C995 A New Situation

One after another, figures stepped into the teleportation circle, which, powered by the forces at play, maintained a stable connection with Godsblight Marsh. As each figure entered, they were instantly transported to the Marsh without the need for precise coordinate adjustments.

Before long, all the survivors from the extraterrestrial realms, including the Blood Warriors, Xi Quan, Zhongli Dapan, Ann Wen, Wen Lu, Qi Yunhong, and others, had successfully departed. President Lyi, after stowing the Golden Throne, shared a smile with the Golden Elephant God and then soared into the circle himself.

At that moment, Zhou You, who was managing the teleportation circle, grasped and shrank it back into a gleaming Four Directions Platform. "Thank you," he said, bowing respectfully to the Untamed demon soul. With a whisk and the miniature platform, he opened a luminous space rift.

This rift also led directly to Godsblight Marsh, but it could carry only a few people and came with certain risks. For Zhou You and the Untamed, however, such dangers were negligible. The Ape demon soul nodded and was the first to flash into the rift, followed by Zhou You.

With Zhou You's assistance, all the survivors, once deemed threats by the upper sects, Devil Palace, and Shadow's Keep, had successfully escaped. The forbidden area was now left to the powerful individuals from various sects, who watched the departure without daring to intervene or utter a word.

"Untamed..." It was a while before the King of Wraiths, perched atop the Abyssal Winged Lizard, uttered the name with a heavy voice. Those who heard it felt a growing weight in their hearts.

The death of Lee Tianxin, Zu Ann's ascent to the Supreme God, and the reclusive Untamed stepping out of the marsh... These earth-shattering events overwhelmed even the ninth level archdemons and Unbound cultivators, unaccustomed to such monumental shifts in the Everlands for millennia.

In the end, the giant dragon persisted, clawing and head-butting the Silvery Land with futile determination. The silvery terrain remained unscathed, its surface too resilient for even a single crack, its natural suppression rendering the dragon's powerful strikes tragically feeble.

The elder patriarch of the Nagas, Loong Jie, had long recognized the futility of his efforts and ceased his vain attempts.

Transforming back into human form, he stood amidst the giant dragons that lay prostrate on the ground, still striving. His golden eyes brimmed with sorrow and resignation.

Beneath his feet lay the once-glorious land of the Nagas, home to the mightiest dragon vein.

Yet, because of the presence of the Dragon Slaying Stage, the land that was so integral to the prosperity of the Nagas had become their prison, shackling the very hope of their future flourishing.

He had exhausted every possible trial, coming to the stark realization that only with external aid could the Nagas possibly break free from the earth and move the Dragon Slaying Stage.

But...

He turned to Cao Jiaze with a look of entreaty, then to the Golden Elephant God, Van Heqing, and finally to Yao Huangqi and the King of Wraiths.

Cao Jiaze, bearer of the Nine Marks of the Celestials, wore a somber expression, his mood sour. "The Nagas shall temporarily retreat to the depths of Dragon Lake. As for the last Dragon Slaying Stage, whether it will be moved, we shall revisit that after further deliberation among all parties."

"We..." Loong Jie began, but hesitated.

With a cold huff, Cao Jiaze interjected, "You failed to slay the archdemon Green Willow, and you were of no use in the battle of the forbidden area. Worse, you allowed yourselves to be coerced by Yu Yuan into attacking the palaces surrounding me."

Loong Jie fell silent at once.

"We have not pursued the matter further because we understand you were compelled," Cao Jiaze continued. "Now, return to your homes."

With mournful howls, the giant dragons bellowed softly. At Loong Jie's command, they took to the sky with heavy hearts.

Their gazes lingered on the Silvery Land below, as if trying to pierce through the stone to glimpse the Dragon Slaying Stage that oppressed their destiny.

Ultimately, they departed, heeding the call of duty.

At the brink of the chasm leading to the Hellmouth, Ji Ningshuang, known as the Stardust Blade, ingested a heavenly pill capable of regenerating flesh from bone. She peered down into the abyss below.

Her external injuries, including both arms, had regenerated new flesh and blood thanks to the miraculous effects of the pill and her own vitality.

Cultivators of the Unbound Realm, though not as physically formidable as archdemons, could regenerate flesh, blood, and veins as long as their hearts remained intact, nourished by the miraculous pill and their vitality.

A ninth-level archdemon, with an intact heart, could even regenerate severed limbs, surpassing humans in this regenerative ability.

With a swift whoosh, a cold sword light flickered and vanished within the Domain Channel at the bottom of the deep pit.

Ji Ningshuang's eyes, icy and sharp, held a glint of frost as if her brows were rimed with ice. "Extraterrestrial..."

"Don't be foolish," Van Heqing advised, stepping beside her and peering into the strange luminescence within the pit. He felt the turmoil and the lack of order. "Until the Domain Channel below stabilizes, not even someone of your caliber could cross it unscathed."

After a lengthy silence, Ji Ningshuang finally spoke, "Inform the Sect Master that I will be entering seclusion to heal. Once I've recovered, I would like to be assigned to the Extraterrestrial Star River to combat the Otherkin and the Sky Fiend."

Without another word, she mounted the Stardust Blade and departed, leaving everyone behind.

"She once intervened to save Yu Yuan," Yun Hao of the Skyblight Cult murmured once she was gone.

Van Heqing, stoic as ever, glanced at Yun Hao and responded, "All I saw was her relentless assault on the Great Demon God Grec. While you and many others hesitated, she alone kept striking, daring to challenge the Great Demon God."

It was common knowledge among those gathered that Ji Ningshuang's swordplay was motivated by Yu Yuan. Yet, her attacks were indeed directed at the Great Demon God Grec, the sworn enemy of the Everlands. Van Heqing's statement, therefore, contained no discernible flaws.

"Ebon Star, Sword Sect, Devil Palace, Shadow's Keep, and the ninth-level archdemons, please remain," Cao Jiaze commanded, hovering over the pit with the nine Mark of the Celestials. To the others, he announced, "The rest of you, return to your sects and await further instructions."

Upon uttering these words, it was clear that Lingxu, Yun Hao, and the like were being left out in the cold.

Yet, when Guang Hong, along with two other powerhouses from the Ebon Star Sect, the King of Wraiths, and Yao Huangqi converged at the deep pit, those who had not reached the top five Supreme God statuses had no choice but to resign themselves to their lot.

"Senior Zhang, please stay as well."

Cao Jiaze slapped his forehead, as if suddenly remembering something important, and called out urgently.

Zhang Guanyu, who was on the verge of departing with Zhou Cangmin, Faang Yao, and others, paused, then gave a slight nod in agreement.

"Ruby Hand!"

The exclamations of Lingxu, Yun Hao, Wei Zhuo of the Thunder Sect, and many other visitors from various sects were sparked by Cao Jiaze's declaration. They began to realize that the rumors about the Sect Master of the Ruby Hand must indeed be true.

The current Sect Master of the Ruby Hand had recently succeeded in refining a primordial spirit, ascending to the ranks of the Supreme Gods.

With Lee Tianxin's demise, the Sunlit Order was left with only one primordial spirit, putting them on par with the Ruby Hand in terms of overt power.

The decision to keep Zhang Guanyu behind signaled that, in the eyes of the Ebon Star Sect, the Ruby Hand had surpassed the likes of the Skyblight Cult, the Taintborn, and the Poison Cult.

The Ruby Hand had officially gained recognition, securing a lofty status on par with the Devil Palace and Shadow's Keep!

The powerful figures, each harboring their own thoughts, began to depart from the forbidden area. It was likely that the massive upheaval that had occurred there would become common knowledge even before their return to their respective sects.

The personal appearance of the Great Demon God Grec, the emergence of the Abyssal Leviathan, Yu Yuan's flight to the extraterrestrial, Lee Tianxin's death, Zu Ann's ascension to godhood, Untamed's emergence from the Godsblight Marsh, and the Ruby Hand's rise to a top-tier sect...

These monumental events were bound to sweep across the Everlands' three continents, prompting every sect, empire, and family to reassess the landscape in light of these changes.

Around the crater.

"After the individual in the bronze coffin broke free to the extraterrestrial, four God-Kings have emerged," began the Golden Elephant God, "and I've heard there's another God-King still in slumber, bound to awaken sooner or later."

As he spoke, his gaze lingered on the last stretch of land where the Dragon Slaying Stage stood.

"If the five God-Kings truly exist, then Boulderdawn would have regained its former glory and peak strength. With the Untamed and Zu Ann, not to mention the Bone Wraith God from the Land of Terror, their might would be formidable," the Golden Elephant God said, his voice growing somber. "Even without the aid of the Otherkin, the power at Boulderdawn's disposal is already quite fearsome."

"Isn't there a limit to the number of Supreme God seats in the Everlands?" Zhang Guanyu from the Ruby Hand inquired in a soft tone.

"That's correct," the Golden Elephant God affirmed with a nod. "However, apart from the individual in the bronze coffin, the other three God-Kings ascended to godhood in the distant reaches of the Star River. It seems they are not dependent on the fortunes of the Everlands. The one in the bronze coffin, on the other hand, has reclaimed his divine status with the aid of Boulderdawn, through means entirely unknown to us."

He paused before continuing, "The elusive leader of the Moon Sect appears to be in some secret location within the extraterrestrial Star River, also being propelled by Boulderdawn towards a divine ascension. Likewise, he is not bound by the rules and fortunes of our Everlands."

"This very fact is the primary reason Boulderdawn has dared to make their return, and why many are contemplating rebellion," the Golden Elephant God declared emphatically.

Zhang Guanyu and several Unbound cultivators were visibly moved by his words.

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