C2158 Holding Each Other

After the Book of Time departed, the Star River was engulfed in a profound silence.

Yu Yuan and Chen Qinghuang stood together on this patchwork of existence, devoid of any Ghouls or remnants of Saca's devil souls.

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

The dazzling Soul Altar within the depths of Yu Yuan's brow emerged, becoming his third eye.

He instinctively sought to address the problem immediately, without considering other factors.

His intention was to erase the death symbols deep within Chen Qinghuang's soul, those that had driven her to the brink and into madness, to prevent her from succumbing to insanity once more.

Chen Qinghuang furrowed her brow and shook her head, firmly stating, "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 unspeakable crimes, finally met Yu Yuan's gaze directly.

Her exquisite face bore a look of resignation as she softly explained, "Regardless of the origins of those death symbols, or who might be lurking behind them, the moment I glimpsed the possibility of ascension, I knew I could not abandon it."

Her eyes sparkled with a breathtaking brilliance, more enchanting than the Soul Cleansing Brilliance, as though capable of purifying Yu Yuan's very soul.

Under her gaze, Yu Yuan's initial impulse naturally dissipated.

The Soul Altar receded beneath the skin of his forehead.

"Why?" Yu Yuan inquired.

"You have your own Primal Anima, just as Dark Phoenix has her distinct Primal Blood. Even the icy girl and Yuanyuan from the Ruby Hand have each discovered their new paths in the Way of Heaven."

Her face, as flawless as a sculpted masterpiece, was etched with intense determination as she declared, "How could I possibly lag behind them?"

Death and destruction, two paths of extreme violence and extremity, had no corresponding Primal Anima in the Origin Realm, Abyss, or even the Wasteland.

She had realized that her path of rebirth had been forsaken by Primal Blood after she had slain the Deathwings.

It was inconceivable that Primal Blood would favor her, endowing her with the full Secrets of Life and elevating her to the stature of the eleventh level.

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

In this new era, those who were once deemed insignificant, such as Tan Xiaotian, Ji Ningshuang, and Yuan Lianyao, had found their respective Primal Anima and paths in the Way of Heaven, and with it, the hope of attaining the eleventh level.

Her path had abruptly come to an end.

Lacking a corresponding Primal Anima, she was at a loss on how to ascend to an eleventh level supreme being like Yu Yuan, Bertain, Tan Xiaotian, and Yuan Le in this new era.

Accustomed to supremacy, to reigning above the rule and all creatures, how could she accept being outstripped by those she deemed inferior?

Especially with Yu Yuan growing increasingly powerful, breaking through realms repeatedly, and evidently surpassing his former dragon slayer combat prowess, her desire to break through intensified.

The Dark Phoenix was her archenemy, and to defeat her, she knew she must seek a power source that exceeded her own.

Thus, when those mysterious death symbols appeared, offering a glimmer of possibility, she couldn't pass it up despite sensing their malevolence.

If the ascension of a death supreme being required the spread of death, if it necessitated a cataclysmic breakthrough, she was ready to take that chance!

She would let no one, not even Yu Yuan, interfere with her path to advancement.

With Bertain now vigilant in the Origin Realm, she set her sights on the Wasteland.

Once she achieved eleventh level in the Wasteland, embracing the Way of Death to reach supremacy, she would exact vengeance for the hatred that had festered over a hundred thousand years.

Yu Yuan could see the unwavering resolve etched on her face.

Suddenly, he grasped her entire mindset, comprehending her pursuit.

After a prolonged silence, Yu Yuan nodded: "Very well, I'll take you to the Wasteland."

Chen Qinghuang blinked in surprise, her expression turning peculiar. "You?"

"I doubt I can be of much assistance to you on this path of Death, so I won't hinder you. I might have the means to erase those death symbols from your mind, but..."

"Don't!"

Chen Qinghuang cut him off, adamantly reiterating, "Those symbols have deepened my grasp of the death force. You're right, there might be something off about them, and whoever is behind them could be exploiting me for their own ends. But I am aware that the symbols empower me, revealing a loftier path."

"I need those symbols in my soul. I also need to bring about more deaths to further engrave these symbols."

She stood firm in her beliefs.

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

He had witnessed Rebecca's death through a mystique and was aware that after the mountain had taken flight, the barriers between the Origin Realm and the Wasteland had reemerged.

As someone deeply knowledgeable in the Secrets of Life, he had the ability to break the seals between the two realms and transport Chen Qinghuang across.

Moreover, the Boulderdawn headquarters in the Stellar Oblivion was likely experiencing unrest at this time.

Chen Qinghuang fell into silence.

"Do you want me to leave as well?"

She crossed her arms over her ample chest, the intricate and ornate patterns of her imperial robe slightly loose on her frame. On closer inspection, one could discern the designs of a phoenix and a Divine Bird soaring amidst mountain peaks.

With a lift of her eyebrows and a fierce glint in her eyes, she challenged, "Once I'm gone, you'll be more comfortable with that icy girl, won't you?"

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

With a huff, Chen Qinghuang retorted, "You seem so confident in me. Have you forgotten about Yuan Le and the Dark Phoenix in the Wasteland?"

"Yuan Le!" Yu Yuan's face grew stern.

In the Ashlands, Yuan Le had approached Chen Qinghuang underhandedly, even presenting her with a beast bone as a token of goodwill.

Yuan Le made no secret of his covetousness towards Chen Qinghuang and expressed his wish to assist her in defeating the Dark Phoenix, with the intent of dividing the spoils of the Origin Realm and the Wasteland between them.

While Chen Qinghuang was relatively safe in the Origin Realm, her impending journey to the Wasteland meant entering Yuan Le's domain.

"Go ahead, I'll follow shortly."

Yu Yuan's discomfort grew as he recalled Yuan Le's fervent gaze upon Chen Qinghuang.

He had long wavered over whether to bring the "Wellspring of Creation" to the Wasteland with the Solar Spirit but had remained indecisive.

Yet, spurred by Chen Qinghuang's mention of Yuan Le and her imminent departure to the Wasteland, he reached a sudden resolution.

His Solar Spirit Body would carry the "Wellspring of Creation" into the Wasteland, into the realm ruled by Yuan Le.

He sought to harness the Primal Blood of the Wasteland, to grasp the essence of life and bloodline and imprint a copy onto himself, thus making his platform imbued with life power more complete.

This was the quickest method to unravel the mysteries of the Life Seeds from the Wellspring of Creation.

"Oh, you're going too?"

Chen Qinghuang's eyes narrowed, her gaze twinkling with a triumphant smile.

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

"Oh, are you off to find the Dark Phoenix? That must be it. She's going to be slain by Yuan Le in the Wasteland, and you're concerned about her. After all, you two have collaborated in the Everlands for many years, sharing a profound... bond," Chen Qinghuang spoke deliberately.

"No," Yu Yuan countered.

Chen Qinghuang looked down, her voice a whisper, "Then why go?"

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

"I am known as the secular bird; I cannot die unless I'm fighting for you," Chen Qinghuang replied, her lips curving into a contented smile. She gestured dismissively, "No need for farewells. If Dark Phoenix can make it there, so can I."

Suddenly, the Secular Bird Queen stepped forward and embraced him tightly, whispering in his ear, "I've never properly thanked you. The first time I was reborn, you shielded me, allowing me to live. The second rebirth, you saved me once more by chance."

"Thank you."

Her voice was soft and sweet as she expressed her gratitude.

Overwhelmed by her delicate scent and the surprising fullness against his chest, Yu Yuan listened to her soft, soothing voice.

"Don't worry, I'll take good care of myself and wait for you in the Wasteland."

Releasing him, her stunning visage displayed a look of longing. Her porcelain hand caressed Yu Yuan's chiseled cheek, as if to permanently etch the memory into her soul.

"No need to see me off. I know the way, and no one can stand in my path."

Whoosh!

Two greenish-gray wings, crafted from the purest death force, unfurled from her back. With a gentle flap, she had traversed thousands of miles in an instant.

Her form was the epitome of grace, resembling a striking bolt of lightning in the otherwise still Stellar Oblivion.

Yu Yuan remained silent, his hand lingering on the spot where her face had been, as he watched her disappear into the distance.

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