C2089 The Gods and Demons

In the Ashlands, the power of the Wraithlands had dissipated, and the Secular Bird Queen had vanished. Many of the human race's most exalted beings were sent to the Abyss by the guardians of the Evil Temple, prompting the retreat of the Otherkin warriors. The Starborn, Dawnbringers, Shura, enchantresses, and Stoneborn all departed with their kin.

The majority of the territories in this realm were now deserted.

Even Zhong Chichen, the little spinosaurus, the Abyssal Leviathan, and other cosmic giant beasts sensed the unease in the Ashlands and withdrew silently, choosing not to linger.

In the Everlands, every flame retreated once more to the depths of the earth.

The fissures in the earth, consuming the cosmic energy of the Ashlands, pulsed like breaths, transforming it into the chaotic and wild power of the Abyss.

This world, once the cradle of human splendor in the Origin Realm, was now brimming with an alternative vitality, rich with Abyss energy.

The Evil Temple, nestled within the Moonfall Sanctuary, had ceased its tremors and lay in an eerie stillness.

Crack!

The earth's fractures began to mend, and the Everlands appeared to be self-healing, poised to restore its former visage.

With the entity at the heart of the earth growing stronger, the Everlands, powered by the vast energy of the Ashlands, promised to surpass its former glory and become even more wondrous.

Suddenly, a chilling figure emerged from the deep crevices and took a stand before the Evil Temple.

His presence instantly captivated all the formidable figures within the Ashlands.

"Yu Yuan!"

Upon witnessing his emergence from the Heart of the Everlands, Shi Jing'er, Zhongli Dapan, and Jun Chen, esteemed human cultivators, all showed expressions of astonishment.

Reid, the High Priest of the Sky Fiend Clan, and Youqian, a tenth-level Demon God, were also present in the Ashlands.

The two mighty Demon Gods of the Sky Fiend Clan greeted Yu Yuan with a distant, respectful bow.

Yu Yuan, having stepped forth from the Heart of the Everlands, paid no heed to their stares and approached the imposing Evil Temple.

Creak!

The temple's massive doors swung open from within, ushering in his arrival.

The Evil Gods, born and bred in the Abyss, stood solemnly on either side of the Holy Temple.

The survivors among the Evil Gods were arrayed in two rows within the temple, some crouching, others kneeling, each one bowing their heads in a gesture of humility.

The image of the guardian was etched into the stone floor of the grand hall, bowing in reverence toward him.

In Yu Yuan, the Evil Gods sensed the breath of the Creator, the origin of their very being.

As its consciousness settled upon Yu Yuan, it advanced with a cold, indifferent gaze deeper into the hall.

At the heart of the hall, the devil soul of Demon God Bertain writhed within its refined iron armor.

Assuming the body of the "Undead Sovereign" Yu Yuan, it approached Bertain, watching as his devil soul shifted to a dark greenish-black hue, mirroring its own.

Hiss! Hiss!

From the depths of its eyes, streams of the Lunar Meridian shot forth, infusing into Bertain's devil soul.

It unleashed the Mind Magic tied to the Primal Vitality it had gleaned from Yu Yuan, using this power to muddle Bertain's will, gradually diminishing his resilient spirit.

To it, Cao Jiaze was merely another spiritual host, yet in its view, he was the least desirable option.

Yu Yuan's Demonic Vessel, as well as the mighty Demon God Bertain, were far superior to Cao Jiaze.

Naturally, the most ideal vessel for possession, in its opinion, was Yu Yuan's real body, housing the "Soul Altar."

Regrettably, even with the combined efforts of the Dark Anima and the power of the Evil Temple in the Genesis Continent, and even with Yu Yuan's "Undead Sovereign" body, it failed to ensnare Yu Yuan.

It was aware that as it merged with the Primal Soul of the Everlands, growing in strength, so too was Yu Yuan enhancing his power.

Yu Yuan, gradually awakening, had crafted a "Soul Altar" in this lifetime that was even more enigmatic than before, thanks to the presence of Primal Blood and Primal Vitality, two superior Primal Animas.

With each passing moment, Yu Yuan was amassing power, just as it was.

It felt an acute sense of urgency.

Swiftly, the tributary of the Lunar Meridian that sprang from its eyes merged with the Spirit Magic imprinted deep within Bertain's dark devil soul.

It appeared somewhat weary.

The Great Demon God, Bertain, was the mightiest in this realm. Had it not assimilated the vast Primal Soul, it might not have succeeded in subjugating Bertain.

Now, it was infusing streams of the Lunar Meridian into Bertain, employing arcane techniques akin to the soul yet distinct in essence, eroding Bertain's lingering sense of self.

It was confident that Bertain would ultimately be subdued.

Having accomplished this, it turned to face the Evil Gods who knelt in reverent obedience on either side.

Its intent was communicated with clarity.

The Evil Gods perceived the command it had issued, and with a roar of excitement, they surged from the Evil Temple, free to roam the Ashlands.

It instructed these denizens of the Abyss to seek out their rightful domains within the Origin Realm.

For instance, the Dreadlord could venture to the Shadowkin's territories in the Astral Domain, subjugating its people and harnessing the domain's rare treasures to bolster their power.

It also made it clear that the Sky Fiend, humans, and the Abyss were now one with the Abyss.

Beyond that, the Evil Gods were given free rein to hunt and kill Shura, Starborn, Stoneborn, enchantresses, and alien beasts.

The Evil Gods' mission was to eradicate the creatures born of Primal Blood, thereby diminishing its influence.

Once the Evil Gods had departed, it briefly conferred with the Guardian, instructing him to await Bertain's awakening.

Subsequently, it soared from the Everlands in Yu Yuan's Demonic Vessel.

At that very moment, the little spinosaurus, Zhong Chichen, Loong Jie, and other alien beasts like the Abyssal Leviathan had also departed, heeding the summons from Yu Yuan.

Figures such as Jihui, Taixu, Tianqi, and Lin Daoke were all dispatched to the Abyss.

Those who remained in the Ashlands were once allied with the Boulderdawn, such as members of the Starmoon Sect, Skyreach Consortium, and Forgeroses.

"Yu Yuan?"

As Yu Yuan emerged from the Evil Temple, the human cultivators who remained felt an innate closeness to him. Their souls bore marks that whispered of his identity as their creator, the origin of their very essence. Yet, he offered no acknowledgment.

Reid and Youqian had already come to regard him with reverence, seeing him as the origin of the devil soul. Reid, the High Priest of the Sky Fiend race, stood loyally behind Yu Yuan, his head bowed in devout service. With the human leader Han Miaoyuan deceased, it was Reid who now conveyed Yu Yuan's will.

"Tyria, the Everlands, the Abyss, and all the stars of the Ashlands are your domain," Reid declared in a chant-like tone to those who stayed behind.

"We, the Gods and Sky Fiends, are born of the Primal Soul; we are kin. The Evil Gods you witnessed surging from the Holy Temple will serve us henceforth, as beings of the second level."

Reid redefined the racial hierarchy, elevating humans to the status of Gods in his narrative. Both the Gods and the Sky Fiends, he claimed, were the first level of beings from the Abyss and Origin Realm, both tracing back to Yu Yuan.

The second level was reserved for the Evil Gods of the Abyss.

As Reid made these proclamations on his behalf, Yu Yuan found himself on Eiwrone, standing atop the Star of Wonder, a planet riddled with deep caverns. He gazed blankly at the thirty-six swirling energy vortexes before him.

Soon after, Zu Ann and Qin Luo, who had ventured to the Ionodios in the Annihilation Nebula, made an unexpected return. Covered in blood, they had fought valiantly alongside the human cultivators of the Boulderdawn, slaying numerous Otherkin warriors. The alliance of Otherkin warriors with the Boulderdawn had suffered devastating losses in the Annihilation Nebula due to the strategies of Taishi and Bertain.

"The Abyss, Origin Realm, and the Wasteland will fall under the dominion of the Gods and Sky Fiends," Yu Yuan decreed. "The Beast Gods and alien beasts that have emerged from the Wasteland are the adversaries we must swiftly vanquish."

"Next, the Starborn, Shura, and the enchantress..."

Reid hesitated briefly when he spoke of the Starborn, a slight pain throbbing in his mind. It was as if a crucial memory was clashing with his words, but soon, that significant memory vanished from his thoughts.

...

Elsewhere, Bertain had sealed off the Starry Sky Forbidden Zone.

Kaiya arrived in person and summoned Qi Yunhong from the Starry Sky Forbidden Zone. She instructed Qi Yunhong, "Venture to the deepest layer of the Abyss and seek the Tree of Life. Take the missing piece of the Thunder Spirit and present it to the tree."

"And you," she continued, "will take Samantha's place as the new favored guardian of the Thunder Spirit."

Kaiya's pupils turned a dark shade of blue.

Qi Yunhong, who had fled to this place, stared at the now peculiar Kaiya, momentarily frozen in shock. He had entered the Starry Sky Forbidden Zone to avoid being tainted by the Thunder Spirit, fearing he would eventually become its vessel and stand in opposition to Yu Yuan.

To his surprise, Kaiya, who had delivered him to safety, was now leading him out again.

Her words implied that he was to be offered to the Thunder Spirit as a gift.

Qi Yunhong was immediately filled with bewilderment.

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