C1341 The Sword Light Moved!!
In the Glimmerdrift Nebula, the Shattered Star lay closest to the River of Swords. Shura battleships were docked on the desolate ice field, surrounded by the ruins of stone palaces with walls etched by the mottled marks of time.
Atop a spire that had remained relatively intact stood a tall figure—Alonso. With his handsome features and a somewhat androgynous air, he was the grand commander of the Shura, a tenth-level Blood Warrior. Alonso was not of the Dark Realm; he was a new generation Shura, born as his people branched out into the wider universe.
Having only recently ascended to the tenth level, Alonso had plenty of life ahead of him and was in no rush. Clad in a snow-white cloak, he gazed contemplatively from the pinnacle of the stone tower at the nearby River of Swords, paying homage to the legacy of Nie Qingtian.
Human masters who reached the primordial spirit realm did not succumb to natural death. Thus, Nie Qingtian had lived longer and existed far before Alonso's time. As the Shura commander, Alonso was but a newcomer, having never truly encountered the Titanblade.
"How formidable," Alonso mused, "after all this time, the sword force and sword's will remain incredibly potent."
His reverie was interrupted by the sight of Demian, the keeper of the Heartthumper Drum, swiftly approaching across the ice field. The eighth and seventh level Shura warriors scattered around were growing restless.
"Commander!" Demian landed and saluted respectfully before speaking, "Ciara has relayed a message from our king. She has just learned that Yu Yuan, a human, and the secular bird have moved from Kuvrepros into the Brugeth. They were seen together, both appearing and vanishing in unison, suggesting a close bond."
Alonso nodded, signaling Demian to cut to the chase without further ado.
Ciara, bearer of the Frost Well, could reach out to Sabonis of the Shura from anywhere, ensuring open lines of communication.
Demian, a native Shura of the Dark Realm, enjoyed Sabonis's deep trust and esteem.
He possessed the Heartthumper Drum, which allowed him to heed the directives of Sabonis.
"The conflict in the Brugeth Astral Domain has concluded. In the Frozen Wastes, the Dire Bear was wounded by the Sword Sect's Sword of Gaia. Yet, after being healed by Yu Yuan and regaining its strength, the Dire Bear mounted a counterattack."
"Our forces continue to pursue Ji Ningshuang, the wielder of the Stardust Blade. Ciara has learned that the Grand Sword Immortal shares a significant connection with Yu Yuan."
"Furthermore, Yu Yuan is in the process of refining his Solar Spirit, and it seems the Dire Bear is protecting him, having driven Ciara away."
"…"
Demian was unable to communicate directly with Ciara; they had to relay messages through the Dark Realm and the Blood King, Sabonis.
Sabonis was the bearer of the Frost Well and the Quasi-sacred Heartthumper Drum, as well as a repository of knowledge and messages for the elite Platinum Shura.
From the Dark Realm, Demian meticulously relayed the freshly acquired intelligence.
Alonso listened intently, nodding frequently.
After a moment, he inquired, "What is the Patriarch suggesting?"
"The Patriarch says that since nothing substantial has been discovered in the Brugeth Astral Domain, and with the Origin Deity gone and both the Blightwood and Voidweaver departed, there's no need for you to linger in the Glimmerdrift Nebula any longer," Demian explained, bowing his head.
"As for the Stardust Blade and Yu Yuan, you should use your judgment in dealing with them."
"Yu Yuan has been a benefactor to Fernand and has saved Elena. Alas, it's unfortunate that he is a descendant of Nie Qingtian," Alonso mused, his eyes reflecting the complex dance of the River of Swords.
As the Shura commander, he was responsible for mobilizing various legions and leading battles against the Human Race and the Otherkin.
Fernand had once been his most reliable assistant and confidant.
He had met Elena when she was young, recognizing her extraordinary talent and predicting she would one day surpass Fernand to become a formidable Shura warrior of the Dark Realm.
Elena had lived up to his expectations. Her bloodline had advanced to the eighth level, and she had formally begun her training in the Dark Realm.
"Ciara believes that Yu Yuan will become a significant threat to us. He has inherited Nie Qingtian's legacy and controls the formidable Dragon Slaying Stage. Yet, he has not ascended to the Solar Spirit realm," Demian reported, his head still lowered.
"Foolish."
Alonso shook his head and let out a cold huff.
Demian didn't dare to argue, keeping his gaze lowered.
"That kid has won the secular bird's trust. You mentioned that when they were in Kuvrepros, the secular bird was always by his side," Alonso said, his expression darkening. "Let's set aside the conflict between Boulderdawn and the clan leader for now. We should avoid causing too much commotion at this time. If the Origin Deity is truly as mysterious and fearsome as they say, let's first clarify his origins."
"I'll follow your lead."
...
Boom!
The colossal snow bear burst through the wall, charging out from the frozen world.
Standing nearly two thousand meters tall, it was still minuscule compared to the stars wrapped in thick cold fog, insignificant as a grain of dust.
Yet upon its arrival, facing the direction of the River of Swords, it seemed to awaken its bloodline.
Beneath its skin, slender bloodline chains suddenly shone brightly.
It was as if the ice magic was reorganizing itself, revealing its wondrous power.
"Wow!"
Ciara, standing guard outside, felt the fluctuation of its vitality and couldn't help but gasp.
She watched it intently, only to see its gaze fixed on the distant, resplendent rivers of light.
The enchanting fireflies seemed to have been called forth by its bloodline.
Ciara stood dumbfounded for a moment, her pupils contracting as she let out a sharp cry.
Millions of miles away, the splendid spectacle of the Glimmerdrift Nebula, enveloped in cold air and off-limits by the Blood King's decree to the Shura clansmen, seemed to truly be shifting slowly.
It was as if the actual rivers of light were meandering towards a deep sea.
"Here!"
Even Ciara, slow to catch on, realized what was happening after a while.
The River of Swords, which had been still for as long as she could remember, was now moving. Whether it was the Dire Bear's bloodline vibration triggering the surrounding ice energy or awakening the River of Swords itself, the dazzling river of light was slowly drawing closer from its distant end.
It seemed slow to her only because of the vast distance from her position.
She believed that the actual River of Swords must be moving incredibly fast!
The Dire Bear thumped its chest and stomped its feet, its face alight with an excited and proud grin.
It seemed to think that its ability to stir the cold fog and the River of Swords within it with its bloodline was a truly remarkable and grand feat.
"Commander!"
On the desolate ice field near the warship, the Shura warriors began to howl.
Demian, along with two other ninth-level Platinum Shuras, gazed up from the ice field at Alonso atop the spire, each voicing their inner thoughts.
What they were unaware of was that Alonso was even more astonished than they were at that moment!
He fully understood the terrifying sword force that the River of Swords harbored, how it was formed, and why it never dissipated.
The River of Swords, which had remained still since its inception, had suddenly stirred, and naturally, Alonso was extremely shocked.
Boom!
The interwoven River of Swords collided with a nearby Domain Star that had long been lifeless, causing it to instantly collapse and shatter.
It transformed into a myriad of tiny meteorites, floating in the void.
...
Across the Star River in the Glimmerdrift Nebula.
A sword light, trailing a long, radiant tail, effortlessly broke free from the encirclement of three Platinum Shuras.
In a mere moment, it had surged a thousand miles away.
Ji Ningshuang, with sword in hand, stood atop the remnants of a warship, her expression one of profound astonishment.
She was amazed to witness the sword's will, shrouded in cold fog, emanating from the peculiar fireflies.
This sword's will existed only in the Sword Sect's secret book.
That individual was a forbidden subject within the Sword Sect, not to be spoken of.
"The Glimmerdrift Nebula still harbors his sword's will and sword force!"
After her initial shock subsided, Ji Ningshuang quickly realized why Yu Yuan would show up in the Shura's starry sea and why he dared to court chaos.
