C1208 An Accident
The fiend that had taken over the Starbeast had been imprisoned by Nie Qingtian in Zekrica for many years, its soul used to sustain the Lunar Meridian. Understandably, the fiend harbored no fondness for Nie Qingtian, only an intense, unyielding hatred.
When the fiend learned from Yu Yuan that Yu Yuan was, in fact, Nie Qingtian's heir, it marked another tally of enmity against him in its heart. With ill intent, Yu Yuan had settled Yu Zhu in the Serpent Spine Mountains, assuming the role of her father.
While in Zekrica, the fiend faced numerous oppressions and restrictions, forbidden from leaving and denied the freedom to roam the vast Star River. It meticulously attributed each grievance to Yu Yuan.
Yu Yuan was aware of the fiend's resentment but remained indifferent. His strength was growing; as Soul Power and vitality filled him, his combat abilities swiftly returned. Soon, his spirit and body would reach their pinnacle once more. At that point, Yu Yuan wouldn't even regard the fiend as a formidable adversary, especially considering his potential for further growth.
In times to come, the fiend, still inhabiting the Starbeast, would often gaze into the glittering night sky, lost in contemplation, his thoughts a mystery to all.
After a lengthy conversation with Elena, Yu Yuan pondered deeply before making a decision—to venture to the Astral Domain where the Wingkind were active. Whether it was the Wingkind raiders of the Dissolving Fortress or the domains frequented by Wingkind, there were many devout followers of the secular bird, who revered it as the origin and progenitor of their lineage.
In this era, the Wingkind, now a minor race, felt a natural affinity for the secular bird. Among the myriad races and Astral Domains of the vast Star River, they seemed to be the only ones willing to truly embrace the secular bird.
Yu Yuan considered the profound connection between the secular bird and the Wingkind. He hoped that Chen Qinghuang, upon reaching their Star River, might receive the assistance she needed to awaken fully and transform into the secular bird of her prime.
Once Chen Qinghuang regained consciousness, aware of her identity and the formidable power at her command, Yu Yuan could depart with a clear conscience.
Through Elena's updates, he learned about the Star River frequented by the Wingkind and the Kuvrepros Astral Domain, separated by several Star Rivers. He intended to accompany Chen Qinghuang for part of her journey, so he instructed Elena to redirect the course of the warship.
In the Kuvrepros, Elena remained unflappable, fearing nothing.
She explained that the Starborn capable of defeating her within the Kuvrepros were all close confidants of Gheirat. They were well aware of her father's profound friendship with Gheirat.
If they encountered such formidable beings, they would feign ignorance and allow her to pass unchallenged.
Those unaware of the situation, not part of Gheirat's inner circle, were unlikely to be a match for her, especially since she had ascended to the eighth level. This made her even more fearless.
The journey was long and monotonous.
On several occasions, when Elena couldn't resist getting closer to Yu Yuan, seeking intimacy...
The Songbird Queen, seemingly asleep, would coincidentally awaken. She would extend her hand to Yu Yuan, requesting the Soul Amplifier, and after consuming it, she wouldn't rush back to sleep.
With a detached and cool gaze, she would silently watch him and Elena.
Under her scrutiny, they would quickly back down, parting ways with frustration.
Yu Yuan and Elena both sensed that the Songbird Queen was deliberately thwarting their moments together, forbidding them from growing too close.
Her intimidating stare was enough to prevent them from ever truly connecting.
Eventually, Yu Yuan resigned himself to the situation. He stilled his mind, choosing instead to delve into the intricacies of the "Nine Celestial Slashes" or to explore the secrets of the Mind Magic detailed in the Wraithbinding, reaping substantial benefits.
Then came a day.
Their warship, smeared with a patchwork of colorful dyes, was passing by a silent little world when suddenly, streams of flame burst forth.
The flames carried countless tiny Fire Crystals and specks of Sunfire.
Elena's face contorted with rage, like a provoked tyrannosaur, as she abruptly opened the hatch and soared out.
Standing before the battered warship, she let out a cold huff, wielding her gleaming hammer. With each swing, she shattered the oncoming flames into a shower of scattered sparks.
"Who's there?"
She gazed down at the tiny world, significantly smaller than Zekrica, where the earth's surface seethed with fiery lava. Volcanoes had crumbled, their magma expelled by psionic power and spewed in all directions.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Yu Yuan, along with the fiend inhabiting the Starbeast, emerged from the cabin, gazing in astonishment at the little world beneath them.
"Kid, this little world imprisons the Starborn traitors. And now, those traitors have been wiped out. Surely, you can't stop me now, can you?" the fiend growled menacingly.
In this little world, unenclosed by any wall, rivers overflowed with fiery lava, setting the entire realm ablaze.
Beneath the surface, the residual souls of the Starborn seemed to be fading away.
Yu Yuan squinted, scrutinizing the scene, and tapped into his Lunar Spirit to sense the surroundings. Suddenly, he spotted a tumultuous blaze in an unremarkable corner underground, bursting with volatile Soul Power.
After a closer inspection, he huffed, "There's a human down there, adept in fire magic. By the look of it, he's a cultivator from the Sunlit Order. Swallowing the Starborn souls is one thing, but you're responsible for dealing with that Sunlit Order cultivator. I need to know why he's here."
"Don't worry, I've got this!"
The fiend possessing the Starbeast was instantly invigorated, lunging forward with a sinister chuckle.
"You stay put; there's no need for you to go down."
Yu Yuan gave Elena, who was eagerly preparing for a fight, a glance and shook his head, preventing her from proceeding.
The Sunlit Order cultivator had attained the Divine Level of a Solar Spirit, matching Elena's eighth-level bloodline in combat strength.
Yet, given that he hailed from an upper sect, his spiritual weapon was likely unparalleled, and Elena might not be a match for him.
Besides, Yu Yuan was curious to see how much strength the fiend had regained since its escape.
"A human? An expert from the Sunlit Order?"
Elena was taken aback. Containing her impatience, she peered intently at the little world below, "That guy wasn't wrong. Uncle Gheirat created this world specifically to deal with the rebellious otherworldlings. It houses members of the Starborn and other groups, all of whom are the troublemakers of Kuvrepros."
"But why..." She scratched her head in confusion. "Why would the Sunlit Order's experts destroy this place and slaughter all the prisoners? They even forcibly extracted the lava from beneath the volcano, setting the entire world ablaze."
"Perhaps he was extracting the flame energy from the lava to replenish his own strength, or possibly to temper some artifact," Yu Yuan mused, his expression unchanged. He reflected on the internal divisions within the Everlands, thinking that if Rong Xun, Xie Bin, and the others hadn't sided with Boulderdawn, the four who descended into Zekrica might not have been so restrained.
This behavior was consistent with past actions of the Everlands' experts when they entered the domains and little worlds of Otherkin.
"Awoo! Spare me! I am a member of the Sunlit Order!"
"You're obviously not a Starbeast. You're a Terra Fiend from my Everlands. How dare you treat me this way!"
"What poison? I, I..."
The burning little world, with its streams of lava, was now tainted by the fiend's deadly poison. The Sunlit Order's cultivators, hidden below, wailed in terror as their Solar Spirit Bodies and souls began to dissolve upon contact with the poison, their fear palpable.
The fiend, capable of possessing a Starbeast, remained unaffected by the chaos.
Yu Yuan was somewhat taken aback. He had assumed the fiend would first feast on the dissipating souls of the slain Otherkin. Unexpectedly, the fiend's initial target was a high-ranking cultivator from the Sunlit Order.
Yu Yuan didn't witness the battle firsthand, only the disjointed cries of anguish.
Before long, the wailing ceased.
The fiend did not immediately return. It continued its rampage, burning through the little world, dividing into seven vibrant streams, each one consuming the souls of its adversaries.
"That creature is formidable!" Elena shivered, realizing for the first time that the Terra Fiend, which had spent most of its time staring blankly at the Star River from inside the cabin, was such a fearsome entity.
Why would such a powerful being be so wary of Yu Yuan?
With this thought, Elena instinctively turned to glance at the battered warship.
She then thought of the legend of the secular bird...
Suddenly, she felt at ease, no longer perplexed by the situation.
After what seemed like an eternity, the fiend, sated with food and drink, gathered the seven vibrant streams around the Starbeast. Emerging from the most intense lava, he, clad in the Starbeast's form, flew out leisurely.
"I've completed the task you set before me."
The fiend halted before Yu Yuan and Elena, his eyes ablaze with multicolored flames, unmistakable hatred flickering within. He growled lowly twice, as though he was tempering his emotions, forcibly steadying himself.
Then, he spoke, "The individuals pursuing those from Zekrica have joined forces with a Sunlit Order prodigy named Xu Jingyao, plotting to eliminate the Starborn's Leo in Kuvrepros. Having been confined by Nie Qingtian for too long, I'm not familiar with Xu Jingyao. All I know is that he wields the Flame Spear!"
At the mention of the Flame Spear, the Starbeast, possessed by the fiend, shuddered slightly.
"The Flame Spear!"
Yu Yuan inhaled sharply, his expression turning grave as he nodded, "I'm aware of Xu Jingyao. He's the hand-chosen disciple of the current master of the Sunlit Order, poised to one day lead the sect. After Lee Tianxin's death, the Flame Spear was left without a master. It's unexpected that it would end up in Xu Jingyao's hands."
Not long before, while in Zekrica, Yu Yuan had succinctly shared the latest developments in the Everlands with the fiend.
The fiend was also aware that Lee Tianxin, who had attained the primordial spirit realm, had perished, and the Flame Spear had autonomously returned to the Everlands, falling into the treasured vaults of the Sunlit Order.
Whoever became the new master of the Flame Spear was certainly extraordinary, and he quickly understood the implications.
"Xu Jingyao's strategy is thus: he's orchestrated for several Sunlit Order members to wreak havoc in Kuvrepros, causing chaos to draw the attention of Leo and Beru. Some have already fled Kuvrepros, signaling for Unbound realm cultivators to secretly join them."
"Leo and Beru of the Starborn are fated to visit Zekrica, following Gheirat's summons."
"The Zekrica has been chosen as their killing ground. They plan to use their overwhelming power to eliminate Leo, Beru, and Gheirat right there in the Zekrica."
...
The Sunlit Order's cultivators, paralyzed by the fiend's poison in both body and mind, never anticipated encountering such a creature aboard the wrecked warship they had assaulted.
They had assumed it was merely a standard Starborn transport, carrying new foes who had turned against Gheirat.
By the time they realized they had bitten off more than they could chew, it was too late to retreat.
Even the ninth-level Starborn warriors lacked the capability to incapacitate him and strip away his deepest secrets.
Yet, the Terra Fiend excelled in this very task, managing to extract Xu Jingyao's plans from him.
"Denise! Denise is going to die, and with her, everyone in Zekrica will suffer a terrible fate!"
Elena's face turned pale as panic set in. She grabbed Yu Yuan's arm in desperation, shaking it as she implored, "We must head to the nearest Domain, one that harbors seventh and eighth-level Starbeasts. We have to alert the Starborn's mightiest to warn Denise and Uncle Gheirat immediately!"
Yu Yuan paused to consider, then responded, "As you wish."
