[Eternal Capital]
(The recently attacked farmhouse by the Eternal Forest)
"Damn, what happened here?", asked Jinxi shocked by the destruction of the building, "I creature that came out the forest attacked the farmer and his wife and grandchild, the farmer and his wife both died in the attack, but the child survived. He was saved by the State Preceptor", explained Zhinu calmly as they looked around.
"Where is the child now?", asked Jinxi concerned as he looked through the rumble and noticed the blood stains, "He is being treated by aunt, since he was saved by the state preceptor he is getting Imperial Care, he remains unconscious", answered Zhinu as he looked over the field and noticed something strange and sensed something looking at them.
"Cousin, there is something in forest", said Zhinu softly to Jinxi, who slowly moved to his side, "Yes I can sense it, but I don't know what it is, you would think it is just a shadow", said Jinxi confused and disturbed. As they looked in the direction the creature noticed that they knew it was there, in an instant Zhinu unsheathed his sword and sent a slash of energy in its direction. The creature burst out of the forest and deflected the attack, then a four more creatures burst out of the forest charging towards Jinxi and Zhinu.
As the creature charged forward, Jinxi leaped forward to confront them, Zhinu looked surprised but concerned. Jinxi released his inner force, releasing a cold frosty energy, activating his palm art, the creature charged ever closer and Jinxi sent a palm strike at one of them, instantly turning them it into an ice statue that shattered, he continued to attack with his palm strikes hitting everyone of them and destroying them. Zhinu looked at him in awe, as the bigger creature noticed the smaller ones being destroyed, it fled into the forest.
"Impressive, cousin, your technique resembles that of the Prince of Su, aswell as his icy frosty inner force", said Zhinu proudly and tapping him on the shoulder. "Thanks, but it's getting away", said Jinxi as he thanked Zhinu for the compliment. "Yes, we must follow it, I think it has a spooning point deep in the forest", said Zhinu certain and they flashed into the forest chasing the creature.
As they flashed through the canopy of the forest after the creature, it tried to stop them by shooting beams of red energy at them but as the were chasing it they dodged and deflected that attacks, until they reached an open point in the middle of the forest by a lake and the creature jumped into it and disappeared.
"Did it just jump into the lake?" asked Jinxi confused looking around, "Yes I think this lake must be a portal-link to another place, and that how they have been entering the Capital", speculated Zhinu. He then used a spell with his inner force to check to confirm is theory, "Yes there is a portal-link in the lake itself", said he and he deactivated his spell.
"We need to inform the Eldar and your father", said Jinxi concern and Zhinu shook his head in agreement. As they turned around to flee, a horde of shadows suddenly emerged from the lake. "This is really bad," said Jinxi with a fearful tone in his voice. As they looked on, Zhinu sent out emergency messages using a special spell as the shadow horde continued to come out.
As the shadow hordes are about to attack the Eternal Capital, in the shadow realm, Arceus and Changhe are also in peril with the Shadow hordes.
[Shadow Realm]
(Outside the Great Hall of Shadows)
As the facedown the horde of shadows, Changhe and Arceus were standing in shock as they never thought a horde of this size ever would exist, "No this is problematic", said Changhe as he griped his sword ready to unsheathe it infusing his inner force. "That won't be necessary old friend", said Arceus calmly and at that moment they could hear the sound of a battle horn being blown.
Changhe surprised looked on at the western direction of where sound came from and Arceus stood still as if he knew that it would happen. At that moment massive army appeared on the eastern flank of the shadow horde as they were facing Changhe and Arceus. "Impossible, I never thought I'd…", said Changhe stopping mid-sentence as the army charged directly into the shadow horde and laying waste to them, strike clean right through them.
"The Legions of the Infinite Ocean", said Arceus unshaken. "Ahh, seems we made it in time", said a man, with a fish-like appearance but a strong body build and a domineering presence with blue locks of hair running down his back, clad in sea blue and seaweed green battle armor.
"Yes, you are, Chu Bucheng, the Sea Dragon Knight and Commander-General of the Legions of the Infinite Ocean", said Changhe with a strong tone and domineering voice.
"Uncle, we have nearly broken them, just a matter of time before they retreat", said a young man, dressed in a golden, light sea blue hanfu, with piercing green eyes and hair that is as black as night, riding a seahorse as he approached them.
"Good, nephew", said Bucheng proudly with a light smile, "And this is?", asked Changhe, curious. "Ahh, be pleased to meet the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Atlantis, Chu Xunyang", introduced Bucheng happily. "Really seems, Chu Bihuan, finally produced an heir", said Changhe sarcastically.
"Enough, since we are finished here, let's go", said Arceus commandingly, "Okay, yes", responded Changhe and they flashed off followed by Bucheng and Xunyang, and battalion of Infinite Ocean soldiers.
At the gateway, as everyone was awaiting their return, Arceus and Changhe along with the others arrived. "Ahh Father your back", said Chengyi with a joyful voice and ran up to his father to check if his okay and not injured, "I am fine, my son", said Changhe calm and reassuring, with Taiyu smiling to see their interaction, "The Crown prince helped well sustain the primal sea, he ahs done good for the monster realm", said Taiyu encouraging, "That's good", said Changhe smiling.
"Who are they?", asked a soldier from the monster realm. "That is the Sea Dragon Knight of the Infinite Ocean, Chu Bucheng, brother to the current King of Atlantis and Emperor of the Infinite Ocean. Everyone present was shocked to hear this and talked among themselves, looking at the people of the infinite ocean in awe.
"I presume he will be joining the Divine Martial Tournament?" asked Arceus curiously, "Yes, he will, seeing that you gave us no choice now", responded Bucheng annoyed and Xunyang got off his sea horse and flashed to Chengyi, "Greetings", said Xunyang with a big smile and Chengyi greeted back giving the sense of a growing friendship in the making.
"It was nice seeing you again, The Original One, Xuan Shangyuan. My brother will be awaiting your visit", said Bucheng respectfully, revealing Arceus true name, which one has ever heard, except Taiyu and Changhe, who give off quiet smiles, and Arceus hardly giving a reaction.
Bucheng then commanded his troops, and they reentered the infinite ocean through the mountain gateway.
"Let's go!", said Arceus to Taiyu, "Xunyang, you will have to come with us", said Taiyu with calm and gently voice and Xunyang joined them, bidding farewell to Chengyi and Changhe, "Chu'er!", said Arceus and the Bifrost opened above them sending down a beam of energy teleporting them back to the Eternal Capital.
"Father what do we do with the gateway now?" asked Chengyi concerned, "Nothing, there is no reason to seal it or sealing the shadow portal, it doesn't matter anymore", answered Changhe as he turns around and walks away.
"Let's go!", commanded Xijang and everyone flashed off.