C1177 A New Life
Having grasped the general situation and the name of the world he was in, Yu Yuan hoisted Chen Qinghuang onto his back and set off towards the Stoneborn town.
From behind, Guoli of the Moonlit Wanderers called out, "Stop!"
Yu Yuan paid her no heed.
Pellet watched Yu Yuan's retreating figure, his face etched with concern. He shook his head, signaling to three eager young tribespeople to stand down, and said firmly, "Let him go."
"Grandfather?!" Guoli protested.
"Let him go," Pellet insisted.
The Moonlit Wanderers who had journeyed with him from the Lower Continent, including Guoli, found themselves settling down.
After a significant pause, Pellet finally spoke, "That kid is no ordinary foe. We might not be able to best him."
Only after Yu Yuan had vanished into the thick woods did Pellet offer an explanation. "He's not the least bit intimidated by us. I detected a faint scent of blood on him. I'm convinced he's responsible for many deaths. Furthermore..."
Pellet produced a crescent-shaped gemstone, glanced at it, and announced, "There are four Sunstalker skeletons nearby!"
"Sunstalkers?" A tall man, armed with a bow adorned with shards of jade, exclaimed in surprise.
Pellet pointed in a direction and commanded, "Over there. Go check it out."
"Understood!" The man dashed off, swiftly disappearing from sight.
Soon after, his piercing scream echoed from afar, "Grandfather, it's true! Four Sunstalkers, reduced to skinned and stripped skeletons, without a trace of flesh left!"
The Moonlit Wanderers by the cave entrance were visibly shaken by the news, and a sense of relief quietly washed over them.
"This tunnel to the Upper Continent was chosen for its seclusion," Pellet mused, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "Its remoteness means frequent alien beast activity, and they're not low-level either. Sunstalkers typically range from the third to the fourth level, and they're no easy prey."
After a brief pause, he sighed deeply and turned to the man who had returned. "Years ago, your father was caught by Sunstalkers right around here and was fatally bitten."
At his words, a solemn silence enveloped the group.
"Alright, let's drop the subject," Pellet quickly interjected, "Regardless of the backstory or origins of those two Shadowkin youngsters, we're better off not stirring up trouble. Anyone capable of taking down four Sunstalkers on their own is not someone we can afford to mess with."
The group fell silent at once.
"Now that my bloodline has reached the fifth level, I can lead you all. As long as we're cautious and avoid those with ill intentions towards visitors from the Lower Continent, we should be fine." Pellet reassured everyone and began assigning tasks for hunting and gathering rare medicinal herbs.
...
Beside a meandering stream.
After setting Chen Qinghuang down, Yu Yuan scooped up a spoonful of the river's clear water and gulped it down.
Once he finished drinking, he turned and looked back, furrowing his brow.
He had been contemplating the best way to leave Zekrica as quickly as possible and then head to the more expansive Star River and higher-level Domains.
Hijack the siblings' ancient Voidfarer?
He shook his head, dismissing the thought almost immediately. Such an action would likely expose both him and Chen Qinghuang to the attention of their father.
If his cover was blown, the powerful beings from various extraterrestrial races would probably converge from all directions to target Chen Qinghuang.
"Why did my first incarnation choose Zekrica? Was it because this realm is sufficiently remote, or does it conceal some secret?" This question flickered through his mind, prompting deep contemplation. He sat down, scooped another spoonful of the cool river water, and poured it over his head.
The chill that seeped from his crown seemed to bring with it a sense of calm.
Gradually, he recognized that Zekrica might indeed be a wise choice for him and Chen Qinghuang in their current predicament.
Zekrica lacked powerful Otherkin, and the siblings merely brought friends along for occasional trips on the ancient Voidfarer.
Neither the Upper Continent nor the Lower Continent was of much consequence to the siblings—it was merely a playground for their leisure and petty squabbles.
Here, if he remained vigilant, it was unlikely he would be discovered.
Once Chen Qinghuang awoke, or once his Altar of Rebirth completed the Solar Spirit transformation, they could easily break through the world's wall and return to the vast expanse of the Star River beyond.
"Perhaps the best choice is to make use of everything Zekrica has to offer, to remain hidden while seeking anything that can aid in the evolution of my Solar Spirit."
He was resolute in his decision.
From then on, he no longer fixated on departure. Maintaining a safe distance from the Stoneborn towns on the Upper Continent, he focused on hunting higher-tier spirit animals to replenish his vital energy.
One day, to his surprise, he discovered Tranquilherb thriving in a hidden valley.
He knew that Tranquilherb was a unique magic plant from the Everlands, an earthly-level medicinal herb that required ample sunlight to flourish robustly.
In the Everlands, suitable locations for cultivating Tranquilherb were scarce.
"The Upper Continent knows no night; the yellow sun is eternal."
Glancing at the sky, Yu Yuan stroked his chin and nodded in affirmation, recognizing that the land beneath his feet was indeed ideal for nurturing Tranquilherb.
With Chen Qinghuang on his back, he approached and examined the plant before plucking one casually.
He rinsed the root's dirt in the river water with a wooden spoon and chewed it, allowing the green sap to slide into his innards. As he focused, he began to discern its properties.
Soon after, he smiled, eyes narrowing with satisfaction.
The Tranquilherb here surpassed the quality of those grown in the Everlands for the Order of Healing.
Refreshing green specks, like tiny green stars, drifted into his Mindscape, providing a slight boost to his long-weary Lunar Spirit.
"This bounty must not go to waste. It's best to harvest them all and refine them into pills!"
He suddenly appreciated Zekrica more, realizing it wasn't the resource-scarce realm he had imagined.
The deliberate cultivation of Tranquilherb implied that the Otherkin residing on the Upper Continent had acquired its seeds from elsewhere and opted to grow them in this serene valley.
If Tranquilherb was here, what else might there be?
Zekrica's distinctive environment was exceptionally conducive to the growth of rare herbs, often yielding miraculous fruits.
And in the Lower Continent, where the sun never shone and a resplendent moon perpetually hung in the sky, he recalled numerous herbs that thrived in such conditions.
"Perhaps there's a different way to thrive in Zekrica."
Yu Yuan's interest was piqued. With his combat strength lacking and Zekrica's unique herbs at hand, he decided to adapt and transform himself into a Shadowkin apothecary.
He began to deliberately shift his focus.
...
After a considerable time had passed...
Dozens of Fire Lizard clansmen, with baskets of herbs on their backs, arrived in the secluded valley, clamoring loudly. Upon discovering not a single Tranquilherb left in the valley, they all wailed and howled in distress.
At the valley's entrance, a towering Silverscale Tribe warrior, with a stern expression, charged in on a tamed alien beast and demanded in the Starborn tongue, "What's the situation?"
"Sir, the Tranquilherb has vanished!" an aged member of the Fire Lizard Tribe reported.
The Silverscale Tribe warrior, having reached the fifth level, had already grasped the situation. He inhaled sharply and grunted, "Those cursed Lower Continent thieves! I was too lenient, not keeping a closer eye on the Moonlit Wanderers, thinking they wouldn't dare cause trouble!"
"Was it them?" the Fire Lizard elder asked in shock.
"Alien beasts don't care for Tranquilherb, and the Stoneborn nearby know to whom this valley belongs!" the Silverscale warrior said icily, "Apart from those from the Lower Continent, who else would dare to steal from us here?"
"Find them for me!"
...
