C2070 The Seed
"Direbear."
Yu Yuan's attention sharpened as he scrutinized the creature before him. He could sense that Sekou, the colossal bear, was on the cusp of reaching the eleventh level.
The bear's body brimmed with vital energy, immense as mountains and oceans. Among the multitude of Beast Gods, Sekou's strength was surpassed only by Yuan Le.
Though the black goat ranked higher, Yu Yuan sensed that Sekou might be the more formidable of the two.
Moreover, Sekou's aura was in harmony with the mountain encircled by stars.
This enigmatic peak in the Wasteland appeared to be the wellspring of Sekou's power. When the Direbear required it, the mountain could channel its force to bolster Sekou's strength.
"This bear is extraordinary."
Tan Xiaotian also sensed the peculiarity, taken aback that Sekou, who ranked below the black goat, could effortlessly neutralize Yu Yuan's strike, rendering his assault ineffective.
"To encounter such a bear on our first foray into the Wasteland?"
The black goat's remark prompted Demon Lord Tan Xiaotian to give the massive bear another look.
The lethargic bear sprawled across his celestial perch, his corpulent form suggesting a life devoid of ambition or battle.
The Direbear grumbled in its native tongue, casting a disdainful glance at Tan Xiaotian.
Even Tan Xiaotian, who had ascended to the eleventh level and mastered the entirety of dark magic, seemed insignificant to him.
Neither Yuan Le, the black goat, nor the other Beast Gods of this realm considered his attitude presumptuous. They seemed accustomed to it, acknowledging his capacity to look down upon Tan Xiaotian's combat prowess.
They were all aware of his penchant for luxury and indolence in recent years, which had led to his current state.
Yet, in the Wasteland, he was ranked only behind Yuan Le and the black goat.
The black goat's precedence was due to its unique significance to the Origin Realm, being adept in Soul Power.
"Sekou!"
The woman in the black dress, incensed by his indifference, fixed him with a furious glare and bellowed.
Her expression conveyed a frustration akin to resenting iron for not turning into steel.
The Direbear remained nonchalant, not even bothering to glance at the black goat.
In its heart, the black goat was no match, merely a junior.
To the Direbear, the black goat's clamor was nothing short of disrespect, but it was too indifferent to take offense, finding it pointless.
It knew surpassing Yuan Le was out of reach, and the Beast Gods below were no challenge either.
Moreover...
Deep within this mountain, the Primal Anima, eternally allied with the Primal Blood of the Wasteland, was the very Earth Spirit that had created Sekou.
By that fact alone, he and Yuan Le were unified.
As an Earth Spirit allied with Primal Blood, being a mere Primal Anima, Sekou understood that even with the full grasp of profound meaning, ascending to the eleventh level was beyond reach.
This was akin to Cardo's predicament. Even after finding a fragment of the light source in the Wasteland, the Light Spirit's primary nature meant that Cardo's chances of reaching the eleventh level were faint.
To level up, Sekou would need to refine the Earth Spirit, integrating the Primal Anima within himself.
On one hand, Sekou was a grateful Beast God, incapable of such an act.
On the other, with Yuan Le and Primal Blood present, the feat was unattainable, so he abandoned the pursuit.
This was the root of the Direbear's passivity.
"Sekou, if you stay in the Wasteland, the tenth level is your ceiling, but now we're in the Origin Realm!" Yuan Le declared sternly.
The massive bear grumbled in the ancient tongue of Beast Gods, a language Yu Yuan comprehended.
Sekou had already visited the Origin Realm once, finding nothing that could elevate the Earth Spirit of the mountains, nor aid his progression to the eleventh level.
"The Origin Realm indeed lacks what we need, I'm aware of that," Yuan Le acknowledged, his voice growing louder. "However, in the Abyss, in the unfathomable darkness below, I've detected something that can elevate the Earth Spirit. Through its metamorphosis, you too can attain the eleventh level's might, just like me!"
Yuan Le held a special fondness for the Direbear, treating it with an exceptionally kind demeanor. This bond stemmed from their shared history; before Yuan Le ascended to become the Lord of Ruin, the massive bear had been a constant companion by his side. The Primal Blood that coursed through Yuan Le's veins and the Direbear's creator were eternal allies, laying the foundation for their deep-seated camaraderie.
"Is that true?" the Direbear bellowed in the ancient language of the Beast Gods, its voice tinged with excitement. "Yuan Le, you're not deceiving me, are you?" Unlike other Beast Gods, Sekou addressed Yuan Le by name rather than by title. It might have seemed less respectful, but it was a testament to their closeness—a formality unnecessary between friends.
Yuan Le nodded emphatically, his expression grave. "You know I would never deceive you," he assured.
Sekou, mirroring Yuan Le's gesture, nodded vigorously, his spirits visibly lifted. In the Beast language, he murmured, "Yuan Le, you once promised to help me reach the eleventh level, just like you."
"I haven't forgotten and have been striving toward that goal," Yuan Le replied earnestly. "My efforts were previously hindered by the constraints of the Wasteland, but that won't stop me from fulfilling my promise to you."
"Alright, I'll keep lending you my strength!" Sekou, the Direbear, was finally persuaded. After tens of thousands of years, in the new expanse of the Origin Realm, the heart of this colossal bear was reignited with purpose.
"Still, I can't beat someone like you. But that dark character, I think I can handle him," Sekou mused, implying that even at full strength, he couldn't best Yu Yuan. However, he believed he stood a chance against Tan Xiaotian, the Dark Overlord.
"It's great to hear you're so confident," Yuan Le said with a satisfied smile.
Tan Xiaotian let out a derisive snort. Despite his disdain, he couldn't help but become more alert around the Direbear. Sekou, much like Cardo, had long ago been favored by the Primal Anima. With the Earth Spirit nestled in the mountains, Sekou's advantage was significantly greater than Cardo's. It was no surprise, then, that the Direbear had managed to withstand Yu Yuan's initial onslaught.
Suddenly, Yu Yuan's form trembled slightly, and a curious light flickered in his eyes.
At that moment, a significant message emerged from his real body. The Abyss consisted of seven levels. The first level contained a single continent, the second had two, the third had four, the fourth had eight, the fifth had sixteen, the sixth had thirty-two, and the seventh had sixty-four, totaling one hundred and twenty-seven continents. This was also the maximum number of Evil Gods the Abyss could sustain—exactly one hundred and twenty-seven.
Once the population of Evil Gods reached this threshold, no new Evil Gods would emerge unless an existing one perished or additional continents surfaced to shatter this cap. The Primal Anima represented the pinnacle for the mightiest in any given world, governed by rules and principles nearly impossible to alter. Any deviation signified the onset of a cataclysmic event.
Take Yuan Le, for instance, who had once invaded the Origin Realm with numerous Beast Gods, shattering the Beast God limit in the Wasteland. Yuan Le had reaped considerable benefits from that venture. Similarly, the Titan Spinosaurus, a being of unparalleled might, had breached the Abyss and, through its unrestrained plundering, facilitated a breakthrough in the total number of supreme entities within the Origin Realm.
The Abyss, with its seven levels and one hundred and twenty-seven continents, perpetually floated in the darkness, but this was not its full extent. The Abyss was far more expansive than he had ever imagined!
With a thunderous roar that vibrated through the Star River, the Direbear Sekou made its presence known in its home world. The star-encircled mountain seemed to resonate with Sekou, trembling ever so slightly.
Whoosh! Rings of spatial ripples emanated from the earth beneath Sekou's feet, tearing through the void in an instant and forging a passageway for traversal.
The next moment, Taishi materialized before Sekou. Looking up at the colossal bear that remained seated like a towering mountain, Taishi felt an affinity with its aura, though he was slightly bewildered.
Taishi's senses were still reeling, his consciousness somewhat hazy. "Yu Yuan!" "Tan Xiaotian!" It didn't take long for Taishi to realize that Tan Xiaotian, who had reached the eleventh level as a Solar Spirit, was present in this realm alongside Jihui. Then, he laid eyes on Yuan Le and the Beast Gods of the Wasteland.
Taishi, known for his cunning intelligence, found himself perplexed. He couldn't fathom how the giant bear, to which he felt an inexplicable closeness, had the power to snatch him from the fragmented Ashlands and bring him to the Wasteland.
What intrigued Taishi even more was the presence of a force within the mountain that seemed to be calling to him. Yu Yuan, poised to strike, had his radiant violet-gold blade from the Dragon Slaying Stage abruptly stilled.
The Direbear represented the most formidable presence on Taishi's sacred way, while the Earth Spirit within the mountain was the ultimate incarnation of Taishi's cosmic order. This was akin to Taishi's ability to influence Gu Xingkui while he was still in the extraterrestrial realm.
Just as the Earth Spirit that created Sekou could affect Taishi, so too could the Earth Spirit influence him. If the Earth Spirit wished to destroy Taishi, it would be as effortless as the blazing fire's dominance over the fire phoenix; Taishi would stand no chance.
The Primal Anima, a manifestation of the cosmic order, naturally wielded such authority. Upon landing, Taishi sensed a power stirring deep within his mind and throughout his body. It was imprinting upon him the very essence of the earth's power he wielded.
"You're right, this fellow's grasp of the earth's power has piqued its interest," Sekou remarked, scratching his head and speaking in an awkward human tongue. "Isn't he a being from the Origin Realm? Why didn't we encounter such an entity during our last visit? I was certain there was nothing like this in the Origin Realm."
Sekou was baffled. The cosmic order that Taishi had mastered contained elements not even the Earth Spirit that created him possessed—so fresh and enchanting, it sparked a glimmer of hope in Sekou. Yet, despite his previous search in the Origin Realm, he had not encountered any cosmic order that astonished him. Taishi was a delightful surprise.
"You've been too indifferent to our actions," Yuan Le said with a slight smile, offering an explanation. "His name is Taishi, a human from the Everlands. The roots of humanity lie in the Abyss. The Primal Anima that gave rise to humanity is immensely formidable, having dwelled in the darkness beneath the Abyss for countless years. It must have insights into other powers related to the earth."
"And Taishi is both a seed and a testament!"
