C1599 The Joy of the Sword Spirit

In the Annihilation Nebula, within the bustling Ionodios, Yu Yuan stood at the former site of the Deathwing Lair, now a ferry point. Hovering slightly above the ground, his gaze swept across the landscape, taking in the sight of numerous majestic palaces.

These structures, each unique in design and brimming with Otherworld flair, dotted the Ionodios. From stone spires to bastion-like edifices, wooden constructs to palaces forged from enigmatic crystals that shimmered with starlight, the variety was astounding. The newly erected palaces around the Chamber of Commerce breathed vibrant life into the area.

The Ionodios was teeming with beings from various tribes: the Starborn, Shadowkin, enchantresses, members of the Silverscale Tribe, and the Moonlit Wanderers, to name a few. Yu Yuan also noticed the presence of Otherkin he had only heard of, now mingling within the Ionodios.

These rarer Otherkin appeared to have traversed numerous Star Rivers, drawn by the allure of acquiring legendary items from the Everlands. In their eyes, the Everlands represented the pinnacle of prosperity, the very heart of the cosmos. They believed that anything hailing from the Everlands was invaluable and possessed enchanting properties.

This belief fueled a constant flow of traffic in the Chamber of Commerce's magic item marketplace. Among the Otherkin entering and exiting, some radiated happiness, their quests seemingly fulfilled, while others wore expressions of disappointment, their desires unmet.

The Ionodios had grown exponentially livelier since Yu Yuan's last visit, solidifying its role as the primary interface between Boulderdawn, the Chamber of Commerce, and the outside world. A multitude of Otherkin had flocked here, eager to acquire the rare treasures and medicines on offer, and in turn, they brought with them crystals, essences, and renowned herbs from their own Astral Domains, hoping to barter these goods through the Chamber of Commerce.

Observing the scene, Yu Yuan realized that despite the allure of the Everlands, these beings still preferred to conduct their trades in extraterrestrial markets. This preference persisted even in the shadow of the Everlands' five great powers, figures like Lin Daoke and the Dark Phoenix.

At that moment, a familiar voice reached him. "You finally came."

Hei Xun, the former Guardian of Devil Palace from the Embers Sea, had been patiently waiting for Yu Yuan at the Starway for quite some time.

When he first appeared, Hei Xun observed him with a curious eye, reassessing Ionodios, but chose not to interrupt his contemplation.

After his gaze returned to the present, Hei Xun spoke softly, "I was quite intrigued by the Everlands and intended to explore it. Most of those who ventured there have now returned. Additionally, some who had plans to visit the Everlands to witness the enigmatic Otherkin have since abandoned their plans. As a result, Ionodios has become somewhat overcrowded."

"Why?" Yu Yuan asked, his brow furrowed.

On his previous visit to the Moonfall Sanctuary, he had seen numerous Otherkin roaming freely at the Skyreach Consortium's outpost in the Serpent Spine Mountains. He was also aware that a steady stream of Otherkin from extraterrestrial origins had been arriving at the forbidden area via the Hellmouth. But Hei Xun's words implied something else...

"Due to Lord Taishi's grave injuries, the various extraterrestrial races have started to doubt Boulderdawn's capabilities. They fear we cannot maintain control within the Everlands and thus cannot ensure their safety."

Hei Xun sighed before continuing, "Lin Daoke, within the Everlands, struck down Lee Sha of the Moonlit Wanderers with a single sword blow. Lee Sha was nominally our ally, and although she returned to the Everlands without authorization, her death was... most unfortunate."

He shook his head with a wry smile.

Lee Sha had not crafted a divine seat in the Everlands. With Boulderdawn's assistance, she ascended to become a peak tenth-level warrior, leveraging her Moonlit Wanderers lineage. After uniting the Moonlit Wanderers and the ancient Moonfiend, she elevated her prestige significantly.

To the extraterrestrial races, Lee Sha was perceived as having been elevated by Boulderdawn's support. Yet upon her return to the Everlands, she was slain by Lin Daoke in a single, fatal strike. Boulderdawn offered no rebuttal...

Taishi and the secular bird had joined forces to slay the Kylin in the extraterrestrial realm, momentarily lifting the spirits of our warriors. However, before Taishi could return to Ionodios, he was grievously wounded by the Dark Phoenix. To this day, Taishi remains in the bronze coffin beneath Ionodios, healing from his wounds and yet to make an appearance.

Not long ago, Lin Daoke, the master of the Sword Sect, struck down the tenth-level Diggs in the extraterrestrial realm and even severed one of the Voidweaver's wings. After ascending to the status of Dragon God, Loong Jie began to gradually consume the Blood King Sabonis.

The display of power and depth from the Dark Phoenix, Lin Daoke, and the resurgent Nagas, hailing from the Everlands, sent shivers down the spines of the extraterrestrial races allied with Boulderdawn. They all sensed that Boulderdawn, having re-emerged, seemed utterly incapable of managing the situation. In the complex web of power within the Everlands, Boulderdawn currently held no sway.

As a result, they were hesitant to venture into the Everlands, fearing retribution from Han Miaoyuan and the evilkind. Yu Yuan nodded in understanding. He was aware that Taishi's severe injuries and the loss of the young beast that was central to Project New Everlands had sown seeds of doubt about Boulderdawn's capabilities among its allies.

"Taishi..." Yu Yuan began, but paused as he detected a distant, jubilant remnant soul. "Hold on," he gestured to Hei Xun, signaling patience. He soared into the sky and quickly reached the Ionodios's wall, which he effortlessly traversed.

Beneath him unfolded the realm of Ionodios, and as he entered the dark, icy cosmos, his gaze fixed on a familiar Domain, bathed in faint starlight — Zekrica. The Zekrica, once vanished from the Kuvrepros and reemerged in the Annihilation Nebula, was surprisingly close to Ionodios.

The source of his joy was the sword spirit of the Titanblade, which had lain dormant in his arm bone since his youth. Now, the Titanblade, united with its sheath and blade, was being nurtured at the heart of Zekrica. His presence in Ionodios, coupled with his proximity to the Annihilation Nebula, prompted the sword spirit to immediately send a message upon detecting him.

Zekrica, crafted by Nie Qingtian, had once witnessed the Divine Sword's fleeting appearance in the Glimmerdrift Nebula. It had carried the vast expanse of the River of Swords' will back to the Everlands and, after returning to the Sword Cave, had journeyed to the Annihilation Nebula through the Wintermaw.

The Divine Sword had remained in the Zekrica Realm, cleansing its blade while silently awaiting its master.

It awaited Yu Yuan.

In that instant when Yu Yuan sensed the Titanblade, he knew that with a mere thought, the Divine Sword would fly out of Zekrica in a flash.

Assisted by the space magic of the Dragon Slaying Stage, he would soon be able to grasp the sword.

Now, he possessed the power to wield the Divine Sword and was fully capable of unleashing the might of the Nine Celestial Slashes.

"Old friend, it's been a while."

Yu Yuan smiled broadly, calming the eager sword spirit with a slight motion of his mind, signaling patience.

With a thunderous rumble, the ground of Zekrica trembled briefly. From the well where Qiyan had once been trapped, a radiant figure emerged, adorned with dazzling starlight—Denise of the Starborn.

She seemed to have detected something, appearing above Zekrica and gazing toward Ionodios with a puzzled look in her bright eyes.

"This young lady has made it to Zekrica too. Odd, after reaching the eighth level, shouldn't she be roaming the Star River?" Yu Yuan mused. After a quick exchange with the sword spirit, he re-entered Ionodios.

In a remote expanse far from the Skyreach Consortium, the Boulderdawn came into view, with familiar figures materializing one by one.

Indigo Wraith, Tian Zang, Terra Fiend White Walker, and Jiang Miaojie all looked up to see him descending slowly.

"Sky Fiend, Terra Fiend..."

Through the teachings of the Great Demon God Bertain, he understood that the current Terra Fiends of the Everlands were actually Sky Fiends.

A cataclysmic upheaval in the Everlands had altered the subsequent Terra Fiends, making them slightly different from the Sky Fiends of Bertain's time.

The influence of the Root of the Lunar Meridian was undoubtedly at play, causing the new Terra Fiends to be excessively tainted with its essence.

Indigo Wraith, Tian Zang, and the other pure Sky Fiends had been persuaded by Taishi to join Boulderdawn. Looking back, it hardly seemed like a betrayal.

Thanks to Bertain's guidance, the Boulderdawn was established. After his transformation into a primordial spirit, he became a part of the Primal Demon lineage.

Taishi and those who had condensed their primordial spirits were all regarded as kin of the Great Demon God.

Given this, beings like the Indigo Wraith and Tian Zang from the Otherworld were naturally not seen as traitors.

"Lead me to him."

Upon landing, Yu Yuan called out softly, signaling his desire to meet with Taishi.

"The lords are all awaiting your arrival."

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