C859 A Vast Momentum
Yu Yuan's expression was one of frustration as he paused to think, then addressed the elder, "Please, allow me another attempt. This time, I hope you'll contain all your power."
"Oh." Beru nodded earnestly.
Yu Yuan held his breath and concentrated, not using his vitality to sense as he had before.
A strand of his remnant soul, like a nimble, ethereal serpent, emerged from the acupoint on his forehead and slithered towards Beru's chest, targeting the three hearts that had nearly made him cough up blood.
In Yu Yuan's perception, the three hearts appeared as large as walnuts.
These hearts, brimming with cosmic energy, were now subdued, creating no disturbance.
He quickly understood that the Starborn's power originated from their hearts, unlike cultivators who drew from the Golden Sanctum and their own little world of vitality.
The heart was the Starborn's vessel for storing power.
Two of Beru's three hearts, though also filled with cosmic energy, were eerily silent; their flesh and blood vessels had become stiff and lifeless.
Only one heart continued to beat, yet it lacked sufficient vitality.
His remnant soul probed deeper and identified countless minuscule, unknown toxins in Beru's third heart—detectable only to the soul.
Seven different toxins intermingled, wreaking havoc on Beru's heart tissue and life force.
These toxins were unfamiliar to him, unlike any found in the Everlands.
With a furrowed brow and his remnant soul withdrawn, he expressed his astonishment, "You've been poisoned?"
Beru gave a wry smile and nodded, "Yes, it's the poison."
"Poison?"
Luo Yue's eyes sparkled with intrigue as she chimed in, "Junior brother, this is my area of expertise. You've never encountered extraterrestrial poisons; let me take a look."
"You're knowledgeable in this area?" Beru asked, surprised.
Luo Yue, in her soul form, was not taken seriously by Beru, who was new to these parts and unaware of her background, hence his skepticism.
Yu Yuan considered that Luo Yue had once led the Poison Cult and had ventured to the extraterrestrial Star River. She was likely more versed in this matter than he was, so he suggested, "Let her have a try."
Beru finally consented.
In Beru's presence, Luo Yue's seven-colored remnant soul darted into his heart as soon as he lowered his defenses.
In contrast to Yu Yuan's soul penetration, Beru, as a Starfallen Oracle, was visibly more anxious.
Yu Yuan's realm was weak and he had no artifacts to rely on. He entered Beru's heart with a strand of his remnant soul, letting down all his guards, unafraid of any consequences.
Because Yu Yuan posed no threat to him.
Luo Yue, on the other hand, was a different story.
As a Ghost King, Luo Yue's remnant soul could transform into a sharp steel needle in an instant. If she harbored ill intent, she could potentially inflict severe injury or even cause his premature death.
"I stand for the Starborn. I wish to extend a gesture of goodwill in hopes of altering the course of events in the Star River."
Beru, fraught with tension, silently recited these thoughts, reflecting on the Starborn people hunted by the ruthless Human cultivators of the Solar Spirit and Unbound realms. He felt a compelling duty to take risks to protect his fellow warriors.
"I recognize five types of poison."
Luo Yue withdrew her remnant soul, her face betraying a hint of oddity as she gave a light cough. "Three of these poisons likely originated from our Poison Cult. It seems a senior member disseminated the poison, which was then used on him."
"You're from the Poison Cult?" Beru's face took on a slight pallor.
Luo Yue nodded.
Beru recoiled from Luo Yue as though he had seen a specter in full daylight, his gaze darkening as he scrutinized her for a long moment. "One thousand five hundred years ago, I encountered someone from the Poison Cult. Indeed, some of the poison in my system was from him."
"That was long ago, probably the work of a senior member of the Cult," Luo Yue said with a shrug. "I hadn't even been born yet, so you can't hold me responsible."
Before Beru could respond, she continued, "Let's do this: since you've been poisoned, describe to me the characteristics of the two unknown poisons, along with your symptoms at the time of poisoning. I'll research them and, together with my junior brother, devise a plan to concoct a pill for you."
Beru was indecisive.
Just then, Zhou You floated over, inquired about their conversation, and with a smile, he said, "Please try to trust her. We assure you she won't harm you. You've traversed the Star River to be here, having been invited, so you must trust us."
After a moment's contemplation, Beru replied, "Alright, then."
"Let those two have their discussion. Yu Yuan, step outside with me."
"Okay."
Shortly thereafter, Yu Yuan followed Zhou You to the summit of Fiendpeak.
A square teleportation circle was situated in a valley between two distant mountains, originally constructed by the Skyblight Cult.
Yan Qiling was directing some of the Stoneborn to stack up luminous crystals.
Each crystal contained a distinct spatial fluctuation within.
"In no more than nine days, this grand teleportation circle, capable of connecting across the vast Everlands, will be complete," Zhou You said with a radiant smile. "We've already constructed three others—one each in the Godsblight Marsh, the Silvermoon Empire, and the Moonfall Sanctuary. This will be the fourth!"
Yu Yuan was astonished. "I recall that the magic items required to build a teleportation circle are exceedingly rare."
The Ethereal Void Sect, one of the seven lower sects, had exhausted their resources to erect one in the Gavanas, which is why they're regarded as the foremost among the lower sects.
In the Land of Quiescence, powerful sects like the Skyblight Cult and the Taintborn lacked the capability to construct teleportation circles.
Yet now, Zhou You was claiming that three had already been built in the Moonfall Sanctuary, the Silvermoon Empire, and the Godsblight Marsh!
"The primary materials for building a teleportation circle are incredibly scarce in the Everlands, so we must seek assistance from beyond," Zhou You explained with an easy smile. "But in the Starborn's Domain, such magic items abound. For millennia, the Starborn have fiercely guarded them, keeping them out of our reach."
"However, the situation has changed. Since the Starborn signed an agreement with the Boulderdawn, they've started selling us those magic items."
"That's how we've managed to easily construct four teleportation circles in such a short span of time."
Zhou You paused briefly.
"There are countless magic items not found in our world, hoarded in abundance by the Otherkin of the Extraterrestrial Star River. If we can open up trade, it would be mutually beneficial."
"In three months, a large-scale trade event, encompassing both extraterrestrial and internal participants, will take place right before your eyes!"
"At that time, more Otherkin experts will arrive, bringing with them the rare treasures that human cultivators from the Everlands have long coveted. Many of these treasures will greatly aid cultivators at the Unbound and Primordial Spirit Stages, treasures they have desperately sought but could not find."
"Representatives from the Moonfall Sanctuary, the Songbird Empire, the Godsblight Marsh, the Silvermoon Empire, the Rainbow Ocean, the Land of Terror, and their ghosts and spirits will all be invited by Yan Qiling."
"Yan Qiling will also extend invitations to all sects and factions beyond the Upper Sects, the Devil Palace, and Shadow's Keep!"
"It will be a spectacular event that will capture the attention of the entire world!"
Zhou You's face lit up with fervor as he anticipated the grand trade event set to occur in three months.
This was the splendid future envisioned by President Lyi.
Yu Yuan was deeply moved by the description, sensing that if it came to fruition, it would be a groundbreaking achievement.
His only concern was...
"Don't worry. Our task over the next three months is to ensure that the five supreme forces continue their silence," Zhou You said with a smirk. "And to make the empires and sects across the three continents fully aware of the situation."
"You called me here because?" Yu Yuan inquired.
"Mr. Chen, I want to assist you in organizing the rune circle beneath the mountains, and for that, we'll need the Crucible of Evil's consent," Zhou You replied with a slight smile. "With the Songbird Empire's stability restored, he will arrive in two days."
"Chen Liangquan!"