"What do you think is happening?" Tian Lingyu questioned Tian Muyang. She had relatively recovered from the exposure from Mystic Heart Intent, her complexion slightly rosier, her expression less haggard, but there were still signs of exhaustion and lingering fear within her eyes. It had been several dozen minutes since Wei Wuyin heroically charged with his Fire Phoenix into the Born True Starfield's Defensive Array.
The array instantly closed, and their Spiritual Senses were indiscriminately blocked from piercing through. The erected barrier distorted and dispersed any incoming Spiritual Strength, so even their Ocular Spells were met with nothing but a hazy sight.
The Sky Destroyer had ended its retreat, and alongside the other Voidships, they began to come closer. The developments currently completely exceeded their expectations; even Tian Lingyu couldn't have predicted this despite her cultivation base.
Tian Muyang's eyes fixed themselves on the hazy barrier. He didn't answer Tian Lingyu immediately but glanced at Empress Xiaocheng, who was standing next to Xun Yicao and Kong Yi. He didn't know what she was thinking, but he felt a wave of pressure crash against his mind.
"Have you found out what happened to the Earthly Saints?" Xun Yicao had asked this question in many different ways, and Kong Yi was actively scrying for any traces of those Earthly Saints, and his answer mostly remained the same.
"I'm still searching, Lord Xun." Unlike the rest of the Imperial Clan's Sky and Imperial Monarchs, Kong Yi was the sole Earthly Saint that addressed Xun Yicao respectfully as 'Lord', similarly to how Wu Yu addressed Wei Wuyin, excluding the 'Young' prefix.
Xun Yicao's heart was extremely tense; he had been threatened and then experienced a nightmarish response, but at the precipice of seeing Wei Wuyin's demise, Trueborn had fumbled, and their Earthly Saints had abruptly and unimaginably vanished without a trace. He gnashed his old teeth, cursing Trueborn's uselessness in his heart. They couldn't take care of a single mortal child.
The Empress only stared at the barrier patiently; her body looked incomparably relaxed and unafraid of the outcome.
Tian Muyang sighed in his heart after witnessing this scene. The Imperial Clan might not fear Trueborn, but they wouldn't offend them carelessly. Yet, Wei Wuyin had likely checkmated Trueborn with very little preparation time needed, especially given the timeline of their grudge. Even two decades wasn't enough time to plot against an organization of their level.
"If I had to guess," Tian Muyang began to answer Tian Lingyu's question, his tone soft and calm, "then I would say…Wei Wuyin and Trueborn are negotiating. Considering Wei Wuyin dared to invade their territory alone, fearless of a being that could exert power on par with His Majesty, that could be happening."
"..." Empress Xiaocheng.
"..." Kong Yi.
"Nonsense!" Xun Yicao dismissed it with a heavy shake of his wrinkled head, unable to accept such a possibility. To negotiate, both sides had to be of equivalent strength, but Trueborn had always been regarded as just slightly below the Imperial Clan.
Tian Muyang gave Xun Yicao a sidelong glance, his eyes suffused with the light of pity, mockery, and contempt. "It's either that or today is the day Trueborn begins its end," he commented his truest feelings. He had not decided to say that this was the likeliest possibility to spare the Empress some worries, but Xun Yicao had dragged it out of him.
"Nonsense! All nonsense! That little mortal thinks of himself too highly, all because of what? A ninth-grade product? A few Alchemic Knights? His wretched beast? He's nothing but an arrogantly ignorant runt who dares to threaten the Imperial Clan! Even if Trueborn is useless, the Imperial Clan will ensure that he learns his place. The oaths we've thought of should be reinforced—a tougher leash is needed for a rabid pup." Xun Yicao went on a single-man tangent of insults, curses, and opinions that swept the Sky Destroyer and generated an icy silence.
"YOU!" Tian Lingyu's eyes flared angrily. She couldn't imagine how such a cultivator not only became an affluent Grand Mortal Sovereign Alchemist but also a Demi-Mortal Lord. If it wasn't for his skills, he would've died long ago for sure. However, she couldn't do anything because barring the Sky Zenith Alchemic Saint, he was the greatest Alchemist within the Imperial Clan. It wasn't an understatement to say that he contributed heavily to even her cultivation, especially given the Sky Zenith Alchemic Saint's distant attitude towards those she didn't favor.
There was a reason no one dared to rebuke him openly, and this certainly tunneled into his head over the years, laying a seed of belief and self-confidence so thick that it was immovable.
"You what?!" Xun Yicao was already stressed internally, and seeing Tian Lingyu, this little girl, direct her vehement gaze his way as if she had been offended was pushing his mind to the brink. He was angry, and this anger hid his feelings of fear that threatened to shatter his sanity. "Respect your seniors! Or do you think that your current cultivation is enough to overturn the goddamn heavens of the Imperial Clan?! Huh?!"
"..."
"HUH?!" Xun Yicao shouted, pointing at Tian Lingyu with a trembling finger. For some reason, he felt an abnormally cold chill slither up his spine, creep into his veins, and engulf his beating heart, causing his expression to grow eerily pale. Before he could grasp the feeling, he noticed the wide gaze of Kong Yi, suffused with intense shock and disbelief. He looked at Tian Lingyu, whose eyes showed a similar expression.
He turned around.
His pupils constricted to their limits.
"Y-you…" Xun Yicao stuttered.
Who knows when but a white-robed figure had appeared on the deck of the Sky Destroyer! They calmly held their hands behind their back, their silver eyes glistened with a gorgeously heart-quivering light, and their stance was imposing, serene, and effortless.
"So this is a Sky Destroyer?" The white-robed figure spoke calmly and clearly so that every last person could hear each and every syllable. Those words carried traces of praise and intrigue as if they were touring an art piece. "Lacking in Spatial Restriction power, however. But still, stable and strong with a clean, pure atmospheric layer. The materials are high-quality amongst Mystic-Earth grade, and the formations are well-connected into a single sublime array reminiscent of a Planetary Array, all while being meticulously arranged. Unfortunately, there are a few gaps within. Perhaps deliberately? If it was stolen, it would be easy to dismantle, or if one knew of these particular exploits, it would be easy to defeat. I like it."
The monologuing words of appraisal left everyone speechless. Then, the white-robed figure glanced at the Empress, whose expression was the only one who exuded any calmness. Her composure was incredible, not the slightest bit inferior to her beauty.
"I'll be back." Those words were all the white-robed figure said before turning around and then, before everyone's eyes, vanishing into the Void. There was not the slightest ripple in the Dark Void as he came and went, and the others, even as Earthly Saints, couldn't sense it!
If the Earthly Saints of the Endless Void Realm couldn't stop this figure from coming and going or trace his existence immediately, then those of the Sealed Regions would find the feat impossible or a hundred times more difficult!
"Wei Wuyin!" Kong Yi cried out.
Xun Yicao's body shivered violently, and he hastily grabbed Kong Yi's arm, ordering with an aghast voice that shook with each and every syllable: "GO! TAKE US BACK!"
Kong Yi was momentarily stunned, but he reacted swiftly. Regardless of what that just was, however horrifying it was to have someone appear in the senses of Earthly freaking Saints without any warning, the best course of action was to retreat to familiar and stable grounds! He accessed the command talisman, pulsing with Spiritual Strength to activate the fullest extent of the propulsion formations.
"..."
Nothing happened.
Kong Yi tried again.
"..."
"What are you waiting for?!" Xun Yicao screeched at Kong Yi. "GO! GO!!" He didn't even ask the Empress for her opinion.
"I-I…can't." Kong Yi tried his best to access the Sky Destroyer's Core Array that regulated and activated the other subordinate formations, but he received no response at all. ABSOLUTELY NONE!
The Sky Monarch, the controller of one of the War Machines of Death and Destruction—a Sky Destroyer, was unable to control it!
"It's no use," Empress Xiaocheng finally spoke after a long silence. The others turned to her, curious or afraid. She sighed, "I don't know how, but he's taken over the Sky Destroyer's Core Array." She looked up, and the atmospheric layer had greatly solidified. It was so strong that Earthly Saints wouldn't be able to pierce through it without a lot of expended power, and they still might not succeed.
She had only realized it after he arrived, but the defensive formations had been activated, and they now acted as a trapping formation for those inside. If they wanted to escape, they would have to fight against the Sky Destroyer itself, but this would take time and expend their Mystic Power. By the time they were done, chances were that Wei Wuyin's Alchemic Knights would have already arrived.
Tian Muyang's eyes lifted upwards, and they sparkled brilliantly. "The means of Alchemic Sovereign Wei are unfathomable," he breathily complimented. There was not the slightest hint of fear in those eyes of his, only genuine admiration.
Tian Lingyu, however, was still stunned on the spot with dazed eyes. The way she saw Wei Wuyin had changed from before, and her heart was beating erratically. She had noticed before, but he was truly too handsome!
"WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?! How can he…do something!" Xun Yicao asked and then shouted in panic. There were four Earthly Saints here, yet they let a mortal on board and then leave as he pleased?! He had forgotten that he was a Highlord, a cultivator of supreme strength in the Sealed Regions, only inferior to Earthly Saints and those who've touched upon the power beyond it.
Kong Yi was still shaken, but he nevertheless acted! He mustered a torrential storm of Mystic Power and sent it barreling upwards!
BOOOM!
An explosion occurred as the barrier repelled his Mystic Power, and then the feedback unleashed brutal shockwaves inside, and those too weak were shaken to death. They fumbled over while bleeding from their orifices.
"Stop!" Tian Lingyu shouted. Seeing the damage inflicted, she rushed towards the areas most affected, including the locations of the recently deceased, and began to dissipate any lingering power. Tian Lingyu was a true Imperial Monarch who cherished those who served her and was unwilling to see them harmed by Kong Yi's recklessness. She cursed Kong Yi for harming his own crew, hurriedly using Temporal Reversion to bring those who died back to life, those crippled back to normalcy, and those in pain to full health. While it cost her a hefty bit of lifespan, she didn't hesitate to pay the personal cost.
While Earthly Saints could use Temporal Reversion more sparingly, with the cost only being Mystic Power, if the result of the damage or death was caused by equivalent beings whose grasp of the Mystic Dao wasn't much inferior, such as Kong Yi, then they had to neutralize his power before conducting Temporal Reversion. A pricey feat to perform.
"Sky Monarch Kong, stop." The Empress ordered after seeing how Kong Yi's assault hadn't even shaken the barrier. It was hard to feel pride for the Sky Destroyer's defenses when it was acting as a cage. She steadied herself and dispersed the lingering power around her.
Kong Yi gritted his teeth while Xun Yicao was baffled by this order. But before he could speak, complain, or order his Alchemic Knight around, Empress Xiaocheng glared at this aged Mortal Sovereign Alchemist and coldly said: "Silence!"
His mouth was instantly sealed, those words completely trapped in his throat, and he hiccupped awkwardly.
"Oh?" A voice suddenly resounded from above, and they all looked up to find a regal and handsome man above them, firmly standing on the barrier without care.
Wu Yu!
"So I have to babysit you, huh? Well, just sit tight." Wu Yu voiced using the freshly-crafted Command Rune of the Sky Destroyer's Core Array on his palm.
"How?!" Kong Yi exclaimed, seeing the Command Rune in Wu Yu's possession. It was slightly different from the Command Rune on his Command Talisman, so he was deeply shaken. But he couldn't grasp the intricate changes in the Rune, so he couldn't replicate it instantly.
"..." Empress Xiaocheng eyed Wu Yu with a steady gaze, unaffected by her current circumstance and seemingly unbothered by any potentially incoming danger.
Wu Yu clicked his tongue, truly marveling at Empress Xiaocheng's heavenly looks. Her demeanor and looks together granted her the perfect image of a peerless empress of the ages.
"Their discussion isn't over yet," Wu Yu inexplicably explained as he turned his gaze toward the Born True Starfield. Was it her beauty that was causing him to be so forthcoming and trying to appease her? So strange.
While Wu Yu couldn't explain why he was feeling this way, Wei Wuyin's closed eyes slowly opened as a gush of refined astral force re-entered his body through the Void. Since the beginning, he had never left Bai Lin's back in the Born True Starfield! "So, regarding the Oath of Knowledge…"
The voice of Trueborn and he started to hash out the details the Mythical Oaths needed for any truce to form, and this was an extensive battle between two, no, three minds, especially requiring an eye of insight for potential loopholes. With one side wanting to close any and the other wanting to leave as many as possible open!