C2122 A Deserter
Between the shimmering barriers of two realms, a cold fog wafted through the air, pierced by a sudden flash of blood-red light.
Unbeknownst to them, the Primal Blood Continent from the depths of the Frostlands had shifted to the location of Chen Qinghuang and Zhong Chichen.
As the blood-colored barrier surrounding the continent touched the crystal wall that kept the darkness at bay, a deep "thud" echoed from the depths of the Primal Blood Continent.
With that thud, the hearts of Chen Qinghuang, Zhong Chichen, the Abyssal Leviathan, Taixu, and Ann Ziqing began to race uncontrollably.
Chen Qinghuang's eyes held a peculiar light as she gazed upon the vast Primal Blood Continent, observing the vital energy it exuded and the vibrations it caused.
For reasons unknown, the deep crimson star before her increasingly resembled a heart, magnified a millionfold.
The life essence she had channeled into her little world of vitality allowed her to sense a powerful surge of vital energy pouring into the crystal wall.
She realized that Yu Yuan's Solar Spirit Body was drawing forth the power of blood from the star, engaging in a strategic contest with the dark realm's two Primal Animas.
"The Primal Soul of the Everlands has been consumed by the heart of the earth. You... should be alright, shouldn't you?" Chen Qinghuang couldn't help but express her concern.
"It has joined the battle," Zhong Chichen murmured, his gaze fixed on the Primal Blood Continent's iridescent eyes, which shone with a jewel-like luster.
Those who had been compelled to flee to the Primal Blood Continent on the Dragon Slaying Stage due to the rampaging mass of flesh and blood now witnessed blood-colored mists rising from the continent's depths.
Slowly, the entire world was bathed in deep red hues. The heavens, the earth, mountains, lakes, and rivers all took on the color of blood.
An unfathomable amount of vitality permeated the world.
They instantly understood that once the Primal Blood's spiritual sense had merged with Yu Yuan's Solar Spirit Body, it began to harness the star's infinite vital energy.
In the shadowy depths, a fierce battle was undoubtedly raging!
...
In the Wraithlands, above the ceaselessly operating Crucible of Rebirth, the blood-yellow Levi River roared, carrying cleansed souls and ghosts into the heart of the furnace.
The furnace, reminiscent of a deep-sea maelstrom, spun eternally within, sending purified souls off for reincarnation.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Towering silver Shadow Mountains floated high above the furnace, drawing together the realm's mightiest figures.
Among them was an Undead Lord, an ancient tree, the God of Ghosts, Matina, Wagner, Youyu, and a Ghost King resembling Razses, accompanied by numerous Ghost Kings and Spectres.
The Wraithlands had been sealed once more, becoming impenetrable.
The Path of Undead, which linked to the Wraithlands, had been working overtime, transporting an endless stream of ghosts into the Origin Realm.
This surge was due to the mass deaths of the Dawnbringers, Shura, Starborn, and enchantresses.
The souls of alien beasts, hunted by the Evil God, dissipated across the cosmos, feeding the Sky Fiend.
Unlike the Sky Fiend, the souls of alien beasts were not part of the Wraithlands' Primal Vitality cycle.
Yet, under the onslaught of the Evil God and Sky Fiend, numerous warriors with ninth, eighth, and seventh-level bloodlines met their demise.
The consequence of these Otherkin deaths was that their spirits would enter the Path of Undead.
Subsequently, they would be conveyed to the Wraithlands by the Path of Undead.
The recent wars across the Star River had led to the deaths of many Otherkin, causing the Path of Undead to operate frantically.
Lately, the influx of ghosts into the Wraithlands was reaching capacity.
Each Levi River brimmed with the souls of formidable warriors from various races, with many Ghost Kings and Spectres selecting suitable individuals to be pulled up to Shadow Mountain.
The conflict within the Origin Realm had led to an abundance of ghosts, throwing the Wraithlands into disarray.
Atop the Shadow Mountain, where the ancient tree's roots delved deep, Youyu, with his stern demeanor, glimpsed a pale gray-white eye stealthily opening in the depths of the Crucible of Rebirth.
That eerie gray-white eye appeared to be a manifestation of the Way of Heaven at the heart of the Crucible.
Youyu's mind seized.
He glanced at Matina, Wagner, and the Ghost King akin to Razses beside him, only to find that their expressions were unchanged, as if the gray-white eye was invisible to them.
"It has chosen you."
The leaves of the ancient tree rustled as the Undead Lord projected its thoughts to Youyu, who was taken aback.
He quickly realized that the gray-white pupil visible only to him, nestled deep within the swirling vortex of the Crucible of Rebirth, signified the spiritual will of the Primal Vitality.
Without delay, the Primal Vitality's will engaged in direct communication with him.
The Primal Vitality informed him that due to the sudden influx of numerous soul spirits and ghosts, it possessed the power to create another Undead Sovereign.
It sought Youyu's consent, questioning whether he was willing to ascend and serve it.
The unexpected opportunity left Youyu bewildered.
The Primal Vitality's will persisted, explaining to Youyu that his crafted soul stone could house thousands of ghosts.
Should he ascend to the status of an eleventh-level Undead Sovereign and reforge the soul stone, could this artifact then transport all the disembodied soul spirits and ghosts of the Wraithlands, along with the realm's abundant shadow energy?
The Wraithlands was a tangible realm, with Shadow Mountain and its myriad of peculiar plants being concrete entities.
The ghosts and spirits here, though ethereal in nature, had crafted physical shells for themselves within the Wraithlands, akin to a Sky Fiend seizing a vessel, thus possessing corporeal forms.
The peculiar soul stone, however, was limited to housing spirit bodies and not physical objects.
As per the Primal Vitality, after his ascension, the soul stone would need to carry all the ghosts from the Wraithlands, including the God of Ghosts, the Undead Lord, and numerous Ghost Kings.
The Primal Vitality also expressed its desire for Youyu to incorporate the dense shadow energy into the soul stone.
Yet, Shadow Mountain would remain, and the soul spirits and ghosts would have to discard their physical forms, leaving behind their refined armors and tools.
Youyu clarified these details.
The Primal Vitality swiftly responded, stating that only the ghosts were to be brought along, and all tangible items could be left behind.
Internally agreeing, Youyu resolved that he should be capable of accomplishing this feat post-ascension.
Consequently, he gained the favor of the Primal Vitality.
Following Yu Yuan, the Primal Vitality set its sights on Youyu. Due to the countless deaths within the Origin Realm and the abundance of shadow energy and souls in the Wraithlands, the Primal Vitality sought to forge Youyu into the second Undead Sovereign.
It required such an Undead Sovereign to manifest its will.
Yu Yuan, its creation, upon entering the Heart of the Everlands, witnessed the end of the contest between two Primal Souls. The Primal Soul of the Everlands was consumed, causing the painstakingly crafted Undead Sovereign to collapse in an instant.
It now needed to select another spokesperson from among the God of Ghosts, someone who could descend in the future and confront the increasingly powerful Evil God of the Abyss.
"Where do you wish to go?"
Youyu's heart leapt, sensing that the will within the Wraithlands might be preparing to withdraw.
It would be wise to take all the souls and ghosts and evacuate the Wraithlands.
But to where could they retreat?
The Primal Vitality promptly responded, "The Wasteland."
Stunned, Youyu quickly uncovered more secrets. In addition to the Life Seeds of the intelligent races like the Dawnbringers, Shura, Starborn, Shadowkin, and enchantresses, there were also the cleansed soul seeds from the Crucible of Rebirth.
Its involvement had led to the formation of a second wave of intelligent life. Regrettably, it lacked the power of the Primal Soul.
As a result, the second generation of intelligent beings—the Dawnbringers, Shura, Starborn, and enchantresses—lagged far behind humans and Sky Fiends in terms of soul cultivation and potential.
Humans and Sky Fiends, crafted by the Primal Soul, could ascend to become Demon Gods and cultivate their primordial spirits.
The formation of other races' souls, though influenced by it, could only advance to their peak through their bloodlines.
It informed Youyu that the Origin Realm was on the brink of collapse and likely indefensible.
Its plan was to head to the Wasteland and collaborate with another Primal Blood there, creating a richer diversity of life and ushering in new, formidable races within the Wasteland.
It resolved to forsake the Primal Blood of this realm, to erase from memory all its inhabitants, and to venture into the Wasteland in search of a new beginning.
The influx of countless ghosts and spirits was a grim sign that the second wave of beings, born of it and the Primal Blood, was facing a brutal massacre and extinction.
The Life Seeds, dispersed by the Primal Blood, had been severely wounded by the Sky Fiend, the humans, and the Evil God of the Abyss. The alien beasts were scattering in every direction, utterly incapable of standing against the merged malevolence of the Primal Soul.
The soul arcane mysteries it had unlocked were now being unraveled by the body of Yu Yuan, known as the "Undead Sovereign."
Seeing not even a glimmer of hope for victory, it had resolved to turn deserter.
