C1182 Scuttling
Chen Qinghuang's eyes, a vibrant shade of green, underwent a sudden transformation upon hearing Mi Tine's account.
A myriad of lights and runes from both the Human and Demon Races, along with mysterious dark spots, emerged from the depths of her pupils, revealing themselves like two expansive, enigmatic galaxies unveiling their infinite marvels.
The hues within her eyes shifted dramatically, with dazzling, otherworldly lights intertwining, emitting an aura that could stir the soul.
Rip!
The fabric of this desolate world seemed to have been shredded, and tiny creatures lurking deep within the earth perished without a trace.
Chen Qinghuang, now wielding the might of a being at the Divine Level, was akin to a deity within the alien landscape of the Epitaxial Realm.
Her thoughts and the fearsome surges within her could, in mere moments, reduce this world to a lifeless wasteland.
Witnessing the bizarre scene before him, Yu Yuan braced himself for the worst.
He discerned something in the depths of Chen Qinghuang's gaze, realizing that the Luan Bird Queen had not, in fact, lost her memories.
Rather, her soul had sustained such grave injuries that the orderly recollections of the Empress of the Luan Bird Empire had become jumbled, her life's narrative thrown into disarray.
Her memories and life's journey were akin to a river flowing gently from source to sea, with the lights, runes, and dark spots in her eyes symbolizing her memories, experiences, and insights into the mysteries of power, all flowing in an orderly sequence.
Yet, once disrupted, that river would become treacherous.
Without the continuity of past memories and experiences, the emergent insights and awakenings to power would be adrift, unable to find their place.
At this moment, Chen Qinghuang's memories, life experiences, and understanding of the cosmic laws were fragmented and chaotic.
Without reorganizing her thoughts, her mind remained a tangled mess.
Attempting to forcibly recall a memory without connecting it to its relevant context would only deepen her confusion, bring on splitting headaches, and potentially cause a catastrophic loss of control over her powers due to the disarray of her soul.
The tales of the Human Race, the Great Demons, and the vast events recounted by Mi Tine had stirred some of her profound memories.
Yet, these deep-seated recollections were still muddled and unordered, awaiting her clarity and adjustment.
Crack!
The desolate landscape nearby, dotted with a few low mountains and barren trees, was suddenly ravaged by an alien force.
The trees disintegrated into a flurry of wood shavings. Rocks burst apart and exploded, leaving the barren ground riven by a long, deep web of cracks.
The forces of destruction and death clashed with the hidden laws of the Epitaxial Realm, unleashing a wave of energy capable of extinguishing all life in the vicinity in the blink of an eye.
Indeed, aside from Yu Yuan and Mi Tine, not a single blade of grass or insect could be found for a hundred miles.
"Shut up!"
Yu Yuan, his heart pounding with fear, commanded with an icy tone.
Mi Tine, paralyzed with fright, began to slowly back away, shivering.
She sensed that something was terribly amiss.
The transformation in Chen Qinghuang's eyes sent her heart racing. The oppressive force in her veins nearly choked her breath away. She could sense the pervasive scent of death and destruction that shrouded the heavens and the earth.
In a flash, she envisioned the horrifying prospect of all species, all life and vegetation in the Epitaxial Realm, facing annihilation.
The vision was so vivid, it seemed as though it might materialize in the next moment.
She realized that the architect of this fearsome Alien Realm was none other than the Dark Elfkind girl from the outside world.
But when had the Dark Elfkind's lineage turned so malevolently extreme?
Were all their kin from the outside world like this?
The more Mi Tine pondered, the more terrified she became. She dared not utter another word, wishing only to distance herself from Yu Yuan and Chen Qinghuang, vowing never to approach them again.
Puff! Puff!
Two orbs of deep light burst forth from the depths of Chen Qinghuang's eyes. Her once radiant eyes dimmed, extinguished like a lantern whose flame had been snuffed out.
With a somber expression, Yu Yuan approached the Luan Bird Queen, who had succumbed to unconsciousness for the second time, and hoisted her onto his back.
"Please, leave us be!"
With those words, he departed swiftly, without a moment's delay.
He feared that the anomaly would draw the attention of the Upper Continent's powerhouses. He dreaded that members of the Silver Scale Clan, Fire Lizard Tribe, and Rock Clan might alert the siblings of the Star Race.
Chen Qinghuang had stirred up far too much commotion this time. Not even Dark Elfkinds of the Seventh or Eighth Level could induce such a desolate state across a hundred-mile expanse in an instant.
"Damn it, he's passed out again!"
Yu Yuan was irritable.
...
Whoosh!
A sleek, dark green ancient starship adorned with dazzling starlight gracefully descended onto a rocky plateau in the Upper Continent.
Pelle from the Mondnacht Clan, Darke of the Void Spirit Succubus, and a young girl named Guo Li, along with many from the Mondnacht Clan, Dark Elfkind, and other races, excitedly gathered around the Galaxy Ancient Starship. Some clutched their chests, others knelt, and still others raised their hands high as they paid homage to the woman emerging leisurely.
Denise, her blue gown trailing behind her, stepped off the Galaxy Ancient Starship and stood at the center of the assembly.
"Greetings, Miss."
All the diverse races present promptly bowed, offering their soft salutations.
Darke, a member of the Void Spirit Succubus Clan, approached with an intense look in his eyes and a sycophantic smile for the true ruler of the Lower Continent.
Denise, her demeanor cool and detached, spoke sharply, "I've been away from the Epitaxial Realm for some time, and my good-for-nothing brother has been out and about as well. According to our agreement, there should be no large-scale conflict between the Upper and Lower Continents for three years. Now, tell me what exactly has happened."
She had been passing through the Epitaxial Realm when she unexpectedly learned that the once peaceful continents were again embroiled in conflict.
Initially reluctant to intervene, and typically heading straight for the Lower Continent, Denise altered her plans upon discovering that many servants from the Lower Continent were stranded and hunted by those loyal to her brother on the Upper Continent. She then commanded her Galaxy Ancient Starship to make port there.
"This is the situation!"
Darke stepped forward, eagerly sharing every detail and speculation with Denise.
"Pelle, I remember you. Tell me, is there any truth to Darke's words?" Denise, of the esteemed Star Race, glanced over at the elder of the Mondnacht Clan amidst the crowd. "You were the first to encounter these young members of the Dark Elfkind, weren't you?"
Pelle nodded affirmatively. "They are indeed young, with formidable strength. I'm unable to ascertain their bloodline's rank. It was they who plundered the Upper Continent's medicinal herbs, provoking the ire of the Silver Scale Clan's guardians."
"They really know how to stir up trouble for me," Denise huffed. "The youth of the Lower Continent usually don't amount to much, but now two troublemakers have burst onto the scene and caused quite the commotion. I'm actually intrigued. I think I'll stick around a bit longer and investigate this myself."
...
At the brink of the Upper Continent.
Yu Yuan stood on a precipice, gazing into the yellow expanse before him, where faint twinkles of light betrayed the presence of stars.
The perpetual glow of the yellow sun obscured the stars, making them hard to discern.
He was aware that on the flip side of this world, where the Mondnacht Clan, Dark Elfkind, and other mystical races dwelled, the starry sky must be far more resplendent.
The moon's radiance could not outshine everything.
Setting down the Luan Bird Queen, Yu Yuan observed her furrowed brow and closed eyes. After a moment of contemplation, he reached a decision.
Once Chen Qinghuang awoke, he would have to persuade her to call forth the Death Nest.
The three nests of the Secular Bird were interconnected; the Death Nest resided within her, and the Destruction Nest should have reached the Boundless Land by now.
If the Death Nest could be brought back, he would risk everything to see if he could harness the Dragon Slash Platform and use the Death Nest to escape the Epitaxial Realm and make the perilous journey back to the Boundless Land.
His expression suddenly turned grave.
A deep blue Galaxy Ancient Starship, sprinkled with stardust, appeared in the void of the Epitaxial Realm, meandering nearby.
The instant he laid eyes on the Galaxy Ancient Starship, he knew it belonged to the rulers of the Epitaxial Realm—one of the siblings had returned and was now searching for him.
"Is it the sister or the brother?"
Yu Yuan's gaze grew icy as he watched over the slumbering Luan Bird Queen, his mind racing with strategies to extricate himself from this predicament.
