C1336 Forbidden Area of the Forbidden Area

"Recuperation?"

The Shura Elder, who had journeyed thousands of miles with the Frost Well in tow, wore a look of deep skepticism.

She couldn't fathom any connection between Yu Yuan and the snow bear.

Why would Yu Yuan tend to the snow bear's wounds after it had been injured?

Ciara, riddled with doubt, narrowed her eyes and, to her astonishment, observed that the crimson rays emanating from the Baneblade's Bloodhell were indeed stitching up the snow bear's ghastly injuries.

Even more baffling to her was the trace of Soul Power seeping into the snow bear's consciousness.

Ciara was taken aback.

Her last encounter with Yu Yuan had been in the Starborn's Kuvrepros, where they had formed a temporary alliance due to Cao Jiaze and Xu Jingyao.

But that was the extent of it. Not only were they not close, but they also had some unresolved issues.

Following Ballo's arrival, the unrest in Kuvrepros was swiftly quelled.

With the vanishing of Zekrica and the Titanblade, the heavy burden she had been shouldering came to an abrupt end.

Later, commanded through a psychic link with the Blood King via the Frost Well, she arrived in the Glimmerdrift Nebula.

Soon after, she learned that the snow bear, a savior to its kind, had stealthily ventured from the Glimmerdrift Nebula into the Brugeth, now an extraterritorial battlefield, upon hearing of the Voidweaver's emergence and Diggs's initiation of a sinister rite to call upon the Origin Deity.

The details eluded her; all she knew was that by the time she considered investigating, the Brugeth had become a desolate void.

The enigmatic and infinitely unknown Brugeth instantly dissuaded her from pursuing further.

She reported her findings upward, and swiftly, Alonso, the grand commander of the Shura, descended upon them.

Alonso instructed her to keep a vigilant eye on the snow bear at the edge of the Star River.

Unbeknownst to her, upon reaching the borderlands, the snow bear had whisked Yu Yuan away to the Glimmerdrift Nebula in search of the star where Wintermaw lay.

All she knew was that the snow bear had vanished without a trace at one point.

And through the Frost Well she carried, she sensed an abnormal stir within the Frozen World, a place her kin deemed a forbidden area.

As she went to investigate, she unexpectedly encountered Ji Ningshuang, known as the Stardust Blade, along the way. In the Glimmerdrift Nebula, a confrontation with Ji Ningshuang, the Grand Sword Immortal of the Everlands, was inevitable. She had sorely underestimated the might of the Stardust Blade.

Ji Ningshuang, honed by the trials of the Dark Star, had refined her swordsmanship to an even higher level. The Stardust Blade had grown sharper, and the potency of her sword spells had surged anew. Following a grueling battle, she managed to escape using the Frost Well, though not without sustaining injuries.

Despite the setback, she successfully reached the Frozen Wastes by harnessing the link between the Frost Well and this frigid realm. To her astonishment, she discovered the missing snow bear, gravely wounded, at this very location.

"I'll tend to its wounds. We had dealings in the Brugeth before it vanished into the void," she mused.

Yu Yuan paused briefly before getting to the heart of the matter, "Frankly, you and I, along with the Shura, are adversaries, not allies. I'm unclear about your ties to the snow bear, but we've maintained a cordial relationship since our first encounter. To be specific, it has been of great assistance to me in the Brugeth."

After providing some context, Yu Yuan added, "It guided me here, unearthing peculiar Ice Shards from the ocean floor, which caught the attention of Gu Xingkui, the Sword of Gaia, resulting in its grievous injuries."

"I've been attempting to heal it, and it appears to be effective. Observe carefully, and you'll see for yourself," he said, pausing momentarily. "That's the reality. If you doubt my words, you can verify them with the snow bear once it regains consciousness."

Standing atop the Dragon Slaying Stage, Yu Yuan gazed down at the Baneblade Bloodhell, which was still infusing the snow bear with blood and Soul Power under his compulsion. With a serene countenance, he stated, "I want you to understand that I ceased our conflict and refrained from further entanglement simply because I saw no need for it."

Ciara listened patiently, taking a moment to process the information before suddenly asking, "Where is that... secular bird?"

As she spoke of the secular bird, her soul seemed to disperse, her presence emanating outward as if bracing for a formidable adversary.

Her rage had clouded her judgment, but she now realized that Yu Yuan and Chen Qinghuang had departed together.

Unless something unexpected had occurred, they were likely still together.

She had learned from the Glimmerdrift Nebula that the secular bird and the Voidweaver had clashed in the Spirit World.

Diggs, Brie, and a malevolent giant tree were also involved in the fray.

Yu Yuan, meanwhile, remained at the epicenter of the conflict.

"She has gone to the Darkpinion. The battle there has concluded. The enigmatic Origin Deity has already acquired what it sought. Brie's bloodline level has dropped to the eighth level. Diggs has harvested an evil fruit, which has rejuvenated him, and he is on the verge of ascending to the tenth level bloodline."

Yu Yuan repeated the same details to Ciara.

Ciara absorbed every word with utmost attention, visibly shaken by the revelations.

The Voidweaver, the Blightwood, the return of Diggs, the encroachment of the Origin Deity—these were all novelties to her, things she had never encountered before.

Yu Yuan's account was precisely the knowledge she sought but had been too apprehensive to uncover on her own.

"How is Elena doing now?"

After a thorough explanation, Yu Yuan shifted the conversation abruptly.

"That young lady has embraced the generosity of our king and has formally ventured into the Dark Realm for her trials," Ciara said with a hint of a smile, her voice tinged with pride. "I have no doubt she'll emerge from the Dark Realm as a formidable Shura, surpassing even her father's legacy."

Then, Ciara's tone took a sharp turn as she seemed to realize something.

"You're the successor of the Titanblade and have ties to the Boulderdawn. We will not spare you! Kid, once the snow bear awakens, if I discover you've deceived us, I will show you no mercy!"

Her words carried a threat, clearly indicating that she harbored a grudge, aware that Sabonis's severe injuries were the result of Boulderdawn's schemes.

"Unless the Blood King himself intervenes..." Yu Yuan gestured to the Dragon Slaying Stage beneath him, "With this in my possession, you alone can't hold me back. Moreover, the Grand Sword Immortal from the Sword Sect just happens to be in the Glimmerdrift Nebula—I have allies I can call upon."

"Allies? You must be dreaming. Why would Ji Ningshuang, of all people, help a Boulderdawn upstart like you?" Ciara scoffed. "If she knew you were here, she'd likely abandon me and come after you first!"

She was acutely aware of the internal strife within the Everlands, understanding that the factions led by the five Utmost Beings and the resurgent Boulderdawn were locked in a bitter conflict.

Moreover, to avoid devastating the Everlands, the warring parties had taken their fight off-world.

Out there, with no need for restraint, it was a fight to the death upon first encounter.

Yu Yuan simply smiled, offering no explanation.

Ciara, having never set foot in the Everlands nor witnessed the conflict at the Moonfall Sanctuary, was clearly ignorant of his history with the Stardust Blade. His composed and smug demeanor only fueled her suspicions further.

After a moment's thought, the Shura elder, seemingly grasping at straws, inquired, "Why would the Stardust Blade show up in the Glimmerdrift Nebula?"

"Why wouldn't it?" Yu Yuan retorted.

"This region is designated a forbidden area within the Everlands; entry is prohibited." Ciara said, glancing at the deep sea below. "Only those who carry the Frost Well are privy to a secret: the Everlands depend on the stability of the Glimmerdrift Nebula. They wouldn't allow its inhabitants to be tormented."

"So, the five paramount powers have collectively declared the Glimmerdrift Nebula off-limits."

"And yet, the Stardust Blade has brazenly flouted the Everlands' decree by storming in!"

Ciara was visibly upset.

From her demeanor, it seemed she would confront the Sword Sect's leader herself and lodge a complaint against Ji Ningshuang.

"The forbidden area is off-limits for hunting and senseless slaughter..."

Yu Yuan stroked his chin, pondering for a moment before it all became clear to him.

It was all because of the "Wintermaw" being here!

Should the Glimmerdrift Nebula be destroyed in war, with the Shura clansmen perishing and all life extinguished, this frigid Domain would likely decline gradually, perhaps even entering a state of desolation in a certain sense.

Maybe the rich ice energy of the starry sky would dissipate and flow elsewhere.

Without the vast ice energy, even if the "Wintermaw" were located in the Frozen Wastes, it would fail to gather ice energy, rendering the "Wintermaw" unnecessary.

The Everlands would then have to select a suitable new Astral Domain and construct a new "Wintermaw."

For the five supreme powers, this would be a monumental task involving the forces of space-time, ensuring the smooth flow of Domains, both time-consuming and labor-intensive.

Pei Yuling's rebellion and the glimpse of the mysterious Origin Deity had added significant pressure to the Everlands.

Naturally, they did not wish for the Glimmerdrift Nebula to become a desolate wasteland.

"That girl, she's really... just as she's always been."

Yu Yuan shook his head, a wry smile on his face.

Only Ji Ningshuang would dare to flout the Everlands' edict and rush headlong into the Glimmerdrift Nebula, disregarding the rules and even breaking them herself.

But what could be her compelling reason for coming here?

"It's awake!"

Ciara exclaimed, her excitement palpable. She sensed the soul of the snow bear stirring and the active convergence of the dense ice energy.

"We're set."

Yu Yuan lifted his hand, and the Baneblade transformed into a streak of crimson lightning, settling into his palm.

As the snow bear awakened, the blood crystals nestled within its wounds cracked open, and a rich scent of blood rained down upon its massive form like a refreshing downpour.

Its vitality surged back with astonishing speed, clearly out of danger.

From here on, it would simply need to rely on the mysteries of its bloodline and the resonance with the land to heal gradually.

"..."