C1067 Blinding!
"Yu Yuan!"
Mia from the Shadowkin, Sansom of the enchantress lineage, and Qi Yunhong, wrapped in lightning, all emerged from Ionodios, followed by the pristine Tong Laoqian, after Beru and Canli had made their exit.
The sight of the ancient Voidfarer warships docked outside Ionodios left many Otherkin experts agape in astonishment.
The grand meeting had not yet commenced, and not all the invited experts had arrived. Considering various factors, the Skyreach Consortium had asked those who arrived early to temporarily remain outside.
Ionodios was not immediately accessible to the experts of the various races.
Thus, those Otherkin who had arrived first had no choice but to wait patiently in the external world.
Only a select few with exceedingly prestigious identities and deep ties to the Skyreach Consortium were allowed early entry.
Eleazar and his companions recognized Zhou Wen as the Guide because they had witnessed him personally escort Elder Noeyr, the Voidweaver, back to Ionodios, revealing Zhou Wen's exceptional status.
A confidant of President Lyi.
Nevertheless, Zhou Wen's fervent reception of Yu Yuan upon his arrival in Ashen Hollow took everyone by surprise.
They were familiar with Yu Yuan's name because the Blood Fiend's Demon God had discreetly instructed various factions to keep an eye out for a human named Yu Yuan, offering a handsome reward for any information on him.
Upon further inquiry, they learned that Yu Yuan was a prodigious cultivator from the Everlands with a possible connection to Boulderdawn.
Only a handful were aware that Yu Yuan was the reincarnation of the God of Medicine, mainly because they could not venture into the Everlands. Moreover, Yu Yuan's meteoric rise within the Everlands made it challenging for them to be fully informed.
Subsequently.
Beru, the Starborn Starfallen Oracle; Canli, the future matriarch of the Dawnbringers; Mia, the Shadowkin's high priestess; and Sansom, the spiritual leader of the evilkind...
These illustrious figures, whose reputations thundered across the extraterrestrial realms, burst forth from Ionodios and descended upon Ashen Hollow, drawing intense scrutiny.
What many Otherkin found hard to accept was that their leaders, although present in Ionodios, had not been seen by them before.
Moreover, upon exiting Ionodios, they did not prioritize meeting with their own kind but instead headed directly for Ashen Hollow.
What mysterious allure does the Ashen Hollow, a gathering place for bandits, hold?
They observed closely.
Soon, they noticed that upon arriving at the Ashen Hollow, all the formidable individuals from various races, including the newly ascended Solar Spirit of the human race, were inquiring about Yu Yuan's whereabouts.
Aboard the Starborn warships, Wilson gazed at the irreparable Starfire Cannon, destroyed in battle. With a heavy sigh, he shook his head and conceded, "Revenge is no longer possible."
"You'd best abandon that thought!" Eleazar warned with severity. "Don't bring disaster upon the Coleman family! We dare not provoke Yu Yuan, nor can we afford to cross Noeyr!"
Wilson gave a slight nod of acknowledgment.
"Where's Yu Yuan?"
"Refining pills."
Canli, radiant with a bright, colorful aura, descended as a beam of divine light and immediately asked the question.
Zhou You responded with a smile.
Mia, Sansom, Qi Yunhong, and Tong Laoqian, all of whom possessed the Solar Spirit Body, also inquired about Yu Yuan's location as they descended.
Pattinson, Benin, Hart, including Fernand and Elena, were dumbstruck.
They hadn't anticipated that following Beru, other prominent figures like Canli, Mia, and Sansom from various clans would emerge from Ionodios, drawn by Yu Yuan's presence, each displaying a keen interest in him.
Otherkin such as Pattinson might be less familiar with figures like the White Crane.
Yet Canli, Beru, Mia, and Sansom were luminaries within the Star River, each with a prestigious status, ranking just below their clan leaders. They were invariably honored guests wherever they went.
But these individuals were here not for the White Crane, but for Yu Yuan!
The Shura General, now a mere bandit, cast a thoughtful glance at his daughter, stroking his chin, lost in contemplation.
The wait was not long...
In less than half an hour, Yu Yuan emerged from the stone building with a smile, holding a pill that shimmered like green jadeite within a white jade porcelain bottle. He handed it to Beru, instructing, "Swallow this, and direct the pill's potency to your heart."
He had already sensed the arrival of Canli, Mia, and the others, maintaining a serene demeanor.
"Master!"
"Yu Yuan!"
Qi Yunhong and Tong Laoqian called out with delight, to which he responded with a subtle nod.
At that moment, all eyes were drawn to the emerald-like pill. Through the white jade bottle, Mia of the Shadowkin inhaled deeply, immediately sensing the rich breath of life emanating from it, indicating the pill's power to command the forces of nature.
Mia's spirit stirred slightly, suspecting that Yu Yuan had imbued the pill with his own unique strange power.
Beru cradled the pill in his hands, took a deep breath, and said, "Words cannot express my gratitude!"
No sooner had he spoken than he exchanged a knowing glance with Becker and they swiftly made their way toward the Voidfarer.
Becker departed without delay.
"You are Peach Madam Hu Caiyun. I am aware of your actions in Yogreron. Once you leave the Annihilation Nebula and enter the starry expanse beyond, the Shadowkin will pursue you," Mia said coldly after nodding in acknowledgment to Yu Yuan, casting a chilling glance at Hu Caiyun.
Hu Caiyun remained unfazed, offering only a soft chuckle in response.
"You?" Yu Yuan turned his attention to Qi Yunhong and Tong Laoqian, who had revealed their Solar Spirit Bodies, and expressed his admiration, "Impressive, indeed."
"I had already cultivated a Solar Spirit Body, but fell from grace due to a treacherous attack," Qi Yunhong said with a boastful laugh. "After you departed, I ventured to the Godsblight Marsh and, in short order, managed to forge a new Solar Spirit Body."
Yu Yuan gave a gentle nod of acknowledgment.
With the death of Qu Jing from Ethereal Void, and Qi Yunhong acquiring his hidden treasures, it was certainly within his means to gather the necessary materials for a second refinement of the Solar Spirit Body, which proved easier than the first.
Tong Laoqian, it seemed, had advanced from the Forgotten Ruins.
Yu Yuan continued his inquiries.
He learned that from the Everlands, there were two paths leading to the Star River.
One was controlled by the five supreme powers.
The other was in the hands of President Lyi and the Skyreach Consortium.
After their breakthrough to Solar Spirit status, they took this alternate route into the stars. Through a series of strategic transfers from several concealed extraterrestrial "crossings," they were able to arrive safely at Ionodios.
They hadn't been in Ionodios for very long. The Skyreach Consortium had prohibited starships and Otherkin warriors from other races from entering because they were still making preparations. Crafting a "Starway" akin to the Domain Channel of the Moonfall Sanctuary was no small feat. The Consortium had many secrets they wished to keep from other groups, hence they only guided those like the Voidweavers, who were adept in space magic. The rest were kept in the dark.
"Apart from you guys, are there any other acquaintances from the Everlands?" Yu Yuan inquired.
"Haha, yes, there are. Some are in the midst of their training, others are en route. You'll see for yourself once you're inside," Zhou You chuckled heartily. He squinted at the others present and said, "Yu Yuan, except for Benin, whose mentor has specifically chosen her, the rest must wait outside." His gaze passed over Pattinson, Hart, Elena, and Fernand.
"My mentor is aware of my arrival?" Benin's eyes sparkled with delight.
Zhou You nodded, smiling warmly. "Noeyr holds you in high regard and is proud of your recent breakthrough."
Benin breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes brimming with happiness.
"And what about me?" The Peach Madam pointed to her nose, smiling inquisitively at Zhou You.
He shook his head with an apologetic grin. "You must be part of either the Skyreach Consortium or Boulderdawn. Only affiliates of these two entities are eligible for early entry."
"What about them?" Hu Caiyun gestured towards Canli, Mia, and the other Otherkin. "Why are they permitted?"
"They stood with us through life and death at the Moonfall Sanctuary. It's a different bond," Zhou You replied, his face etched with respect. "That battle claimed many lives. I mean, many of their people..."
Yu Yuan's thoughts drifted to Quake of the Silverscale Tribe and the Blood Warriors of the eighth and seventh levels who had perished, along with the Sky Fiends. The Otherkin who survived that brutal conflict had earned the recognition of both the Skyreach Consortium and Boulderdawn. Since they had traveled via the Starway, the Consortium had no reservations about their presence.
However, those who had never set foot in the Everlands were still not permitted to enter prematurely.
"If that's the case, I'll choose the Boulderdawn Sect," declared Hu Caiyun.
Zhou You paused, his brow furrowed in thought. "I haven't received any news from that side," he admitted.
"Yu Yuan is my sponsor," Hu Caiyun said with a smile, locking eyes with Yu Yuan until he reluctantly nodded in agreement.
Seeing this, Zhou You's demeanor became stern. "If you're the one vouching for her... then there's no issue," he conceded.
His response took both Bai He and Hu Caiyun by surprise.
"Really? Just like that? Zhou You, I was only speaking off the cuff. Does this kid have that much clout? His nod means the Boulderdawn Sect agrees?" Hu Caiyun exclaimed, astonished.
"Yes, his nod is as good as a done deal," Zhou You affirmed.
Yu Yuan stood there, speechless.
Aside from Yan Qiling, he had never actually vouched for anyone to the Boulderdawn Sect. The person in the bronze coffin had only spoken ambiguously to him, always remaining inside the coffin. Yet, Zhou You seemed convinced that Hu Caiyun could secure permission from the Boulderdawn Sect simply because she said Yu Yuan agreed. Yu Yuan found it unexpected that Zhou You was so confident Hu Caiyun could become a member of the Boulderdawn Sect.
"Let's head into Ionodios," Zhou You announced, sweeping his horsetail whisk aside and stepping out of the Luminescent Barrier to lead the way.
The others who had just emerged either followed him or gestured to Yu Yuan to proceed first. Qi Yunhong and Tong Laoqian, among others, naturally hung back, waiting for him to depart.
"We'll meet again later," Benin whispered to Hart.
Hart nodded, signaling his understanding and agreement.
"I'll be bringing an extra person with me—her," Yu Yuan suddenly said, pointing at the bewildered Elena. "Is that acceptable?" he inquired of Zhou You.
Zhou You hesitated briefly before responding, "Give me a moment to inquire."
Yu Yuan nodded.
Shortly thereafter, Zhou You appeared to receive a response and said, "Alright."
