C1833 The Bottomless Lin Daoke!

Beneath the Primal Blood Continent, Yu Yuan, radiating with the glow of treasures, glanced at the anxious Ji Ningshuang and reassured her with a smile, "Mr. Lin is alright."

Ji Ningshuang, who had healed most of her injuries and was still harnessing the ice power of the underground to hone her swordsmanship, retorted with concern, "I'm worried about you!"

Yu Yuan, taken aback, responded with a puzzled look, "Didn't I already tell you that I'm fine? He had a prior battle, and with Han Miaoyuan absent, his spiritual energy nearly depleted. What's there to worry about me for?"

At that point, the Solar Spirit had retracted all its power and bloodline mysteries from the Dragon Slaying Stage.

Yu Yuan had shared with Ji Ningshuang every detail of the clash between Lin Daoke and the Annihilation Nebula, including how he had guided an almost powerless Lin Daoke to the Dragon Slaying Stage and supplied him with ample spiritual energy.

He genuinely couldn't grasp Ji Ningshuang's lingering concerns.

"Did he truly withdraw from the Annihilation Nebula?" Ji Ningshuang remained uneasy, her face as radiant as polished marble, shimmering with an enchanting glow. "With the sect master's stubborn streak, why did he stop using his sword?"

"Keep using his sword?" Yu Yuan laughed lightly, "Even the most resourceful are helpless without the necessary ingredients. Lin Daoke might be formidable, but without spiritual energy, how could he wield his sword?"

Ji Ningshuang's eyes, bright as frosty stars, were filled with apprehension. "In truth, he might have refined another sword by now. This sword doesn't require spiritual energy to wield, though its power is unpredictable. But that's just my speculation; he's never actually used it."

"Another sword?!" Yu Yuan's face grew tense.

"The body is a sword, the union of the dominant soul and the origin forms a sword, and the Solar Spirit is a sword. Yet, all humans of the Everlands possess three souls beyond their physical forms," Ji Ningshuang whispered.

"A Lunar Spirit? His Lunar Spirit has also taken the form of a sword? Does he possess four swords in total?" Yu Yuan exclaimed in astonishment.

Ji Ningshuang gave Yu Yuan a look that suggested she had just figured something out, watching him as he ranted and raved. Once he calmed down, she spoke up, "I'm not sure if the sword has been completed. All I've heard is that Han Miaoyuan had a hand in its making. It seems... Han Miaoyuan taught him the refining process."

After hearing Yu Yuan's account, Ji Ningshuang's way of referring to Han Miaoyuan changed.

She stopped using the honorific 'Mr. Han' and started calling him by his given name.

—Han Miaoyuan had lost her respect.

"This sword was originally crafted by the Sect Master to combat the Lunar Meridian and the God of Ghosts, Youyu."

"As to whether it's been completed, I'm not entirely sure. But if it has, even with depleted spiritual energy, one could still wield its sword light."

"It's a blade specifically designed to slay ghostly spirits."

Ji Ningshuang stated earnestly.

"Why didn't you warn me sooner?" Yu Yuan glared at her.

The Grand Sword Immortal, with her pure and immaculate presence, bowed her head in contrition, saying, "The Sect Master has always been kind to me, nurturing me with great care. He's different from the Dark Phoenix; I hold him in high regard and am grateful. Moreover, I wasn't certain whether the sword had been completed, and even if it had, you... wouldn't have died."

"How can you be so sure I wouldn't have died?"

"It's just a feeling. I sense that your soul is strong enough to withstand that sword."

Ji Ningshuang's lips curled into a smile, reminiscent of her naive younger days, as she peppered Yu Yuan with questions. She blinked and added, "I can't pinpoint the exact reason, but ever since we joined forces to confront the Dark Phoenix in the Dark Star, I've felt there's something extraordinary about your soul."

Yu Yuan's thoughts stirred, and he fell into a contemplative silence.

Could this young woman have perceived something about him?

"Regardless, thank you."

She reached out with her slightly cool arm, tentatively grasping for Yu Yuan's Solar Spirit.

As their bodies made contact, both shuddered as if struck by electricity, naturally drawing a bit closer to each other.

Yu Yuan's eyes sparkled with astonishment.

Whether it was due to the Primal Blood beneath the earth or the perpetual chill accompanying his Solar Spirit Body, when he touched Ji Ningshuang, they both experienced an exquisite ecstasy that penetrated from their flesh to their souls.

Without realizing it, they drew even closer to one another.

Hiss, hiss!

Strands of pure vital energy flowed into Ji Ningshuang, aiding in the healing of her lingering wounds and revitalizing her physique.

Most notably, it was nurturing her Solar Spirit Body, akin to a Celestial Ice Crystal.

Ji Ningshuang, with eyes closed in comfort, let out a contented murmur. She quickly sensed something amiss, her cheeks flushing with a rosy tint as she grasped for words, "Once Han Miaoyuan is dead, Mr. Lin will be liberated. Then, as the leader of Boulderdawn, he will uphold the human race's standard. He will lend his strength as well."

"To put it simply, he's willing to battle for whoever seeks the welfare of the Everlands!"

Yu Yuan chuckled, pulling Ji Ningshuang closer and wrapping his arm around her slender waist. "Looks like the vital energy within my Solar Spirit can really purify your body!"

"Don't tease, it tickles."

"Hehe."

...

Annihilation Nebula.

As Lin Daoke transformed into a streak of sword light and departed, followed by the Grand Sword Immortals and the God-Kings of Boulderdawn, Yu Yuan and the God-Kings from Boulderdawn set their course for Ionodios.

A mix of congratulations and puzzled whispers surged towards Taishi and Yu Yuan.

Yu Yuan ignored them all.

As more unfamiliar faces from the Otherkin drew near, he furrowed his brow and signaled to Taishi, "I need to leave ahead of time."

Swoosh!

The Dragon Slaying Stage burst into a spectrum of iridescent clouds, teleporting through the void straight for Ionodios.

In the past, he was never one for such fanfare, always leaving such matters to Taishi.

He was simply sticking to old habits.

"Yu Yuan!"

Beru of the Starborn, along with Leo, Gheirat, and Denise from Zekrica, arrived.

They set foot in Ionodios just in time to see Yu Yuan, enveloped in a rainbow gleam, materialize at the Starway and quickly gathered around him.

Lin Daoke had a chance to be killed, and the Abyssal Leviathan had even offered to assist, yet Yu Yuan had inexplicably let him go. This left the Starborn's mighty figures feeling a sense of regret.

"The fourth sword..."

Yu Yuan, having just learned the news from Ji Ningshuang through the Solar Spirit, stood at the Starway, his previously relaxed expression vanishing in an instant.

Unexpectedly, Lin Daoke might possess another sword, one that could be wielded without expending spiritual energy, and it was designed specifically to target the Lunar Meridian and the God of Ghosts, Youyu!

Han was truly devious!

Yu Yuan couldn't help but inwardly curse.

"Eh, how come you've left the Ashlands?" Yu Yuan asked Denise, the Starborn's noble daughter, with a puzzled look. "Weren't you supposed to stay there and try to attune to the Starpierced Armor's marvels?"

"I wasn't fortunate enough, so I decided to give up. The Ashlands are so peculiar, and you still plan to open them up. That's why I asked Mr. Zhong for a favor to send me back. I thought... it would be good for my father and some of our Starborn people to have another chance to visit the Ashlands."

Upon hearing this, Yu Yuan nodded gently, "I do have such intentions. However..."

"What's the matter? With Lin Daoke of the Sword Sect defeated, what else is there to worry about?"

Beru, no longer fearing the ban of the Ionodios, and now enveloped in a radiant starlight, was about to express his gratitude to Yu Yuan for the rescue in the Ashlands. Noticing Yu Yuan's suddenly grave demeanor, Beru asked curiously, "Now, with the vastness of the Everlands and the Star River before us, who else could be troubling you besides the Dark Phoenix?"

"Ah!"

Beru smacked his forehead, a realization dawning on him, "I understand now! You're concerned about the Secular Bird Queen, aren't you?"

The Secular Bird Queen?

Yu Yuan paused, his gaze deepening as he stared at the Starway. Once again probing with the Dragon Slaying Stage, he confirmed that the connection to the Greenshadow remained severed.

The Darkpinion must be completely sealed by Jihui. He needed to coordinate with Tan Xiaotian and Chen Qinghuang to lay an ambush for the Dark Phoenix.

Jihui likely sealed off the Darkpinion Astral Domain to prevent the Supreme Dark Phoenix from summoning entities like the Untamed Deity, Astral Tiger, and Green Willow through the Phoenix Shrine. This would thwart any interference from other powers.

Given these circumstances, it was clear that using the Starway to reach Darkpinion was out of the question.

The only option was to embark on a long journey.

"Darkpinion..."

He pondered whether to visit the territory of the Wingkind and, if so, what would be the fastest way to get there.

"Yu, do you remember Pattinson and the Shadowkin?"

Denise, whose bloodline had ascended to the ninth level, placing her alongside Leo, Beru, and her father, gazed at Yu Yuan with stars in her eyes, full of admiration.

"Hmm, I remember. What about them?" Yu Yuan snapped back to reality.

Elena, Pattinson, and Lambing were the outlaws he had encountered just beyond the Star River.

Pattinson later led a faction of these outlaws and the Shadowkin to settle in Zekrica.

"He and the Shadowkin were gathered by an elderly woman named Awkwafina and left our Zekrica. Pattinson mentioned that he and the Shadowkin would henceforth pledge their allegiance to Awkwafina," Denise paused before adding, "Pattinson also mentioned that Awkwafina seems to fear you, doesn't she?"

"We're somewhat acquainted."

Yu Yuan nodded, not particularly concerned with this bit of news, but it did make him aware that since Jihui had taken control of the Origin Realm, it had attracted powerful figures like Awkwafina.

The Dreadlord within the Origin Realm, worshipped as a deity by Awkwafina, allowed this tenth-level Shadowkin powerhouse to govern the once fragmented Shadowkin.

Beyond the Shadowkin, there were certainly other races and forces in this world that, like Tan Xiaotian, were gradually aligning with the Abyss, each being persuaded by Jihui in turn.

Suddenly, a faintly enigmatic message of blood essence reached him from the far-off Ashlands.

It was directed to his Solar Spirit stationed on the Primal Blood Continent.

As his real body and Solar Spirit exchanged information, the moment the Solar Spirit received the message, his real body in Ionodios also received the update, instantly grasping the situation.

A young Titan Spinosaurus had taken flight from the deep seas of the Tyria Star Domain, seemingly determined to break free from the confines of the Ashlands.

It was primarily to escape from him!

Loong Jie attempted to convince the little spinosaurus to halt its actions, but to no avail. Moreover, the little spinosaurus refused to let Loong Jie tag along.

The creature resembled a headstrong and defiant teenager, eager to venture out into the extraterrestrial realm on its own, no longer wishing to be confined by parental constraints.

…