C1302 Not Dying!
Cao Jiaze sat restlessly within a meticulously carved jade palace atop a shell-shaped meteorite. The palace, seemingly inlaid with various gems and exquisite jade, housed an enigmatic array that shielded him from illusions, preventing him from getting lost in the myriad of fantastical sights.
Through his eyes, the fragmented Starfield transformed into a tumultuous sea of colors. The ripples, each bearing distinct spatial powers and a hallucinatory force, spread in all directions, engulfing every living creature, realm, and meteorite.
Inside the palace, Cao Jiaze remained unaffected, but others weren't so fortunate. He had intended to call out, to warn and beckon back those misled by the illusions. Yet, when he saw that even Wai Zhuo and Zhu Huan, both Unrestrained Stage cultivators of keen intellect and resolute will, were unwittingly ensnared and ignored his shouts, he sensibly abandoned the effort.
Their susceptibility to the illusion suggested that its creator was of a higher realm and life order, surpassing them significantly. Such a being would undoubtedly be among the elite forces of the Outland Star River. Observing the ripples laced with spatial abilities, Cao Jiaze couldn't help but surmise the presence of a "Void Spirit Succubus."
In a sudden shift, amidst the colorful undulations, a vibrant green hue intensified. This verdant surge, teeming with the vigor of life, overpowered the surrounding colors, leaving a solitary green expanse reminiscent of a tranquil stream.
Then, a figure he knew all too well emerged upon the green waters, as if stepping through from another dimension, his demeanor serene. "Yu Yuan!" Cao Jiaze called out softly, his gaze instinctively scanning the surroundings. It was only where Yu Yuan had materialized that the ripples had turned green, as if nurturing an infinite vitality, on the verge of birthing new life.
Momentarily taken aback, Cao Jiaze quickly grasped that Yu Yuan must have been projected here from across the cosmos with the aid of the Secular Bird. "City Lord Yuan, and Faang Yao..." Yu Yuan's brow furrowed as he looked upon the shell-like meteorite, a sense of disquiet stirring within him as he recalled Chen Qinghuang's words.
The Hannya Divine Tree within the Lissom Realm threatens to consume all life in the Deep Starfield, while the illusions cast by the Void Spirit Succubus are transporting people from the Galaxy one by one into the Lissom Realm.
Yuan Lianyao and Faang Yao were nowhere to be found on the meteorite or near Cao Jiaze, clearly ensnared by the same illusions as the Crypt Clan members...
"Everyone was like a soulless shell, hastily departing in all directions. Though they scattered, I sensed they were all drawn by the same illusion," Cao Jiaze, who had witnessed everything, said with a wry smile, "I can see the reality, yet I'm powerless to intervene. And there's more..."
He turned to gaze at the site of the Galaxy Crossing. "We're trapped on the Outer Battlefield! Ever since Pei Yuling vanished, the crossing has malfunctioned."
He refrained from addressing Pei Yuling as "Mr. Pei" after learning from Chu Yao and others that Pei Yuling was compromised.
Having turned his back on the Origin Realm God, Pei Yuling no longer deserved his respect.
"The illusions of the Void Spirit Succubus are luring them toward the Lissom Realm. Once they're ensnared, they'll be instantly slain by the bizarre trees, their vitality drained, their flesh and souls consumed," Yu Yuan spoke softly.
He succinctly conveyed the horrors of the Lissom Realm and the ambitions of the Dark Elfkind.
He also touched upon the schemes involving the Origin Realm Gate and the Void Spirit Succubus, as well as Pei Yuling and his cohorts.
Finally, he instructed, "Find a way to either spread the word to inform others or somehow awaken Wai Zhuo and Zhu Huan so they can disrupt the Lissom Realm as much as possible."
With those words, Yu Yuan's image, amidst the green stream, quietly blurred and faded.
Cao Jiaze's brow furrowed deeply, his headache intensifying with the weight of the truth.
...
In a remote sector of the galaxy.
The rare stone, transformed by the Chaos Roc, oscillated within the colorful ripples, darting toward the external realm.
Yet each time the stone completed a circuit, it found itself passing through the same region again.
Lim Zhuyun and the Yin Corpse King, trapped within, could gaze out at the galaxy, its expanse interwoven with enigmatic, colorful ripples, sensing the peculiarities of space from their confinement.
They speculated that their master's delayed return was due to the spatial ripples.
Remaining close to the rare stone shielded them from the illusions of the Void Spirit Succubus, allowing them to perceive reality clearly.
Yet, they were helpless, unable to break free from the Void Spirit Succubus's spatial hold within the Deep Starfield, even with the stone's aid.
Their predicament mirrored that of Yu Yuan and Cao Jiaze: unaffected by the illusions, they were still denied true freedom.
...
Lunar meteorite.
Chen Qinghuang slightly bowed her head, and beneath her feet, a massive ripple pattern emerged on the silver-white ground.
At the ripple's center, concentric patterns gently spiraled inward.
"The Deep Starfield is saturated with these colorful ripples. The spatial rings are omnipresent. The Profound Sky Sect's youngster, along with us, are being drawn inward by these rings, moving closer to the Lissom Realm, even though you're unaware of it," she explained with an air of tranquility, as if stating the simplest fact.
"Those ensnared by the illusion aren't following the spatial light rings in a circular path from the outer to the inner layers. Instead, they're taking a direct route, speeding straight toward the Lissom Realm. Moreover, the space-warping abilities of the colorful butterfly are shortening the distance for them," the empress commented with a detached tone.
Yan Qiling was the first to grasp the concept, and he proceeded to clarify it for everyone else.
Soon enough, all were aware that even those not beguiled by the Void Spirit Succubus's illusion were being drawn by the spatial ripples toward the Lissom Realm, albeit at a much slower pace.
The affected ones, however, would be rapidly transported in a straight line to the Lissom Realm, becoming nourishment for the Hannya Divine Tree.
As the Hannya Divine Tree reaches its peak need for energy and vitality, those unswayed by the illusion will have also been gathered in the Lissom Realm.
These individuals, likely the most powerful from the Deep Starfield, would be the last to be consumed.
"Let's wait a bit longer. Brie of the Dark Elfkind will surely show up. The moment the essence of the Hannya Divine Tree is released, it will irresistibly draw him in. No matter his location or current activity, he'll come racing over at top speed."
"After all, Brie is also subject to aging and the limitations of his bloodline. Desiring eternal life and to maintain his position of power, he'll be compelled to come. Moreover, he stands to uncover even more secrets of the Dark Elfkind from the Hannya Divine Tree."
"..."
Chen Qinghuang's insightful grasp of the shifts within the Lissom Realm brought a mix of shock and a comforting sense of security to everyone.
Their immunity to the illusions, by virtue of being in Chen Qinghuang's presence, was a relief.
Moreover, given Chen Qinghuang's awareness of the lurking dangers and her composure in awaiting Brie's arrival, it was clear she had a comprehensive strategy in place.
This was the true source of everyone's calm.
"I..."
Yu Yuan coughed, and the images of Yuan Lianyao, Faang Yao, Xie Binn, and Elena sprang to mind.
He was certain that Yuan Lianyao and Faang Yao were currently in the Deep Starfield, ensnared by illusions. As for Xie Binn and Elena, he couldn't be sure if they had left.
But if they hadn't, if they were still in the Deep Starfield, they would inevitably be caught in this disaster.
"Would you help me find some people?" he requested.
Upon hearing his request, Yan Qiling, Yu Yiyi, Beru, and the others understood his concern.
"You two talk; we'll wait over there."
Yan Qiling, ever tactful, was the first to leave his lunar meteorite, joining Beru, Leo, and Denise.
Upon arrival, Yan Qiling immediately fortified his spirit, refraining from any unnecessary observation.
Following his departure, Moore, Yan Ziyang, and Yu Yiyi, who wielded the Evil Cauldron, hesitated briefly before also taking their leave.
In no time, only Yu Yuan and Chen Qinghuang remained on the modestly-sized silver meteorite.
Their departure left Yu Yuan feeling somewhat embarrassed...
The Empress, with her gaze as cold as a mirror of ice, glanced at him and said, "I can sense the movements of the three solar nuclei at any time. The woman from the Red Devil Sect is still a considerable distance from the Lissom Realm; she's not in immediate danger of dying. I've imbued my power within those three solar nuclei, which should slightly influence that colorful butterfly."
Yu Yuan let out a sigh of relief. "And the others?"
Images of Elena, Xie Bin, and Faang Yao surfaced in his thoughts. He was confident that the empress's divine abilities would allow her to see the images in his mind clearly.
"It's too much trouble. I don't feel like looking," Chen Qinghuang huffed dismissively.
A look of distress crossed Yu Yuan's face. "While you were in slumber, Elena remained dutifully by your side, tirelessly serving you without a hint of neglect..." He attempted to appeal to her emotions.
"They won't die!" the empress retorted with a hint of impatience.
Yu Yuan's eyes sparkled with hope.
Her "They won't die" was like a potent tranquilizer for Yu Yuan, indicating that the Asura girl was either incredibly distant from the Lissom Realm or not present at all.
When Yu Yuan brought up Xie Bin and Faang Yao again, she had already closed her eyes, showing no interest in engaging further.
Realizing it was futile to continue, Yu Yuan resigned himself to the situation.
He thought to himself that Xie Bin and Faang Yao should count their blessings, hoping they wouldn't reach the Lissom Realm too soon to fall prey to the legendary Hannya Divine Tree.
...
Whoosh!
A colossal scepter entwined with dried vines sliced through the starry sky, covering a billion miles in a single breath.
The handsome patriarch of the Dark Elfkind sat serenely at the tip of the scepter, his dark green cape billowing in the wind, scattering flecks of plant essence.
Brie, who appeared to be in his forties, exuded a sense of having been sculpted by the elements and the passage of time.
"It actually showed up in the fractured Deep Starfield."
Brie murmured, his face reflecting the complexity of his emotions.
