C1718 The Other Two Young Beasts

The Ashlands, a mysterious hidden place, welcomed the Dragon Slaying Stage as it settled among a sea of meteorites, unearthing a massive iron-gray meteor within.

Yu Yuan, wielding his Solar Spirit, had long detected a potent surge of vital energy deep within this meteorite sea, convinced of the wonders concealed beneath. After the departure of the Secular Bird Queen and Zhong Chichen's return to the Everlands with his Lunar Spirit, Yu Yuan's physical form and Solar Spirit embarked on separate paths to unravel the enigmas of the Ashlands.

The sea of meteorites, an amalgamation of countless fragments both large and small, harbored an astonishing concentration of vital energy, to which his Solar Spirit was acutely attuned.

"Turtle God!"

"Turtle God!"

Within the iron-gray meteorite, a group of over a dozen Stoneborn warriors were engaged in fervent worship, their voices raised in prayer and jubilation.

A colossal brown boulder, sculpted into the likeness of a Spirit Turtle, perched atop a lofty mound, exuding an aura of profound depth and solidity. The Stoneborn warriors, mostly of the eighth level, with only one ninth-level elder among them, paid homage. The elder elucidated the Turtle God's origins to the devotees.

The Turtle God, revered by the Stoneborn Clan, was said to have always watched over them since their earliest days. The elder shared that the Turtle God resided in the Ashlands, and that any Stoneborn fortunate enough to encounter it there and earn its favor could expect a significant enhancement of their bloodline.

"Turtle God..."

Yu Yuan, having discreetly clothed his Solar Spirit and carefully concealed its presence, observed the iron-gray meteorite from the shadows, his eyes, like rubies, suddenly ablaze with a peculiar light.

His gaze, in a flash, became one with the cosmic order of the Ashlands.

Within the meteorite, a vast Spirit Turtle lay hidden, its limbs and head withdrawn into its shell, its form fused with the meteorite itself, masking all vital energy fluctuations.

If not for Yu Yuan, it's likely that neither the Abyssal Leviathan nor the Abyssal Greater Basilisk would have sensed the Spirit Turtle's presence.

Of course, the young creatures who had not had their rule of the Ashlands forcibly taken by him were naturally aware of its concealed presence.

The Turtle God, also known as the Titan Turtle and the Rock Turtle, is one of the cosmic giant beasts. However, this particular Titan Turtle is merely a descendant of the ancient Turtle God, still a juvenile and not yet fully grown.

Before arriving here, Yu Yuan had inquired about the old Turtle God from the offspring of the Titan Spinosaurus and learned that the venerable Turtle God had long since passed away.

This young one had taken refuge in the Ashlands. Many years prior, it had a chance encounter with a Stoneborn Warrior and aided in enhancing his strength.

The old Turtle God indeed shared a deep connection with the Stoneborn and had the power to assist Stoneborn Warriors in the evolution of their bloodlines.

The young turtle had merely displayed a hint of its divine prowess, leading the Stoneborn Warrior to revere it as a deity, believing the ancient Turtle God to be hidden within the Ashlands.

In the years that followed, Stoneborn Warriors, eager to fortify their bloodlines, flocked to the Ashlands in droves.

Guided by coordinates handed down through the ages, they arrived at this sea of meteorites, offering up hard-won tributes in hopes of earning the Turtle God's favor.

Time and again, Stoneborn Warriors would tap into new blood magic or achieve breakthroughs in their bloodlines with its help.

The scene unfolding before Yu Yuan was just another instance of this recurring event.

"It has yet to reach maturity, and the full marvels of the giant beast's heart remain unmanifested."

After observing for a while, Yu Yuan realized that if he hadn't seized control over the Ashlands, this fledgling Turtle God would eventually become prey to the younger beasts. "No matter, continue to grow. I'm in no rush."

With a swift whoosh, he departed from the Dragon Slaying Stage undetected.

Upon reappearing, Yu Yuan found himself in a ruined little world, amidst the rubble of ancient Starborn structures, indicating that Starborn once thrived here long ago.

The shattered rock walls bore engravings of compasses, suggesting that Starborn once pondered the enigmas of the stars in this place.

Buzzing softly, beetles aglow with starlight emerged from the earth's crevices, their tiny eyes flickering with caution.

At the sight of these beetles, Yu Yuan's Solar Spirit instantly sensed their faint vitality. He quickly realized that similar tiny beetles could be found elsewhere in the Ashlands, particularly in areas inhabited by massive alien beasts.

These tiny beetles were a boon to the massive alien beasts, helping to rid them of lice and harvesting a bit of the beasts' vitality in the process. Afterward, they'd return to nourish their forebears.

Yu Yuan's eyes flashed with an otherworldly light once more. In the depths of the crumbling little world, a large beetle that nearly filled the underground realm seemed to stir at his presence, its shell suddenly alight with a constellation of spots.

"Leo, Beru, and Gheirat, the truth is, you didn't come to the Ashlands in search of the Mirage of the Mind, but for this Starpierced," Yu Yuan said with a casual smile.

The Starpierced, like the Titan Turtle, was a descendant of the cosmic giant beasts and had not yet reached maturity. This Starpierced was particularly suited to Leo, known as the Starchild. The Starfallen Oracle, Beru, had speculated through ancient texts that the Ashlands might still harbor a Starpierced, prompting him to bring Leo to try their luck at earning its favor.

Their luck had run out, however, as they encountered not the true Starpierced but the Mirage of the Mind, which had siphoned a mere fraction of the power of stars and nearly devoured them.

"Lucky for you, otherwise that youngling would have eventually made a meal of you."

After a brief survey, Yu Yuan took off, leveraging the instantaneous travel afforded by the Dragon Slaying Stage and his Solar Spirit's keen sense of vitality to navigate the Ashlands.

He didn't encounter any more cosmic giant beasts or their progeny. The Ashlands were teeming with alien beasts of the eighth and ninth levels, dispersed across vast regions.

The Ashlands' little worlds, numbering over twenty and lacking any walls, were saturated with a rich yet chaotic cosmic energy, providing perfect cover for explorers from various extraterrestrial races.

The Ashlands were a realm for the mighty alone. Those with bloodlines below the eighth level found it nearly impossible to survive in such a perilous environment. An encounter with the malevolent meant certain death.

The numerous eighth and ninth level alien beasts were the younglings' prey. Yet, for the likes of the Turtle God and Starpierced, still in the throes of youth and not yet fully grown, there was no rush—they would take their time to develop.

When they reached maturity, when their hearts as giant beasts radiated with magic, they would strike suddenly.

Yu Yuan was aware that the juvenile creature had intended to rely on beings like the Duskjaw, Stormwraith, and Three-legged Golden Crow to reach adulthood first.

Once it had matured and was fully assured of its power, it might even devise a way to use alien beasts to hasten the maturation of the other two younglings.

After fattening them up and nurturing their growth, it would then consume them one by one, usurping the complete and wondrous bloodlines of the two young beasts.

"Stay put in the Ashlands for now; I still need to use it to bring beings from the outside world here. There's going to be a lavish feast of vitality in the Dark Star. If you dare to join, you can complete your coming-of-age ceremony there!" Yu Yuan cautioned.

...

Elsewhere, high above Eiwrone.

Yu Yuan sat still, the Titanblade resting at his feet, with the Dire Bear and three ninth-level alien beasts for company.

The Abyssal Greater Basilisk, Abyssal Leviathan, members of the Silverscale Tribe, and Awkwafina of the Shadowkin did not set foot on Eiwrone. Instead, the Abyssal Leviathan claimed the star of the Mirage of the Mind.

Intermittent remnants of souls occasionally emanated from the shadowy cave before Yu Yuan.

"Han Miaoyuan has become impatient to act."

With a flicker of thought, he grasped the Titanblade before him, caressing the scabbard with his fingers, and gazed at the contemplative Abyssal Leviathan. "The leaders of the sects allied with our Boulderdawn have been rounded up and imprisoned in the newly established Sword Prison beyond our world."

"It has happened quicker than I anticipated," the Abyssal Leviathan expressed in surprise.

"It took me by surprise as well," Yu Yuan admitted with a furrowed brow.

"The Dark Phoenix's call has drawn away Untamed, Green Willow, and Yu Zhu. Consider this: all three are allies of Boulderdawn. Untamed's prowess alone is enough to give Lin Daoke a run for his money, and not even Tan Xiaotian can afford to cross him. If he were to remain in the Marsh, with Green Willow and Yu Zhu at his side, a conflict could potentially bring the Everlands to ruin."

As an outsider, the Abyssal Leviathan had a clear perspective. It offered its analysis: "Yu Zhu's presence has also caused the Root of the Lunar Meridian to feel constrained. It was supposed to aid your Boulderdawn sect's supreme master, but suddenly three have left, leaving only Zu Ann behind."

"Beyond our world, the Demon God Bertain is still watching us with greedy eyes, but the Origin Deity poses no threat."

"Heh, if I were Han Miaoyuan, I would choose this moment to strike as well."

After a brief pause, the Abyssal Leviathan looked intently at Yu Yuan and said earnestly, "Lin Daoke is terrifying. If a battle truly breaks out, he will be the most challenging opponent. As long as Lin Daoke remains undefeated, you all stand no chance of victory."

"If you manage to defeat Lin Daoke, Han Miaoyuan's reputation will plummet."

The Abyssal Greater Basilisk, usually reticent around Yu Yuan, glanced at the Titanblade in Yu Yuan's grasp and remarked, "Should you ascend to godhood and deploy the Heaven-Opening Sword Array capable of obliterating the Origin Deity's soul, then Lin Daoke might just meet his downfall."

​