C1924 Main Camp

The inaugural war between the two worlds ended in a resounding victory for the world inhabited by the Beast God.

As Kaiya spoke the word 'defeat,' her radiant face lost all traces of a smile, her eyes emanating a chilling, steely light.

Standing taller than any human woman, her robust frame radiated a wild and commanding presence. With a slight grin and a bellow, she declared, "We've been eagerly awaiting the next battle!"

Her tone betrayed her dissatisfaction.

From the moment she learned the true nature of the conflict in the Stellar Oblivion, she resolved to one day engage in a true battle with the Beast Gods of the Otherworld.

With a whoosh, she departed the Dragon Slaying Stage, drifting among the skeletal remains of the Otherkin champions, softly recounting their tales to Yu Yuan.

"Here lies a tenth level warrior of the Shadowkin, and there, a platinum Shura. Look, another tenth level Starborn champion."

Kaiya had guarded the Stellar Oblivion for tens of thousands of years, recounting the origins of these remains with intimate knowledge.

As a young girl, she was guided by the mighty Demon God Bertain to observe these bones, learning from him the identities and stories of the fallen.

Among them were many formidable individuals, some friends of Bertain, others steadfast followers.

"Nearly all were annihilated."

Kaiya paused beside a skeleton that, even after many years, still faintly glowed—a testament to the might of a fallen Dawnbringer. "I say 'nearly' because it's said that a few survivors were captured by the Beast God of that world and taken from ours."

"I fear..."

Her voice deepened with gravity, "Their end in the Otherworld is likely more terrible than death itself."

Yu Yuan remained silent, his vision now filled with a clearer image of the ancient, brutal war, witnessing the mighty of this world fall under the onslaught of the alien beasts.

"Why did the Beast God withdraw?"

Ji Ningshuang, bearing the Stardust Blade and exuding an icy aura, inquired with curiosity as she surveyed her surroundings.

"It was because the Great Demon God Bertain awoke from his profound slumber upon receiving the dire news."

In Ningshuang's presence, Kaiya refrained from referring to Bertain as her father, instead speaking with a grave respect: "The High Priest of the Sky Fiend Race, realizing they couldn't fend off the savage Beast God, feared their escape from the Stellar Oblivion would endanger the adjacent Astral Domain. He had no choice but to rouse him prematurely."

Upon awakening and hastening to the Stellar Oblivion, the Beast God from the Otherworld withdrew with evident reluctance.

Kaiya's eyes betrayed a sense of helplessness.

"They've always kept a watchful eye on our world, aware of the Titan Spinosaurus's existence and the terror it wrought. They seized an opportune moment. When the Demon God vanquished the Titan Spinosaurus into the Everlands, he too was gravely wounded. It was during his deep slumber, as he healed his devil soul, that the Beast God from the Otherworld made their incursion."

"At that juncture, the Everlands had not yet seen the rise of a Dragon God, and the Life Seeds of humanity were perhaps just beginning to take root."

Kaiya, well-versed in the ways of the Stellar Oblivion, now led the way towards the Thule.

She had abandoned her urgency, showing no desire to employ the Dragon Slaying Stage to bridge the void.

Her intent was for Yu Yuan to truly absorb the essence of the Stellar Oblivion.

"Didn't Lord Bertain pursue her?"

Yu Yiyi, standing on the Dragon Slaying Stage and clad in the fine armor forged from the Crucible of Evil, asked softly, her manner cautious in Kaiya's presence.

"Pursue her?"

Kaiya shook her head, her voice tinged with bitterness. "A barrier exists between the two worlds, shrouded in mystery. It may only weaken once every few thousand or tens of thousands of years. Until it does, not even my father can cross it. Only the supreme Beast God of that world can cause the barrier to naturally relax."

"Our words..."

She paused, turning her gaze to Yu Yuan.

"Go on," Yu Yuan urged.

"It took tens of thousands of years, but another being in our world seemed to discern the pattern of the barrier's weakening," Kaiya revealed without reservation. "She is the Dark Phoenix of the Everlands."

Yu Yuan gave a slow nod of understanding.

"The Dark Phoenix found another peculiar region bordering the Beast God World, similar to the Thule within the Stellar Oblivion."

"She spent a great deal of time there and, incredibly, discovered a method to traverse between worlds."

"She may well be the only being from our world who has ventured into the Beast God World."

Kaiya shared these secrets as Yu Yuan, guiding the Dragon Slaying Stage, followed her at a measured pace toward the Thule of the Stellar Oblivion.

Gradually, he reached the edge of this world's starry sky. The presence of cosmic energy was faint, and the Starshards were nowhere to be seen.

The void was silent and desolate.

Then, five land-like Starshards emerged.

These five landmasses floated in the Thule of the Stellar Oblivion, with nothing else in sight.

Atop these continents were palaces and bustling crowds, and a Starway was present.

Beyond these lands, the starry sky turned dark and gloomy. His vision and thoughts hit an invisible barrier, unable to stretch any further.

He instantly realized he had reached his destination.

"Lord Soul-Capturing!"

"Lady Kaiya has returned!"

A diverse array of intelligent lifeforms in various garments appeared on the five continents.

Among them were humans, Shadowkin, Starborn youths, and numerous hybrids of humans and extraterrestrial beings.

Yu Yuan recognized Jiang Miaojie, Hua Xin, and others in the crowd.

When he had departed from the Ashlands to the Wraithlands, Jiang Miaojie was supposed to be in the Ashlands. Somehow, she had made her way here.

"Ah, that's the Dragon Slaying Stage!"

Jiang Miaojie and Hua Xin stood shoulder to shoulder, surrounded by attractive young individuals, all peering curiously at the Dragon Slaying Stage.

Upon seeing it, Jiang Miaojie couldn't help but exclaim in excitement. She was clad in a snug dark red fishtail dress, her waist slender as a serpent, her figure striking. With her pale hands shading her eyes, she gazed into the distance and instructed those nearby, "Make sure you all pay your respects later."

"Is that the renowned Yu Yuan of the Everlands?"

"This is his first visit, isn't it?"

The group buzzed with conversation.

Hua Xin, amidst the throng, wore a somber expression and remained silent.

"These five continents, the central one is actually the most significant. Initially, our ancestors only managed to secure that one," Kaiya explained as they drew closer to Yu Yuan. "Later, Taixu, Tianqi, and I, after ascending to the rank of God-King, each brought over three more continents from the heart of the Stellar Oblivion to serve as our palatial residences. Taishi also added one during his last visit."

Of the five continents, four are the exclusive domain of the God-Kings.

Only the God-Kings from the Boulderdawn Sect possess the privilege and power to select shattered stars from the Stellar Oblivion and relocate them here, crafting their own private realms.

"Kaiya!"

In the heart of one continent, before a palace constructed of granite, Tianqi materialized out of thin air.

As he appeared, his gaze fell upon the Dragon Slaying Stage and Yu Yuan atop it.

Tianqi, who had fortified the palace with arcane magic, beheld Yu Yuan with a look of reverence, as though the person he had awaited for eons had at last returned to his creation.

Tianqi beckoned, "Everyone, come here."

Kaiya exchanged a knowing glance with Yu Yuan, gesturing subtly to him and signaling the other Boulderdawn disciples and elders on the different continents to fall silent and cease their clamor.

"We should also see what's going on. The moment Lord Tianqi returned, he sealed his hall. I'm curious about his intentions."

Jiang Miaojie, standing on the central continent, was intrigued. She commented, "Yu Yuan is here as well, so it's the perfect time to inquire about the situation. Hua Xin, you should accept the reality by now. Surely you don't wish to challenge him any further?"

Hua Xin's face was etched with a bitter resignation as he shook his head.

...

"The reason I hastened back from the Ashlands is that I detected something amiss. The barrier between us and the Otherworld seems to be weakening."

Within the gloomy confines of the palace, Tianqi clutched a dimly glowing crystal ball, reminiscent of amber.

With a grave tone, he whispered, "I recommend that the younger ones here make haste to the Ashlands to escape the impending calamity!"

"Kaiya, you should speak with Reid. The long-anticipated battle between you and Lord Bertain may well be imminent."

"The Beast Gods must have caught wind of our world, hence their convergence."

...