C1074 Seeing an Old Friend Again

In the alchemy chamber's second floor, there was a sudden rip.

Yu Yuan brought his fingers together, conjuring a slender, crimson sword light, and began to slice through the large blood cocoon laid out on the floor. The cocoon was exceedingly tough, and after struggling to pry it open, Yu Yuan reluctantly resorted to the Nine Celestial Slashes—a powerful swordsmanship mantra.

As the cocoon gradually split, Yu Yuan acutely perceived that it was a peculiar protective shell, formed from Ann Ziqing's blood which had coagulated. This shell had absorbed a multitude of corrupt psionic powers from the extraterrestrial Star River, shielding the unconscious Ann Ziqing from harm. Its hardness rivaled that of sunsilver, making it a formidable barrier not easily torn asunder.

Yu Yuan surmised that even the Silverscale Tribe's mightiest had not breached the blood cocoon to extract and examine Ann Ziqing, likely deterred by the cocoon's daunting resilience. It seemed that Ann Ziqing, sensing danger, had conjured this arcane defense using her Bloodwalk technique.

When the cocoon finally parted, Ann Ziqing was revealed within. Her increasingly stunning visage was the first to catch Yu Yuan's gaze, dazzling him and inviting a meticulous appraisal. Even with her eyes closed, Ann Ziqing's delicate features were mesmerizing.

Throughout his two lifetimes, Yu Yuan had encountered an endless array of beautiful women, yet the ever more captivating Ann Ziqing still stood prominently among them. Often, he found it challenging to reconcile the image of the young maidservant who once served him with the figure before him now—Ann Ziqing exuded a mysterious and noble air, even in unconsciousness, a demeanor born of long-standing authority and meticulous care.

Her purple divine armor had transformed into what appeared to be delicate, purple crystalline flakes, enveloping her entire form. Every part of her, save for her face, was encased within this divine armor.

Bowing his head, Yu Yuan continued to observe her, tuning into her condition with his remnant soul and vitality. Ann Ziqing had sustained grave injuries: numerous tendons were severed, her sternum and spine showed signs of fractures, and clotted, filthy blood clung to her organs, unable to be purged from her system.

A drop of dark purple blood, the size of a fingernail, rested on her forehead, safeguarding her Mindscape.

Even Yu Yuan, with all his strength, couldn't send a wisp of his spirit through that blood to glimpse into her Mindscape.

Whoosh!

A wisp of spirit, brimming with life essence, surged toward the Profound Gate acupoint in Ann Ziqing's chest, breaking into her world of vitality.

It was unclear whether it was because Ann Ziqing had subconsciously permitted his entry, but his spirit encountered no resistance from the purple divine armor and slipped in effortlessly.

In Ann Ziqing's little world of vitality, Yu Yuan's combined essence of vitality and spirit manifested as a crimson blood shadow.

He immediately noticed seven amethyst pools within Ann Ziqing's realm of vitality, each sprawling over several acres.

Yu Yuan's blood shadow floated above, observing the pools arranged in the pattern of the Big Dipper.

As he marveled at the sight, he took a closer look and discovered another Ann Ziqing lying serenely on the ground.

Her vitality was tumultuous, crafted from her soul and rich blood energy, reminiscent of Chen Qinghuang's Solar Spirit Body.

Solar Spirit Body?

Yu Yuan paused for a few seconds, realizing that the seven amethyst pools were situated over the chest of the reclining Ann Ziqing.

They corresponded to seven crucial acupoints!

During his practice of Evil Body Refining in the Land of Terror, he had first opened these key acupoints using the Shadow Moon Essence.

Yet, not a single drop of refined blood was present in those seven amethyst pools.

The seven Blood Pools served as the reservoirs for Ann Ziqing's vital energy, and her unique Solar Spirit Body, now residing temporarily within her little world of vitality, appeared to have sustained severe injuries.

Yu Yuan quickly grasped the situation. Upon closer inspection of Ann Ziqing's Solar Spirit Body, he saw it was enveloped in a glow of blood, with purple crystals hidden within, while the rest of its mysteries eluded him.

With this realization...

He pondered briefly before devising a strategy.

Whoosh!

He conjured the scarlet Altar of Rebirth, positioning it above Ann Ziqing's chest.

Piece by piece, the flesh and blood of ninth-level dire beasts were meticulously placed into the Altar of Rebirth and swiftly refined. In time, streams of exceedingly pure vital energy, imbued with the force of creation, were directed by him toward Ann Ziqing's Profound Gate acupoint.

Like a delicate rivulet, it wove into her personal realm of vitality.

Within, Yu Yuan's spirit watched intently over his own vital essence, as though a crimson river had manifested in this realm.

This sanguine river coursed into an amethystine pool.

The pool, akin to amethyst, instantly radiated a captivating brilliance. It ebbed and flowed, drawing in the abundant vital energy from the blood river and transforming it into droplets of blood essence.

Yu Yuan's realm of vitality, enriched with the vital energy he had bestowed upon Ann Ziqing, suddenly pulsed with renewed life!

Seeing the success of his efforts, Yu Yuan couldn't help but smile wryly and sighed, "The debts I owe must indeed be repaid."

With that, he continued to assist the Songbird Queen in repairing the secular bird's nest, reluctantly withdrawing more high-grade flesh from dire beasts and archdemons from his private stash.

During his time in the Everlands and the Moonfall Sanctuary, the Colddeath Sect had been generous to him. Utilizing the lifeblood stored by the sect, he refined the essence of various Otherkin, granting him the power to battle eighth-level warriors from the Stoneborn and Silverscale Tribes with just his corporeal body alone.

Both Ann Wen and Ann Ziqing had shown him exceptional care.

Especially after learning he was the progeny of the Evil King, Yu Xi, Ann Ziqing, known for her mercurial temperament and ruthlessness, ceased her covert sabotage and challenges.

His gratitude toward the Colddeath Sect stemmed from their shared history and his subsequent experiences.

Thus, upon encountering Ann Ziqing again and finding her gravely injured, he spared no effort in her rescue.

After an extensive period,

All the flesh and blood he had hoarded were transformed by the Altar of Rebirth into pure life essence. With additional soulstones in hand, he procured an abundance of lifeblood and potent flesh from various races, ultimately replenishing the seven Blood Pools in her realm of vitality.

"I've done all that I can. The rest is up to your own healing powers and resilience."

Yu Yuan, weary to the bone, rose to his feet at a languid pace and gazed at her stunning visage, taking a few extra moments to admire her before heading to the alchemy chamber on the ground floor.

Wen Lu, bearing the Shadowkin lineage, wore a serene smile and said, "Brother Yu, you've worked hard."

Yu Yuan dismissed the concern with a wave of his hand, "Let's put the discussion about the pill on hold for now."

"Alright," Wen Lu replied gently.

Upon opening the door to the alchemy chamber, Yu Yuan stepped outside, looked up at the sky, and noticed numerous figures peering curiously through the Ionodios's barrier, their eyes alight with inquisitive wonder.

Members of the Skyreach Consortium were poised midair, tasked with welcoming the newcomers and directing them to places of rest.

Among the arrivals were guests of various races, including some Otherkin cultivators Yu Yuan had faintly heard of, who had long since vanished from the extraterrestrial realms, as well as ferocious demons.

This sight made it clear to Yu Yuan that the Deathwing Lair, restored by Chen Qinghuang, was now devoid of any hidden dangers.

The Skyreach Consortium had lifted its ban, allowing these distant visitors to leave their Voidfarers behind and enter the heart of Ionodios.

"The grand festivities are about to commence."

A robust and jovial voice suddenly rang out beside him. Yu Yuan turned to see a towering, broad-shouldered man in a gray robe, his green eyes sparkling as he beamed a wide smile. "It's been too long. I always knew you were exceptional, yet it seems I've still underestimated you."

Yu Yuan was struck by a powerful sense of recognition, but he struggled to place the resolute, sharply defined face before him.

"Reforged a new body, have you? Don't tell me you've forgotten me?" the tall man chuckled with a hint of mischief.

"Qinghuang pays her respects to the Stormcrowned Emperor," came another voice, soft yet clear.

The Songbird Queen, her features obscured and crowned with a phoenix diadem, gracefully approached and nodded in greeting to the man.

"Please, I'm not worthy," the tall man responded, bowing in return without a hint of arrogance, his tone earnest. "As fellow sovereigns of the human realm, your accomplishments and realm far exceed my own."

"You are the elder," Chen Qinghuang stated with gravity.

"It's you!"

Recognition dawned on Yu Yuan, and a smile crept across his face as he took another lingering look at the man. "Congratulations."

Years had passed, and the Stormcrowned Emperor had advanced to the late stages of the Solar Spirit realm. His current form, standing before Yu Yuan, seemed more than mere flesh and blood; it was an extraordinary manifestation of the Solar Spirit.

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