C2280 Primal Anima Had a Soul!

"Under whose command?" Tan Xiaotian asked, his eyes narrowing as a wisp of pitch-black flame slowly burned at his fingertips. The chaotic cosmic energy around him crackled, the cold Soul Power and rich vital energy beginning to dissolve in the presence of the dark fire.

In no time, a dark domain began to spread out from Tan Xiaotian at its center. He was forging his own realm of darkness, preparing himself for the impending battle with Reid.

"Allow me to assist you," Reid offered, the devil soul in his eyes mocking as he discerned Tan Xiaotian's intent. "I have a quicker method."

With that, he pulled a dark orb from the folds of his loose clothing, cradling it carefully in both hands.

"Mission accomplished," Reid said with a respectful tone.

As the dark orb materialized, the multitude of rules governing the Stellar Oblivion were forcibly distorted into chaos, extinguishing all sources of light.

The dark magic rules, superior to those of Tan Xiaotian, spread through the Star River of this Astral Domain, supplanting the existing cosmic order and transforming the region into a Darkland. Within the orb cradled by Reid, a faint female silhouette emerged.

As darkness engulfed the Star River, stretching for millions of miles without a glimmer of light, the figure within the dark orb cautiously emerged, drifting like a shadowy wraith toward Tan Xiaotian.

"So it's you!" Tan Xiaotian couldn't afford the slightest underestimation or disrespect.

The Demon Lord gazed intently at the approaching spirit, sensing the formidable power radiating from it, a hint of bitterness tugging at his lips.

The moment Reid revealed the dark orb, and light vanished from this corner of the Astral Domain, Tan Xiaotian understood the grim fate that awaited him.

He was facing the dark source of the world, the very existence that had forged him into the Dark Overlord, an adversary he found nearly impossible to confront.

"I shall join you on your journey to the Wasteland," the figure conveyed without uttering a word. A mere thought was enough to stir ripples in the depths of Tan Xiaotian's soul, ensuring his clear perception.

As the figure left the orb, a mysterious kingdom shrouded in darkness seemed to change rulers in the blink of an eye. The figure had not yet taken residence, but its presence, its influence, and its thoughts already permeated the Darkland.

The Darkland, tangible in its essence, bore the mark of this being in all its laws and truths related to darkness, each one corresponding to its presence.

Tan Xiaotian, defiant as always, found himself at a loss when faced with the embodiment of darkness.

"I can elevate you to the pinnacle of power, or I can utterly destroy you," he declared, releasing his thoughts deliberately.

He drifted in the shadows above Tan Xiaotian's head, observing the silent man below with a sense of satisfaction, ready to make his move.

This time, his intention was to take possession and completely wipe out Tan Xiaotian's self-awareness.

Death was imminent for Tan Xiaotian.

His allies had pledged that by uniting the Abyss, the Wasteland, and the Origin Realm to merge the life essence of the three Primal Bloods into one, they could craft a flesh and blood form truly their own.

The Primal Soul, the Blazing Fire, and their kin would each possess their own bodies.

They had evolved beyond their past selves.

Having refined the vastness of the Everlands, they first developed complex emotions and desires. After absorbing the Primal Vitality, they were no longer mere spiritual consciousness.

Now, they possessed their own... souls!

For the moment, they still required Tan Xiaotian, relying on his physical form. Once the Primal Soul successfully unlocked the Secrets of Life from the fusion of the three Primal Bloods and created their bodies, they would no longer need Tan Xiaotian.

Then, they could traverse the myriad realms with their own power and form.

"You've changed," Tan Xiaotian noted as he sensed the impending takeover.

Previously, he was merely a spiritual consciousness, but now he seemed akin to a soul, bearing a striking resemblance to the Star-Spawned Terror.

He was not only a spiritual consciousness with dark energy and dark magic, but he also harbored the essence of dark magic within him.

Yet within this spectral form, the dark magic was incomplete, far from reaching its full potential.

"The true me still resides within the Genesis Continent. The fragment of my soul that I have separated cannot imprint all the dark magic. I have only recently acquired a soul, and it is not yet mature, unable to carry the full extent of dark magic. Nevertheless, this fragmented soul is sufficiently powerful to take possession of you."

"Once I have taken over your body, the dark magic imprinted on your exalted form will naturally compensate for what I lack."

He did not reveal his true features, as though he were smiling.

Tan Xiaotian's face contorted with dismay as he gasped, "Soul?"

"You are growing, evolving, and constantly ascending. Should we just stagnate, never progressing, waiting to be overtaken by you?" He scoffed, reluctant to elaborate, and prepared to descend into Tan Xiaotian's consciousness.

Tan Xiaotian felt helpless, unable to wield the dark magic he knew so well.

Only before his origin was he utterly powerless, completely overpowered by the cosmic order.

"Someone is coming!"

Reid, the High Priest cloaked in darkness, suddenly looked alarmed.

He sensed the void being ripped open!

"Who?"

The entity above Tan Xiaotian questioned, then without hesitation, darted into the crown of the Demon Lord's head.

To avoid complications, he intended to first possess Tan Xiaotian, then confront any unforeseen events using the body of the Dark Overlord.

Whoosh!

A dazzling Star River, radiant with starlight, materialized high above the Stellar Oblivion.

Within the resplendent depths of the Star River, myriad lights emerged—meteors, flames, jewels, crystals, the gleam of polished silverware, even the primordial light from the dawn of creation!

Countless complex sources of light, like a deluge, scattered across the darkness that enveloped Tan Xiaotian.

The darkness shredded like a curtain, instantly torn to shreds, riddled with countless holes.

The spirit within Tan Xiaotian felt the acute embarrassment of nakedness as the darkness was swiftly cleaved by the light.

"Yu Yuan!"

He instantly recognized the newcomer.

"You should not have come here."

Yu Yuan's voice emanated from a luminous monolith.

The pale stone was none other than the Dragon Slaying Stage.

"Had you taken over Tan Xiaotian's supreme body in the Darkland of the Abyss of Truth, you might have posed some threat to me," Yu Yuan said with a smirk of disdain. "But here, your arrival is tantamount to suicide."

Boom! Bang!

Gigantic orbs of light, mountainous in size, tumbled through the darkness, obliterating all the darkness in sight.

From the depths of Yu Yuan's brow, a ten-story Soul Altar emerged. The Astral Plane atop the altar radiated brilliantly, encompassing every light source across the Three Realms.

A dazzling beam of light erupted from the Astral Plane atop the Soul Altar, aiming straight for Tan Xiaotian's forehead.

The once massive beam of light narrowed dramatically, becoming as thin as a silver needle just before it penetrated Tan Xiaotian's brow.

Whoosh!

His soul was impaled by the slender silver needle, and he was instantly slain.

The remaining essence, which had sought to possess Tan Xiaotian through dark magic, dissolved into his consciousness, unexpectedly granting him insight into new dark mysteries.

Unaffected, Tan Xiaotian acknowledged Yu Yuan with a nod and promptly assimilated the dark magic left behind.

With the Dark Anima's soul extinguished, the Darkland ceased to exist. Yet Reid, the High Priest of the Star-Spawned Terror, did not retreat immediately.

He sighed lightly and gave a respectful bow, asking, "How fares Lord Bertain?"

His concern for the Demon God was evident, as he appeared anxious for his well-being.

Yu Yuan was taken aback and inquired, "Lord Reid, you are fully lucid. Why persist in such behavior?"

After the Primal Soul refined the Evil Temple, it lifted all soul constraints, freeing every mighty being.

Sky Fiends, Gods, and Evil Gods were no longer under its corrupting influence and had regained their true selves.

Reid was aware of his identity, his origins, and his past allegiance to Bertain.

Yet unlike Kaiya and Youqian, neither High Priest Reid nor the other Sky Fiend elites remained loyal to Bertain.

Yu Yuan was perplexed and sought to understand the reason.

"He has ushered in a new age; he is our future and the pillar of our souls."

Reid, unburdened by guilt or fear, met Yu Yuan's gaze and declared with solemnity, "He has pledged that once he unravels the secrets of the Primal Blood, the newly born Sky Fiends will possess flesh and blood. In that era, we will be as demons, marching shoulder to shoulder with the Gods."

"And these are things that Lord Bertain could never grant our kind."

The Star-Spawned Terrors have always been an anomaly among living beings, crafted by the Everlands' Primal Soul without flesh and blood of their own, existing solely as devil souls.

Bertain's mere presence was enough to crown them as the supreme rulers of the Origin Realm.

Their strength was unparalleled.

Reid had a simple idea: if the Sky Fiend could possess their own corporeal forms like the Gods, the Cosmic Giant Beast, and the denizens of the Abyss, they would surely be the darlings of a new age!

With that said, Yu Yuan ceased his attempts to convince him.

What Reid envisioned, the Great Demon God Bertain could not provide. However, if that individual could make good on his promise, it would indeed elevate the Sky Fiend to a new level.

Perhaps the Gods and Demons could indeed march shoulder to shoulder, becoming the two mightiest races under his dominion.

"He won't keep his promise."

Yu Yuan, unwilling to elaborate, simply raised his hand toward the Wasteland. "There, I will integrate the Secrets of Life he covets into myself. Let's see how he plans to possess me."

"Tan Xiaotian, we're leaving."

As the celestial brilliance vanished, Yu Yuan retracted the Soul Altar into his brow and gestured for Tan Xiaotian to join him on the Dragon Slaying Stage.

"You're not going to execute him?"

Tan Xiaotian descended gracefully, offering no thanks to Yu Yuan for the rescue but instead casting a suspicious glance at High Priest Reid. "He was fully conscious when he made his choice. Why spare him?"

Reid remained stoic.

"If I were to do that, I would likely end up having to kill all the Gods stationed in the Ashlands," Yu Yuan explained with a sense of resignation. "The outcome of my battle with him will determine the destiny of the Gods, the Evil God, and the Sky Fiend. There's no need to dwell on such matters at a lower level."

After some thought, Tan Xiaotian seemed to agree.

Duan Yisheng, Jun Chen, Tan Junshan, Shi Jing'er, they were all allies of the Boulderdawn at the time.

Moreover, many of the Boulderdawn's elders and the promising youth were spread across Tyria and the various celestial bodies within the Ashlands. What was to be done about them?

"They've changed; it's as if they've gained souls," Tan Xiaotian said gravely. "The advancement and transformation of the Primal Soul are altering the entire Primal Anima collective. I'm concerned..."

Yu Yuan nodded in agreement. "First, we'll head to the Wasteland," he declared.

The Dragon Slaying Stage soared off with a piercing howl.

...