C1229 The Hidden Assassin
Yu Yuan was well-acquainted with Fu Xuanwen, as the man had a history of conflict with the Order of Healing. Fu Xuanwen, known for his eccentric behavior, had once approached the Order of Healing for medicine in an exceedingly impolite manner, causing friction between himself, Yu Yuan, and the master of Zhong Chichen.
Fu Xuanwen had boldly claimed that those who spent their years battling the Otherkin warriors in the Star River of the extraterrestrial realms earned the right to requisition the Order of Healing's pills and the Artifact Sect's artifacts. He argued that since they were the protectors of the Everlands, it was only fitting that the Order of Healing and the Artifact Sect serve them. He insisted that not only should these items be provided as a priority, but also without any form of compensation.
His demands led to a significant disturbance within the Order of Healing, which ultimately resulted in the intervention of the upper sects. They commanded Fu Xuanwen to return to the extraterrestrial Star River and barred him from the Everlands for fifty years. In response to this incident, both the Order of Healing and the Artifact Sect declared they would cease to craft pills and artifacts for the Ebon Star for the next half-century.
Upon learning of their stance, Fu Xuanwen retaliated by declaring that any cultivator from the Order of Healing or Artifact Sect who achieved the Solar Spirit Body within those fifty years would no longer receive his protection and would have to confront the extraterrestrial Otherkin on their own. This threat caused the experts of both sects to become more cautious, avoiding unnecessary excursions. Given that most herbalists and forgers lacked combat skills, and only a few exceptionally gifted cultivators reached the Solar Spirit Realm, it was unthinkable for them to engage in battle with the fierce Otherkin without any guarantees.
It all made sense now. The unusual reactions of Wei Zhuo, Zhu Huan, and Cao Jiaze could be attributed to Fu Xuanwen's influence. According to Yu Yuan's sources, Fu Xuanwen was on the cusp of ascending to the status of a primordial spirit. Should a seat among the highest echelons of primordial spirits in the Everlands become available, he was well-positioned for success once he made the necessary preparations. Fu Xuanwen's rank within the Ebon Star surpassed that of Guang Hong and was second only to the two existing primordial spirits.
His combat prowess was naturally formidable.
Due to his arrogance, even when the two primordial spirits of the Ebon Star sought to restrain him, they did so with gentle persuasion. Thus, Yu Yuan was taken aback to discover that it was he who had been covertly safeguarding Cao Jiaze, using the Mark of the Celestials to conceal his presence.
"Fu Xuanwen!"
"The Ebon Star's Fu Xuanwen!"
The Shura warrior, upon noticing the emergence of the sixth Mark of the Celestials, showed a look of immense relief.
Within the pagoda-like palace, Fu Xuanwen, his expression stern, extended a hand and pressed it downward with deliberate slowness.
A massive arm, bathed in infinite divine radiance, suddenly reached into the cosmic energy vortex conjured by Leo. In the nick of time, as Beru was on the verge of collapse, the arm snatched him up.
The arm held Beru within the cosmic energy vortex, yet it remained still, exerting no force.
From his vantage point in the palace, Fu Xuanwen's lips curled into a cold smirk as he gazed down at Beru and Leo, swirling within the vortex. His eyes sparkled with mockery as he spoke, "Great Sage, we've had dealings for many years, yet this is my first foray into your Starborn realm. You, on the other hand, have ventured to our Everlands, invited by both the Skyreach Consortium and the Boulderdawn Sect."
"I regret that I was unable to return in time to welcome you to the Everlands and offer you proper hospitality."
In the palm of the hand, refined by spiritual light, Beru's blood continued to flow, his shattered bones jutting out.
His blood, laced with tiny, twinkling crystals like miniature stars, was unable to free him from the grasp of that hand.
Beru's hands pushed against the colossal palm, struggling to escape, but to no avail.
The tiny crystals in his blood began to erode Fu Xuanwen's spiritually refined hand.
Yet the hand remained immovable, solid as a rock.
Meanwhile, Beru's life force was rapidly diminishing. Severely wounded and enveloped by Fu Xuanwen's overwhelming spiritual energy, he was losing strength with every passing moment.
"Leo! Go!"
His voice boomed, urging Leo not to act rashly and to distance himself immediately.
Leo, caught in the cosmic energy vortex, was within reach of saving him, but Fu Xuanwen's refined hand had swiftly intervened.
The vortex of cosmic energy, slowly spinning, was infiltrated by Fu Xuanwen's force. Due to his destructive actions, it began to fracture and was on the verge of bursting.
"Order of Healing..."
With a cold snort, Fu Xuanwen stood within the Thunder Token. Chu Yao, shielded by the nearby Solar Spirit, was suddenly flung out.
Chu Yao caught a glimpse of a radiant white light streaking past him.
Once he regained his bearings and settled, he found himself unexpectedly next to Yu Yuan, atop a strange meteorite.
Fear gripped Chu Yao's soul.
"Master and disciple reunited after three centuries. Does it not stir your emotions?"
Fu Xuanwen, indulging in his own amusement, laughed boisterously, completely disregarding Cao Jiaze's displeasure. "I take pleasure in watching members of the Order of Healing and the Artifact Sect squabble among themselves."
He had been privy to the exchange between Yu Yuan and Chu Yao from within the sixth Mark of the Celestials. A bit of reflection had clued him in on the situation.
Had he not been biding his time to strike a powerful Otherkin at just the right moment, he would have intervened sooner.
To Fu Xuanwen, the individuals from the Order of Healing and Artifact Sect were self-serving, always looking out for themselves, contributing little to the welfare of the Everlands. This had always irked him.
Given the opportunity, he relished the chance to throw a wrench in the works for those from the Order of Healing and the Artifact Sect.
The dynamics between Yu Yuan, Zhong Chichen, and Chu Yao intrigued him even more. Seeing Yu Yuan's intent to apprehend Chu Yao, he decided to facilitate the encounter, eager to learn of past events.
Yu Yuan, momentarily taken aback, grew somber.
Chu Yao, abruptly finding himself in this predicament, was petrified. Before he could fully regain his composure, he attempted to flee.
"Mr. Pei!"
Chu Yao called out desperately, seeking Pei Yuling's aid in the hope of finding sanctuary.
"Well, if it's you, I really couldn't stand by and watch you perish."
With a subtle shift in his consciousness, Pei Yuling conjured a barrier within the Star River between Chu Yao and Yu Yuan, effectively separating the two.
Yu Yuan, poised to act, found himself unable to focus his remnant soul on Chu Yao, who vanished from his sight.
When Chu Yao pulled Xu Jingyao into the illusory Star River created by the Starfall Sea, Pei Yuling didn't intervene, merely observing with a detached air. However, when Chu Yao found himself in danger and cried out, Pei Yuling decided to act.
"You've really hit a streak of bad luck, encountering a battle on your first venture into the extraterrestrial Star River. Worse still, you ran into Hong Qi," Pei Yuling remarked with a hint of sympathy.
"Pei Yuling, you dare interfere with my plans!"
Fu Xuanwen let out a cold snort, his massive palm still clutching Beru, then he plunged it into the cosmic energy vortex below with force.
Leo let out a howl as the cosmic energy vortex burst into oblivion, and the Starborn prodigy vanished without a trace.
The grand, pagoda-like palace soared through the air, heading straight for Pei Yuling.
Thanks to the barrier Pei Yuling had formed, Yu Yuan could once again see Chu Yao and lock onto him with his soul.
Boom!
Chu Yao summoned the bronze cauldron, intricately carved with dragons and phoenixes. His Solar Spirit Body submerged into it, not even glancing behind, his sole focus on escaping towards Pei Yuling.
Deep down, he harbored a profound fear of Yu Yuan and dared not confront him.
Three hundred years later, Yu Yuan's master, now Yu Yuan himself, had retained astonishing combat prowess. He no longer needed to rely on deadly poisons or cunning tactics to defeat his enemies, which only intensified Chu Yao's fear.
"Senior Brother truly cherishes you, entrusting you with such an artifact and allowing you to take it beyond the extraterrestrial realms!"
Yu Yuan's face darkened even further at the sight of the bronze cauldron.
At that moment, Leo's figure emerged from a fragment of rock beside him, appearing within a section of the illusory Star River. Leo, now looking minuscule in comparison to his surroundings, wore a somewhat disheveled expression.
"Great Sage!" Leo called out in desperation.
"Yu Yuan, Beru is none of your concern, and he's not going to die anytime soon. You should focus on settling your score with Chu Yao first!" Fu Xuanwen commanded.
