C476 Phoenix Feather Fan
"Mo Yan!"
A chorus of alarmed shouts erupted around them.
Mo Yan, wielding the Shadowblade to keep the Blood Altar in check, was a pivotal figure second only to Yu Yuan.
With the highest level of cultivation and the most profound concealment, Mo Yan used the Devil Blade to immobilize the Blood Altar, securing ample time for Yu Yuan to breach the Spawn of Chaos.
Without Mo Yan, Yu Yuan's entry into the Spawn of Chaos would have been far from easy.
And without Mo Yan's suppression, the Blood Altar's fusion with the Spawn of Chaos would have posed even greater difficulties.
Most crucially, there was the question of whether Lin Zhuyun, possessed by the Sky Fiend, could amplify the Blood Altar's power after slaying Mo Yan.
They had all witnessed the horror of those emerald flames and understood their formidable power.
"Save him!"
Qi Nandou, clutching the Ethereal Vial at the ocean's depths, didn't forget to urge everyone on.
He was aware that, having lost the Bone-Devouring Shuttle and the Ethereal Vial, and with the Profound Gate shattered, his capacity for battle had vanished.
Now, all he could do was to call out and guide his allies.
"Forget it..."
Hou Tianzhao of the Ruby Hand shook his head, sighing in agony.
"Phoenix Feather Fan!"
The enormous fan unfurled behind Hou Tianzhao like a peacock's tail and surged towards Lin Zhuyun.
Within the fan, fiery streams flowed like rivers, and the fan's bones, red as refined iron, resembled blazing mountain ranges, pulling the massive fan along.
The fan expanded abruptly, transforming into an ocean of fire that enveloped Lin Zhuyun.
"Crackle! Snap! Pop!"
Amidst the fiery sea created by the Phoenix Feather Fan, a surge of vivid green flames stood out, burning with undiminished intensity.
Conversely, the fan's depicted streams of flame and flowing lava were infiltrated by the green light, fading away gradually.
A hissing sound, carrying an extreme chill, incessantly seeped into the Phoenix Feather Fan.
Lin Zhuyun, aflame, was momentarily contained by the Phoenix Feather Fan, but Hou Tianzhao's expression was far from relieved; it grew increasingly grave.
Wielding the Phoenix Feather Fan, he managed to hold Lin Zhuyun at bay. Through the fan's might, he sensed a deeper implication within the green flames.
"Your Phoenix Feather Fan has actually advanced!"
"It's jumped straight from the first to the third level of the heavenly tier!"
"Hou Tianzhao! You've reaped quite the rewards from Tang Cen's demise!"
Chi Yin, Lin Yue, Qi Nandou, and others exclaimed in astonishment upon witnessing Lin Zhuyun's entrapment.
They observed the Phoenix Feather Fan's power surge significantly and realized that the fan had undergone a sudden upgrade, which sparked their envy.
Tang Cen perished, transforming into a towering inferno upon his death. Meanwhile, Hou Tianzhao's Phoenix Feather Fan opportunistically captured the blazing flame energy, absorbing the fiery orbs into itself.
The Sunlit Order's fire spell and spiritual treasures were perfectly suited to be consumed and refined by the Ruby Hand.
Having gained his spoils, Hou Tianzhao discreetly stowed away the Phoenix Feather Fan and methodically refined it, enabling the fan in his possession to leapfrog two minor tiers and arrive directly at the third level of the heavenly tier.
Advancing an item's grade is a formidable challenge, often necessitating a significant stroke of fortune.
Sects like the Ruby Hand would even be prepared to tap into their foundational resources to enhance an item, eager to push the Phoenix Feather Fan to the next tier.
The grade of an item is a key indicator of a sect's foundation; the more high-grade items it has, the stronger the sect's power.
Numerous ownerless, high-grade items also motivate the sect's disciples and elders to fervently cultivate, striving to elevate their realms and earn the sect's favor by proving themselves worthy of these treasures.
Possessing a formidable item not only aids in one's cultivation but also substantially boosts one's combat capabilities.
Often, in the eyes of sects and families, an item can be deemed more valuable than a person!
People may fall in battle and turn to dust, but items endure.
High-grade items do not perish with their owners, and no one would dream of destroying a renowned, painstakingly crafted item.
Instead, they would claim the item after a slaying, keeping it hidden or selling it covertly.
These masterless items, once traded, could eventually return to their original sects, be cleansed of any taint, and bequeathed to future disciples as part of their heritage.
The essence of an artifact is its ability to be passed down through generations! When an Artifact Master dies, the artifact can be bequeathed to another disciple who practices the same spell, unlocking its greatest potential. Take, for example, the Flame Halberd from the Ruby Hand sect, a heavenly-grade item. After its former owner perished, it was entrusted to Yuan Qiufang. Faang Yao saw potential in Yuan Qiufang, whose spell was in harmony with the Flame Halberd. If Yuan Qiufang could progressively reach the Lunar Spirit and Spirit Walk levels, he would be able to wield the full power of the Flame Halberd.
Heavenly-grade items are meticulously cataloged by the sect and only given to disciples with promise. Upon the death of the inheritor, the sect reclaims the artifact. The Ethereal Vial and Bone-Devouring Shuttle owned by Qi Nandou are such artifacts. Hou Tianzhao, who inherited the Phoenix Feather Fan after Tang Cen's demise, saw its grade improve, trapping Lin Zhuyun and earning the envy of many. Such an upgrade not only benefits the wielder but also brings rewards from the sect upon return to the Ruby Hand, as it signifies not only the preservation but also the enhancement of the item's grade—a significant achievement.
Conversely, Qi Nandou serves as a cautionary tale. With the Profound Gate destroyed and the Ethereal Vial damaged, the Bone-Devouring Shuttle ended up in Yu Yuan's possession. Yet, despite the envy Hou Tianzhao garnered, he wore a somber expression and exclaimed, "The scent of the Frozen Hellscape!"
"What?" Mo Yan, perched atop the Shadowblade and wary of Lin Zhuyun's approach, looked alarmed. "Hou Tianzhao, what do you mean by 'the scent of the Frozen Hellscape'?"
"The emerald flames burning on her body carry the Arctic Breath originating from the Frozen Hellscape!" Hou Tianzhao declared.
His revelation left many in astonishment. How could Lin Zhuyun, possessed by the Sky Fiend and of such a lowly realm, possibly refine the ice power of the Frozen Hellscape?
"Those emerald flames weren't conjured by her; they're inherent to the Sky Fiend itself!" Hou Tianzhao, who dared not approach the Phoenix Feather Fan through the seawater, observed Lin Zhuyun, her eyes a vivid green and her face expressionless, and announced, "I have some unfortunate news to share with everyone."
"Speak!" urged Chi Yin.
"The Blood Altar, perennially sealed within the Embers Sea, couldn't possibly be contaminated by the flames of the Frozen Hellscape," Hou Tianzhao explained, drawing out his words to give everyone a moment to ponder. "The two seas are vastly distant from each other. It's implausible for the Soul Altar, adrift above, to have traversed to the Frozen Hellscape in such a short span of time and refined those verdant flames."
"If the Sky Fiend that has taken possession of me carries with it the Frozen Hellscape's signature green flame, it implies that..."
Before he could conclude, Lin Yue interjected forcefully, "The Sky Fiend that has taken over Lin Zhuyun didn't originate from the Soul Altar! It must have detected the activity of the Soul Altar from the outside, or perhaps the Soul Altar summoned it, and it stealthily emerged from its hidden lair. Being of the Sky Fiend lineage, it likely smelled the stirrings of the Blood Altar and crept out from the shadows."
Hou Tianzhao nodded in agreement, his face clouded with concern as he affirmed, "That must be the case."
The news visibly unsettled everyone.
Even Yu Yuan, ensconced within the Spawn of Chaos and harnessing the Evil Body Refining technique to gather the Sunsorrow from the giant beast, became contemplative upon overhearing their exchange.
A vision abruptly surfaced in his mind.
He envisioned the myriad creatures lurking in the Everlands, as well as the offspring of those who had ventured from beyond the Star River and mingled with humanity, heeding the summons of the Blood Altar. They sensed the rift in the Embers Sea and, with their presence shrouded, quietly converged upon it.
The Star-Spawned Terror's Blood Altar, once whole, could shatter the celestial barrier of the Everlands and provide direct passage to the extraterrestrial realms.
It's conceivable that numerous devils and fiends, having silently dwelled in the Everlands for years, and even the native Terra Fiends and Otherkin descendants, sought this opportunity to depart.
The Blood Altar represented their vessel across the Star River, the beacon of hope for their exodus!
Otherwise, should they expose themselves within the Everlands and attempt to ascend and breach the celestial barrier, they would face the relentless eradication by the cultivators stationed beyond, the vigilant guardians of the extraterrestrial realms.
Once the Blood Altar is charged with power, the Spawn of Chaos could render even the guardians from beyond the stars powerless.
Breaking through the barrier and entering the Infinite Galaxy would grant them the freedom to soar through the heavens and dive into the depths of the sea!
These monsters, descendants of the Otherkin who have lived in the Everlands for countless years, are intimately familiar with the Everlands and the three continents. They are well-versed in the disputes among the major sects and the secrets that lie hidden within.
Should they manage to flee and penetrate the depths of the Star River, they would undoubtedly be warmly embraced by the Otherkin and the Star-Spawned Terrors.
They would pose an immense threat!
It's even conceivable that they have already taken numerous steps within the Everlands, or perhaps in the seclusion of great mountains and rivers, they have secretly arranged a grand formation capable of communicating with the outside, or a Domain Channel ready to be opened.
"This is troubling, very troubling indeed!"
The deeper Yu Yuan delved into his thoughts, the greater his unease grew. He had an ominous feeling that the presence of the Blood Altar could be a formidable menace.
If the Sky Fiend possessing Lin Zhuyun were to infiltrate from the outside and gain the Blood Altar's approval to pass through the Azure Veil, then it's likely that there's more than one such fiendish creature.
Even more alien souls, hidden for eons, might already be en route to the Everlands.
Yu Yuan shook his head and murmured, "I hope that's not the case."
"I can't hold her back much longer," Hou Tianzhao bellowed, his gaze sweeping past Mo Yan to settle on Yu Yuan. "Come up with a solution, and quickly resolve the predicament beneath the sea!"
