C2386 The Pilgrimage of the Primal Anima
Upon hearing those words, the Light Spirit, who had taken the form of a radiant young woman, immediately gazed into the depths of the void.
Tan Xiaotian's recent remarks had put him on high alert, instilling a sense of unease.
Was he not acutely aware of everything?
He had witnessed the anomalies of his three companions—the earth, the vegetation, and the thunder—as well as the muddled state of their consciousness. He had observed it all along, and he could always sense the terrifying magnetic field lurking deep within the void.
"The deeper we venture, the more potent that entity's power becomes, and it's still growing," he noted.
The Light Spirit paused, a mix of complex emotions flickering in his crystalline eyes.
"Every Primal Anima is inevitably drawn to the magnetic pull of the void," Tan Xiaotian said with a cold laugh.
Since his arrival in the Domain of Origin, the Demon Lord had faced relentless persecution from various Primal Animas, which had bred in him a deep-seated animosity toward them.
It was his familiarity with the Light Spirit that prompted him to share the perils of venturing further into the void, warning that it would meet the same fate as the earth, the thunder, and the Tree of Life.
"Rather than being swallowed by the void, why not engage in a thrilling battle with me and let me witness your supreme light and divine might?" Tan Xiaotian, driven by his obsession to vanquish light with darkness, challenged with soaring fighting spirit, "If you keep delving inward, I might never see you again. So why not stay and battle me here?"
He was a war-hungry demon, but the Light Spirit was clearly not the same, weighing the pros and cons with great care.
Unswayed by the provocation, the Light Spirit focused instead on the increasingly powerful magnetic force emanating from the depths of the void.
"Mr. Tan, may I have a look at the six grand Darkness Curtains you've crafted?" Yu Yuan interjected suddenly.
Caught off guard, the Demon Lord pondered for a moment before responding, "You may."
"Thank you."
Without any hesitation, Yu Yuan, in his Undead Sovereign form, darted into one of the Darkness Curtains.
Within, he encountered bizarre alien warriors, colossal alien beasts, and the ruins of palaces and castles.
It appeared that a once-thriving World of Darkness had been home to numerous intelligent life forms, all of which had been wiped out in an instant.
Bodies that had lain lifeless for tens of millions, perhaps even hundreds of millions of years, devoid of any life essence, still emanated a faint dark aura within the World of Darkness.
In the shattered heavens above, an ancient city with an unusual design lay in ruins.
Within the city's weathered walls, the Heaven's Dais bore runes and rules imbued with the essence of dark magic.
It was likely that Demon Lord Tan Xiaotian had gleaned new secrets of dark magic from these intricate glyphs amidst the corpses.
Yu Yuan's "Undead Sovereign" form wandered from one darkened expanse to another, encountering various Sky Fiends along the way. Meanwhile, the Peak of Creation remained utterly still.
Atop the Tree of Life, the Light Spirit, in the guise of a pure young girl, was rendered silent by Mr. Tan's words. A deep understanding washed over her; she knew his words held truth.
The nearer she drew to the so-called Domain of Origin, the more insistent the call of the Spirit of Creation became, making resistance increasingly difficult.
Should she reach the Domain of Origin, she feared she might become as fervently devoted to the Spirit of Creation as the Tree of Life, Thunder, and Earth Primal Animas were, losing herself completely in the process.
"What should I do?"
The Light Spirit's gaze flickered like a flame dancing in the breeze, alternating between the vast emptiness and Yu Yuan's immense, multicolored form.
If she chose to depart from the Peak of Creation now, severing her Way of Heaven's root from the chaos to create a ring of light in the Genesis Nebula, she would immediately have to confront the Primal Soul of the Abyss.
Upon reflection, she realized she was no match for the Primal Soul of the Abyss, nor for the Primal Animas of space and time.
Leaving the chaos now would only lead to being discovered and either assimilated or enslaved by the Primal Soul of the Abyss.
After much deliberation, she resolved to journey to the Domain of Origin. With Yu Yuan and the others by her side, she stood a better chance than facing the Primal Soul alone.
"You're quite fortunate to be alive, young man."
As Yu Yuan explored the six vast expanses of darkness, the mighty Demon God Bertain approached, chuckling as he appraised Tan Xiaotian. "To have survived amidst so many Primal Animas without perishing in the Domain of Origin is indeed a feat to be proud of."
Tan Xiaotian grimaced and said, "Truly, life is not easy."
He couldn't help but respect the old Demon Lord, renowned across thirty-six Otherworlds. His demeanor was far from the arrogance he displayed when dealing with the Light Spirit.
"Mr. Lin, it's truly a pleasure to see you well," Tan Xiaotian remarked.
The Demon Lord caught sight of Lin Daoke and waved, flashing a bright smile. "I always knew a man of your caliber would find his way out of the Origin Realm."
He paused before inquiring, "What about the Supreme of Shadow's Keep?"
"He's off with Yu Yuan's real body, creating the light circle beyond the Genesis Nebula," the old Demon Lord replied nonchalantly, all the while coaxing more conversation from Tan Xiaotian with a grin.
Time passed.
Yu Yuan, in his guise as the Undead Sovereign, wandered through the Six Great Darkness Sky Curtains that Tan Xiaotian had crafted before leisurely ascending.
He spoke directly, "Tan Xiaotian, you needn't concern yourself with the Peak of Creation any longer. Come with us to the Land of Origin. Along the way, you can share more about your adventures in the Domain of Origin."
He played the mediator, urging Tan Xiaotian and the Light Spirit to avoid conflict before their journey to the Land of Origin.
Tan Xiaotian pondered for a moment, curious about how Yu Yuan and Bertain had managed to locate this place and eager to hear of their exploits. "I'm somewhat disappointed, but I'll grant you this favor," he conceded.
With that, Tan Xiaotian retracted the six Great Dark Sky Curtains and, alongside Old Demon Bertain, made his way back to Yu Yuan's vibrant, multicolored form.
"Tsk tsk, you've finally fused the essence of Primal Blood from three great worlds and the myriad arcane secrets of life into a single entity," he observed.
The Demon Lord's penetrating gaze swept over Yu Yuan's resplendent form, absorbing the infinite life force within. "Our world's Primal Blood, hidden at the root of the Primal Blood Continent, doesn't even come close to this richness of vital energy."
"Hah!" Tan Xiaotian exclaimed, a wave of dizziness overtaking him. He nearly lost his balance, almost plunging into the depths while examining Yu Yuan's kaleidoscopic body.
The Demon Lord inwardly grimaced, realizing that if he were to engage in battle with Yu Yuan, his corporeal form would mean all the dark magic and intricate rules within him would be utterly sealed!
Beneath his feet, the multicolored flesh was unmistakably the primal source of all beings from the Origin Realm, the Abyss, and the Wasteland – the very foundation of life's great race.
With this revelation, his face soured, betraying a hint of despondence.
"It seems that my series of fortunate experiences in the Domain of Origin pale in comparison to your gains in the Origin Realm and the Wasteland," the Demon Lord remarked with a tinge of bitterness. His gaze lingered on the formidable figures before him: the Great Demon God Bertain, the Secular Bird Queen Chen Qinghuang, and Lin Daoke. "I never imagined everyone would grow so powerful."
He could sense the overwhelming might radiating from each of them, recognizing that they too had grown significantly stronger.
"The six Dark Sky Curtains you've crafted must originate from distinct epochs," Yu Yuan mused, his brow furrowed. "Each one likely birthed Dark Overlords like yourself, yet all have perished."
The group's expressions shifted at his words.
"Different epochs?"
Tan Xiaotian, unaware of the full story, couldn't mask his astonishment. He was oblivious to the fact that the Spirit of Creation in the Domain of Origin had repeatedly enacted apocalyptic measures, and that history was now repeating itself.
Tan Xiaotian tuned into his senses, his devil soul consciousness traversing the various Dark Sky Curtains, akin to Yu Yuan's own explorations of these inner worlds.
The more he observed, the more he suspected Yu Yuan's assertions were indeed factual.
"Indeed, prior to our current age, numerous epochs met their demise within the Domain of Origin," Yu Yuan continued. He then shared with Tan Xiaotian the discoveries of his real body and the Solar Spirit, revealing that the Origin Realm, the Abyss, and the Wasteland were situated within an elongated Star River.
This enigmatic Star River lay within the vastness of the void, and they had journeyed from the farthest reaches of the Wasteland.
Having wandered the void for so long, Tan Xiaotian had been reluctant to draw near the so-called Land of Origin, just as he had been wary of returning to the luminous ring of the Genesis Nebula.
Unbeknownst to him, his hometown lay deep within the void!
"I never imagined that in the end, I would traverse from the inside, using the Wasteland's spring to reach the outside? Then, I'd enter the Domain of Origin, move into the Genesis Nebula, and then back into the void? Haha, fascinating! Truly fascinating!" The Demon Lord exclaimed with a mix of laughter and disbelief.
Whoosh!
The Peak of Creation roared to life once again. The Light Spirit had finally made up its mind; it was determined to seek out the place the Primal Soul had mentioned, unwilling to abandon its quest.
"The Light Spirit is indeed formidable, yet it pales in comparison to the Spirit of Fate, and even more so to the Primal Soul."
Tan Xiaotian scoffed once more, observing the howling Peak of Creation. "Believe me, it will end up just like the Tree of Life before it even gets close to the Land of Origin."
Subsequently, Tan Xiaotian and Yu Yuan exchanged information to validate their findings and hypotheses.
Time elapsed in this manner.
The Tree of Life reestablished its roots at the Peak of Creation, and the soul forms of the four Primal Animas vanished into the mountain.
One day, Yu Yuan suddenly inquired, "Are you still there?"
Silence engulfed the mountain. The Light Spirit, hidden within, did not reappear, seemingly succumbing to an eternal slumber.
Tan Xiaotian's prediction had indeed become reality!
The Light Spirit, along with the Tree of Life, Thunder, and Earth Spirit, had all extinguished their self-awareness, now utterly constrained by the so-called Spirit of Creation.
"So it has come to pass."
The old demon sighed deeply, turning his gaze to the God of Oblivion, Harris, and the Death God, Kurkova.
"Don't look at us! Our Primal Anima succumbed just like the Earth Spirit long ago. We can still suppress them, and since we're en route to the Land of Origins, they remain dormant," Harris explained with a wry smile.
Kurkova nodded in agreement.
As it turned out, the two Primal Animas within Harris and Kurkova had gradually lost their self-awareness under the influence of the Spirit of Creation's call.
Now devoid of consciousness, the Forgotten Spirit and the Spirit of Death were even easier to suppress.
They kept the two Primal Animas in check within themselves, continuing their journey toward the Land of Origin, ensuring the dormant Primal Animas within them stirred no further.
On the other side, Yu Yuan's Solar Spirit Body finally descended upon the Dragon Slaying Stage, merging with his real body. Beneath the crimson surface of the stage, the Dark Phoenix Zhiya relentlessly assaulted the blood-red canopy hundreds of times, unable to penetrate the Dragon Slaying Stage's seal. Eventually, it seemed she resigned herself to defeat.
Without needing to look down, the two Yu Yuans were aware that Zhiya, in her massive purple phoenix form, lay prostrate on the ground of the Dragon Slaying Stage. Her weary and dull phoenix eyes continued to fixate on the blood-red canopy above, tirelessly searching for a means of escape from the Dragon Slaying Stage.
Once the Solar Spirit and the real body became one, the Dragon Slaying Stage hurtled into the abyss at breakneck speed.
Boom!
In an instant, the majestic Peak of Creation, akin to a towering mountain, began to crumble. The exceedingly hard rocks broke down into smaller fragments before turning to dust, and then, nothingness.
The Peak of Creation, home to the four Primal Animas and brimming with their many wonders, collapsed without warning. The roots of the Light Spirit, the Thunder Spirit, the Plant Spirit, and the Earth Spirit — the very foundations of their Ways of Heaven — were laid bare for all to see, stripped of all concealment.
This seemed to be an essential part of the pilgrimage to worship the Spirit of Creation and journey to the Domain of Origin. A pilgrim must indeed approach with the proper reverence.
