C1639 In the Name of Taixu
The Abyssal Leviathan was suddenly gripped by worry.
The three alien beasts from the Ashlands seemed dismissive when he brought up humans.
He pondered how to persuade these alien beasts that Yu Yuan had the capability to help them break through their current bloodline limitations.
After all, they were extraterrestrial alien beasts, kin to the Dark Phoenix of the Everlands.
Yu Yuan, however, was human—a different species in their eyes.
The Dark Phoenix's formidable reputation was widely known, and alien beasts like these inherently revered and admired it.
In the past, the Dark Phoenix had scorned them, unwilling to accept their fawning. They could grovel, but the Dark Phoenix wouldn't even give them the time of day.
But when the Dark Phoenix was ready to lower her stance, to embrace them and even show them a new path to life, how could they possibly resist?
This thought only deepened the Abyssal Leviathan's headache.
He suspected that even with Yu Yuan's grasp of the complete Secrets of Life, his lack of renown and outsider status might not be enough to win over the three alien beasts.
It might not be possible to recruit them into Boulderdawn's ranks and transform them into an immediate fighting force.
Whoosh!
Yu Yuan, stepping onto the Dragon Slaying Stage, finally made his way over after Demon God Grec had departed some time ago.
As he approached, Yu Yuan was debating whether to immediately call forth the Solar Spirit and use the profound Secrets of Life to convince the three top-tier alien beasts.
Otherwise, he doubted his words alone would swiftly earn their recognition.
He, too, was feeling a bit of a headache.
"Speak to them yourself," the Abyssal Leviathan urged upon seeing Yu Yuan arrive, gesturing towards the three alien beasts. "To communicate with them, you'll need to discern their thoughts from their roars. You've interacted with the Dire Bear before; this shouldn't be too challenging for you. They can understand you, so..."
He was cut off mid-sentence by a sudden gasp of astonishment.
Yu Yuan paused, taken aback.
The Duskjaw, Stormwraith, and Three-legged Golden Crow each reacted with more excitement at his presence than the last.
The Golden Crow flapped its wings, transforming into a bolt of golden lightning that appeared directly before him. It had left behind the miniature sun that had been beneath its golden feet, forgotten in its haste.
The Stormwraith's fur crackled as it emitted a spray of fine electrical sparks, its eyes brimming with the power of thunder magic, alight with surprise and anticipation. It approached Yu Yuan with a trembling, clumsy gait, its movements and posture endearingly awkward in his eyes.
For some reason, the sight of the Stormwraith brought to mind the snow bear from the Frostlands. They shared many similarities, leading Yu Yuan to suspect that the Stormwraith might also belong to the bear family.
The Duskjaw, the mightiest among them, had its mysterious crater-like eyes now hidden. It panted with excitement, fixating on Yu Yuan as if trying to confirm something. It seemed to be wondering if Yu Yuan was the one it had been waiting for.
"Dragon Slaying Stage?"
Yu Yuan quickly realized that the focus of the Three-legged Golden Crow, Stormwraith, and Duskjaw was not on him, but rather on the Dragon Slaying Stage beneath his feet.
Could it be that...
Yu Yuan pondered whether in his past life, he had traversed the Ashlands on the Dragon Slaying Stage, encountering these three alien beasts. Perhaps they had no recollection of his current form, yet the memory of the Dragon Slaying Stage lingered.
But that didn't make sense!
Neither his memories nor his senses bore any trace of these three alien beasts. He was certain he had never encountered or interacted with them before.
"You guys..."
He decided to simply ask.
Chirps, wails, and howls!
The Three-legged Golden Crow, Stormwraith, and Duskjaw, sensing his confusion, began to emit low cries and roars.
As Yu Yuan listened, he grasped the meaning of their sounds.
Taixu!
It was indeed the Taixu God-King!
All three alien beasts hidden in the Ashlands recognized the Taixu God-King. Furthermore, their success in capturing a young extraterrestrial beast was thanks to Taixu's aid!
Not long ago, Taixu had visited the Ashlands, bringing news that had thrilled their beastly hearts.
The master of the Dragon Slaying Stage was deeply immersed in unraveling the ultimate Secrets of Life, hopeful to assist in their metamorphosis and elevate them to the tenth level—much like the Dark Phoenix of the Everlands.
When Taixu conveyed this message, he had only recently assumed the mantle of the Gui Xu God-King and had just arrived in the Everlands, stealing a mere glance at Yu Yuan in the Rainbow Ocean. That fleeting glimpse revealed the wonder within Yu Yuan's Solar Spirit, albeit briefly.
At that juncture, Yu Yuan had not yet ventured to the fringes of the Dark Star, nor had he been favored by the Primal Blood, undergone the purification of his Solar Spirit, or achieved the breakthrough to the Unbound Realm. Yet Taixu was unwavering in his belief that Yu Yuan's Solar Spirit was destined for a significant breakthrough, one that would eventually illuminate the path of rebirth for the three alien beasts.
Such unwavering faith—how profound must it be?
Listening to the alien beasts' low growls and fierce roars, Yu Yuan felt an urge to rouse Taixu from his concealment within the Dragon Slaying Stage, to question why he placed such unreserved, irrational trust in him.
"So it's Taixu!" The Abyssal Leviathan's expression turned peculiar as he licked his lips.
He had been concerned about whether Yu Yuan could persuade the three alien beasts, but to his surprise, their excitement was palpable at the mere presence of the Dragon Slaying Stage. Taixu, having observed Yu Yuan during his first return to the Everlands, had already concluded that Yu Yuan was the key to their transformation.
Perhaps part of Taixu was even then wandering the Ashlands.
Convinced by Taixu's judgment and the reputation of the Dragon Slaying Stage's custodian, the three alien beasts saw Yu Yuan as their beacon, the one to guide their transformation. Consequently, Yu Yuan didn't need to exert any effort in persuasion, offer explanations, or manifest his Solar Spirit as proof.
Taixu's faith in Yu Yuan was enough for them to believe.
"Taixu is within, soon to emerge anew," Yu Yuan gestured towards the Dragon Slaying Stage, addressing the three alien beasts. "Why not wait for him to awaken and then have him communicate with you?"
Upon hearing that Taixu, the God-King, was present at the Dragon Slaying Stage with the three alien beasts, their excitement surged.
They let out low whimpers and stared at the Dragon Slaying Stage with longing, as if they were eager to rush in and be in Taixu's presence. They were desperate for Taixu to inform them.
They yearned for Taixu to confirm that the hope they had awaited for countless years had finally emerged today!
"Yu Yuan, do you want to... test your skills on one of them?" the Abyssal Leviathan suggested. "If the Ashlands are inconvenient, you can bring them into the Dragon Slaying Stage. Inside, no one can see you, and no one will know what you're doing."
Yu Yuan's eyebrows twitched at the suggestion.
Within the Dragon Slaying Stage lay three peculiar little worlds. The violet-gold dragon egg of the Titan Spinosaurus resided in the realm created by the golden dragon.
He had the power to completely isolate these little worlds or to allow passage between them.
Bringing the three alien beasts into a different little world and summoning his Solar Spirit to explore the possibility of aiding their evolution was indeed feasible.
"Is that so?"
Yu Yuan's gaze lingered on the Duskjaw, the Stormwraith, and the Three-legged Golden Crow.
The sun's fiery power hidden deep within the Three-legged Golden Crow's bloodline was comparatively easier to manage.
The frigid cold of the frost wyrm's domain could readily snuff out all traces of the sun's essence, subduing the blood magic of the Three-legged Golden Crow.
"Do you wish to visit the Dragon Slaying Stage and meet Taixu?" he inquired earnestly of the Three-legged Golden Crow.
As he spoke, the slumbering Taixu, the God-King, had been moved by the Lunar Spirit to the resting place of the Chronowyrm's remains.
The barriers of the three worlds had swiftly materialized due to the presence of the Lunar Spirit.
The Golden Crow hesitated slightly.
Its true allegiance was to the God-King Taixu alone, yet it had not seen Taixu for some time. Although Taixu had promised that their opportunity for advancement lay with the master of the Dragon Slaying Stage, they had no prior dealings.
The Stormwraith let out a low growl, indicating its readiness to step in for the Golden Crow, willing to venture into the Dragon Slaying Stage to encounter the God-King Taixu.
The Golden Crow, previously wavering, emitted a low, irritated caw and swiftly drew the fiery miniature sun back beneath its feet. It then commenced the contraction of its form.
In a short span of time, the creature had diminished to a mere fraction of its original size, assuming the form of the Golden Crow as depicted in ancient tomes.
Once ready, it fixed its gaze upon Yu Yuan, its eyes ablaze with golden flames, signaling readiness.
"Please come in," Yu Yuan gestured towards a spot on the Dragon Slaying Stage, inviting the Golden Crow to take its place.
Transforming into a streak of light, the Golden Crow descended onto the stage.