C1056 The Cannons Fired

Countless points of starlight converged above the warship, coalescing into a crystalline shield as smooth as glass.

The elder from the Coleman family, a ninth-level bloodline holder, exchanged a few words with Wilson before surreptitiously activating a concealed device, preparing to evacuate at a moment's notice.

The presence of the Golden Rock Beasts, "Rillrender," and the dozen or so cultivators at the Divine Level instilled a profound sense of crisis in them.

The greatest fear of the Otherkin in the Star River of the extraterrestrial realms was encountering the hunters of the human race and evilkind. Aware of their strength and ruthlessness, the Otherkin would typically steer clear unless they were certain of victory.

With the Annihilation Nebula so close, why engage in battle in this border region?

Eleazar and Wilson distrusted Yu Yuan and Peach Madam, as both hailed from the Everlands. They suspected that the Skyreach Consortium and the Boulderdawn's experts must have laid plans within the Annihilation Nebula.

They reasoned that once their warship breached the Annihilation Nebula, the human archdemons, clearly aligned with the Everlands' five supreme beings, would not dare pursue them.

"Wilson, what about you?"

Benin, who had coaxed them to this location, hadn't anticipated their timidity. The once formidable presence they held against Pattinson, Elena, and their fellow renegades had vanished without a trace.

Without a second thought, the Coleman family was ready to flee.

"We'll discuss further once we're inside the Annihilation Nebila," Wilson declared with resolve, showing no interest in posturing before Benin.

While conversing with Benin, Wilson's eyes, filled with vigilance and anxiety, flickered with starlight as he kept watch over the meteor field where the Golden Rock Beasts lay in wait.

"Quickly!"

Wilson's voice rang out sharply.

He had caught sight of the Golden Rock Beasts on the meteors springing into action at the sight of Ogeus's sinister grin.

Whoosh! The meteors, large and small, seemed to be at the command of the Golden Rock Beasts, hurtling toward their warship like colossal golden grinding wheels, with breathtaking speed.

"Hehe, now that you've seen us, there's no need to rush off."

Ogeus bared his teeth in a cruel grin. With a mere gesture to Yue Mu, he issued a command, "My children, the feast has delivered itself. Indulge to your heart's content."

The Golden Rock Beasts atop the meteorites began to gnash their teeth in anticipation.

To the Shadowkin elites, they were merely an appetizer. The Starborn aboard the costly battleship appeared to be the main dish.

"Fire!"

Eleazar, assessing the situation, made a snap decision and signaled for the attack.

The elongated, prismatic crystal pillars made slight adjustments, and the cosmic energy within surged and refined. It seemed to merge through an array, coalescing into arm-thick beams of cosmic energy.

In a flash, numerous blinding beams lanced towards the oncoming Golden Rock Beasts.

The meteorites upon which the Golden Rock Beasts crouched would shatter instantly upon contact with the Starfire Cannon.

An eighth-level Golden Rock Beast, if too slow to evade, would be pierced through by the Starfire Cannon, its body as durable as divine iron.

For the unfortunate Golden Rock Beast struck in the heart, it would meet a grisly end.

However, if the Starfire Cannon struck elsewhere—abdomen, back—the Golden Rock Beast would merely howl in pain as the gaping wound visibly writhed and healed at an astonishing rate.

These eighth-level archdemons, with their monstrous physiques, would suffer only injuries unless their hearts were breached.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

Several Solar Spirit cultivators from the sects of the Land of Quiescence, alongside the Golden Rock Beasts, charged towards the Starborn battleship. Zhan Ruonan and Sun Jun were among them.

A Devil Palace cultivator, of Solar Spirit rank, vanished like a specter beneath the barrage of the Starfire Cannon. When he reemerged, he was already beneath the Starborn battleship, thrusting a dark green spear into its underbelly, causing the crystalline shield to fracture extensively.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The Golden Rock Beasts, breaking through the cannon fire, rammed the battleship's shield with their meteoric perches.

The most formidable ninth-level Golden Rock Beast, standing on larger meteorites and emitting a "huff" sound, began its transformation from human to beast form.

"I will take care of them!"

His deep, bestial roar echoed among the still meteorites behind him.

There, Yue Mu, wielder of the Rillrender, was overpowering Fernand.

Huang Baiqi had plunged his slender sword into Rosny's chest, and several cultivators from the Euwrea Continent were present.

Cultivators from Shadow's Keep, Devil Palace, and the Land of Quiescence had united to assault the Starborn battleship.

Meanwhile, they pressed their attack on Rosny and Fernand, while also dealing with Yu Yuan and Peach Madam in the Ashen Hollow.

This was a silent understanding reached between the two factions in a short span of time.

Whoosh!

The dark cauldron soared, shattering the fragile Luminescent Barrier and venturing into the perilous, silent expanse of space.

Yu Yuan stood within the cauldron, hands braced on its rim, observing the stunning extraterrestrial vista with a calm and unhurried demeanor as he made his way toward the gathering place of the Euwrea cultivators.

"Ah, it's really unlucky to be in this guy's company."

Hu Caiyun wore an expression of resignation. As the Crucible of Evil took flight, she wasted no time, standing amidst the swirling Rainbow Ocean and drifting toward Yue Mu, the Rillrender.

"Don't move!"

On the Ashen Hollow, an eighth-level Shura warrior was firmly holding Elena down. "Going there will only cause more trouble. They can use the general to threaten you, but they won't care about his life or death."

Pattinson added, "Listen to him!"

Elena was quick to grasp the implication of his words and nodded emphatically.

The Solar Spirit cultivators of the Human Race had always looked down on them. The lives of her father and Rosny were inconsequential to someone like Huang Baiqi.

Likewise, they assumed that Yu Yuan and Hu Caiyun wouldn't be concerned either.

Under these circumstances, Huang Baiqi and Yue Mu would find it difficult to use the well-being of Fernand and Rosny to their advantage. And Fernand, being a ninth-level platinum Shura, though battered, was not someone who could be easily dispatched.

It was probable that Yue Mu would disregard Fernand for the time being due to the arrival of Hu Caiyun and Yu Yuan.

Having come to this realization, Elena remained rooted to the spot, her gaze filled with anticipation as she watched Yu Yuan and Hu Caiyun.

"Don't get your hopes up too high," Pattinson murmured, his eyes harboring a peculiar glint. "The fact that they've shown up is surprising enough. Yu Yuan and the lady are unlikely to risk their lives for us."

What he meant was that Yu Yuan's connection to her was fleeting at best, and the callous, cold-hearted humans wouldn't care about her fate.

Of course, it was unthinkable that Elena would be the reason for a life-or-death struggle...

"I'm not expecting too much. I'm just... just hoping for a miracle," she replied, her head drooping slightly in acknowledgment of the harsh truth. She couldn't truly believe that Yu Yuan would risk his life against a fellow human powerhouse just because of their brief encounters.

"Yue Mu."

The Crucible of Evil came to a halt on a sizable meteorite, and Yu Yuan alighted with ease, fixing the "Rillrender" with an enigmatic stare.

Under his scrutiny, Yue Mu quickly conceded, offering a wry smile as he sheathed his sword and bowed respectfully. "I pay my respects to Mr. Hong."

"Hmm!"

Yue Mu's deference stirred a reaction among the nearby Solar Spirit Realm experts, and both Elena and Pattinson, observing from afar aboard the Ashen Hollow, were momentarily taken aback.

Were the two men acquainted from before?

"Senior, your past kindness is beyond repayment. Please forgive me," Yue Mu said with a soft sigh. "I stand for the Sword Sect, and I cannot afford the slightest error."

"Just call me by my name," Yu Yuan responded with a smile.

"Peach Madam, perhaps you should step in. I have no desire to cross swords with Yu Yuan," Yue Mu admitted, his tone laced with resignation. "Otherwise, upon my return to the Everlands, Ji Ningshuang will surely not spare me."

"Me?" Hu Caiyun pointed to herself, her face a mix of amusement and disbelief. "Grand Sword Immortal Yue, you are the future cornerstone of the Sword Sect. Is it really appropriate to challenge a widow who has lost her husband? Besides, you must be aware of the circumstances surrounding my husband's death."

"He died serving the three upper sects. Shouldn't you honor that memory and refrain from making this difficult for me?"

Upon hearing those words, the elder Solar Spirit cultivators privy to the situation fell into a hushed silence.

Huang Baiqi, however, remained unimpressed. "Who hasn't made sacrifices for their sect? Countless human warriors have perished in the Star River of the extraterrestrial realms. It's not as if your husband was the only one."

"You vile cretin!"

Hu Caiyun's fury was instantly sparked. Disregarding Yue Mu's advice, she directed the Rainbow Ocean towards Huang Baiqi, its vibrant hues swirling like a magnificent Serpentflame.

She genuinely couldn't care less about the fate of Rosny, the King of Bandits.

Yue Mu, wielding his sword, conjured sword lights infused with a peculiar aquatic essence, sending them piercing through the Rainbow Ocean. Glancing at the person behind him, he declared, "Fernand, you take over from here."

The individual acknowledged with a subtle nod.

Yue Mu vanished into the ether, only to reappear within the Rainbow Ocean, his sword dancing as he eradicated the drifting glimmers, smoky wisps, and noxious miasmas.

The newly transformed bodies of archdemons, dire beasts, and Warpbeasts, all victims of the deadly miasma, were extinguished in the blink of an eye under his relentless swordplay.

Hu Caiyun, reluctant to engage with him, sought to confront Huang Baiqi instead, only to realize that Yue Mu was equally averse to any interaction with Yu Yuan. Regardless of Hu Caiyun's consent, Yue Mu was intent on seeking her out.

She had no say in the matter.

"Are you picking on me?"

Hu Caiyun's eyes flared with indignation, the radiant peach tree behind her emerging once more, its presence more mystical and impressive than ever.

"Lu Rui of the Sunlit Order," the man stepping forward to take Yue Mu's place introduced himself, emerging from behind Fernand.

"Tang Zheng's lineage from Churchsor Hill," Yu Yuan said with a wry smile, shaking his head. "Fate does love to weave its ironies."

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