C2046 The Change in the Dark Domain

In the heart of the Evil God Temple, a shadow materialized on the empty throne, revealing none other than Yu Yuan.

The Abyss Lord, Yu Yuan himself.

Several Evil Gods, their physical forms greatly diminished yet possessing immense souls, prostrated before the apparition seated before them.

Long retired from the conflicts of their kin, these years had seen them assume the role of mentors, guiding the nascent generation of Evil Gods.

These reclusive Evil Gods, who had spent years hidden in the secret depths of the Abyss, now watched with eyes alight with excitement and anticipation.

At the behest of the younger Evil Gods, they had been summoned to seek out Beilstein, the Great Demon God's whereabouts.

Following the guardian's directive, they offered their wisdom and strategies, contributing a portion of their strength to confine Beilstein's Devil Soul within the majestic confines of this hall.

Upon witnessing Yu Yuan's visage emerge, the ancient Evil Gods' long-held suspicions were instantly validated.

Yu Yuan was indeed the former Abyss Lord.

Recently, he had ventured into this realm of shadows in his true form, responding to a summons of great intellect.

At that moment, they perceived a disturbance in the dark soul energy and the yielding nature of the Abyss's laws. Coupled with the guardian's reverence, it was clear to them that Yu Yuan was intrinsically linked to the Abyss.

Their speculations, neither confirmed nor refuted by the guardian, had already sent ripples of astonishment through the ranks of the Evil Gods.

Thus, when Yu Yuan descended upon Creation Land, standing at the gates of the Evil God Temple, the doors swung wide.

The multitude of Evil Gods gazed upon Yu Yuan with a mix of respect and deference.

The ancient Evil Gods' conjectures were at last affirmed.

Emerging from the monolithic pillars within the hall, the younger generation of Evil Gods, like the Shadow Evil God, the Spiritual Slayer, and the Devourer, stepped forward.

These towering beings, whose stature reached into the heavens, looked upon the modest chair and the projection of Yu Yuan, who was not even a soul, and murmured amongst themselves in hushed tones.

"It's truly him, I never would have believed it."

"The Abyss Lord who once traversed to the Origin Realm via the Titan Spinosaurus, taking it along. In the expansive Origin Realm, the human descendants of the Abyss took root once more, extending their reach into the many worlds of the Origin Realm."

"They are, after all, the Protoss, the favored ones, the race lovingly crafted by its divine hand."

The Evil Gods marveled in awe.

"Yu Yuan was the Divine King who brought light to the Abyss, and it was for 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 streaming through the dome of the hall.

The light shone upon the chair, casting Yu Yuan's image.

Yu Yuan, who appeared to be seated, was actually standing, seemingly lost in thought. A dark green mark adorned his forehead, swirling like a vortex of the soul.

It was then that the Evil Gods realized that the somber temple had ascended from the deepest reaches of the Abyss.

The light that bathed the temple emanated from the highest tier of the Abyss, where the Light Origin Spirit resided, illuminating each layer of the Abyss.

With a whoosh, the imposing figure of Beilstein, a tall elder with a red beard, materialized within a massive obsidian pillar, encircled by a labyrinth of runic chains and the sealed power of countless Evil Gods.

"Guardian!"

The Evil Gods tasked with the daunting duty of restraining Beilstein cried out in alarm within the stone pillar.

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

"It's fine," the unseen guardian reassured in a calm voice.

The alarmed Evil Gods breathed a sigh of relief, easing off their forceful restraint, which granted Beilstein's Devil Soul a brief respite.

Beilstein, still tightly bound, turned his gaze to Yu Yuan, who was deep in contemplation upon the chair.

"I knew it," Beilstein said with a wide grin, chuckling heartily.

"When did you realize?" the guardian inquired suddenly.

"As I wandered through the various strata of the Abyss, I encountered many ancient tomes. I learned that the Abyss Lord was named Yu Yuan. And Yu Yuan is what the original tribes of the Abyss called it," Beilstein explained with a relaxed demeanor, his voice and expression natural, not betraying the slightest hint of defeat despite his captivity. "If the Abyss is Yu Yuan, then how could I not deduce that the Yu Yuan of today is the same as the original Abyss Lord?"

The Great Demon God laughed uproariously within the confines of the pillar, exuding an air of self-satisfaction. "Ha! I, too, am a participant. It's a peculiar sensation, having once mentored the Abyss Lord. I consider it a supreme honor."

"Are you still attempting to deceive him?" the Guardian scoffed.

"Deceive?"

Beilstein gently shook his head, his expression complex. "He could be considered a forerunner of mine. In the Origin Realm, after receiving the legacy of the Vast Ocean Origin Soul, I never once considered opposing it."

"When the Titan Spinosaurus reached the Vast Ocean, it forced me to fight using my body, without caring whether I was willing."

"In the years that followed, it continued to guide me, insisting I act entirely on its whims."

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

After a short pause, Beilstein spoke with resolve, "In this regard, I am no match for Yu Yuan. I came to the startling realization that Yu Yuan was defying the Origin over and over again."

"This utterly overturned my beliefs and worldview, leaving me astounded."

"At that time, I recognized his courage; he dared to challenge the Founder and stay true to himself."

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

With a look of respect on his face within the stone column, Beilstein softly exclaimed, "He not only had the audacity to defy the Origin Spirit that created him, but he also attempted something even more unthinkable to me."

"He tried to subjugate and refine his own Origin Soul to bend it to his will."

"Though he ultimately failed, the fact that he dared to attempt such a feat is telling."

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

Beilstein murmured to himself.

Like him, created by an Origin Soul and a formidable Eleventh Level being, he had always followed the Vast Origin Soul's commands, never daring to contravene.

Yet in the Abyss, Yu Yuan, who had ascended to the Eleventh Level before him with the help of the Abyss Origin Soul, dared to attempt to meld with the Origin Soul!

Such audacity commanded Beilstein's utmost respect upon learning the truth.

For this reason, when Yu Yuan returned to the Evil God Temple, seeking entry, Beilstein struggled fiercely to provide a warning.

He earnestly hoped that Yu Yuan, his fellow trailblazer, would not be subjugated by the Abyss Origin Soul.

He deeply wished for someone to succeed on this path, to break free from the constraints of the Origin Spirit.

But now, seeing Yu Yuan's soul projection seated at the center of the hall and witnessing Yu Yuan's current demeanor, Beilstein was disheartened.

He knew that at this moment, Yu Yuan had reached the heart of the Vast Ocean.

The Abyss Origin Soul, once tainted by the vast and pervasive Origin Soul, had become unimaginably powerful through the many Divine Kings of humanity and their innate sources. It was the mightiest Origin Soul across the Three Realms.

Could Yu Yuan, now awakened once more, withstand its influence?

Even with the intervention of the Origin Blood and Origin Soul, Beilstein harbored little hope.

...

In the Dark Domain, the Abyss Wood, whose towering presence eclipsed the heavens, scattered its colossal leaves across the expansive starry sky.

These leaves, born of the Abyss Wood, descended upon the stars of the Dark Domain, drawing in all their power like a sponge soaks up water, endowing the leaves with a hidden magic.

The largest leaf transformed into a landmass, its surface blossoming into a picturesque landscape teeming with life.

The Abyss Wood was reshaping the Dark Domain, molding it into a realm under its dominion.

"Tan Xiaotian!"

A resonant phoenix call pierced the air.

"Demon Phoenix, to think you've ventured into the Dark Domain? Hehe!"

Tan Xiaotian's laughter boomed as he nodded, traversing thousands of miles in a blink to confront Zhiya, the Demon Phoenix in human guise.

"Ah, an unexpected bounty!"

Upon halting, Tan Xiaotian also laid eyes on the Old Ape from the Desolate Swamp, a Shrouded Tower, and a surviving Beast God.

"Perfect, I can capture them all in one fell swoop, saving me the trouble of a hunt."

A broad grin spread across Tan Xiaotian's face.

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