C1068 The Second Bird Nest

Fernand watched his beloved daughter accompany Yu Yuan as they took flight toward Ionodios, his expression a mix of emotions. Around them, renowned warriors from across the Star River were stationed on the Voidfarer, including formidable Sky Fiends and dark disciples of the human race. Yet, even beings of such stature lacked the credentials to enter Ionodios ahead of time.

His daughter, however, received special treatment simply because of Yu Yuan's words, granting her the privilege to step into Ionodios. A sense of pride began to swell within Fernand.

"Pattinson, be straight with me, is there something going on between Elena and that young man?" Fernand asked with a stern look on his face once Yu Yuan and his party had vanished through the wall.

Pattinson gestured toward the eighth-level Shura warrior, suggesting, "You might want to ask him."

Fernand turned his attention to his subordinate. "It seems there is indeed a connection," the Shura warrior answered cautiously, then quickly added, "General, the situation was dire at the time. I was unable to intervene."

He was acutely aware of Fernand's deep-seated animosity toward the human race and that he would never tolerate his daughter becoming entangled with a human cultivator. Fearing Fernand's wrath, he was eager to clarify the circumstances. However, he soon noticed that Fernand wasn't as incensed as expected, merely nodding in response.

...

Within the inner sanctum of Ionodios, Yu Yuan surveyed the landscape. Verdant mountains stretched across the continent, the vegetation dense and trees soaring skyward, brimming with life. He took a deep breath and was delighted to discover that the spiritual energy of this realm was quite favorable.

The divine force here was a mix, impure compared to the pristine essence of the Everlands, and perhaps a notch below in quality. Nonetheless, the diverse energies of Ionodios contained no harmful pollutants to the human form. This indicated that human cultivators who had attained the Veil Breaking Realm could likely acclimate.

Certainly, without the aid of pills, special herbs, or nourishing flesh, cultivating here by drawing upon the spiritual energy would prove far less efficient than in the Everlands, which surpassed this realm in every aspect.

At the heart of the mountain range, a vast clearing had been carved out, where majestic buildings stood tall. From his aerial vantage point, Yu Yuan recognized that the architectural layout mirrored that of the Skyreach Consortium's headquarters in the Everlands.

There were distinct halls designated for the sale of artifacts, pill scrolls, magic items, and magic diagrams.

Numerous human cultivators and Otherkin, clad in the early uniforms of the Skyreach Consortium, bustled through these grand halls, meticulously arranging a dazzling array of goods.

"Yu Yuan, have her wait over there for a bit. I want to show you something else," Zhou You whispered.

He gestured towards the VIP area reserved for esteemed guests. Yu Yuan glanced in that direction and noticed many lavishly dressed figures from various races standing there.

"Miss Benin, please wait over there as well," Zhou You instructed.

"Oh."

Yu Yuan looked at Elena. Understanding the situation, she nodded and said, "Got it." Taking the initiative, she flew towards the area Zhou You had indicated.

Tong Laoqian, Qi Yunhong, and even Mia from the Shadowkin followed suit.

"Everyone else, please head over there too."

Leaving them with those instructions, Zhou You tugged at Yu Yuan's sleeve and vanished in an instant.

Meanwhile, in a secluded region nestled among the mountains of Ionodios, there was a vast pit that housed an enormous bird's nest.

This nest, too, was constructed from numerous robust, intertwined branches.

The peculiar energy coursing through these branches triggered a strong reaction from Yu Yuan's Altar of Rebirth.

"The nest of the secular bird!" Yu Yuan exclaimed.

"Huh, you're aware of this nest's origins?" President Lyi asked with a casual smile. Standing beside the nest, he beckoned to Yu Yuan and introduced him to the elderly female Voidweaver, "This is Yu Yuan, the one in possession of the World-Sundering Stone you've mentioned."

Noeyr, a ninth-level elder of the Voidweavers, greeted him with a reserved nod and a smile.

"Hong Qi, so you're still alive!"

Xi Quan of the Withered Sword set her small box on her lap and sat cross-legged on a branch as thick as a giant vine. Her presence radiated an aura of deathly stillness, seemingly in harmony with the secular bird's nest.

In addition to her, there were Green Willow, the grand leader of Shadow's Keep, and Zhongli Dapan of the Forgeroses.

Upon Yu Yuan's arrival, each of them acknowledged him with a subtle nod.

The call of a crane pierced the air.

The Death Crane broke through the hidden protective wall and descended upon the secular bird's nest. Casting a sidelong glance at Xi Quan, he let out a disdainful snort.

"What's the matter? Are you the only one permitted to grasp the death force of the secular bird?"

Xi Quan was fearless, her finger resting on the small box containing the Withered Sword. The sword's will, dense and potent, seemed poised to erupt from within. "White Crane, would you like to witness the might of my sword?"

"Enough, we're all allies here. No infighting," President Lyi chided gently.

White Crane, initially eager to provoke a response, fell silent at President Lyi's admonition.

Xi Quan smirked triumphantly.

"What's happening?" Yu Yuan inquired.

Zhou You glanced around, noting President Lyi's silence, and decided to fill in the details. "Since you're aware this is one of the secular bird's nests, I'll spare you the history. A hundred thousand years ago, the leaders of various races banded together to slay the secular bird right here."

"The crater you see is where the secular bird met its end, causing her nest to collapse. Despite this, there's a legend that she will never truly perish and will one day be reborn from one of her nests."

"Our Skyreach Consortium has gathered the remnants of the shattered nest and branches. We've reconstructed her nest within the very crater where she fell. For now, this site serves as a passageway akin to the one beneath Moonfall Sanctuary, which we've named the Starway."

"Through this Starway, powerful beings from other regions can also arrive here."

"However, it's currently unstable, with the death force within it threatening to erupt. You should know that if the death force left by the secular bird were to surge, it could impact not just Ionodios but all living creatures within the Annihilation Nebula."

Zhou You spoke calmly, explaining to Yu Yuan that the entrance to the nest was restricted to outsiders not only because of its sensitivity and instability but also for their own safety.

For tens of thousands of years, the Annihilation Nebula has been off-limits to life, with no extraterrestrial races settling there. Even so, the few Domains that have been slightly developed are enough to sustain powerful races.

The Skyreach Consortium's decision to rebuild the secular bird's nest in Ionodios within the Annihilation Nebula was strategic, intending to use the nest as a Starway to draw in formidable experts from across the cosmos.

The three nests of the secular bird are rumored to possess the magical ability to teleport. Any creature within one nest can travel to the others," President Lyi finally began, speaking at a measured pace. "Our nest, constructed more recently, is still imperfect, riddled with flaws, and thus can only serve as a minor Starway."

"We've invited the Songbird Queen, who is connected to another secular bird's nest. We asked her to come and inspect our nest to identify any issues and perhaps resolve them," President Lyi continued.

"One of the three great nests is here, another has been merged by the Songbird Queen, and the last remains elusive. Yan Qiling is tasked with gathering intelligence on the third nest. We need to ascertain whether the secular bird has truly perished or might be reborn in the missing third nest." President Lyi paused briefly.

Zhou You's eyes sparkled as he announced, "The Songbird Queen has arrived!"

"If this nest can be fully restored, then the nest merged by the Songbird Queen could be transported to the Everlands," President Lyi said, his eyes gleaming with an intense light. "By the mysterious powers of the cosmic giant beast, not even the rules and constraints of the Everlands' wall can prevent the two nests from connecting!"

Yu Yuan felt a surge of astonishment at these words.

"The Domain Channel that links the Moonfall Sanctuary with the Hellmouth is fraught with complications. Moreover, the Hellmouth has been firmly seized by the Blood Fiend, who have ravaged it inside and out," Zhou You expressed with a hint of regret. "Our goal is to forge an additional, stable passage directly to the Everlands, free from any external constraints."

Suddenly, another nest of the secular bird, enveloped by the Dissolving Fortress, pierced through the wall of Ionodios and entered the inner realm.

Bai He and "Withered Sword" Xi Quan immediately turned their attention to the nest that, until now, had been the most secure.

Among the three nests, one had been destroyed and rebuilt with defects, and another was missing. Yet the one merged by the Songbird Queen was flawless. The secular bird's essence within it circulated effortlessly, radiating an array of profound mysteries.

As Bai He and Xi Quan gazed at the revealed nest with gleaming eyes, the Songbird's cry echoed from the Dissolving Fortress.

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