C1865 It Could Not Hold It in Anymore
The Rebirth Nest within the forest operated like a sponge soaking up water, relentlessly devouring all forms of psionic power.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
High above Tyria, within the Star River, some of the energy erupting from the colossal energy vortexes didn't disperse but was instead drawn into the nest.
Each branch forming the nest glowed with a blinding light, radiating powers of rebirth, destruction, and death.
The intricate natural patterns on the branches emerged, exuding a scent brimming with vitality, as if they had the power to cultivate flora and revive a barren world.
The ancient wood, flowers, and grass of the forest were not depleted by the nest's energy absorption; instead, they thrived because of it.
The nest, brought to Tyria by the Greylag and the Songbird from the Shadowkin Sacred Land, seemed to have encountered an unexpected boon.
It discovered that the cosmic energy in the surrounding space far surpassed that of the forest's vegetation, prompting it to make a fresh choice—
To draw energy from beyond the terrestrial realm!
"The Secular Bird Queen's Rebirth Nest."
Taishi emerged from the depths of the earth, standing before the nest. Observing the torrent of energy cascading like a waterfall from the sky into the nest, his expression grew somber. "Is this her intention?"
The wonders of the Ashlands and the peculiarities of Tyria stemmed from an energy here that vastly outstripped that of other Astral Domains.
In time, Tyria would develop a wall capable of purifying the thick cosmic energy into pure spiritual energy, suffusing the entire world.
This was why Tyria was chosen as the site for the New Everlands.
Yet now, the Secular Bird Queen's Rebirth Nest was siphoning off the power from the energy vortexes, occupying a substantial amount.
A short-term diversion might be manageable, but a long-term appropriation would surely impact Tyria.
"Lord Taishi, please hold on a moment."
The Songbird, transformed into a beautiful maiden, sensed Taishi's discontent and retreated into the nest, casting a pleading gaze at Yu Yuan. "I need time."
Yu Yuan gave a slight nod.
At that moment, Tianqi, Taixu, Ann Ziqing, Shi Jing'er, Feng Zhong, and others had arrived at the Rebirth Nest, their curiosity piqued as they observed it. To them, the Rebirth Nest resembled a giant beast with its maw agape, displaying its primal instincts as it voraciously siphoned various forms of energy from the Ashlands.
Aware of Yu Yuan's deep connection with the Secular Bird Queen, they refrained from interjecting and entrusted the situation to him.
"Ugh!"
After a moment, the Songbird's brows quivered as if she had heard something. Hovering at the nest's center, she addressed Yu Yuan, "Her Majesty requests your permission to use the Rebirth Nest to draw upon the cosmic energy of this place."
"Hasn't she already begun doing so?" Yu Yuan's demeanor remained unchanged.
Realizing that the Queen's battle with the Dark Phoenix in the Darkpinion Astral Domain was likely not in her favor and that she was in need of external support, Yu Yuan had no reservations about offering assistance. He also had many questions for the Secular Bird Queen regarding the Everlands and the Dark Phoenix.
"And..."
As the Songbird, with her youthful appearance, was about to speak again, Yu Yuan halted at the edge of the nest with an almost spectral presence. He laid his left hand upon a verdant branch and declared, "There's no need for you to relay her message. I will communicate with her directly."
The instant Yu Yuan's vital energy infused the branch, leveraging his status as the Ashlands' de facto ruler, his thoughts traversed the Infinite Galaxy with the branch as his conduit. He sensed the Secular Bird Queen's presence and the easing of the barriers, giving way to the extension of his will.
Consequently, Yu Yuan's consciousness materialized within the Deathwing Lair of the Darkpinion Astral Domain.
The Darkpinion had undergone a radical transformation since his last encounter through the eyes of the Blood Fiend Tschick. Five incandescent suns now bathed the once-dim star domain in brilliant light, leaving all flora withered and desolate.
The Uxthar Tree, rooted in the Phoenix Ashes, had its vitality and moisture sapped away by the relentless solar glare. A colossal frog, situated amidst the quintet of suns, bore eyes akin to two additional suns, igniting everything within its gaze. The massive Iron-winged Bird, with its tempestuous wake, swept through Jihui's Wraithbanner.
Jihui's efforts to solidify the Origin Gate were often thwarted by the tenth level Iron-winged Bird before it could fully stabilize.
The Moonfang Tiger and the golden deer, veterans of battles within the Dark Star domain, now roamed Tan Xiaotian's Darkland, leaving the Demon Lord stretched too thin to pursue them.
Once, the Astral Tiger and Tan Xiaotian stood as the Everlands' two formidable champions, each holding mutual admiration as they carved out new territories for their realm.
Now adversaries, the Astral Tiger and the golden deer joined forces, keeping Tan Xiaotian too preoccupied to attend to other matters.
Elsewhere, the clash between the purple phoenix and the Azure Bird, a fierce collision of bloodline rules, had obliterated innumerable stars, leaving Darkpinion a void of silence and desolation.
No vegetation sprouted from the barren earth, and the walls encircling the world ignited into flames. All cosmic energy appeared to have been drained by the Dark Phoenix and the Secular Bird Queen.
Hovering above the grand Phoenix Shrine, deep within the void, a slender figure watched the Secular Bird Queen with an icy gaze. The vibrant, toxic light emitted by the secular bird was diminished by this slight figure's presence.
She abstained from the fray, yet her assistance to the Dark Phoenix was evident, as she wielded her profound powers to limit the secular bird's newly acquired toxic rule.
The collective might of the Dark Phoenix, Moonfang Tiger, the frog, the golden deer, the Iron-winged Bird, and Yu Zhu had now eclipsed the combined forces of Jihui, Tan Xiaotian, and the Secular Bird Queen, rendering Jihui incapable of forming the Origin Gate.
Yu Yuan, waiting in vain at the Abyssal Gate, failed to see Jihui's arrival due to his own passivity.
At the peak of the Uxthar Tree, its branches seemingly withered, sat the Deathwing Lair. From this vantage point, Yu Yuan glimpsed the unfolding conflict within Darkpinion.
The once depleted power of the Deathwing Lair, now linked with the Rebirth Nest, received an infusion of cosmic energy from the external universe. This rejuvenation brought life-giving moisture to the Deathwing Lair and the Uxthar Tree that cradled it, like a parched land blessed with sweet rain.
The Secular Bird Queen, previously at a disadvantage, finally let out a resonant cry that echoed across the distant starry sky.
It seemed she was signaling to Jihui and Tan Xiaotian that she had tapped into newfound strength.
"Bitch, you've finally lost your composure."
The purple phoenix soaring through the void projected thoughts and intentions that saturated the entire Darkpinion Astral Domain.
A massive surge of demon energy abruptly stormed the Deathwing Lair.
Boom!
Yu Yuan's spiritual wisdom was overwhelmed by the energy from the exalted Dark Phoenix, forcibly ejecting him from the lair in an instant.
"Ashlands! You hid the Rebirth Nest in the Ashlands!"
That was the last scream Yu Yuan heard.
The inhabitants of Tyria's main planet watched in shock as the lush Rebirth Nest suddenly shifted to a pale purple hue.
Taishi's expression turned grim. "Dark Phoenix!"
Everyone braced themselves for a formidable threat.
In a mere moment, the pale purple of the Rebirth Nest faded, returning to its verdant luster, and continued to harness cosmic energy.
Yu Yuan's expression was somber. His hand, resting on the ancient wood, persisted in channeling Divine Sense and vital energy. No longer able to reach the Deathwing Lair within Darkpinion, he was blind to the events unfolding there.
He was certain of one thing: the alliance between Jihui, Demon Lord Tan Xiaotian, and the Secular Bird Queen against the Dark Phoenix had ended in utter failure.
Jihui likely hadn't anticipated that the Dark Phoenix, through mastery of the enigmatic space magic of the Phoenix Shrine, had turned the tide.
That peculiar shrine had not only brought forth three tenth-level Beast Gods from the Otherworld and the Moonfang Tiger but also Yu Zhu's emergence, adding five peak tenth-level beings to the Dark Phoenix's side. With the Dark Phoenix already more powerful, their predicament had grown dire.
On Yu Yuan's initial probe, only the golden deer had emerged from the shrine.
During the Everlands' communication with the Secular Bird Queen via the Nest of Perdition, the empress had seemed composed, her battle with the Dark Phoenix appearing evenly matched.
But now, the situation had drastically changed.
It was highly probable that the Supreme Dark Phoenix was methodically escalating the battlefield, summoning Beast Gods and Astral Tigers one by one.
She had deceived the Secular Bird Queen, Jihui, and Tan Xiaotian into believing she was just as they perceived her. Only then did she call forth the tenth-level Beast God and the Astral Tiger, constantly springing surprises on them.
And with those surprises came fear and despair!
By the time they sensed trouble and planned to withdraw from the Darkpinion Star Domain, they found that they had already expended too much of their strength.
The cosmic energy within the Darkpinion Star Domain had also been nearly depleted due to the prolonged battle.
They were trapped in an embarrassing predicament, unable to leave even if they wished to.
The Dark Phoenix's final words divulged that she had been biding her time, waiting for the Secular Bird Queen to draw power from the Rebirth Nest, thereby revealing its location.
Her intent was clear: to thwart any chance of the queen's resurgence.
