Marvel: The other side of the double-passing door is Devouring the Stars

Chapter 368 Personally stepping forward to testify!

“I was indeed poisoned,” the Starwing Roc replied, “but the poison wasn’t fatal to me; it only weakened me for a while. The reason I didn’t appear immediately was to see who was framing you.”

"So do you know the truth now?" Rowan asked eagerly.

“The truth is more complicated than you imagine,” said the Starwing Roc, “but now is not the time to discuss that. I’ll take you to a safe place where we can talk things out.”

The Star-Winged Roc carried Luo Wen to the deep mountains of Sword Heart Star, a secluded and ideal refuge. During the flight, Luo Wen felt a strange resonance, as if there was some deep connection between him and the Star-Winged Roc.

Finally, the Starwing Roc landed in a secluded valley. Surrounded by dense forests, with a clear lake in the center, the environment was beautiful and tranquil. The Starwing Roc gently placed Rowan on the ground, then gracefully landed in front of him.

“Now we can have a proper talk,” said the Starwing Roc.

Bathed in moonlight, Rowan observed the legendary guardian beast up close for the first time. Every feather shimmered with a mysterious light, and its deep eyes were filled with ancient wisdom.

“First of all, I must apologize to you,” said the Starwing Roc, “because my silence has caused you to suffer an unjust accusation.”

“No, you don’t need to apologize,” Rowan quickly shook his head. “Someone deliberately framed us.”

“I know,” Starwing Roc nodded. “Count Edward and the forces behind him meticulously planned all of this. They first weakened me with a special poison, then framed you, all to eliminate you as a ‘threat.’”

"Then why not just kill me?" Rowan asked疑惑地问道, "Why devise such a complicated conspiracy?"

“Because your identity is too special,” Starwing Roc explained. “You are an employee of the Virtual Universe Company. If you suddenly die, it will inevitably trigger a company investigation. But if you are executed for a crime, that’s a different matter.”

Rowan suddenly realized, "So they want to get rid of me through legal means."

“That’s right,” said the Starwing Roc, “and in this way, we can also take the opportunity to strike at Princess Silvermoon and weaken her father’s influence in the empire.”

“It seems there’s a deep political conspiracy behind this,” Rowan remarked. “But now that I’m a fugitive, the situation has become even more complicated.”

“Don’t worry,” the Starwing Roc comforted you, “I will find a way to clear your name. But before that, I want to talk to you about something more important.”

"What topic?" Rowan asked curiously.

The Star-Winged Roc gazed intently at him, its eyes gleaming with a peculiar light. "From the first moment I saw you, I sensed a familiar aura. This aura reminds me of ancient legends, of the origins of my race."

"The origin of your race?" Rowan asked, puzzled.

"Child, do you know the true origin of our Starwing Divine Roc clan?" the Starwing Divine Roc asked.

Rowan shook his head. "All I know is that you are the guardian beasts of the Silverblue Empire, possessing immense power and intelligence."

“That’s only the surface truth,” said the Starwing Roc. “In reality, we, the Starwing Roc race, are not native to the Silverblue Empire. Our ancestors came from a distant star system, searching for something here.”

"What are you looking for?" Rowan pressed.

"We must search for our true homeland, for the source of our bloodline," the Star-Winged Roc's voice grew deep and mysterious, "For legend, our ancestors were descendants of a divine beast called the 'Kunpeng.'"

Upon hearing the name "Kunpeng," Luo Wen was shocked. This was a mythical beast from ancient Chinese mythology; how could it be related to the Star-Winged Peng of the Silver Blue Empire?

"Kunpeng?" Rowan asked in surprise, "You mean the Kunpeng from Chinese mythology?"

"You actually know about Kunpeng!" The Star-Winged Roc was equally shocked. "This further confirms my suspicions. Child, which planet do you come from?"

“Earth,” Rowan replied, “is home to the Kunpeng, a mythical creature from ancient Chinese mythology.”

The Star-Winged Roc trembled with excitement. "Earth! So that's how it is! I've finally found it!"

"Found what?" Rowan had no idea what was going on.

"We've found our true homeland!" the Star-Winged Roc exclaimed excitedly. "Legend has it that our ancestor, the Kunpeng, came from a planet called 'Earth.' Tens of thousands of years ago, some Kunpeng left Earth for some reason, wandering the universe until they finally arrived here and evolved into the Star-Winged Rocs we know today."

Rowan felt his mind go blank; the amount of information was overwhelming. "You mean, the Star-Winged Roc is actually a descendant of the Earth's Kunpeng?"

“That’s right,” the Star-Winged Roc nodded, “and the familiar aura I sensed from you comes from the Kunpeng bloodline within you. Although diluted over countless generations, the essence of the bloodline remains unchanged.”

"I have the bloodline of the Kunpeng within me?" Rowan exclaimed incredulously. "How is that possible?"

“On Earth, many people may possess a faint trace of the Kunpeng bloodline, they just don’t know it,” the Star-Winged Divine Roc explained. “But your bloodline concentration is relatively high, so I can sense it. This also explains why you are exceptionally talented in cultivation and why you were able to gain the Sword Saint’s approval.”

Rowan quietly processed this astonishing information. If what the Starwing Roc said was true, then his encounter with this guardian beast was not merely a chance meeting, but a recognition of blood ties.

"So what do we do now?" Rowan asked. "Even if we're related by blood, I'm still a fugitive."

“The bloodline connection is far more important than you imagine,” said the Star-Winged Roc. “According to ancient laws, those who possess the Kunpeng bloodline are the natural rulers of our race. If you are willing, I can formally acknowledge you as my master and become your partner.”

"You've acknowledged me as your master?" Rowan stared at the powerful divine beast in shock. "Are you sure?"

"This is the call of our bloodline, and the arrangement of fate," the Star-Winged Roc solemnly declared. "Moreover, only in this way can we join forces to fight against those forces that framed you and clear your name."

Rowan sensed the sincerity and determination in the Starwing Roc's eyes. This legendary guardian beast was willing to set aside its noble status and become his partner—what trust and recognition that was! "I am willing," Rowan said firmly. "If you are truly willing to fight alongside me, I will consider you my most precious partner."

The Star-Winged Roc nodded in satisfaction, then lowered its noble head. "Then, according to the ancient ritual, drip your blood onto my forehead."

Rowan gently pricked his finger with a sharp stone shard, dripping a few drops of blood onto the Star-Winged Roc's forehead. Instantly, a dazzling light burst forth from the Star-Winged Roc's forehead, illuminating the entire valley.

Within that light, Rowan felt an unprecedented connection. He could clearly perceive the Starwing Roc's emotions and thoughts, and the Starwing Roc could also sense his heart. This spiritual connection made the two truly one.

"The contract is complete," said the Starwing Roc. "From this moment on, we are partners who will share life and death."

"So what should we do next?" Rowan asked.

“First, we must find the real mastermind,” said Starwing Roc. “Earl Edward is merely a pawn; the true enemy remains hidden in the shadows. Second, we must rescue Silvermoon; she is innocent as well.”

“But now the entire Silverblue Empire is after me,” Rowan said worriedly. “What can we do?”

"Have you forgotten who I am?" the Star-Winged Roc said confidently. "I am the guardian beast of the Silver-Blue Empire, holding a revered position within the empire. Although some may try to frame you, there are many others who can distinguish right from wrong."

"you mean?"

“I will publicly defend you and expose the truth behind this conspiracy,” said the Starwing Roc. “At the same time, we must take the initiative and search for real evidence.”

Rowan felt a flame of hope ignite within him. With such a powerful ally as the Starwing Divine Roc, they might truly be able to turn the tide and clear their names, as well as Silver Moon's.

"So where do we begin?" Rowan asked.

“Starting with Earl Edward,” a cold glint flashed in the Starwing Roc’s eyes, “it’s time for him to pay the price for his actions.”

As the first rays of morning sunlight bathed the secluded valley, Rowan awoke from deep meditation. After a night of merging his bloodline with the Star-Winged Roc, he felt an unprecedented surge of power within him. That resonance from his ancient bloodline gave him a completely new understanding of his origins.

"How are you feeling?" The voice of the Starwing Roc echoed in his mind, its tone filled with concern.

“It’s amazing,” Rowan answered honestly. “I can feel an ancient power flowing through my veins, like long-dormant genes being reactivated.”

"This is the awakening of the Kunpeng bloodline," the Star-Winged Divine Roc explained. "Although diluted over countless generations, the essence of the bloodline will never change. Now, you are truly recognized as a king by our race."

Luo Wen stood up, sensing the changes in his body. His perception had been greatly enhanced; he could even vaguely sense the life force of small animals in the distance. More importantly, the mental connection between him and the Star-Winged Roc had become clearer and more stable.

“Now we need to develop an action plan,” Rowan said, “but first, we need to address a practical problem—how to gather evidence without revealing our identities.”

The Star-Winged Roc pondered for a moment. "That is indeed a problem. My appearance is too conspicuous, making it difficult to conceal my movements. And you are a wanted criminal now, so it's equally inconvenient for you to show your face."

"Is there any way to change your appearance?" Rowan suddenly thought of a possibility. "I remember in Earth's mythology, the Kunpeng can change its form."

"Change form?" A hint of surprise flashed in the Star-Winged Roc's eyes. "You're right! My race does indeed possess this ability, but it has been lost for a long time. However..." It paused, "through a bloodline contract, I might be able to regain this ancient skill."

“You can give it a try,” Rowan encouraged. “If you can transform into human form, our actions will be much easier.”

The Starwing Roc nodded, then closed its eyes and began to concentrate intently on sensing the power of its bloodline. As the bloodline contract was established, the dormant Kunpeng genes within it were gradually awakening, and those long-lost abilities were slowly recovering.

About half an hour later, the Star-Winged Roc's body began to undergo a wondrous transformation. Its enormous body began to slowly shrink, its feathers gradually disappearing, replaced by smooth skin. Its majestic eyes remained a deep blue, but its overall demeanor became more gentle.

When the transformation was complete, a tall, handsome man appeared before Rowan. He had long, silver-blue hair, eyes as deep as the starry sky, and wore a silver-blue robe, exuding an otherworldly aura.

"Success!" the Star-Winged Roc, now in human form, exclaimed excitedly, his voice becoming younger and more magnetic. "I've regained control of the art of transformation!"

"That's fantastic!" Rowan was also excited about this breakthrough. "Now you look exactly like a high-ranking nobleman from the Silver Blue Empire, and no one will suspect a thing."

"Then what should I be called?" asked the Star-Winged Roc. "I can't keep calling myself the Star-Winged Roc."

Luo Wen thought for a moment, "Since you are a descendant of the Kunpeng, how about you be named Pengyu? It symbolizes the Kunpeng soaring through the universe."

“Pengyu,” the Star-Winged Roc murmured the name, “I like it very much. From now on, in my human form, I will be called Pengyu.”

After confirming their identities, the two began to formulate a detailed action plan. Their primary objective was to gather evidence of Earl Edward's crimes, while simultaneously devising a way to rescue Silvermoon.

“We can’t just passively collect evidence,” Pengyu analyzed. “We must take the initiative and bring the truth to light. And the most effective way is for me, as the victim, to personally testify.”

"What do you mean?" Rowan asked, somewhat puzzled.

"I will appear publicly as the Starwing Divine Roc and personally expose Earl Edward's crimes," Peng Yu said, his eyes gleaming with unwavering determination. "As the guardian beast of the empire, my testimony carries supreme authority."

"But isn't that too risky?" Rowan worried. "What if the other side is prepared?"

"It's precisely because they didn't expect me to step forward that this is the perfect opportunity," Pengyu explained. "Besides, the truth is the truth, and no matter how they try to deny it, they can't change the facts."

After a detailed discussion, the two decided to head directly to the political center of the Silverblue Empire—the Imperial Palace. As a guardian beast, the Starwing Roc had the right to have a direct audience with the emperor, a right that no one could prevent.

(End of this chapter)