C1402 Greenshadow
"I hope you remain unchanged," Peach Madam whispered to herself, her concern palpable that upon their next meeting, Yu Yuan might have transformed into someone else—into Hong Qi, the God of Medicine from three centuries past.
She preferred Yu Yuan to stay true to himself, for she had encountered Hong Qi deep within the Rainbow Ocean and was well aware of some of his deeds. As a new member of Boulderdawn, she was astonished to discover the high regard in which Yu Yuan was held by the Mighty of the sect. The power of Boulderdawn was incomparable to that of the Order of Healing.
She pondered the potential calamity that could befall the Everlands if Yu Yuan's memories were fully restored and he resumed his past behaviors with his current level of influence.
"Boulderdawn's Yu Yuan is nearing us aboard the Dragon Slaying Stage!" In the heart of a colossal withered tree, several aged Shadowkin and Wingkind elders concluded their council and emerged from their suspended wooden dwellings. Among them was a Wingkind elder whom Yu Yuan had once met in the astral void of Brugeth.
These elders had been deliberating whether to re-engage with the Everlands and forge tighter bonds with Boulderdawn and the Chamber of Commerce, especially now that the Deathwing Lair and the Everlands were connected. People and creatures from the Everlands had begun trickling into Darkpinion through the Deathwing Lair, with plans to venture to the Glimmerdrift Nebula in search of the unique treasures of the shattered Star River.
They were also considering sending their kin to witness the Nest of Perdition in the Godsblight Marsh. However, recalling the numerous powerful individuals from various clans who had barely escaped the Moonfall Sanctuary, they were hesitant.
"This Yu Yuan is held in high esteem by that individual," the ancient Wingkind elder, shrouded in a death aura, mused, his gray eyes seemingly mirroring the Dragon Slaying Stage. "She mentioned Yu Yuan would come before her departure."
"Let's proceed with caution," he advised.
"I have a feeling that her close collaboration with Boulderdawn and the Chamber of Commerce is driven by Yu Yuan."
The Wingkind and Shadowkin elders gazed solemnly at the transparent barrier before them.
...
With a whoosh, the Dragon Slaying Stage shattered the barrier and smoothly entered the Wingkind's Greenshadow realm, instantly teleporting to where Yu Yiyi and Yan Qiling stood.
"Master!"
"Yu Yuan."
Upon seeing him again in the Greenshadow, both Yu Yiyi and Yan Qiling were visibly moved.
A glance at the Crucible of Evil revealed to Yu Yuan an increased number of Banes within its miniature world. The Shadowfox, in particular, seemed on the verge of breaking through to the tenth level.
"Master!"
The Frost Queen materialized, her crystalline form radiating vibrant life. "Thanks to you, Master, Moore also..." She trailed off as her gaze landed on a snow-white bear perched atop the Dragon Slaying Stage.
She studied the bear, her surprise hidden beneath her composure, recognizing it as the Dire Bear.
"It's good to see you're alright," Yu Yuan said with a smile.
At his behest, the snow bear, now a mere two meters tall, had retracted its bloodline and was yawning indifferently.
The bear showed little interest in the Darkpinion Astral Domain or this realm called Greenshadow.
Having ruled over the Glimmerdrift Nebula for years and wandered other starry realms, the bear had witnessed countless cosmic wonders. The Wingkind's corner of the stars, bordering the Glimmerdrift Nebula, was all too familiar to it, and nothing here could pique its curiosity.
"Master, is that truly the Dire Bear?" Frost Queen inquired for reassurance.
Yu Yuan hummed in affirmation. His attention was divided between sensing the number of Banes in the Crucible of Evil and surveying the Greenshadow's world structure for any hidden powerhouses.
He noticed Mia, Wen Lu, and Hu Caiyun approaching him.
He also overheard the Shadowkin and Wingkind elders whispering about him.
Meanwhile, he engaged in light-hearted conversation with Yan Qiling, who informed him that Yan Ziyang of the Wraithcult had been sent to the Land of Terror to pursue the path of necromancy, in hopes of one day ascending to Ghost King and revitalizing the Wraithcult in human form.
Yan Qiling mentioned that the Nest of Perdition, which emerged in the Everlands, has now been relocated to the Godsblight Marsh. The Rebirth Nest, previously guarded by White Bone, the God of Ghosts, in the Land of Terror, has been transported by the Songbird away from the vast world of the Everlands to the sacred lands of the Shadowkin. Chen Qinghuang, alongside Brie from the Shadowkin, are both currently at the Shadowkin's holy site. Her intention is to use the nests of death, rebirth, and destruction to forge connections between the sacred grounds of the Everlands, the Wingkind, and the Shadowkin. Her Rebirth Nest, combined with parts of the Abyssal Leviathan's flesh, holds promise in restoring a significant portion of Brie's power.
The Shadowkin chieftain, who suffered a tragic fate at the hands of Diggs and the Blightwood in the Brugeth sector, now looks solely to Chen Qinghuang for leadership, obeying her every command. It's clear to Brie and all the Shadowkin that the enigmatic secular bird and the Uxthar Tree, their creator, were steadfast allies from the earliest times. "The alliance our queen forged with us in Ionodios has grown increasingly solid," they acknowledge.
Yan Qiling continued to inform Yu Yuan about the dynamic and complex developments unfolding across the starry expanse. "The Great Demon God Bertain has received a message from Brie and is intrigued by the Maw of Oblivion and the enigmatic Origin Deity. He's delving deeper into these mysteries. His stance reflects the perspectives of a vast majority of intelligent beings from the extraterrestrial Star River."
"He's tasked High Priest Reid with venturing into the temporal rifts of the Voidweaver to investigate any issues with the butterfly's true form," Yan Qiling added, sparing no detail in his comprehensive briefing on the unpredictable celestial situation.
Yu Yuan couldn't shake the feeling that this extraordinary individual from the Moonfall Sanctuary had become like a subordinate to him. It seemed that Yan Qiling, deep down, might also feel somewhat diminished in stature. This realization implied that Yan Qiling, Yu Yiyi, and Tian Zang, the Ghost King, were all aware of his original identity.
Given that his first incarnation was a peer of Taishi, the God-King, and was bound to fully awaken, Yan Qiling's modesty was understandable. Suddenly, Yu Yuan declared, "I must meet with Taishi." He was convinced that only Taishi, the God-King, could unravel the myriad questions that plagued his mind, especially after advancing to the realm of the Solar Spirit and wielding the Divine Sword. It was time for a serious conversation with Taishi.
He was eager to learn more about the young Titan Spinosaurus, curious about what Boulderdawn sought to gain from hatching the creature in the Ionodios realm. He suspected that only forces related to the Root of the Solar Meridian and the very essence of life could incubate the young beast.
Consequently, Taishi allowed Grec to perish once within the Ionodios, stripping him of his primal power. He destroyed the Altar of Rebirth, using its remnants to hatch the egg concealed within the bronze coffin.
The violet gold egg, initially incubated by Grec, had fallen into his possession by a twist of fate and ended up on the Dragon Slaying Stage. His original Altar of Rebirth, along with Grec's vitality, both imbued with the essence of life, could catalyze the dragon egg, kindling the spark of life within the young creature.
During his time on the Primal Blood Continent, Grec had harbored a deep greed and longing for the hatching beast. Alonso felt similarly...
The young creature seemed to wield a mysterious influence over the entire Everlands.
He sought answers from Taishi, yearning to uncover his past and the myriad secrets of the Dragon Slaying Stage.
"This..." Yan Qiling's face was etched with difficulty. "My master and President Lyi are still assimilating the Golden Shura. Yu Yuan, please be patient. My master believes the time isn't right yet. He also mentioned that you don't need to seek answers from him; you've always known the real answer yourself."
Yu Yuan paused, taken aback.
"My master has mentioned that many of his current actions are..." Yan Qiling gave him a peculiar look.
It was as though she was implying that he was adhering to your principles and directives, advancing along the path you had charted.
"Yu Yuan!"
Hu Caiyun, Mia, and Wen Lu had finally caught up.
Yu Yuan composed himself and greeted them with a smile. Nodding at Hu Caiyun, he inquired, "How are things?"
"Not too shabby, and congratulations on your ascension to Solar Spirit," Hu Caiyun responded with a grin.
"I've encountered Qiyan," Yu Yuan mentioned offhandedly.
A look of revulsion spread across Hu Caiyun's radiant face. "Let's not talk about that creature! It's a harbinger of misfortune, having brought numerous calamities to the Rainbow Ocean."
Yu Yuan unconsciously massaged his forehead, his expression slightly embarrassed.
"I didn't mean you!" Hu Caiyun quickly clarified.
"Let's drop it," Yu Yuan said, gesturing dismissively. He preferred not to dwell on the subject. "Senior Mia, it's a pleasure to see you. I'm grateful for all you've done for Wen Lu."
"Patriarch, I'm flattered by your high regard for me," Mia said with a smile.
"Patriarch? Oh, you're referring to Brie?" Yu Yuan caught on. "I've heard he's been giving you a hard time. He's been quite hostile towards me as well in the Brugeth. I didn't kill his son, as you well know."
"He did have some reservations before, but not anymore," Mia clarified.
"That's a relief, that's a relief..." Yu Yuan said, his face breaking into a broad grin. Then, with a swift change of subject, he inquired earnestly, "Since Mr. Yan is here too, elder, given your knowledge of the Wingkind and the Shadowkin, do you think it's feasible to bring people from the Sacred Hands and the Order of Healing to this part of the starry sky that's so well-suited for herbalists?"
