Chapter 342 – Pursuit of Deity, Raven Armed Mecha Pilots!

If it weren’t for the cuckoo bird pointing it out accurately, Lu Yuan would have almost missed it.

It was actually quite conspicuous, but most of his attention had been drawn to the ongoing battle.

In the depth of the Phoenix bloodline tribe, at a high position resembling a sacrificial platform, a small oak tree about one meter tall was growing.

Its roots were dense and endless, covering the entire high platform.

The small oak tree’s leaves were emerald green, and it bore five thumb-sized acorns.

Three were tinged with golden hues amidst their green, one was half green and half golden, and another was completely golden.

In Lu Yuan’s perception.

The five acorns on this oak tree were like five small “bulbs.”

Each emitted varying brightness, releasing a considerable amount of evil deity factor and energy.

The one with pure golden hue couldn’t be described as just a “bulb”; it was more like a “sun”!

The evil deity factor and energy wave released by this single acorn overshadowed the other four combined. It was simply unparalleled!

Lu Yuan had noticed too.

The purpose of this unknown organization’s exploration army in besieging the Phoenix bloodline’s valley seemed to be this oak tree.

The oak tree was too mysterious, especially the golden acorn on top.

Even a blind person could sense its extraordinary nature, far surpassing ordinary wondrous items by dozens or hundreds of times.

It was also worshipped by the Phoenix bloodline, and it was highly likely to be related to the Phoenix, possibly even aiding in unraveling the mysteries of “immortality.”

“No wonder the attacks on the field didn’t target the two sorcerers controlling the ‘lava giants’ from the Phoenix bloodline.

It wasn’t that they hadn’t noticed the ‘lava giants’ were being controlled by the sorcerers, but because the sorcerers were positioned near the altar, and they were afraid of damaging the mysterious oak tree on the altar…”

Lu Yuan’s eyes were shining brightly, and he couldn’t help but urge the cuckoo bird.

“Alright, alright, I am very pleased with this wondrous item. Go fetch it quickly, and once you do, you owe me one hundred more wondrous items.”

“Cuckoo!”

Lu Yuan frowned, “What? Only count it as five items? It seems you have no sincerity in cooperating… Forget it, forget it…”

He waved his hand impatiently, “Five it is. You go fetch it, and I’ll count that you still owe me ninety-six wondrous items.”

“Cuckoo!”

“Only one out of the five acorns? And I have to assist?”

Lu Yuan immediately sneered, ready to turn away and leave.

“I don’t want it anymore. Our cooperation ends here!”

“Cuckoo-“

“If I help, all five acorns are mine! And this help counts as me doing you a favor, so you still have to compensate me later…”

“Cuckoo!”

“If you don’t want to negotiate, then it’s over. Bye.”

“Cuckoo!”

“The best I can give you is one green acorn, not the golden one. No matter how much you need it…”

While Lu Yuan and the cuckoo bird were “haggling”, a sudden change occurred in the battle group below.

Lu Yuan saw a burly, narrow-eyed, brown-haired man appearing on the battlefield.

He was wearing a gray combat suit and silently maneuvered past the two lava giants stationed in the ravine, quickly heading towards the oak tree altar.

Many members of the Phoenix bloodline noticed his intent and rushed to intercept him.

But the brown-haired man’s expression remained unchanged as innumerable silver threads emanated from his body.

These silver threads crisscrossed around him, slicing through the Phoenix bloodline members trying to block his way into countless red fragments.

Even those black shadows emerging from the ashes of fallen bodies, which were about to self-destruct, couldn’t get close to him. They were all pierced by the silver threads meters away.

The brown-haired man leisurely strolled through the Phoenix bloodline group, mowing them down as if they were wheat.

Soon, he reached a sorcerer heavily guarded by the Phoenix bloodline members. After swiftly dealing with the guards, the blood-stained silver threads around him formed a lance and thrust forward.

In just one strike, he pierced through a Phoenix bloodline sorcerer’s body and the red crystal he was holding.

“Boom!”

One of the lava giants on the ravine battlefield immediately collapsed, like an imploding volcano, crashing down rapidly. A massive wave of Phoenix bloodline members screamed in anguish.

Having done this, the brown-haired man immediately aimed his spear at another Phoenix bloodline sorcerer…

“A decapitation campaign! He’s an expert from that mysterious organization!”

Lu Yuan’s eyes were tightly locked on the brown-haired man below. He suddenly thought of something and quickly glanced at the cuckoo bird on his shoulder.

The cuckoo bird threw him a disgruntled “look,” still seemingly upset over their earlier haggling.

“If these natives really are Phoenix bloodline members born from the Phoenix’s lineage, equivalent to the Phoenix’s followers…

Then this cuckoo bird should feel some sadness or anger seeing its followers suffer heavy casualties…

It didn’t, which suggests it might not be related to the Phoenix.

Or, the natives below might have nothing to do with the Phoenix…”

These thoughts just swirled in Lu Yuan’s mind briefly before he buried them.

Because…

There was no time to dwell; if he didn’t act now, the brown-haired man would soon kill the second Phoenix bloodline sorcerer and then completely seize the Oak tree and its mysterious acorns.

Lu Yuan stood on a cliff in the mountain forest, overlooking the entire ravine battlefield below.

He closed his eyes, rapidly scanning the entire battle area in his mind, assessing all the combat power present.

Without the assistance of his Light Brain, he relied on his own “Brain Divinity” for analysis.

“No one here poses a mortal threat to me, and the likelihood of heavy injury is low…”

“Whoosh-“

Lu Yuan exhaled gently and opened his eyes.

Brilliant glimmers of light flickered and floated in his pupils.

“Fortune favors the bold! It’s worth the risk!”

“Work with me, and if we succeed, I’ll give you four-fifths… Let’s go!”

“Cuckoo!-“

Without waiting for the cuckoo bird’s agreement, Lu Yuan leaped from the high cliff like a great bird.

In midair, a massive wave of dense death energy surged from his body, enveloping him entirely.

In an instant, three pairs of jet-black, jade-like giant wings extended from his back.

Lu Yuan’s body was covered in a full-body armor that resembled black crystal, as if sculpted for an ancient monarch-luxurious and dignified.

A crystal mask adorned with Red Spider Lilies concealed Lu Yuan’s face, leaving only his deep, black eyes exposed.

The long dormant [Death Messenger (extraordinary)] professional panel activated.

Feeling the Hundred-eyed Nether Crow Feather in his chest, beating like a heart.

Lu Yuan, diving down, muttered to himself, “Today… I am the wielder of the Nether Crow Mecha!”

“In the final moments of life, let your ultimate star shine brilliantly!”

After speaking, countless death energies converged in his hands to form an exceptionally long greatsword, entirely black and seemingly crafted from black crystal.

Around him appeared short spears formed entirely from condensed death energy…

…

“Boom!”

A moon-white sky level Mecha, shaped like a raptor and tens of meters long, spewed fiery blue tongues of flame from beneath it and swiftly soared into the sky, which looked like a sea of fire.

Moments later, a strange, invisible wave spread from the heavens.

“Buzz-“

This wave was imperceptible to the senses but visible to the naked eye.

For as the wave spread, the sky above the embers mountain, resembling burning clouds, slowly cleared to reveal an oval area of azure blue sky…

This phenomenon was observed by many organizational forces at the secret realm entrance of the embers mountain.

Many people had complex expressions, but their faces also showed a sense of helplessness.

“The Distant Star Federation’s ‘Pursuit of Deity’ satellite has successfully launched…”

Several extraordinarily graceful men and women at Xia State’s Yellow Bear Base squinted at the celestial anomaly and spoke, “In the absence of functioning anti-gravity devices, every three hours a new sky level Mecha has to be sent up to switch out, and the resources needed to fully charge a sky level Mecha match nearly a year’s tax revenue of a province in the old city circle…

Tsk, tsk, what a massive expense.

Is this Distant Star Federation’s map hack worth it?”

“Perhaps a single Phoenix Feather isn’t worth it…”

Someone in the team spoke calmly, “But according to the information Ding Can sent back, this time, deep in the Misty Zone, an unprecedented Forbidden Land has been discovered. At the center of this Forbidden Land, there are wondrous items that seem to include a Phoenix Egg, and possibly something even more mysterious and precious…

The Distant Star Federation launched the ‘Pursuit of Deity’ satellite mainly for this reason. The Phoenix Feather is just an added bonus… It seems they’re determined to obtain it.”

“No wonder…”

The speaker nodded thoughtfully and then turned to ask a woman nearby, “Did you manage to contact the person who obtained the Phoenix Feather?”

The woman shook her head. “He should have destroyed and disposed of his communicator. However, we did get in touch with a few people who had interactions with him earlier. Ling Yu witnessed the incident firsthand, and he said he could explain everything in detail to us…”

“Tell him not to come.”

The speaker waved a hand dismissively. “Tell him to go directly to the coordinates Ding Can sent.

Our primary objective this time is to compete for the Phoenix Egg. Even if we can’t obtain it, we must at least ensure no one else does!

As for the one who has the Phoenix Feather…”

The speaker paused, then said, “I’ve heard he’s the modern demon blade wielder? Before I came, I had someone check the list, but I didn’t see a name called ‘Lu Yuan.’

He might be a hidden asset designated by higher-ups, meant to be revealed during this Phoenix Egg competition. They probably used a Phoenix Feather to coordinate with our actions…

His combat power, as indicated in the records, is at the fifth-stage. That’s not weak, and he shouldn’t need our support.

By destroying his communicator, he likely intends to convey this information to us, to draw some of the fire away and make it easier for us to act…”

The speaker laid out the analysis, logical and well-reasoned, and his companions nodded in agreement.

After a brief discussion, they didn’t linger. They quickly and unobtrusively left the headquarters, then plunged into the primordial forest, swiftly moving towards their designated direction.

…

Meanwhile, at the Distant Star Federation headquarters.

In a heavily guarded command center, a group of people sat around a large screen.

Each of them exuded an imposing aura, appearing to be leaders of various organizations.

“Click-“

The large screen in the room was switched on, displaying a holographic projection of a battle scene.

In the projection, shuttles, Mechas, and modified soldiers fought fiercely, with various energy beams intertwining to form a web.

They were mercilessly slaughtering a small Phoenix bloodline tribe situated in a valley below.

Soon, after sustaining minimal casualties, the entire Phoenix bloodline indigenous tribe was completely wiped out.

A man dressed in a black combat suit, with no organizational insignia on his chest, stepped onto the blood-stained, ash-covered altar. Carefully, he picked up a golden feather that was placed on the altar and quickly placed it into a specially designed long box.

Upon witnessing this, the faces of the leaders in the room showed faint signs of satisfaction.

“It seems everything is progressing smoothly…”

Someone in the room spoke.