C1751 Cardo

The little girl, merely an Avatar of Light, captivated everyone's attention the moment she appeared. To those longing for illumination, she seemed a divine embodiment, a symbol of sanctity and grace.

The nearby stars, the sun, and the moon brightened, casting a fraction of their light upon her. Petite and delicate, with her platinum hair framing her face, she appeared as if sculpted by a deity, flawless and evoking a desire in onlookers to protect her, or to feel unworthy in her presence.

Cardo, the chieftain of the Dawnbringers, ranked as the second mightiest Otherkin in the extraterrestrial Star River, only surpassed by the formidable Demon God, Bertain. Canli, though stunning in her own right, paled in comparison to Cardo, who perpetually maintained the appearance of a cherished little girl, as if time itself had been locked away, never to age her.

Yet, her true age surpassed that of the Blood King Sabonis and the Starfallen Oracle, Beru.

"Sir!"

"Chieftain!"

Chen Liangquan, Liu Ying, and Canli all bowed on the Fallen Star Eyes, paying homage to this renowned extraterrestrial force, conveying their respect and aspiration for the light.

"Tan Xiaotian claimed he hailed from the Ashlands and spoke highly of his experiences there, particularly of you," Cardo's Avatar of Light spoke with a voice as sweet as honey, her gem-like eyes pure and unblemished. She smiled slightly and mused, "How odd, considering Tan Xiaotian is known to be at odds with your Boulderdawn."

"He admires me?" Yu Yuan responded with a light, surprised chuckle. In the presence of the Dawnbringers' chieftain, whose power eclipsed even that of the Blood King Sabonis, he felt neither restraint nor discomfort. He recounted how the Demon God, Bertain, had driven the Origin Deity back to the Abyss, thwarting the deity's scheme to erode this world.

He kept certain secrets to himself, carefully omitting details about the young beast and the secular bird.

"So the Abyssal Greater Basilisk, the Abyssal Leviathan, and Jessica remain in the Ashlands?" Cardo inquired, her expression shifting subtly at the mention of Awkwafina, indicating a familiarity with the Shadowkin elder. She sighed softly, "Awkwafina has had her share of hardships. Ever since her youth, her path in love has been strewn with obstacles, and the people she encounters always turn out to be untrustworthy."

Yu Yuan's gaze held a peculiar expression.

Awkwafina, with her face etched in wrinkles and the visage of a crone, radiated a dark and menacing presence. Her methods were cruel beyond measure. Yet, in Cardo's narrative, she was transformed into an unfortunate young woman plagued by romantic woes, a notion that Yu Yuan found utterly bizarre.

"Which is why, there aren't many decent men out there. Little Canli, make sure you don't end up like Awkwafina."

While Cardo was ostensibly speaking to Canli, the saintess of the Dawnbringers, her gaze was fixed on Liu Ying, her words carrying a clear warning. "It's quite peculiar, actually. Senior Bertain has mentioned you to me before. Back then, you hadn't even left the Everlands, and yet, he had already taken notice of you."

"It was through him that I first learned of a guy named Yu Yuan from the Boulderdawn sect."

"The fact that I can let Canli travel to the Everlands with peace of mind is partly due to this very reason."

The leader of the Dawnbringers eyed Yu Yuan with a scrutinizing squint, as if observing a curious little creature.

Yu Yuan experienced a faint stinging sensation throughout his body.

On the Dragon Slaying Stage, both his physical form and Lunar Spirit were present, with only his Solar Spirit remaining in the Ashlands, still in search of alien beasts to experiment with. The mild discomfort originated from his flesh, heart, and a subtle twinge between his eyebrows, though it was hardly noticeable.

Yu Yuan furrowed his brow and let out a soft exclamation.

Cardo, sensing the moment, refrained from probing further with her divine power. In her view, Yu Yuan was a mere junior among juniors.

She was intrigued that a youngster like him had caught the attention of the venerable Bertain and was eager to uncover what made this kid so special.

Her curiosity was benign, driven by a desire to unravel the mystery behind Yu Yuan's swift ascent.

Of course, her actions were also influenced by her own sense of superiority, not regarding Yu Yuan as a peer, which explained her behavior.

Chen Liangquan and Canli, standing beside her, were taken aback upon hearing this for the first time, their eyes widening in astonishment.

Yu Yuan, who had yet to break free from the Everlands and gain renown in the extraterrestrial realms, had somehow captured the interest of the Demon God Bertain.

They were utterly perplexed, sensing a profound aura of mystery enveloping Yu Yuan.

"Liu Ying, accompany me to the Ashlands. I assure you, I will rescue your master and the other captives of the Starmoon Sect," Yu Yuan stated, slightly irritated after being scrutinized. Despite Cardo's appearance as a little girl, she had an old-fashioned way of addressing others as 'little girl' or 'child.'

Yu Yuan was eager to avoid further delays and uninterested in the issues between Tan Xiaotian and Cardo, focusing instead on his original intent for visiting the Luminous Planet.

"Alright." Liu Ying gracefully stowed her "Falling Heart Flame" and alighted on the Dragon Slaying Stage. "Thank you for your hospitality and companionship. Should the opportunity arise, I would like to extend an invitation to you to visit the Starmoon Sect."

"You're leaving?" Canli said, her voice tinged with reluctance.

"Yes, I have my own mission," Liu Ying replied softly.

"Hold on!"

Cardo's Avatar of Light intercepted them with a smile. While Chen Liangquan and Canli looked on in confusion, she said with a gentle laugh, "Ballo wishes to meet with you."

"Ballo?"

Yu Yuan gazed towards the City of Light with astonishment. He felt an odd sensation, having no significant ties to the Starborn patriarch.

"Before Beru, Leo, and Gheirat left the Ashlands for the Annihilation Nebula, they spoke of you," Canli clarified. "They said they couldn't have escaped the Ashlands without your help. Ballo wants to express his gratitude personally for saving Leo and the esteemed elders of their clan."

Leo was known as the Starchild, and both Beru and Ballo hailed from the same lineage, with Beru being one of Ballo's family elders.

These two held great significance to Ballo. In contrast, Gheirat, a ninth-level Star River Commander, was of lesser importance to Ballo, barely warranting a mention.

"No need for such formality. My connection with Great Sage Beru was forged through different circumstances," Yu Yuan said, gesturing dismissively, eager not to linger any longer in the Luminous Planet.

"He offers his sincere thanks. Please, grant him this courtesy," Cardo persisted.

"Yu Yuan, Ballo is highly esteemed and a staunch ally of the Dawnbringers. I suggest you meet with him, then you can take Liu Ying and be on your way. It shouldn't take long," Chen Liangquan recommended, gesturing towards the City of Light. "Rest assured, Tan Xiaotian won't be emerging anytime soon."

"I'm not scared of Tan Xiaotian."

Yu Yuan fell silent, reflecting on his time with Tan Xiaotian in the Ashlands. How could he not understand what kind of person the Demon Lord was?

Tan Xiaotian was no Lin Daoke. His ties with Han Miaoyuan weren't strong enough to compel him to act on Han's behalf.

"Well then, I might as well witness the marvels of the City of Light." Chen Liangquan had extended the courtesy, so with a nod, he followed Cardo's Avatar of Light, along with Chen Liangquan, Canli, and others, soaring toward the wondrous city.

"Dragon Slaying Stage!"

"Yu Yuan of the Boulderdawn!"

The Dawnbringers, clad in dazzling armor and spotting Cardo with the Dragon Slaying Stage, couldn't contain their exclamations of surprise.

At this point, only Dawnbringers with a bloodline level of at least the eighth level dared to remain in the Luminous Planet.

Most of these warriors were armed with holy weapons. Their gleaming armor, absorbing the brilliance of the sun, moon, and stars, was stationed outside the natural starwall, seemingly in vigilant defense against some threat.

"Even if Tan Xiaotian emerges from the City of Light, there's another massive net in the Luminous Planet that will ensnare him and return him to the City of Light," Canli said with a hint of arrogance. "That outer net, powered by my Altar of Rebirth and the strength and holy weapons of 800 Dawnbringers, can summon a divine force specifically designed to combat darkness!"

"I'm aware of your exceptional abilities," Yu Yuan complimented.

"Oh, if only you could advance to the tenth level of bloodline, allowing your Altar of Rebirth to resonate with the City of Light. Then we wouldn't just be suppressing Tan Xiaotian; we could outright kill him!" Cardo expressed with a tinge of regret. "Many, many years ago, we blasted the master of the Devil Palace within the City of Light. But back then, we also harnessed the power of the Sky Fiend."

"High Priest Reid?" Yu Yuan inquired.

"How do you know of him?" Cardo asked, taken aback.

"Wrapped in his cloak infused with the devil soul all year, swirling with thick dark energy, I surmised it might be one of the trophies," Yu Yuan answered.

"You're quite astute."

During their conversation, the group reached the airspace above the City of Light.

Yu Yuan bowed his head, scrutinizing the enigmatic city below him, and was instantly enveloped by an aura of pure darkness.

"Hmm? Yu Yuan, what brings you here?"

...