Chapter 349 – I Will Personally Cut Off Its Head

Holding a defective Phoenix Feather in his hand, Lu Yuan thought for a moment and decided not to use it just yet.

Unlocking a new profession right now wouldn’t provide a significant boost to his combat power.

This feather could be kept for now, and once they left the secret realm, he could discuss it with Yuwen Tong and the Xia State senior officials to see if it could be swapped for the one in the merit shop.

His feather wasn’t of legendary level; what if the one Yellow Bear had was?

The Xia State senior officials wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.

Lu Yuan had also collected a few crimson crystal shards from the Phoenix bloodline, specifically the kind used by Phoenix bloodline sorcerers to control lava giants.

However, he found that these crimson crystals had lost all their energy during the journey, rendering them useless, so he casually discarded them.

After organizing his spoils, Lu Yuan turned around.

He saw the cuckoo bird staring at him intensely, its small eyes filled with deep resentment.

“It’s no use looking at me like that. If you’re unwilling to offer the best, you naturally won’t get the best in return,” Lu Yuan said nonchalantly.

“Oh, by the way, we can still continue our cooperation. If you have any more good items like those acorns, bring me to them, and we can renegotiate the share…”

With a bright smile and twinkling eyes, Lu Yuan spoke gently, realizing the pure golden acorn’s benefits made him aware of the great potential in the cuckoo bird, but it needed to be carefully guided.

“Cuckoo!”

The cuckoo bird became agitated by his words, chirping loudly.

It essentially meant that Lu Yuan’s refusal to give it the pure golden acorn severely impacted its plans, drastically lowering the success rate.

After listening for a while, Lu Yuan asked, “You keep talking about something important you need to do. What exactly is it? Just tell me.”

“Cuckoo…”

The cuckoo bird showed hesitation in its eyes before it finally shook its head, refusing to reveal the matter.

However, its mood calmed down as it indicated to Lu Yuan that it would take him to another place to help it retrieve another item.

“Sounds good.”

Lu Yuan was waiting for this sentence from the cuckoo bird, eagerly rubbing his hands, ready to go.

No matter what grand scheme the cuckoo bird was plotting, he would first make sure to reap the benefits.

Boom! Boom!

From the depths of a deep valley hidden within the dense forest, violent explosions echoed.

Countless shuttles and Mechas filled the sky above the valley, energy beams raining down like a storm, engulfing the ground below in smoke and rolling debris.

“Boom!”

Suddenly, a gigantic pillar of flame surged from the valley.

The scarlet flame instantly engulfed a large number of figures, followed by a large dark red shadow flashing across the sky, clearing a section of the dense aerial formation. Many people fell from the sky as burning wreckage.

The remaining members of the exploration team quickly dispersed.

After the flames subsided, a worm-like monster emerged from the ground below.

It was tens of meters long, several meters thick, covered in dark red scales, and had menacing jaws at both ends that could spew scorching flames, creating a terrifying sight.

This dark red worm monster was being controlled by a member of the Phoenix bloodline.

He stood in the valley, surrounded by the ashes of his deceased kin, clutching a constantly writhing red meatball while shouting curses toward the sky, his face and eyes filled with boundless hatred for the exploration team.

The dark red worm monster possessed the abilities to burrow and breathe fire, was immensely strong, and had highly durable scales.

In just a few attacks, the exploration team suffered heavy casualties.

Just as the Phoenix bloodline remnant was reveling in his sadistic satisfaction, a moon-white streak of light shot across the sky like a comet.

It was a person.

A figure completely armored in moon-white metal.

Holding two platinum alloy long swords, draped in a blue flowing cape, exuding an imposing aura.

“Roar!”

The appearance of this figure immediately caught the worm monster’s attention. It growled and directed a massive pillar of flame at the intruder.

The figure did not evade the attack; instead, an overwhelming energy field surged out from around them.

The scarlet flame was split and blocked three meters before reaching the figure, creating two separate streams.

Following that, shimmering light spots began to appear around the moon-white figure, with starlight and armor energy intertwining, an intangible force rising majestically…

Swish-

The figure in moon-white armor flickered.

Two intersecting, dazzling streaks of light suddenly flashed within the deep valley.

When his form reappeared, he was already standing atop a peculiar altar at the deepest part of the valley, leisurely examining a mysterious beast bone placed on the altar.

Behind him, the terrifying giant worm monster and the Phoenix bloodline remnant controlling it had silently fallen still…

Within the span of half a breath, the bodies of both split into multiple segments, noiselessly collapsing to the ground.

Boom-

The moment the segmented worm monster’s corpse hit the ground signified the complete end of this battle.

Members of the exploration team within the deep valley gazed upon the moon-white-clad figure with reverence before they dispersed to clean the battlefield and tally their gains.

“Kalador, you are incredibly strong.”

A figure emerged from the side, stepping onto the altar.

This was a robust young man with sharp features. A faint scar across his left brow added a fierce and unruly touch to his appearance.

However, a subtle melancholic aura seemed to envelop his forehead, tempering that fierce demeanor.

“The destructive power of that worm monster was terrifying. A single blow could have easily killed me, yet it couldn’t withstand even one move from you…”

The young man’s expression was a mix of emotions.

“So, this is the strength of someone ranked twelfth on the supernova ranking? Truly frightening…”

The moon-white figure on the altar deactivated his armor, revealing a tall, handsome young man with eyes bright as gems, appearing to be in his early thirties.

“Don’t put too much faith in the rankings, Xilin,” Kalador said as he ran his hand through his slightly wavy, golden hair.

“After joining the Distant Star Federation, I realized that the currently published ranking information is neither complete nor entirely accurate…

To my knowledge, there are at least three supernova powerhouses at the seventh stage within the Distant Star Federation who aren’t even on the ranking. There must be even more hidden powerhouses within other organizations that I’m not aware of.

There are too many strong individuals in this world. My strength is hardly anything special.

You’ll understand once you’ve participated in an extraterrestrial trial…”

Xilin nodded thoughtfully.

Both Kalador and Xilin hailed from small countries. Their exceptional talents had attracted the attention of dominant states, bringing them into the fold as supernova geniuses.

Their similar backgrounds had fostered a strong personal bond, a relationship of senior and junior, mentor and friend.

“Let’s go.”

Kalador motioned for Xilin to leave.

Xilin pointed to the altar, where the mysterious beast bone exuded a rich, legendary aura. Puzzled, he asked, “Aren’t we supposed to take that? Isn’t that why we came?”

Kalador shook his head.

“It’s not the right time yet. We need this thing to serve as bait to catch a bigger fish.”

“A bigger fish?!”

Xilin was stunned.

He then noticed that the accompanying members of the exploration team had already placed some special devices in the hidden corners of the deep valley.

“Yes,” Kalador explained. “There’s a seventh-stage Hidden Star that’s been ruining our operations.

The higher-ups want to capture him…

Those devices are divinity suppression devices, designed to temporarily suppress the power of the evil deity, specifically to aid in his capture.”

“A seventh-stage Hidden Star?!”

Xilin couldn’t help but furrow his brow at those words. The mere mention of the seventh stage carried significant weight.

“Don’t be too nervous,” Kalador said with a chuckle, patting Xilin on the shoulder.

“My own strength is at the middle-stage of the sixth stage, and I have also grasped a portion of the power of the natal star diagram. Combined with this sky armament, my burst combat strength can rival that of the seventh stage.

Plus, with the suppressive effect of the divinity suppression devices, there’s no need to fear a seventh-stage Hidden Star.”

“Moreover, this seventh-stage Hidden Star isn’t skilled in close combat; he simply has some unique abilities…

That gives me even more of an advantage. If all goes well…”

Kalador casually remarked, “The time it takes to end the battle will be much shorter than you think.”

Xilin listened, his heart pounding with an inexplicable mix of tension and anticipation.

It was hard to imagine that he had a chance to be part of a hunt for a seventh-stage powerhouse.

Looking at Kalador, who, even in the face of the impending seventh-stage foe, still appeared eager and exuded an air of calm and confidence, Xilin couldn’t help but clench his fists.

In his mind, a nightmarish figure with three heads and six arms emerged, a figure that had once terrified him to the core. He silently cursed himself for his weakness and incompetence.

Compared to Kalador, he was far behind in both strength and willpower.

Kalador noticed the change in Xilin’s emotions. He was well aware of what Xilin had been through.

The encounter in the elephant deity secret realm had nearly broken his friend.

Although he had made a breakthrough in strength, his spirit and will had become more despondent.

The once arrogant and confident Xilin, who had earned the nickname “Feral Beast,” now hesitated and appeared timid.

Thinking of this, Kalador spoke calmly, “After this exploration, I’ll accompany you back to the elephant deity secret realm.”

“Hmm?”

Xilin looked up, surprised.

Kalador looked at him, his expression indifferent. “You will challenge that so-called very powerful elephant man again.

Xilin, I simply can’t understand.

Why a mere level SSS creature from a secret realm could have such a shattering effect on you…

If you can’t defeat it, then…”

Kalador stared intensely into Xilin’s eyes, his voice cold as he continued, “I’ll personally chop off all three of its heads and lay them neatly at your feet.

To show you just how much of a disappointment you are… such a worthless waste!”

Xilin gritted his teeth, his face flushing red with humiliation.

He knew the purpose behind Kalador’s harsh words and had no doubt Kalador could achieve it.

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes, and then reopened them.

He nodded firmly, “Alright.”

Kalador detected the resolute tone in Xilin’s voice and nodded with satisfaction.

“When you defeat it, you’ll realize that the fears that plague you now are laughable.

The strength and terror you imagine are as fragile as a sheet of paper that can be pierced with a single poke…”

As Kalador was speaking, he suddenly received some information.

His expression shifted, and the sky armament on his body started to activate rapidly, covering his body part by part.

Kalador slowly drew his twin swords, lifting his gaze to the sky at the entrance of the deep valley.

Just before his face was covered by the moon-white metallic mask, he smiled and softly said, “The fish is about to take the bait.

Are you ready?

Xilin.”

…