C1195 Say What You Want!

Since Elder Noeyr had secretly conspired with the Blood King to betray him, Yu Yuan had grown distrustful of the Voidweaver race. Additionally, ever since Melissa, an elderly woman, had set foot in the forbidden area, her gaze and expressions when looking at him were filled with suspicion and scrutiny, much like Darke, brimming with malice.

"Sorry to intrude on your valuable time," Melissa said, her somewhat plump figure draped in a loose, wrinkled dress. She forced a smile and spoke awkwardly in the Starborn language, "His Highness mentioned that your arrival in Zekrica was accidental. As you may know, our Voidweaver race is quite proficient in space magic."

"We'd like to assist His Highness in locating the spatial passage you used to reach Zekrica, to determine where it leads."

Melissa's words were earnest, seemingly considerate of Denise's interests, as if she was intent on uncovering the hidden spatial pathways of Zekrica for her.

"You were conscious upon arrival, correct? You've claimed to have come from the Zagreus Domain, and I've visited there myself. From which Domain did you suddenly emerge into Zekrica?"

Denise shared this curiosity, but out of respect for Yu Yuan, she had refrained from asking. Now, as Melissa openly voiced these questions, Denise couldn't help but feel eager for the answers.

Denise was also intrigued by Yu Yuan. Beyond knowing he was from the Shadowkin and that his family was aligned with Mia, she knew little else. She didn't even know his name, so she hoped to learn more through Melissa's inquiries.

"The Zagreus Domain's massive meteorite hardly qualifies as a Domain," Yu Yuan replied, managing to keep his annoyance with Melissa in check. "We were drawn into a magic circle concealed within a mural. Upon awakening, we found ourselves on the Upper Continent of Zekrica, with nothing unusual in the vicinity."

His response echoed the experiences of Benin, Hart, and their companions from years past.

Yu Yuan couldn't help but feel somber when he thought of those who had perished in the Nirvana Realm. Otherkin warriors lacking in strength and without the guidance of high-ranking kin faced immense risks when venturing into forbidden or peculiar regions.

Benin and his group had initially journeyed to the Nirvana Realm, only to later find themselves amidst the turmoil of Ionodios. Their luck had been terribly ill-fated.

"Meteorites, murals..."

Melissa was taken aback, clearly not expecting such a response. After a moment of contemplation, she retrieved a prismatic crystal from within her garment.

Encased in the crystal was a semi-transparent feather, shimmering with divine light.

A pure and sacred radiance emanated from the crystal, gradually coalescing into a solid form in the palm of her hand.

With a grave expression, she declared, "This is a holy relic passed down from my ancestors. Its origins and history are unknown to me. I've kept it close for many years, yet it has never behaved as it does now."

She paused briefly.

Melissa gazed intently at Yu Yuan and stated earnestly, "But ever since I was brought into this forbidden area by His Highness, and from the moment I laid eyes on you, it has been shining brightly against my chest."

Denise of the Starborn, intrigued by this unexpected development, inquired, "What is it?"

"A feather," Melissa answered, her gaze fixed on Yu Yuan as if he held all the answers.

"I understand it's a feather, but whose? Why has it never acted so strangely before?" Denise pressed on with her questions.

"Your Highness, I don't have the answers," Melissa admitted with a wry smile. "If I did, I wouldn't need to stay and seek confirmation from him."

"I..."

Yu Yuan, utterly perplexed, scratched his head, thinking, 'How could I possibly know something you don't?'

Inside his acupoint, the Dragon Slaying Stage, including the Baneblade known as Bloodhell, showed no signs of disturbance. The transforming Altar of Rebirth also remained unchanged, assuring him that the radiant feather had no connection to him.

"You might be mistaken," Yu Yuan suggested with a shake of his head.

"It's not possible! It's because of you that it has undergone such a transformation! And as for Her Highness Denise, I've encountered her on numerous occasions. I've always carried this object with me, and it has never..."

Melissa's protestations ceased abruptly.

She suddenly noticed that the prismatic crystal she had been holding, along with the solidified divine light in her palm, had vanished without a trace.

"Ying..."

Chen Qinghuang, who had been in a state of unconsciousness since arriving on the Lower Continent, whether being carried by Yu Yuan or within sight, let out a low moan and slowly came to.

The crystal, once held by Melissa and now suffused with divine light, was firmly grasped in her hand.

Inside the crystal, the once semi-translucent feather had become completely transparent, merging indistinguishably with the crystal itself. The divine light that spilled forth was like water dissolving into the ocean, vanishing into Chen Qinghuang's palm as the crystal rapidly shrank.

"My precious sacred object!" Melissa cried out in horror as she watched the crystal and feather slowly vanish. The girl, previously unnoticed, was now fully awake, and Melissa was inconsolable, her whole body shaking with distress. She commanded Darke desperately, "Retrieve it! Bring it back to me!"

"I told you that you had it wrong," Yu Yuan said, barely containing his laughter. The crystal that Melissa treasured so dearly likely had a connection to the secular bird from a hundred thousand years ago.

Having just dismissed Melissa, Yu Yuan considered the fact that she had willingly offered the treasure and had inadvertently helped awaken Chen Qinghuang. In light of this, he decided to let bygones be bygones with the disagreeable old woman.

Chen Qinghuang finally came to once more. Upon opening her eyes, Yu Yuan was the first person she saw. She had undergone a remarkable transformation, now embodying the enigmatic empress of the Shadowkin, her green eyes radiating a soft and tranquil hue. "Where are we?" she inquired softly.

"Zekrica," Yu Yuan responded with a smile.

"Oh," she acknowledged with a nod, casting a brief glance at the still-screaming Melissa. She then peered down at the crystal in her hand, her brow furrowing in thought. "There's a power of rebirth within," she murmured slowly.

Yu Yuan, who had anticipated this, felt no surprise. It seemed only natural.

"Your ancestors took something from one of my nests," Chen Qinghuang spoke in a voice like a whisper from a dream. She then turned her gaze to the enraged Melissa and the approaching Darke. "The descendants of a thief deserve death."

Her pronouncement was as final as an oracle.

With a sudden thud, Melissa and Darke collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

In Yu Yuan's mind, a vision emerged: the Rebirth Nest, prepared by the secular bird, hidden in an obscure corner of the Star River, had been discovered by one of Melissa's ancestors, a master of space magic. This ancestor had extracted an amber-like energy crystal from the nest and kept it hidden, attempting to unlock its secrets, but to no avail.

Countless years later, Melissa inherited the item and kept it close at all times.

Until today.

"She? She?"

The Starborn's noble lady, Denise, was distraught after Melissa and Darke's sudden deaths.

The power that surpassed her understanding filled her with fear, causing her to sweat, tremble, and her mind to be engulfed in chaos. This forced her to completely reassess her prior judgments of Yu Yuan.

"Ah, causing trouble as soon as you wake up."

Yu Yuan exhaled a sigh, quickly trying to figure out how to salvage the situation to prevent any further dire consequences.

"She must survive; she cannot die. If she perishes, Zekrica will be thrown into turmoil, and no secrets will remain hidden." Yu Yuan urgently gestured towards Denise and earnestly implored the Songbird Queen, who had just awakened and was still disoriented.

"Oh."

Chen Qinghuang acquiesced meekly.

"Princess Denise, please stay calm. We have no intention of causing chaos in Zekrica, nor do we plan to linger," Yu Yuan said with a serene expression and a smile. "So, please refrain from using the mystique you previously employed to broadcast what has happened here. Otherwise, you will be the one to bring ruin to Zekrica."

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