C1332 The Snow Bear Was Injured
In the silent expanse of the Deep Starfield, countless crystal shards, no larger than fingernails, were strewn about like fragments of shattered glass. Jee Ningshuang, clad in a white robe, stood amidst the void, the Starfrost Sword slung across her back. Though this wasn't her first visit, the place felt unfamiliar, and she had come to understand the true nature of the void.
Without meteors, derelict warships, or scattered bones and superpowers, she had no points of reference. It wasn't long before she began to feel disoriented. However, she quickly devised a plan. With a straightforward approach, she channeled her spiritual power into the crystals using the Sword Dao True Spell she had mastered, infusing them with the sword intent of the Starfrost Sword.
She cast these icy crystals throughout the galaxy like a fisherman casting a net. Each thread of sword intent resonated with her consciousness, serving as her eyes, aiding her in navigating this strange, new world. She waited with serene patience.
In this place, time held no meaning, and she had no idea how much had elapsed. Then, abruptly, a strand of the sword intent she had released elicited a response. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
...
Qiao Yuling and her mentor Qi Yunhong, en route to the Dark Wing Starfield, had learned that by separating their souls from their bodies, they could travel up to tenfold faster in the void of the Deep Starfield. Following Yu Yuan's method, Qiao Yuling had managed to approximate the path to their destination.
Her confidence was bolstered by Yu Yuan's assurance that the Void Spirit Succubus, the Fallen Divine Tree, and the others had withdrawn. Only then did she dare to unleash the Yin God. The master and apprentice exchanged idle conversation and contemplative silence as they journeyed onward.
Abruptly, Qiao Yuling froze, her gaze fixed on a crystal gleaming with a frigid light, reminiscent of a firefly. She sensed the piercing sword intent within. Her face paled as the distant Yin God stirred with unease.
"Master, didn't Young Master Yu say the Deep Starfield was empty? What, then, is this?" she inquired.
Qi Yunhong, nonchalantly digging at his ear, glanced at the chilling crystal and reached out to claim it. "It's shiny and quite beautiful. Maybe it's a relic from the Lissom Realm's destruction."
A surge of excitement filled him as he considered the possibility that Yu Yuan might have left something behind, something they had yet to fully comprehend.
Qi Yunhong had always considered himself a child of fortune, favored by the heavens.
He saw each setback as divine refinement, believing he was meant to rise to the pinnacle of the world.
Before the transformation into the void, his cultivation had soared, and he sensed he could further refine his skills...
"Watch your paws!"
Qiao Yuling's glare sent a shiver down his spine, prompting him to quickly withdraw his hand.
"Could it be Sword Immortal Jee?"
Taking a deep breath, Qiao Yuling's eyes flickered with countless crimson lightning bolts. She summoned her Yin God back in anticipation of Ji Ningshuang's arrival.
Her Yin God and Ji Ningshuang's true form were converging upon the same location.
The Yin God naturally arrived first. In no time, a dark red shadow cascaded from the crown of Qiao Yuling's head, merging with her and brightening her gaze.
She immediately seemed much more composed, with twin vortexes of lightning stirring within her sleeves.
As the head of the Thunder Sect and a practitioner at the Unrestrained Stage, she harbored no fear of Ji Ningshuang. Even if they were to clash in the void, she was confident she wouldn't be bested.
However, her confidence wavered slightly upon noticing Qi Yunhong, who seemed to be a burden.
"Sword Immortal Jee? The Starfrost Sword? Ji Ningshuang!"
Qi Yunhong's realization came without fear; instead, he broke into a mischievous grin.
Disregarding Qiao Yuling's caution, the fearless "madman" approached the icy crystal resembling Ji Ningshuang's eyes. He waved energetically as if to say hello.
"I'm Qi Yunhong. Back in the Boundless Great World, I followed Yu... No, I mean Senior Hong!"
Recalling tales of Ji Ningshuang and the Divine Level alchemist from three centuries past, he chuckled and said, "Immortal Jee, it's like the flood has washed us into the Dragon King's Temple – we're all on the same side here. Please, don't strike me. You see... we just parted ways with Senior Hong in the Firefly Starfield not too long ago. His guidance is what led us to the Dark Wing Starfield."
At his words, the frosty crystal flared with blinding light.
"You've met? In the Firefly Starfield? I want details!"
Jee Ningshuang's presence lingered, her distinctively icy voice and the chilling sword intent emanating from the crystal.
"It's like this..." Qi Yunhong gestured with his hand, signaling Qiao Yuling to relax, before speaking in a laid-back manner, "The conflict in this starfield has essentially concluded. The Void Spirit Succubus, the Fallen Divine Tree, and Diggs have all departed. The Secular Bird Emperor returned to the Dark Wing Starfield quite some time ago."
He relayed the information shared by Yu Yuan: "We encountered Senior Hong in the Firefly Starfield. He's off exploring with a Ninth Level Cold Domain Bear. Sword Immortal Jee, you should be cautious. I'd advise against taking any unnecessary risks. Alonso, the Grand Marshal of the Asura Clan, is currently stationed in the Firefly Starfield."
Qi Yunhong, never one to hold back, spilled everything he knew, both relevant and not.
The crystal, pulsating with a refined sword intent, twinkled like a distant star.
But after a short time, the small "Star Fragment" departed.
It seemed Jee Ningshuang had reconsidered her approach and decided against coming.
"Uh, leaving just like that? Shouldn't you at least say thank you?" Qi Yunhong grumbled, watching the "Star Fragment" fade away along with the sword intent. He couldn't help but call out again, "Don't forget, it's the Firefly Starfield! And it's filled with luminous rivers of light..."
"Enough, you can be quiet now!" Qiao Yuling snapped.
Qi Yunhong chuckled and fell silent, shrugging his shoulders and regaining his composure. "Young Master Yu has been good to me. If he hadn't intervened in the Rainier Empire, I'd likely have been killed by Qu Jing of the Spirit Void Sect. I wouldn't be enjoying life as I am now. I'm aware of the past entanglements between Sword Immortal Jee and his former life..."
After a brief pause, he added, "I hope they can reunite in the Firefly Starfield."
Qiao Yuling, ready to scold him, held back upon seeing his rare seriousness and said no more.
Together, they continued their journey toward the Dark Wing Starfield.
In the Firefly Starfield, a realm of unknown and bitter cold, Yu Yuan floated above the deep sea, his feet planted firmly on the Dragon Slash Platform as he cast occasional glances at the water below. He had been waiting for what felt like an eternity.
The Cold Domain Bear had been submerged far longer than it had in the past, which was cause for concern. In both the frigid realm and the Firefly Starfield at large, the bear had thrived. Logically, there should have been no mishaps.
Yet, when it came to the Cold Abyss Entrance, the emergence of eerie occurrences was hardly a surprise.
"I can't dive in with the Dragon Slash Platform," Yu Yuan mused with a frown, "It's clear that my presence would only bring greater disaster." Frustrated, he had no choice but to wait, his anxiety mounting by the minute.
He felt a fondness for the Cold Domain Bear. From their first encounter, the intelligent creature had repeatedly shown goodwill and consideration for him. Despite being an alien beast, it had never harmed him, even going so far as to protect Faang Yao and Yuan Lianyao.
When he vanished from the Lissom Realm, the bear diligently ensured the safety of his two companions, escorting them to the Silver Sand Starfield. It was only after becoming a target that the bear retreated to the Firefly Starfield, where it now waited quietly at the border of the Deep Starfield, anticipating his return.
"Please be safe," he whispered to himself, no longer concerned with the cold crystals. All he wanted was to see the endearing Cold Domain Bear resurface, unharmed.
Time dragged on until at last, a vast silhouette began to emerge from the depths, claiming a vast expanse of the sea. Yu Yuan's expression grew somber. This time, the bear was not upright; it was not standing as it had before.
It lay there, back to the sky, seemingly devoid of the strength to move, bearing the marks of a brutal assault.
Yu Yuan's heart lurched with worry. After a torturous wait, the enormous Cold Domain Bear finally rose fully above the water's surface. Lying flat, its broad body that breached the sea was a tapestry of lacerations—deep gashes through its thick hide and into its crystalline bones, leaving them fractured and exposed.
The wounds were densely packed, yet no blood flowed from them. This likely stemmed from its unique bloodline, which possessed a freezing chill so potent that it turned the blood that should have gushed out into ice crystals.
Yu Yuan inhaled deeply and tuned in to his senses. The bear's heart was intact, faintly pulsating. Its soul was feeble, and after a process of refinement, it transformed into snowflakes that drifted through its consciousness.
Feeling somewhat relieved, Yu Yuan examined the injury, his thoughts collected and focused. The bear was alive but had sustained a severe wound—a sword mark.
"The vast Sword Sect!" he concluded swiftly.
For a Ninth Level Cold Domain Bear to sustain such grievous harm in such a brief span, and with such distinct sword marks, it could only be the work of the so-called Great Sword Immortal from the Sword Sect. Only the Great Sword Immortal had the power to inflict such a profound wound, leaving behind a deep sword scar.
