C1393 The Strangeness

Ji Ningshuang's words plunged Yu Yuan into a prolonged silence.

He had previously encountered similar sentiments from Chu Yao.

Yet, due to his bias against Chu Yao, Yu Yuan had remained skeptical until he could verify the truth upon his return to the Everlands.

But now, it was Ji Ningshuang who spoke these words, not Chu Yao!

The Rebirth Pill was indeed flawed, a fact his senior brother knew all too well. But without that pill, what would his fate be?

His thoughts abruptly turned to Fu Xuanwen, who perished in the Kuvrepros Astral Domain. This cultivator from the Ebon Star harbored a deep-seated grudge against the Order of Healing.

Fu Xuanwen had arrogantly declared his intention to compel the Order of Healing and the Artifact Sect to provide pills and equipment to the cultivators and archdemons waging war in extraterrestrial realms, all without compensation.

This obstinate Unbound cultivator had once stirred trouble within the Order of Healing and was subsequently barred from returning to the Everlands.

He claimed that three hundred years ago, he had overheard Sect Master Han Miaoyuan inquiring whether he was interested in secretly returning to the Everlands to eliminate someone...

According to him, the person Han Miaoyuan wanted to eliminate was none other than himself, who had delved deeply into the study of poison pills.

Could it be... Han Miaoyuan?

Was his senior brother coerced by Han Miaoyuan, knowing that the sect master of the Ebon Star wielded the power of the five major forces and sought to eliminate him? Had he tampered with the Rebirth Pill to avert this threat?

His senior brother's actions were a means to self-preservation, to cling to life at all costs.

Chu Yao had also mentioned that the Rebirth Pill would induce a deep slumber, not death.

Now, piecing together Ji Ningshuang's words, Yu Yuan found himself utterly bewildered.

Had he been mistaken all along?

He whispered to himself.

"For the details, you can seek confirmation from Zhong Chichen upon your return to the Everlands."

Ji Ningshuang remained composed. After her statement, she furrowed her brow and added, "However, I've heard that Zhong Chichen's well-being is precarious. Since his breakthrough to the Unbound Realm, he's taken little interest in the Order of Healing's internal affairs, delegating all responsibilities to Chu Yao. He's become reclusive, hardly making public appearances or engaging in pill refinement."

"I guess something's not right with his body."

"…"

Yu Yuan's face was somber, and he remained silent for a long while.

He couldn't help but reminisce about his past with Zhong Chichen and the moments before he took the Rebirth Pill. Before vying for the title of God of Medicine, his bond with Zhong Chichen was strong. After assuming leadership of the Order of Healing, Zhong Chichen devoted himself to cultivation, pausing his pill production and swiftly advancing through the realms.

For a long time, he and Zhong Chichen had not seen each other, and there were unresolved issues between them.

Thus, when there were complications with the Rebirth Pill, he was both perplexed and astonished.

He had suspected that Zhong Chichen coveted the position of sect master of the Order of Healing.

However, after his earthly and heaven souls returned and he awoke within the Yu family, he deliberately looked into the past and discovered that his senior brother seemed indifferent to the sect master's throne.

Zhong Chichen quickly entrusted the sect's responsibilities to Chu Yao, focusing on Chu Yao's development, while distancing himself from worldly affairs.

Considering Zhong Chichen's lack of desire for the sect's power, it seemed unlikely that he would harm him to usurp the throne.

Yu Yuan stroked his chin, his gaze deepening, and after a long pause, he nodded: "It appears it's time for me to make a trip back to the Everlands."

"Mm, your return now would indeed be quite the spectacle," Ji Ningshuang said with a peculiar smile.

A single Solar Spirit with the combat prowess of a Monster Lord, capable of transforming into a Shura, a Silverscale Tribe warrior, a Blood Fiend's Demon God, and an Unbound cultivator of both the Devil Palace and Forgeroses—such was Yu Yuan. In the newly shaped Everlands, he could virtually walk unchallenged.

This was because the five great powers, along with Boulderdawn and the Chamber of Commerce, had reached a tacit understanding and a secret pact.

In the Everlands, they would not reignite their bloody conflicts or shatter each other's foundations over their disputes.

In such a climate, Yu Yuan, wielding the Dragon Slaying Stage and having unearthed the Wintermaw from the Glimmerdrift Nebula, could traverse the Everlands with ease and confidence.

Upon securing the Wintermaw, he would be hailed as a hero, and the five supreme powers would likely overlook his actions.

"I have to admit, after drifting abroad for so long, I find myself longing for the Everlands."

Yu Yuan stroked his chin, pondering the current situation in the Glimmerdrift Nebula where Mo Baichuan had teamed up with Jun Chen and others.

When a common foe emerged, one that posed a threat to the Everlands, beings and demons alike who had stepped out of that realm would instinctively join forces, regardless of their differing ideologies or past grievances.

The Everlands had always operated on the principle of uniting against external threats before addressing internal conflicts.

With the Wintermaw in his possession, he could easily return to the Everlands via the Deathwing Lair in the Darkpinion. Perhaps he could even secure the Titanblade and uncover the truth with his senior brother's help.

The two individuals, separated for three centuries within the depths of the cold fog, began to discuss their plans upon their return.

Meanwhile, the Abyssal Leviathan, relentlessly assailed by four platinum Shura, showed no signs of regaining its sanity, continuing to bellow as it charged towards the far end of the cosmos.

It seemed it wouldn't be long before it left the Glimmerdrift Nebula.

Enshrouded in darkness, Alonso used his mystique to send out persistent messages, eventually drawing the attention of Ciara and her companions.

They witnessed Jun Chen and his group unleashing a barrage of lightning-fast attacks on Alonso. Realizing the gravity of the situation, the four platinum Shura swiftly moved to intercept.

Simultaneously.

The Brugeth Nebula's Void-transformed powerhouses, Green Willow, Hei Xun, and Sky Fiend Indigo Wraith, encountered Cao Jiaze, Wei Zhuo, and other stalwarts from the Everlands en route to the Glimmerdrift Nebula.

With a mere exchange of glances, both parties surged into the Glimmerdrift Nebula together.

Upon entry, they were greeted by the sight of the once vibrant Star River in disarray, with stars bursting and turning into icy meteorites.

The scene was reminiscent of the Brugeth before its destruction, with the cosmic order in ruins and the stellar realms no more.

"This..."

Indigo Wraith, a formidable Sky Fiend, inhaled sharply, his face turning grave as he gazed upon the ruined Star River.

He had visited this stretch of the cosmos before his confinement in Moonfall Sanctuary. As a distinguished Sky Fiend, Indigo Wraith had once freely roamed these parts and knew the Glimmerdrift Nebula to be a thriving expanse.

Yet now, the deathly stillness of the Glimmerdrift Nebula seemed irreversible.

"How did it come to this?"

Not far off, Cao Jiaze, Wei Zhuo, and other cultivators from the Everlands had just come from the desolate Brugeth with nothing to show for their search. They too were stunned by the devastation before them.

"Abyssal Leviathan!"

Green Willow, clad in green with a vivid vertical pupil, slowly traced the vanishing silhouette of the cosmic giant beast in the depths of his eyes. "The rampaging cosmic giant beast has laid waste to the Glimmerdrift Nebula! But what could have driven such a ferocious creature into an irrational frenzy?"

Indigo Wraith and Hei Xun followed his gaze, but to no avail.

"Alonso!"

Green Willow's cry echoed again, as he detected a familiar presence stirring within the chilling embrace of the Absolute Darkness.

Beyond the darkness, they could see Jun Chen, Zhou You, and others striking repeatedly.

Those who had traveled from the Darkpinion, intent on breaking through the sealed Wintermaw, were utterly taken aback.

A tenth-level Golden Shura being hunted and killed in the Shura's own Glimmerdrift Nebula?

What on earth had transpired here?

They had previous dealings with Alonso and knew him to be as formidable as Sabonis, the Shura commander. Not only was he a warrior of exceptional strength, but he also wielded numerous Shura artifacts.

It seemed unlikely that a Golden Shura would be driven to such desperation by Jun Chen, Tian Zang, Zhou You, and the others.

Unless, of course, Alonso had sustained grave injuries and his artifacts had suffered considerable damage.

*Roar!*

The bellow of the Dire Bear thundered across the Glimmerdrift Nebula, drawing everyone's focus.

The Dire Bear, crowned with a crescent moon, resembled a towering snow-capped peak as it hauled the arcing Moon Soul, swiftly making its way toward a specific location.

"Dragon Slaying Stage!"

"Yu Yuan!"

The Dragon Slaying Stage, radiating with a brilliant white light, captured the attention of all present.

"Hey, why have you guys only just arrived?"

...