C2312 Heroic Adventurer
In a different expanse of the void, the Snail God Kuna dissolved into a pool of blood, which Chen Qinghuang gathered and absorbed. A cascade of radiant light unfurled behind her, reminiscent of a peacock's splendid tail feathers, a sight both dazzling and beautiful.
"Destruction, death, and poison."
With her divine form of three heads and six arms, she hovered in the depths of the vibrant toxic smog, her presence unparalleled.
The remains of the Destruction God Galuba, abandoned by the old demon, now lay in her grasp. The once formidable deity, with his massive head, single eye, and eight limbs, had been vanquished by their collective efforts. Now, his body, infiltrated by the corrosive power she had newly mastered, slowly disintegrated into blood, which she claimed as her own.
Through Galuba's blood, she extracted the essence of the powers wielded by the Destruction God. Her aura surged, reaping the rewards of the battle.
The darkness, thick as ink, crept closer until it shrouded the entire region. With its arrival, the flames of destruction were snuffed out, and the destructive energy, once sparked by Galuba, was rapidly assimilated by the encroaching dark.
Chen Qinghuang absorbed the venomous miasma, the colorful smoke clouds, and the acidic rain. Even the toxic smog that had spread too far was consumed by the enveloping darkness.
This darkness was different from before; in addition to soul power, it brought with it a tumultuous and violent energy from the abyss, seemingly triggering an innate lust for battle.
As the darkness spread, Loong Jie, Barol, Lvliu, and Yuan Lianyao, the four sovereigns, quickly steadied their spirits to resist the influence of this power.
Yuan Lianyao and the other sovereigns, unlike the old demon Beilstein, had weaker soul abilities. Once shrouded in darkness, they became blind to their surroundings. However, this also meant they could more easily fend off the invasive force.
Suddenly, a massive greenish-gray Divine Bird contracted into Chen Qinghuang's body, her bright eyes flashing with an unusual light.
"I've detected a new spring—a spring of death and destruction, leading to the Muddy Domain!"
Shock etched itself across Chen Qinghuang's face as she, steeped in the darkness, pinpointed the spring's presence from afar.
The new spring burst open unexpectedly. Could it be that the deities from the foreign lands were on the brink of an invasion?
Loong Jie, Barol, Lvliu, and Yuan Lianyao tensed up at the suggestion.
They feared that the deities from the thirty-six foreign worlds, seeking vengeance for Galuba and Kuna, were about to storm into their realm.
"It's not as you imagine. Let me take you there now."
Yu Yuan, remaining on the Dragon Slash Platform, welcomed each of them in turn.
Without utilizing the teleportation ability of the Dragon Slash Platform, he steered it towards the Yang God and the mass of flesh.
En route, he concealed his form as the Undead Sovereign within the Dragon Slash Platform.
The nearer he approached, the more his soul-ascended body could sense the overwhelming might of the other.
To prevent being possessed once more, he deliberately entered the Dragon Slash Platform.
...
In the Phoenix Starfield, at the behest of Yu Yuan's true form, Yu Zhu withdrew back into a spatial fissure, not daring to emerge.
"Don't stray. Make sure to conceal this last spatial rift as well."
Yu Yuan gestured dismissively.
"Mother, could she be in danger?" Yu Zhu's face showed her concern as she peered through the narrow, glowing fissure. "I can't feel her presence anymore. Has something happened to her?"
The White Tiger, Golden Deer, and Dark Gold Beast God behind Yu Zhu seemed eager to emerge upon hearing her words.
"Don't show yourselves!"
Yu Zhu stopped the Beast Gods, insisting they stay within the Phoenix Shrine and Beast Temple, forbidding them to leave.
"Mother, could she be in danger?"
Yu Zhu asked again, her voice laden with concern.
"She's in the true Abyss, facing Lin Daoke in battle. Their fate is uncertain."
Yu Yuan was forthright, sharing the stark reality.
"Lin Daoke?"
Yu Zhu nodded gently, her expression easing as the slender spatial crack began to heal.
The anxious Beast Gods, upon learning that Zhiya's adversary was Lin Daoke rather than an Origin Soul from the Abyss, also breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Clearly, Yu Zhu and the Beast Gods did not believe Lin Daoke posed a threat to Zhiya.
Moments later, as the final spatial crack sealed, all the Beast Gods within the Starfield concealed themselves.
Atop Creation Peak.
Yu Yiyi and Youyu made their way into the heart of the mountain, while Qi Yunhong, Taishi, and Mother Earth remained outside, where the immense Tree of Life whispered in the wind.
"There's an unusual disturbance in the spatial fabric," Mother Earth, manifesting in human form, said with a slight tremor and a furrowed brow. "Many spatial passages have emerged in the Desolate Realm, akin to the Death Spring."
The Death Spring, born from the depths of the Chaos Abyss, had not eluded her keen senses. She had long been an advocate for the destruction of all springs connected to foreign lands. Following Chen Qinghuang's creation of the Death Spring, she had repeatedly urged Yu Yuan and Chen Qinghuang to obliterate it.
She even proposed that Yu Yuan eradicate the thirty-six springs in the Gray Domain that linked to the outside, fearing that more powerful beings from foreign lands might use these springs to refine her—a source spirit—and ascend to godhood, just as they had done.
"The entity from the Abyss, with his earth-shattering divine might, has relocated all thirty-six springs from the Gray Domain to the Desolate Realm," Yu Yuan confirmed.
Struck as if by a heavy blow, Mother Earth's form atop Creation Peak began to stiffen. "What... what is he planning?" she whispered, her voice tinged with dread and bewilderment.
"All thirty-six gateways have appeared in the Desolate Realm out of nowhere. What is his intention?" Taishi, having swiftly regained his composure, pondered aloud. "Is he intending to make the Desolate Realm a battleground?" After a moment of contemplation, his eyes widened with realization. "Is it possible he's already set his plan in motion?"
Yu Yuan gave a nod of confirmation. His old friend was astute, deducing the intentions of the Origin Soul from just a few hints.
"We must go as well!" Taishi declared resolutely, addressing Mother Earth. "Some things are inescapable."
Still reeling from the revelation, Mother Earth was lost in thought. "They have a Space God capable of creating more springs like these. And they've been aware of the Origin Realm and the Desolate Realm all along. They've always known!"
Taishi inhaled deeply, his gaze stern as he turned to Mother Earth. "Destroying those springs doesn't mean they can't cross over. As soon as they're ready and believe the time is right, they'll definitely come!" he said with conviction.
His lucid persuasion gradually soothed Mother Earth, an advanced source spirit. She was a source spirit like Kurkova, a foreign deity who ascended to godhood by hunting other source spirits, which made her view the beings from the other side as natural predators of her kind. It was this that stoked her fear.
"We have slain the Destruction God Galuba and the Snail God Kuna," Yu Yuan announced calmly, standing by the Creation Pool with a serene smile. "There are gods in the foreign lands stronger than Galuba and Kuna, but it wasn't my true form that defeated them. It was Chen Qinghuang, Loong Jie, Beilstein, and the others."
Qi Yunhong's spirits lifted at these words. "So, they're not as invincible as we thought!"
"Indeed, they may just outnumber us," Yu Yuan clarified.
"We must make the journey regardless of the outcome. Since the pathways to the outer realms have been relocated to the Desolate Realm, it's out of our hands," Taishi continued, gently urging Mother Earth.
Suddenly, a rumble echoed from the earth's core.
A Light Star soared from the depths, transforming into a graceful young girl with eight pairs of pristine white wings. Her radiance outshone every star and light source in the Phoenix Starfield, casting them into shadow.
Despite her usual timidity and fear of death, she appeared before Yu Yuan in her soul spirit form, offering a sweet smile. "I have not disappointed you; Canli has ascended to the rank of supreme."
"The plan has changed," Yu Yuan declared, pointing to his brow with a smile. "I have fully grasped the essence of life left by the origin blood of the Abyss. I've firmly suppressed the ninth level of the Soul Platform. We're heading to the land shrouded in darkness immediately. Are you ready to proceed?"
"Why not?"
He slightly puffed out his chest, which resembled the budding tip of a lotus. When he blinked, the enigmatic gleam in his eyes was too intense for anyone to meet directly.
"When did you become so courageous?"
Mother Earth couldn't help but inquire.
"I used to be indecisive, too scared because I was too weak."
The corners of her lips, taking the form of a beautiful girl, lifted slightly. She clenched her fist and swung it through the air, declaring, "I'm bold now because I'm strong enough! Apart from the Origin Souls of Hao Yun and the Demon Region, I don't believe there's anyone stronger than me."
"Moreover, we have Yu Yuan to handle the Abyss dweller, don't we?"
"All I need to do is dispel the darkness, ensuring that my archenemy, lurking within it, doesn't dare to make a move."
His face radiated with self-assurance, he was brimming with pride, and his bravery was admirable.
With Yu Yuan's assistance, he had unraveled the profound mysteries of the abyssal sun, moon, and stars, and after amalgamating them, his combat prowess was second only to the Abyss Origin Soul.
Now, when facing the Origin Soul in the darkness once more, he possessed unwavering confidence in his ability to triumph with ease.
Upon discovering that Yu Yuan could firmly hold down the ninth level of the Soul Altar with the tenth, maintaining lucidity and freedom from that entity's influence, he was emboldened to engage in a fierce battle.
Within Creation Peak, Canli, the exalted one, awaited, where he could fully unleash his power.
He was also eager to discover the true extent of his strength.
"If even you dare to proceed, what have I to fear?"
Mother Earth huffed, "Let's go. I'll activate Creation Peak right away, lock onto Yang God Yu's essence, and hasten to join this magnificent gathering!"
