C1861 The Reunion of the Most High

When Norant spoke, Cardo, the chieftain of the Dawnbringers, had her eyes sparkle with interest, and her smile grew even sweeter. She seemed quite pleased with the turn of events.

The rest were taken aback, unable to comprehend what the seemingly impetuous Paladin of Radiance was playing at. The Ashlands, renowned throughout the stars for their enigmatic nature, were now firmly in the grasp of Yu Yuan and the Boulderdawn Sect. Their invitation to explore the wonders was a boon for all.

Yet, Norant's abrupt emergence, coupled with his imprisonment of a Shura woman linked to Yu Yuan, seemed ill-timed and threatened to spoil the mood. The Shura, already diminished by the downfall of two pinnacle warriors, had been largely disregarded by the other races. No one was fixated on them. Norant's decision to march into the Dark Realm was seen by some as kicking them while they were down.

Why hadn't he expressed any desire to go when Tan Xiaotian, the golden dragon, and the wielder of the ice sword were there? As this question lingered, the looks directed at Norant grew colder, and murmurs of discontent spread, accusing him of stirring up unnecessary trouble.

"Has he been isolated somewhere for too long, out of touch with current affairs? How could he dare to cross Yu Yuan and make such statements?" Youqian wondered, astonished.

Anyone aware of the recent events in the Dark Star and the Annihilation Nebula would not question Yu Yuan's standing within the Boulderdawn Sect, nor underestimate his combat prowess. Norant, as a general of the Sunward Legion, appeared uninformed, which made him seem like a fool to others.

High Priest Reid observed Cardo and Ballo, then turned his attention to the armor adorning Norant. "Canli has reached the ninth level of her bloodline and is on the cusp of ascending to a tenth-level warrior. As one naturally endowed with an altar, she is entitled to a true holy weapon upon her advancement."

"The Holy Armor?" Youqian realized with a start.

"The Holy Armor is indeed a true holy weapon, second only to Cardo's wand among the Dawnbringers. Moreover, Norant has laid claim to several Quasi-sacred Weapons, all of which he intends to cede to Canli." Reid's subsequent words were conveyed through the arcane whispers of the Sky Fiend. "I suspect Cardo would rather not take action herself, preferring to have the Boulderdawn handle the matter."

"I even suspect that Norant's ignorance of Yu Yuan's prowess was intentional," Reid, the High Priest, shared his thoughts.

Beside Norant, there were several ninth-level Dawnbringers who likely remained loyal to Cardo, contributing to the trouble he stirred up.

After hearing this, Youqian glanced at the sweet-smiling Cardo and grasped the implication behind Yu Yuan's words.

You're quite the schemer.

At that moment, Ballo of the Starborn, with a stern face, remarked, "Is this really necessary?"

Ballo wasn't addressing Norant but rather looking at Cardo, convinced that Norant's behavior was influenced by her. He knew his ally well.

"If Norant insists on making a scene and won't listen to me, then he can do as he pleases," Cardo responded with a chuckle.

"Regardless, he's a tenth-level warrior of your Dawnbringers. It doesn't reflect well on him to act this way, does it?"

Ballo used blood magic to communicate. The two had been comrades in arms for many years, both standing as peak tenth-level warriors, and they had their secret ways of communicating. "It's not easy to become a tenth-level warrior. You should value that."

"If he won't heed my words and only has eyes for Bertain, he's not worth my concern," Cardo retorted.

And with that, their exchange concluded.

"Yu Yuan! Where is your true form?"

Norant gestured for Tianqi and Taixu to step aside and glared at Yu Yuan, who had claimed the Earth-Tethered Cage for himself. "Rest assured, I won't take advantage of your avatar!"

"What a spectacle! This trip wasn't a waste after all!" Zhou Wuying exclaimed, thrilled.

"Something's not right."

"The Paladin of Radiance seems to be a bit slow on the uptake, doesn't he? He appears unaware of how formidable Yu Yuan has become since the battle in the Dark Star."

"There must be more to this."

To those who had witnessed Yu Yuan and Lin Daoke's battle, Norant's peculiar actions made him seem like a fool seeking his own demise.

Norant, not even ranking in the top ten outside the realm, what chance did he stand against the current Yu Yuan?

"Me?" Yu Yuan, perched on the nest-like golden threads, looked at Norant oddly. "This is the Ashlands. You're out of your depth, and yet you seek to challenge me here?"

"What about the Ashlands?" Norant bellowed.

"Very well." Yu Yuan's Blood Red Phantom nodded slowly. "I'll do as you wish. Just give me a moment."

...

In the Everlands, by the Rainbow Ocean, the white stone platform in the grass hut emitted a soft halo as Yu Yuan's true form emerged.

With the Ashlands teeming with powerful beings from various races and instigators like Norant, coupled with the complexities of the Everlands, Yu Yuan was ready to seize the chance to depart.

"Hmm!"

Grasping the Dragon Slaying Stage and transforming it into a pebble, he released the Shadowflame Blight Array with a flicker of his Divine Sense.

Yuan Lianyao, clad in a deep red gown, and Zhou Cangmin, whose Lunar Spirit and dominant soul resided within the Solar Spirit Body, entered as the encircling toxic mists and flames dissipated.

"Sister Mayor," Yu Yuan greeted her with a smile. "What brings you here?"

"Mr. Qin mentioned that times have changed. I no longer need to concern myself with the five major forces."

Her lush red lips and rosy cheeks adorned the "blazing red lotus," a figure of perfection, making her the object of desire for numerous dark adepts and villains across the Land of Quiescence, with many young talents from the Ruby Hand smitten by her.

"The State Preceptor is with me; we'd like to seek your advice on a matter."

Upon their reunion, Yuan Lianyao appeared somewhat reserved. She glanced repeatedly at the huts, seemingly anxious that Ji Ningshuang from the Sword Sect might be present.

She was aware that before Ji Ningshuang had attained the Supreme God seat, she and Yu Yuan had spent time together there—a fact known to all.

"Yu Yuan, when Mo Baichuan ascended to godhood through the Path of Earthfire, the volcanoes within the Ruby Hand's domain erupted with blazing flame energy. She received gifts from the Earthfire and leveraged them to advance to the Unbound state."

Zhou Cangmin offered a wry smile. "But now that Mo Baichuan has conquered the Path of Earthfire, and I've lost my corporeal body, my pursuit of the Path of the Skyfire is doomed. That's why I encouraged her to switch paths right after her breakthrough to the Unbound state, so she might one day stand a chance against the Sunfire Emperor."

"There's still hope for her on the Path of the Skyfire, don't you think?"

At the Marsh, the High Oracle was an unintended casualty. His corporeal body and organs were forcibly taken by the Dark Phoenix, transformed into vital energy for her combat use, severing his Path to Godhood.

"You've... fallen from grace?" Yu Yuan was taken aback.

"Without my corporeal body, left with only a Solar Spirit, falling is to be expected."

Zhou Cangmin, a Hellbreed, was once the Ruby Hand's most favored successor. After the disaster in the Marsh, realizing the Supreme God was beyond his reach, he chose to back Yuan Lianyao, stepping aside from the Path of the Skyfire and intending to share his insights into the Heavenly Fire Technique with her, free of charge.

"A Solar Spirit still harbors the potential to ascend to the rank of Supreme God," Yu Yuan stated gravely.

"But without a corporeal body, how can a mere Solar Spirit ascend to the highest echelon?" Zhou Cangmin was perplexed.

"Consider the paths of Ann Ziqing and Xueyin, who turned to the arcane arts of the Colddeath. You could consult with Xueyin and infuse your Solar Spirit with the Colddeath's treasured lifeblood," Yu Yuan suggested. "Achieving the status of Supreme God through the Solar Spirit means independence from the Everlands and freedom from the Dark Phoenix's menace."

Zhou Cangmin paused, "I'll give it some thought."

"And what of me?" Yuan Lianyao inquired gently.

"Just a moment," Yu Yuan said, his face etched with contemplation. After a brief pause, he addressed Zhou Cangmin again.

"When you opened the Starway for me in Kobran, I encountered the Primal Blood. The Dark Phoenix resents you for that, hence her cruelty." Filled with remorse, Yu Yuan inhaled deeply and proposed, "Would you two accompany me to the Ashlands?"

"The Ashlands?" Both were taken aback.

"Yes, the Ashlands are bustling now and may become even more so." Yu Yuan ascended, the Shadowflame Blight above parting for him.

From his aerial vantage point, he reflected on Yuan Lianyao's advancement, thanks to the Earthfire, and sensed that the ultimate flames would forever heed the Primal Soul.

In the vast depths of the Everlands, the presence of two enigmatic artifacts from the Eternal Alliance triggered a sense of crisis in him. He had planned to remain in the Everlands, awaiting the emergence of the Secular Bird Queen from the Nest of Perdition within the Marsh. However, he decided it was wiser to depart first. Once he clarified the situation with the Primal Soul and unraveled the hidden truths of the past, he would devise a new plan.

"Can we go?" Yuan Lianyao inquired of Zhou Cangmin.

"With Han Miaoyuan missing, the Demon Lord allied with Jihui, and the Dark Phoenix nearly laying waste to the Everlands, what's the point of this so-called five-force alliance?" Zhou Cangmin's eyes brimmed with scorn. Shaking his head, he replied, "Let's go. We'll head to the Ashlands; it might just be the opportunity we need."

"Understood."

...

Time passed.

A streak of starlight, laced with ice crystals, soared over the barrier of the Everlands and descended upon the Sword Sect in the land of Euwrea. There, not only was Lin Daoke of the Sword Sect present, but also Qin Luo of the Ruby Hand, the Ape from the Godsblight Marsh, and the newly anointed Dark Deity, Mo Baichuan, along with Zu Ann. Zhong Chichen and Loong Jie had arrived as well!

Eight supreme beings of the Everlands had gathered, as if by prior arrangement.

With her arrival, nine of the Everlands' most exalted beings were now all at the Sword Sect!

Excluding the Dark Phoenix, the Astral Tiger, Han Miaoyuan, Tan Xiaotian, and Youyu, when the renowned extraterrestrial powers of the Everlands saw her return, they abruptly ceased their conversation, their expressions turning peculiar.

"What's the matter?" Ji Ningshuang halted on Sword Mountain, observing the eight who had risen to the Most High with their Origin. Noting their grave demeanors, she asked with astonishment, "What's occurred?"

"Yu Yuan has issued a decree from the Ashlands, forbidding the Most High of the Everlands from entering, and that includes you," Untamed said gravely, glancing at the earth beneath him. "Mo Baichuan relayed a message through the Earthfire, stating that only Yu Yuan's Solar Spirit can counteract the Dark Phoenix's hold over the blood of Everlands' inhabitants. The consensus is to request your help in finding Yu Yuan and retrieving his Solar Spirit."

"For the sake of the Everlands, for the enduring legacy of life's seeds."

...