C1326 This Road Is Not Open
Yu Yuan quietly observed the palace nestled within the Silver Sand Starfield, his Yin God essence carefully concealed.
He was uncertain who else might be present in the Silver Sand Starfield, aside from Cao Jiaze.
As the primary heir to the Profound Sky Sect, the sect had invested heavily in him with their most treasured resources. They certainly wouldn't want to see him come to harm.
It was likely that the area was teeming with formidable beings.
The palace, constructed of gold and jade, emitted a soft, nebulous glow. It hovered at the boundary's edge, showing no immediate intention to venture into the void.
Yet Yu Yuan, already on high alert, dared not make any hasty moves, opting instead to wait silently in the shadows.
Time passed, unmeasured...
A faint light emanated from the palace, unmistakably under Cao Jiaze's watch. It moved unhurriedly towards the Deep Starfield's void, prompting Yu Yuan to proceed with caution.
...
Whoosh!
As Cao Jiaze's palace entered the silent void, he too was on edge, remaining vigilant.
He harbored a deep-seated fear that the will of the Origin Realm God might unexpectedly surge forth, plunging him into a corrupt abyss, lost to himself forever.
For some time now, he had been frequenting the border between the Silver Sand Starfield and the Deep Starfield, cautiously entering at intervals but never daring to delve too deep.
His purpose was merely to sense any significant shifts in this enigmatic region.
His current task involved monitoring the peculiarities of this desolate realm, awaiting the arrival of additional powerhouses. Once assembled, they would venture to the Lissom Realm's Land of Explosion for a thorough investigation.
It was then that he encountered the presence of Yu Yuan's Yin God.
"Yu Yuan!" Cao Jiaze exclaimed, his voice tinged with a mix of shock and excitement, even more so than Yu Yuan himself. "You're still alive?!"
Without waiting for Yu Yuan to respond, Cao Jiaze sighed and mused aloud, "Though you've only preserved your Yin God, it's fortunate nonetheless. At least you can return to Horror Land and pursue the Ghost Dao. With the legacy of the white bones before you, there's still hope for rebirth. Alas, it's somewhat regrettable."
It seemed as though he hadn't had the chance to speak his mind freely in ages. Upon encountering Yu Yuan's Yin God, his pent-up words finally found release.
Observing his demeanor, it was incredibly fortunate that Yu Yuan still had a vestige of his Yin God remaining.
Yu Yuan, now a spectral form, wore an odd expression. He didn't rush to reply but instead focused on the palace crafted from gold and jade, scanning the area behind it for any unexpected arrivals. After a brief wait, confirming that only Cao Jiaze was present, he eased up and inquired, "Why do you think my physical form has perished?"
"It's based on the information brought back by Wei Zhuo and Xu Jingyao," replied the prodigy from the Profound Sky Sect, his surprise evident. After composing himself, he probed further, "Is your physical body still intact?"
Cao Jiaze shook his head, his face a picture of incredulity, "You really have the devil's own luck."
"No! That's not right!"
He quickly corrected himself, "You're a harbinger of doom! First, there was unrest in the Dim Starfield, and now you've caused such a terrifying disturbance on the Outer Battlefield!"
At this point, Cao Jiaze regarded Yu Yuan as if he were staring at a monstrous ghoul.
"What have you heard?" Yu Yuan asked, resigned.
"When Chen Qinghuang battled the Void Spirit Succubus, you vanished without a trace, along with the Dragon Slash Platform. Shortly thereafter, Diggs of the Dark Elfkind seemed to channel the will of the Origin Realm God, unleashing a mysterious power from the Origin Realm into the Lissom Realm..."
Cao Jiaze narrated the events.
His account, gleaned from Wei Zhuo and Xu Jingyao, largely matched the version provided by Qiyan.
"As Wei Zhuo and the others withdrew, they sensed Chen Qinghuang's impending defeat. The corrupted tree had grown unimaginably vast, its limbs piercing through meteorites, siphoning all the disparate powers of the Outer Battlefield. When the Lissom Realm shattered, the enigmatic forces from the Origin Realm spread wildly, reducing the Outer Battlefield to a void."
He elaborated with a few more details.
Yu Yuan glanced over his shoulder, "How did you end up in the Silver Sand Starfield?"
"It's not just me. Wei Zhuo, Xu Jingyao, and other formidable beings from the Vast Expanse have all poured into the Silver Sand Starfield through the Galaxy Crossing I provided," Cao Jiaze confessed openly. "Yu Yuan, heed my advice: whatever your intentions were before, steer clear of the Silver Sand Starfield."
"Why?" Yu Yuan inquired with a hint of curiosity.
"If you value your life."
Cao Jiaze rolled his eyes and remarked, "Had it not been for the chaos, and your message sent through Chen Qinghuang's assistance, I wouldn't have wasted my time on you."
His demeanor turned grave and stern in an instant.
"Let me be clear, we've taken control of the Silver Sand Starfield. Zhu Huan is dead, so is Elder Fu, and Jin Lih from the Demon Palace. The dramatic shifts in the Outer Battlefield, the enigmatic Origin Realm, the Void Spirit Succubus, and Diggs, who aims to usurp Brie, among others..."
Cao Jiaze glanced back at the Silver Sand Starfield behind him. "I'm able to be here on the frontier because the Sect Master of the Profound Sky Sect himself has graced us with his presence."
At those words, Yu Yuan's Yin God shuddered.
The Sect Master of the Profound Sky Sect, a venerable Primordial Spirit Stage cultivator who has lived for eons, had relocated to the Silver Sand Starfield due to the significant upheaval in the Deep Starfield!
It made sense...
Clearly, a host of other formidable figures must be converging here.
They all likely sought to unravel the mystery of what transpired in this desolate expanse.
For now, they hold their positions, probably due to incomplete numbers. Perhaps they're awaiting the arrival of additional Primordial Spirit Stage cultivators.
"Yan Qiling, my Evil Cauldron, and Yuan Lianyao, what's their status?" Yu Yuan demanded.
"Yuan Lianyao is with the Red Devil Sect; she's out of harm's way. Chung Guanyu from the Red Devil Sect has arrived too. Both she and Faang Yao are alive. A Cold Domain Bear reportedly infiltrated the Firefly Starfield. As for Yan Qiling and your cauldron, they've been lost to us since before our Sect Master arrived, having traversed through space multiple times," Cao Jiaze explained.
"Pei Yuling has turned his back on us, and without anyone skilled in spatial powers, we could only watch Yan Qiling flee."
Yu Yuan's anxiety eased slightly, understanding that Barol from the Star Race might soon appear in the Illusion Starfield, that the Firefly Starfield harbored two Ninth Level Asura, and that the Dark Wing Starfield was rife with mystery and the unexpected. Hence, Cao Jiaze, the keeper of the Galaxy Crossing, had opted for the Silver Sand Starfield.
As soon as the Galaxy Crossing resumed operations, the vast Haowei immediately became aware of the unfolding events, sending shockwaves throughout the various factions. A succession of powerful individuals descended upon the scene.
"What in the world happened?" Cao Jiaze asked, his expression grave. "Setting aside our standoff with the Divine Soul Sect for a moment, where did you vanish to after you disappeared? Is Chen Qinghuang dead or alive? And what about the Void Spirit Succubus and the Fallen Divine Tree—are they still there?"
The strong who had made their way to the Silver Sand Starfield meticulously scoured the Deep Starfield.
Naturally, Cao Jiaze sought to glean deeper insights from Yu Yuan to better prepare for what lay ahead. His concern was that once the powerhouses from Haowei converged and ventured into the abyssal void, they would encounter forces so terrifying and unpredictable that disaster would be inevitable.
Should the Origin Realm God call upon other formidable entities and involve the Divine Soul Sect, the outcomes could be dire.
"It went like this..." Yu Yuan condensed his tale, recounting how the will of the Origin Realm God had summoned him through Diggs to a bizarre realm, from which he eventually escaped via the Dragon Slash Platform.
He only touched lightly upon the wondrous landscapes he had witnessed.
Yu Yuan informed Cao Jiaze that the Origin Realm God's schemes targeting the Deep Starfield had been successfully executed. Diggs had achieved eternal life and was on the cusp of advancing to the Tenth Level bloodline. The once-legendary Hannya Divine Tree had fully blossomed in its fallen state.
Yet, those peculiar followers of the Origin Realm God had vanished from the Deep Starfield.
Certainly, they would embark on new endeavors, but it was highly unlikely they would return to the Deep Starfield.
He also warned that the power and will of the Origin Realm God could manifest through any Origin Realm Gate, advising Cao Jiaze to remain vigilant. Indeed, other regions within the vast Haowei also harbored Origin Realm Gates.
Cao Jiaze absorbed Yu Yuan's words in prolonged silence, his brow furrowed as if meticulously weighing every word.
After much contemplation, he finally spoke, "Let's agree that this meeting never occurred. Given our differing allegiances, it's best for both of us to act as strangers. The information you've brought is of grave consequence; I must take time to fully comprehend it."
"The Illusion Starfield, Firefly Starfield, Dark Wing Starfield—you're free to go wherever you please."
"Just steer clear of the Silver Sand Starfield. Once you're there, there's no turning back."
"…"
Cao Jiaze gave his earnest warning.
"The Silver Scale Clan's lineage traces back to the Abyss Goanna. Legend has it that this creature is the only one capable of reaching into the abyss. Now that you've taken over Silver Sand, why not use this chance to seek out information about the abyss?"
Yu Yuan offered his advice, also sensing that the enigmatic "Origin Realm God" was destined to become a common foe for all.
A deeper understanding of the Origin Realm and the abyss would be advantageous in countering this nascent malevolent power.
"Alright, take good care of yourself. I hope our paths cross again."
In the palace, Cao Jiaze bowed with clasped hands to Yu Yuan before stepping back.
"Had you not joined the Divine Soul Sect, we might have become close friends, much like you and Zu Ann. Yu Yuan, I find we're quite alike—you're also remarkably resilient."
Cao Jiaze expressed his feelings of regret before vanishing.
