into a landmass, its surface becoming picturesque with clear waters and vibrant life.

The Tree of Life was reshaping the Dark Realm in its own image, turning it into a domain under its dominion.

"Tan Xiaotian!"

A resonant phoenix cry pierced the air.

"Dark Phoenix, you've actually ventured into the Dark Realm? Hehe!"

Tan Xiaotian's wild laughter rang out as he nodded, traversing thousands of miles in a blink to meet the human-formed Dark Phoenix, Zhiya.

"Ah, what an unexpected bounty!"

Upon halting, Tan Xiaotian also spotted the Ape from the Godsblight Marsh and the surviving Beast God within the Dark Tower.

"Perfect, it saves me the trouble of hunting them down."

A broad grin spread across Tan Xiaotian's face.

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