C1232 Each with Its Own Divine Ability
Yu Yuan set aside the multitude of perplexing enigmas for the time being.
Sensing the tangible murderous intent emanating from Fu Xuanwen, Yu Yuan's senses sharpened to their fullest; he couldn't afford the slightest bit of complacency.
His hands clutched the Dragon Slaying Stage, channeling his spirit and vitality into it, seeking any power at his disposal.
Suddenly, he distinctly heard the heartbeat of the young Titan Spinosaurus, along with its steady, powerful breaths.
His thoughts and the dire straits he found himself in seemed to reach across to the alternate dimension where the young creature resided, the moment his consciousness melded with the Dragon Slaying Stage.
From the carcass of the long-deceased Chronowyrm, streams of dragon's breath emerged, shimmering like a rainbow, creating ripples where the void intersected.
These ripples, born from the rainbow, held the secrets of time and the essence of space, revealing the direct manifestation of two Cosmic Orders, mesmerizing and magnificent in their splendor.
In the next instant.
Yu Yuan, within the majestic palace, found himself enveloped by the prismatic light spilling from the Dragon Slaying Stage and was suddenly released.
In a mere moment, he beheld the towering palace and the desolate Star River before him, the interior of the palace with its golden floor tiles, and the figure of Fu Xuanwen.
Surprise etched Fu Xuanwen's face, his eyes reflecting profound depth.
"Dragon Slaying Stage."
Fu Xuanwen's hands, previously concealed within his sleeves, emerged languidly, his fingertips sparking with golden lightning. An endless array of golden ancient characters rose behind him, amassing into a veritable sea of text.
He stepped out of the palace, his form wavering briefly before he conjured his Divine Visage with a swift gesture.
The colossal Divine Visage, towering thousands of feet high, appeared as if forged from billions of tiny golden characters, exuding the learned presence of a scholar versed in the world's truths, imparting wisdom to all beings.
Upon summoning his Divine Visage, the sixth Mark of the Celestials transformed into a voluminous, brick-like tome.
Fu Xuanwen cradled the ancient book in one hand while casually turning a page with the other, declaring softly, "Divine Order."
Brilliant divine light burst forth from the tome's page, the Mark of the Celestials made manifest. Within the luminous beams, countless spell symbols lay concealed, bridging the heavens and earth, unfurling their edicts.
Yu Yuan gripped the Dragon Slaying Stage tightly as he felt the space around him compressing from all directions.
It was as though invisible deities were rolling the very fabric of space into a carpet, intent on enveloping him, the Dragon Slaying Stage, and his surroundings into layer upon layer.
An unbearable sensation flooded Yu Yuan's heart and body, compelling him to cough up blood.
To his horror, he realized that his bones were warping under the immense pressure, and his flesh and organs were being crushed to the brink of bursting.
A deep, resonant roar emanated from the Dragon Slaying Stage.
Within the little world inside the Dragon Slaying Stage, the long-dormant power of the Chronowyrm's corpse, now seemingly harnessed by a young Titan Spinosaurus, was awakened by the newcomer. The ancient force that had once commanded the Star River with the mysterious talents of a tenth level Dragon God was now on full display.
Whoosh!
A seven-colored spectral dragon encircled Yu Yuan, its body swaying gracefully around his waist.
The spectral dragon's colorful tail stirred up spatial waves, further distorting the already tumultuous space around Yu Yuan.
Unaffected, Yu Yuan adeptly navigated the twisted and chaotic space.
Meanwhile, Fu Xuanwen was taken aback as the thick ancient tome in his hands, transformed by the Mark of the Celestials, saw its pages of golden text being wiped away as if by an eraser.
His divine body, towering thousands of feet high with eyes like two brown stars, watched Yu Yuan—tiny as a mosquito—maneuver freely through the layered space with the Dragon Slaying Stage. A sense of foreboding weighed on him.
Yu Yuan had not yet ascended to the rank of Solar Spirit, yet he was already able to break free from Fu Xuanwen's seal with just the Dragon Slaying Stage. The revelation was difficult for Fu Xuanwen to accept.
As he prepared to exert his power once more, Yu Yuan, still clutching the Dragon Slaying Stage, suddenly pierced through all illusions and reappeared on the aerolite.
Atop the meteorite, the piercing cries of Leo and the furious shouts of Xu Jingyao seemed to persist unabated.
Yu Yuan glanced down and noticed that the Star River, transformed by the Starfall Sea, was being overwhelmed by a vast meteor shower. Each star was penetrated by the shower, turning into scorched earth and charcoal. The so-called meteor shower was none other than Xu Jingyao, wielding the Flame Spear and wreaking havoc.
Leo, having failed to rescue Beru and suffering severe injuries at the hands of Fu Xuanwen, re-entered the Starfall Sea. Yet, he found himself unable to restrain Xu Jingyao any longer.
"Dragon Slaying Stage, the phantasm of the Chronowyrm's Dragon God!"
Pei Yuling, catching Chu Yao, was utterly captivated. The image of the vibrant dragon played over and over in his mind, etching itself into his deepest memories. Each movement of the Chronowyrm, its head shaking and tail swaying, held the profound truths of time and space. While others couldn't benefit or gain insight from it, he certainly could.
Although it was merely a fleeting glimpse, Pei Yuling had already gained much, developing new insights into the nature of space.
"Mr. Pei, that man... he was once my mentor. He was both a master and a father to me," Chu Yao said in a hushed tone from behind Pei Yuling. "After he descended into madness, he lost himself, even his sanity. We had to intervene, for the survival of the Order of Healing."
"You don't need to explain this to me," Pei Yuling interrupted, shaking his head.
He then began to muse to himself, "The Chronowyrm is dead, yet the time magic it wielded can still manifest and even solidify into an ethereal image. This is highly peculiar. It's said that the Dragon Slaying Stage contains no artifact soul, given its extraordinary nature."
"No soul spirit can harness the power contained within the three Dragon Gods at the Dragon Slaying Stage. The golden dragon, the frost wyrm, and the Chronowyrm, all tenth level Dragon Gods, leave no mysterious soul or entity behind that could wield their power posthumously."
"Yet now, the Dragon Slaying Stage seems as if it possesses an artifact soul."
Pei Yuling found the notion astonishingly perplexing.
He could see it, feel it, and deduce it without even taxing his mind. With his Spirit Walk cultivation and his current strength and level, Yu Yuan definitely lacked the ability to wield the Dragon Slaying Stage.
Even with a connection to the Dragon Slaying Stage, the lack of sufficient cultivation and strength meant it couldn't possibly unleash such power.
To break free from the palace dominated by Fu Xuanwen, to effortlessly escape the layered spatial seals, and to accurately find the path back to the real world, one would need to be a cultivator skilled in space magic and at least at the Unbound Realm.
It certainly shouldn't be Yu Yuan at this time!
"Something extraordinary must have occurred within the Dragon Slaying Stage. There must be something there!"
After deep contemplation, Pei Yuling reached a conclusion and surmised a portion of the hidden truth.
"Yu Yuan!"
Beru's voice rang out, filled with surprise and joy.
Yu Yuan, who had been focusing most of his energy on Fu Xuanwen from the Ebon Star while gripping the Dragon Slaying Stage, turned his head and asked, "Are you okay?"
"Somewhat better!"
Life seemed to rejuvenate Beru's features as the blood that had seeped from his body crystallized and flew out, which he quickly swallowed.
As Fu Xuanwen wielded the Mark of the Celestials in pursuit of Yu Yuan, intent on trapping him to death, he inadvertently bought Beru some time.
"Star Shadow!"
The luminous stars of Kuvrepros suddenly dimmed before flaring brightly once more.
Beru, firmly held by that immense palm, seemed to connect with one of the stars... His shadow completed a miraculous swap.
Boom!
A lifeless star burst open.
Beru emerged from the scattered rocks within the Star River, looking disheveled.
The giant hand, refined by Fu Xuanwen's spiritual energy, continued to grasp what became an ephemeral shadow of Beru, formed from minuscule cosmic energy.
"Starfall Sea!"
From the far reaches of the Star River, Beru invoked the mystique again, howling towards the heavens.
His form was gradually enveloped by cosmic energy, vanishing from sight bit by bit.
Yu Yuan, still holding the Dragon Slaying Stage, suddenly became aware of an odd scent—a whiff of the bizarre essence of time and space.
Glancing downward, he noticed an aged figure within the Star River, a phenomenon born from the Starfall Sea where Leo and Xu Jingyao were locked in combat.
The Great Sage, Beru.
"..."
