C1746 !

This voice had once resonated through the starry expanse outside Ionodios, leaving a lasting impression on all who heard it.

The Soul-Capturing God-King of Boulderdawn!

Upon hearing it, the Starfallen Oracle, Beru, immediately adopted a grave demeanor. He leaned over the mouth of the deep cave, peering into the darkness to no avail. With due reverence, he spoke, "We owe our fortunate return from the Ashlands to Yu Yuan's benevolence. Lord Taishi and our Patriarch Ballo share a strong friendship. The Starborn and Boulderdawn have always enjoyed a close alliance."

After laying the groundwork, Beru inquired, "Master Soul-Capturing, what would you have us do?"

"Allow me to inhabit Denise, concealing myself within her," the Soul-Capturing God-King's voice emerged, calm and measured, "I require her to journey to the Everlands. She should first travel to the Wingkind's domain via the Starway in Zagreus, then proceed to the Everlands marsh through the Secular Bird Queen's nest."

"Denise?"

Gheirat tensed up instantly. His son had perished in the Annihilation Nebula, and as the ruler of the Star River, he couldn't bear the thought of his treasured daughter also falling victim to such a fate.

The Everlands were in turmoil. Denise, being an Otherkin from outside their realm, and with no God-King from Boulderdawn to ensure her safety, how could her protection be assured?

"Me?" Denise's beautiful face was suddenly awash with astonishment as she gazed oddly at the cave.

"Yes, because you have practiced the Spirit Magic of the Lunar Meridian, leaving its mark upon you. The moment you set foot in the Everlands, it will detect your presence. It might send someone to guide you to meet with it beneath the Everlands. I have seized control of this offshoot of the Lunar Meridian, stripping it of its power to surveil this Star River."

"It may seek to learn through you what has transpired in the Annihilation Nebula and may also be curious about my affairs."

"And it is through you that I intend to meet with it."

Soul-Capturing laid bare his scheme.

He planned to secret himself inside Denise's body, covertly return to the Everlands, and make contact with the Root of the Lunar Meridian deep underground.

His intentions were likely far from benevolent.

"Lord Soul-Capturing, if we proceed with this plan, won't Denise be put in great peril?" Beru questioned.

"Danger and opportunity coexist. She will witness my confrontation with the Lunar Meridian and even take an active part in it," Soul-Capturing's voice, soft and melodious, rose leisurely, "She will become a vessel for a part of my soul. And through her, I aim to approach the Lunar Meridian closely to retrieve something."

"Perhaps there will be no battle between the Lunar Meridian and me if it is willing to cooperate and surrender what I seek."

"Can you ensure her safety?" Gheirat asked urgently.

"I will do everything in my power to prevent her death."

Soul-Capturing was forthright, revealing, "Yu Yuan has already made his presence known in the Everlands, pushing Han Miaoyuan out, and our Boulderdawn's influence is steadily growing. Moreover, the God of Ghosts Youyu is currently absent from the Everlands due to other matters."

"The young girl Yu Zhu, who has ascended to the highest level with another aspect of the Lunar Meridian's cosmic order, is also not in the Everlands."

"This presents an exceptional opportunity."

"If Denise survives, she will master numerous arcane skills related to the soul. She had no prospects of reaching the tenth level, but survival could place her on the path to becoming the second tenth-level warrior of the Starborn after Ballo. And we, the Boulderdawn, will offer her our support afterward."

Beru and Gheirat were visibly moved!

If Soul-Capturing's words held true, then Denise would become the second tenth-level warrior, potentially surpassing the Starchild, Leo.

"I agree!"

Without waiting for her father Gheirat to respond, or for Beru to weigh in further, Denise accepted the challenge, her eyes shining with unwavering resolve.

Becoming a conduit for the Lunar Meridian and comprehending the arcane secrets it bestowed had transformed her bloodline in miraculous ways.

Having savored the Lunar Meridian's gifts, she realized that if she could survive this ordeal, she would gain access to more Mind Magic and catalyze a transformation in her bloodline. She was ready to brave the dangers.

"You reckless child!" Gheirat exclaimed.

"I would if I could, but sadly, I lack the necessary conditions," Leo said with a tinge of regret.

"Excellent."

Whoosh!

A seductive phantom materialized from the underground currents of the Lunar Meridian in Zekrica, gliding out from the shadowy depths and vanishing into Denise's body.

The Soul-Capturing phantom was, astonishingly, female!

Once Denise had consented, she paid no mind to Gheirat and Beru's reactions. From an unknown void, she dispatched a strand of her soul to the branch of the Lunar Meridian she had claimed, and then anchored it within Denise's body.

"Depart from Zekrica and head for the Zagreus Domain. Someone will guide you on your way."

The voice of Soul-Capturing echoed in Denise's heart, urging her to act swiftly, rather than in her Mindscape.

"I'll be alright."

Denise's eyes sparkled with excitement as she gave a courteous bow to Gheirat and Beru, then soared from Zekrica.

"Lord Soul-Capturing is actually a female God-King?" Leo exclaimed in surprise.

"Undoubtedly. Her soul flashed by briefly, but I saw it distinctly—it was definitely a female phantom!" Beru affirmed with certainty.

"A female God-King? And she's going to challenge Lin Daoke? Can she really succeed?" Leo couldn't help but express his concern.

"All I wish for is my daughter's survival."

...

Ashlands.

Upon a frigid expanse, Yu Yuan wielded the Solar Spirit to steer the Dragon Slaying Stage, bringing along the snow bear and four other alien beasts. He gazed upon the vortex where energies converged.

The main planet, home to the young beasts and Nagas, which he had designated as the cornerstone of the New Everlands in his first life, was now amidst the swirling vortex.

A rainbow-hued arc light flickered through the vortex.

"Zhong Chichen, Loong Jie."

Yu Yuan let out a light chuckle, his ruby-like eyes briefly illuminating Zhong Chichen and Loong Jie.

He observed Loong Jie clutching an iron box and entering the star, then heading straight for a tumultuous region of cosmic energy to temper his dragon form with the extraordinary item inside the box.

"My dear senior brother," Yu Yuan called out across the void, "how are you progressing with the task I entrusted to you?"

A rainbow of seven colors burst forth from the swirling vortexes, and in the blink of an eye, it had traversed the vast distance to this land.

Zhong Chichen, adorned in vibrant attire, kept his hands tucked within his sleeves. Beneath his feet, the fabric of space gently undulated. His expression was cool and detached as he stated, "Ensuring Loong Jie's safety is my top priority."

Before Yu Yuan could respond, Zhong Chichen continued, "You sent Loong Jie to challenge Lin Daoke while I was forging a void passage in the Dark Star. How could I possibly rest easy? Had I not arrived just in time, Lin Daoke's repeated strikes would have shattered the Ultimate Golden Body that Loong Jie painstakingly cultivated."

"I haven't accused you of anything. Why the hostility?" Yu Yuan, taken aback, gestured for him to take a moment to cool off and added with a chuckle, "Plans often fall behind the pace of change. I was curious to see if Loong Jie's physique could withstand a blow from Lin Daoke. As it turns out, his golden dragon body can indeed withstand it."

"By the way, the soul of the Origin Deity is currently residing deep within the Everlands."

"And you, keep a close watch on the Dark Star Region and expedite the opening of the pathway."

"I'm well aware that the Dark Phoenix, leading the evilkind and the alien beast army, is marching toward the Dark Star Region. Time is of the essence, so make haste."

Yu Yuan pressed him.

"Had you not created such a mess, I would have nearly completed the task," Zhong Chichen retorted with a huff. "With only one soul remaining, I doubt the Origin Deity can stir up much trouble. Bertain has ventured into the Abyss. It's a feat if he can survive there, let alone covet the Primal Soul."

"His pipe dream is unlikely to ever come to fruition!"

After a brief exchange filled with grumbles and complaints, the Chronowyrm departed, leaving as swiftly as he had arrived.

Before his departure, he cast a surprised glance at the snow bear, his gaze pausing for a few seconds on its chest cavity.

There, a deep crimson spark of electricity concealed the essence of Yu Yuan's Solar Spirit, imbued with the rule of life itself. It appeared to be meticulously deciphering the Dire Bear's bloodline chain, piece by piece.

He had a rough idea of Yu Yuan's intentions, leaving him with a sense of astonishment.

With a roar, the Dire Bear thumped its chest, its massive paws striking the ice crystal over its heart with a resonant boom, cracking it open to allow the streaks of dark red lightning to enter the walls of its heart seamlessly.

"It might be somewhat painful. You'll need to bear it," Yu Yuan had warned in advance. Following the initial beam of blood-red light, dozens more shot into the Dire Bear's chest like bolts of lightning, penetrating deep into its heart.

Inside the heart, the dozens of blood beams underwent a sudden transformation, morphing into slender crystals. These crystals, some crimson and others silvery-white, embedded themselves into the bloodline chains within the bear's heart, meticulously scanning each link.

Their search was focused on identifying the elements associated with the bloodline's metamorphosis.

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