C1641 The Shadow of the Giant Beast

"How did it go?"

As Yu Yuan and the Three-legged Golden Crow emerged from the Dragon Slaying Stage, the Abyssal Leviathan was quick to inquire.

"There's something missing."

Yu Yuan was forthright, having kept silent inside only to ensure that both the Duskjaw and Stormwraith were informed upon exiting. "I'm not certain if your hearts are lacking the same element as its. It feels as though there's a piece of the Way of Heaven missing, an absence within the heart."

"I can't identify it precisely. Without breaking through my own limits, it remains unclear."

"What I can tell you is that until what's missing is restored, it's likely that neither it nor you will be able to ascend to the tenth level."

The Dark Phoenix, having lived for untold years and contemplated for countless more, seemed to have encountered a pivotal change after acquiring a young Titan Spinosaurus.

Previously, the Dark Phoenix might have only been able to manipulate the Fellbeasts of the Everlands, inducing their transformation.

But the Fellbeasts of the Everlands, nourished by the blood of the exalted Titan Spinosaurus, differ from other alien beasts.

"Could the answer still lie with the Titan Spinosaurus?"

Yu Yuan found himself deep in thought.

Chirp, chirp!

Departing from the Dragon Slaying Stage, the Golden Crow returned to its perch amidst the blazing solar sphere, calling out to the Duskjaw and Stormwraith.

It relayed to the other alien beasts its encounter with the Taixu God-King within the Dragon Slaying Stage.

It shared that Taixu was in the process of assimilating the body of a great Demon God from the Blood Fiend, soon to be reborn in flesh and blood in a manner unseen by them before.

Moreover, it stressed to the Duskjaw and Stormwraith the enigmatic nature of Yu Yuan's Solar Spirit.

Convinced by its experience at the Dragon Slaying Stage, the Golden Crow believed that their future breakthrough hinged on Yu Yuan.

Upon hearing this, the two alien beasts were astounded, their eyes reflecting a newfound perception of Yu Yuan.

"They'd best avoid the Dark Phoenix and stay hidden, otherwise..." the Abyssal Leviathan muttered to itself.

For now, Yu Yuan could only discern the shortcomings of the alien beasts, aware of an elusive presence deep within their hearts.

That's why they were stuck at the pinnacle of the ninth level, unable to cross that insurmountable divide.

Yu Yuan was aware of the problem, but he couldn't address it at the moment.

The Dark Phoenix from the Everlands, however, not only understood the specific flaws but had also discovered a solution.

What would happen if these three alien beasts came into contact with the Dark Phoenix, and it presented a tangible solution to elevate them to the tenth level?

Or what if they left the Ashlands and learned that other ninth level alien beasts had ascended to the tenth level thanks to the Dark Phoenix?

How would they feel?

With this concern in mind, the Abyssal Leviathan sensed the pressing nature of time. If Yu Yuan truly wanted to outmaneuver the competition and recruit the three top-tier alien beasts to the Boulderdawn side, he needed to act swiftly.

He had to ensure that the alien beasts were unaware of the Dark Phoenix's solution before they underwent their transformation.

Delaying too long would cause them to lose patience and eventually join the ranks of the Dark Phoenix.

The Abyssal Leviathan signaled Yu Yuan with a meaningful glance and quietly communicated, urging him to keep the three alien beasts close and prevent them from encountering the Dark Phoenix.

After Yu Yuan nodded in agreement, the Abyssal Leviathan inquired further, "Has there been a significant event in the depths of the Ashlands?"

He directed his question to the three alien beasts.

The trio of top-tier alien beasts shook their heads and then nodded, seemingly unable to articulate a clear response.

They had a sense that something astonishing had occurred within the Ashlands, yet they couldn't be certain.

In the presence of the Abyssal Leviathan, they remained cool and cautious.

Conversely, they appeared quite warm towards Yu Yuan, showing an eagerness to bond with him.

"Join me, and let's explore the depths of the Ashlands," Yu Yuan proposed. "I'd like to see if there's a way to resolve the constraints of your bloodline."

The three alien beasts eagerly nodded in agreement.

Subsequently, one man and four diverse creatures set off together, venturing further into the Ashlands.

Along the way, the Stormwraith and Duskjaw shrank their forms and entered the Dragon Slaying Stage, where they encountered the slumbering Taixu, the God-King.

Yu Yuan examined the hearts of the Stormwraith and the Duskjaw, much like he had with the Three-legged Golden Crow. The sensation was consistent across all of them. He sensed that both the Stormwraith and the Duskjaw were lacking something, a deficiency akin to that of the Three-legged Golden Crow. It was as if an invisible force was limiting these extraterrestrial alien beasts, preventing them from achieving their ultimate potential.

This realization led Yu Yuan's thoughts to the Dragon Slaying Stage. Following the Nagas' defeat and the downfall of the Bloodbrawlers and the Terra Fiend, the Boulderdawn sect had constructed the Dragon Slaying Stage. Positioned within the vast Moonfall Sanctuary, the stage suppressed the Way of Heaven associated with the Nagas, the Bloodbrawlers, and the Terra Fiend. It barred the Nagas from ascending to the status of Dragon God and ensured that the mightiest among the Bloodbrawlers and the Terra Fiend could never reach the pinnacle of power. Could it be that the alien beasts of the heavens were restrained by a similar force? Perhaps by the formidable Titan Spinosaurus?

Yu Yuan's mind was a whirlwind of speculation and tangled thoughts. Then, out of nowhere, a star of dazzling brilliance emerged amidst the distant gray haze. Despite the Ashlands being a segment of the Starry Sky Forbidden Zone, fundamentally, it was part of the Star River. Until now, Yu Yuan had only encountered shattered meteorites and expansive tracts of land. This was the first time he had witnessed a genuine star shining so intensely.

Thud! Thud! Thud! The heartbeat of the Titan Spinosaurus youth within the depths of the Dragon Slaying Stage intensified abruptly.

With a somber expression, the Abyssal Leviathan, in his gaunt humanoid form, inhaled deeply and declared, "One of my kin resides upon that star." His kin referred, of course, to the cosmic giant beast.

Yu Yuan, wielding control over the Dragon Slaying Stage, gazed at the distant star but felt shrouded in a fog of chaos, unable to discern anything remarkable. As he was about to harness the power of the Solar Spirit to probe the vital energy, the Abyssal Leviathan added, "It's an adult, an unfamiliar one at that."

"An adult!" Yu Yuan's focus sharpened, and he remained vigilant. It was no wonder that the young creature within the Dragon Slaying Stage had been so startlingly disturbed.

Having grown familiar with the Abyssal Leviathan through numerous encounters, the juvenile Titan Spinosaurus recognized the unique bond between them. Consequently, it remained well-behaved whenever the Abyssal Leviathan visited.

The arrival of another unfamiliar giant beast, neither the Abyssal Leviathan nor the secular bird, seemed to excite it. As an offspring of the supreme overlord, with a naturally violent lineage coursing through its veins, it was in a phase of strengthening itself. The sudden presence of an adult giant beast ignited its bloodthirsty cravings.

"Beyond here, in the deeper reaches of the Ashlands, it seems this was once the Titan Spinosaurus's hunting territory. After its demise, with the emergence of intelligent life, Bertain rallied the pinnacle representatives of various races to hunt down the cosmic giant beast clans. This drove many of the giant beasts' descendants to seek refuge deep within the Ashlands."

"There's likely a young one that has managed to grow over tens of thousands of years."

The Abyssal Leviathan licked its lips. Once it detected the scent of its kin, its interest in the Duskjaw, Stormwraith, and Three-legged Golden Crow waned significantly.

To it, these three alien beasts, no matter their strength, were considered inferior beings until they ascended to the tenth level.

If it could slay and consume a giant beast of its own caliber, it would greatly enhance its power!

Not only would it heal its wounds, but by assimilating the other's essence, it would inherit its bloodline and undergo a profound metamorphosis.

In the era of the bloody giant beasts, their might and breakthroughs were always achieved through such primal carnage, by the demise of another giant beast.

Suddenly, a blindingly bright altar that stung his eyes soared from the star, hastily departing.

Yu Yuan spotted several silhouettes atop the altar that seemed familiar, but due to the vast distance and the peculiar nature of the Ashlands, he couldn't immediately discern who they were.

"Leo! It's the Altar of Rebirth of Leo, the Starborn's pride!" Yu Yuan exclaimed, astounded.

Though the figures on the altar were indistinct, he recognized the Altar of Rebirth.

Upon seeing the Altar of Rebirth, he realized that Leo of the Starborn must be steering it, attempting to escape from the dazzling star.

With a series of tearing sounds, cascades of crystalline light, as thick as mighty waterfalls, coiled around the Altar of Rebirth suspended in midair, abruptly yanking it—and the person atop it—back into place.

Perceived through the senses of Yu Yuan's Solar Spirit, the colossal strands of light, stretching for miles, pulsated with the vibrant essence of living tissue.

They appeared to be the tentacles of some immense creature!

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