C2255 Underworld
"Breaking the barrier between two realms?"
Zhong Chichen's eyes, radiant like jewels, suddenly burst with a spectrum of divine light. After a brief contemplation, he drifted to the edge of the Spring of Death's swirling vortex.
Gazing into the depths at Arthurs, Zhong Chichen reached out with a hand as pristine as white jade to touch the still spring.
The spring ceased to draw forth the death force, nor did it release any more power.
With a hiss, Zhong Chichen's long, perfectly straight fingers lit up, stirring the fabric of time and space, tearing through the cosmos, and binding the intricate essence of the heavens. His fingers became conduits for this unleashed energy.
The once-stagnant ring of light within the Spring of Death was infused with Zhong Chichen's dragon's breath power, casting a rosy sheen.
A death aura, previously obscured behind Arthurs, became instantly discernible.
Chen Qinghuang felt a premonition. Her profound and icy gaze seemed to pierce through Arthurs' spirited body, catching sight of another presence lurking behind him.
"Arthurs, I have mastered the rules of time and space. You, too, are well-versed in space magic, and your insight into the soul is remarkably profound."
As Zhong Chichen spoke, slender divine dragons materialized within the light ring.
The vibrant, multicolored dragons writhed contentedly, as if deciphering the space magic hidden deep within the Spring of Death, eager to grasp the Way of Heaven.
"Given your knowledge of space magic, why didn't they choose to elevate you first, allowing you to ascend to supremacy?" Zhong Chichen's smile was tinged with irony as he logically deduced, "You've become their pawn... Oh, my mistake, their emissary. Surely they ought to have nurtured you properly, right?"
The sarcasm in Zhong Chichen's voice was unmistakable.
Arthurs, with his increasingly visible gray-green phantom, remained composed in the face of Zhong Chichen's probing and mockery.
He observed Zhong Chichen, evidently seizing the moment to grasp the profound truths within the Spring of Death.
He appeared unconcerned.
"You're right; I am also versed in the Cosmic Order of the soul."
Arthurs' confidence waned as he spoke, glancing at Youyu, Yu Zhu, and the Demon God Bertain. It seemed almost comical to claim a deep understanding of Mind Magic in the presence of these three.
He suddenly lifted the soul stone in his hand and declared, "In the Abyss, I've forged an illusory 'Origin Realm' to establish a connection with the true Origin Realm through the exchange of spirits. I've long coveted this soul stone from the Mirage of the Mind in the Ashlands. My ambitions differ from yours."
"Because I seek to ascend through the Spirit Magic."
His gaze settled on Youyu, now the Undead Sovereign, the Demon God Bertain, and the comatose Yu Yuan.
He continued, "I must choose one path. If I commit to the Spirit Magic, I will inevitably fall short in mastering the full extent of space magic. Therefore, the advantage falls to you."
Arthurs wore a look of regret.
"In your new soul, there's no longer a trace of him. You have truly freed yourself from his influence."
Bertain chuckled and nodded, then interjected, "Arthurs, I sense a dense death aura behind you. The one who aided the Secular Bird Queen's rise to supremacy is right there, observing us through you from another realm."
Unfazed, Arthurs openly acknowledged, "Indeed, Lady Kurkova is present in the Underworld, and she is indeed watching over us."
Kurkova, of the Underworld.
Arthurs had disclosed two crucial pieces of information.
The place known as the Underworld had assisted the Secular Bird Queen, Chen Qinghuang, in her ascension to supreme status. The one behind it all was named Kurkova.
It appeared she, too, was a woman.
"So, it's called the Underworld?" Bertain inquired with a grin.
Surprise flickered in Chen Qinghuang's eyes; she hadn't anticipated her benefactor to be another woman.
"No, the Ashlands contain thirty-six energy vortexes, also known as thirty-six springs. They each correspond to one of the thirty-six realms of that world, with the Underworld being merely one," Arthurs clarified with gravity.
The solemnity in his voice as he spoke of the thirty-six realms conveyed the weight of his words.
"Thirty-six?" Zhong Chichen exclaimed, visibly shaken by the revelation. "Does each realm house an entity akin to Kurkova?"
It wasn't just him; Bertain too was equally astounded by the news.
Kurkova from the Underworld possessed the power to elevate the Secular Bird Queen to the Supreme Realm. She had also vanquished a fragment of the spiritual sense from the Abyss, and perhaps she was still locked in battle with another Primal Soul's form.
Imagine if there were a Kurkova existing in each of the other thirty-five realms of that other world—what magnitude of power would that represent?
Even if the mightiest forces of the Wasteland and Origin Realm were to unite, even the Supreme Ones twisting together as one, they would likely stand no chance against the world on the other side!
Whoosh!
A distinct surge of death aura rose behind Arthurs.
Arthurs, who had been about to speak further, prudently sealed his lips. It must have been Kurkova of the Underworld behind him, warning him not to divulge any more information from that side.
Arthurs became silent.
"Having refined the Evil Temple and taken it as his new body, did he survive upon entering that world?" Bertain posed the same question.
The Demon God was deeply concerned about this individual's fate.
In the Demon God's view, after the refinement of the Evil Temple, there was no one in the Wasteland or Origin Realm capable of standing against him. His experiences in that other world and his current state would likely indicate the true level of strength present there.
With knowledge of the other side's strength, the Demon God could then strategize accordingly.
"She's curious about what transpired in the Wasteland. In the Underworld, she's only encountered me, that individual, and Yu Yuan's body. She's eager to learn more about what Yu Yuan has done in the Origin Realm and the Wasteland, as well as his current condition. After all, that individual has mentioned Yu Yuan's name on more than one occasion in the Underworld."
Arthurs regained his composure and explained, "That individual claimed that if he were to possess Yu Yuan's real body, even in the Underworld, Lady Kurkova would not be victorious against him."
"It appears he's at a disadvantage in the Underworld," Bertain remarked gravely.
Though Arthurs did not disclose his fate, his words implied that even with the Evil Temple as his vessel, he had not achieved ultimate victory in the Underworld.
It's understandable, considering there are thirty-six realms like the Underworld, and Kurkova is but one formidable entity among them.
With thirty-five other realms, not all may possess beings of Kurkova's caliber, but if even a few communicated with her, the odds of victory would be slim.
"What a fearsome place!"
The Light Spirit exclaimed in awe.
"The other side is indeed perilous; we must proceed with caution!" Yuan Lianyao said, furrowing her brow.
"I still believe we should destroy the Spring of Death at the earliest opportunity!" Mother Earth declared, sending a myriad of tiny meteorites scattering around the spring's perimeter. She offered her sage advice: "It's not just the Wasteland—those springs in the Ashlands should be eradicated swiftly. I would even suggest..."
Mother Earth turned her gaze to Bertain.
Recognizing her stature, Bertain did not posture. Instead, he listened with an open mind, "Do you have any good suggestions?"
"I've heard that your primary devil soul resides in the Wellspring of Creation. I suggest you convey the horrors of the other side within the Wellspring of Creation, so that every Primal Soul is aware of the dangers that lie there," Mother Earth said gravely. "He is lost in the vastness of the Ashlands, unable to connect with the consciousness stranded on the other side. Once he learns of the horrors there, he should eliminate all the Springs of Death in the Ashlands!"
Mother Earth believed that all existing Springs of Death should be destroyed immediately, not just those in the Creitecesh.
The Spring of Death that had mysteriously formed in the Ashlands over countless years was seen as a conduit of malice, a gateway for the other world's planned invasion of the Origin Realm!
Zhong Chichen, Yuan Lianyao, the Light Spirit, and Yu Zhu all fixed their eyes on Bertain, eager to see if the Great Demon God Bertain would heed her advice.
With Yu Yuan still unconscious, the Great Demon God Bertain had become the pillar of strength for everyone.
In one of the thirty-six realms, known as the Underworld, there lay a means to elevate the Secular Bird Queen to the status of Undead Sovereign, a prospect that weighed heavily on everyone.
Bertain furrowed his brow, contemplating his next move.
"There's something odd about Yu Yuan. He should have awakened by now, but he hasn't."
It was then that Youyu, who had ascended to the rank of Undead Sovereign through the Primal Vitality, spoke up unexpectedly.
All eyes turned to him.
Youyu, bereft of the soul stone, was still tirelessly working to untangle the chaotic memories of Yu Yuan's spirited body, striving to aid in his awakening.
The earth-shattering revelations brought by Arthurs seemed to have no impact on him.
Not even the loss of the soul stone swayed his resolve to save Yu Yuan and help him awaken as swiftly as possible.
He had done all he could, yet Yu Yuan remained asleep.
Feeling helpless and noting the silence, Youyu finally voiced the concern that plagued him.
"Youyu..."
Yu Zhu, Yuan Lianyao, and Chen Qinghuang, three individuals deeply connected to Yu Yuan, were aware of his actions and felt a sense of shame.
They suddenly came to realize that this person named Youyu was truly devoted to Yu Yuan.
"There's also a portion related to the Primal Soul that remains undeciphered. Since you haven't ascended to the Supreme level of the Primal Soul's mysteries, you can't see it clearly," Bertain said after a glance at Yu Yuan's brain. "The spiritual sense that perished left behind a riddle of the soul that also needs to be solved."
Whoosh!
Bertain's devil soul drifted towards Yu Yuan, merging with his body.
...
The Abyss of Truth, devoid of any strength, descended into an everlasting silence so oppressive that it seemed not even death could occur.
"Brie is dead."
In the heart of the massive Tree of Life, the plant spirit's spiritual sense emerged, swaying with the leaves.
It bestowed a touch of plant essence into the Shadowkin chieftain's body, not to bless Brie, but to discern the details of Brie's fate.
Elsewhere, the All Spirits Ban that shrouded the Abyss of Truth was linked to another.
Yet, this connection only became perceptible when it was accessed and returned.
"Ballo might not make it either."
Qi Yunhong spoke on behalf of the Tree of Life and the Thunder Spirit, casting a sorrowful glance at Yu Yiyi. "No one can help us. We need to consider our own escape plan."
"A way out?"
Yu Yiyi's lips curled with a cold indifference. "Without my master, what escape plan could you possibly have? Oh, I understand now. Since the Tree of Life and the Thunder Spirit have surrendered to him, you think you've found your path, right?"
"That's not what I meant," Qi Yunhong said, his brow furrowed.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Suddenly, they witnessed the land that had been pressing against the resplendent barrier above the Abyss shatter inexplicably.
The fractured landmasses transformed into colossal meteorites, plummeting through the barrier.
In a short time, the land that had sunk from the seven layers of the Abyss managed to breach the successive seals and crashed into the true Abyss, within their grasp.
"Devoid of energy, the fragments of land and the Starshards visible throughout our world, the earth itself, are but lifeless husks. Not a trace of power remains for us to draw upon." Yu Yiyi unleashed the Bane, sensing the area and confirming that the land fragments that had descended through the All Spirits Ban contained nothing of value.
It was as though they had been thoroughly cleansed of any worth as they traversed the All Spirits Ban.
"The Genesis Continent still exists!"
Qi Yunhong exclaimed suddenly, his voice tinged with surprise. He gestured toward the resplendent firmament above the Abyss, declaring, "Look! The land that once floated in the darkest depths is now gradually vanishing before our eyes!"
