Swallowed Star: Lord of the Wolf

The violent spatial fluctuations rippled out like water, and three slightly disheveled figures stumbled and fell out.

It was Xu Yang, Chi Huo, and Ying Ya.

"Pfft!" Chi Huo steadied himself, but could no longer suppress his anger. He spat out a mouthful of scalding blood with crimson-gold flames, and his aura instantly weakened.

His massive Crimson Flame True Body had long since dissipated, and now his crimson armor was covered in scorch marks, especially his right fist, where the deep, bone-revealing charred sword mark still emitted a chillingly hot aura, and wisps of flame power were still eroding his divine body.

Forcibly confronting Yan Qionghou's enraged attack would come at a great cost.

Shadow Fang's figure was even more blurred than before, like smoke that might dissipate at any moment, and its aura was much weaker. The boundless origin evolved into billions of shadow threads to forcibly paralyze the Burning Heaven Purgatory, and the enormous consumption and strong backlash it caused far exceeded imagination.

He sat silently cross-legged, shadows swirling around him, like a wounded beast licking its wounds, trying its best to recover.

Xu Yang's face was pale, and a trace of blood remained at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes were still sharp as knives. He quickly scanned his surroundings, his powerful will spreading out like radar, and only after confirming that it was temporarily safe did he breathe a slight sigh of relief.

The destructive power within him was also somewhat disordered. Enduring Yan Qionghou's attacks and forcibly constructing and maintaining that destructive channel had also taken a considerable toll.

"Can we continue? Marquis Yanqiong probably won't let this go easily. The tracking methods of the Yanfeng Ancient Kingdom..." Xu Yang said in a deep voice, his voice slightly hoarse.

"Damn it, that bastard really went all out!" Chi Huo wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, wincing in pain, but his eyes were filled with relief and lingering fear at surviving the ordeal. "Luckily it was just him. If it had been another Chaos Realm First-Class Marquis from the Yanfeng Ancient Kingdom, or even just an ordinary one, the three of us would probably have really died there today, losing everything!"

Shadow Fang nodded slightly, his blurred face revealing no expression, but the rapid fluctuations in his shadow showed that he was still shaken.

To be able to force them into such a predicament while fighting against three opponents alone, the Yanfeng Royal Family's foundation and strength as a first-class marquis are truly well-deserved.

"Go!" Xu Yang said no more, forcefully gathering his divine power, and tore open a passage again with both hands. This time it was no longer a destruction passage, but a relatively gentle but extremely fast spatial teleportation array lit up, instantly enveloping the three of them.

hum!
Ripples spread through the space, and the three figures vanished.

For the next few hours, the three of them, like frightened birds, traversed the vast and boundless chaotic void.

Each teleportation lands at an extremely remote and random coordinate point.

After each teleportation, Xu Yang would immediately erase any remaining traces of spatial fluctuations, while Shadow Fang would silently release a faint shadow force field to confuse his own aura. Crimson Fire, on the other hand, would seize the time to consume treasures to heal his injuries while vigilantly sensing any possible tracking traces in the void.

"Safety."

"Safety."

"Safety."

The three worked together seamlessly, their movements swift, without exchanging a single unnecessary word.

"The last preset coordinate." Redfire's voice carried a hint of fatigue, but even more so, the anticipation of tension about to ease. "Shadowfang, how's your condition?"

The shadow around Yingya solidified slightly, and his aura recovered considerably. He said succinctly, "Not bad, he'll be fine after a few decades of nurturing."

Xu Yang nodded. He had also suffered great losses, but the domineering power of his three clones made his recovery ability far exceed that of ordinary Chaos Realm cultivators.

He took a deep breath and tore open the passage again.

hum!
With a flash of light, the three appeared in an extremely desolate land. The space here was unusually stable, but the energy was so thin that it was almost a vacuum, and there were only a few cold and lifeless mountain peaks around them.

“Hoo…” Chi Huo let out a long breath, and a genuine sense of relaxation finally appeared on his face. “We should have shaken them off. No matter how powerful Yan Qiong Hou is, it’s impossible for him to lock onto us in such a short time and across so many chaotic coordinates. Unless he placed a tracking mark on us from the beginning.”

"The mark has been erased by me." Shadowfang's voice was still cold, but with a hint of certainty.

Before the first teleportation, he carefully scanned the three of them with boundless annihilation power to ensure that there were no abnormal energy marks left behind.

"That's good." Chi Huo completely relaxed, a genuine smile of relief and mission accomplishment appearing on his face. He carefully took out the jade gourd sealed by layers of icy blue runes, looking at the wisp of golden-red flame still flickering and struggling inside, his eyes filled with fervor and satisfaction. "Haha, the Primordial Flame Seed, got it! Twelve million contribution points! Worth it this time, Gu You, Shadow Fang, thanks to you both! Especially Gu You, your Destruction Passage was crucial!"

Yingya also looked at Xu Yang, her blurred face seeming to soften slightly, and nodded slightly: "Fortunately, I have you."

Xu Yang smiled calmly, suppressing the excitement in his heart: "Without your two desperate protection, I wouldn't have had time to build the passage. This is the result of our concerted efforts. The most urgent task is to return to the Mother River and hand over the mission, lest things get complicated."

"Yes, hurry back!" Chi Huo slapped his forehead and quickly took out a token from his pocket. It was simple in shape, emerald green all over, and looked as if it was carved from a natural leaf.

He held it carefully in his palm and infused it with a pure primordial divine power.

Om-!
The emerald leaf-shaped token suddenly emitted a soft and vibrant emerald light, which instantly spread to form an emerald sphere about ten feet in diameter, enveloping the three of them.

Inside the sphere of light, the laws of space became incredibly active and docile, completely different from the chaotic void outside.

A vast, ancient, all-encompassing life force spread out, bringing peace to the mind and spirit.

"Guide the Mother River!" Chi Huo shouted in a low voice.

The emerald green orb vanished silently from its spot, leaving no spatial ripples, as if it had never existed.

……

Mother River World, Azure Wave Palace.

Soft light streamed down from the dome, and the air was filled with the refreshing fragrance of grass and trees, and the essence of life. The murmuring of water seemed to whisper in one's ear. Everything here was peaceful and serene, a stark contrast to the scorching, hellish landscape of Fengquanzhou.

An emerald green orb appeared out of thin air in the center of the hall. The light curtain dissipated, revealing the figures of Xu Yang, Chi Huo, and Ying Ya.

All three were injured and their auras were far from their peak, especially Chi Huo and Ying Ya, whose injuries were obvious.

As they stood in the vibrant Mother River Palace, feeling the omnipresent gentle energy nourishing their damaged divine bodies, their tense nerves finally relaxed completely.

A sense of relief at surviving a disaster, mixed with the immense joy of completing the mission, welled up in the hearts of the three. Chi Huo couldn't help but grin and laugh heartily.

"The mission is complete?" A clear, gentle voice, like countless leaves whispering in the wind, rang out, penetrating directly into the depths of the three souls, utterly devoid of any worldly concerns. Suddenly, a figure appeared silently on the ancient, gnarled root throne in front of the Azure Wave Palace.

She wasn't sitting upright, but rather seemed to have grown naturally from the roots, with a slender figure, wearing a simple long dress that looked as if it were woven from countless tender green leaves.

Her face wasn't stunningly beautiful, but it possessed an indescribable harmony and tranquility, as if it gathered the essence of all plants and trees in the world. What was most captivating were her eyes, which were not human pupils, but rather two slowly rotating, ethereal images of verdant leaves containing the endless mysteries of life's cycle.

Her aura was as deep as an abyss, yet as gentle as water, perfectly blending with the void, inseparable from it. Her mere existence was like the embodiment of 'spring' in the entire world.

This is the only Chaos Realm Transcender in the Mother River of Life, whose status is comparable to that of a God King. Her true form is an unparalleled existence—Spring-Faced Azure Saint, a Chaos Realm Transcender with an avatar. Her status is extremely high!
What descended here was one of her avatars.

Although it was an avatar, its vastness and transcendence, originating from the very source of life, made Xu Yang and the other two instantly feel as insignificant as dust, and a deep sense of awe arose spontaneously from their hearts.

Such a transcendent being at the Chaos Realm could easily defeat the three Chaos Realm cultivators.

"Greetings, Azure Saint!" Chi Huo and Ying Ya bowed almost instantly, their voices filled with respect. Xu Yang also bowed immediately, his heart filled with shock.

This was also the first time he had ever seen a powerful expert at the Chaos Realm Transcendence level. The aura of that expert was not as strong as that of a God King, but the sense of threat was just as great... It was the feeling that a great calamity was about to befall them.

"No need for formalities." The voice of the Spring-Fleeting Azure Saint clone was ethereal and gentle. His gaze swept over the three of them, lingering slightly on the frozen jade gourd held in Chi Huo's arms.

Her gaze was like a spring breeze, “The primordial spark, containing a trace of the true meaning of creation, is indeed rare.”

Chun Juan Qing Sheng's avatar nodded slightly, her voice seemingly carrying the power to soothe all restlessness, "To be able to kill Yan Qiong Hou's guest elder and seize the treasure while he was present, the three of you cooperated perfectly and showed great courage, upholding the might of my Mother River, very good!"

With a light tap of her jade-like finger, three exquisitely refined, emerald-green streams of light, resembling liquid jade, entered the brows of Xu Yang, Chi Huo, and Ying Ya, respectively.

"Mission Assessment: Grade A, First Rank, Completed Successfully. Reward: Twelve million Mother River Contribution Points, already distributed as agreed." The voice of the Spring-Fleeting Azure Saint Avatar was like heavenly music. "Red Fire, Shadow Fang, your divine bodies have suffered serious injuries. This is the 'Eternal Green Marrow,' which can help you strengthen your foundation and repair your divine bodies."

As she spoke, two emerald crystals, radiating a rich life force and seemingly carved from solidified jade, appeared out of thin air before Crimson Flame and Shadow Fang. Inside the crystals, countless tiny lives seemed to be flowing and growing; even the mere emanation of their aura caused the two to feel a surge of longing in their damaged essence.

The value of this "Eternal Green Marrow" far exceeds that of ordinary life essence used to restore a divine body!

Chi Huo and Ying Ya quickly accepted the gifts: "Thank you for your generous gift, Qing Sheng!"

The gaze of Chun Juan Qing Sheng's avatar finally landed on Xu Yang. The two illusory green leaves could see through everything, as if they could see through the newly formed chaotic space within Xu Yang's body, which had merged the concepts of destruction and life. A barely perceptible look of surprise flashed in her eyes. How could someone be cultivating these two completely opposite fundamental paths at the same time?
“Gu You.” Her voice remained calm, yet carried a peculiar meaning. “Your destruction contained the meaning of annihilation and return to nothingness, yet it concealed a glimmer of hope. I am aware of your contributions in this mission… This Primordial Fire also served as a testament to my understanding of the origins of life. The Mother River’s ‘Record of the Origin of All Spirits’ is profound and extensive, and I have also studied and comprehended it. This is a ‘Supplementary Insight’ that I jotted down on the spot. Perhaps it contains the path you need. Use it wisely.”

Xu Yang was utterly shocked!

Not only did Chun Juan Qing Sheng see through the special meaning in his Law of Destruction at a glance, but he also directly gave her cultivation insights.

He suppressed his excitement and shock, and bowed deeply: "Thank you for your guidance, Qing Sheng! Gu You will remember it!"

"Hmm." The Spring-Fleeting Azure Saint clone nodded slightly and said no more. Then, her figure, along with the root throne beneath her, faded and disappeared silently, like ink dissolving in water, becoming part of the void once more, as if it had never existed.

Only Xu Yang and his two companions remained inside the hall, along with the rich aura of life essence and the heavy harvest in their hands.

Looking at the Eternal Green Marrow in his hand and feeling the surge of contribution points in his identity talisman, Chi Huo couldn't help but grin and pat Xu Yang's shoulder hard: "Hahaha! Not bad, really not bad! The task issued by Lord Qing Sheng is so generous... Let's go, let's celebrate! Qinglin Garden, Eternal Green, it's on me, all you can eat!"

Yingya put away the Eternal Green Marrow. This treasure could be used to restore life in critical moments, but now that they were in a safe environment, there was no need to rush to restore it. Ordinary Life Source Dew would suffice.

His blurry figure seemed to exude a sense of ease and joy. He looked at Xu Yang and, unusually, took the initiative to invite him, "Come along."

“Okay! Let’s go!” Xu Yang replied loudly, a cheerful and confident smile on his face.

The three walked out of the Azure Wave Palace side by side, bathed in the boundless radiance of the Mother River's core.

……

Mother River World, Qinglin Garden.

Qinglin Garden is not a magnificent restaurant, but a giant green leaf suspended above the central river that runs through the Mother River World. The leaf's veins are clearly visible, flowing with a verdant luster, and countless fragrant spiritual plants and flowers grow naturally on it. In the central area, natural jade tables are arranged in a pleasing manner, surrounded by a babbling spring that exudes a rich life essence.

Chi Huo was clearly a regular here. He sat down in the main seat with a swagger and waved his hand generously: "The usual! Eternal Green paired with a hundred herbs! Pick the best of everything!"

An invisible wave of thought came through, accompanied by a respectful response.

Soon, three gourd-shaped wine jugs, entirely emerald green and carved like jade, along with plates of exquisite dishes made from rare and precious fruits, essence dew, and energy crystals, appeared silently on the table. As soon as the wine jugs appeared, they emitted a mellow, herbal fragrance that had been accumulated over countless years. Just one whiff was enough to soothe the soul and cleanse the mind of all worldly cares.

"Come on, Gu You, Ying Ya, fill it up, fill it up!" Chi Huo couldn't wait to pour himself a cup. The wine was a deep emerald green, viscous like paste, with countless tiny points of light flowing and disappearing inside, containing an astonishing power of primordial chaos.

Xu Yang and Yingya each filled their glasses.

Chi Huo raised his glass, his face beaming with genuine joy and the exhilaration of surviving a calamity: "This toast is to the three of us! To Gu You's heroic efforts in turning the tide! To Ying Ya's unpredictable and elusive nature! And to myself for being tough and resilient! Hahaha! Most importantly, to getting those twelve million contribution points! Cheers!"

"Cheers!" Xu Yang also raised his glass with a smile, feeling the powerful yet gentle life energy of the "Eternal Green" in the glass, and his heart was also filled with a sense of accomplishment.

A faint smile seemed to appear on Yingya's blurred face as he raised his glass in acknowledgment, and the three of them lightly clinked their glasses together.

"Slurp—" Chi Huo drank it all in one gulp, closed his eyes, and showed an expression of great enjoyment on his face. The wounds all over his body seemed to be healing faster under the nourishment of the wine. He let out a long sigh: "Awesome, really awesome! This Eternal Green is indeed worthy of being the Mother River's exclusive secret recipe. Every time I drink it, I feel like I've been reborn. You guys should try it. This is the best thing to celebrate victory."

Xu Yang also took another sip.

The wine was mild upon entry, but it quickly transformed into a vast and pure torrent of life that surged into his limbs and bones. It not only nourished the divine power he had previously lost, but also seemed to be cleansing and strengthening his perfect divine body. Although the effect was minimal, it did indeed provide an improvement.

Even my soul felt a sense of clarity and comfort.

It truly lives up to its reputation as a top-tier brew that even a veteran Chaos Overlord like Chi Huo praised highly.

"Indeed wonderful!" Xu Yang exclaimed.

The atmosphere gradually became more lively. (End of Chapter)