"Heh."
Wei Wuyin's response was overly simple—a sneer! It was condescending, disrespectful, aggressive, and most of all, extremely dismissive!
The refined, fearless, and enigmatic image of Wei Wuyin that almost everyone had in their minds only exacerbated their response to this simple, direct sneer! It encapsulated and verified the entirety of everyone's thoughts toward the situation, and that was that Wei Wuyin held an open grudge against Trueborn!
KREE! Bai Lin's clarion cry was world-shaking, disturbing space and time as she ignited! From her mouth, she violently spewed a literal ocean of scarlet-gold flames that could encapsulate an entire large-sized planet!
The masked figure's pupils behind the mask constricted as a glow of the searing, incinerating flames painted their body with its radiance. The approach of the flames was inevitable, and the shivers of death and annihilation overwhelmed their soul so much that they froze. Even if they hadn't frozen out of fear, the flames were remarkably swift, to the point where dodging was a foregone conclusion the moment Bai Lin had the intent to unleash her attack!
BOOSH!!! By the grace of the heavens, the masked figure watched as the flames crashed against a layer of darkly-colored light! It wasn't exactly black, more of an indistinct color that fluctuated out of many different dark color schemes. The layer of light protected the masked figure!
°Will it last?° The masked figure had forgotten to use this time to dodge, observing the flames intently as if to determine if his life would be spared. In truth, if Bai Lin could penetrate the Defensive Array of the Born True Starfield, then running was entirely useless. The flames were simply too fast, and not even Spatial Shifting will afford them enough speed to escape.
Ravaged! Sundered! The Nirvanic Flames swept across the layer of light viciously and violently, exuding fearsome heat that burned all, even Chaos Mana, yet the Defensive Array remained intact and unbroken after three full seconds of uninterrupted attacks.
Kree! Bai Lin slowly closed her mouth as the Nirvanic Flames began to flow backward, re-entering her body in a raging flood of fire. Wei Wuyin was washed entirely by it, completely unharmed from head to toe, and the imagery was miraculous to witness.
The barrier held! The tensed mind and heart of the masked figure slowly relaxed.
They slowly took a breath and eyed Wei Wuyin from the protection of their Array. "Alchemic Sovereign Wei, our Unchained Heart Sect's priority was to establish the outer layer of our defensive array to defend against unforeseen enemies foreign to our Born True Starfield. My sect hopes you do not waste your energy on trying to test its limits, as we're still in the process of structuring.
"Alchemic Sovereign Wei, tell me how the Unchained Heart Sect has offended you. We wish to rectify our mistake to the best of our ability, and hope you allow us to do so." The masked figure was clearly skilled in holding discussions and extremely elegant in their approach and choice of words. It was hard not to open a line of dialogue, no matter how brief, facing them. Especially given how they so quickly regained their calm and acted as if he didn't just tether on the verge of incineration.
The implication of compensation was there. The masked figure was certainly saying that, should Wei Wuyin wish for it, they'll compromise to end all grudges.
Empress Xiaocheng, Tian Muyang, Tian Lingyu, and Kong Yi were all observing, and they had varying expressions, with only the Empress being composed and calm in the face of Wei Wuyin's initial attack.
"Why does Wei Wuyin have a grudge against Trueborn?" Tian Lingyu had asked this question more than once inside her heart, especially after being assigned to be stationed here and wait for his arrival. It was clear that the Imperial Advisor knew that Wei Wuyin's grudge against Trueborn was absolute, and he would unhesitatingly come here after learning that they were establishing a public base of operations.
"..." Tian Muyang was equally as baffled; it all started with sightings of a Fire Phoenix in the Ninestar Starfield, and the later reports of a destroyed Shadow Egg within their territory. Then, Trueborn launched an assault of three Earthly Saints against the owner of the Fire Phoenix, which most assumed was an Earthly Saint due to how easily the Shadow Egg was destroyed given the limited strength of the Fire Phoenix and the exceptional power of a Shadow Egg.
One must remember that an Earthly Saint had lost half their life and then some after finding and attempting to destroy a Shadow Egg. This was why few Earthly Saints dared to scour for it, even if it was in their territory. Moreover, it was obvious that many had implied permission from leadership to operate in their territories as long as they didn't go overboard.
The Ninestar Starfield was a perfect example of this, especially after the Soul Saint King had only taken action against Shadow Eggs after Yue Songli and the Soul-Breaking Saint were attacked. But none of this explained why Wei Wuyin and Trueborn clashed at all in the first place, and so much so that he had come here.
"Trueborn is likely at fault" Kong Yi quietly murmured. They all heard, however!
It was true, from the perspective of an outsider, with all the given information and calculated timelines of events, chances were that Wei Wuyin was operating in the shadows out of the Ninestar Starfield while hiding his presence from prying eyes, he likely left behind his Alchemic Knights to handle other matters, and while doing so was acted against by Trueborn. Who couldn't tell that Wei Wuyin was an exceptional cultivator with the rumored potential to be the next King of Everlore?
Even if all that was placed aside for a moment, Wei Wuyin was also an absurdly handsome man of a peerless caliber, alluding to his exceptionally refined Yang Energy, and Trueborn was renowned for hunting innately talented cultivators with no backing. Wei Wuyin was a relatively unknown figure back then, and the Shadow Egg was most certainly a Yang Extraction Farm Station.
"Based on what we know, chances are, Wei Wuyin was forcefully captured and brought to the now-destroyed Shadow Egg in the Ninestar Starfield." Kong Yi firmly spoke out his theory, and Tian Lingyu's expression changed at the ridiculousness of it all. Trueborn must be shouting angrily to the heavens for their bad luck.
"All evil gets punished eventually," Empress Xiaocheng profoundly said. Then, her beautiful eyes flickered as she added: "Unfortunately, today is not that day." Her words caused Tian Muyang and Tian Lingyu's expressions to immediately darken, reminded of their purpose. The latter even clenched her fists tightly while biting her lower lip.
The masked figure felt slightly unnerved by how Wei Wuyin wasn't responding, but they stayed the course they were given.
He began: "Alchemic Sovereign Wei, I know-"
"Do you think this barrier can protect you?" Wei Wuyin finally spoke, and his voice was eerily indifferent. It sent shivers down the masked figure's spine that caused their breathing to accelerate. "Protect any of you from me?" There was a hint of amused contempt from within his tone, and those silver eyes that seemed to contain the truths of the world were exceptionally piercing.
However, the masked figure's state of mind had swiftly recovered and, seemingly having expected this, he spoke with a solemn tone and a trace of glacial iciness within: "I was sent here in the hopes that Alchemic Sovereign Wei and my Unchained Heart Sect can come to a compromise that benefits both parties, but make no mistake," the masked figure paused as his body became slightly more upright, continuing, "we have restrained ourselves from acting against you out of respect and hope for a future cordial relationship, not out of fear."
"..." The spectators were all stunned!
But the masked figure didn't stop, his stance growing firmer, "The Unchained Heart Sect left the Great Sea Starfield alone out of respect; the Unchained Heart Sect left your allies alone out of respect; the Unchained Heart Sect left the Eternal Monarch Sect alone out of respect; the Unchained Heart Sect did not attack you, not out of fear, as we do not fear even the World Beyond, but out of respect! Do not mistake our inaction as cowardice, Alchemic Sovereign Wei."
"..." Those witnessing such bold declarations and veiled threats weren't just left stunned, speechless, and shaken, but they were once again reminded that, while yes, Wei Wuyin was an exceptional cultivator, many of them hadn't taken action not out of fear, but out of respect and hope that the relationship between them could be maintained! At least, that's how it was before Wei Wuyin was so well-established with three Earthly Saint-level beings and a bevy of elite allies.
"Heh." Wei Wuyin's sneer was the only response! And it was even more contemptuous than before! It was readily apparent to all watching that Wei Wuyin didn't take this gargantuan clandestine organization that operated throughout the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region from the shadows seriously! Threats be damned!
The masked figure's body shook slightly, but they still continued despite the response given: "Alchemic Sovereign Wei, by the declaration of the Unchained Heart Sect, any further attacks against our territory or persons of association will be taken as an act of irrevocable aggression—an act of war!"
"...!" Tian Lingyu's eyes flashed as her nails dug into her palms. "Shall we go now?" There was a wisp of urgency in her voice now, and it seemed that her original unwillingness to complete her assignment had been replaced by a panic that they wouldn't complete it fast enough. Only the true peak characters of the Stellar Region, such as the Imperial Clan, knew the extent of Trueborn's power.
And Wei Wuyin's shown strength simply wasn't enough to take them on. It was better to kill a potential King of Everlore than to have them determined to launch a war against you!
"Calm down. Trueborn isn't so foolish to act," Tian Muyang softly chided Tian Lingyu before saying plainly. If Trueborn, under the guise of the Unchained Heart Sect, actually attacked Wei Wuyin, that would allow many to side with him and protect him. This was a silent battle of interests, patience, and tolerance!
"You're wrong," Empress Xiaocheng calmly stated. Tian Muyang's eyebrows furrowed as he glanced at the lovely figure and side profile of Empress Xiaocheng.
"Wrong?"
Empress Xiaocheng's eyes reflected the image of Wei Wuyin and Bai Lin, including the faint radiance of the protective barrier around the Born True Starfield's predetermined border. "If they attack, they won't give anyone a chance to interfere."
KREE!! As if on cue, her words directly preceded the beginnings of the Unchained Heart Sect's move!
Bai Lin's cry was utterly incisive to the mind, and she erupted into a flurry of Nirvanic Flames! A rich bloodline aura diffused out into the world as chaos mana began to burn! BURN BRIGHTLY!
NIRVANIC TRANSFORMATION! WHOOSH! Within the blink of an Ascended's eye, Bai Lin had transformed into a twenty-thousand meters Fire Phoenix! She was the embodiment of flames, majestic and gorgeous! Her beauty bedazzled the eyes as her fiery form shattered the invisible ripples within fixed space!
Suddenly, within the Born True Starfield, at the Unchained Heart Sect's headquarters that was a nine-stories pagoda forged from the whitest bones imaginable, a series of explosions erupted alongside anguished howls of pain and suffering!
Wei Wuyin stood upright atop Bai Lin's enlarged flaming head that seemed almost material, unharmed by the flames, and while tiny in comparison, stole away everyone's focus as his silver eyes bore down on the masked figure. The imposing demeanor he exuded resembled a Monarch of the Ages, endlessly domineering and boundlessly charismatic!
All around Wei Wuyin, fragments of broken space scattered about after having been solidified by Spatial Power of the Mystic-level. At times, wisps of Void Energy fluctuated as well. It was foolish to attempt an ambush using space against a True Void Dragon!
"Did you really think I'll walk into a trap?" Wei Wuyin said coolly, his contempt as ever-present as ever. "Let's see how long your turtle shell can last. Burn it all!"
KREE!!! Bai Lin's fiery body began to grow! AND GROW! AND GROW!!
There was a legend that the phoenix carried the cursed power of the Divinity of Fire! Forced to be reborn through intense painful fire! Alongside this legend was another one that was equally as shocking. It was that the Fire Phoenix was born from the union of the Primordial Origin of all Avians and the Immortal Solar Demon—the largest Solar Star in existence!
At the moment, when Bai Lin was taken into account, both could be equally as true!
Bai Lin's Nirvanic Flames began to expand like a growing Solar Star, raging and unstoppable, and it kept going and going!
200,000 Meters! 2,000,000 Meters! 20,000,000 Meters!
"RETREAT!" The numerous spectators all exclaimed in shock. No one knew who gave the first order, but it was given, and a tide of dozens upon dozens of high-end Voidships broke out of their concealed state and fiercely retreated!
At the center of these world-searing flames, Wei Wuyin was perfectly visible, outlined by his white-clothed and those glowing silver eyes that carried within them a death sentence.
Bai Lin's enlarged form clashed against the darkly-colored light with a level of ferocity that was hard to describe in mere words! But the explosions from the erupting defensive power all over were hell-raising and heart-shaking!
KREE! Bai Lin smashed against the barrier, and slowly the flames began to surf across the barrier and cover the entirety of it!
"THE FIRE PHOENIX IS TRYING TO SWALLOW THE STARFIELD?!" Kong Yi's eyes explosively widened as he piloted the Sky Destroyer into a retreat. The scene was something he'd never thought he'd see in his lifetime!

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