C927

After Xi Quan finished her speech, the crowd was visibly shaken.

For a long time, the five supreme forces of Boulderdawn had remained inactive, allowing the sect to call the shots. Now, they could no longer contain themselves and decided to demonstrate their power with a force as unstoppable as a thunderbolt.

"The justification is clear and just: to eradicate the extraterrestrial demons and execute any non-native who dares to set foot in the Everlands!" Seeing the crowd's silence, Xi Quan added, "The five supreme forces have declared to the world that once they breach the defenses of the forbidden area and enter to slay the demons, all spoils will be theirs."

Canli, Mia, Beru, and the other Otherkin powerhouses wore peculiar looks on their faces.

"Over there..."

With a cough, Xi Quan cast a sympathetic gaze upon the Otherkin powerhouses. "They argue that since the extraterrestrial demons come bearing countless rare magic items, eager to enrich our world, we have no reason to turn them away. Thus, they let the fish swim into the net by allowing the trade fair to proceed."

"And now, it's time to draw in the net."

Xi Quan's eyelids fluttered as she turned her gaze to the heavens.

Several Sky Fiend Demon Gods growled from within the depths of the churning demonic clouds.

Mia, Beru, and the other formidable enchantresses and members of the Silverscale Tribe looked solemn.

"Boulderdawn and President Lyi have their strategies and plans, and now the five great supreme forces are making their move," Yu Yuan mused, his insights as intricate as ever. Perhaps it was the nourishment from the lifeblood of the Shadowkin, enchantresses, and Otherkin that honed his perception, allowing him to quickly deduce the intentions of the five great sects.

"Should any misfortune befall you in the Moonfall Sanctuary, resulting in your demise within the Everlands, the ideals of Boulderdawn might perish before they can fully develop. Your kin and leaders will lose faith in Boulderdawn. They may even misinterpret the events, suspecting that this was a trap set by Boulderdawn in collusion with the supreme forces."

"A trap designed to lure you into the Everlands for a swift and decisive annihilation."

Following this line of thought, Yu Yuan elaborated further.

"They also aim to use the trade fair to gauge which sects and forces within the Everlands secretly defy them. By compelling all factions to come to the forbidden area, they are forcing these sects to take a stand."

"Those who abstain will find an excuse to attack the sects once the battle in the forbidden area concludes."

"…"

Yu Yuan envisioned the Soulforge Matrix of the Moonfall Sanctuary being breached, with the forces led by the five supreme powers surging in to hunt the Sky Fiend and massacre the guests from various races, thereby securing their victory.

After the battle, the extraterrestrial guests in the Moonfall Sanctuary were annihilated, their precious treasures looted.

Subsequently, the triumphant five great supreme powers, along with the allied second and third-tier sect warriors, divided their forces and set out towards the Taintborn, Colddeath, and the Obsidian Thunder Sect.

Realizing this, Yu Yuan understood that the battle in the forbidden area was pivotal!

Whether the warning from the Evil Statue would materialize depended on this battle!

Should the five supreme forces emerge victorious, the Evil Statue's ominous warning could very well become a reality.

Conversely, if the five supreme forces were defeated, with many warriors dead or gravely wounded, their dominion over the Everlands would be cast into doubt.

Lacking the strength to retaliate, they would not be able to hold sects like Colddeath, Forgeroses, and Taintborn accountable.

"This battle is the crux of it all!"

Yu Yuan inhaled deeply, his face etched with gravity, as he grasped the significance of what lay ahead.

Yet...

"You're quite astute, and your analysis is incisive," Xi Quan remarked, regaining some vigor and giving him a cool look. "You're as cunning as that traitor, always scheming. But what you've outlined is likely exactly what our adversaries aim to accomplish."

The minds of those gathered were quick to grasp the implications of Yu Yuan's breakdown of the situation.

If they were all to perish in the Moonfall Sanctuary and fail to return to the Star River, their kin in the extraterrestrial realms would remain oblivious to the true events.

Even with knowledge of the facts, they would doubt the Boulderdawn Sect's capability to safeguard those venturing into the Everlands for trade.

Subsequent dealings of a similar nature would cease, and the Boulderdawn Sect would forfeit their trust.

The innovative vision of the Boulderdawn Sect and President Lyi's aspirations would be extinguished.

"It's no surprise that you're urging the unqualified to leave," Ghost King Luo Yue murmured with a sigh. "Informing those who lack the strength about the external situation only breeds panic."

Canli and Mia wholeheartedly agreed.

Their subordinates and tribespeople, upon hearing that the forbidden area was encircled, would likely be too anxious to eat or sleep, knowing that powerful individuals were converging on the location. Fear alone could spark numerous issues within their ranks before any battle commenced.

"This strategy is both vicious and clever!" Beru exclaimed.

"Mark my words, more cultivators, archdemons, and members from sects like Shadow's Keep, Skyblight Cult, Ethereal Void Sect, Thunder Sect, and others who look to the Terror Claws for leadership will continue to join the fray. When they deem their forces strong enough and the timing opportune, they will strike at the forbidden area."

Xi Quan looked at the dark-black magic power wall, "Even though the Soulforge Matrix has been reinforced, it won't hold against the collective force of the Unbound Realm cultivators. I must recover quickly. Hopefully, I can use the chaos to my advantage and escape when the matrix falls."

Her statement was laden with pessimism.

Luo Yue, from the Land of Terror, was startled but not overly frightened.

After all, once the Soulforge Matrix was breached, she, as the Ghost King, could utilize the Ghost King's Escape to instantly return to her River Styx in the underworld.

"The Boulderdawn Sect, President Lyi, invited us into the Everlands. Surely, they owe us a response," Mia of the Shadowkin said, her brow furrowed as she turned to Yu Yuan.

At that moment, Yan Qiling had ventured to the extraterrestrial Star River and had yet to return.

Before the Soulforge Matrix was fully operational, he had hurriedly left to seek President Lyi and was not present.

Consequently, the Otherkin from the extraterrestrial Star River, seeing the forbidden area nearly besieged and the Domain Channel to the Hellmouth compromised, could only hope for Yu Yuan's assistance.

"I..."

Yu Yuan was at a loss for words under their expectant stares.

"We're truly trapped," Mia of the Shadowkin observed, gazing into the distance and then at the malfunctioning teleportation circle. "We can't return to the Hellmouth or flee the forbidden area. Outside, there are experts from every direction. If we leave the forbidden area, we'll be immediately overwhelmed."

Yu Yuan was on the verge of responding when suddenly, his three souls vibrated in unison. At that moment, the Soulforge Pool and the Evil Statue, positioned in different directions, reacted as if a force, disregarding the vast expanse of the Star River, had stealthily entered from a remote extraterrestrial domain.

The Soulforge Pool began to churn out an increased amount of dark Soul Power, and within the high reaches of the forbidden area's green-black barrier, it seemed as though numerous laws and mysteries were being activated. The statue, embodying both kindness and cruelty, remained indistinct on either side.

It started to glow, shining like a luminous cold moon, ethereal and wondrous. A small, palm-sized black flower was slowly etched into being within the statue. Figures like Beru, Canli, Mia, and several Demon Gods within the forbidden area were visibly stirred upon witnessing the emergence of the small black flower.

Yu Yuan's soul, too, was drawn to the black flower blossoming within the statue. A thread of his remnant soul appeared to be abruptly pulled into it. With a whoosh, Beru, Luo Yue, and the others distinctly saw a strand of soul energy shoot from Yu Yuan's forehead and merge with the small black flower.

As Yu Yuan's remnant soul entered, the enchanting flower bloomed only to wither away in an instant. Shortly after, his remnant soul made its way back to him. He jolted, his face contorting into an expression of utter bewilderment. Pointing to himself, he whispered in confusion, "How could it be me?"

Xi Quan, known as the Withered Sword, was equally thrilled by the small black flower. "What did he say?" she asked.

"Do you know who he is?" Yu Yuan asked, startled.

"Of course, he's the one who escaped the siege and plunged into the Star River with the bronze coffin!" Xi Quan exclaimed.

Beru, Canli, and Mia of the Shadowkin all wore knowing looks, as if privy to a secret. They seemed to understand that the mysterious black flower symbolized that individual.

"He said I could be the solution," Yu Yuan declared.

Yet, there was another thought he kept to himself, unspoken: "But first, I must advance into the Spirit Walk realm and then reclaim my true self. Only with my true self can I take command of the Soulforge Pool and the Soulforge Matrix."

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