C1302 He Did Not Die!

Perched atop a shell-shaped meteorite, Cao Jiaze sat restlessly within a meticulously carved jade palace. The palace, adorned with a myriad of gems and fine jade, housed an enigmatic array that shielded him from illusions, preventing him from succumbing to the mesmerizing spectacles around him.

To him, the fragmented Astral Domain resembled a tumultuous, colorful sea. The waves, imbued with distinct space magic, exuded a hallucinogenic potency that enveloped everything—creatures, realms, and meteorites alike.

While he remained unaffected within the palace, others weren't as fortunate. He had intended to call out, to warn and beckon back those ensnared by the illusions. Yet, upon realizing that even Wei Zhuo and Zhu Huan had unwittingly fallen prey to the deception, ignoring his shouts and resolutely departing the meteorite, he wisely abandoned his efforts.

Wei Zhuo and Zhu Huan, both cultivators of the Unbound Stage, possessed formidable spiritual wisdom and resilience. Their susceptibility to the illusion indicated that its creator was of a higher realm and life tier, a level above them. Such a revelation could only mean one thing: those surpassing the Unbound Stage were the elite forces of the Extraterrestrial Star River. Observing the ripples laced with space magic, Cao Jiaze could not help but surmise the truth.

"Voidweaver," he marveled inwardly.

Abruptly, amidst the kaleidoscopic ripples, a vibrant green intensified, swallowing the surrounding hues and leaving a singular verdant expanse in its wake, akin to a tranquil green brook.

Then, a figure he knew all too well emerged, treading lightly upon the green stream, gazing calmly as if from another dimension.

"Yu Yuan!" Cao Jiaze called out softly, his attention quickly scanning the surroundings. It was only in Yu Yuan's presence that the colorful ripples had transformed into green, a color now teeming with boundless vitality, heralding the emergence of new life.

Momentarily taken aback, he soon grasped the truth: Yu Yuan must have been projected here from across the cosmos, aided by the secular bird.

"Ms. Yuan, Faang Yao..."

Yu Yuan stood in the stream, his brow furrowed as he gazed at the meteorite, which resembled a seashell. Chen Qinghuang's words echoed in his mind, stirring a sense of unease within him. The Uxthar Tree in the Spirit World threatened to consume all life within the Brugeth Astral Domain, while the Voidweaver's illusions were sending individuals from the Star River straight into the Spirit World.

Yuan Lianyao and Faang Yao were neither on the meteorite nor by Cao Jiaze's side, clearly ensnared by the same illusions as the Crypt Clan members. "Everyone acted as if they had lost their souls, leaving in a frantic rush," Cao Jiaze remarked with a wry smile, having witnessed the events firsthand. "They scattered in different directions, yet I sensed they were all drawn by the same illusion. I can see the truth, but I'm powerless to stop it. And..." He turned to look back at the Starway, "We're trapped on this extraterritorial battlefield! Ever since Pei Yuling vanished, the Starway has malfunctioned."

Cao Jiaze no longer referred to Pei Yuling as "Mr. Pei" after learning from Chu Yao and others that Pei Yuling was compromised. Having forsaken the Everlands to ally with the so-called Origin Deity, Pei Yuling had lost Cao Jiaze's respect.

"They're being lured to the Spirit World by the Voidweaver's illusions. Once they're ensnared, they'll be instantly slain by the bizarre trees, their vitality drained and their souls consumed," Yu Yuan explained in a hushed tone, concisely outlining the horrors of the Spirit World and the Shadowkin's Diggs's ambitions. He also briefly mentioned the schemes involving the Origin Gate and the Voidweaver.

"Think of something," he urged, "either spread the word to inform others or find a way to awaken Wei Zhuo and Zhu Huan so they can disrupt the Spirit World as much as possible." With those words, Yu Yuan's figure in the center of the green stream gradually faded into obscurity.

Cao Jiaze's expression grew more troubled as he grappled with the newfound knowledge...

In a corner of the Star River, the rare stone, transformed by the Abyssal Leviathan, danced within the colorful ripples, hurtling toward the outer world.

However, each time the rare stone completed a circuit, it would traverse the same territory again. Inside, Lin Zhuyun and the Ghoul King could gaze upon the Star River visible from the outside world, filled with mysterious, colorful ripples that conveyed a sense of space magic.

They speculated that their master's delayed return was due to these spatial ripples. As long as they remained within the rare stone, they were immune to the illusions of the Voidweaver and could perceive reality with clarity. Yet, despite this protection, they were powerless to break free from the Voidweaver's spatial constraints and escape from Brugeth. Their predicament echoed that of Yu Yuan and Cao Jiaze: unaffected by illusions but unable to achieve true freedom.

...

The Lunar Meteorite.

Chen Qinghuang slightly bowed her head, and beneath her, a massive spiral of ripples unfurled across the silver-white ground. At the ripple's center, concentric patterns gently spiraled inward.

"The entire Brugeth is saturated with those colorful ripples, omnipresent. The youngsters from Ebon Star, including ourselves, are being drawn inward by the spatial light rings toward the Spirit World, even if we remain motionless. You simply don't feel it," she explained with serene composure, as if stating the most elementary truth.

"Those ensnared by the illusion don't meander along the light rings but instead travel in a straight line from the outermost ring directly toward the Spirit World. Moreover, the space magic of the colorful butterfly aids them in bridging the spatial gap," the Queen remarked with a detached tone.

Yan Qiling was the first to grasp the concept, and he carefully elucidated it for the others. Soon after, everyone was on the same page, aware that even those not beguiled by the Voidweaver's illusion were being inexorably drawn toward the Spirit World by the spatial ripples, albeit at a much slower pace. Those under the illusion's sway, however, would be swiftly delivered to the Spirit World, becoming nourishment for the Uxthar Tree.

As the Uxthar Tree gradually flourished, requiring an abundance of psionic power and vitality, those not deceived by the illusion would eventually find themselves transported to the Spirit World.

These individuals are likely to be the strongest warriors within the Brugeth Astral Domain, destined to be the last to be devoured.

"Let's wait a bit longer. Brie of the Shadowkin will surely appear once the scent of the Uxthar Tree is released. The moment it disperses, it will draw him irresistibly. No matter where he is or what he's doing, he'll come rushing over at top speed."

"After all, Brie is not immune to aging or the constraints of his bloodline. If he seeks immortality and wishes to maintain his position indefinitely, he'll be compelled to come. Moreover, he stands to uncover even more secrets about the Shadowkin from the Uxthar Tree."

"..."

Chen Qinghuang's deep insights into the evolving dynamics of the Spirit World left everyone both astounded and somewhat reassured.

Their immunity to the illusions, simply by being in Chen Qinghuang's presence, was comforting. Additionally, her awareness of all the lurking dangers and her leisure in awaiting Brie's arrival suggested she had a comprehensive strategy in place. This was the true source of everyone's calm.

"I..."

Yu Yuan coughed, the images of Yuan Lianyao, Faang Yao, Xie Bin, and Elena flashing through his mind. He was certain that Yuan Lianyao and Faang Yao were currently in Brugeth, ensnared by illusions. As for Xie Bin and Elena, he couldn't be sure if they had left. If they hadn't, and were still in Brugeth, they would undoubtedly be caught in this disaster.

"Could you help me locate a few people?" he requested.

Yan Qiling, Yu Yiyi, Beru, and the others understood his intent from his request.

"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 looking around.

Following his departure, Moore, Yan Ziyang, and Yu Yiyi, who was managing the Crucible of Evil, hesitated briefly before also taking their leave.

Soon, only Yu Yuan and Chen Qinghuang remained on the modest silver meteorite, leaving Yu Yuan feeling somewhat embarrassed...

The Empress's gaze was as cold as ice as she glanced at him. "I can sense the movements of the three solar nuclei at any time. That woman from the Ruby Hand is still a considerable distance from the Spirit World; she won't die just yet. I've imbued my power into those nuclei, which allows me to exert some influence over 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 with Her Majesty's divine abilities, she could clearly see the images in his mind.

"It would be more trouble than it's worth. I don't feel like looking," Chen Qinghuang huffed dismissively.

Yu Yuan's face fell. "While you were in slumber, Elena was constantly at your side, serving you with utmost dedication and care..." He attempted to appeal to her emotions.

"They won't die," the empress responded, showing a hint of impatience.

Yu Yuan's eyes brightened.

Her dismissive "They won't die" was a powerful reassurance for Yu Yuan. It suggested that the Shura girl was either exceedingly distant from the Spirit World or not present at all.

When Yu Yuan brought up Xie Bin and Faang Yao again, the empress had already closed her eyes, indicating she had no interest in further discussion.

Yu Yuan realized it was futile to continue the conversation.

He thought to himself that Xie Bin and Faang Yao would have to rely on their own luck, hoping they wouldn't too swiftly encounter the Spirit World and fall prey to the legendary Uxthar Tree.

...

Whoosh!

A giant scepter entwined with withered vines tore through the Star River, covering billions of miles in an instant.

The Shadowkin's handsome chieftain sat serenely at the tip of the scepter, his dark green cape billowing in the breeze, scattering flecks of plant essence.

Brie, who appeared to be in his forties, exuded an aura of having been sculpted by the trials of time and the elements.

"It actually appeared in the shattered Brugeth," Brie murmured, his face reflecting the complexity of his emotions.

​