With his remaining inferior Phoenix Feather in hand, Lu Yuan thought for a mont and decided not to use it yet. Unlocking a new profession now wouldn’t significantly improve his combat power. He would keep this feather. After leaving the Secret Realm, he would discuss with Yu Wentong and the higher-ups of Sum Country to see if it could be exchanged with the one in the rit Shop. His feather isn’t Legendary Level; what if the one Yellow Bear has is? The high ranks of Sum Country wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.
Lu Yuan had originally taken several deep red crystal fragnts from the Phoenix Bloodline, the kind used by the Phoenix Blood Lineage Wizard to control the Magma Giant. But on the road, he discovered the energy within these deep red crystals had completely vanished after they shattered, rendering them worthless, so he casually discarded them.
After sorting out his gains, Lu Yuan turned around. He found the Gugu Bird staring at him with its tiny eyes, filled with deep resentnt.
"Staring at like that won’t do you any good. If you’re unwilling to give your best, naturally, you won’t receive the best," Lu Yuan said indifferently.
"Oh, right, we can still continue our cooperation. If there are any other good things like the acorn, take there. We can renegotiate the profit-sharing ratio..." Lu Yuan said rrily, his spirits high, gently coaxing it. The benefits from the acorn made him realize the Gugu Bird had great potential, but it needed careful guidance.
"GUGU!"
The Gugu Bird squawked indignantly at his words. Essentially, Lu Yuan not giving it the Pure Golden Acorn had greatly impacted what it planned to do, significantly reducing its chances of success.
Lu Yuan listened for a while, then thought and asked, "You keep ntioning sothing you want to do. What is it? Co on, spill it."
"Gugu..."
The Gugu Bird chirped, its eyes showing hesitation. Finally, it shook its head, not revealing its intentions. However, its mood cald, and it conveyed to Lu Yuan that it would take him to another place to help it acquire sothing else.
"Deal."
This was exactly the response Lu Yuan was waiting for. He rubbed his hands in anticipation, eager to proceed. No matter what the Gugu Bird was scheming, he would ensure his profits were secured first.
「...」
BOOM! BOOM!
Deep in the hidden forest valley, violent explosions echoed. A dense swarm of Fly Shuttles and cha covered most of the sky above the valley. Energy beams rained down, stirring up clouds of dust and sending stones rolling below.
BOOM!
Suddenly, a massive column of fire soared from within the deep valley. The bewitching crimson fla swallowed nurous figures in an instant. A giant dark red figure flashed across the sky, and a patch of the once-crowded airspace was cleared, many people reduced to burning wreckage plumting to the ground.
The remaining explorers quickly scattered. After the raging fire passed, they saw an earthworm-like monster erging from the ground. It was dozens of ters long and over ten ters thick, covered in fine, dark red scales. The ferocious maws at both ends could spew scorching flas—a terrifying sight.
This dark red worm monster was controlled by a Phoenix Bloodline remnant. He stood in the valley, surrounded by the ashes of his fallen kin, tightly clutching a writhing red ball of flesh. He roared curses at the sky, his face and eyes filled with endless hatred for the exploration team.
The dark red worm monster possessed the ability to burrow and breathe fire. It was imnsely strong, and its scales provided formidable defensive power. In a short ti, its attacks had caused heavy casualties among the exploration team.
Just as the Phoenix Bloodline remnant controlling the worm monster was reveling in his vengeance, a streak of moon-white light suddenly shot across the sky like a cot.
It was a man, clad head to toe in moon-white tal armor. He wielded two platinum alloy longswords, and a brilliant blue light cloak flowed behind him, giving him a majestic appearance.
"ROAR!"
The appearance of this figure imdiately drew the worm monster’s attention. It growled and spat a massive column of fire in response.
Faced with this onslaught, the moon-white figure didn’t dodge; instead, a powerful energy field emanated from his body. The scarlet flas surged towards him but were blocked three ters away, splitting into two streams.
Then, dazzling points of light appeared around the moon-white figure. Starlight and the armor’s energy flowed in unison as an intangible power lifted him, causing him to ascend...
SWOOSH——
The figure in moon-white armor flickered. Two dazzling, intersecting streaks of light flashed across the deep valley. When his form reappeared, he was already standing on a strange altar in the deepest part of the valley, leisurely examining a mysterious beast bone placed upon it.
Behind him, the terrifying giant worm monster and the Phoenix Bloodline remnant controlling it had fallen silent at so unknown point... Half a breath later, both their bodies silently separated into multiple sections and slid to the ground.
BOOM——
The mont the segnted corpse of the worm monster hit the ground, the battle was truly over.
The many exploration team mbers in the deep valley gazed with awe at the moon-white figure, who seed like a Divine Weapon descending from the heavens. Then they dispersed to clear the battlefield and tally their gains.
"Caledor, you’re too strong." A figure erged from the side, walking step by step towards the altar. He was a muscular youth with rugged features and a faint scar above his left eyebrow, giving him an air of untad ruthlessness. However, a subtle gloom seed to veil his forehead, masking much of his defiance.
"The destructive power of that worm monster is horrifying. A single blow could probably kill . I didn’t expect it wouldn’t even last one move against you..." the youth said, his tone complex. "Is this the strength of twelfth on the Supernova Rankings? Truly terrifying..."
The moon-white armor disengaged, revealing a slender young man who appeared to be in his thirties. He had eyes as bright as gemstones and radiant, slightly curly golden hair.
"Don’t be superstitious about the rankings, Xilin," Caledor said, running a hand through his hair. "It wasn’t until I joined the Distant Star Federation that I learned that the currently published ranking information isn’t complete, nor is it entirely accurate. To my knowledge, the Distant Star Federation has three seventh-level Supernova powerhouses who aren’t on the rankings. There are probably even more hidden experts within other organizations that I’m unaware of.
"There are too many strong people in the world; my strength is nothing in comparison. You’ll understand once you’ve participated in an outer-space trial..."
Xilin nodded thoughtfully. Both Caledor and Xilin hailed from small nations, their outstanding talents earning them recruitnt as Supernova geniuses by a hegemon state. Due to their similar circumstances, they shared a close bond, like that of senior and junior, ntor and friend.
"Let’s go," Caledor gestured for Xilin to leave.
Xilin pointed to the unknown beast bone on the altar, which emanated a potent legendary aura, and asked, puzzled, "Aren’t we taking it? Isn’t this what we ca for?"
Caledor shook his head. "Not yet. This thing needs to serve as bait for a while longer, to help us catch a big fish."
"A big fish?!" Xilin was stunned. Then he realized that the accompanying exploration team mbers had, at so point, planted special devices in various hidden corners of the deep valley.
"Yes," Caledor explained, "A seventh-level Hidden Star who appeared out of nowhere disrupted one of our operations. The higher-ups want to capture him. Those are God Prohibition Devices. They can temporarily suppress the use of Evil God Power and are specifically designed for coordinated hunts."
"A seventh-level Hidden Star?!" Upon hearing this, Xilin couldn’t help but flinch; the term ’seventh-level’ itself carried a heavy impact.
"Don’t be too nervous." Caledor couldn’t help but laugh. He patted Xilin’s shoulder. "My personal strength has already reached the mid-sixth level. I’ve also grasped a portion of the Star Map Power from my Life Star Chart. Coupled with this suit of Sky-level Armants I’m wearing, the combat power I can unleash instantly is comparable to the seventh level. With the suppressive effect of the God Prohibition Devices, even a seventh-level Hidden Star is nothing to fear."
"Besides, that seventh-level Hidden Star isn’t skilled in close combat; his abilities are just a bit... peculiar. This gives an even greater advantage. If all goes smoothly," Caledor smiled, "I might be able to end the fight very quickly."
Hearing this, Xilin’s heart pounded with an inexplicable mix of tension and anticipation. It was hard to imagine he would have the chance to participate in hunting a seventh-level powerhouse.
Looking at Caledor, who, even when facing a potential seventh-level adversary, was still eager and exuded an indescribable calm and confidence, Xilin involuntarily clenched his fists. His mind conjured the image of a certain three-headed, six-ard figure that had beco an indelible nightmare, nearly chilling him to the bone. He silently cursed his own cowardice and incompetence. Compared to Caledor, he was far too lacking in both strength and willpower.
Caledor sensed his friend’s emotional turmoil. He was well aware of what had happened to Xilin. The ordeal in the Elephant God Secret Realm had nearly crushed his friend. Although his strength had made a breakthrough, his willpower and spirit had waned. The once arrogant and confident Xilin, nicknad ’Beast,’ had beco sowhat hesitant and timid in his actions.
Thinking of this, Caledor said calmly, "When this exploration is over, I’ll accompany you into the Elephant God Secret Realm again."
"Huh?" Xilin looked up, stunned.
Caledor looked at him and said indifferently, "Go challenge that ’extrely powerful’ Elephantman you described, one more ti. Xilin, I truly don’t understand. Why a re creature from an SSS-level Secret Realm could deal you such a heavy blow... If you can’t defeat it. Then..." Caledor stared intently into Xilin’s eyes, his voice icy as he enunciated each word, "I will personally cut off all three of its heads and arrange them neatly before you. To show you what a disappointing... waste you are!"
Xilin clenched his jaw, his face flushing red with humiliation. He naturally understood Caledor’s intention behind these words and had no doubt he could carry out his threat. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, then opened them.
He nodded heavily. "Okay."
Caledor sensed the resolve in Xilin’s voice and nodded in satisfaction. "When you defeat it, you will find how ridiculous the fears you’re clinging to now are. Those things you perceived as powerful and terrifying are, in reality, as fragile as paper, easily pierced with a touch..."
As Caledor was speaking, he suddenly received so information. His expression shifted; the Sky-level Armants on his body swiftly activated, encasing him piece by piece. Caledor slowly drew his twin swords, looking up at the sky above the entrance to the deep valley.
Before his face was obscured by the moon-white tal mask, he smiled in anticipation and said, "The fish is about to swim into the net. Are you ready, Xilin?"
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