C1243 He Fell Again

"I'm not sure this is the best approach, and it feels unfamiliar to me."

Kin Haolong of the Silver Moon Sect, enveloped in a swirl of starlight, stood on a disk densely speckled with stars, occasionally glancing back at Yu Yuan and the rest.

The disk was a deep black, its surface sparkling with stars like a slice of the distant cosmos.

Kin Haolong, piloting the artifact, scratched his head, a hint of guilt crossing his face.

The twinkling stars of the Illusion Starfield converged on the disk under their feet, infusing it with star power to sustain its swift journey.

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

Before the Divine Soul Sect had returned, before they had allied with the Babel Chamber of Commerce, and before inviting various clans from the Outland Star River, they viewed beings like Beru and Leo as potential prey.

They were always eager, ready to engage in a killing spree and reap the spoils of war in the Outland Star River.

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

But suddenly, the tables had turned dramatically.

Now in the Outland Star River, they found themselves targeted by their own, led by the five supreme forces, and were forced to withdraw, leaving Cao Jiaze, Zhu Huan, and the others to confront the united front of the Star Race and the Asura Clan.

Those accustomed to their former ways of operating were indeed feeling a bit out of their element.

Yu Yuan, also on the disk, maintained a detached demeanor as he listened to their conversation.

In secret, he was attempting to connect with the Divine Sword in the Epitaxial Realm using the sword mark on his arm bone.

His mind was elsewhere, preoccupied with other matters.

His first self had used the power of the Dragon Slash Platform to transport him to the Epitaxial Realm, awaiting the arrival of the Divine Sword. The intent was for the hidden divine essence within Nie Qingtian to purify the blade from the corruption of the Dark Domain and eradicate the lingering power of the Asura King.

Then, he would be able to wield the Divine Sword unencumbered.

Life is full of surprises, and a series of unforeseen events had forced him to take Chen Qinghuang and swiftly evacuate the Illusion Starfield.

What should be done with the Divine Sword?

The two Platinum Asuras, Beru, and Leo had struck a silent pact. They agreed to assist the Star Race in vanquishing the visitor from the vast expanses. In return, once the deed was done, the Star Race would aid the Asura Clan in their quest to locate the sword within the Epitaxial Realm.

Yu Yuan couldn't help but worry whether, upon his departure, the Asura King might rediscover the sword and reclaim it for the Dark Domain to maintain its suppression.

With this concern, he covertly focused all his mental and spiritual energy to reach out to the Divine Sword of the Epitaxial Realm, seeking a response from the sword soul.

After some time, the tension in his brow eased.

"What's gotten into you? You were all furrowed brow and worry just a moment ago. How come you've suddenly lightened up?" Xie Binn inquired gently as he drew closer.

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

In the distance, the figures on the battlefield were shrinking. A closer look would reveal that the Great Cultivators from the Mortal World seemed to sense the brewing trouble and were withdrawing, just like them.

The two Platinum Asuras were radiating an intense cold darkness, fervently preventing some from escaping. While Beru was healing, Gheirat and Leo were unleashing their full power, igniting the area with countless stars and creating a blinding surge of extraordinary abilities.

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

Xie Binn, who had been greatly favored by Yu Yuan three hundred years prior and had received considerable care after Yu Yuan's rebirth, especially since Yu Yuan had reconstituted his Yang God body, stood attentively. "Please, go ahead," he responded with due reverence.

Xie Binn harbored deep admiration for Yu Yuan and wouldn't dare to take his inquiry lightly.

"In my past life, as I neared the end, was my reputation... not so favorable?" Yu Yuan queried.

Xie Binn and the other three had not overheard the exchange between Chu Yao and Yu Yuan. Now, in a moment of relative calm, Yu Yuan was contemplating the veracity of Chu Yao's words.

Naturally, the best course of action was to seek confirmation from those who knew him well.

As he posed the question, he noticed that not only Xie Binn but also Rong Xun, Han Dan, and Kin Haolong from the Silver Moon Sect were all wearing peculiar expressions.

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

"Speak the truth," Yu Yuan commanded gently.

"I'm not entirely sure," Xie Binn said, furrowing his brow and carefully choosing his words. "In the final stage of your life, you were engrossed in crafting pellets, many of which contained potent toxins. During that time, you secluded yourself within the Medicine God Sect and seldom ventured out. However..."

He paused there, lost in thought.

"However, what?" Yu Yuan pressed.

"Please don't be angry when I tell you this. The few times you did leave, according to the information I have, you caused catastrophic deaths. Whether it was small sects or minor cities on the Profound Sky Continent, many perished due to an unstoppable spread of deadly poison," Xie Binn said with a sigh.

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

"I'm somewhat younger, but the tales I've heard suggest that your temperament drastically changed in your later years, making you difficult to deal with," Han Dan from the Silver Moon 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, and that Lau Ying would actually recognize you. It was quite inconceivable."

"Yes, Hong Qi's final years were indeed marred by many stains," Kin Haolong murmured.

Their words left Yu Yuan in contemplative silence.

Meanwhile, Alien Demon Qiyan, who had been trailing them at a discreet distance, listened in on their conversation, his eye sockets flickering with unusual sparks.

Qiyan glanced around warily.

...

Aboard the damaged warship, Elena of the Asura Clan was also on edge, closely monitoring the Luan Bird Queen's every move.

Unbeknownst to them, a bird's nest crafted from twigs had formed like a crown atop the queen's head.

This was the Death Nest that the Empress had previously absorbed into her body.

Within the Death Nest, a potent life force was mysteriously burgeoning. The heavy aura of death that once permeated the nest seemed to be undergoing a miraculous transformation.

A silent power of regeneration, capable of reviving all things, was quietly eclipsing the aura of death, threatening to overflow from the nest.

Suddenly, after some time, a mass of shadows, composed of various blood energies, materialized.

The shadow appeared as another Luan Bird Queen, tangible and enveloped in a halo of destruction, death, and rebirth.

Whoosh!

The Luan Bird Queen, emerging from the Death Nest above her, merged back into her original form.

The Secular Bird, now in human guise, seemed to surge in strength in a mere moment, becoming even more formidable, exuding an intimidating presence that made Elena feel an urge to kneel in reverence.

Subsequently, the Death Nest vanished within the Empress's body, and she resumed her original seat, settling down in silence and closing her eyes.

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

...

The disc of starlight spun, swift as lightning across the sky.

Yu Yuan, lost in contemplation, suddenly lost the sensation of being watched. He instinctively gazed toward where the warship should be.

He realized that the Empress had withdrawn her gaze and was recalling her scattered power.

"What exactly transpired within the Profound Plamer? With Fu Xuanwen's fall from grace and the Artifact's demotion, the Profound Sky Sect, known for their vindictiveness, won't likely let this slide," Kin Haolong mused idly, conversing sporadically with Rong Xun and Han Dan.

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

It was unmistakably not the Luan Bird Queen!

A subtle ripple emanated from the Dragon Slash Platform, now submerged in the microcosm within his acupoint, prompting Yu Yuan, his thoughts crystalline, to recall someone.

"What do you know about Pei Yuling? Who mentored him, and which sect or power was he most aligned with?"

Yu Yuan narrowed his eyes, his gaze flickering over the group engaged in conversation. "Pei Yuling hasn't left the Illusion Starfield. He's lurking in the shadows, undoubtedly scheming."

At these words, even Xie Binn, who had not joined the discussion, furrowed his brow.

"He's still here?"

Han Dan rose, her movements deliberate as she activated her spiritual artifact, releasing sapphire butterflies that fluttered gracefully through the nearby Gloom Star River.

The sapphire butterflies, like a series of moons, cast a cool lunar energy.

"It seems he's not in the vicinity," Han Dan said with a furrowed brow.

"Your level and artifact won't be enough to find Pei Yuling. Save your energy," Rong Xun said gravely. "Our knowledge of Pei Yuling is limited. All I know is that the individual from Ascension Peak seems to have a strong dislike for him."

When he mentioned "the individual," his gaze shifted to Yu Yuan.

"Zu Ann?" Yu Yuan responded in surprise.

Rong Xun gave a slight nod. "He has ascended to the Primordial Spirit. Out of respect, I refrain from using his name directly. From what I understand, he has troubled Pei Yuling on several occasions, forcing Pei Yuling to sneak back into the Vast Ocean, always fearful of being discovered."

"That's news to me," Yu Yuan mused. "When I get the chance, I'll have to question him thoroughly."

Before reaching the Primordial Spirit stage, Zu Ann had been a long-term resident of the Ascension Mountain Range, seldom leaving of his own accord and rarely concerning himself with the five supreme powers.

There must have been some rift between him and the five supreme powers at that time.

Zu Ann, three hundred years ago, never mentioned Pei Yuling. Perhaps it was because Pei Yuling rarely returned to the Vast Ocean in those days, so Zu Ann overlooked him.

Having known Zu Ann for less than a century, Yu Yuan was convinced that if there was an issue, it had to be with Pei Yuling!

If Pei Yuling was targeting him, was there a connection to Zu Ann beyond the Dragon Slash Platform?

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

"That..."

From some distance behind, the Alien Demon Qiyan spoke up in a hushed tone, "I might have an idea about Pei Yuling's background. The one with a grudge against Zu Ann might not necessarily be Pei Yuling himself—it could be his master, or even his master's master."

"Zu Ann has a distaste for the practitioners from their lineage. There's definitely an old grievance," the Alien Demon added, fixing his gaze on Yu Yuan.

Yu Yuan grunted, "Come closer and speak."

Qiyan eagerly moved closer, a look of excitement on his face.