C924 The Formation Opened

Deep within the Star River, a grayish-yellow expanse of land whistled through the dark and desolate void at a steady pace. The terrain was flat, devoid of any prominent mountains. At the heart of this open space lay a sea, artificially carved out, its waters imported from another Domain.

Scattered throughout the sea were islands, arranged in a fashion reminiscent of the Embers Sea. On one such island, the cosmic giant beast known as Ming Kun, in human form, lay on a rattan chair facing the deep sea, gazing up at the brilliant tapestry of stars above.

The Ghoul King stood by, a picture of deference. He had witnessed how this elder, once pinned beneath the Embers Sea, had revealed his colossal form, torn asunder the earth to create this vast chasm, then ventured to other Domains to consume entire seas and pour their waters here.

The sea teemed with fish, prawns, alien beasts, and monsters, all brought over by his hand. He had shaped each island like a mud pellet, casually molding them and sprinkling them across the water, recreating the original visage of the Embers Sea.

"I'm still sentimental, it seems," Ming Kun mused with a light chuckle. "After being suppressed in those deep sea depths for so long, it's odd that I find myself missing it now, don't you think?" The Ghoul King remained silent, not daring to make a sound.

"That young Yu Yuan has been advancing rather quickly of late," Ming Kun continued, massaging his temples as if pained. "He shouldn't break through to the Solar Spirit realm too soon. I'm not yet ready to seize and replace him. Ann Wen of the Colddeath has really stirred up trouble. After spending centuries gathering the lifeblood of various Otherkin, why let it benefit that youngster?"

"Are you aiding him, or are you setting him up for ruin? If the Blood Fiend from the Blood Fiend Realm senses the Altar of Rebirth within Yu Yuan, he'll likely descend upon the Everlands. That individual gives even me a headache; Yu Yuan is hardly his equal now."

Ming Kun rambled on, a soliloquy of sorts. He occasionally posed questions, but upon seeing the Ghoul King's silence, he didn't press and simply carried on with his monologue.

Time passed unmeasured until the Ghoul King's eyes caught sight of a swirling dark vortex in the Star River ahead, within which fragments of broken land seemed to drift.

Signs of life were evident above, accompanied by soul fluctuations.

"Master!" the Ghoul King called out in warning.

Ming Kun, who appeared to have been nodding off, was roused by the shout. Narrowing his eyes, he took a closer look and expressed his surprise, "How has the Hellmouth turned into a blood-soaked battlefield?"

"Hellmouth!" The Ghoul King's excitement surged. "Master, is that the place with the Domain Channel leading to the Moonfall Sanctuary?!"

Having drifted in the extraterrestrial void for far too long and only just landed from the Sword Prison to taste freedom, he was captured once more by the Abyssal Leviathan and returned to the Star River. The Ghoul King's hope was reignited.

He longed to return to his homeland. Even if it meant residing in the Everlands for a year or two, it would be worthwhile.

He yearned for his legacy to endure. The Animate Dead technique he had meticulously studied was something he wished to propagate within the Everlands, to catch the eyes of all.

"Yes, that's the Hellmouth. Let's approach for a better look," Ming Kun instructed.

"Master, you're not afraid?"

"Afraid?" Ming Kun smirked malevolently, "I was once gravely wounded and suppressed in the Embers Sea, nearly mobilizing the entire top-tier combat power of the Everlands! Now that I've recovered, which primordial spirit, Dark Deity, or force in the Star River could possibly confine me again?"

...

Deep within the forbidden area, a torrential downpour raged.

As Beru of the Starborn suggested seeking assistance from the Boulderdawn, all eyes naturally turned to Yu Yuan, filled with expectation.

To them, Yu Yuan had a close connection to the Boulderdawn and could communicate with the Soulforge Pool, surely making him the linchpin to the Boulderdawn.

This was particularly true after Yan Qiling had vanished.

Confronted with their hopeful stares, Yu Yuan grimaced and shook his head, "Don't look at me. At the moment... I truly have no idea how to reach out to them."

"This..."

Beru paused, momentarily taken aback, then turned to Zhou You.

Zhou You explained, "The members of the Boulderdawn Sect are hesitating on the outskirts of the Everlands, not rushing to enter. Those bold enough to show themselves near the Everlands are at the pinnacle of the Solar Spirit, the Unbound, or possess a primordial spirit. Should they step inside, they would be embroiled in fierce combat with the five supreme forces, and this realm might not withstand the strain."

"I've heard there's an unspoken rule that those with Primordial Spirits are forbidden from engaging in combat within the Everlands," Canli stated.

"I'm going to find President Lyi!" Zhou You declared forcefully.

Yu Yuan hesitated briefly before speaking, "Not long ago, it..."

He gestured toward the Evil Statue in another part of the sky, "It had previously sent a warning through Liu Ying of the Starmoon Sect. I've witnessed scenes of shattered landscapes, brutal conflicts between sects, and the horrors of imperial warfare." He summarized succinctly.

The majority of those present were unaware of these events, and they listened with a mix of horror and heavy hearts.

Zhou You inhaled deeply, eager to act without delay. "Alright, I'm off to Skyreach Peak immediately!"

With a whoosh, Zhou You vanished on the spot, his presence and remnant soul gone in an instant.

From the dark abyss leading to the Hellmouth, a continuous stream of severed limbs, skulls of the deceased, and shattered armors floated up.

The onlookers from various clans, now numb to the sight, no longer reacted with shock.

Whenever the remains of someone they recognized emerged, they would collect them, attempting to piece together the deceased as best they could.

Sadly, this was often in vain.

Many of the bodies had parts missing, lost somewhere along the passage or swept away into uncharted realms by the rifts in the wall, possibly never to be found in a lifetime of searching.

Meanwhile, visitors from the Otherkin, the Songbird Empire, and the Land of Terror, as well as mixed-blood individuals, continued to converge on the Moonfall Sanctuary.

Some mixed-bloods, having lived their entire lives in the Everlands, seized the chance to venture out to the Extraterrestrial Star River.

Upon reaching the forbidden area and learning of the changes to the Domain Channel, they returned to the Songbird Empire, their minds unsettled.

Yu Yuan, realizing he could be of little assistance, remained at the Soulforge Pool. Utilizing the lifeblood gifted to him by Ann Ziqing, he integrated it with the Altar of Rebirth, silently enhancing his own power.

He sensed that a devastating battle was on the horizon.

The disturbances in the Domain Channel and the vanishing of Yan Qiling were ominous signs.

He grew increasingly certain that the scenes he had witnessed through Liu Ying were about to unfold into reality.

"Yuan Lianyao, Chen Qingyan, Liu Ying, Ji Ningshuang, Yu Zhu..."

The thought of his loved ones facing misfortune, death, or being hunted across the world filled him with an acute sense of crisis, driving him to forsake sleep and sustenance.

One bright day at the Moonfall Sanctuary, the sky abruptly dimmed. The Soulforge Pool, hanging above him, churned with dark Soul Power, and within it, a formation was faintly stirring.

His soul quaked, and his Lunar Spirit underwent repeated cleansing and tempering. Fueled by the lifeblood of the Otherkin, he had rapidly ascended to the late stages of the Lunar Spirit realm.

Lifting his gaze, the fortified Lunar Spirit harbored a newfound yearning to break free.

"Spirit Walk is now within my grasp."

With newfound clarity, his consciousness crystallized, and the brilliance of his heaven soul sparkled.

"The Soulforge Matrix is now fully operational!"

He instantly grasped the situation. The previously semi-active Soulforge Matrix had, for reasons unknown, received some divine command and sprung into full operation.

Under such conditions, the Soulforge Matrix barred entry and exit to all without permission, whether they were outsiders or insiders.

The matrix had evolved from its sixth level to the formidable seventh level, making it nearly impregnable. Even a cultivator of the Unbound Realm would struggle to shatter it with sheer force.

Only if a primordial spirit wielded a powerful treasure and exerted every ounce of their might would there be a chance to breach the matrix.

Yet, according to Canli and Beru, the five paramount sects of the Everlands and the Boulderdawn Sect had an unspoken agreement: primordial spirits and Dark Deities were prohibited from engaging in direct conflict in this realm.

If true, the Moonfall Sanctuary would stand unassailable, like a fortress of iron and copper, following the full activation of the Soulforge Matrix.

"What's happening?"

Canli, Beru, and Luo Yue approached him, their faces etched with astonishment.

"The Soulforge Matrix has been fully activated. As of now, the Moonfall Sanctuary is in lockdown," Yu Yuan explained.

"I understand, but why so abruptly?" Beru asked, visibly perplexed.

His demeanor suggested he believed Yu Yuan had orchestrated the activation of the Soulforge Matrix, assuming Yu Yuan was privy to some insider knowledge.

"It wasn't me," Yu Yuan replied, shaking his head.

Your request does not contain any source text to be polished. Please provide the text that you would like to have edited according to the specified rules and terms.