C468 Spawn of Chaos!

At the ocean's depths, the Fallen Star Eyes vanished in a flash, like lightning streaking through the water.

Within the silver-white aerolite, the embedded starstones had exhausted their cosmic energy and burst into dust trailing behind the Fallen Star Eyes.

The rare starstones were now few and far between.

The presence of the Azure Veil prevented the Fallen Star Eyes from absorbing the celestial starlight energy through the rune circle imprinted within. Consequently, the artifact was unable to amass new power.

Should it continue to aimlessly drift for an extended period, its cosmic energy would be depleted.

Eventually, even an artifact as wondrous as the Fallen Star Eyes would be reduced to a mere ornament, incapable of carrying life, soaring through the skies, or sensing the world around it.

"Why must we leave?"

Su Yan of the Abyssal Dawn confronted Liu Ying, her eyes brimming with skepticism. "I'm aware of what Yu Yuan shared with you, but I believe we should stick with him regardless."

Others, like Du Huang and the survivors from the Forgeroses, remained silent, each preoccupied with their own thoughts.

As the Fallen Star Eyes and the Ethereal Vial began to part ways, Liu Ying revealed a vision to them through her divine power.

The Blood Altar, forsaking the Abyssal Leviathan for the moment, surged out of the blue shadows, hurtling towards the Ethereal Vial—or more precisely, towards Yu Yuan.

The scene was crystal clear to all who witnessed it.

Du Huang, along with members of the Forgeroses and the Sword Sect, felt a secret sense of relief.

They were grateful that Yu Yuan had chosen to leave the Fallen Star Eyes for the Ethereal Vial at the crucial moment, shifting the colossal problem of the Blood Altar onto the Ethereal Vial and the demonic beings of the Land of Quiescence—instead of themselves.

At this juncture, Su Yan's outspoken challenge and her evident dissatisfaction with Liu Ying caused Du Huang and the others to bristle with annoyance, considering her interjection unnecessary.

Regardless of Yu Yuan's reasons, they were the inadvertent beneficiaries of his departure from the Fallen Star Eyes.

At the very least, they were spared an immediate confrontation with the Blood Altar and the Abyssal Leviathan.

The transformation of the Abyssal Leviathan from a monstrous fish into a withered old man, coupled with its brutal acts, had struck terror into their hearts. Intimidated by its savage methods, they were deeply reluctant to face such a foe again.

The Abyssal Leviathan was already a terrifying force, causing destruction everywhere. Could the Blood Altar, which was ravaging the ocean depths, be even deadlier?

"Of course, I have my reasons for leaving."

Liu Ying was already in a foul mood, and when Su Yan stood up to challenge her, her face turned icy. She gave Su Yan a disdainful once-over and said with a sneer, "If you're not happy with the situation, feel free to go down now and seek him out later."

Su Yan, infuriated to the point of being speechless, could only stand there with her chest heaving in anger.

Without the speed of the Fallen Star Eyes, nor the necessary strength and expertise, one could even lose their way in the depths of the sea without them. In such a case, even the desire to return would be futile.

"Liu Ying, I'm aware of what Yu Yuan has shared with you," Kong Banbi interjected earnestly. "I won't pry into the reasons; I just want to know how we can assist him!"

"That's better," Liu Ying acknowledged with a slight nod, her respect for Kong Banbi growing. "True to the leader of the Sword Sect, you know exactly when to speak and what to say!" She couldn't resist adding a barb, "Unlike some people."

Su Yan's expression darkened further.

Kong Banbi and Du Huang exchanged uneasy glances, remaining silent. They hadn't anticipated that two women with connections to Yu Yuan would turn so confrontational after leaving his side.

When Yu Yuan was with the Fallen Star Eyes, there was peace between them, a semblance of harmony.

"For the time being, we don't need your strength," Liu Ying stated, not wanting to push them too hard. "I'm aware it seems disloyal to abandon him when he's in danger and targeted by the Blood Altar. But the departure of the Fallen Star Eyes was in accordance with his guidance. He pointed us in a direction, instructing us to breach the Azure Veil's weaker point upon arrival."

"Is this... a directive for us to flee?" Kong Banbi asked, taken aback.

He had expected Yu Yuan to provide some unique strategy, but Liu Ying's explanation suggested they were simply to find a spot, break through with the Fallen Star Eyes, and escape the Embers Sea.

"You can interpret it that way if you wish," Liu Ying replied, not elaborating further. "He simply stated that the Azure Veil constantly enshrouds the sea, preventing him from unleashing the sword sheath's full potential. He believes that once the Azure Veil is pierced, even a small opening would allow him to tap into additional strength for the sword sheath."

Du Huang of the Forgeroses twirled a braid and first eyed Liu Ying, then gave Su Yan a sly look. "You think I made up some excuse just because I love you and can't bear to see you die, to let you leave alive?"

"Yu Yuan, that guy, is quite the charmer! First, he has a fiancée like Lin Zhuyun, and now he's exchanging glances and sweet nothings with you two."

"Such a flirt!"

With his other hand, he gave a thumbs-up towards the tail of the Fallen Star Eyes, as if to say to Yu Yuan, "To bravely face death for the woman he loves, I'd fall for him too if I were a woman."

He shook his head, his antics bordering on the comical, "How fortunate that I'm here in the Fallen Star Eyes and not in the Ethereal Vial. Thinking of Mo Yan, Lin Yue, Qi Nandou, and the rest, watching the Blood Altar approach, it's just exhilarating!"

"Shut your beak!" Liu Ying snapped in anger.

"Oh." Du Huang promptly closed his mouth.

His teasing left everyone casting meaningful glances at Liu Ying and Su Yan.

Su Yan's cheeks flushed with color as she shot Du Huang a fierce glare, retorting, "A dog's mouth can't spit out ivory!"

His words had made it seem as though she and Liu Ying were vying for Yu Yuan's affections, leaving her feeling both embarrassed and suddenly anxious.

She stole a glance at Liu Ying and saw that the esteemed lady of the Starmoon Sect, like herself, appeared equally discomposed.

"Could it be?" A thought struck Su Yan, startling her.

...

Yu Yuan, channeling the Evil Body Refining Technique, soared out of the Ethereal Vial and into the Azure Veil.

The moment he entered, a foul stench overwhelmed him. Inside, one's senses were thrown into disarray, the soul's consciousness clouded, and vitality surged erratically, causing dizziness and weakness. Countless unknown energies and residues of vitality began to infiltrate his body unbidden.

The Azure Veil was not truly a shadow but resembled a quagmire. Falling into it, Yu Yuan felt as though he was submerged in a swamp, his soul and flesh subjected to the erosive forces within.

The activation of the "Evil Body Refining" technique bolstered the process, nearly causing him to burst from the overwhelming power that surged within him upon entry.

Thankfully, his practice was rooted in a body tempering technique that stood among the top three within the myriad sects of the Everlands!

Drawing on his experience from the Moonfall Sanctuary, he was aware of the unique nature of the "Evil Body Refining" technique, which gave him the courage to brave the dangers, releasing the "Crucible of Evil" before stepping in himself.

He meticulously discerned the psionic power emanating from within the mire-like Azure Veil, sensing an energy even more abundant than that of the Moonfall Sanctuary.

The sensation was far more intense and frenzied than when he was cultivating within the "Crucible of Evil," using the cauldron's power to temper his body!

Previously, within the cauldron, there were only a few dozen varieties of psionic power, potent enough to slay Lunar Spirits and induce Spirit Walk.

However, within the Azure Veil, there were at least a hundred types of psionic power, which he felt could obliterate a Solar Spirit!

These included the vitality of Otherkin, the soul threads of human cultivators, the shattered bones of evilkind, pearls imbued with water essence from the seabed, and fine gold...

"Hiss!"

Yu Yuan sharply inhaled, the impact of the psionic power threatening to rupture his body.

"Crack! Crack! Crack!"

His suspicions were confirmed as several of his brittle bones were indeed shattered.

"Come here, come here..."

He reached out with his mind, summoning the "Crucible of Evil" and connecting with the artifact soul.

The "Crucible of Evil," having entered before him into the Azure Veil devoid of the Blood Altar, was poised to amass even more power.

In a flash, he felt the presence of the Crucible of Evil and resonated with the cauldron spirit.

The cauldron spirit swiftly conveyed its knowledge of the Azure Veil, and with eyes shining brightly, he absorbed the cauldron spirit's imparted wisdom, gradually clarifying his understanding.

The so-called Azure Veil can be seen as the very foundation of the entire Blood Altar, or simply as a membranous layer of the altar itself. The Soul Altar consumes only Soul Power, discarding the dross to retain the essence, leaving behind the purest form of Soul Power. This process enables the Azurefiend clan members to integrate with the devil soul without the need for a second refinement, allowing them to instantly rejuvenate and grow stronger.

Similarly, the Blood Altar refines vital energy, capturing its most essential part. The foundation of the Blood Altar is this Azure Veil, also known as the Spawn of Chaos. "Chaos" signifies a place of darkness and filth, while "Embryo" denotes the platform that supports both the Blood and Soul Altars.

The Spawn of Chaos serves to hold the remnants discarded by the Blood and Soul Altars—those refined Soul Power and vital energy residues that could not be processed, along with a mixture of various psionic powers and remnants of corpses.

Impurities, violent energies containing potent toxins, and those conflicting with the Star-Spawned Terror are all cast into the Spawn of Chaos. This chaotic force, governed by the Blood Altar, can be wielded as a formidable weapon to strike at enemies. For instance, the Spawn of Chaos, now a quagmire of blue shadow, has engulfed the Abyssal Leviathan, rendering it unable to escape promptly.

The Azurefiend may believe that the controllable Spawn of Chaos, capable of eroding the flesh and souls of some creatures, is a potent offensive tactic. Indeed, the Spawn of Chaos has a significant restraining effect on humans and evilkind within the extraterrestrial Star River.

For cultivators in Euwrea who rely on spiritual energy, vitality, and the purity of their souls, falling into the Spawn of Chaos can be catastrophic. The corrosive remnants of psionic power can cause severe injury or even death. Dark adepts fare slightly better, able to resist for a longer period, but even they will eventually succumb to its overwhelming force.

Throughout the prolonged conflicts in the extraterrestrial Star River, there have been rare beings immune to the effects of the Spawn of Chaos. Regrettably, none have managed to maintain their brilliance in the Star River for long before fading away like ephemeral blooms.

They perished in a civil war!

This outsider belonged to the "Terror Claws" sect.

He was a dark adept who practiced the Evil Body Refining Technique!

...