C1267 The Feeding Secular Bird
According to Pei Yuling and the Shadowkin elder's plan, this unique meteorite was destined to become the focus of widespread attention. It was fated to relentlessly prey upon any living beings that ventured too close. Whether they were Otherkin, mortal cultivators, demons, or alien beasts, all would be inexorably drawn to this place, only to be devoured one by one, their essence feeding the meteorite. Pei Yuling was convinced that the unusual disturbances here would inevitably lead to this outcome.
However, after a lengthy wait, he was taken aback by the absence of additional creatures approaching. Sensing that something was amiss, he activated the Mirror of the Infinite. Employing a secret technique, his remnant soul traversed the miraculous spiritual artifact, weaving through various regions of Brugeth on a reconnaissance mission.
What he witnessed next was nothing short of shocking. A multitude of archdemons and extraterrestrial alien beasts encircled a modestly sized, ice-cold meteorite, locked in a frenzied battle. Each creature, as if under the influence of a potent stimulant, fought with unbridled ferocity.
Pei Yuling's attention was riveted on this scene, and after careful observation, he spotted Yu Yuan.
"Yu Yuan!" he exclaimed, his expression turning icy.
The sight of Yu Yuan triggered memories of the secular bird's human guise. Coupling this with the behavior of the archdemons and alien beasts, Pei Yuling formulated a theory.
With a swift motion, he plunged back into the earth's depths to consult with the Shadowkin elder about the recent developments.
High above, the Ghoul King and Lin Zhuyun, perched atop a rare stone reminiscent of the Embers Sea, had a clear view of Pei Yuling's emergence. They also overheard his murmured soliloquy and caught a glimpse of the hazy images projected by the Mirror of the Infinite.
The Ghoul King, wearing a look of amusement, turned to Lin Zhuyun, who was unleashing a terrifyingly cold strange power from another island. "I never expected to encounter that young man here in Brugeth."
"Let's go!" Lin Zhuyun commanded.
The Ghoul King shook his head, firmly declining her directive. "You may be willing to risk death, but I am not. You've likely heard that Yu Yuan is currently with that individual, someone of the same caliber as our Master. And before her demise in the Annihilation Nebula, she was ranked above our Master in the earliest days."
Lin Zhuyun fell silent.
The secular bird from 100,000 years ago surpassed the Abyssal Leviathan in both battle strength and renown.
As a member of the cosmic giant beast clan, the secular bird's influence on the Star River was profound. The catastrophes it wrought exceeded those of the Abyssal Leviathan.
Before it vanished, the secular bird's rank among the cosmic giant beasts was incomparable to that of the Abyssal Leviathan.
"I'll attempt to contact the Master first, to see when he can receive the message and arrive in Brugeth," she said.
The Ghoul King, observing her silence, understood that she had calmed down.
"Don't rush. The Death Bird hasn't fully recovered. If the Master can arrive in time..."
His eyes began to sparkle. Licking his lips, he said with excitement, "If the Master can devour the secular bird and assimilate the powers of death, destruction, and rebirth it has mastered, we will all reap the benefits! The Master will then become the mightiest giant beast among our kin!"
Lin Zhuyun responded, "According to your words."
...
Yu Yuan used the sheath of the Titanblade to pierce the Demon Heart of a Golden Rock Beast. As it fell, his expression turned curious.
The madness and brutality in the eyes of the eighth-level Golden Rock Beast faded as its Demon Heart shattered.
Yet, its body, as if drawn to the frigid meteorite, drifted in midair before descending towards the icy meteorite concealed by Yan Ziyang.
Soon after it landed, the vitality and demon soul of the eighth-level Golden Rock Beast mysteriously vanished.
Yu Yuan, gripping the sheath, refrained from acting hastily and observed closely.
He quickly realized that all the fallen archdemons and alien beasts were being drawn into the meteorite, rapidly losing their vitality and demon souls.
The meteorite had become a gargantuan Bloodhell, swallowing blood and souls alike.
Surveying the chaos, he noticed numerous eighth-level archdemons and Starbeasts locked in fierce combat.
Then, an epiphany struck him!
"She's preying."
Yu Yuan suddenly grasped the empress's intent in leaving a drop of dark green blood to lure the archdemons and extraterrestrial alien beasts to this place.
She was a high-tier being, drawing on the strength of eighth and ninth level archdemons to replenish her own power!
Her memory had returned, and her current state, as well as her deep slumber, all required an immense amount of vitality and beast souls for support.
To ascend to the true levels of a primordial spirit or Dark Deity, she needed to hunt for more energy, which meant she had to feed.
"That's probably it."
Yu Yuan glanced at the Baneblade and quickly recognized that the Empress's efficiency far surpassed his own.
A single drop of blood had incited a frenzy among the beasts, leading them to turn on each other.
Chen Qinghuang didn't need to lift a finger at the moment. She was already gathering the vital energy and demon souls from the fallen archdemons and alien beasts. She would wait for the outcome of the battle between the Tar-Backed Bull and the female archdemon, for Ogeus to throw himself into the fray, and for a victor to emerge. Then she would awaken, slay the victor, and consume all the demons and beasts.
From the looks of it, more archdemons and alien beasts were also making their way to the scene.
With just a drop of blood, Chen Qinghuang had secured dozens of eighth and ninth level archdemons and alien beasts, as well as five or six ninth level Monster Lords and equally high-ranking alien beasts.
Her harvest was indeed bountiful.
"Yu Yuan!"
Ogeus, as imposing as a mountain, bellowed with rage, manipulating dozens of shattered golden rocks.
"At last."
Having grasped Chen Qinghuang's strategy, Yu Yuan looked upon the Monster Lord with an unexpected twinge of sympathy.
Golden blood flowed from Ogeus's Demonic Eyes. In his massive Fellbeast form, he appeared to be using blood magic in an attempt to awaken the spiritual wisdom of the frenzied Golden Rock Beasts.
In doing so, he was clearly challenging the Empress's might.
It was evident that the ninth level Monster Lord's efforts were in vain.
The Golden Rock Beast horde, which had grown under his influence, continued to clash with the Starbeasts, Darkfire Beasts, and other unnamed alien beasts. Before long, one of the Golden Rock Beasts perished, its body drifting down to the meteorite where the Tar-Backed Bull and the female archdemon were locked in combat.
Ogeus was powerless to intervene.
Moreover, the strange behavior of the Tar-Backed Bull and the female Monster Lord, Qinghuang, kept Ogeus from daring to approach the meteorite, for he was certain that Chen Qinghuang was inside.
"We meet again."
Yu Yuan gestured vigorously towards Ogeus. With a mere thought, the bloodthirsty Baneblade flew into his other hand. "Your lieutenants are dying. As their king, shouldn't you take action? Don't just bark orders. If you wish to kill me, come a little closer."
The closer one got to the meteorite where Yan Ziyang was concealed, the more an archdemon like Ogeus would be influenced by Chen Qinghuang's presence.
Ogeus was still able to keep his wits about him and call out Yu Yuan's name because he hadn't reached the meteorite yet and his demon soul and bloodline remained untainted by the empress's malevolent thoughts.
Yu Yuan's taunts were meant to incite Ogeus to join the fray more swiftly.
"Master!"
It was then that Yu Yiyi's voice echoed from a different direction.
Yu Yuan turned and immediately saw Yu Yiyi standing in the Crucible of Evil alongside Yan Qiling, both controlling a silver-white meteorite as they made a sudden appearance.
Yan Qiling greeted him with a radiant smile, nodding his head in a cheerful manner.
