C368 The Future Dark Deity

Qi Hongyi, Tong Laoqian, and Yan Qiling, along with Liu Ying within the Fallen Star Eyes, all heard the revelation.

The sky above them was eerily quiet.

A seventh level archdemon, having perfectly aligned itself with the Way of Heaven in the Forgotten Ruins and assimilated the eyes of a Shura from the Dark Realm, could, within this realm, harness the heavens' aid and wield the power comparable to an eighth level archdemon.

An eighth level archdemon was on par with a cultivator's Solar Spirit!

Zhou Cangmin had posited that even if he, at his peak as a Solar Spirit, were to confront Yu Zhu, he might still fall short.

Just how formidable was Yu Zhu?

"Given time, Yu Zhu in the Forgotten Ruins could be as the Untamed in the Godsblight Marsh," the High Oracle commented softly. "Should she reach the eighth level, even visitors from the Unbound Realm would find her an equal match. At the ninth level, not even the primordial spirit's presence in the Unbound Realm could guarantee dominance over her."

Xu Zixi's face drained of color at these words. "Could she truly rival the Untamed?"

Zhou Cangmin gave a slow, confirming nod.

"Oh my heavens!"

Liu Ying, peering through the Fallen Star Eyes, could no longer contain herself and exclaimed in astonishment.

She recalled her master's words about the Aetherius Continent harboring unique beings beyond the control of any sect or force.

The Untamed of the Godsblight Marsh was such a being.

A Dark Deity worthy of veneration in the Shadow's Keep, the Untamed chose to ignore the Keep and the lands of Quiescence and Euwrea, opting instead to reside solely in the Godsblight Marsh, untouchable and sovereign.

At the tenth level, so long as the Untamed remained within the Godsblight Marsh, there was scarcely anyone in the Everlands who could contend with him.

The marsh's millennia of fortune and spiritual energy were his to command.

As long as he remained within its bounds, he was an invincible force.

Could Yu Zhu be on the path to becoming a similar kind of anomaly?

This thought shattered Liu Ying's composure.

Meanwhile, Qin Yun and Ning Ji, also within the Fallen Star Eyes, were visibly shaken, trembling with the same intensity as Yu Yuan in the pit.

They were aware of the relationship between Yu Zhu and Yu Yuan. Moreover, not long ago, they had witnessed the gaunt and unattractive girl sacrifice her very lifeblood to ensure Yu Yuan's safety. That she, who would give her all for Yu Yuan, possessed such formidable power was indeed a stroke of luck for him. And what was fortunate for Yu Yuan was fortunate for them as well.

"The divine force in Godsblight Marsh is far more abundant and potent than in the Forgotten Ruins. It's highly unlikely that she could receive such a significant enhancement there, right?" Xu Zixi expressed her skepticism.

Her words prompted Yan Qiling and the others to exchange knowing looks. Indeed, the divine force of Godsblight Marsh was renowned throughout the Aetherius Continent, surpassing even the Serpent Spine Mountains.

Rumors abounded of the Marsh's treasure trove of spiritual herbs and medicines, and its myriad of alien beasts. Deep within Godsblight Marsh, where the Untamed resided, the spiritual energy was so concentrated it formed a mist, akin to the abode of deities, rivaling the sacred grounds of the Ebon Star, Sunlit Order, and Sword Sect.

It was said that the Untamed's reluctance to leave the Marsh, coupled with its overwhelming spiritual energy, was what greatly amplified his combat prowess. How could the desolate Forgotten Ruins ever compare? How could Yu Zhu, in such a barren place, receive divine assistance like the Untamed?

"The past is the past, and the future will be different," Zhou Cangmin remarked nonchalantly, glancing at the floating island. "Isn't change already underway?"

Everyone followed his gaze to the floating island that Yu Zhu had refined, sensing the markedly increased density of the divine force emanating from it. After a moment of contemplation, realization dawned on many faces, some alight with surprise and excitement, others mirroring Tong Laoqian's dismay.

Tong Laoqian, after a moment's hesitation, managed to conjure a sycophantic smile. Regardless of Yu Zhu's attention to him, he proactively emerged from the Jade Tower, bowing and scraping as he approached her. "About that, haha," he chuckled nervously, "please don't hold my previous foolish words against me."

Several days ago, upon laying eyes on the floating island, Tong Laoqian was overcome with greed and declared to Qi Hongyi and the Golden Fiend that the island was as good as his.

He even proposed to take Yu Zhu as his goddaughter, boasting that together they would dominate the Aetherius Continent.

Now, Tong Laoqian, gripped by fear and aware that escape was futile, reluctantly conceded defeat, hoping Yu Zhu would overlook his earlier bravado.

After all, his were just words; he hadn't actually taken any action.

Yu Zhu, meanwhile, sat quietly before Yu Yuan, her gaze lowered and eyes slightly closed, as if indifferent to the surrounding whispers.

Her focus was solely on Yu Yuan.

The onlookers in the sky murmured among themselves, their expressions varied.

Zhou Cangmin's remarks had shifted everyone's attention to Yu Zhu, lessening the scrutiny on Yu Yuan.

Clutching the sword sheath, Yu Yuan slowly emerged from a prolonged dreamlike state.

His eyes opened to confusion as he glanced between Yu Zhu and the sword sheath in his hand.

"What happened?"

His last clear memory was of the little world within the Shura Eye in the Dark Realm, where he had connected with the Soulforge Pool using his heaven soul, sensing an overwhelming surge of Soul Power from a mysterious space at the pool's bottom.

Beyond that, his recollections were hazy.

He couldn't recall the towering soul spirit that had appeared in that little world, extracting the Soul Crystal from the Dark Realm's Shura, erasing its lingering consciousness, and implanting it into Yu Zhu's mind.

All subsequent events were lost to him.

At the mere flicker of his thought, Yu Zhu looked up, her eyes brimming with excitement.

Under his watchful eye, Yu Zhu touched her forehead.

The eyeball, once belonging to the Dark Realm's Shura, emerged from beneath her brow.

A faint smile graced Yu Zhu's lips.

Then, in an instant, a series of images raced across the eyeball on her forehead!

These visions were visible only to Yu Yuan.

He witnessed his soul phantom in the little world, infused with mighty Soul Power, transforming into a colossal soul. He saw Lee Yupan's body disintegrate, the colossal soul extracting the Soul Crystal from the Dark Realm's Shura, and merging it into Yu Zhu.

Every event that had transpired was replayed within that eye.

Yu Yuan's absent memories, through these vivid reenactments, were etched into his earthly soul, destined to linger for eternity.

"That colossal phantom..."

Yu Yuan was profoundly shaken, feeling an enigmatic connection to the massive phantom, as if it had originated from him.

Yet, he also had a nagging suspicion that this colossal phantom and the originator of the Soul Forging through Enlightenment were not one and the same.

He pondered deeply, attempting to untangle the threads of thought for a clearer comprehension.

The deeper he delved, however, the more he found himself ensnared in a fog of confusion, unable to make sense of it all.

Then, abruptly, he became aware of the sword spirit's presence. He glanced at his arms and the sword sheath he was holding.

The sword spirit had not taken refuge in the sheath. Instead, it remained within him, nestled in his arm bone, seemingly lethargic and seeking to retreat into obscurity once more.

In contrast, the sword sheath felt immensely powerful to him, harboring a terrifying sword intent and sword radiance!

"Yu Yuan!"

"Yu Yuan! Have you come to?"

"Big Brother Yu!"

Yuan Lianyao, Zhan Tianxiang, Zhao Yafu, and the others called out excitedly from above the Fallen Star Eyes.

Yu Yuan, taken aback, glanced at the Fallen Star Eyes.

He then noticed Tong Laoqian and Golden Fiend, who were fixated on Yu Zhu with expressions filled with fear and unease.

Upon closer inspection, he realized it wasn't just Tong Laoqian and Golden Fiend.

Each gaze directed at Yu Zhu was different from before — they were looks of awe reserved for the truly powerful.

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