The ice-cold private chamber offered no comfort; Meiji felt an inexplicable unease, sensing an invisible danger creeping closer.
It was a premonition rooted in the soul.
She looked toward the sheer block of ice where Shi Yan rested, her elegant dark eyebrows furrowing with concern.
Shi Yan’s energy purification process was taking far too long—perhaps a consequence of absorbing too many formidable powerhouses. Given the increasingly precarious situation outside, and the fact she had explicitly revealed Shi Yan’s hiding spot during the secret meeting of the Shadow Race...
Reflecting on it, a wave of regret washed over her for exposing Shi Yan.
She feared that her clansmen, and the patriarchs of the races subservient to the Shadow Race, might harbor ill intentions and betray Shi Yan’s location.
If that happened, powerhouses like You Yu, Ega, Beverly, and Rupert would surely descend upon the Shadow Race ancestral land, focusing all their might on one primary objective: the annihilation of Shi Yan.
“Jingle bells!”
The absolute silence of the chamber was abruptly broken by a frantic ringing. The sound emanated from a diamond-shaped crystal hanging around her fair neck, a marvel stone directly linked to the Shadow Race’s communication headquarters.
Her bright eyes flashed with annoyance. She muttered a soft curse and connected to the sound stone with a thread of divine sense.
A message materialized as a stream of consciousness, erupting in her mind. Meiji’s stunning face instantly turned grave, forcing her to erect multiple barriers before finally stepping out of the chamber.
She arrived in a strange area littered with crystalline shards, observing a dozen graceful young women flitting among the crystals, and spoke coldly, “What is going on? Did I not instruct you all to report matters directly to the Matriarch for the time being? Why bother me?”
“The Matriarch left a few days ago for a nearby meteorite star system to finalize combat details with Shiro of the Bone Race,” a Shadow Race maiden replied, bowing slightly. “You instructed that any news concerning the Yunmeng Realm must be reported to you first.”
Hearing that Mandice was absent, Meiji’s expression softened slightly. “What exactly is the problem?”
“The intelligence regarding the Yunmeng Realm has been leaked. Many now know that Shi Yan’s relatives and friends are hidden there. Currently, members of the Four Races are beginning to advance toward the Yunmeng Realm. We feared the Yunmeng Realm might fall, which is why we had to inform you so you could take charge of this matter,” the maiden stammered fearfully.
Meiji’s face turned frigid. “Very few knew that Shi Yan’s family was hidden in the Yunmeng Realm. The leak must have originated from within our ranks! Investigate! You must uncover the truth!”
“We also believe the leak came from inside,” the maiden whispered, trembling. “There must be a traitor among us! Otherwise, the information wouldn't have spread so quickly! Only the Shadow Race possesses the capability to transmit a message to every crucial corner of the Star River in such a short time.”
This statement stoked Meiji’s fury. She secretly suspected the involvement of Candice and Vanderle. She realized this was a trap specifically set for Shi Yan.
The immediate priority was to focus her attention and deal with this crisis effectively.
...
At the very same time.
Zhen Ru, disguised as Meiji, stealthily approached Meiji’s meditation chamber. Her demeanor, aura, soul fluctuations, and appearance were indistinguishable from Meiji’s. Even Candice would struggle to discern the genuine Meiji from the imposter.
As the most accomplished powerhouse of the Myriad Forms Race, Zhen Ru had cultivated their innate divine abilities to an unprecedented level in history, reaching a miraculous state where the slightest thought allowed her to transform into any living being.
Meiji’s private chamber lay deep beneath her palace, shielded by layers of icy barriers. Any forceful attempt to breach them would immediately alert Meiji.
This security was precisely why Meiji felt comfortable leaving to inquire about details at the Shadow Race communication hub.
She was supremely confident that even if Candice and Mandice acted together, they could never breach the barriers silently to reach Shi Yan beneath.
Unfortunately, the one approaching this time was Zhen Ru, the mysterious powerhouse most adept at stealth and metamorphosis in the Star River.
The numerous layers of icy barriers shimmered with a crystalline, frigid luminescence. A slight contact from any foreign energy would instantly trigger Meiji’s soul-link, alerting her and summoning her back with maximum speed.
Zhen Ru, in the form of Meiji, suddenly descended onto the first layer of the ice barrier. Instantly, a strange attractive force enveloped her body, drawing the icy essence of the barrier toward her. Immediately afterward, Zhen Ru’s form bizarrely froze, becoming eerily crystalline, possessing an energy signature perfectly matching the barrier itself.
It was as if, in that moment, Zhen Ru was one of the barriers, or a component of it.
Twisted into an icy sheen, she settled onto the frigid barrier, gradually merging with it, slowly vanishing.
After some time, Zhen Ru disappeared entirely. A faint icy light began to seep from one point on the ice barrier, penetrating toward the next layer...
The barrier remained undisturbed, and no trace of Meiji’s signature was triggered, thus naturally failing to arouse her suspicion.
Using the identical method, Zhen Ru transformed into an icy glimmer, condensing the frost barrier, layer by layer, until she reached the lowest depth of the chamber.
The residual ice light slowly coalesced, reforming into the exact likeness of Meiji.
She smiled sweetly, possessing the same posture, fluctuating aura, and subtle mannerisms as Meiji, and calmly walked toward the center of the chamber. Her captivating, alluring eyes naturally fixed upon Shi Yan.
“I’m back. A small matter arose outside that I had to attend to,” she said with a smile, speaking to herself. “Your energy purification has taken quite a while this time. The outside world is on the verge of chaos. The leaders of the Four Races are mobilizing frequently, threatening to assault the Shadow Race and the Bone Race...”
She recounted the recent major events of the Star River, approached Shi Yan, looked at him deeply, and murmured softly, “I truly wish you would wake up sooner.”
Saying this, she reached out and gently touched Shi Yan’s cheek, stroking the stubble there, her expression one of deep affection.
Even Meiji herself, looking in a mirror, might have felt a sense of illusion; Zhen Ru’s skill was truly consummate. The soul fluctuations and the faint, cold aura emanating from her body were entirely consistent with Meiji’s.
Shi Yan, immersed in energy refinement, felt the familiar scent and chill, suspecting nothing, believing it was truly Meiji who had returned.
“You rascal...”
Zhen Ru whispered low, feigning deep emotion, her jade-like hands slowly gliding downward, moving toward Shi Yan’s chest.
Strange, oily luminous dots appeared at her fingertips, subtly infiltrating Shi Yan’s flesh. These spots were so minute that even the soul might fail to detect them. Shi Yan, fully focused on purifying his power, merely felt a slight coolness on his skin and thought nothing more of it.
Zhen Ru murmured softly. Her hands roved over the surface of Shi Yan’s robust physique for a moment, a smile gradually spreading across her eyes. She slowly ceased her movement, withdrew her hands, and sat down calmly before Shi Yan.
She just watched him silently.
Time passed quickly.
After a long while, Shi Yan, deep in meditation, suddenly trembled. Pain flickered across his face.
“Chirp chirp chirp!”
A strange insectile buzzing erupted from within his body. He felt as if his flesh and blood within his divine body were being gnawed upon by minute creatures. These tiny beings were incredibly aggressive, already breeding within his blood vessels and bones, their bodies growing larger, slowly swelling.
Waves of sharp pain shot through his entire body—flesh and bone. He instantly understood what was happening.
Forcing his eyes open, he looked at Meiji, who was smiling in front of him, filled with confusion. “Why? Why did you ambush me?”
“Because you are too much of a playboy. I received news that you currently have a very powerful companion named Ziyao, right? That woman is a First Origin creature, isn’t she?” Zhen Ru spoke with Meiji’s mannerisms, appearance, and tone. “With her, aren’t you satisfied? Is there still a place for me in your heart? The vermin I released into your body were meant to keep you bound to me, to keep you solely mine!”
“What trick are you playing? Are you insane?” Shi Yan’s expression darkened. “I am at a critical point in my cultivation! Doing this—are you trying to kill me?”
Even now, he detected no anomaly, truly believing the person before him was Meiji.
The innate divine ability of the Myriad Forms Race, when wielded by the supremely talented Zhen Ru, could deceive even those closest to her. The rumors were true, indeed.
Shi Yan could not detect the slightest aberration in Meiji’s soul, aura, or subtle vibrations, a testament to the terrifying power of Zhen Ru’s abilities.
Few knew that Zhen Ru’s innate talent was so profound it could simulate an opponent’s Soul Altar, mimic their Profound Meanings, and even falsify their Soul Imprint!
“I want to see the Profound Meaning Talisman Tower, I want to see the Fallen Star River, the First Origin artifact. Show me, please?” Zhen Ru suddenly pleaded with seductive softness. “Those little bugs are just a minor jest; they’ll disappear shortly. I only wanted to use them to wake you up so I could tell you about the urgent situation outside. Because there are things you must know—the news about your relatives and friends in the Yunmeng Realm has leaked. I’m worried...”
Surprisingly, Shi Yan breathed a sigh of relief, thinking she was merely joking and telling him about the Yunmeng Realm. He waved a dismissive hand. “Don’t worry too much about the leak regarding the Yunmeng Realm. Even if the Four Races know, accessing the Yunmeng Realm will be difficult.”
“Why?” Zhen Ru asked, feigning surprise.
“Before coming here, I sealed the Domain Gate to the Yunmeng Realm using spatial power and distorted its location. Unless someone who has cultivated Spatial Profound Meaning to my level can find it, locking onto the Yunmeng Realm’s precise coordinates in the vast Star Sea? Heh, it won’t be that simple,” Shi Yan stated with supreme confidence.
He had planned for the inevitable furious retaliation from the Four Great Races before he arrived; everything was arranged.
Under Zhen Ru’s gaze of guarded uncertainty, he smiled calmly. “As for the Profound Meaning Talisman Tower and the Fallen Star River, if you truly wish to see them, I can show you. What’s the big deal?”
Saying this, he prepared to mobilize his power to summon the Profound Meaning Talisman Tower and the Fallen Star River.
However, just as he was about to move, his expression abruptly changed. He roared violently, “Wait! Those bugs are not that simple! Argh!”
He couldn't help but howl, as if enduring unimaginable agony, his flesh and blood being fiercely devoured.
“Hmph!” Triumph flashed in Zhen Ru’s eyes. She shook her head with disdain and sneered coldly. “I thought you were so formidable. Turns out, you’re just like the rest, taken down so easily. Truly tiresome.”
...RQ