C2208 It Was like a Dream

Thousands of bright red flames danced with extreme elegance, illuminating the golden chariot and exuding an aura powerful enough to burn the heavens.

Yuan Lianyao's eyes sparkled with excitement as she gazed into the silent expanse of the starry sky. Her hands, pressed against the railing, trembled slightly.

Her excitement and joy were palpable, as if the person she had longed for in her dreams was finally before her, making it impossible for her to maintain her composure.

"You actually came. You really did..."

She murmured to herself, unable to stop.

The four massive Golden Crows pulling the chariot sensed her overwhelming emotions and the bursting flames, prompting them to spread their wings and soar. Their wings scattered trails of fiery rainbows across the sky.

The Golden Crows tapped into their bloodline power and harnessed the chariot's mystical array, covering thousands of miles in a flash.

Blazing suns, like fiery orbs, followed the inferno that was the chariot.

A terrifying pressure emanated from the nearby sweltering astral domain, causing the air and psionic power within the Creitecesh to crackle, filling the cosmos with the scent of scorch.

The corpses of alien beasts and intelligent life from the Wasteland were reduced to ashes in the flames.

With the golden chariot's passage, the stars and heavens were engulfed in a deluge of flames.

The death aura emitted by the transformed strange tree was also cleansed by the flames, neutralizing any threat.

Before long, Yuan Lianyao, a supreme eleventh-level being, had purified a swath of the Star River in the Creitecesh with fire.

"Lord Fire God, do you seek to avenge us?"

Alien beasts that once inhabited the Creitecesh pursued the chariot through the flames, their voices filled with anger in a language reminiscent of the ancient Everlands, "We've been gone only a few years, and our homeland is in ruins. Lord Fire God, we implore you to take up our cause!"

A ninth-level flamingo circled behind the chariot, calling out, "Our flamingo tribe's leader has been resurrected in the Beast God Temple time and again, but I fear we can no longer rely on him."

After a brief pause, the flamingo ingratiatingly said, "Our flamingo clan pledges its loyalty to you!"

"We do as well!"

"As long as you, Lord Fire God, seek vengeance for us, we will follow you!"

Behind them, in the blazing sun, a massive red Blazing Sun Toad was also croaking in agreement.

Numerous fire lions, riding on charred, dark red meteorites, were also in pursuit of the fiery chariot, hoping to gain Yuan Lianyao's favor.

Bordering the Creitecesh Astral Domain is a renowned flame territory in the Wasteland known as the Embers Star Domain.

All Emberfiends in the Wasteland that evolve by consuming flames regard the Embers Star Domain as a sacred dreamland, seeking a breakthrough in their bloodline there.

The first flamingo Beast God, the first fire phoenix Beast God, and the first fire lion Beast God are all rumored to have shattered their bloodline constraints in the Embers Star Domain, ascending to the tenth level.

Consequently, the Embers Star Domain attracts numerous formidable Emberfiends from across the Wasteland.

Recently, Yuan Lianyao arrived and, in the sacred land of the Emberfiends, successfully ascended to the eleventh level.

An eleventh-level Flame Supreme had never before been recorded in the annals of the Wasteland.

The one who had always aspired but never achieved this was the leader of the Phoenix clan in the Wasteland, the fire phoenix that had fused with the ice phoenix, Alex.

Regrettably, she perished while supporting Zhiya in the campaign within the Origin Realm.

Yuan Lianyao's meteoric rise and the emergence of a Flame Supreme Being did not rattle the other alien beasts.

But for the flamingos, Blazing Sun Toads, and fire lions, her arrival and ascension signified a groundbreaking era.

Especially since she appeared to have already forged an alliance with the Dark Phoenix.

With their leaders confined by the Beast God Temple, the Emberfiends, now lacking guidance, eagerly sought Yuan Lianyao's approval and favor.

Yuan Lianyao, however, remained indifferent to their overtures.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, in front of the grand golden chariot, the Dragon Slaying Stage materialized out of thin air. Yu Yuan, with a radiant smile, called out, "Yuanyuan, congratulations on achieving the supreme level in the Wasteland."

"Is it truly you?"

The chariot came to an abrupt halt, and the suns trailing behind Yuan Lianyao also ceased their wild dance, as if reined in by an unseen hand.

Surrounded by an endless sea of flames, Yuan Lianyao's face was flushed with disbelief.

She rubbed her eyes as the flames beside her split apart, clearing a path between her and Yu Yuan without any obstructions.

"Did the Secular Bird Queen, who's been causing chaos in this realm, come with you to the Wasteland?" Yuan Lianyao asked, a hint of jealousy and concern for Yu Yuan in her voice. "She's caused the extinction of several species in the Astral Domains within the Wasteland. Yuan Le won't let her off easily. And the Shadow's Keep sees her as a major threat."

"She didn't come with me, actually."

Yu Yuan chuckled, considering Yuan Lianyao's worries to be unfounded, but he still clarified, "She arrived before I did. There was a disturbance in the Ashlands, and an unknown entity infected her with the law of mortality. Back in the Origin Realm, she had already lost control, wreaking havoc on numerous creatures across the Astral Domains. To prevent further catastrophe in the Origin Realm, she came to the Wasteland while she still had moments of clarity."

After briefly explaining the situation, Yu Yuan added, "However, I don't wish for her death. I want to witness her ascend to the eleventh level first."

At his words, the Emberfiends from the Embers Star, both behind Yuan Lianyao and on the charred meteor, roared angrily at Yu Yuan.

The alien beasts chastised in the ancient beast language of the Wasteland, akin to the old tongue of the Everlands, essentially saying: The Secular Bird Queen has laid waste to Creitecesh and other Astral Domains of the Wasteland. This queen's crimes are unforgivable, and she must be eliminated at once.

The ninth-level alien beast kings, with unremarkable beast souls and insufficient strength, failed to recognize Yu Yuan's might.

Having never ventured to the Origin Realm, they were unaware of Yu Yuan's identity, which emboldened them to confront him.

Yu Yuan simply grinned, unfazed by the alien beasts' bluster, and remarked, "What a racket."

Yuan Lianyao's expression turned icy.

With a thunderous boom, the colossal suns behind her vibrated, unleashing a vast surge of energy that drew all the clamoring Emberfiends into the heart of the sun.

The brilliance of the sun intensified, rendering the roars and clamors of the alien beasts inaudible.

The four Golden Crows, quivering with her indignation, transformed into two pairs of children, appearing to be around fifteen or sixteen years old, stationed on either side of the golden chariot.

The two young men and women, all clad in golden armor, grasped the golden rods that connected to the chariot.

"Master, please, calm your anger!"

While urging Yuan Lianyao to restrain her fury, the Golden Crows eyed Yu Yuan with curiosity, pondering who he might be.

"I never expected you to achieve so much in the Wasteland," Yu Yuan said with a chuckle.

Yuan Lianyao shot him a reproachful look, and the flames encircling the chariot suddenly vanished.

"Come aboard, then we'll talk."

Yuan Lianyao beckoned to him once more.

Without hesitation, Yu Yuan cast aside the Dragon Slaying Stage and leapt towards the spacious golden chariot.

As he descended, he noticed blossoms of red lotuses emerging one by one within the chariot. With each lotus beneath his feet, it seemed he instantly grasped the essence of fire magic.

"Hmm!"

Yuan Lianyao's eyes widened in astonishment, realizing that as he touched the fire lotuses, he had swiftly deciphered the ultimate secret of fire.

"How come you're with Zhiya?" Yu Yuan inquired, intrigued.

"The fire phoenix perished in the Everlands, but it wasn't by my hand; it was the work of the Blazing Fire beneath the earth. My rebirth and bloodline were influenced by the fire phoenix's vital energy and blood, which earned me her favorable regard."

Yuan Lianyao marveled at the thought, filled with wonder, "Back in the Everlands era, she was the exalted ruler of the Shadow's Keep, an entity that neither Lin Daoke nor Tan Xiaotian could contend with. I could never have imagined that one day I'd be discussing strategies with her on how to confront Yuan Le."

"But what's even more astonishing to me is you."

The Blazing Red Lotus, who had ascended to supremacy in the Wasteland, boldly drew close to him with her fiery presence. Her hands encircled Yu Yuan's neck like tendrils, her captivating gaze fixed on him, her breath as warm as the surging heat, she said, "I was merely a minor mayor of Asvetaesi. It's through you that I've encountered such extraordinary fortunes, and you've transformed my life and realm."

"Today, I achieved the eleventh level before anyone at Shadow's Keep, even before the Secular Bird Queen herself."

"How should I express my gratitude to you?"

...