C2327 Another Way of Protection

The once revered "Origin Deity" was awash with emotion.

He, who had been a dominant force, was now reduced to a mere pawn, kicked around by both sides.

In days gone by, he had forged the "Maw of Oblivion," engulfing the starry expanse of the Origin Realm within the Ashlands. His ambition was to ascend through the seven levels of the Abyss and bring both the Abyss and the Origin Realm under his control.

He had his moments of glory and came close to achieving his goal.

Years flew by in the blink of an eye, and he found himself relegated to the role of a 'messenger' in the Otherworld, ironically at the service of Bertain, who now served the Origin Realm.

Arthurs's heart was heavy as he observed Taishi, Ballo, Loong Jie, Green Willow—individuals he once deemed unworthy—all ascending to supreme status.

Yet he, himself, had regressed.

"Alright, enough reminiscing. Let's focus on the matter at hand."

Yu Yuan, perched atop the colossal flesh, drifted towards the "Maw of Oblivion". He paused before Arthurs's retracted spring, asking, "What message did my teacher send with you?"

Arthurs was taken aback.

Loong Jie, with his burly stature, bellowed, "You still refer to him as your teacher?"

Qi Yunhong chimed in, "He's conspired with the gods of the Otherworld, he no longer deserves your respect!"

Even Ballo, who had long revered Bertain as his faith and mainstay, was suddenly silent.

The revelations from Arthurs confirmed that Bertain had long been in collusion with the Otherworld.

Could this great Demon God still be the figure he once held in his heart?

"Perhaps there's more to the story."

Yu Yuan's Solar Spirit Body hovered before the numerous "Maw of Oblivion," where the power erupting from the holes was wild and tumultuous.

Yet, paradoxically, they were perfectly attuned to his Soulstone Pedestal, and thus, under his command.

He could halt the "Maw of Oblivion" at will, or set it into motion. Despite the great distance, he maintained mastery over the numerous holes.

"Cease your actions. He must stop infecting Deichakeon and Xaplica," Arthurs suddenly interjected.

It was then that everyone realized that even though the two incarnations of the Primal Soul had departed from the Star River, and the darkness had retreated into that green-black pupil, the threat was far from over.

The violent and chaotic strange power of the Abyss still relentlessly seeped into Xaplica and Deichakeon!

The intelligent life within Xaplica and Deichakeon were undoubtedly still embroiled in a brutal struggle for survival.

"Why?" Yu Yuan inquired.

"Are the domains of the God of Destruction Galuba and the world under the Snail Goddess Kuna destined to be ravaged by him?"

Arthurs let out a cold snort and declared, "He was the instigator of conflict in the Ashlands, launching two invasions. And after the deaths of Galuba and Kuna, it was he who incited the beings of Deichakeon and Xaplica to slaughter each other with chaotic Soul Power."

"Think about it— who is truly the invader here?"

Arthurs challenged the group.

A contemplative silence fell over everyone as they pondered whether any deities from the Otherworld had initiated an attack on the creatures of the Origin Realm and Wasteland.

Upon reflection, they realized that the three Otherworld Gods had only retaliated against the Stellar Phoenix after the invasion of Deichakeon and Xaplica.

Under the weight of his questioning, Taishi replied with frustration, "Even if they hadn't struck first, the deities of the thirty-six Otherworlds would still have invaded the Origin Realm and Wasteland. Otherwise, why would those springs have existed in the Ashlands from the beginning?"

"And why did those springs suddenly become active again recently?"

His words resonated with the group, prompting nods of agreement, as they found Taishi's counter-question to be quite valid.

Arthurs, stationed at the Spring of Death, scanned the crowd before him and let out a mocking laugh, "You've all been presumptuous, assuming too much!"

"Let me set the record straight. The Origin Realm has been deemed an ally by them, already a part of their coalition!"

"To all the other deities, Origin Realm has long been the domain of Lord Bertain! As long as Bertain remains unchallenged, the Origin Realm is his territory. The deities of the Otherworld have no reason to invade the Origin Realm or to oppose him!"

With that, Arthurs dropped a bombshell revelation!

The Origin Realm was regarded as an allied world by the others, essentially Lord Bertain's private domain!

The network of thirty-six spring tunnels is merely a prerequisite for the Origin Realm to merge with that other world. However, Lord Bertain has consistently refused to open the Origin Realm, which is why the tunnels have remained closed.

Recently, Lord Bertain detected that the Primal Soul that gave rise to him had been consumed by another force. This revelation spurred him to decisively open the Origin Realm and return to refine the Primal Soul.

The anomalies within the thirty-six spring tunnels prompted Lord Bertain to task Devitt with testing whether the pathways left by the previous Space God could still be utilized.

Arthurs explained, his face grave.

The crowd was astounded.

Yu Yuan, too, was taken aback. He had not anticipated that Bertain, on the other side, wielded such significant authority and influence.

Bertain's presence had consistently enabled the Origin Realm to maintain its independence, with the powerful entities of that world permitting its temporary isolation.

"Bertain has always been the protector of the Origin Realm. His esteemed position in that world has allowed him to delay the interconnection with the thirty-six worlds."

"He was aware that this day was inevitable. His intention was to strengthen the power of the Origin Realm before the worlds merged."

At this point, Arthurs glanced at the green-black eyes and the phantom that was still forming.

"It was He who twice ventured into the Otherworld, instigating conflict from the outset."

"And you two..."

Arthurs turned his gaze to Loong Jie and Yu Yuan.

"Once again, you've orchestrated a scheme in the Wasteland, drawing the God of Destruction and the Snail Goddess to their demise. Then, with His power of darkness, He actively corrupted Xaplica and Deichakeon, bringing untold suffering to the beings of those worlds."

"It has always been you who have repeatedly provoked the opposition, complicating matters for Lord Bertain."

"In those worlds, the influential figures allied with Bertain are now voicing their discontent. They've urged Bertain to swiftly resolve the issues within his private domain."

The assembly was left speechless by these revelations.

After a pause, Ballo of the Starborn voiced his confusion: "Why are Galuba and Kuna, these two Evil Gods from the Otherworld, unaware of Lord Bertain?"

"In that world, Lord Bertain assumes many guises. Galuba and Kuna have never encountered his true form. Moreover, it was they who transgressed first. By the terms of the agreement, they are not permitted to descend in their authentic forms."

"The God of Oblivion, Harris, noticed them as they approached. Harris feared that they would disrupt Lord Bertain's grand plans, so he wiped the memories related to Lord Bertain from their minds," Arthurs stated with an icy tone.

He explained to those present that through Bertain's efforts, the Origin Realm was destined to become the thirty-seventh allied world, inevitably connecting with the others. This alliance was not about invasion, but rather about fair trade under specific rules.

Bertain had felt the timing wasn't right yet. He held considerable prestige in another world, and they were willing to give him the time he needed to make a decision before opening up the Origin Realm.

However, after refining the Primal Soul of the Everlands, he twice ventured into the Otherworld, resulting in the deaths of many formidable beings in both the Empty Realm and the Underworld. Moreover, the Secular Bird Queen had orchestrated the deaths of Galuba and Kuna, enraging several powerful individuals from the other side.

At that critical juncture, he exploited distorted and chaotic Soul Power to invade Xaplica and Deichakeon, prompting the influential figures of that world to demand that Bertain quickly quell the internal turmoil.

"This..." Arthurs concluded, leaving all the assembled powerhouses in shock.

Ultimately, they were the aggressors, the ones who had instigated conflict. Meanwhile, Bertain had long been allied with the other side, and the Origin Realm was on course to integrate with that world, becoming its thirty-seventh.

The two realms were supposed to open up to each other soon, allowing free travel and exploration among the thirty-six worlds, with their intelligent life forms visiting each other. But now, he had ruined it all.

"Yu Yuan!"

"Lord Bertain, I trust you will journey to the Genesis Continent to address his other aspect. Meanwhile, Lord Bertain himself will go to the Everlands to purify him at the Heart of the Everlands."

"In the Creitecesh, both of his incarnations will succumb. The Bertain of this world, having regained a portion of his forgotten memories, in alliance with the three deities, will surely vanquish him."

Arthurs gazed intently at the patchwork of colorful flesh and declared, "Lord Bertain has put forth your name, and you shall be the sovereign of the Wasteland. And the Wasteland shall become the thirty-eighth allied world."

...