C1031 The Distant Gaze(1)

In an uncharted expanse of the starry sea, a prismatic landmass was enfolded by the wings of a gargantuan, multicolored butterfly. Its wings shimmered with a tangible radiance, a splendor beyond the capacity of words to describe.

This immense butterfly, dwarfing the Nirvana Realm by seven or eight times, shone brighter than the sun and moon, illuminating the dark, cold reaches of the galaxy. The land it cradled was a crystal of pure energy, exuding an enigmatic spatial essence.

Upon this crystalline terrain, three elders of the Void Spirit Succubus Clan were dispersed near an unusual lake. The waters of the lake sparkled with a myriad of hues, seemingly pooling with the infinite powers of the cosmos.

Among them, a white-haired female elder, whose youth must have been marked by extraordinary beauty, felt a stirring in her bloodline. She extended her hand, dipping it into the resplendent waters. Luminous spatial lines converged from all around the lake, coalescing into her hand.

A sequence of secret auras traveled instantly from a distant star, reaching her. Astonishment washed over her face, and her once-cloudy eyes now gleamed with clarity.

"Shade Butterfly!" she uttered in a cryptic tongue that resonated with the fabric of space.

At her call, one wing of the colossal butterfly encasing the land shone like a mirror, revealing the "Gloomy Paradise" in its reflection.

Benin, who had been speaking softly with Hart, felt a sudden awareness and turned her gaze to the dim starry river where nothing had been before.

"There are three kings of roving bandits in the Gloomy Paradise!" she exclaimed.

The other two male elders of the Void Spirit Succubus Clan rose to their feet, gazing in amazement at the ancestral wings. This butterfly, vaster than the Realm itself, was the Founder of their clan, one of the earliest Starry Behemoths born from primordial chaos.

"Our kin are there!" noted a Ninth Level bloodline elder, spotting Benin. "Was it your bloodline's advancement that triggered your awareness? Wait, something's amiss! Why do I detect the stirrings of the Heaven Opening Divine Stone?"

The female elder inhaled deeply, her voice steady, "You're not senile yet; your intuition is correct!"

The third member of the Void Spirit Succubus Clan, usually so composed, couldn't contain their excitement. "The Heaven Opening Divine Stone?!"

"Her name is Benin, and she has been under my tutelage; you could say she's like a protégé of mine," the elder with silver hair said, gesturing towards Benin. "During her bloodline's evolution, she sent a message using a secret technique. Everyone, feel this."

She extended a radiant orb filled with layers of concealed messages.

The other two Void Spirit Succubus elders immediately connected with the orb with their souls to decipher its contents.

After some time had passed, the three Ninth Level elders, long-standing guardians of their domain, were fully briefed on Benin's experiences in the Nirvana Realm, the anomalies in the Sky Rift Valley, the group's departure, the verification of the Heaven Opening Divine Stone, and Benin's bloodline upheaval, which was stabilized with the Divine Stone, leading to her breakthrough.

"The bearer of the Heaven Opening Divine Stone must be Yu Yuan!"

One elder exclaimed with fervor, "Indeed! He is the Great Demon God, Greco, the one who has been searching for us! Both Heaven Opening Divine Stones vanished with him into the passageway to the Delude Devil Abyss!"

The trio of Void Spirit Succubus elders were surprisingly well-informed about the events in the Boundless Land and Yu Yuan's origins.

"The Gloomy Paradise is moving towards the Realm constructed by the Babel Chamber of Commerce," the female elder mused before adding, "The Babel Chamber of Commerce has extended an invitation to us as well. There's no issue with Benin traveling to that Realm. I'll let her know to stay within the Gloomy Paradise."

Being a member of the Void Spirit Succubus Clan, Benin's presence had drawn their attention. As long as she remained in the Gloomy Paradise, they could use her as a beacon to precisely locate it.

Moreover, if they chose to, they could tap into the residual power of their ancestors for a direct descent.

"The Heaven Opening Divine Stone rightfully belongs to us!"

One of the male elders, gazing at the relic of their ancestor's wings, inhaled deeply, his eyes ablaze with intensity. "Our ancestor emerged from chaos in the form of a cocoon. Upon her transformation into a butterfly, the cocoon shed and fused with her blood and spatial powers to create the Heaven Opening Divine Stone."

"The myriad marvels of the Nirvana Realm stem from that very stone—the remnant of our ancestor's cocoon, which contains fragments of her extraordinary abilities."

Another male elder chimed in, "It is only proper that the stone be returned to its rightful owner."

The female elder who had mentored Benin offered a wry smile and shook her head. "It's not that simple. As you all know, the Heaven Opening Divine Stone, now known as the Dragon Slash Platform in the Boundless Land, has become even more enigmatic. Whoever possesses it will not easily relinquish it back to us."

"That young man is still very weak!" an elder said, his eyes flashing with a murderous intent.

"Do you want to provoke the Divine Soul Sect into annihilating our clan?" the female elder retorted sharply, her face stern. "Are you not aware of the power the Divine Soul Sect wields in the Outer Star River? Our clan is already few in number; what resources do we have to confront them?"

The mention of the Divine Soul Sect silenced the two elders.

"We must take a long-term view on the matter of the Heaven Opening Divine Stone. Let's hope Benin can bring us some favorable news."

...

In a secluded corner of the galaxy lies a small domain of the Mondnacht Clan, perpetually bathed in the glow of the moon.

The Mondnacht Clan's inhabitants of this realm are known for their warmth and hospitality, welcoming most other races, aside from humans and roving bandits, to find respite within their borders.

Beneath the soft moonlight, a castle built of moonstone houses the Mondnacht Clan members.

This castle stands isolated from the majority of the towns and cities within this small domain.

"Great Lord! Lambing is dead!"

A Mondnacht Clan warrior burst into the top floor of the castle, interrupting Calves, who was hosting a meeting.

Calves, the king of roving bandits, had concealed his true identity and name, seeking refuge in this small domain of the Mondnacht Clan. His plundered treasures were piled high beneath the castle.

He was the true ruler of this seemingly hospitable and benign small world.

Tall and slender, Calves bore no resemblance to the stereotypical king of roving bandits. He appeared genteel and scholarly, even sporting a pair of silver-framed glasses.

"The last message from my trident?" Calves's expression grew somber.

He had numerous sons and daughters, and in this small corner of the world alone, there were nearly a hundred descendants. Yet, only a few possessed the potential to inherit his remarkable bloodline and talents.

Lambing was among the elite.

Otherwise, Calves wouldn't have entrusted him with overseeing the Gloomy Paradise.

"Yes, the trident has been devastatingly damaged!" The man kneeling before him kept his head bowed as he reported, "From the trident, I faintly heard the name Yu Yuan."

"Yu, Yu Yuan?!"

A woman in the castle's expansive living room gasped.

"Do you recognize that name?"

Calves, ever the epitome of poise, struggled to contain his inner fury as he addressed the human woman before him. "Who is he? Is he one of your people from the Boundless Land?"