C943 Internal and External Problems

Atop the Dragon Slaying Stage, the dwelling of the Chronowyrm, the Blood Altar shone with a pristine blue light. It continued to draw upon the world's energy, transforming dragon corpses into delicate little dragons.

Suddenly, Tian Zang's gaze became frantic.

Whoosh!

The Spawn of Chaos hurtled from the distance, settling once again at the base of the altar. The vital energies of Dragon Souls and the blood of perished giant dragons no longer succumbed to the altar's consumption.

Within the Dragon Slaying Stage, a profound silence reigned.

Tian Zang sensed the Chronowyrm, dead for over thirty thousand years, and its dragon corpses merging with the fabric of the universe, repelling him. Time magic seemed to press upon him, urging him and the Blood Altar to depart.

With a grimace, Tian Zang lingered, only to notice specks of blue light scattering from the altar's rim—a harbinger of the altar's impending erosion by the time magic.

"Damn it!"

With a curse, Tian Zang and the Blood Altar abruptly detached from the Dragon Slaying Stage that entombed the Chronowyrm.

A deep blue orb, akin to a ghostly flame, darted towards the other Dragon Slaying Stages, following the God-King's teachings from the bronze coffin. Yet, entry was denied at every turn.

At last...

With a swift whoosh, Tian Zang, bearing the Blood Altar, soared from the subterranean cavern. He morphed into a demon man with flowing blue hair, the epitome of handsomeness.

The wondrous Blood Altar, now a clear droplet-shaped blue crystal, was deftly placed upon his forehead.

His soul fragment seamlessly integrated with his true self. His gaze, icy and foreboding, fixed upon Yu Yuan, who remained in meditation.

"Tian Zang, why have you emerged?"

Yu Yiyi, startled, sensed Tian Zang's foul temper. She hastened into the Crucible of Evil, positioning herself vigilantly above Yu Yuan's head.

"I didn't choose to come out!" Tian Zang snarled, his eyes flashing with malice. "This youngster, wandering the three Dragon Slaying Stages, has stirred something, absorbed something, and now I'm repelled by the very stages. I can't even enter one of them now!"

Yu Yiyi immediately understood why Tian Zang was so furious. The God-King within the bronze coffin had made a promise, allowing him to harness the Blood Altar to absorb the power contained within the Dragon Slaying Stage in exchange for his allegiance. The method had been meticulously explained to him, and before Yu Yuan and Yu Yiyi's arrival, Tian Zang had been contentedly bolstering his strength.

However, Yu Yuan's recent successful integration with his real body and advancement to the Spirit Walk realm meant he was now consolidating his newfound level of cultivation. This development had disrupted Tian Zang's plans, and it would be odd if he weren't upset.

"Don't harm my master. Let me first assess the situation," Yu Yiyi urged.

With a somber nod, Tian Zang acknowledged her request.

Whoosh!

Yu Yiyi's soul, light as a feather, descended, slipping through a crevice toward a pit in the rocks.

Tian Zang didn't have to wait long before Yu Yiyi, in her soul form, emerged from below, her expression a mix of awkwardness and astonishment. "I can't enter either."

"What?!" exclaimed Tian Zang, taken aback.

Yu Yiyi, before being transformed into the artifact soul of the Crucible of Evil, had been the Dragon Slaying Stage's guardian. Her physical form had been perched atop the stage, her soul roaming its entirety daily to monitor the dragon corpses of the Dragon Gods and the various eighth and ninth level bloodlines of the giant dragons for any anomalies.

How could she, like Tian Zang, be repelled by the Dragon Slaying Stage?

"There's no reason for me to deceive you. I can't pinpoint the exact cause," Yu Yiyi admitted, her gaze drifting involuntarily toward Yu Yuan.

She suspected that Yu Yuan's Lunar Spirit, through the use of Wraithbinding, had drawn out some residual power left by the Dragon Slaying Stage's original master, leading to the current irregularities.

"When Yu Yuan awakens, I'll demand an explanation from him!" Tian Zang declared, his face contorted with rage as he shot a glare at Yu Yuan, only to be interrupted by the sound of an argument.

"Watch over him. I'll return shortly!" Tian Zang huffed and left.

In the forbidden area, within the shadowy chasm housing the Domain Channel, Canli, Beru, Mia, Quero, Sansom, and other Otherkin powerhouses, accompanied by a Sky Fiend, were dispersed around the perimeter. They intermittently peered into the turbulent space within the pit below, their voices rising in heated debate.

The Blood Warriors of various races, both eighth and seventh level, were incessantly raising their voices in protest. At this moment, as the Sky Chariots of the three great upper sects, along with those from the Ethereal Void Sect, the Thunder Sect, and other lower sects drew near, many Shadowkin members could just make out the silhouettes of these formidable experts through the Soulforge Matrix.

The Soulforge Matrix was designed to completely block out the external world, focusing vision and soul perception inward. However, those within who possessed unique blood magic could actually discern some outlines and movements outside. Yu Yuan, for instance, who had awakened his Third Eye, could clearly observe every subtle movement beyond the barrier.

By now, the ninth level leaders of the Shadowkin could no longer conceal the truth from the outsiders, as they had detected something amiss. The extraterrestrial visitors were well aware that they were trapped within the Moonfall Sanctuary; with the Domain Channel to the Hellmouth malfunctioning, any hope of return was dashed.

Meanwhile, an ever-increasing number of Everlands' experts were converging outside. Many Otherkin warriors were loudly expressing their discontent, spurred by the disappearance of Boulderdawn's representative, Yan Qiling, and the quiet departure of the Skyreach Consortium's envoy prior to the incident.

Within this vast forbidden area, the only notable human cultivator available was Xi Quan, bearer of the Withered Sword. Unfortunately, Xi Quan had sustained injuries, and it seemed unlikely that a swift recovery was on the horizon.

Otherkin experts with less distinguished bloodline levels felt deceived, suspecting they had been manipulated by both the Skyreach Consortium and Boulderdawn. They believed that Boulderdawn had lured them to the Everlands with the ulterior motive of their eradication.

Some of the more radical Otherkin warriors had even proposed that before the Soulforge Matrix could be breached and the external experts could pour in, they should preemptively strike against human cultivators like Qi Yunhong, Shi Yuxuan, and Qin Yun.

The Otherkin, amassed at the Domain Channel, were relentless in their uproar. Luo Yue, Shi Yuxuan, Qi Yunhong, Qin Yun, and the rest of the human cultivators were huddled around the teleportation circle, all wearing troubled frowns and somber expressions.

The clamor of the Otherkin experts was sometimes in their own tongue, at other times in the human language. Even so, Luo Yue, the Ghost King, and Qi Yunhong could still make out the heated discussions, understanding the fervor behind their words.

"Internal strife and external threats loom over us. This battle is fraught with danger."

Qin Yun let out a sigh, voicing the concerns that weighed on everyone's minds.

They all stared helplessly at the teleportation circle, now rendered inoperative by the full activation of the Soulforge Matrix, feeling an overwhelming urge to weep without tears.

Had the rune circle been intact, they could have fled to Godsblight Marsh, Terror Claws, or the Songbird Empire.

Perhaps then, they might have avoided this disaster.

But at this moment, as the extraterrestrial visitors' emotions surged with calls for their demise, they could do nothing but feign ignorance, despite hearing everything clearly.

Their strength within the forbidden area was no match for the opposition.

The Ghost King, Luo Yue, was equally troubled. The presence of the Soulforge Matrix thwarted her ability to use the Ghost King Veilwalk to reach the Land of Terror directly.

"Tian Zang!"

In her distress, Luo Yue looked up to see Tian Zang materializing overhead.

"Lord Youqian!"

"Greetings, Lord Youqian!"

From within the clouds above, eighth-level Sky Fiends emerged, offering their salutations in hushed tones.

The emergence of the Sky Fiends turned the complexions of individuals like Shi Yuxuan and Qin Yun deathly pale.

They understood that the Sky Fiends concealed within the clouds were covertly monitoring them to prevent any suspicious activity.

"I'll go placate those fools!"

With that, Tian Zang vanished in an instant, paying no heed to the Demon Generals and Demon Kings bidding him welcome.

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