C1243 Fall into Another Realm

"I have a feeling that this isn't quite right. I'm not comfortable with it."

Enveloped in a swirl of starlight, Jin Haolong of the Starmoon Sect stood on a star-studded disc, occasionally glancing back at Yu Yuan and the others in his charge.

The disc was a deep black, its surface sparkling with stars like a distant stretch of the Star River.

Jin Haolong, manipulating the artifact, scratched his head, his face tinged with a hint of guilt.

The dazzling starlight from the Kuvrepros Astral Domain converged on the disc under their feet, infusing the wondrous spiritual tool with star power to sustain its swift journey.

"It's definitely a bit of an adjustment," Rong Xun admitted.

Before the Boulderdawn Sect had returned, before allying with the Skyreach Consortium, and before inviting the Otherkin into the Everlands, they viewed beings like Beru and Leo as potential prey.

They would eagerly prepare for a killing spree, reaping the spoils of war in the extraterrestrial domains.

Cao Jiaze, Huang Baiqi, Zhu Huan, and others were once comrades-in-arms.

But suddenly, the tables had turned.

Now, in the extraterrestrial Star River, they found themselves targeted by their own kind, led by the five supreme powers, and they had to withdraw, leaving Cao Jiaze, Zhu Huan, and the rest to confront the united forces of the Starborn and Shura.

Those accustomed to their former ways of operating indeed found the current situation quite disconcerting.

Yu Yuan, also on the disc, listened to their conversation with a detached expression, betraying no sign of concern.

Secretly, he used the sword scar on his arm bone to attempt communication with the Divine Sword in Zekrica.

His mind was elsewhere, preoccupied with other matters.

His first incarnation had used the power of the Dragon Slaying Stage to transport him to Zekrica, all to await the arrival of the Divine Sword. With the divine wonders hidden within Nie Qingtian in Zekrica, he planned to purify the blade from the taint of the Dark Realm and erase the remnants of the Blood King's power.

Then, he could wield the Divine Sword without any encumbrances.

Life is unpredictable, and a series of unforeseen events had forced him to take Chen Qinghuang and make a swift departure from the Kuvrepros.

What would become of the Divine Sword?

The two platinum Shura, Beru and Leo, had come to an understanding. They would assist the Starborn in eliminating the visitors from the Everlands. Once the deed was done, the Starborn would in turn aid the Shura in their quest to locate the sword within Zekrica.

The lingering concern was whether the Blood King might once again find the sword and return it to the Dark Realm for its oppressive purpose.

With this worry, he covertly focused all of his remnant soul, secretly reaching out to the sword in Zekrica, seeking a response from the sword spirit.

After some time, his furrowed brow began to smooth out.

"What's gotten into you? You were all furrowed brows and worry, and now you seem so at ease?" Xie Bin inquired quietly, drawing near.

"It's nothing. I was just troubled by some matters, but I'm not concerned anymore," Yu Yuan replied with a smile.

On the battlefield behind them, the figures of the Everlands cultivators were diminishing. A closer look revealed that, like them, the cultivators seemed to have sensed danger and were withdrawing.

The two platinum Shura were emanating Absolute Darkness, fervently trying to prevent some from escaping. While Beru was healing, Gheirat and Leo were unleashing their full power, causing the region to erupt with thousands of star clusters, creating a blinding surge of psionic power.

"Xie Bin, I need to ask you something," Yu Yuan interjected.

Three hundred years ago, Xie Bin had been the recipient of many favors from Yu Yuan and had been well cared for since Yu Yuan's rebirth, especially during the reformation of the Solar Spirit Body. Upon hearing Yu Yuan's request, Xie Bin became earnest, "Please, go ahead!"

Xie Bin harbored a deep reverence for Yu Yuan and did not dare to take his request lightly.

"In my past life, towards the end, was my reputation... somewhat tarnished?" Yu Yuan inquired.

Xie Bin and the others had not overheard the exchange between Chu Yao and Yu Yuan. Now, in a moment of relative tranquility, he was contemplating the truth behind Chu Yao's words.

Naturally, the best course of action was to seek confirmation from someone familiar.

As he finished his question, he noticed that it wasn't just Xie Bin who reacted; Rong Xun, Han Dan, and Jin Haolong from the Starmoon Sect also wore peculiar expressions.

The four of them hesitated, fear evident in their eyes, as if they were too afraid to speak.

"Speak the truth," Yu Yuan commanded gently.

"I'm not entirely sure," Xie Bin said, furrowing his brow and choosing his words carefully. "At the end of your life, you were engrossed in crafting pills, many of which contained potent toxins. During that time, you secluded yourself within the Order of Healing, seldom leaving. But..."

He paused there, lost in thought.

"But what?" Yu Yuan pressed.

"Please don't be angry when I tell you this. The few times you did venture out, according to the information I received, were marked by horrific disasters. Whether it was small sects or minor cities on the Aetherius Continent, many perished due to the unstoppable spread of deadly toxins," Xie Bin said with a sigh.

"It does seem that way," Rong Xun added reluctantly.

"I'm somewhat younger, but the legends I've heard suggest that your temperament in your later years became quite difficult," Han Dan of the Starmoon Sect interjected with a light cough. "That's why we were all so astonished to learn that you were Hong Qi from three hundred years ago. The idea that Liu Ying would accept you was beyond belief."

"Yes, the last few years of Hong Qi's life were indeed marred by many stains," Jin Haolong murmured.

Yu Yuan fell silent at their words.

Qiyan, the Starbeast who had been following them at a discreet distance, listened in on their conversation, his eyes sparking with an unusual light. He looked around warily.

...

Aboard the damaged warship, Elena of the Shura watched the Songbird Queen's every move with apprehension.

Without warning, a bird's nest woven from branches had appeared atop the queen's head, resembling a crown. It was the Deathwing Lair that the queen had previously absorbed into her body.

Within the Deathwing Lair, a rich vitality was mysteriously gestating. The lair, once heavy with the scent of death, seemed to be experiencing a miraculous transformation. A regenerative power, as if capable of reviving all life, was quietly overtaking the deathly aura, threatening to overflow from the lair.

Suddenly, a mass of shadows, swirling with various vital energies, materialized.

The shadow appeared to be another Songbird Queen, tangible and enveloped in an aura of destruction, death, and rebirth.

Whoosh!

The Songbird Queen, emerging from the Deathwing Lair above, merged back into her original form.

Transformed into a human, the secular bird seemed to surge in power in just a moment, growing even mightier and exuding a terrifying presence that made Elena feel an urge to kneel in reverence.

Subsequently, the Deathwing Lair vanished within the Empress's body, and she returned to her original seat, settling down into silence and closing her eyes.

Before long, the Empress was once again lost in slumber.

...

The disk, woven with starlight, spanned vast distances in a flash, swift as lightning.

Yu Yuan, lost in contemplation, suddenly lost the sense of being watched. He instinctively looked towards where the warship should be.

He realized that the Empress had withdrawn her gaze and was recalling the energy she had emitted.

"What on earth happened with the Rod of Heavenly Justice? With Fu Xuanwen's fall in cultivation and the Divine Artifact's decline in grade, the Ebon Star's vengeful nature surely won't let this go," mused Jin Haolong, idly conversing with Rong Xun and Han Dan.

Out of the blue, Yu Yuan felt the eerie sensation of being covertly observed.

He was certain it wasn't the Songbird Queen!

A faint ripple stirred on the Dragon Slaying Stage, nestled within the acupoint's little world, prompting Yu Yuan, his thoughts crystal clear, to suddenly recall someone.

"What do you all know about Pei Yuling? Who was his mentor, and which sect was he closest to?"

Yu Yuan's eyes narrowed as he scanned the group, "Pei Yuling hasn't left Kuvrepros. He's lurking in the shadows, undoubtedly scheming."

At these words, even Xie Bin, who had been out of the loop, furrowed his brow.

"He hasn't left?"

Han Dan rose, cautiously activating her spiritual artifact to release azure butterflies that fluttered through the Dark Nebula nearby.

The butterflies, like a series of moons, cast a cool moon energy around them.

"It doesn't look like he's in the vicinity," Han Dan said with a frown.

"You and your artifacts stand no chance of finding Pei Yuling. Don't waste your energy," Rong Xun said gravely. "Our knowledge of Pei Yuling is limited. All I know is that the individual at Skyreach Peak seems to have a strong dislike for him."

As he mentioned "that individual," his gaze shifted to Yu Yuan.

"Zu Ann?" Yu Yuan responded, taken aback.

Rong Xun gave a slight nod. "He has ascended to the status of a primordial spirit. Out of respect, I refrain from addressing him by name. What I do know is that he's troubled Pei Yuling on several occasions, forcing Pei Yuling to sneak back into the Everlands, always wary of being discovered."

Yu Yuan mused, "Is that so? I'll have to question him thoroughly when I get the chance."

Before Zu Ann achieved the primordial spirit state, he was a long-term presence in Skyreach Mountain Range, seldom leaving of his own volition and rarely concerning himself with the five supreme forces.

Back then, there must have been some friction between him and those forces.

Zu Ann, three hundred years ago, never brought up Pei Yuling. Perhaps it was because Pei Yuling hardly ever returned to the Everlands in those days, and so Zu Ann overlooked him.

Yu Yuan had been acquainted with Zu Ann for less than a century. Based on his understanding of Zu Ann, if there was an issue, it was certainly with Pei Yuling!

If Pei Yuling was out to get him, was there a connection to Zu Ann beyond the Dragon Slaying Stage?

After all, it was common knowledge that Zu Ann of Skyreach Peak was among the most renowned of Hong Qi's close friends three hundred years ago.

"That..." Qiyan, trailing far behind, spoke up in a hushed tone, "I might have an idea about Pei Yuling's background. The one with a grievance against Zu Ann might not be Pei Yuling himself, but perhaps Pei Yuling's master, or even his master's master."

"Zu Ann bears a dislike for the practitioners from their lineage. There's definitely an old grudge there," the fiend said, fixing his gaze on Yu Yuan.

Yu Yuan grunted, "Come closer and speak."

Qiyan eagerly moved closer with a look of excitement.