The descent of the World Between the Fold and all its cultivators was a startling sight across the eighteen regions. Countless Ascended beings were jaunted out of various dimensions of space into unoccupied areas without any clue where they were.
Those who participated in the Chosen King Competition were the most clueless, while those who lived in the Endless Voyage Realm and slowly watched as the Spatial Vortex devoured their homes, calmed down by their leaders, were fully knowledgeable on the how and the general where, just not the precise where.
Fortunately, the Endless Voyage Realm was also the Void Voyage Sect's headquarters, and that particular faction was extremely familiar with the demarcated territories and stellar layout of the eighteen regions. At least, they were up to a few years before the Spatial Vortex sealed off all paths to and fro the Endless Voyage Realm and the Sealed Regions.
The mortals of the Endless Voyage Realm were noticeably missing, as many had been kept in Internal Worlds of elite Cultivators or Saint Rings specifically designed to contain living creatures long-term, originally purposed for beast-taming, agricultural cultivation, or housing uniquely living materials. With enough time to prepare, the Endless Voyage Realm's expert kept all the mortal infants, children, adults, and elderly that functioned as normal citizens of the realm safely with them.
"Unhand me, beast!" A Timelord was held aloft by a young female, her slender arm and hand with manicured nails painted in a cerise color were like a vicious, immovable claw. No matter how much the Timelord struggled, he couldn't free himself. The young woman had star-shaped pupils and a fluffy, dainty tail behind her of a reddish-orange color. She was of the Celestial Race!
"Beast?" CRACK! She twisted her grip, ruthlessly twisting the Timelord's neck into an eerie, violent position. She tossed the corpse like trash, releasing a hollow thud as it landed on the deck. The eyes of the Timelord were wide with unimaginable disbelief, as if he wouldn't or shouldn't have been killed. The sight elicited cold gasps of panic, fear, and horror from the hundreds of observers huddled together. There were women, children, and elderly on board-all mortals. The young celestial woman was on a passenger ship. After the bizarre developments in the Chosen King Competition and being enveloped by a terrifying, irresistible force, she had landed right there.
The young celestial woman indifferently looked at the huddled, fearful mortal passengers who reeled in fear from her gaze. She might look beautifully young, but her aura was unfathomable. They knew this likely meant she was a legendary Ascended being that wielded godly might.
"Where am I?" The young celestial woman asked as she glanced at the Supermassive Solar Star with a Mystic Radiance Belt. She didn't recognize it at all nor did she recognize the positions of the planets, lunar satellites, and stars in the distance. This wasn't home.
She turned to the mortals, asking again with a faint, imposing chilly tone that demanded only answers: "Where am I?"
Eyes subconsciously went to the aggrieved-faced corpse on the ship's deck, fearful of being next. A bald elderly man who worked as a merchant for decades walked forward, his cultivation was only at the Light Reflection Phase, the fifth stage of the Astral Core Realm, and he struggled to maintain his calm by deriving from his experience as he answered: "You're in the Onesword Domain of the Noble Jiang Clan."
"Onesword Domain? Noble Jiang Clan..." The young celestial woman had zero inkling of what those two were. "The Stellar Region, which Stellar Region?"
"Oh!" The elderly man realized she was likely someone who got caught in some oddity like a Vanishing Point or a malfunctioning Void Gate due to the recent world changes, somehow ending up here, and considering her strength and tail, she must be a member of the Neo-Dawn Starfield's beastmen. He grew increasingly respectful and calmer. That idiot from earlier definitely offended her by referring to her as a beast.
"Immortal Fairy, this passenger ship, the Miraculous Edge Ship, is currently in the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region," there was a hint of shaky pride within. If this person belonged to the Neo-Dawn Starfield, then it was hard to muster proper pride given the rumors of its brilliance and exceptional ruler. Who didn't know of the peerless Ascendant Emperor? The youngest Worldly Saint Alchemist in history? The one known as Saintmaker?!
"Grand Cyclic Stellar Region? One of the stellar regions within the Ancient Sealed Region?!" Just as realization dawned on her, she noticed several Voidships suddenly exiting from several planets outfitted for war. Her eyes effused spiritual light as she noticed they were led by Timelords, Starlords, and some at the Mystic Star Phase. Moreover, she saw a few Ascended beings flying through the area.
A loud, ear-piercing droning sound erupted as a faint layer of cloudy mist enveloped the entirety of the Onesword Domain.
"All displaced foreigners are to halt their travels and submit themselves to the Jiang Clan's Enforcers immediately! Any violators or those found resisting will be killed without mercy!" A forceful warning resounded like thunder throughout the entire Onesword Domain alongside the aura of a Demi-Mortal Lord.
"Hm?" The young celestial woman was intrigued by such a forceful aura. When she felt that it belonged to a human, a mocking smirk formed on her thin lips. "I'll get more answers from the head of the disgusting snake." Just as she said this, her Mystic Aura unfurled violently, ripping the flesh from the mortal's bones and turning their corpses into dust soon after. They couldn't even react. The entire ship collapsed into millions of pieces and her slender figure shot toward the planet.
Not just her, but hundreds of others fearlessly shot toward the Onesword Domain's main planet as if finding an avenue for answers and opportunities. The Jiang Clan was bound to experience a calamity. It wasn't only limited to the Jiang Clan; the Domains of the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region were instantly thrown into chaos by the arrival of these outsiders.
The two recently engaged duo settled on a floating asteroid pulled by Ernu. They sat together, lazily observing the Dark Void upon a velvety blanket, a scrumptious spread of fresh fruit, fragrant myriad-year wine, and surrounded by the iridescent glow of floating Mystic World Stones. They were faintly illuminated, with the Dragonborn Saintess leaning languidly into the Ascendant Emperor's chest. It was as picturesque as the depiction of an immortal couple of legend and myth.
"What bravery," Xue Yifei commented as she took a bite into a fresh, glistening strawberry-like fruit. Her eyes were focused beyond the Neo-Dawn Starfield's bubble-like array, exuding a terrifying spiritual light. The array had precisely been deployed to prevent invaders from disrupting the natural rhythm of its world. While it wasn't originally intended to block off sporadically transported outsiders, it was intended to fend off foreign, unwelcomed attackers and shockwaves of unfathomably destructive power.
At the moment, Xue Yifei could see millions upon millions of miles away, tethered to the various Spiritual Projection Obelisks of the Golden Life Pavilion. Due to Wei Wuyin's prominent status as a seated member of its Golden Council, he had notable authority, and that naturally extended to her.
Throughout the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region and the other sixteen Stellar Regions, cultivators of astonishing strength appeared throughout. Not a single one was beneath the Mystic Ascendant Realm. Clearly, those from the World Between the Fold had hidden their mortals away in Internal Worlds or Saint Rings, protecting their fragility. Likely, only the strongest were given this responsibility as well.
She was amused by the courageous acts of these individuals as they went wild inside or nearing the area of the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region that was overseen by the Aeternal Sky Divine Emperor. They'll likely learn their lesson quickly. Other areas were relatively more peaceful due to a severe lack of resources. Unfortunately, the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region was a treasure trove of resources due to basking in the bountiful solar essence of the Aeternal Sky Star for tens of thousands of years. Even a random comet or tiny, floating meteoroid contained unfathomable potential that the society of the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region couldn't hope to exhaust or properly use.
"When they learn of the rich vaults and richer environments of the planets, I expect that bravery will be overwhelmed by greed," Wei Wuyin said while enjoying Xue Yifei's warmth. Both of them possessed bloodline lineages of the dragon and could subsist on the Chill of the Dark Void as if it were air. This trait had once caused Wei Wuyin to be mistaken as an Ascended being.
Meanwhile, the Neo-Dawn Starfield was trouble-free. The transported outsiders could only stare, but the pulsating power of the array caused a considerable pause in each of them, and they soon departed. A few tried to get close to get a better look and were violently repelled. The temptation and mystery of Baby Defiant caused unimaginable greed, especially since they could only visually see its potential and couldn't sense it due to the barrier.
"..." Xue Yifei finished her strawberry, a thoughtful expression on her face.
"I'm not doing anything right now because I need to recover a little," Wei Wuyin explained while tossing a grape in his mouth. It made an unbelievably crisp sound when he chewed. It was extremely cathartic.
Xue Yifei's eyes moved to Wei Wuyin's unearthly visage that could shake the hearts of heaven and earth and frowned slightly. Wei Wuyin could feel her searing gaze of questioning and concern. One of the many things he loved about Xue Yifei was her intelligence. It was a little frightening and highly respectable. Just her actions in the Chosen King Competition had likely elevated her status in the hearts of each Ascendant and Prime Ascendant. Moreover, she had no qualms with openly using every advantage she could.
He could only bitterly smile. "I'm fine. I am only a little tired after having to deal with several things recently. I refined the Evercrown entirely to prevent any complications in the future and I had to push myself to the point I harmed myself a little. Additionally, my cultivation base is rapidly working to consolidate itself. With my physique, I will recover in full within an hour or three. Then, I'll deal with these things."
"Or three?" Xue Yifei's eyes narrowed at that careless statement. She could tell that Wei Wuyin was purposely delaying his next move. As for needing to recover? She believed it. However, she could also see something deeper being unsaid.
Wei Wuyin felt her gaze, met it with his own, and couldn't help but give her a sudden kiss. It was her fault for having such succulent and seductively irresistible lips. After having his fill for a minute or so, he leaned back and laid down on the velvet blanket, staring at the barrier and beyond.
Xue Yifei laid down too. Since Wei Wuyin didn't wish to speak of the exact reason, she wouldn't pry. Instead, she'll just support him silently, lying comfortably in his embrace. The two watched as the stars moved with Ernu carrying the asteroid.
"Isn't it just good that I can just spend some quality time with my future wife? Enjoy the fantastic scenery of the stars? Exquisite wine? Even better food!" Wei Wuyin chuckled with a lackadaisical air, unbridled and relaxed to an extreme. He took an incredibly deep breath and expelled a wad of turbid, pent-up air in his chest. It was as if all his issues didn't exist with a beauty by his side and the gorgeous stars around him.
Xue Yifei's eyes glowed. She hugged closer, tighter, and relaxed her heart entirely, letting herself experience this moment together. It was only then that Xue Yifei finally understood the true meaning behind why Wei Wuyin was taking this moment of respite with her so freely. It wasn't just to be with her, it was because the next period was going to be unpredictably busy. Will they have time to spend like this again anytime soon?
"It is good," Xue Yifei echoed softly.
"Good indeed!" Wei Wuyin happily exclaimed. Just as he was about to enjoy some wine, he felt a slithering movement beneath him. The sly, intelligent Xue Yifei was moving, causing his eyes to brighten to the apex.
"Good indeed."
"What happened?" San Yongli said exhaustedly. She found herself on a platform that was gushing with radiantly white light, nearly blinding her. She tried to grasp her surroundings yet it was a little difficult to do so.
"What? San Yongli?" A familiar voice rang in her ears. "Are you alright? You look pale. Wait, where are we?"
"ANOTHER GROUP HAS ARRIVED!" A loud, vigorous voice filled with strength and presence resounded like thunder, shaking the eardrums and alerting any sleeping spirits or slumbering ghosts.
"She's alright. Give her a bit to acclimate to Stellar Transit Light Travel." Another voice that she would never forget echoed in her ear.
"Tia-Tian Yinwu?"
"GURGH!" The sound of retching and acidic air wafted through San Yongli's senses. She had the sudden urge to vomit. The last thing she remembered was being surrounded by rainbow-like light for a difficult-to-discern period of time. She didn't resist due to believing it was natural.
"You're all okay. All of you just circulate your spatial force and the effects will lessen," Tian Yinwu's voice resounded once again, instructing multiple people.
"Ugh," San Yongli finally regained a sense of balance and her vision followed soon after. She was met by several familiar faces. The closest was immediately recognizable. "Manager Ma?" Then, she found Tian Yinwu facing away from her, assisting his brother by placing a palm firmly on his back and infusing Spatial Force.
"Tian Yinwu? Where are we?" She asked with a frown. When she looked up. "Why is gravity so strong?"
Tian Yinwu gave Tian Jianghan a solid pat on the back, turning to San Yongli with a faintly guilty smile. "We're-"
Just as he was about to speak, someone else shouted excitedly: "WELCOME TO THE BATTLEFIELD! Youngsters, are you ready to kill those gigantic and fluffy-tailed bastards?!"
[Author's Note: Hurry and move Wei Wuyin! You got people to save, yo.]
