C421 Tears of Blue Devil!

"Tears of Blue Devil?"

Yu Yuan racked his brain but found no trace of such an item in his memories. It was a clear indication that, despite his extensive travels across three continents in his past life and the many secrets he had uncovered, he had never come across it.

"It came from beyond the skies, just like you?" he inquired, intrigued.

"Yes!" responded the Chaos Roc promptly. "The Tears of Blue Devil, much like myself, originated from beyond the heavens. However, it descended after my arrival. I spent many years imprisoned in this region of the sea by the ancient demon race before it finally fell to this place."

"Go on, tell me more," urged Yu Yuan.

"I'm afraid you don't have the luxury of time for such tales."

The consciousness of the Chaos Roc seemed to grow stronger, perhaps sensing no ill intent from Yu Yuan, who showed no signs of using his sword sheath against it.

"It has claimed the lives of many of your fellow trialists," the Chaos Roc added.

"Many trialists have perished?" A ripple of concern passed through Yu Yuan's heart as images of Lau Ying, Su Yan, Yan Lu, and a few others came to mind.

These were the individuals he had formed close bonds with, the ones he couldn't help but worry about.

"The trialists at the bottom of the sea are dead, yet the guardians of the Demon Palace and Devil Palace above did nothing?"

As he pondered, Yu Yuan began to question the Chaos Roc's account. "I've witnessed the formidable power of the Demon Palace and Devil Palace's great cultivators! With their level of mastery and combat prowess, it's highly unlikely they would fail to detect the Tears of Blue Devil's threat to the trialists!"

"You're underestimating the Tears of Blue Devil," the consciousness of the Chaos Roc retorted with a touch of scorn. "Heixun possesses the cultivation of a Yang God, and Raven is an Eighth Level Great Demon, yet they are no match! Once the Tears of Blue Devil shattered its seal, neither Heixun nor Raven could contend with it!"

"Could the Tears of Blue Devil truly be that formidable?" Yu Yuan's expression darkened with concern.

"It was never meant to break its seal. The recent meteor shower that fell from the sky must have triggered something, aiding its escape." The Chaos Roc carefully chose its words before continuing, "And now, it seems that other relics related to the Tears of Blue Devil, scattered throughout the Boundless Land and across the three continents, have also begun to converge, drawn by its awakening."

"What?" Yu Yuan's heart plummeted.

"Everyone who has converged in the Ember Waters, whether from the Demon Palace or the Devil Palace, including the elders of various sects, will struggle to escape these seas once the Tears of Blue Devil shatters the seals," Chaos Roc declared with finality. "They are utterly unaware of the horror that is the Tears of Blue Devil; they don't even know what it is!"

"What is it?" Yu Yuan demanded.

"The Tears of Blue Devil is the last surviving Aura Altar of the Blue Demon Clan!" Chaos Roc snorted, the cool crescent moon hanging in the sky casting a scornful glow. "Explaining it to you would be pointless! Do you even understand what an Aura Altar is? Do you have any idea of its purpose?"

"Just know that the Tears of Blue Devil is exceedingly dangerous—it will annihilate everyone!"

"Including me!"

Upon this realization, Chaos Roc paused, noting Yu Yuan's silence.

"The sword intent and radiance within your scabbard cannot reach their full potential in your hands. In truth, using that scabbard to confront the Tears of Blue Devil is nearly impossible. However, it might just be capable of piercing through the Tears of Blue Devil, lifting the deep blue veil that shrouds the Ember Waters."

"If you can penetrate the deep blue veil and burst forth from the confines of the Tears of Blue Devil, perhaps you could survive."

"Young man, what do you say to joining forces? If you emerge from within me, preserving the scabbard's power, I will guide you to the very brink of the Tears of Blue Devil's domain. You break through the deep blue veil, and together we can flee the Ember Waters. We could both survive and gain our freedom."

Chaos Roc, with persuasive patience, laid out its scheme to Yu Yuan.

It explained that its awakening and its lengthy discourse with Yu Yuan were driven by a desire to escape the Tears of Blue Devil's stranglehold over the Ember Waters. It implored Yu Yuan to wield the power of the scabbard to rend the deep blue veil, ensuring survival for them both.

After it finished, Yu Yuan lapsed into a prolonged silence, his expression gravely intense. Within the depths of his eyes, a flicker of peculiar light betrayed his frenzied contemplation.

"Kid? Kid?" The Chaos Roc, leveraging the chill of the crescent moon, intensified the vibrations of its consciousness, urging Yu Yuan not to dwell too long on his thoughts at this crucial moment.

Moments later, Yu Yuan's form trembled slightly as he came to. Gazing once more at the crescent moon, he inhaled deeply and asked with a grave tone, "The Blue Devil, is it a faction of the Outer Sky Devils?"

"Indeed it is."

"Why have I never heard of them?"

"The Blue Devil, much like the Moon Demon Clan, were among the earliest of the Outer Sky Devils to rise against your Human Clan's formidable cultivators as they surged into the galaxy. They were the first significant power that your Human Clan's cultivators and the allied Demon Clan forces encountered out there."

"The advance of the Human Clan's cultivators was unstoppable, and both the Blue Devil Clan and the Moon Demon Clan suffered catastrophic defeats."

"The Blue Devil Clan fared even worse than the Moon Demon Clan. After numerous brutal wars across the stars, they were nearly wiped out."

"In this day and age, the Blue Devil Clan has become so ancient that they're on the brink of being forgotten. It's unlikely that your generation of Human Clan cultivators will encounter them beyond the stars."

"Therefore, it's quite normal that you've never heard of the Blue Devil Clan. Your mentors and elders haven't encountered them either," the Chaos Roc clarified.

"So, the Tears of Blue Devil are the 'Aura Altar' of the Blue Devil Clan?" Yu Yuan demanded.

"Exactly."

"Now I understand." Yu Yuan's expression darkened at the revelation. "The Demon Palace and the Devil Palace are recklessly bold, to have confined an Aura Altar of an Outer Sky Devil and placed it at the seabed of the Ember Waters! Don't they realize the dire consequences if the Aura Altar were to be unleashed?"

"Kid! You're actually aware of the Outer Realm's Heavenly Demon Aura Altar?" The Chaos Roc was astounded. "Given your age, level of cultivation, status, and experience, you shouldn't have access to such hidden knowledge of the Outer Sky Devils."

"What does it matter how I came to know of it!"

With a huff, Yu Yuan declared, "I'm heading out now. Once you've freed yourself, find me at the sunken ship outside!"

Understanding that the Tears of Blue Devil was the Blue Devil Clan's Aura Altar, he had a good idea of the dire consequences that would befall the Ember Waters should the seal be broken.

It was in his best interest to leave sooner rather than later.

The turmoil within the Ember Waters was beyond his control or influence now.

Escape was clearly the optimal choice.

"Wait! Don't rush off, help me out!"

As he made to leave, the Chaos Roc grew desperate. "Just destroy one of the thirty-six ancient totem pillars of the demons! Just one! Break it and shatter the totem within! With one pillar down, the formation will be incomplete, and I'll be able to break free much more easily."

"You want me to aid your quick escape?"

Yu Yuan, clutching his sword sheath, cast a sidelong glance at the chilly crescent moon and countered, "Truth be told, I don't need your help. I can exit through your belly and locate the periphery of the Ember Waters on my own. Armed with this sword sheath, I'm capable of piercing the 'Deep Blue Curtain' and fleeing the domain of the Tears of Blue Devil."

"You're too large, too conspicuous; you might inadvertently make me a prime target."

He shook his head gently.

"We're better off going our separate ways. You focus on your escape, while I conserve the sword sheath's power to penetrate the 'Deep Blue Curtain'. I appreciate the heads-up about the Tears of Blue Devil. Rest assured, I'll take good care of myself."

With that, Yu Yuan feigned a thrust towards the silver-white stern rudder, signaling his departure from the belly of the Chaos Roc.

"Stop! Please! I'm valuable to you!"

The consciousness of the Chaos Roc spiraled into disarray, "Listen, kid! I'm convinced you need me! The Sun Essence Fire, you need that, don't you? You want to assimilate it for your cultivation, right? Plus, I've got more treasures inside! Moreover, I've been on an island in the Ember Waters for eons; I'm intimately familiar with everything here!"

"I am the Chaos Roc, a colossal creature of the cosmos! Shrinking my form is child's play, and once I'm free, it'll be as easy as turning over my palm!"

This celestial "giant fish," on the cusp of freedom after an eternity of confinement, sent out waves of frenzied consciousness, growing more turbulent in its eagerness.

"Spit it out already, what do you have for me?" Yu Yuan pressed with growing impatience.

​