C1624 The Giant Beast Lurked in the Ground

In ancient times, cosmic giant beasts rampaged across the heavens and worlds.

The decline of the giant beast era hinged on the supreme Titan Spinosaurus, which was gravely wounded by infighting within its species, and subsequently perished in the Everlands.

The death of the Titan Spinosaurus marked the end of the giant beasts' reign, drawing the curtain on their dominion.

From then on, intelligent lifeforms, epitomized by the Star-Spawned Terror, began to ascend, sprouting up like bamboo after a spring rain, with numerous peak tenth-level warriors emerging.

Under the leadership of Demon God Bertain, all extraterrestrial races consciously banded together to hunt down the cosmic giant beasts.

The fall of the secular bird in the Annihilation Nebula was merely a minor episode.

As more cosmic giant beasts fell to the coordinated assaults of peak warriors, their deaths became frequent news...

The remains, lifeblood, and bloodline mysteries that the giant beasts had mastered turned into the spoils of war for the strong among the various intelligent races, inadvertently bolstering their strength.

Eventually, due to the sheer number of cosmic giant beasts that had perished, the survivors no longer dared to show themselves as openly as before.

The giant beasts grew wiser, learning to conceal their presence or, like the Abyssal Leviathan, transform into beings that seemed minuscule compared to their true forms.

In the starry seas inhabited by powerful intelligent life, the giant beasts deliberately avoided these areas, seeking refuge in the more desolate and seldom-visited locales.

The Ashlands, one of the Starry Sky Forbidden Zones, had long concealed great risks, and thus became a refuge for the surviving giant beasts, their offspring, and their young.

The Ashlands were immensely complex, and initially, the extraterrestrial races knew little about them. Exploration was fraught with danger and significant losses.

It was for this reason that the Ashlands, like other Starry Sky Forbidden Zones, became a sanctuary for the giant beasts.

The Abyssal Leviathan, having sustained serious injuries and aware of the immense terror lurking within the Ashlands, feared becoming prey. Thus, after sensing the threat of the Dark Phoenix, it opted to flee to the fringes of the starry sky.

"Hmm!"

The poised and handsome Taishi God-King, on the verge of departure, raised an eyebrow and a curious smile played across his lips. He turned to Yu Yuan and remarked, "It seems you and the Secular Bird Queen share quite a destiny."

Upon hearing the term 'Secular Bird', the Abyssal Leviathan's gaze shifted subtly, and it exclaimed in surprise, "What do you mean?"

"What's the matter?" Yu Yuan inquired.

"Brie sent a message. He mentioned that the Secular Bird Queen had secretly visited the Ashlands before you roused me. Only he and an elder from the Wingkind were privy to this. After Youqian returned to Ionodios, he mentioned to Brie that you might venture into the Ashlands, prompting him to disclose the truth."

Taishi massaged his forehead, as if smoothing out non-existent creases, his worry seemingly dissipating.

"If she's also in the Ashlands..."

With a soft chuckle, Taishi's demeanor became unexpectedly congenial as he patted the Abyssal Leviathan, now appearing as a gaunt old man. "Well then, I shall wish you both good fortune."

The Abyssal Leviathan's complexion turned a shade paler.

It appeared that both the Dark Phoenix and the Secular Bird of the Ashlands were entities he had always sought to avoid, beings he was reluctant to confront.

"Oh, right."

Taishi slapped his forehead as if a thought had just struck him. Speaking with a hint of significance, he said, "Perhaps you've been to the Ashlands as well. It's just that, due to your incomplete awakening, you have no recollection of it."

He smiled at Yu Yuan, no longer concealing the truth since the Abyssal Leviathan had guessed it. "In the old days, because of my affinity with the Everlands, I was stationed there long-term, ensuring its stability. You, on the other hand, were responsible for external affairs, wandering the Star River with Taixu and Jihui, among others."

"I recall you mentioning that you had visited the Ashlands before. Taixu... likely accompanied you."

"Yet, during the tens of thousands of years of your deep slumber, Taixu ventured into the Ashlands once more on his own."

"..."

As he spoke, a glimmer of recognition flashed in Yu Yuan's eyes, hinting at long-forgotten memories stirring within him. Nonetheless, after a moment's wait, those memories remained dormant.

"Alright, since the Secular Bird Queen is present, I'm at ease."

Taishi finally ceased to dawdle. "I'll head back to Ionodios first, and I might venture to the Everlands later. Since the Dark Phoenix isn't in the Everlands and is intent on conquering the Dark Star Realm, I won't be bound by any constraints there."

Bypassing the passageway controlled by the Stoneborn, Taishi ascended quietly into the sky. He flickered intermittently in the dark, cold expanse of space and soon vanished from sight.

It seemed he intended to scout the nearby regions, perhaps to leave some markers or coordinates.

"What exactly is your relationship with the secular bird?"

Once Taishi had departed, the Abyssal Leviathan's expression darkened, and he appeared to hesitate.

He was uncertain whether to accompany Yu Yuan on an expedition into the Ashlands.

"Comrades in arms, allies."

The image of the empress's stunning visage involuntarily surfaced in Yu Yuan's mind. It was quite the coincidence.

"If there are still formidable giant beasts deep within the Ashlands, she might hunt them down. I, too, am one of the surviving giant beasts. If I venture deep into the Ashlands and she detects me, I fear I won't be able to escape," the Abyssal Leviathan lamented with a sorrowful expression. "Taiyin..."

"Call me Yu Yuan! I don't want to hear that name from your lips again!" Yu Yuan commanded sternly.

The Abyssal Leviathan immediately silenced himself.

Upon realizing that Yu Yuan was the creator of the Boulderdawn and the God-King who had vanquished numerous peak warriors from the extraterrestrial realms with the Dragon Slaying Stage, the cruel giant beast's inner arrogance shattered.

It recognized the need to reassess Yu Yuan.

It also had to find a new way to interact with Yu Yuan.

Now that it was not dealing with a junior Yu Yuan blessed with extraordinary fortune, but the dragon slayer who had once elevated the humans of the Everlands to the pinnacle and stood before all extraterrestrial beings, it, as the pride of the cosmic giant beasts, had to humble itself.

"There won't be a next time," the Abyssal Leviathan vowed silently, bowing his head in contemplation for a few seconds. "I need you to confirm that you have sway over the secular bird. Despite the rumors I've heard about your extraordinary relationship with her, I need you to personally assure me that you can prevent her from slaying me in the Ashlands."

"Only then would I feel confident enough to venture in with you!"

He was wary of both the Dark Phoenix and the secular bird.

"I can restrain her," Yu Yuan assured with earnest.

"Okay."

The Abyssal Leviathan nodded and, maintaining a human form, launched itself from the Iron-winged Bird's wings, soaring toward the mist-enshrouded Star River.

Yu Yuan alone might have given him pause, but knowing Yu Yuan's true identity...

The Abyssal Leviathan trusted that the Secular Bird Queen, much like himself, was already privy to the truth.

Considering the Taiyin God-King had fallen due to the schemes of the Dark Phoenix and Han Miaoyuan, Yu Yuan and the secular bird, also a victim of the Dark Phoenix, were naturally steadfast allies.

"What about this Iron-winged Bird?" Yu Yuan called out.

"After we depart, the Stoneborn warriors loyal to me will take care of it," the Abyssal Leviathan explained, not turning around as mist quickly coalesced beside him.

A small pool formed at his feet.

Yu Yuan narrowed his eyes and observed that the pool's power of water was several times greater than that of the entire Embers Sea in the Everlands.

The vicinity of the Ashlands was rich with various cosmic energies, albeit in a chaotic mix.

Yet, for the youngling on the Dragon Slaying Stage, no matter how jumbled the cosmic energies were, it could transform them as long as they were abundant and potent.

"It's like two extremes at the edge of the cosmos. Not to mention the interior of the Ashlands, the exterior alone is exceedingly suitable for giant beasts."

Yu Yuan mused internally, surmising that the cosmic energies within the Ashlands would be even more concentrated than outside.

In any world or forbidden starry domain, when cosmic energy reaches a certain density, it can give rise to extraordinary phenomena.

Such as rare treasures, Divine Weapons, and profound meanings.

For instance, the human powerhouses of the Everlands seek out treasures from the Frozen Hellscape, Rainbow Ocean, and Land of Terror to hone themselves once they reach a certain level of mastery.

Similarly, the elite of extraterrestrial races venture into the Starry Sky Forbidden Zone in search of wonders when their bloodlines ascend to a significant degree.

The Ashlands is one of them.

...