C1170 Foolish Decision

Adler and Mitts, two Demon Gods, emerged from the shadows to intercept the howling crescent moon.

Quealy, an elder of the Blood Devil Clan, the Polar Devaputra, numerous mutated monsters, and the members of the Crypt Clan possessed by the Blood Devil, all maintained their composure and halted in place.

Though they were both from the Devaputra Race, it was clear they were aligned with different factions.

Lurking behind Adler and Mitts were additional demonic shadows, seemingly ready to surge forth at any moment to annihilate all foes.

Above the crescent moon, Yu Yuan gazed down at the ethereally beautiful Luan Bird Queen, his heart heavy with a mix of bitterness and resignation.

The message from Yu Zhu had enlightened him to the reasons behind Adler and Mitts' sudden arrival in the Dim Starfield and their brief alliance with the Blood Devil Clan.

They feared the resurrection of the Secular Bird, a harbinger of death and destruction, through Chen Qinghuang.

The Elemental Devil Clan's mightiest, having banded together with the Star Race, Asura, Dark Elfkind, Bright Clan, and other Tenth Level forces to pursue and ultimately slay the Secular Bird in the Oblivion Starfield a hundred thousand years prior, certainly did not wish to witness her return.

Should she be reborn, would she not seek vengeance?

A sudden epiphany struck Yu Yuan like a bolt of lightning.

Back in the Plover Realm, he faintly recalled Chen Qinghuang's declaration to uphold the legacy of the Secular Bird.

Hence, she had observed with detachment as the elite and influential from various races, gathered in the Plover Realm, succumbed to the icy currents of the Dark Domain and fell to the blades of the Asura Clan's warriors and mutated monsters.

Was it possible that she had long known she was the Secular Bird reincarnate?

After departing Luan Bird City, she had plunged into the Outland Starfield. Guided by enigmatic forces, she discovered the "Nest of Destruction," where she grasped the essence of rebirth and swiftly ascended to the Unrestrained Stage. Had she already unraveled the truth of her origins?

"Yu Yuan."

Tan Junshan inhaled deeply, turning to face him beside the Dragon Slash Platform, and spoke gravely, "The Elemental Devil Clan boasts two Tenth Level Great Demon Gods! Aside from the clan leader, their High Priest is an ancient Great Demon God, even more venerable than Grec. With the High Priest also en route, we must..."

He appeared to be in quite a dilemma.

Yu Zhu and Yu Yiyi also chose that moment to maintain their silence.

Adler and Mitts represented another faction of Outland Devaputras with far deeper roots and greater combat prowess.

These ancient Devaputras had long-standing good relations with the Divine Soul Sect and the Babel Chamber of Commerce. They were currently enjoying a period of close cooperation, having jointly spearheaded the initiative to usher various races into the Plover Realm.

From Adler and Mitts' stance, it was clear that if Yu Yuan agreed to surrender the Luan Bird Queen, they would grant him passage.

Their interest lay not with the concerns or actions of the Blood Devil Clan; they were singularly focused on acquiring the Luan Bird Queen.

As for Chen Qinghuang, it seemed she didn't have a bond strong enough with Yu Yuan's side to warrant a life-or-death struggle against another faction of Outland Devaputras on her behalf.

Furthermore, if the High Priest of the Elemental Devil Clan were to arrive, fighting to the death would be futile.

"You too?"

Yu Yuan furrowed his brow and exchanged a heavy glance with Tan Junshan.

Chen Qinghuang had manifested her triune spectral form on the Origin Blood Continent, tapping into the powers of both the nests of destruction and regeneration to shatter the dark red barrier infused with the will of the Yang Meridian source. This act had exposed her, allowing Grec and Munch to deduce her significance, convinced that the Secular Bird would resurrect through her.

It was this excessive exertion that had left her in an unconscious state.

But now...

"Yu Yuan, I understand that lass Chen ended up like this because she was trying to lead everyone away from the Origin Blood Continent," Tan Junshan said, averting his eyes as if unable to bear the weight of Yu Yuan's disappointed gaze. "I've known lass Chen for a long time. Over the past two hundred years, we've fought together in the Outland Starry Sky, and I've even saved her life."

"But she..."

But she was the Secular Bird!

Tan Junshan left the thought unspoken, knowing Yu Yuan would grasp the unuttered words. His reluctance stemmed from a fear that the revelation would only incite the Great Demon Gods, Adler and Mitts, further upon discovering the truth.

The Phoenix, a creature that wrought destruction across countless starfields 100,000 years ago, was truly the bane of all life!

Aside from the Winged Race, the vast majority of intelligent beings have suffered under the Phoenix's tyranny, losing their realm stars to its wrath.

Both humans and demons in the Boundless Land dread the Phoenix's resurrection, fearing the spread of death and ruin it would bring.

Tan Junshan even suspects that the Divine Soul Sect and the Babel Chamber of Commerce share this sentiment.

Given Chen Qinghuang's connection to the Phoenix, she should face utter obliteration alongside it. This is the inevitable course of events, unstoppable by anyone.

"Master, let's leave her to Adler."

Yu Yiyi, who has always harbored an aversion to Chen Qinghuang, finds her even more enigmatic and perilous after learning of her rebirth from the Phoenix. Yu Yuan had hinted that upon awakening, Chen Qinghuang might unify the profound mysteries of destruction, rebirth, and death.

Such a Chen Qinghuang would embody the Phoenix in its entirety, existing as either a Primordial Spirit or a Demon God, or perhaps both.

Who wouldn't fear the return of a being who, 100,000 years ago, committed endless slaughter and now reemerges anew?

Within the Boundless Land, the Divine Soul Sect and five supreme beings vie for dominance, while outside, the Outland Devaputra are embroiled in ceaseless turmoil.

Every intelligent life race is drawn into these conflicts. The cosmos is already in disarray; the emergence of a new Phoenix could only lead to cataclysm.

How many realms, both known and hidden, would be shattered by her rebirth?

Would billions of beings be driven once more towards annihilation and death because of her?

Tan Junshan, Yu Yiyi, and the rest, gazing upon the striking silhouette atop the Dragon Slash Platform, feel an overwhelming sense of oppression.

"I..."

Yu Yuan begins to speak, only to catch Tan Junshan's subtle headshake.

It's as if he's cautioning him against foolishness, warning him not to act rashly in the face of the impossible.

"Heh, I have my convictions!"

Yu Yuan stood beside the Dragon Slash Platform, lightly resting one hand on its smooth surface. He exchanged a glance with Tan Junshan before speaking, "I understand the reasoning, and I'm aware of what the better choice would be. I don't even harbor a sliver of hope."

Upon hearing this, Adler and Mitts, who were less familiar with him, seemed to ease up.

The two Demon Gods, seeing his clarity, assumed he had come to his senses and expected him to hand over Chen Qinghuang without a fight.

Tan Junshan, who had not known him long but had taken great interest in understanding his character, began to massage his temples upon hearing Yu Yuan's words. While doing so, he let out a long sigh, "Are you really seeking death? There's not even a glimmer of hope. Even someone as headstrong as you should consider the circumstances."

"Master?!" Yu Yiyi exclaimed.

"Silence," Yu Yuan commanded coldly, giving her a blank stare, "Remember who you are!"

Yu Yiyi, startled, quickly bowed her head and whispered, "Understood."

"I had high expectations for someone so esteemed by the clan leader," scoffed Quealy of the Blood Devil Clan, his voice floating from behind the crescent moon. This master of spatial abilities had moved past the Polar Devaputra and numerous mutated monsters to suddenly appear behind Adler and Mitts.

Quealy, taken aback, bowed to the shadowy figure behind Adler and Mitts, paying his respects.

It seemed he had recognized the presence of a formidable hidden Demon God, prompting his deferential gesture.

His behavior weighed heavily on Tan Junshan, who immediately realized that there were even more formidable Demon Gods behind Adler and Mitts, likely ancient and powerful entities.

After receiving acknowledgment from the shadows, Quealy turned back to stand alongside Adler and Mitts, gazing at the crescent moon. "I didn't expect such foolishness, such irrationality. Well, now I can rest easy."

He saw that despite everyone's winding persuasions, Yu Yuan had still chosen the most foolish and detrimental path.

But what did it matter?

Without the necessary strength to back up his decision, what could he possibly achieve?

Quealy began to sneer.

From the shadows behind Adler and Mitts, a warm voice spoke in clear, fluent human tongue, "Since that's the case, there's no need for further hesitation. Go ahead and act now."

Tan Junshan's face turned ashen as he raised his hand and bellowed, "Stop, let me handle this! I'll capture him and deliver the Luan Bird Queen to you! High Priest, please afford me some respect, and extend the same courtesy to Taishi of the Divine Soul Sect."

"You, who are not yet a god, do not command such respect. As for Taishi..." The High Priest of the Elemental Devil Clan, concealed in darkness and uncertain whether his true form was present, paused briefly before saying, "Proceed."

"Good! I'm on it! I'm on it!"

Tan Junshan dismissed the mockery, seemingly worried the offer might be retracted, and hastily accepted.

"Seal!"

With a turn of his head and a light cry, the crescent-shaped blade began to retract.

Rings of luminous moonlight converged with the blade, folding in like the petals of a blooming flower returning to the bud, reforming into a tight blossom.

Yu Zhu, Yu Yiyi, and Yu Yuan were suddenly immobilized as if time itself had been stopped.

Their spiritual energy, vitality, and soul thoughts were all bound by Tan Junshan's power, held in check by the cool moon energy and the laws of the Great Dao, unable to break free from the crescent's confines.

The object was on the verge of ascending to an Artifact, and its bearer, Tan Junshan, was in the late period of the Unrestrained Stage, with Yu Yuan and the others caught directly in its midst.

There was no escape, no place to hide.

"Yu Yuan, I'm doing this for your own good. Don't hold it against me."

Within the confines of the sealed crescent, Tan Junshan's voice of resignation echoed slowly.

Yu Zhu and Yu Yiyi, witnessing the situation unfold, refrained from desperate struggles or superfluous actions.

They clearly accepted Tan Junshan's approach, understanding that in his own way, he was safeguarding Yu Yuan.

Their concern lay solely with Yu Yuan, not the Luan Bird Queen.

They were content with the outcome.

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