C2171 The Mission of the Gods
Crackling and whooshing filled the void between the Everlands and Tyria, a region of chaos where lightning danced and storms roared. The clash of the highest cosmic order and the collision of various forces created a dazzling spectacle.
Regrettably, the true scene within the depths of chaos remained unseen, as were the movements of Yu Yuan and the Evil Gods.
Abyssal energy from the Everlands, potent cosmic energy from the Ashlands, and the cleansed divine force from Tyria were all drawn into this murky expanse.
The rumbling persisted, and the terrifying instability slowly spread.
An aura that could unsettle the soul emanated from within, causing even the mightiest beings like Jihui and Reid to feel restless, uncertain of the events unfolding inside and too apprehensive to investigate.
The assembled powerhouses remained silent, waiting with patience.
After what seemed an eternity, a towering figure, thousands of feet tall, emerged leisurely from the now tranquil void.
This was a man with greenish-black skin, a statuesque build, and a strikingly handsome face, draped in a long black robe, his thin lips betraying an air of innate ruthlessness.
He bore the visage of Yu Yuan.
The Evil Gods of the Evil Temple had been successfully consecrated by him, their bones integrated into his demonform, while the Evil Gods of the previous era were assimilated as its flesh and blood.
Dozens of Abyssal Evil Gods had been dissolved by him, as if they had never existed.
Soulreaver Grimes, the Dreadlord, the Dark Demons, and the Evil Gods who had evaded Bertain, the Great Demon God, and survived Yu Yuan's wrath, all became nourishment for his demonform.
The Evil Gods, deemed inferior by him, faced near extinction due to his change in stance.
Upon witnessing his return, and with no Evil Gods daring to emerge, everyone felt a chill run down their spine.
The God-King Jihui, who had spent years among the Evil Gods, knew well of their attempts to breach the Abyssal Gate under Arthurs' seductive influence, longing to unleash havoc upon the Origin Realm.
Who could have imagined that the Evil Gods would meet such a tragic fate so soon after their arrival in the Origin Realm?
In a region of starry chaos, Yu Yuan's Divine Visage was conspicuously absent, leaving him to manifest alone.
Was Yu Yuan alive, or had he perished?
Doubts arose in everyone's minds, yet none dared to voice their questions.
The demise of the Evil Gods, executed with his indifferent and merciless methods, had struck terror into the hearts of all in the Ashlands. Anyone who gazed upon him was filled with dread.
"You will act on my behalf."
A fissure opened in his chest.
Han Miaoyuan, the gaunt master of the Ebon Star Sect, emerged from the crack. He first bowed respectfully to Yu Yuan before turning to Jihui with a sardonic remark, "To think we'd meet again!"
Whoosh!
Following Han Miaoyuan, the old man who once guarded the Holy Temple also stepped through the crack.
He spared Jihui a glance.
Jihui's mind was clouded, overwhelmed by the limitless divine force that enveloped him. His body and spirited body shrank, transforming abruptly into a soul mark that soared into the Everlands and descended into the earth's depths.
Having refined the Evil Temple, he paid no mind to the thoughts of others and proceeded directly to the "fountain" that lay still, exuding a death aura.
He observed the "fountain" in silence, his eyes flickering with an unusual light.
After a brief pause, he shifted his gaze to another unremarkable "fountain" nearby and mused, "Thirty-six fountains—could they be interconnected? It's time to find out."
He plunged his hands into the "fountain," which had ceased its outpouring of cosmic energy.
As his hands entered, the "fountain" began to rotate slowly, drawing energy from the Ashlands.
He nodded in approval.
Whoosh!
A conduit of energy formed between this "fountain" and the Everlands, channeling the wild and turbulent energy from the Everlands directly into the "fountain."
Inside this conduit, dazzling arc lights—the marks of the cosmic order he had inscribed—shimmered.
"It is done."
With those words, his second spiritual sense, inhabiting the demonform crafted from the Holy Temple, plunged into the second "fountain."
The Observers looked on, puzzled by his abrupt departure.
In his eyes, the enigmatic "springs" seemed even more alluring. He willingly utilized two of his bodies to delve into the mysteries of the springs.
"Mr. Han?"
Qin Luo asked, his voice tinged with trepidation.
"They remain in the Heart of the Everlands. Consider them two soul fragments of his," Han Miaoyuan explained, his gaze shifting from Zu Ann and Qin Luo to Van Heqing, Lu Hongpeng, and then to Tan Junshan and Tyria.
Upon noticing Shi Jing'er, Jun Chen, Duan Yisheng, and the cultivators from the Ethereal Void and Abyssal Dawn, he paused.
"The Gods will subjugate more worlds under their aegis. They will persist in absorbing various Primal Anima. We shall follow their lead, eradicating the beings spawned by these Primal Anima."
"This is our calling, our supreme glory," Han Miaoyuan declared with reverence.
...
Frostlands.
At the brink of the Wellspring of Creation, Yu Yuan trembled, severing the connection with his real body.
His final memory was of witnessing a realm of chaos through his real body, beholding colossal creatures and the Holy Temple that clashed with him using Eiwrone and the rites of refinement.
In that instant, Yu Yuan felt innumerable arcane arts transform into blades of light, battling the forces within him.
Subsequently, he lost the trace of his real body, its whereabouts unknown.
The Origin Realm is immeasurable, yet only a select few Starry Sky Forbidden Zones can isolate the sensation between his real body and Solar Spirit.
With the increasing might of his body and Solar Spirit, not even the forbidden zones like the Frostlands or the Wraithlands could hinder the soul connection between his two bodies.
But now, he could not locate his own body.
His expression darkened, a sign that something was amiss.
Taishi, Tan Xiaotian, and the others, overwhelmed by chaos, could discern nothing from his palm.
Now, as he lowered his hand, hesitating to speak, they all sensed that trouble had arisen.
Ji Ningshuang inquired with concern, "What happened?"
"I've lost contact with my main body. Before the demonform he used for refining and the Eiwrone he used to strike me, he conjured an illusory Abyss to bewilder me. As my spirit faltered, he inscribed numerous corrosive powers within my flesh."
Yu Yuan forced himself to remain composed and spoke with gravity, "My real body is still alive, but its whereabouts are unknown. In theory, as long as I am within the Origin Realm, including the seven layers of the Abyss, I should be able to sense my main body."
"The world is full of mysterious places, many of which I have yet to explore. For instance, the location of the Book of Time is one such enigmatic place," Zhong Chichen mused. "We should prioritize finding your main body."
At that moment, Yu Yuan felt the Primal Blood's urgency. It implored Yu Yuan to take the Wellspring of Creation to the Wasteland posthaste, to converge additional life-related forces through another Primal Blood there, and swiftly unravel the mysteries of the flesh within the Wellspring of Creation.
The Primal Blood suspected that his real body had been lost, just like the body of the Undead Sovereign, seized by another.
This Solar Spirit was the last bastion of hope for the Primal Blood.
"My father ventured into the Abyss of Truth, and it's uncertain whether he can overcome the Dark Anima's seal," Kaiya expressed with concern.
The mood among them grew increasingly grave.
Bertain's decision to explore the Abyss of Truth was based on the belief that Yu Yuan's real body, with its seven Soul Altars, could restrain him, forcing him to concentrate on Yu Yuan first.
Yet, Yu Yuan's real body vanished all too quickly, leaving no trace of where it had been taken.
This turn of events potentially left him free to confront Bertain in that shadowy realm.
Bertain's predicament appeared to be worsening.
"I must journey to the Wasteland!" Yu Yuan declared, "I even suspect that he has taken my real body directly there!"
"With the Dragon Slaying Stage and your real body gone, you may require my protection if you wish to venture into the Wasteland," Zhong Chichen offered.
"The path ahead is fraught with unknown perils," Taishi lamented.
The overwhelming dominion he had shown weighed heavily on those opposing him in the Frostlands, and the Demon God Bertain had barely broken free from the Everlands. Yu Yuan's real body had hoped to seize the chance to rescue Ballo and Brie, only to be ensnared in the Ashlands.
This left everyone feeling powerless and overwhelmed by the challenge of opposing him.
"Hand over the Book of Time!"
Yu Yuan abruptly turned to Zhong Chichen. He stepped onto the Wellspring of Creation and made his way toward the Book of Time, covertly conversing with the Primal Blood. "Your target is too large and conspicuous. Without the escort of my real body, you're an easy mark in the void of the Origin Realm. Better for you to remain in the Frostlands; here, you and the Extreme Cold can hold your ground for some time."