The main body of the Zao Emperor contained a portion of the Zerg essence, while the Shadow Regent embodied a portion of the Protoss essence. Furthermore, since Yang Ying's primary form was human, this meant that the three figures simultaneously contained the essences of three parts of Yang Ying's soul, as well as the essences of the Human, Protoss, and Zerg races.

Yang Ying's intention was to seize this opportunity of unity to blend all these essences together. He wasn't doing this for any specific, preconceived goal, but rather because an implicit feeling deep within him suggested this amalgamation would bring him immense benefit.

As a master who had cultivated his spiritual power to the absolute limit of the third level, Yang Ying’s heart was his guiding light; intuitive inspiration was often far more useful to him than rational thought.

Uniting with his two avatars—the good and evil aspects—was no small undertaking, so Yang Ying did not keep the news secret. He informed Katarina and the leadership of the Human, Protoss, and Zerg races.

Yang Ying designated the center of the Floating Continent, beneath the Nine-Story Nine-Cornered Pagoda, as the location for the fusion. He and his good and evil avatars vanished in a flash, arriving at the site first.

In this place—the Floating Continent—he possessed numerous privileges that allowed him to influence many underlying rules, such as the ability to move himself and others through sheer force of will.

Standing beneath the pagoda, Yang Ying looked around. He saw the lake to his left, the forest to his right, and the grassland behind him, all preserved in their original state, which stirred a deep sense of emotion within him.

The Nine-Story Nine-Cornered Pagoda had stood at the continent’s center for over four years. During that time, the Floating Continent’s area had expanded from one hundred square kilometers to two million square kilometers, a massive increase of twenty thousand times. Yet, the area immediately surrounding the pagoda had barely changed.

In the distance, the original bases of the three races were still clearly visible. However, besides the initial cluster of structures, no new buildings had been erected around those bases for a long time. In recent years, he had intentionally preserved the natural scenery near the Nine-Story Nine-Cornered Pagoda; as the Floating Continent grew ever larger, he certainly didn't lack space for construction elsewhere.

Yang Ying surveyed the surroundings once more. With a wave of his hand, a light screen materialized in the void. On the screen appeared the image of Katarina.

"I will bring you over," Yang Ying said, extending his right hand. With a flash of golden light, Katarina’s image appeared within it, and Yang Ying dismissed the screen.

"Commander!"

Although Yang Ying was the one attempting to fuse and break through to the fourth level, Katarina appeared even more excited than he was. She rushed forward and embraced him tightly.

"Alright, alright. I am well-versed in the Protoss Unity Ritual. Kars is the Speaker of the Supreme Council; everything he knows, I know. Although the fusion I’m about to perform has a slight variation, everything is under control," Yang Ying soothed, patting her back.

"You never tell me what you're going to do! You always make me worry," Katarina looked up at him.

"If I told you, I’m afraid you’d worry even more, silly girl!" Yang Ying chuckled. "Think about it—I have countless lives. Who in this world can kill me? Not even a fourth-level being. And soon, they will be even less capable of doing so."

The two exchanged a few words beneath the pagoda. Meanwhile, the high-ranking leaders of the Human, Protoss, and Zerg races began arriving sequentially. Those not already on the Floating Continent put aside their immediate tasks and returned via the Protoss Warp Gates stationed across various locations.

In the northern sky, several hundred medical transport ships suddenly materialized via spatial jumps. The Terran race had advanced technically to the point where they could miniaturize their faster-than-light engines and equip them onto smaller aerial units. Within these medical transports sat high-ranking generals and even marshals.

In the southeastern sky, several hundred Prismes appeared—the Protoss second-generation transports, also arriving through spatial jumps. Protoss technology far surpassed that of the Humans; if the Humans could miniaturize FTL engines, the Protoss certainly wouldn't lag behind. Seated within the Prismes were the members and core members of the Supreme Council.

In the southwestern sky, several hundred Overseers appeared—an evolved form of the Zerg Lords—and their method of travel was also spatial jumping! Against the backdrop of the stars, the Zerg, like the Protoss, were perfect races created by the mysterious Xel'Naga, though the direction of their perfection differed.

When different patterns are developed to their extremes, they often result in convergent outcomes. The Humans and Protoss could engineer engines capable of spatial jumping; the Zerg could evolve organs capable of the same feat. The distinction between a mechanical engine and a biological organ was not absolute; both were merely methods of utilizing the rules of the cosmos.

Though these Overseers were referred to as the Zerg leadership, their authority was somewhat diluted. The Zerg structure was strictly hierarchical. There was only one supreme leader issuing orders: the Overmind, who was Yang Ying. The next level consisted of the vassal lords who obeyed the Overmind absolutely—the Cerebrates. Only below them were the Overseers and Lurkers, responsible for grassroots operations.

The reason Overseers arrived instead of Cerebrates was that no Cerebrate had yet evolved within the Zerg ranks. According to Yang Ying’s estimations, a Cerebrate should be a fourth-level entity, each capable of commanding a swarm of over one hundred million; they were not beings that could emerge easily.

The leaders of the Human, Protoss, and Zerg races had all assembled. Yang Ying immediately issued two commands: the first was for the Zerg, instructing them to detach a swarm of two million to be inherited by the Avatar of Vengeance, the Swarm Emperor. The second was for the Protoss, instructing a core council member to temporarily relinquish their seat on the Supreme Council for the Shadow Avatar, the Lightbringer Regent, to inherit.

Whether it was three million Zerg or a core seat in the Supreme Council, given the Protoss evolution up to this point, a single core seat could channel spiritual energy that far surpassed that of three million ordinary beings, both capable of providing the maximum spiritual power of the third level.

Although the good and evil Avatars originated from Yang Ying’s soul, they differed from the soul fragments he excised with the Soul-Severing Blade; there was no spiritual resonance channel between them and the main body, meaning they could not draw spiritual power through Yang Ying's established avatar system. However, fusion had one basic prerequisite: all three participants must possess equivalent power. Otherwise, an imbalance of strength would negatively affect the fusion outcome. Therefore, Yang Ying needed to find alternative sources of power for his two Avatars.

Of course, this was also what Yang Ying desired. Currently, he feared having too many connections with the two Avatars, which might diminish the effectiveness of the final unity.

Soon, both of his commands were executed flawlessly.

Following this, he instructed the three races to withdraw one hundred kilometers to observe, and told Katarina to retreat another kilometer, as the process of his fusion with his Avatars might generate energy shockwaves.

Katarina’s awakening had occurred over half a year prior, during which Yang Ying had provided her with numerous elixirs to boost her spiritual power, raising it to the middle stage of the second level. She had begun to master the Earth-Shrinking Steps. Yang Ying believed that with this level of spiritual strength, plus the buffer distance of one kilometer, she should be sufficiently protected against any potential energy surge.

"Be careful then." Although Katarina desperately wanted to stay, she understood that being close to Yang Ying might distract him, so she complied with the arrangement.

"I will." Yang Ying released his hold. Katarina was not one to linger sentimentally. She gave Yang Ying a radiant smile, turned, shifted her feet, and flashed away into the distance. In a few rapid bounds, she reached the one-kilometer mark.

With all preparations complete, Yang Ying, the Lightbringer Regent, and the Swarm Emperor stood forming an equilateral triangle, each taking their appointed position. A flicker of excitement mixed with apprehension rose in Yang Ying’s heart. He paused for a moment longer, allowing his emotions to settle.

Suddenly, he stepped forward. Simultaneously, the good and evil Avatars each took a step. The three figures converged at the center of the triangle. In an instant, all three bodies became ethereal shadows, overlapping one another. A burst of intensely brilliant light shot outward, dazzling as if ten suns had ignited.

Katarina, watching from afar, instinctively raised her hand to shield her eyes. After a moment, the blinding light subsided. She urgently opened her eyes and looked toward the pagoda's base. Where Yang Ying and his two Avatars had stood moments before, there was now an incandescent cocoon of variegated colors.

Seven-colored flames roared across the cocoon, saturated with vibrant, active energy. Inside the shell, a violent reaction appeared to be taking place.

Katarina knew that the Protoss Lightbringer, Darkbringer, and the recently manifested Dawnbringer all underwent this process during their fusions: the old souls were dissolved and mixed, giving birth to a new soul. Since the three souls within this cocoon had all originated from Yang Ying and were now merely re-integrating, she felt no alarm.

At the same time, all of Yang Ying's other distant avatars ceased whatever activity they were engaged in and found places to meditate. The transformation of the main body felt as if it were happening right before their eyes; they had no heart for anything else.

Near the Solar System, the Terran race had established an outpost near the periphery of a star system rich in minerals. A sudden flash of light illuminated the area, and a fleet of fifteen thousand warships materialized.

These warships were angular, with extremely sharp edges, giving them a somewhat menacing appearance. Upon arrival, they looked like they were invading the star system.

"Report! A Kustar fleet of ten thousand warships has appeared outside the system perimeter!" In an observation station on the mineral planet, an observer discovered the situation and immediately reported to his superior.

"The defense fleet is deploying! Prepare for engagement!" The highest military officer of that star system happened to be on the Floating Continent to attend the ceremony, but his deputy remained. He immediately issued the order to engage.

Just as the Kustar fleet appeared, a fleet of fifteen thousand Burk warships materialized almost simultaneously near Elara, which was not far from the planet. A communication beam was transmitted toward Elara. The message was composed in over a dozen universal cosmic languages, presenting a decidedly formal tone, though the content itself was incredibly domineering.

It roughly stated that the Burk people were the undisputed masters of this sector. A Burk exploration vessel had recently gone missing nearby, and Elara, being the only life-bearing planet in the vicinity, was strongly suspected of involvement. The message demanded that Elara immediately power down its defenses and allow Burk personnel to land and investigate, warning that failure to comply would be considered an act of defiance, and the Burk would use force to uphold their authority.

It seemed the Burk were accustomed to acting as overlords in this star region and showed no concern for an obscure planet like Elara.