C2160 The Origin Soul's Ambition
Whoosh!
The guardian, taking the form of an elderly human, entered the heart of the Titan Spinosaurus, a realm forged from an array of celestial treasures.
Zi! Zi!
Countless arcs of lightning streaked across the crystal walls of the ocean's spherical heart, where the mysteries of life and bloodlines dazzled the eye.
Scenes of mountains and rivers, the sun and moon, stars, the cycles of time, the flourishing and fading of flora, and skies filled with frost unfolded one after another on the crystal wall.
Visions of unknown worlds, from their creation to their demise, were displayed with a chilling clarity.
Within these walls, the essence of the world, the cycle of life and death, and the passage of time seemed to be encapsulated.
The guardian, like a specter, floated silently, gazing upon the scenes within the crystal wall as if privy to the universe's greatest secrets.
At that moment, in the dark azure pool, the essence was highly concentrated, capable of giving rise to more exalted beings of the Protoss.
A look of insatiable longing crossed his gaunt face.
He, like Yu Yiyi, existed only as a spiritual entity, long bereft of a physical form. The pleasures of love, exclusive to beings of flesh and blood, were experiences he feared he would never know.
Yu Yiyi, having acquired a source, possessed a body that could be refined, which filled him with envy.
Within the sacred hall, he had used his authority to ridicule and oppress Yu Yiyi and the Ice Concubine, driven by his own jealousy.
He was aware of his yearnings, but that individual, along with his former master, had shown no interest in making his dreams a reality. Thus, he was left to wait.
The Soul Sea, suspended above the pool, shimmered with a kaleidoscope of light, seemingly intertwined with the life and bloodline laws of the vast heart's crystal wall, as if unraveling some profound cosmic mystery.
Though he could not comprehend it, he recognized its significance and refrained from interrupting the process.
*Crack!*
Occasionally, bolts of lightning and blinding flashes would burst forth within the Soul Sea.
The guardian, in his aged guise, could discern the Abyss Wood, the Great Demon God Reid, and the towering figures of humanity. He could also track the movements of the Evil God.
He even saw Hamm!
The Guardian realized in an instant that the Evil God was already aware of everything he had come to report.
The presence within Yu Yuan, the "Undead Sovereign," was just a fragment of consciousness. The Evil God's true essence had never departed, remaining ever-present.
At his place of origin, with transcendent intellect and spirit, it seemed he was orchestrating a grand scheme.
A sphere of darkness and a flame symbolized the Darkness Origin Spirit and the Geocentric Fire, respectively. Both Origin Spirits were biding their time within his essence, awaiting something.
Thunder, Light, Darkness, Vegetation, Extreme Flame, Origin Blood, Origin Soul – the Guardian recognized the profound mysteries governed by many Origin Spirits.
There were other, more intricate auras beyond his perception, likely emanating from additional Origin Spirits, including remnants of Mother Earth's power.
The profound truths of the Great Dao, once mastered by the now-vanquished Origin Spirits and absorbed by the Evil God, were being integrated into this place, aiding in the unraveling of something momentous.
"Leave."
The Guardian abruptly received the command, and without fully grasping the situation, he made his way back to the temple.
"There's no need to pursue Beilstein. The Evil Gods are free to roam. The girl confined within these walls is permitted to step out of the temple."
The Evil God's will was imparted before the Guardian's return to the temple.
"At once."
The Guardian promptly complied.
After the Guardian's departure, a ghostly, ethereal shadow emerged from the depths of the azure-black sea of souls above the pool.
The figure materialized in the likeness of Yu Yuan.
His primary spiritual form, taking on Yu Yuan's visage, stood amidst the boundless sea of souls, gazing into the crystal wall of the Heart of Vastness, where spectral lightning danced. He melded the truths of Heaven and Earth, the secrets of the Origin Spirits, with his current enlightenment, pondering the Great Dao he sought.
Darkness and Extreme Flame stood in silent vigil.
"The true Abyss's Source Blood is no more, leaving behind its Life Seed and a mass of flesh and blood that has eluded my understanding for years. This object is my final hurdle. Once I merge the Source Blood of this realm with that of the Desolate Realm, absorbing the essences of life and lineage they govern, I will be one step closer."
"By refining that mass of flesh and blood once more, I might succeed in creating a body of flesh and blood of my very own! I no longer wish to depend on Yu Yuan, nor do I need to manifest my power through possessing him."
"We are extraordinary beings, possessing only a spiritual consciousness, yet we lack a physical form to call our own."
"I will change the laws of the Heavenly Dao."
The Darkness Origin Spirit and the Geocentric Fire were thrilled by his declaration.
"Origin Spirit, the time has come for you to have a physical body. We will no longer depend on the beings we have created. Once I am successful, you too will have your own bodies, sparing you the effort of creating a supreme entity."
...
Cold Domain.
When Yu Yuan's Yang God presented Taishi with the mud ball, infused with the earth's profound mysteries, Taishi was ecstatic.
The mud ball merged with Taishi's Primordial Spirit. Bereft of flesh and bone, Taishi, adopting the ways of an Outland Devaputra, began to refine the mud ball, transforming it into his demonic form.
Standing at the edge of the Creation Pool, Yu Yuan gazed at the well-behaved mass of flesh and blood, still sensing the awe-inspiring power within. "I will venture to the Desolate Realm," he declared.
He engaged in a dialogue with the Origin Blood consciousness of the deep crimson continent.
Filled with surprise, the Origin Blood promised to fully support him.
"What's the situation outside?"
Tan Xiaotian, whose soul still bore the unerased marks of corruption, approached with the question.
The Demon Lord was particularly concerned about Beilstein. He was eager to learn whether Yu Yuan had encountered the Great Demon God and if there had been any significant progress.
"Beilstein will be here shortly," Yu Yuan replied, smiling.
Upon hearing this, the breath of the mighty ones remaining in the Cold Domain grew heavy.
The image of the Great Demon God Beilstein loomed large in their minds. The news of his impending arrival led them to believe that Yu Yuan had discovered a way to cleanse Beilstein of the invasive force within his soul.
"Beilstein?"
The name resonated with Tan Xiaotian, Taishi, and the other Divine Kings, sending ripples of excitement through them.
"With his own strength, he has purged the invasive force," Yu Yuan clarified.
A wave of amazement swept over the crowd.
Soon after, Zhong Chichen's Time Book ushered Beilstein, Andrea, Yuv Qian, and Lvliu into the Cold Domain.
"This place was once known as the Dark Domain, but now it's the Cold Domain. Indeed, a great transformation has taken place."
Beilstein, clad in heavy armor, stood tall and formidable. His exposed arms and neck shimmered with purple crystals, pulsing with an astonishing demonic might.
Yet within this exceptional purple crystal form, one could still see the greenish-black energy of a soul.
He had stripped away the power that could twist wills, but he was unable to fundamentally alter the source. His Devil Soul would never again be a true, pure purple.
Sizzle! Sizzle!
As Beilstein shattered the arcane, his arrival silently influenced the entire world.
The soul energy in the Cold Domain was sparse and impoverished, an ill fit for a gathering of the Devaputra. However, Beilstein's presence seemed to subtly transform the Cold Domain.
It was as if he possessed a natural talent, an instinctual gift.
"Lord Beilstein!"
Upon seeing him, Taishi burst into a hearty laugh and eagerly approached to welcome him.
From a distance, Tianqi and the Divine King of the Divine Soul Sect paid their respects with a bow.
Figures like Demon Lord Tan Xiaotian and the other formidable beings from Hao Ran were less enthusiastic and familiar with Beilstein's entrance into the Cold Domain.
After all, Beilstein had once been their archenemy, the insurmountable Magic Mountain of Hao Ran.
"Origin Blood."
Beilstein, depicted in the Time Book, gazed intently at it. Through the Devil Soul of the Outland Devaputra, he had given rise to the continent of the Blood Devil Clan, and he suddenly let out a strange, wide grin.
Yu Yuan detected the Origin Blood at the continent's core, along with the piercing cold, both on high alert due to Beilstein's arrival.
Confronted by the Great Demon God Beilstein, both the Origin Blood and the extreme cold, these two mighty Origin Spirits, appeared somewhat wary.
"Our Devaputra Race's Founder has perished. What grudge is there left to hold? He's gone, and now it's your turn. What is there to fear from me?" Beilstein taunted.
The reign of the Starry Behemoth over the Origin Realm was brought to an end with the demise of the ancient spinosaurus, leaving Beilstein as the embodiment of the Hao Ran Origin Soul.
Subsequently, Beilstein became the de facto ruler of the Origin Realm. The alien race, born of the Origin Blood and Origin Soul, revered Beilstein and dared not contravene his commands.
Within this realm, there was an inherent rivalry between Origin Blood and Origin Soul. When Origin Blood realized that the alien race born from its union with Origin Soul was no match for the Devaputra Race, it began to subtly influence the Yang Meridians. Using the Origin Blood Continent, it gave rise to the Blood Devil Clan.
The Blood Devils appeared to be born from the source of the Yang Meridians, but it was Origin Blood pulling the strings from behind the scenes. Origin Blood aimed to divide this group from within the Devaputra, intending to use the distinct Blood Devils to throw the Outland Devaputra's plans into disarray. Beilstein had likely seen through this long ago and was aware of the deep-seated animosity between the two.
Yet, these feuds became insignificant when the Origin Soul from the abyss engulfed the vast Origin Blood.
With a whoosh, Beilstein suddenly ascended from the Time Book and reached the Ice Crystal Barrier. He tapped it several times and inquired, "Is the Dark Abyss on the other side?"
Yu Yuan, present at the Creation Pool, gave a slight nod.
"Have you ever considered venturing beneath that darkness, to explore the true depths of the Dark Abyss?" Beilstein asked cheerfully.
"I must first visit the Vast Expanse," Yu Yuan responded.
"The Vast Expanse?" Beilstein paused, his surprise mirrored by Taishi, Tan Xiaotian, and the others, who all looked at him with concern.
"Members of the Star Race, Barol, and Brie from the Dark Elfkind have been captured by the Evil God in the Vast Expanse. They're on the brink of death," Yu Yuan said gravely. "I'm going to rescue them."
Beilstein fell silent.
Yu Yuan gazed intently at Beilstein, who had forged a unique "Soul Altar" and possessed a body crafted from purple crystal. He knew that Beilstein was indifferent to the fates of Barol and Brie.
Yet Barol, Brie, and Cadorath from the Bright Clan had all been steadfast followers behind him. Beilstein, in Yu Yuan's memory, was also a man of deep loyalty and compassion, not one to be so callously indifferent.
"The creation of your demonic body will subtly influence you. Be mindful of that. I crafted the Soul Altar, and you've constructed a demonic body to counter the Darkness Origin Spirit. We must remember, we are not inhuman Origin Spirits; we should retain the full spectrum of emotions that living beings possess."
Yu Yuan spoke with heartfelt gravity.
He increasingly recognized how timely Zhong Chichen's warning had been, prompting him to confront the issue head-on.
Engrossed in his struggle against the Darkness Origin Spirit, striving to break free from its extraordinary presence, he had unwittingly succumbed, transforming into an emotionless, inhuman entity.
This was clearly contrary to his original intent.
...
