C2047 The Truth
In the Dark Realm, a vast ice field lay under a sky dotted with hexagonal snowflakes, the atmosphere cold and desolate. The Dark Tower, now magnified, drew in the ice force of the realm, transforming into a towering range of ice mountains. All forms of ice energy, the chilling power of the earth, and the drifting snowflakes were absorbed by the Dark Tower, which in turn, dramatically amplified its presence. Yet, the tower's power to shatter the void manifested time and again without ever coming to fruition.
The ice phoenix let out a mournful cry. Since its split from the fire phoenix, it had thrived in the Dark Realm, unlocking many of the ice magic's deepest secrets and forming a bloodline chain within its heart. With each low cry, its wings stretched out like ice, creating two vast ice rock domains. Beams of ice light radiated outward, aligning with the ice magic of the Dark Realm, seeking to rend the obscured heavens. However, the deep purple sky withstood the assault, showing no signs of yielding.
Tan Xiaotian's bizarre cry pierced the silence, as he effortlessly crossed the purple firmament to mock those who claimed supremacy within. At the base of the ice tower stood Yuan Le, in human form, emerging from the Ape of the Great Marsh, alongside Panot, the Rat God who had survived numerous ordeals.
Facing them was the Dark Phoenix Zhiya, her human form suspended in midair. A limitless surge of purple demon energy flowed from the Divine Throne behind her, cascading towards the ice field, now a vision of silver splendor. Zhiya's Demonic Eyes brimmed with a piercing chill.
Had Tan Xiaotian not intervened, Zhiya was certain she could have annihilated all the Beast Gods and Dark Deities present, including the last of Yuan Le's clones. She knew that Yuan Le's clone was destined to perish, with neither Untamed, Panot, nor the ice phoenix able to escape their fate.
She was aware that the loss of a mere clone was inconsequential to Yuan Le, whose true form in the Wasteland could easily be reconstituted without significant impact. However, within Yuan Le's clone lay the essence of the Bloodline Revelation, as well as the Life Keychain harbored within the Ape's heart. By harnessing these, she could augment her own power. This would afford her a measure of advantage and confidence for the inevitable clash with Yuan Le.
Her demon energy had sealed the ice field where Yuan Le and his companions were located, but she hadn't anticipated Tan Xiaotian's sudden emergence.
"Tan Xiaotian."
Zhiya's Demonic Eyes betrayed her concern.
During their battle in the Darkpinion Star Domain, Tan Xiaotian and Jihui, allied with the Secular Bird Queen, had been soundly defeated by her.
Back then, Tan Xiaotian hadn't been her equal, falling short of her abilities.
Now, however, the aura emanating from Tan Xiaotian seemed to blend seamlessly with the Dark Realm's infinite shadows.
He appeared as the Dark Realm's deity of darkness, his presence shrouded in mystery and brimming with confidence, which put her on high alert.
A thought struck her, and she asked icily, "Did you come from the Abyss?"
"The Abyss!" Ape's face contorted with worry as he quickly gestured to Yuan Le to exercise caution, exclaiming, "Tan Xiaotian, he might have already..."
Yuan Le merely smiled and shook his head, signaling Ape to relax.
"Dark Phoenix, back in the Everlands, you consistently outmatched both me and Lin Daoke. Personally, I've never accepted that. The last skirmish in the Darkpinion left me unsatisfied."
Tan Xiaotian's laughter boomed as he observed the demon energy rushing towards Yuan Le and the others. He brought his massive hand down from above.
Boom!
Dozens of colossal pillars of dark light, channeling the Dark Realm's energy, abruptly materialized in the outside world.
The pillars, entwined with the dark magic rules, plunged into the ice field shrouded in demon energy.
The purple demon energy spilling from Zhiya was punctured by the pillars, which also bore through the ice field's solid earth.
Whoosh!
The torrent of dark energy poured into the ice field, filling the space sealed by the Dark Phoenix.
"You're right. I have ascended from the deepest darkness of the Abyss. I've unraveled all the secrets of dark magic. The Dark Anima of the Abyss has granted me the full essence of darkness, and I have reached the eleventh level before you!"
Tan Xiaotian's wild nature was on full display.
As he laughed, more pillars of dark light took shape, towering behind him.
Whoosh!
Verdant leaves, as if answering Tan Xiaotian's call, flew from the direction of the Tree of Life.
Imbued with dark energy and inhabited by Tan Xiaotian's devil soul, the leaves transformed into ancient Demon Gods, descending through the void.
Arrayed behind Tan Xiaotian, these Demon Gods made him appear as the sovereign of both gods and demons, his presence shaking the very earth and sky.
"The losses I've suffered in the Darkpinion and the grievances I've endured in the Everlands, I will reclaim them all today."
Tan Xiaotian was aware that Yuan Le was merely a Blood Clone and didn't give him much thought. His gaze and attention remained fixed on the Dark Phoenix, Zhiya.
"Eleventh level!"
"Demon Lord, Tan Xiaotian!"
The Rat God Panot and the ice phoenix Alex were stunned by Tan Xiaotian's declaration.
They had not anticipated that after Yu Yuan, it would be Tan Xiaotian who, through an extraordinary encounter in the Abyss, would gain the favor of the Dark Anima and complete his mastery of dark energy.
And so, he had ascended to the eleventh level.
Cardo, the Dark Phoenix who had desperately sought the eleventh level, was now trailing behind Tan Xiaotian.
"Tree of Life, prevent these individuals from escaping. Keep them confined to the Dark Realm!"
Tan Xiaotian conveyed his will silently.
Millions of miles away, the colossal Tree of Life, stirred by Tan Xiaotian's actions, followed suit. It and the Thunder Spirit within its roots were in constant communion with him.
Yet, as the Tree of Life floated leisurely through space, it abruptly halted.
Its bark, reminiscent of dragon scales, radiated a brilliant light.
The Tree of Life's branches thrashed wildly as if in agony. It watched as one of its lengthy limbs was severed by a flash of snow-white sword light.
A diminutive white figure, wielding a sword of exceptional sharpness, was cleaving through the branches that branched from its trunk.
One by one, the branches were swiftly cut by the tiny figure.
"This realm, cursed by that infernal Primal Anima of ice, has spawned yet another troublesome being!"
Each leaf of the Tree of Life trembled, emitting a sound akin to a piercing scream.
The once motionless tree branches transformed into razor-sharp blades and spears, launching an assault on Ji Ningshuang as she wielded her sword, leaving her no time to pay heed to Tan Xiaotian or the stirrings of the Dark Phoenix, Yuan Le.
"Stardust Blade, Ji Ningshuang."
The Dark Phoenix slightly squinted her eyes, her demon energy enveloping the ice field, her demon soul manifesting externally.
She was taken aback upon witnessing a colossal tree, even more ancient than the Uxthar Tree, and then she noticed Ji Ningshuang brandishing her sword.
At that moment, Ji Ningshuang had transcended her previous status, nearing the eleventh level.
"One after another, hmph!"
Zhiya bit her lip in frustration.
...
"Who would have thought, my name has always been Yu Yuan, and I'm among the first humans from the Abyss."
Deep within the Everlands, Yu Yuan gazed at the memory light swirling in his mind, revealing scenes of the Abyss and triggering a flood of recollections.
A vast expanse of greenish-black soul sea dominated the depths of his consciousness, shrouded in thick fog.
The sea's hue was not the purple he had mistaken it for, but a dark greenish-black.
This greenish-black soul sea, originating from the Abyss, was the Primal Soul, the creator and ultimate origin of humanity.
Previously, the purple soul sea he occasionally sensed was the expansive Primal Soul of the Everlands.
Both being Primal Souls, they differed in color.
Bertain, having been fashioned by the Primal Soul of the Everlands, possessed a purple devil soul.
All the Star-Spawned Terrors shared this hue.
The Dark Phoenix was born in the Everlands before the fall of the Titan Spinosaurus.
Her demon soul, too, was imbued with the power of the Everlands' Primal Soul, giving her demon energy and demon soul the same purple tint as Bertain's.
Whoosh!
The greenish-black soul sea gently emerged from Yu Yuan's forehead, carrying its own thoughts and consciousness.
As the greenish-black soul sea departed, Yu Yuan's dominant soul also shifted to a dark greenish hue.
A massive, ethereal soul in shades of black and green hovered in the mist left behind by the departing soul sea.
In the fog, unmerged memory sparkles flew incessantly toward the massive dark green phantom soul.
He was immersed in memories of the past.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Within the dark green phantom soul, previously hidden soul threads began to illuminate, shining with an intense brilliance.
Each soul thread represented a delicate piece of Mind Magic, long ago etched into its being, now revealed.
"You've finally emerged."
Blazing Fire, inhabiting Yuan Lianyao, gazed upon the enigmatic black and green soul sea and, with reverence, emerged from Yu Yuan's mind.
An understanding and an agreement bound them.
The azure-black soul sea drifted leisurely toward the flame-licked pond.
At the pond's base, the azure-black essence continued to condense and purify.
The crystal sphere at the heart of the Everlands gradually adopted a violet-gold hue.
And the depths of the pond turned a deep purple.
This crystal sphere was the Heart of the Everlands, forged from the heart of a Titan Spinosaurus and the most wondrous soul crystal.
The refined azure-black essence at the pond's bottom was the original Primal Soul of the Everlands.
The purple Primal Soul, saturated with azure-black Soul Power, appeared identical to the original essence.
Yet, upon closer inspection, one would notice the pond's base was inherently purple, its true color obscured by the intermingling azure-black Soul Cloud.
"Cao Jiaze, your enlightenment corresponds with the Primal Soul of the Everlands. Your power has permeated the Primal Soul, and since you've resided within the depths of my soul, I can frequently sense Cao Jiaze," Yu Yuan, with his memories restored, said as he watched the azure-black soul sea that had departed from his mind.
Such was the truth.
