C1217 A Fire That Ignited the Body

Yu Yuan could clearly discern the fear and uneasiness in the eyes of his peers. He immediately surmised that his and Chen Qinghuang's disappearance from the Dark Star was no longer a secret but common knowledge.

This also included the impending rebirth of the secular bird from within Chen Qinghuang.

In that moment, Yu Yuan found tranquility within himself.

He turned to Elena, who stood at the cabin entrance, and with a smile said, "Stay there."

Elena was puzzled.

Taking a deep breath, Yu Yuan elevated his stature and soared above the water curtain arranged by Lee Xin. After several swift flashes through the void, he descended upon the fractured earth.

Upon his landing, the Solar Spirit Realm experts' faces betrayed their shock.

Cao Jiaze's brow creased slightly as he cast another probing glance at the damaged vessel. Despite employing his spiritual weapon to sense its contents, he could not determine what lay hidden within the cabin.

Was Chen Qinghuang there? If so, in what condition? He was clueless.

As Cao Jiaze's thoughts shifted, four resplendent palaces descended, positioning themselves at the corners of the broken earth.

Exercising caution, Cao Jiaze signaled Jiang Xingwen and Weixian with a shake of his head, advising them against any hasty actions.

"Yu Yuan, is the empress of the Songbird Empire the secular bird?"

Cao Jiaze turned, reassuring Lee Xin to remain calm, and made his way toward the fragmented terrain. He did not touch down but entered one of the palaces. In a relaxed tone, as if engaging in idle chit-chat, he remarked, "You might be unaware, but recently, two secular bird nests appeared in the Everlands."

"One is the Nest of Perdition, and the other is the Rebirth Nest."

His gaze fixed on Yu Yuan's eyes, which were devoid of any disturbance, their calmness almost oppressive.

"It seems you have a deeper understanding of the extraterrestrial races than most," Yu Yuan said coolly, nodding with conviction. "Indeed, it's not that the secular bird is on the verge of rebirth from within her. Rather, the secular bird's rebirth was already complete the moment she emerged in the Everlands."

After confirmation was given, the various Solar Spirits in attendance instinctively turned their gaze toward the ship.

"Did she suffer a severe blow from the Blood Fiend in the Dark Star region?"

Weixian from Winter's Bite let out a sinister laugh, his expression unfriendly as he spoke, "I'm betting that even if she's inside that cabin, she's got no fight left in her. Don't be scared, folks. This kid loves his tricks. If the secular bird was truly formidable, she would've made her presence known by now."

His words prompted cultivators like Jiang Xingwen, who had long harbored animosity toward Yu Yuan, to glare with hostility.

"Cao Jiaze, I want him."

Yu Yuan extended his hand, seemingly oblivious to Weixian's comments and the evident malice from Jiang Xingwen and others. He pointed decisively at Divine Healer Chu Yao and declared, "Let him stay, and I'll show you a clear path."

Chu Yao looked up sharply.

His face was a picture of discomfort and anxiety. Surrounded by the crowd, he felt no sense of security and instinctively sought Cao Jiaze's protection.

"That's not going to happen."

Cao Jiaze's refusal was swift and unequivocal. "Yu Yuan, or Senior Hong if you prefer, no matter your confidence or plans, I will not hand over my companions to you. I'm not interested in your grievances or history, but rest assured, you won't be taking anyone from me."

Gratitude shone in Chu Yao's eyes.

Lee Xin, Jiang Xingwen, and the other cultivators silently nodded in approval, reassured in their decision.

Had it been Xu Jingyao from the Sunlit Order, the resolve might not have been as strong. Facing such a tangible threat, the outcome could have been very different.

"Is that your stance?" Yu Yuan inquired earnestly.

Cao Jiaze affirmed, "It's my decision!"

"Very well."

Yu Yuan nodded, observing Chu Yao's deliberate avoidance of eye contact and Jiang Xingwen's fierce demeanor, and let out a cold, mocking laugh.

"Fools blinded by Dhoreus's insincere affections, unable to move beyond their illusory love, and yet they manage to cultivate a Solar Spirit." Shaking his head, he voiced his concern, "To think such a fool could be guiding Su Yan—I truly worry for her."

"Shut up! You, a traitor from the Everlands, what right do you have to judge me?" Jiang Xingwen was seething with rage.

Cao Jiaze was filled with doubt, unable to grasp Yu Yuan's actions. He couldn't fathom why Yu Yuan had abandoned the battleship to land on this fragmented terrain.

"Yu Yuan!"

Below the motionless battleship, Elena, the Shura girl, showed a look of urgency on her face.

"Drums?" Yu Yuan asked, a smile playing on his lips.

Elena, taken aback for a moment, then nodded vigorously. "They're approaching!"

The Shura's Quasi-sacred Weapon, the Heartthumper Drum, along with an entire Shura legion, were en route. The one commanding the drum was at least a ninth-level platinum Shura.

Yu Yuan had gone to great lengths to avoid this army, but now...

"Don't worry, we didn't draw them here," Yu Yuan said sarcastically, glancing at the four dazzling palaces suspended in the void.

Cao Jiaze could never have imagined that not only was a Shura army close by, but Beru, Gheirat, and Leo were as well.

His information was outdated; he still believed that the three significant figures from the Starborn were advancing towards Zekrica.

Because of Yu Yuan's emergence, and his intention to protect Lee Xin, the grand palaces he had summoned were too conspicuous. They were bound to attract the Shura army and people like Beru and Leo.

"Are you prepared for battle?"

Yu Yuan looked at Cao Jiaze with a smile, sweeping his gaze around before offering, "Here's a piece of advice: do your utmost to send out a message, urging your Unbound cultivator to take a different path. Zekrica? There's no need to head there anymore, because Xu Jingyao will be joining us."

"You?!" Lee Xin exclaimed in astonishment.

"Yes, I'm aware," Yu Yuan replied, unfazed.

He had a change of heart.

With Chu Yao present, Cao Jiaze's gathering, and the Mark of the Celestials revealing their location, he figured that since things had escalated, he might as well stir up even more trouble.

If the human cultivators held no grudges against Chen Qinghuang, they wouldn't be able to rouse her. In that case, the Otherkin would be their next challenge.

With Chen Qinghuang's demigod-level power, as long as she woke up at the critical moment, there was nothing in the Kuvrepros Astral Domain that could pose a threat to her.

"Prepare for battle? Against whom?" Cao Jiaze finally sensed that something was amiss.

"A Shura army wielding the Quasi-sacred Heartthumper Drum. I've been steering clear of them, not wanting any confrontation, but your Mark of the Celestials has drawn their attention," Yu Yuan said with a sly grin. "And let's not forget Leo, Beru, and Gheirat—the ruler of this realm—who you're planning to ambush in Zekrica."

Cao Jiaze's pupils darkened at the revelation.

The Solar Spirit experts from the Everlands all showed signs of alarm upon hearing his words.

Leo, Beru, and Gheirat were supposed to be in Zekrica, weren't they? Why was there also a Shura army, coincidentally, in the nearby starry space?

They were inwardly lamenting.

"A traitor will always be a traitor!"

Jiang Xingwen's voice was icy as she fixed her gaze on Yu Yuan, no longer recalling the aid he had provided her in the Land of Terror. "He's sided with the Starborn! They've conspired with the Boulderdawn Sect, and Beru even visited the Everlands to collude with them!"

"Instead of casting aspersions, perhaps you should consider how to handle the Shura army that's on its way," Yu Yuan retorted.

"The Blood King, Sabonis, was gravely wounded by the Boulderdawn in Ionodios. With the Shura arriving, what advantage do you expect to gain?" Cao Jiaze inquired, puzzled.

"There's no advantage for me, but those Shura guests might not be able to handle me," Yu Yuan said with a smile. "However, you are numerous and more conspicuous. I suspect you'll be their primary target."

"That's a lose-lose situation," Cao Jiaze commented with a frown.

"That's how I prefer it."

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