C1198 Be Obedient!

Upon his arrival on the Upper Continent of Zekrica, Yu Yuan had intentionally altered his appearance to blend in with the Shadowkin. As he underwent transformation at the Altar of Rebirth, he cleverly used some of the nascent vital energy to modify his cheekbones and skeletal structure, making it challenging for Starborn like Denise and Dogget to recognize him at a glance.

His features had shifted, and even the scent of the vitality coursing through him had subtly changed, which is why Rong Xun and Xie Bin failed to detect anything amiss. They hadn't thoroughly examined him with their souls or spiritual energy.

"Mixed-blood?" Han Dan of the Starmoon Sect, holding a bright yellow spell, sensed something and looked over in astonishment. "He possesses both Human and Shadowkin bloodlines. It's odd; I wouldn't have expected to find such a hybrid in the Star River beyond our world."

"Ah!" Rong Xun, Xie Bin, and Denise all cried out in surprise.

Yu Yuan was taken aback. As he had been altering his appearance and restructuring his bones, the Altar of Rebirth had responded to his intentions by releasing the distinct vitality fluctuations of the Shadowkin. Consequently, he now possessed an elixir field, a little world within him, brimming with spiritual energy. Moreover, the essence of Shadowkin vitality was pulsating deep within his chest. Wasn't this peculiar bodily state the clearest sign of mixed heritage?

Prompted by Han Dan's observation, Rong Xun and Xie Bin scrutinized Yu Yuan more closely. They concurred with Han Dan's assessment: this individual, bearing the visage and bloodline aura of the Shadowkin, yet with an opened lower elixir field and abundant spiritual energy, was indeed a hybrid of Human and Shadowkin.

Jin Haolong, the eldest among them, with his balding head and graying temples, appeared both aged and unseemly. He flashed a toothy grin, as if he had come to a sudden realization, and stepped eagerly toward Yu Yuan, saying warmly, "Unless I'm mistaken, you must have once practiced your cultivation with Boulderdawn, beyond the heavens?"

At his words, everyone present was taken aback. Boulderdawn? Rong Xun pondered for a moment and seemed to grasp the implication. He promptly responded with reverence, "So you are a cultivator from Boulderdawn."

Thirty thousand years ago, the Boulderdawn Sect faced a coalition led by five supreme forces and subsequently vanished from the Everlands. Some of its members ventured beyond the extraterrestrial realm, while others already active there were decimated by the native powers. The accumulated animosity from the past led to them being targeted and killed by beings from the extraterrestrial world.

With no other options, the Boulderdawn Sect retreated to a desolate Astral Domain seldom visited by others and disappeared from history.

Over the millennia, it's plausible that the surviving members of the Boulderdawn Sect intermarried with the Otherkin and had offspring. Otherwise, why would the new generation of the Boulderdawn Sect be open to recruiting elites from other races and teaching them a spiritual energy system tailored for the Otherkin?

After much contemplation, Jin Haolong and Rong Xun concluded that Yu Yuan was a descendant of a Boulderdawn Sect expert who had traveled to the desolate Star River and mingled with the Shadowkin.

Denise was initially dumbfounded, but eventually, her expression revealed a dawning comprehension, indicating she too was convinced by Jin Haolong and Rong Xun's assessment.

Yu Yuan, however, was internally critical but chose not to clarify anything. He weighed his options carefully. If he were to reveal his true identity to Rong Xun and Xie Bin, confessing that he was Yu Yuan and that the Shadowkin girl beside him was the Songbird Queen, what consequences would follow?

Rong Xun and Xie Bin might help him conceal the truth, but what about the two unfamiliar Solar Spirits from the Starmoon Sect?

Furthermore, how would Denise react upon learning that Chen Qinghuang was the fabled secular bird rumored to be resurrected?

With these considerations in mind, he decided it was wiser to keep his true identity and appearance a secret for the time being. After all, if concealing his identity could help him avoid complications, why not do so?

"Why have you come here?" Yu Yuan asked, his voice intentionally raspy and his use of the common Everlands language deliberately stilted.

"Oh, here's what happened. We encountered some issues with cultivators from the Ethereal Void Sect and the Winter's Bite Sect in another realm. After several encounters, we managed to shake them off, but not without significant energy expenditure," Jin Haolong explained cheerfully. "Since they also hail from the Everlands and possess high levels of cultivation, they're prohibited from fighting within the Everlands itself. So, we resolved our disputes outside."

Xie Bin, Rong Xun, and Han Dan all joined the conversation. They assumed Yu Yuan was affiliated with Boulderdawn and openly shared the current situation without reservation. Yu Yuan learned that an accord had been reached between the coalition led by the five supreme forces and the factions represented by Boulderdawn and the Skyreach Consortium. This agreement strictly prohibited high-level combat within the Everlands to avoid irreparable damage to its landscapes and foundations. Conflicts were to be resolved in the extraterrestrial Star River, where the Otherkin's little worlds, starshards, and Domains could bear the brunt of their battles.

As a result, the sects aligned with the five supreme forces and those siding with Boulderdawn and the Skyreach Consortium would inevitably clash upon encountering each other within the Star River. Rong Xun and his companions had engaged with cultivators from the Ethereal Void and Winter's Bite sects but had been outmatched and forced to retreat to this location.

After listening to their account, Yu Yuan remained silent for a moment before suddenly asking, "Have you considered that the Winter's Bite and Ethereal Void experts who tangled with you might have followed you here, into this Astral Domain? Could they have traced your path through the stars to reach Zekrica?"

"What does it matter if they did? We've already replenished our lightning and star powers here and have long since departed," Han Dan replied nonchalantly, with Jin Haolong and Rong Xun nodding in agreement.

"What about her, though? And all the Otherkin in Zekrica?" Yu Yuan asked, pointing at Denise with a concerned frown.

At that, the four Solar Spirit experts from the Everlands fell into a heavy silence. They had never truly considered the Otherkin like Denise significant, believing that avoiding a slaughter in Zekrica was sufficient. The fate of others was beyond their concern. Whatever the Ethereal Void and Winter's Bite might do in Zekrica due to their intrusion was irrelevant to them. The fall of Zekrica and the extinction of its inhabitants were merely a testament to the weakness of the Otherkin there.

To be frank, shifting one's mindset isn't something that can happen overnight.

Denise, who had managed to grasp the gist of their conversation, felt her spirits sink, weighed down by her contemplation of a solution. She spoke up, "I might need to inform my father, otherwise..." Her gaze shifted to Yu Yuan with concern.

She dreaded the thought of powerful beings descending upon Zekrica due to these four individuals, potentially leading to the extermination of the Otherkin.

She was also uncertain about the extent of the human experts' power and feared that Yu Yuan and Chen Qinghuang might leave them to deal with the aftermath on their own.

Yu Yuan furrowed his brow.

If Denise's father, who possessed a ninth-level bloodline, could arrive swiftly, the followers of Ethereal Void and Winter's Bite would pose no threat and might even be defeated.

But what about him and Chen Qinghuang?

"Let's not rush this. We'll discuss it further in a bit."

After some thought, Yu Yuan addressed Rong Xun and Xie Bin, "I'll permit you to collect thunder vortexes and cosmic energy in Zekrica. However, I expect you not to bring calamity upon this realm. Moreover, if a disaster does arise because of you, you'll need to accept some of the responsibility."

"So you're suggesting we first ensure we're not being pursued? And if they do show up, we're to contribute to the resolution?" Han Dan inquired.

Yu Yuan nodded in affirmation.

"This realm is indeed an ideal battleground for us," Jin Haolong said with a sly grin.

The ever-bright moon and star-studded night sky provided the perfect arena for the Starmoon Sect's cultivators. The forbidden area, with its thunder vortex, could also restore Xie Bin and Rong Xun's depleted energies.

After some reflection, the four agreed that Yu Yuan's proposal was sound, especially considering his affiliation with the Boulderdawn.

"What's the deal with those human skeletons?" Rong Xun asked, his tone serious but not directed at Yu Yuan. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Denise.

Before Denise could respond, Yu Yuan interjected, "Once we've ensured Zekrica's safety, I'll offer you a satisfactory explanation. Also, the Voidweavers' lair contains thunderwood that you may want to collect."

Xie Bin's eyes sparkled. "Thunderwood?"

Rong Xun responded affirmatively, "Yes!"

"Please vacate this area for the time being, and gather what you need without disturbing the other races," Yu Yuan prompted, casting a wary glance at the shadowy cave.

Within the cave, Yu Zhu's father was the epitome of compliance, his presence completely concealed.

Even Yu Yuan couldn't detect the slightest hint of abnormality.

The arrival of Rong Xun and Xie Bin, particularly the Glacial Storm Seal in Xie Bin's grasp, sent shockwaves through the lurking fiend.

It understood that if Rong Xun and Xie Bin caught sight of it, its fate was sealed.

Xie Bin, a cultivator of lightning and thunder who had attained the Solar Spirit level and wielded the Glacial Storm Seal, was its natural adversary.

Shortly after, Rong Xun and his companions departed through the trio of openings, honoring their promise not to intrude upon the other races as they scoured the Lower Continent for the items they sought.

"Him?" Denise inquired, gesturing toward the cave entrance.

"I'll administer some more poison to him and allow his soul to regain some strength," Yu Yuan chuckled softly. "Rest assured, he'll be exceedingly docile for the foreseeable future and won't dare to act up."

"You're a mix of Shadowkin and human, just like Wen Lu, right? Are you affiliated with Boulderdawn or perhaps the Divine Soul Sect?" Denise's gaze brimmed with boundless curiosity.

"That's something you'll come to understand in time. For now, let's leave it at that," Yu Yuan replied enigmatically.

Two days later, by Denise's hourglass, the fiend, imprisoned for untold years and now drenched in poison, stirred once more within the subterranean cave. Its spirit, broken by Yu Yuan's torment, feebly communicated, "Release me. Grant me safe passage from this realm, and I will comply with your every demand."

The presence of Xie Bin and Rong Xun had sent it into a panic, its soul quivering with fear.

The Stormclap Circle concealed within the thunder vortex was a creation of the Thunderzenith Sect, indicating a past conflict between them.

In the ancient days, the Thunderzenith Sect and the Obsidian Thunder Sect were one and the same, and even now, they shared a common lineage.

The Glacial Storm Seal, once the Thunder Sect's most revered treasure before their division, was not something to be taken lightly. How could he not tremble at its familiar scent?

He sensed impending doom. The formidable masters of the Thunder Sect had traced their way here with the intent to seal his fate!

"Scared now?"

Yu Yuan chuckled, gazing into the abyss of the cave, stroking his chin as he contemplated how to handle this demon.

"I understand."

The father of Yu Zhu replied at once, his earlier bravado gone.

The fiend's compliance brought a satisfied nod from Yu Yuan, who decided not to press further.

Whoosh!

Just as Yu Yuan was about to inquire about the origins of Zekrica and its sudden emergence in the Star River, Chen Qinghuang, who had remained quiet until now, abruptly descended.

"Wait for me above."

The Songbird Queen's aloof voice echoed from within the cave, growing fainter.

Yu Yuan paused, taken aback.

"I implore you, please don't let her touch me or come near me!"

At the bottom of the cave, the fiend let out a scream of terror.

As Chen Qinghuang entered the cave and began her descent, the fiend seemed to instantly sense the influx of destructive and deadly power filling the cavern that held him captive.

He knew all too well what the divine might, infused with cosmic order, signified.

And it was this knowledge that filled him with dread.

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