Chapter 249: The Sacred Star (Part I)

The tower had already been constructed to over a hundred meters, with at least a dozen Evernight powerhouses gathered on site. Among them, several fully armored figures wearing enclosed masks were likely of the Count level, while the rest were of the Marquis level or higher.

Although their numbers were not great, when they worked together, the progress was astonishingly swift. For instance, the colossal cauldron, with a diameter exceeding ten meters, was lifted directly to the top of the tower and installed in one go. At that moment, some were still reinforcing the tower’s foundation; a massive stone block weighing over ten tons was effortlessly lifted by two powerhouses and placed precisely where it was needed.

In charge of the site was not Flame of Everlasting Flame but an old acquaintance of Qian Ye, the Lord of Maysfield.

Qian Ye did not act rashly but instead retreated into the forest, setting up an observation post high in an ancient tree to monitor the movements of the dark races. With so many powerhouses, there would inevitably be times when someone would venture out alone.

By the second day, the tower was almost complete, with various devices installed, and several powerhouses were equipped with exploration gear, apparently preparing to scout for mineral resources in the surrounding area.

This team consisted of two Spider Demons and two Wolfmen, led by a Duke of the Demonkin.

Qian Ye gauged the strength of the forces and felt that although it would be challenging, there was still a chance to take them down. However, he could not afford to alert the Lord of Maysfield, and the operation had to be swift and quiet, which added to the difficulty.

But Qian Ye did not intend to annihilate them all. He just needed to seize the opportunity, ambush, and eliminate a few. Even if half managed to escape, it would still be a significant blow to the Evernight Council.

With his plan in place, Qian Ye leapt down from the ancient tree, intending to stealthily approach the exploration team. Suddenly, he felt a strange sensation, as if a gaze had swept over him.

Qian Ye instantly froze.

He had always been using his bloodline to remain hidden, making himself indistinguishable from a rock in the eyes of the powerhouses. But if a rock could suddenly fly at high speed, that would be rather peculiar.

However, Qian Ye’s own perception was among the best in the world, and it was rare for a powerhouse to approach without being detected. This gaze appeared without any warning, catching Qian Ye completely off guard, which was truly unusual.

Qian Ye slowly turned his head, his pupils deep and unfathomable, retracting all active sensing abilities. He now relied solely on passive detection, receiving information without actively scanning.

This method proved effective, and Qian Ye caught a fleeting glimpse of something in the forest.

Instantly, a volcanic force erupted from Qian Ye’s body, propelling him toward the figure. His speed was extraordinary, and at this moment, he exerted his utmost effort, traversing a kilometer in an instant, bringing a faint silhouette into view.

The creature seemed startled, leaping from the trees and bounding between the massive trunks. It moved like a rubber ball, bouncing from one tree to another, its movements swift and unpredictable.

Qian Ye’s figure flickered, using the power of Chaos to teleport through the void, barely keeping up with the elusive figure.

At this point, he could see that it was a humanoid creature, though its limbs were abnormally long, and its joints seemed capable of bending in both directions. It even had a pair of short wings, allowing it to glide briefly in the air, enhancing its agility.

Its speed was impressive, even by the standards of Evernight Dukes, making it a challenge for Qian Ye to keep up. Moreover, its aura was strange, blending seamlessly with the forest, much like Qian Ye’s bloodline concealment. Once out of sight, it would be nearly impossible to track.

Thus, Qian Ye pursued relentlessly, determined not to let it out of his sight. The distance between them narrowed, and soon there were only a few dozen meters left. A single burst of speed would put him behind the creature.

At that moment, Qian Ye sensed a strong feeling of danger. He sidestepped, floating upward in an eerie arc.

A black shadow silently streaked past his original position, piercing through more than a dozen massive trees before vanishing. The trees stood still for a moment before exploding, creating a long corridor hundreds of meters long.

Qian Ye instantly recognized that the projectile was a spear, with a wooden shaft and a stone tip, bound with rope. Despite its primitive construction, it had the power to severely wound a Marquis. Even Qian Ye would not want to be hit by such a weapon.

Qian Ye looked in the direction from which the spear had come, ready for battle.

From the forest emerged a towering figure, similar to the humanoid creature he had been chasing, but much larger, standing at five meters tall, surrounded by a faint black mist.

Seeing this, Qian Ye’s pupils constricted. The black mist around the giant was not a natural phenomenon but a highly concentrated form of dark primal energy. The primal energy of the Inner World was alive and incredibly difficult to control. Yet, on this humanoid, Qian Ye saw the primal energy cheering and submitting.

Such a reaction from primal energy was a mark of Sovereigns and Kings. They wielded primal energy with near-absolute control, creating wondrous phenomena that made it seem as if the energy itself had a life.

The giant before Qian Ye was different. The primal energy around him had a true life of its own, obeying his every command. This made every move of the giant immensely powerful, even a primitive spear could strike with the force of a legendary weapon.

Facing the giant, Qian Ye still felt a constant sense of danger. He narrowed his eyes, scanning the giant, his fighting spirit rising.

The giant was too large and too powerful, rendering the binding force of the Eye of Control almost ineffective. However, the primal vision granted by the Eye allowed Qian Ye to see the flow of the giant’s primal energy. But with such active primal energy, the usefulness of the vision was limited.

Living primal energy would react spontaneously, making it unpredictable. This was why the attacks of Sovereigns and Kings often seemed divine and enigmatic. As for the Three Supreme Beings of the Holy Mountain, it was said that they could imbue primal energy with a near-real life, making their every move devastating yet gentle.

This giant had a hint of the aura of a Supreme Being, though it was due to the unique nature of the Inner World. Still, it could be seen as a miniature version of a Supreme Being.

On the other hand, the giant’s equipment was extremely rudimentary. It wore a crude leather outfit, more clothing than armor. Its weapons were the primitive spears, two on its back and one already thrown.

It wasn’t that Sovereigns and Kings didn’t need equipment. Even the Supreme Beings of the Holy Mountain, or the human ancestral emperors, required suitable gear. It was just that very few items matched their immense power.

The giant’s crude equipment significantly reduced its combat effectiveness. If it were fully equipped with the best gear of the Evernight Empire, its power would increase by at least thirty to forty percent.

Now, the giant was the perfect target, allowing Qian Ye to gain some experience in facing a Supreme Being. Additionally, Qian Ye was intrigued by the native life of the Inner World. The giant was an ideal entry point.

Seeing that Qian Ye did not retreat, the giant became visibly angry, looking down at Qian Ye like a small cat, roaring incoherent words.

Qian Ye drew his Azure Blood Sword in response.

Though they did not share a language, Qian Ye’s actions conveyed a clear message. The giant roared in fury, drawing the twin spears from its back, taking a combat stance.

Qian Ye held his sword pointed at the ground, silent and motionless. Those who knew him well understood that his most dangerous moments came when he was still, for no one knew when he would activate his void teleportation. Often, as his opponent launched an attack, Qian Ye would use the void teleportation to dodge and strike at the weak points.

Clearly, the giant did not know this. The primal energy around it swirled like a storm, gathering for an attack.

Suddenly, a pair of black wings unfurled from the giant’s back!

Though not particularly large compared to the giant’s size, the wings gave Qian Ye a strangely familiar feeling. In a moment of surprise, the giant’s wings flapped, and it appeared right before Qian Ye!

The giant’s speed was close to instantaneous. Qian Ye had no time to activate his void teleportation, and the twin spears were already sweeping towards him.

In a hasty defense, Qian Ye raised the Azure Blood Sword, blocking the spears.

As the weapons clashed, Qian Ye felt an overwhelming force, like a mountain pressing down on him. The sword bent under the pressure, and Qian Ye’s hands trembled.

The giant possessed a terrifying strength, far beyond what its size should allow. Qian Ye had only experienced such power once, with the Wolfman Sovereign, Sosa.

Though the enemy was unexpectedly strong, Qian Ye was not the same as he once was. His fighting spirit surged, and he let out a low roar, stomping the ground. The chaotic primal energy enveloped the area within a hundred meters, making it his territory. With another roar, his body, enhanced by the chaotic primal energy, unleashed a tremendous force, countering the giant’s attack and retaliating, sending the entire force back.

The giant’s spears were involuntarily deflected, bending its arms to an unnatural angle. If it were a normal human or another dark race, their arms would have snapped, but the joints of the giant and many other creatures of the Inner World were extremely flexible.

The spears, unable to withstand the force, exploded, splitting into two. The giant was hurled away, crashing to the ground and sliding over a hundred meters, clearing a wide swath of the forest.

Defeating the giant head-on filled Qian Ye with a profound sense of satisfaction, venting the pent-up frustration of recent days. He looked at the Azure Blood Sword in his hand, thoughtful.

This sword, once carried by the Dark Prophet Howard, was a masterpiece. Its quality was even superior to the Dong Yue sword, which had been fused with the Great Radiance Horn, and it was the only weapon currently able to handle Qian Ye’s chaotic primal energy. The only drawback was that it was a bit light, making it somewhat unwieldy.

Qian Ye felt that, with his current strength, a sword weighing several tons would be more fitting.