C1186 Many Oddities
The Celestial Star Beast was hairless, its skin gleaming with a lustrous sheen that allowed a clear view of the crystal-like bones beneath. Tiny, star-like specks within those bones twinkled in the dimness, casting a soft glow.
These alien beasts hailed from the outer realms, their bloodlines ranging from common to extraordinary. However, the most powerful and unique Celestial Star Beasts were typically found within the Star Race's Realm, a fact Yu Yuan was well aware of. Thus, encountering these creatures in a restricted area did not take him by surprise.
What did astonish him, however, was the presence of a Moon Swallowing Ape amidst the beasts. He had recently encountered the remains of a Divine Level Moon Swallowing Ape, prepared as a resurrection site by the Great Demon God Grec. The impression it left on him was profound.
So when Yu Yuan laid eyes on several Moon Swallowing Apes in the Lower Continent of the Epitaxial Realm, he instantly recognized them. These Demons, native to the Boundless Land, seemed out of place here. Moreover, these particular apes appeared to lack the intelligence typically birthed in their kind, which only deepened the mystery.
The Demon Race's laws dictate that once a Demon God emerges within a clan, the offspring are born with remarkable intelligence, regardless of the Demon God's fate. Such a clan is then elevated from mere beasts to the status of the Demon Race.
With a Tenth Level Demon God among their ranks, shouldn't the Moon Swallowing Ape clan have experienced a meteoric rise, with each newborn exhibiting innate intelligence? It was perplexing to see these apes seemingly devoid of such wisdom.
As Yu Yuan grappled with his astonishment, his attention was drawn to a series of lightning vortexes swirling in the sky above. Intense flashes of lightning crackled within, raining down fine bolts toward the earth. Below, Lightning Ferrets with almond-shaped eyes and razor-sharp teeth eagerly absorbed the electrical cascade.
Spanning seven or eight vortexes across approximately ten acres, there were dozens of Lightning Ferrets gathered. Yu Yuan was taken aback once more. He knew the Lightning Ferret to be a Demonic Beast exclusive to the Boundless Land, a creature rarely, if ever, seen in other Realms.
First came the Moon Swallowing Apes, then the Lightning Ferrets, and the Celestial Star Beasts that could absorb the brilliance of the stars. This peaceful coexistence in the forbidden area sparked Yu Yuan's intense curiosity and interest in the Epitaxial Realm for the first time.
Why was it like this?
As the thought crossed his mind, Mi Tine's startled cry made Yu Yuan furrow his brow.
Her cry instantly drew the attention of the Celestial Star Beasts, Moon Swallowing Apes, and Lightning Ferrets in the distance.
These alien beasts and Demonic Beasts, with the power of the Fourth and Fifth Levels, bristled with a brutal and cruel intent upon spotting an unfamiliar intruder.
Their lack of infighting did not imply a gentle nature. In fact, both the Moon Swallowing Apes and the Lightning Ferrets were notoriously ferocious in the Boundless Great World.
Sizzle sizzle!
Two lightning vortexes, seemingly at the behest of the Lightning Ferrets, shifted through the void, heading straight for Yu Yuan.
Yu Yuan flashed a mischievous grin and let out a strange chuckle. Suddenly, he brandished a sword sheath without a blade. In that instant, the copious Spiritual Energy from his Yellow Court Little World surged, poised for action.
Even without the aid of flesh and blood essence or soul power, relying solely on his accumulated Spiritual Energy and his well-tempered physique, Yu Yuan was confident he could vanquish all the alien beasts and Demonic Beasts below the Sixth Level.
Sheer numbers often didn't equate to an absolute advantage.
In fact, he was even secretly excited by the prospect.
This strange place, possibly crafted by the noble lady Denise of the Star Race, held secrets he was eager to uncover. His intrusion might be somewhat improper, but if he were to be attacked by alien beasts and Demonic Beasts and acted only in self-defense, eliminating them in the process, that couldn't be considered overstepping, could it?
"Come."
Yu Yuan pointed the sharp end of the sheath at the Celestial Star Beasts and Moon Swallowing Apes, openly challenging them.
Wail!
The Moon Swallowing Apes beat their chests and howled, then began to retreat slowly, filled with fear and unease.
The roar of the Moon Swallowing Ape seemed to unsettle the Celestial Star Beasts and Lightning Ferrets, their eyes brimming with fear as they backed away.
Yu Yuan was at a loss for words.
"They're frightened by the sister you're carrying on your back."
Mi Tine, concerned for their safety, crouched behind Yu Yuan and offered a timid reminder.
It was then that Yu Yuan realized the truth in Mi Tine's words. The alien beasts and Demonic Beasts, hastily retreating, appeared to be looking at him.
In truth, their gaze was fixed on Chen Qinghuang, who was still unconscious on his back.
Even in slumber, the first female emperor of the Boundless Great World exuded an aura that, however faint, conveyed the ultimate essence of destruction and death to the keenly sensitive beasts and Demonic Beasts. They quickly recognized that the Luan Bird Queen was not an entity to be trifled with.
A dormant terror was still a terror; a mere shift in its position could spell their doom.
Their only option was to flee.
In an instant, the alien beasts and Demonic Beasts that Yu Yuan had coveted as Taotie feasts vanished from his sight, leaving him with a sense of regret.
Squinting, he surveyed the landscape ahead, noting the abundance of trees, spiritual herbs, and exotic flowers that seemed to thrive on the nourishment of moonlight and starlight.
Many of these plants harbored peculiar energies, making them ideal primary ingredients for concocting medicines.
Yet, most of these flora were unfamiliar to him, clearly not native to the Boundless Land.
"In the Epitaxial Realm, the Upper Continent boasts nerves calming grass and Flaming Heart Flower, along with numerous spirit plants from the Boundless Land. Even more astonishing are the Moon Swallowing Ape and Lightning Ferret..."
Rubbing his chin, Yu Yuan was struck by an odd suspicion.
He had a hunch that someone had deliberately transplanted spirit plants from the Boundless Land and bred its Demonic Beasts.
In a domain governed by the Star Race, they had crafted an Epitaxial Realm, mirroring the structure of the Boundless Land, complete with its unique flora and Demonic Beasts. But to what end?
Creating a counterfeit Boundless Great World for the Star Race's youth to explore?
Yu Yuan was beset by skepticism.
"We should head back. This is a restricted zone, and we mustn't take any rash actions."
Mi Tine, devoted to Princess Denise, was aware of the perils and uncertainties that lay ahead due to the presence of alien beasts and was eager to depart.
"Entering is simple, but leaving is another matter," Yu Yuan said, glancing back at the path they had taken with a wry smile. "It won't be easy to return. A barrier infused with star energy lies in the region we came from. If you're skeptical, try to retrace your steps and see for yourself."
Startled, Mi Tine turned to look but saw nothing.
Confused, she attempted to walk back as Yu Yuan had suggested.
Boom!
A dark aquamarine barrier abruptly materialized, its interior twinkling with starlight, exerting a mysterious force that suppressed her bloodline and spirit.
Now, Mi Tine had no choice but to accept the reality.
Yu Yuan smirked, eyeing the increasingly luminous barrier, "Relax, there's no need to hurry back. Given your current bloodline level, you lack the power to break through the barrier. Since we're here, why not join me? Once I've concocted the poison and the time comes, Princess Denise will send the Galaxy Ancient Starship to retrieve me."
With that, he ventured deeper.
He had an inkling that the esteemed Star Race lady was watching his every move from within the castle on the Upper Continent, using a relic akin to a mirror.
He trusted his instincts.
Mi Tine, undeterred, made several more futile attempts to breach the star-absorbing barrier. Her bloodline level was simply insufficient for the task.
Eventually, she resigned herself to the situation, and by then, Yu Yuan had already moved on, carrying Chen Qinghuang on his back.
Fearful of attracting the attention of alien beasts and Demonic Beasts, Mi Tine hurriedly caught up.
Half an hour later, Yu Yuan paused in a secluded cave, his expression somber and his eyes emitting a faint, icy glow.
The cavernous depths likely served as a conduit to the Upper Continent. Members of the Mondnacht Clan, including Pelle and others, must be located somewhere on the Lower Continent. It is through such cave passageways that they make the arduous journey to the Upper Continent.
His countenance was somber, but the source of his unease was not the passageway itself. Rather, it was the skeletal remains scattered near the cave's entrance. These bones did not belong to any of the alien races of the Outland Star River; they were unmistakably human. More specifically, they were the bones of the most ordinary mortals from the Boundless Great World—those who had never embarked on the path of cultivation, with bones unrefined by any such process.
How could mortals be present in the Boundless Great World? Whether it was the Divine Soul Sect of old or the current five great supreme forces, only cultivators of the Yang God level were permitted to venture out into the Outland Star River to hunt alien beings. Lesser cultivators lacked the credentials to leave the solid confines of the Boundless Land.
Mortals, especially those uninitiated in cultivation, would be as vulnerable as insects when faced with alien beasts and beings from beyond the sky. By all logic, they should not be found in the Outland Star River! The Boundless Land was as secure as a fortress, making it nearly impossible for the powerful beings of the Outland Star River to abduct mortals from the Qianxuan Empire right under the noses of the five supreme forces, let alone breach the Boundless Land with their Galaxy Ancient Starship and escape.
"Epitaxial Realm!"
