C1750 City of Light
The Luminous Planet was the domain of the Dawnbringers, a celestial territory speckled with numerous bright stars, blazing suns, and cold moons—more than one of each, in fact. An ancient city, bathed in the combined light of these celestial bodies, drifted through the vast Star River. This was the City of Light, a magnificent metropolis crafted over tens of millions of years by the Dawnbringers using the Star River's precious gems, divine crystals, and fine gold. Within its crystalline walls, shadows occasionally flickered into existence.
Whenever darkness emerged, the nearby stars, suns, and moons would flare up, casting an unimaginable brightness that instantly engulfed the City of Light. This surge of light caused the nascent shadows to vanish as swiftly as they had appeared, as if they were never there. The light seemed to forcefully suppress any trace of darkness, forbidding its presence in the City of Light.
"Tan Xiaotian!" exclaimed Chen Liangquan, who hailed from the Everlands. He stood shoulder to shoulder with Liu Ying and Canli, intently observing the City of Light as it moved. The city drew its power evenly from the stars, suns, and moons of the Astral Domain, harnessing this energy to contain the Demon Lord, Tan Xiaotian.
"This Tan Xiaotian is truly formidable," remarked Canli, inherently connected to an Altar of Rebirth, as she watched the City of Light with awe. "Our patriarch, along with the leader of the Starborn, are both struggling to keep him subdued within the City of Light."
At that very moment, Cardo and Ballo were inside the City of Light, working to seal off Tan Xiaotian. The original inhabitants, including some Great Sages and elders, had been expelled by the pair, and entry to the City of Light was strictly forbidden. Now, only the three of them remained within the city, a sacred site renowned across the entire Luminous Planet.
The Dawnbringers' warriors throughout the Luminous Planet were fraught with anxiety. Countless eyes from the shining stars and moons watched the City of Light intently, fixated on the clash of the three mightiest champions.
"He deliberately invaded the City of Light and fused with an entity that had been sealed within this ancient metropolis," Chen Liangquan reflected with a sigh.
"What exactly is sealed within the City of Light?" Liu Ying inquired with curiosity.
"Canli, you must have some idea, right?" Chen Liangquan prodded.
"I'm not entirely sure myself. All I've heard is that it's connected to some dark entity, and it seems to be an unknown evil," Canli replied, shaking her head gently. After a brief pause, she continued, "The Patriarch has told me that only when my bloodline reaches the tenth level, elevating me to a peak expert like her, will she reveal the nature of what's sealed in the City of Light."
"Is Tan Xiaotian after that very thing?" Liu Ying pressed on.
"Clearly."
Canli responded first, then turned the conversation. "Mr. Chen, what's the current state of affairs outside? Your visit is quite rare, so you must have some significant news."
Lately, the weaker members of the Starborn from the Luminous Planet had evacuated aboard starships. This exodus was prompted by fears that if Tan Xiaotian were to break free from the City of Light and unleash chaos across the Luminous Planet, it could spell disaster for the civilians and lead to widespread casualties among the Starborn warriors with lower bloodline levels. The departure of the vulnerable clanspeople was orchestrated by the Patriarch, Cardo, and Canli was tasked with issuing her commands.
"Wei Zhuo is dead, apparently at the hands of the Soul-Capturing God-King," Chen Liangquan announced, causing Canli and Liu Ying to blanch. They had heard of Wei Zhuo's ascension to godhood within the Thunder Sect and his successful unification of the Obsidian Thunder Sect and Tempest's Edge. He was supposed to be at the height of his powers—how could he be dead?
"I've just arrived from the Hellmouth," Chen Liangquan clarified. "Under Han Miaoyuan's direction, Wei Zhuo intended to strike at the Terror Claws. Meanwhile, Lin Daoke had journeyed to the Ionodios within the Annihilation Nebula, leaving everyone behind in the Ionodios..."
He recounted the turmoil in the Everlands meticulously, with a particular focus on Yu Yuan's role.
"Brother Yu, he actually..." Liu Ying was stunned, scarcely able to believe the news Chen Liangquan had brought. It was hard for her to fathom that Yu Yuan had managed to overpower Wei Zhuo within the Thunder Sect and had the audacity to engage Han Miaoyuan in battle within the Extraterrestrial Star River.
Moreover, Han Miaoyuan seemed to deliberately avoid confrontation. What was happening?
What on earth had occurred to Yu Yuan to make him so formidably powerful?
"You're fortunate to have dodged this disaster. Yet, many from the Starmoon Sect weren't so lucky; they've been captured and locked away in the Sword Prison, including your beloved Sect Master Duan Yisheng," Chen Liangquan added.
"Ah!"
Liu Ying, who had been staying with the Dawnbringers and wandering the Astral Domain with Canli, was startled to learn that the Starmoon Sect had been impacted.
The battle in the City of Light involving Tan Xiaotian, Cardo, and Ballo suddenly became irrelevant to her.
Duan Yisheng had been her mentor, intent on guiding her along the sacred way, a fact she was well aware of.
She held Duan Yisheng in high esteem and, upon hearing that he was in trouble, she could no longer remain calm.
"Wait!"
Canli suddenly grasped her shoulder, signaling her to stay calm in her moment of anxiety. "Someone has come through the Starway. Oh, it's Yu Yuan!"
As the saintess of the Dawnbringers, Canli, who harbored the Altar of Rebirth within her, communicated with the Dawnbringers guarding the Starway and was promptly informed of the arrival.
Since Yu Yuan had specifically asked to see her, the guarder had immediately notified her.
"Brother Yu!"
"Yu Yuan!"
Chen Liangquan and Liu Ying exclaimed in surprise.
"This kid, after he and Han Miaoyuan ventured into the extraterrestrial, he never returned to the Everlands!" Chen Liangquan, upon learning it was Yu Yuan who had arrived, couldn't contain his excitement. "I had plans to see him once he got back to the Everlands, but who knew he'd show up in the Dawnbringers' territory!"
"Could he be here to help us against Tan Xiaotian?" Canli wondered aloud.
"I'm not sure," Chen Liangquan admitted, shaking his head.
As they spoke, they observed a Heaven's Dais shimmering with rainbow hues, flickering amidst the stars.
Dragon Slaying Stage!
Yu Yuan, having visited Eiwrone and acquired the Dragon Slaying Stage from the Solar Spirit, arrived alone at the sacred land of the Dawnbringers.
He chose not to bring Ji Ningshuang, a Grand Sword Immortal of the Sword Sect who had ascended to the Godrank Realm. Her presence would have only caused Cardo and Ballo undue stress.
With the Dragon Slaying Stage in hand, Yu Yuan inadvertently caught sight of the City of Light while tracking Canli and Liu Ying across the void.
He was familiar with tales of this enigmatic city and knew from the Abyssal Greater Basilisk and the Abyssal Leviathan that it harbored a dark object under seal.
This dark object was precisely what Tan Xiaotian sought—a treasure capable of significantly enhancing his power.
With the departure of the Demon God, the dark object within the City of Light had actively sought out the darkness across the world, ultimately connecting with the formidable Tan Xiaotian.
Tan Xiaotian accepted the summons with delight.
Observing the City of Light's movement, Yu Yuan noticed slivers of darkness emerging like tendrils within the city's walls, causing the Luminous Planet to seem overwhelmingly bright.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Beams of starlight, solar radiance, and lunar glow merged into a colossal sword of light, targeting the City of Light and purging the darkness concealed within its walls.
"Hehe, I've got all the time in the world. Let's see how long you can last," Tan Xiaotian's voice echoed from the depths of the City of Light, audible to Yu Yuan through the Dragon Slaying Stage.
Yu Yuan's gaze grew contemplative as he recalled Awkwafina of the Shadowkin's words: the power of darkness from the Abyss had always been preeminent.
Darkness was a foundational pillar of the Abyss!
It appeared that the Abyss currently lacked a supreme Dark Deity, leaving many dark forces without a leader.
The Abyss was not insular; any being that delved into the power of darkness there would naturally gravitate towards a pure Dark Deity, one who embodied the intricate essences of dark magic, and potentially pledge their allegiance.
Once Tan Xiaotian descended into the Abyss, he would be able to dominate its darkness and transform into the Dark Deity of the Abyss.
In that realm, he could gather more allies and followers than he ever could in the Devil Palace of this world!
Whoosh!
The Dragon Slaying Stage came to an abrupt halt before Canli and Liu Ying, hovering above the Fallen Star Eyes.
"Liu Ying, I'll escort you to the Ashlands," Yu Yuan offered with a smile.
"My master is imprisoned by the Sword Sect. I want my master back. Brother Yu, you can make that happen, right?" Liu Ying asked directly, having learned from Chen Liangquan that even Han Miaoyuan steered clear of Yu Yuan. She pleaded, "Brother Yu, our Starmoon Sect hasn't done anything wrong. You can't just stand by and do nothing."
"Yu Yuan!"
"Yu Yuan!"
A man and a woman called out from the City of Light, sensing Yu Yuan's presence.
Whoosh!
A charming little girl, clutching a dazzling wand, stood suspended in the air above the City of Light. She gazed over at Yu Yuan and Canli, her sweet voice carrying across the distance, "What's the situation with the Boulderdawn? Yu Yuan, what exactly happened in the Ashlands when Senior Bertain ventured into the Abyss?"
Cardo, the leader of the Dawnbringers, approached as a radiant Avatar of Light sped towards them at the speed of light.
Within the Luminous Planet, her Avatar of Light moved as swiftly as teleportation, crossing the Star River in mere moments.
"Lord Cardo," Yu Yuan greeted with a slight bow.
