WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Several figures brazenly flew through the air, wreathed in Mystic Aura and Astral Force. They were a wide variety of races, ranging from humans, titans, demons, beastmen, elves, and a mix in between. At the lead of this group was a large, imposing titan standing at eighteen feet with sword-like eyebrows-Tambu Ma.
The group's destination was obvious as the pillar of strangely colored radiance flourished through the starless sky, seizing the focus of this vast world. At the sides, the three Commanders of the Ascendants were gathered together. Spiritual fluctuations rippled as they openly communicated through transmissions, their auras were calm, and their attitudes casual.
None of them seemed particularly bothered that Tambu Ma had taken the lead of the group. From their nonchalant attitudes, it was evident that they had subtly supported the Earthly Saint taking that position. Instead, they seemed more focused on each other.
"Young Master Ma, are we joining forces with these...mortals?" Yazu Ma hesitatingly inquired through spiritual transmission, flying a little closer as he did. It was clear that he wanted to say something different, perhaps even slightly derogatory, as his eyes glanced at Bo Kay.
Tambu Ma slightly furrowed his sword-like brows. Normally, he wouldn't deign to team up with demonic spawns and those inferior elves, especially those born from the hybrid union of the two, such as Bo Kay. However, that silver-haired bestial mutant earlier had instilled a great sensation of fear in his heart, and these mortals had traversed fields of corpses with non-combatant Alchemists without any struggles, so they likely had some relations with that bestial mutant. He decided that staying with them would offer some temporary protection until all the pieces fell into place and he could think things through.
Tambu Ma had considered all this earlier and had strongly suggested that they stay together until the Evercrown was completed. The mortals didn't seem against the idea of forming a temporary alliance, albeit none of them proposed it earlier. Strangely enough, he had this distinct feeling that the two female humans and the elf-demon spawn weren't here for the Evercrown.
They seemed to have another mission. This was what his instincts told him.
Tula Yi, the enchanting female titan, had been surreptitiously staring at Da Shan since they took flight. The violet-skinned titan had shouted into the sky earlier and a shocking, heart-palpitating scene unfolded that caused her heart to still quiver.
"I want to bring them with us!" It was simply six words yet the alchemists that had gained the enlightened benefits all were suddenly enshrouded by light-grayish Void Power, and the faint roar of a dragon was unleashed. Without any further indication, the hundred or so alchemists shrunk. They became encased in a crystal the size of a teardrop, their meditating figures still present. Da Shan then revealed a beautifully dazzling smile that could find a hole in any amorous heart, calmly keeping them all in her Saint Ring.
Now, as if that little event was nothing, Da Shan carried that little human called Bei Yinyin on her shoulder, entirely unconcerned. Not even Tambu Ma reacted much, simply giving Da Shan a slight glance before turning away. But Tula Yi knew that the Young Master was definitely shaken to the core! What in the unholy freaking heavens was that?!
She became incredibly afraid of this violet-skinned demonic titan to the point she eyed her without holding back. If she spoke again and tried to invoke that mysterious power to place her in a crystalline teardrop, she was ready to fight with her life on the line.
The group soon reached a few hundred miles away from the geysering pillar of light.
"We should prepare for a fight," Tambu Ma reminded the group. As he did, his Mystic Aura reached a state of being on the verge of erupting, primed for any and every situation at a moment's notice. However, his actions didn't cause the trio to take any overt pre-emptive preparations.
Hong Chunhua looked at the pillar of light. Her auburn hair fluttered in the wind as a delicate, floral scent wafted in the air. "Just take it." She said only those three words before resuming her spiritual conversation with the other Commanders of the Ascendants, Bei Weiwei and Bo Kay.
Tambu Ma was taken aback by the sheer indifference these mortals had toward the crowd's fragment.
"Young Master Ma!" Yazu Ma exclaimed, "I don't sense anyone!" Despite it being hours since the Evercrown had shown itself, there was no sign of a battle or even individuals near the pillar. There had been a few auras he had sensed on the way, but they seemed to be cultivating in the unique regions rather than traversing toward the pillar of light.
The titan was extremely confused.
"You know something we don't?" A titan of their group felt that Hong Chunhua's words were rather disrespectful as he sensed a tinge of condescending tone within. Was she looking down on them? Of course, that was simply his own imagination inspired by the fact that a human was speaking casually with them without the slightest tinge of reverence that he was used to.
As a Commander of the Ascendants, Hong Chunhua had been greatly affected by Wei Wuyin's beliefs, principles, and morals. She didn't look down on these titans at all. In fact, since they weren't currently enemies, she was very comfortable with them.
It was this reason why she decided to answer the titan's question albeit to her it was extremely obvious. She brought out a subconsciously given teaching tone, typically adopted to instruct Ascendants: "The world is a treasure trove of blessed regions and unique opportunities. As for the fragments themselves, they may be useful to an extent, but their effects aren't too special by themselves and the difficulty in acquiring them could lead to injury or elimination. Since we have four of the seven fragments, there's no reason to fight prematurely for a single fragment, even if it's the most precious one. It's best to wait for them to be merged as a single unit and fight then.
"Until that moment, it was best to seize the advantages that the blessed regions possessed." Hong Chunhua's words caused Bo Kay to silently nod in agreement while Bei Weiwei looked off to the far distance to sense fluctuations of a battle between Ascendants. They were fighting near a volcanic region, both unleashing earthen and fire forces. The fighting was intense.
Bei Weiwei chimed in, "Her Royal Highness had fought prematurely for a fragment and she ended up surrendering her fragment to a healthier, stronger third-party. For those intent on challenging for the greatest benefit, it's best not to exhaust yourself before the final fight. Moreover, this is the most optimal moment for forming alliances, especially if you feel you're on the weaker end of the spectrum."
"The individuals that have the other fragments should approach us soon after we merge the fifth fragment. The goal of the competition is to merge the fragments, after all. You can fight for it after it's been formed, not before." Bo Kay added. Their words caused the titan to frown, unable to muster a rebuttal despite his want to. The three Commanders brought up exceedingly good points.
Unfortunately, there had been Chosen King Competitions where the Evercrown had not been completed, and after the intense fighting for the fragments, those who seemed to have a chance at becoming Chosen King after a successful merging had lost their opportunity to.
The truth of the situation could be seen in how those from the Sealed Regions and those from the World Beyond approached the situation. The Ascendants fought for blessed opportunities. While these opportunities might not be much for Ascended beings, for mere mortals, they were godly level gains. As for those from the World Beyond, they fought days or week-long fights for a single fragment. If not for the situation of there being Earthly Saints present, the situation might have devolved into an all-out brawl.
The World Beyond hunted and fought for fragments while the Ascendant hunted and fought for opportunities.
Da Shan said, "While Xue Yifei might have fought prematurely, she definitely did so with malicious intentions. That bloody woman has plans upon plans up her sleeves, scheming is in her blood." She pouted after hearing how Bo Kay referred to Xue Yifei as 'Royal Highness.'
She, too, was Wei Wuyin's lover!
Moreover, unlike that bloody woman, she had been intimate already. Why does she deserve the title of Royal Highness?! That said, Xue Yifei was technically a princess of a lineage that served the Grand Knight of Neo-Dawn himself-Wu Yu, so she didn't openly showcase her rejection of the title. Of course, she would never demean herself and ask Wei Wuyin to be officiated as a concubine. She didn't want that trashy title. Only the illustrious 'wife' title was enough to satisfy her giant heart.
Bo Kay awkwardly smiled. If it was anyone else saying those words, it would've inspired every Ascendant to go to war, but with them being said by Da Shan, he could only awkwardly accept her remarks.
Bei Weiwei's lips pursed. She still hadn't gotten over the fact that Bei Yinyin had snuck into the competition. She only reluctantly held back from requesting that she be sent back after Da Shan reminded her of the hairpin his Majesty had gifted Bei Yinyin on the day she was born. Back then, Wei Wuyin stated firmly that even a Worldly Saint would find it impossible to bring her any harm. The memory of that gentle warmth he had while carrying her infant form in his arms helped soothe her heart as a protective older sister.
As they flew, their shadows flashed across the lands. Eventually, they arrived at the pillar of light. At the base of the pillar, the group discovered a large area of white smoke. Above the pillar, a series of black dots that couldn't be identified was there. After they entered the boundary below formed of the white smoke, a gargantuan, planet-crushing pressure spontaneously erupted! The pressure was bone-crushing!
Tula Yi, Yazu Ma, and the other Ascended titans had to hurriedly halt their approach as the pressure mounted on their bodies, causing their large bones to oddly creak and suffer hairline fractures.
"Young Master Ma! The Star Zone!" Yazu Ma called out. However, Tambu Ma had already felt the pressure, and his expression was incomparably solemn. He had long since invoked his Mystic Aura to resist its power. Shockingly, however, the pressure wasn't impeded by his Mystic Aura.
Instantly, the titans were forced to land a few hundred feet away. The ground was seemingly made of black glass, flat and smooth without any signs of imperfections. When Tambu Ma landed, his eyes exuded brilliant spiritual light as he examined the black glass. The area was originally a sandy region, but the pressure had somehow stimulated a transformation that rivaled an extremely heated environment.
When Tambu Ma saw this, he immediately allowed his Mystic Aura to recede around his arm to test a theory.
SIZZLE!!
His arm immediately began to roast from intense heat. He gritted his teeth in pain as he felt heat that vastly exceeded the typical Solar Star's emissions.
"Yiiii!" An odd, feminine shriek resounded as eyes turned to see Yazu Ma with an arm of burnt skin, his Mystic Aura reinforced several times after.
"..." Everyone was stunned. A large titan male could release such a sound?
"Keep your protective wards up!" Tambu Ma strongly warned. He realized that the area at the base of the pillar was scorching while the area above was under unimaginable pressure that forced one to descend. It contained traces of a death trap.
He turned to see how the mortals were doing.
"...!" His eyes widened to their utmost limits!
Da Shan sat cross-legged on the black glass, her eyes closed, and her body unprotected by even the simplest of Astral Wards. The fiery heat descended upon her body and white smoke was emanating from her pores. Beside her was Bo Kay, whose body also emitted white smoke.
But when he tried to find Hong Chunhua and Bei Weiwei, they had seemingly vanished. The little girl was sitting upon the edge of Da Shan's lap in her ethereal state, playing with a doll with the likeness of a Tiangou. He couldn't hear her as if she existed in an entirely different dimension.
"Where are they?" Tula Yi asked. She had only kept her senses on Da Shan, so she didn't realize the other two had vanished after feeling the heavy pressure.
"They flew up!" The titan that had been 'taught' by the Commanders replied. They looked upwards in union, finding that there were two shrinking figures. While they seemed close, they felt incomparably far. They were utterly confused. Were those dots them?
Da Shan's eyes opened at this moment, seeing how the titans were acting like toads confused by the breadth of the sky. "Did you forget? Hong Chunhua said to just take it. If you don't want to, then you can sit down and cultivate."
"Cultivate?" Tambu Ma was stunned. "This is the Star Zone! This isn't a place you can cultivate. It emulates the properties of a Solar Star." He wasn't ignorant of what was happening, simply never experienced it himself. The Star Zone was an area surrounding the Aspect of Fusion and it exerted qualities of a Solar Star. Being here was like being at the very center of a Solar Star!
Countless Chosen had lost their lives early on in this area over the centuries. This was not a place to cultivate.
In fact, it was a danger zone that would often create variables to the eventual fight for the Aspect of Fusion!
Da Shan's expression changed slightly, revealing a little bit of shock as if looking at an idiot. "No shit," she said with exasperation, continuing with a little sigh: "Just take it." She didn't bother explaining as she used the incredible heat to temper her physique and dispel any latent impurities in her innate energies.
Tambu Ma frowned deeply. He looked up above, observing the starless sky littered with tiny black dots. Are those...
Are those all mortals cultivating? But that was...
The thought had occurred to him but he didn't want to believe it. Was this Star Zone a place to cultivate one's physique?
"YIIIIIII!!!" Another feminine shriek erupted, stinging the ears, causing Tambu Ma and the others to look at Yazu Ma. Or...what was Yazu Ma.
The man had become a black husk, his bones crushed into a mangled pile and his flesh melting into the black glass, slowly being fused with it. The sight sent shivers down their spines and into their hearts.
