C1099 Firmly Returning!
The barrier of the Plover Realm had turned as cold and hard as white jade, thanks to the infusion of Frost Energy from beyond its borders.
Outside, lightning streaked across the sky and thunder boomed, while the fearsome winds and magnetic storms of the starfield howled like savage beasts.
The relentless lightning and thunder, as if intent on annihilation, struck the icy barrier.
Yet, the realm's barrier stood unyielding, as solid as rock that had withstood a million years of weathering—impervious to the elements.
The wreckage of numerous Galaxy Ancient Starships, the shattered bones of alien species, and the remnants of blood and flesh were hurled against the Plover Realm's wall by the ferocious storm.
It seemed as though the crystalline barrier, forged from the vast Frost Energy of the Oblivion Starfield, was indeed unbreakable, not showing even the slightest crack.
This only deepened the sense of despair and helplessness among those trapped within.
The Death Nest, which appeared to be a deep pit leading to the dark depths below, was the focus of countless alien and human cultivators, all yearning for a glimmer of hope that it might transform back into the Galaxy Crossing.
Yet, from the Death Nest, which exuded an aura of deathly stillness, a cold as piercing as the barrier's own began to seep out.
Everyone quickly realized that the Death Nest, repaired by the Luan Bird Queen, had been penetrated by the Frost Energy that had previously leaked in.
Sssst!
A slender bolt of golden lightning erupted from the cage, shattering a naturally sharp spur on Elena's shoulder.
"Asura..."
Many eyes were drawn to Elena at that moment.
The Asura Clan girl, confined by the golden lightning, stood uncomfortably under the weight of so many stares, her face set in a cold scowl as she huffed.
"The Chamber of Commerce should have already used her to coerce Fernand into destroying the Frost Well in the Dark Domain."
Sean, known among the Dark Elfkind as the Child of Forest, pointed at Elena in the golden cage and turned to Mr. Zhou with a question, "She was brought here by Yu Yuan, wasn't she? And was the Asura General also invited by your Chamber because of her and Yu Yuan?"
As he spoke, Kennard cast a fearful glance at the shimmering barrier.
After being expelled by the Chamber of Commerce, he had sensed trouble aboard a Galaxy Ancient Starship outside the realm. It was Arlene who had risked everything to bring him back through the then-vulnerable barrier into the Plover Realm.
When he and Arlene returned to the Plover Realm, they witnessed the Galaxy Ancient Starship, built at great expense, erupting in a blaze of light and fire.
Besides Arlene and himself, all the other Dark Elfkind who had stayed outside the realm had perished.
They had assumed safety awaited them upon their return to the Plover Realm, but to their dismay, they discovered an open Frost Well connecting to the Dark Domain as soon as they arrived. The formidable Asura warriors from the starship had already stepped into the Plover Realm, and they could hear the chilling voice of the Asura King.
Kennard was convinced that the massacre in the outer world was orchestrated by the Asura King.
Nearly all his kin and followers were dead, their warship destroyed. Now, fleeing back to the Plover Realm like lost souls, they found the Asura Clan still aggressively pursuing them, with the bitter cold of darkness continuing to spread...
His accusations were naturally directed at Elena.
Like him, those who learned that the battleship had been destroyed and their clansmen lost directed their pent-up rage toward Elena.
"Ah, Hart..."
Benin, the Void Spirit Succubus, alongside Lulu with her Dark Elfkind heritage, Luo Yue, and Peach Madam, stood together, each emitting a sigh of melancholy.
Pattinson of the Shadow Clan wore a particularly somber expression.
Hart from the Silver Scale Clan, previously overlooked by the Chamber of Commerce due to his low status, had stayed outside the realm.
In addition to him, numerous roving bandits from the Shadow Clan had escorted Yu Ying to the Gloomy Paradise, and Pattinson was all too aware of their likely grim fate.
"She was led in by Yu Yuan, but her father, Fernand, the king of roving bandits, is a different story," Mr. Zhou said with a sidelong glance at Kennard, his tone neutral. "Fernand was brought in at President Lyi's behest. Do you have any objections?"
At the mention of President Lyi, Kennard huffed and grumbled, "I trust the Chamber of Commerce and the Divine Soul Sect will provide us with an explanation. If they can't ensure our safety, why bother hosting the Chamber here at all?"
The Chamber of Commerce and the Divine Soul Sect must bear the brunt of the responsibility! We came here trusting you and abided by your rules. And what was the result? Our ships, anchored beyond the boundary, were destroyed by the Chaos Roc! Our people were killed by the Chaos Roc!
A Starry Behemoth was also allowed into the Oblivion Starfield with your blessing! If you allowed it entry, why couldn't you control it? If you can't manage it, you should never have let it into the Oblivion Starfield! Where is the Divine King of the Divine Soul Sect?
We demand an explanation!
...
There was unanimous agreement.
Unable to find a way out, the clansmen from various races began to condemn the Chamber of Commerce and the Divine Soul Sect, spurred on by Kennard's lead.
At this moment, President Lyi, Jun Chen, along with Bai He, Lvliu, and other members, both new and old, of the Chamber of Commerce, were ready and waiting in the area engulfed by the spreading cold.
Currently, Mr. Zhou was overseeing the overall situation.
With a heavy heart, Mr. Zhou looked at the Death Nest, brimming with the aura of demise. He wished he could say that as long as the nest could still function as a Galaxy Crossing, the Divine King of the Divine Soul Sect could arrive in an instant. But now...
"I suggest that the Chamber of Commerce executes this Asura Clan girl first."
A member of the Crypt Clan glared at Elena with a dark scowl. "All of my clansmen are dead, and the only Galaxy Warship my family had has crashed in the outer world! I saw it with my own eyes. Since the Asura started this war, then this Asura Clan woman should be put to death immediately!"
"Kill her!"
"Execute her first to show your stance, to prove you're not colluding with the Asura King!"
"Yes! Perhaps the Chamber of Commerce and the Divine Soul Sect are in cahoots with the Asura King, plotting against us!"
The agitated non-humans were shouting, converging on Elena's location, pressuring Mr. Zhou to act swiftly and execute Elena.
Inside the golden cage, Elena, small in stature, curled up and slowly bowed her head.
She sighed without a sound, wondering to herself, "Why did Yu Yuan suddenly leave? Did he depart with the Luan Bird Queen without a farewell because he knew we were facing a hopeless situation?"
If that wasn't the case, would he come back? Could she hope to see him once more?
Elena, like a small creature about to be sent to the slaughterhouse, was fearless in the face of the malevolent extremists from various races slowly approaching her. She didn't spare a thought for how her father, Fernand, might be treated by his former kin in that bitterly cold and dark place. Her only wish was to see Yu Yuan one last time before her death—if only that were possible.
Had she known it would come to this, she would have clung to him after entering the Plover Realm, staying by his side at all costs. A profound sense of regret surged within Elena's heart. She couldn't understand why, at this moment, she felt such a deep longing and remorse for Yu Yuan, a man she had met briefly and shared only a few intimate moments with.
With a tearing sound, the massive branches that formed the Death Nest began to emit alternating beams of gray and white light. Suddenly, the entire structure burst open, releasing an intense odor of death.
"Back off!" Those who detected the anomaly changed their expressions dramatically and quickly instructed those near the Death Nest to evacuate.
Mr. Zhou's eyes sparkled with anticipation. A force capable of slicing through time and space and causing the stars to tremble erupted from the Death Nest. Almost instantly, two figures materialized at the very heart of the Death Nest.
"Yu Yuan!"
"Luan Bird Queen!"
Luo Yue, Ann Ziqing, Old Cash, Lulu, and those gathered with Peach Madam felt a wave of relief wash over them at the sight of the returning figure.
Mr. Zhou, Canli, and a few others who were privy to the secrets of the Death Nest turned their attention to Chen Qinghuang. Inside a cage woven from golden lightning, the Asura Clan's young woman lifted her head at the sound of that familiar name. Her captivating face was alight with excitement and genuine delight.
She brought her hands together in a gesture of prayer, murmuring words in the Asura tongue.
"What's happening here?" Yu Yuan emerged from the Death Nest, the Demon Blade known as Blood Prison slung across his back, and approached Mr. Zhou, Shen Feiqing, Yu Ying, Tan Yuan, and the rest.
Tan Yuan and the others, who were skilled in physical cultivation and had reached the Yang God Stage, trembled as Yu Yuan drew near.
Many other beings of noble lineage began to back away in terror as Yu Yuan leaped from the Death Nest, seemingly too afraid to come any closer.
Among the crowd, Ann Ziqing of the Blood God Cult felt the impact most profoundly.
Yu Yuan strode forward, her blood boiling within her. She quietly closed her eyes, and as she sensed Yu Yuan's approach, it was as though he was an ocean of blood. Countless blood souls roared and howled within, threatening to engulf all living beings present and crush every bone and sinew.
"Demon Blade Blood Prison!"
Ann Ziqing's eyes snapped open, a purple divine light radiating from their depths. She inhaled sharply and bit her tongue, using the pain to force herself to remain composed.
Shen Feiqing, Tan Yuan, Yu Ying, and several other beings with powerful bloodlines made their own adjustments.
Those with the most robust physiques and surging vitality were the most intensely affected by the Demon Blade, acutely feeling the horrific blood energy it was unleashing.
"I apologize, this blade has only recently been forged, and I cannot yet conceal the blood energy it's releasing."
Yu Yuan, momentarily taken aback, quickly understood the situation. He offered an apologetic smile to those in front of him and then addressed Zhou You, "She is under my command. Regardless of the circumstances, she should not be treated in this manner."
"This..."
Zhou You's face twisted with discomfort.
"She is not a guest! The Asura General has betrayed us. He assisted a human woman in opening a Frost Well in the Dark Domain!" Kennard declared gravely.
Yu Yuan turned aside, eyes narrowing, and spoke in a chilling tone that made Kennard's blood run cold, "Why are you still here?"
With a huff, Yu Yuan turned back to Zhou You, "I believe I made it quite clear to the chamber of commerce that he should have been expelled from the Plover Realm."
"He returned after his expulsion due to unrest in the outside world," Zhou You explained with a wry smile.
"He either keeps silent or leaves the Plover Realm. Here, someone who shouldn't even be present has no right to speak!" Yu Yuan commanded icily.
