C2158 They Embraced Each Other

After the departure of the Time Book, the galaxy was enveloped in a profound silence.

Yu Yuan and Chen Qinghuang stood together on a patchwork of land, devoid of any Yin Corpses or remnants of Saka's Devil Soul.

It seemed as though they were the only two souls in existence.

Deep within Yu Yuan's brow, the radiant Soul Altar emerged, becoming his third eye.

His instinct was to tackle the problem head-on, without considering other factors.

He intended to erase the death symbols deeply ingrained in Chen Qinghuang's soul—those that had driven her to the brink of madness—to prevent her from succumbing to insanity once more.

Chen Qinghuang furrowed her brow, shaking her head as she exclaimed, "No!"

Yu Yuan was taken aback.

"This is the necessary path for my ascension."

Once everyone had departed, the Secular Bird Queen, who had committed grievous sins, finally met Yu Yuan's gaze.

Her exquisite face conveyed a sense of helplessness as she whispered, "Regardless of the origins of those death symbols, or who might be lurking behind them, the moment I glimpsed the potential for advancement, I couldn't possibly surrender it."

Her eyes glowed with a captivating brilliance, more potent than the Soul Cleansing Brilliance, as if capable of purifying Yu Yuan's very soul.

Under her gaze, Yu Yuan found his initial resolve melting away.

The Soul Altar receded beneath the flesh of his brow.

"Why?" Yu Yuan inquired.

"You possess a Source Spirit that matches you, and the Demon Phoenix has its distinct source blood. Even that icy girl and Yuan Lianyao from the Red Devil Sect have each discovered their new paths."

Her expression, as flawless as a sculpted masterpiece, was tinged with a fierce determination. She spoke softly yet firmly, "How could I possibly lag behind them?"

Death and destruction, these two paths of extreme violence, had no corresponding Origin Spirits in the Origin Realm, the Abyss, or even the Desolate Realm.

She had realized that her path of rebirth had been forsaken by the Origin Blood after she had slain the Death Wing.

The Origin Blood would never look upon her with favor, nor grant her the full essence of life required to ascend to the Eleventh Level Supreme.

She was acutely aware of the dichotomy between death and life.

In this new era, individuals once deemed too insignificant to notice, such as Tan Xiaotian, Jee Ningshuang, and Yuan Lianyao, had found their respective Origin Spirits and Great Daos, harboring aspirations to attain the Eleventh Level Supreme.

Her path had come to an abrupt end.

Without a corresponding Origin Spirit, she was at a loss on how to ascend to the Eleventh Level Supreme like Yu Yuan, Beilstein, Tan Xiaotian, and Yuan Bu.

Accustomed to supremacy and ruling above all, she couldn't bear the thought of her inferiors surpassing her.

Yu Yuan's continuous growth and breakthroughs in his cultivation realm, surpassing his former Dragon Slayer strength, only fueled her desire to break through.

The Demon Phoenix was her archenemy. To defeat it, she needed to find a source of power that exceeded her own.

So when those mysterious death symbols appeared, offering a glimpse of possibility, she was tempted despite sensing something amiss.

If the path to becoming a Supreme of Death required spreading death and using annihilation as a means of breakthrough, she was ready to take that risk.

She wouldn't let anyone, including Yu Yuan, interfere with her ascent.

With Beilstein now awake in the Origin Realm, she resolved to venture into the Desolate Realm.

Once she attained the Eleventh Level there, using the Dao of Death to achieve supremacy, she would settle every score from her downfall a hundred thousand years ago.

Yu Yuan could see the resolve etched on her face.

In a moment of clarity, Yu Yuan grasped her entire plan and what she was striving for.

After a lengthy silence, he nodded, "Alright, I'll take you to the Desolate Realm."

Chen Qinghuang was taken aback, her expression turning peculiar. "You?"

"I doubt I can be of any assistance to you on this deadly journey, so I won't hinder you. I might be capable of erasing those death symbols from your mind, but..."

"Don't!"

Chen Qinghuang cut him off, adamantly reiterating, "Those symbols have deepened my understanding of death's power. You're right, they might be problematic, and someone might be exploiting me for their own ends. But I'm aware that the symbols empower me, revealing a loftier path."

"I need those symbols in my soul. I also need to bring about more death to intensify their presence."

She stood firm in her beliefs.

Yu Yuan gave a nod, acknowledging, "I understand. I'll escort you to the Desolate Realm."

He had witnessed the demise of Rebecca from the Banshee Clan through a secret method and was aware that the barrier between the Origin Realm and the Desolate Realm had re-emerged after a mountain took flight.

With his profound understanding of the laws of life, he was capable of breaking the seal between the two realms and transporting Chen Qinghuang across.

Moreover, the Divine Soul Sect's stronghold in the Perish Starfield was likely in turmoil at this time.

Chen Qinghuang fell into a sudden silence.

"Do you want me to go as well?"

Her arms were folded across her ample chest, the ornate and intricate patterns of her imperial robe hanging loosely on her frame. Upon closer inspection, one would notice the design featured a phoenix and divine birds soaring amidst mountain peaks.

Her eyebrows arched, her eyes flashing dangerously as she challenged, "Once I'm gone, you'll be more comfortable with that icy girl, won't you?"

Yu Yuan, perplexed, scratched his head. "What are you getting at?"

Chen Qinghuang huffed, "You're so confident in me. Have you forgotten about Yuen Bu and the Demon Phoenix in the Desolate Realm?"

"Yuen Bu!"

Yu Yuan's face grew stern.

Back in the Gray Domain, Yuen Bu had stealthily sought out Chen Qinghuang, even presenting her with an animal bone as a token of goodwill.

Yuen Bu made no secret of his covetousness for Chen Qinghuang, expressing his wish to assist her in defeating the Demon Phoenix and their shared ambition to divide the spoils of the Origin Realm and the Desolate Realm.

While Chen Qinghuang was safe in the Origin Realm, her impending journey to the Desolate Realm—to Yuen Bu's domain—posed new risks.

"Go ahead, I'll follow shortly."

Yu Yuan's discomfort surged at the mention of Yuen Bu, recalling the fervent look in his eyes when he gazed upon Chen Qinghuang.

He had long wavered over whether to take the Creation Pool to the Desolate Realm, unable to reach a decision.

Yet, spurred by Chen Qinghuang's reference to Yuen Bu and her imminent departure to the Desolate Realm, he made a resolute choice.

His Yang God form would carry the Creation Pool to Yuen Bu's Desolate Realm.

He intended to extract the primal essence of the Desolate Realm's origin blood, imprinting a copy of the profound truths of life and lineage he had discerned, thereby enhancing the vitality-infused platform he possessed.

Unlocking the mysteries of the Life Seeds from the Creation Pool was the quickest path.

"Oh, you're going as well?"

Chen Qinghuang's eyes narrowed, her gaze twinkling with the triumph of a successful scheme.

"Yes, and very soon!" Yu Yuan affirmed with a decisive nod.

"Oh, you must be going to find the Demon Phoenix, right? She's destined to be slain by Yuan Li in the Desolate Realm. You're concerned about her. After all, you two have collaborated closely for years, sharing a profound... connection," Chen Qinghuang mused deliberately.

"No," Yu Yuan countered.

Chen Qinghuang looked down, her voice a whisper, "Then why are you going?"

"I don't want you to die," Yu Yuan stated plainly.

"I am the Secular Bird. Unless it's to fight desperately for you, I cannot die." Chen Qinghuang's lips curved into a satisfied smile. She gestured dismissively, "No need for farewells. If the Demon Phoenix can make it, so can I."

The Secular Bird Queen suddenly stepped forward and embraced him tightly, her lips grazing his ear as she spoke, "I've never properly thanked you. The first time I was reborn, you shielded me, allowing me to live. The second rebirth, by a twist of fate, you saved me once more."

"Thank you," she whispered, her breath sweet as orchids.

Overwhelmed by her scent, the surprising fullness against his chest, and her soft, soothing voice, Yu Yuan was momentarily spellbound.

"Don't worry. I'll survive and wait for you in the Desolate Realm."

Releasing him, her stunning face showed a hint of reluctance. Her delicate hand lightly caressed Yu Yuan's chiseled cheek, as if to imprint the memory into her soul's deepest recesses.

"No need to escort me. I know the way, and no one can stop me."

With a whoosh, two greenish-gray wings, forged from pure death energy, unfurled from her back. With a gentle flap, she vanished into the distance, her grace as mesmerizing as a brilliant flash of lightning in the lifeless Starfield.

Yu Yuan remained silent, his hand lingering on the spot where she had touched his face, watching as she walked away.

...