C2129 The Demon Lord's Request

The Creation Pool and the two World Barriers of Yu Yuan had vanished. The portal that had briefly opened was now sealed shut, the thick crystalline ice creating an impenetrable divide between the realms.

Occasionally, blood-red hues and flashes of gold metal streaked across the icy barrier.

The ice barrier, reformed and more robust than before, proved to be a greater challenge than the one Tan Xiaotian had previously shattered.

Standing before the ice barrier, the Demon Lord reached out, his face growing increasingly grave as he contemplated the barrier's strength.

This new barrier, woven with intricate and wondrous truths, was fortified with mysterious laws, making it one of the most formidable seals in existence. It was an obstacle that Tan Xiaotian could not overcome, for the biting cold resided in the Cold Domain, and the origin blood lay within.

After some contemplation, Tan Xiaotian's resolve hardened. "I am Tan Xiaotian. I wish to pass through."

Clang! Clang! Clang! His fists pounded against the ice, echoing like hammer blows against cold gold metal. His hand, enveloped in a chilling fog, grew increasingly rigid.

His body, too, was succumbing to the icy power, as if being devoured by a glacial abyss.

Tiny bolts of lightning transformed into fine Space Edges, lacerating the skin on his hand. Yet, he remained undeterred.

He continued to strike the barrier without shielding his fist or body with his divine darkness. His mind and soul were left exposed, unguarded against the demonic energy.

After numerous attempts, Tan Xiaotian sensed a consciousness within the ice barrier locking onto him.

This familiar presence seemed to scrutinize his mind, observing him in silence.

Knowing it was Yu Yuan and understanding the challenges ahead, Tan Xiaotian offered no resistance, allowing the other's gaze to penetrate.

"Please come in," Yu Yuan's voice, tinged with a hint of surprise, echoed from within the ice wall.

The barrier was engulfed in a surge of scarlet, which then blossomed into a spectrum of radiant light.

A spatial secret door appeared, crafted solely for Tan Xiaotian's passage.

With no time for pleasantries, Tan Xiaotian, leaving behind the prayer mat known as the "Heaven of Darkness," stepped forward into the convergence of multicolored light.

In an instant, the Demon Lord vanished.

Throughout it all, the Darkness Origin Spirit, like flurries of dark snow within the shattered black mirror, watched over Tan Xiaotian, observing his every action.

The Darkness Origin Spirit watched him as he tapped on the icy barrier and then departed.

Utterly calm and silent, the Darkness Origin Spirit neither intervened nor offered counsel or explanation. It simply allowed Tan Xiaotian to drift away.

In its view, the Darkness Supreme Being it had crafted was not its equal.

As such, Demon Lord Tan Xiaotian, having ascended to Paragon status through its divine power, should always put its interests first, naturally bearing the duty to aid in its empowerment.

When needed, Tan Xiaotian was expected to willingly sacrifice his own body.

The emergence of this Darkness Supreme Being, a creation of Yu Yuan's, was a rare occurrence.

Yet, if this Darkness Supreme Being turned traitorous like Yu Yuan once did...

It experienced the same emotions its companion had felt in the past.

"You've disappointed me."

It whispered to itself long after Tan Xiaotian had gone.

Time passed.

At the pinnacle of the Abyss, the one who had amassed the myriad souls and specters from the Path of the Undead finally descended from the heavens.

Upon the Origin Soul's return, it discovered that Yu Yuan's true form, the Yang God, and the Creation Pool had all vanished.

The whereabouts of Demon Lord Tan Xiaotian were also unknown.

In that moment of descent, the two extraordinary beings, allies for eons, exchanged thoughts in a unique manner.

He instantly grasped the situation and learned everything.

"Yu Yuan taking the Creation Pool might not be detrimental. Even with that mass of blood and flesh, they can't perform the ritual."

He gazed at the shattered obsidian mirror, observing the flitting Darkness Origin Spirit within, his demeanor serene.

"We both remember the steep price we paid to drive the Abyss Origin Blood towards its demise. Only through the quiescence of an entire world and the obliteration of countless lives were we able to erase it."

"The beings it spawned surpassed the Starry Behemoths of the Origin Realm and the Beast Gods of the Desolate Realm."

"It, too, was above its two peers."

"Yu Yuan now possesses that cluster of flesh and blood. Relying on the power of the Origin Realm's Origin Blood to decipher the Life Seed it left behind will require an extensive period."

With a visage mirroring Yu Yuan's, he spoke with a chilling, composed voice.

"I surmise that Yu Yuan and the Origin Blood will undertake numerous endeavors to unravel the secrets of the flesh and blood within the Creation Pool. For instance, seeking an opportunity to venture into the Desolate Realm, slay the King of Desolate Realm, and meld with the Origin Blood of that realm."

The Darkness Origin Spirit within the shattered mirror visibly perked up at these words. The gloom that had shrouded the spirit seemed to dissipate in an instant.

"By merging the two Origin Bloods, we can imprint deeper truths of the bloodline onto the Soul Altar. Only then can we fortify his Yang God form, enabling a swifter understanding of the life force within the Life Seed," the Abyss Origin Soul paused in his discourse.

After a prolonged silence, he continued, "There's no need for concern. Beilstein's final defenses have been shattered by me. A fragment of my consciousness can still inhabit his Devil Soul."

"You may depart first. I will restore your Dark Divine Kingdom. The Devil Lord that arose from your power will remain under your control, especially as your strength grows and you ascend to a higher-level Origin Soul."

"The transformation of the Dark Domain into the Cold Domain is inconsequential. The presence of the two Origin Spirits will not impede me."

Using the body of the Undead Sovereign, he descended onto the fragmented surface of the Artifact Soul, plummeting towards the Creation Land.

...

Beyond the icy barrier lay the newly formed Cold Domain. The deep crimson continent hung suspended in the frigid expanse, with the distant crescent moon casting a faint, chilling light.

The massive Creation Pool remained still, positioned just outside the Origin Blood Continent, not drawn into it.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The mass of flesh within the Creation Pool pulsed with a heartbeat as it moved from the darkness into the Cold Domain, where the Origin Blood Continent existed. Yet, there was no violent, twisted, or malevolent surge of blood energy driving anyone to madness.

Yu Yuan and the Origin Blood watched the anomalous flesh in the Creation Pool with bated breath, fearing it might incite madness in all who were present. Thankfully, the pulsing and the heartbeat subsided shortly, bringing calm.

The Secular Bird Queen, Ann Ziqing, and other formidable beings like the Chaos Roc warily observed the peculiar flesh within the pool from its periphery. They recognized it as the source of their near-insanity.

Previously, Yu Yuan had staunchly guarded the fissure in the ice, enduring the agony of their assaults, while ensuring they remained within the Cold Domain.

Yu Yuan had brought something terrifying out of the shadows.

Everyone was quaking with fear.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Suddenly, they heard a knocking sound from within the icy barrier, along with Tan Xiaotian's pleading voice.

Their startled eyes immediately fixed on Yu Yuan.

"I'll go check it out."

Yu Yuan moved closer to the solid ice crystal wall in his true form, peering intently.

After a moment, Yu Yuan seemed to have ascertained something. He was communicating with the Abyss Origin Blood and the extreme cold, managing to summon the devil lord, Tan Xiaotian, from the pitch-black Alien Realm.

Upon seeing Tan Xiaotian, a fierce glint flashed in Chen Qinghuang's eyes, and she coldly exclaimed, "Is he looking for death?"

Hiss!

The forces of death and destruction appeared ready to burst forth from her and invade Tan Xiaotian's mind.

Her presence was commanding, her fighting spirit unyielding.

Now, she wasn't in the dark Alien Realm but in the Cold Domain. With the Darkness Origin Spirit upon Tan Xiaotian, the lack of a home-field advantage meant he might not be able to discomfort her as he had previously.

"That's Tan Xiaotian."

Yu Yuan spoke softly, signaling Chen Qinghuang to stay calm and not rush into battle.

Amidst the many hostile stares, the devil lord remained unfazed, saying coolly, "Don't be so worked up. If I weren't myself, Yu Yuan wouldn't have let me come here."

"He's just another puppet of the darkness."

Chen Qinghuang's brow furrowed in confusion over Yu Yuan's decision. She couldn't fathom why Yu Yuan would willingly bring such a significant risk from the Darkness World.

Likewise, Jee Ningshuang, embodying the extreme cold, regarded the devil lord with animosity.

​