61: Star Alliance's First Exploration: Undercurrents Run Deep

After completely refining the star brilliance token, Yun Feng did not immediately emerge from seclusion. His mind sank into it, and the first thing he perceived was the “Star Alliance Covenant,” a pact recognized by countless Soul imprints and whose binding force reached the Origin. The terms of the covenant were no different from what the Radiant Moon Emissary had stated; its core principles were “mutual Watcher and assistance, non-aggression, and voluntary participation,” which dispelled the last trace of his apprehension.

Subsequently, his consciousness entered the so-called “Basic Intelligence Database.”

The information was as vast as a sea of smoke, yet it was categorized and organized with extreme clarity. Yun Feng first directed his attention to the section concerning the “Abyss.”

The intelligence indicated that the “Abyss” was not a specific world or plane, but rather a chaotic dimensional collective existing in the star-space gaps, constantly eroding and devouring orderly worlds. They had no unified will, driven by countless chaotic and greedy instinctual consciousnesses, with their core objective being to devour the “world heart” of various worlds—that is, the aggregate of the world’s Origin rules—to gain resources for evolution.

The intelligence also mentioned several typical stages of Abyss erosion: from the Early Stage infiltration of “Dead Zones,” to the Middle Stage formation of “Rifts” and the descent of demonic creatures, and then to the Late Stage full-scale outbreak of “Realm Battlefields.” The description highly matched the signs currently appearing on the Demon Spirit Continent.

“It seems the Cangwu World is in the transitional stage from Early Stage to Middle Stage,” Yun Feng thought with a solemn heart. If he hadn’t timely sealed the rift in the Black Water Marsh, the situation would likely have rapidly deteriorated.

He continued to browse, his gaze suddenly sharpening. In a description of “Abyssal Vanguards,” he saw detailed records of the strange figures colluding with the Feather God Sect, and the Legendary remnant Soul he had annihilated in the Desolate Ruins!

[Abyssal Vanguard]: Mostly native beings or remnant Souls of powerful individuals deeply polluted and assimilated by Abyssal Qi. They retain some of their former abilities and intelligence, but their essence has been completely twisted, becoming the claws and guides for the Abyss’s invasion of various worlds. They are skilled in concealment and deception, often creating Chaos within target worlds to weaken their resistance.

“So that’s how it is!” A cold glint flashed in Yun Feng’s eyes. The Feather God Sect was merely a pawn; the true threat lay with these “Vanguards” lurking in the shadows. He had to eradicate these internal scourges of the continent as quickly as possible!

Next, he turned his attention to information about the “world heart.” This information was relatively vague, only mentioning that the “world heart” was the core and lifeline of a world, varying in form, possibly an item, a Secret Realm, or even a special life form. Its location was usually protected by layers of world rules, making it extremely difficult to find. Guarding the “world heart” was the most fundamental duty of every “Watcher.”

Finally, he skimmed through scattered remarks about other “extraterrestrial threats.” Besides the Abyss, the intelligence database also mentioned names such as “Void Zerg,” “Nirvana Star Spirits,” and “High-Dimensional Predators,” but the information was extremely brief, suggesting that the alliance did not have much direct contact with them either.

Exiting the intelligence database, Yun Feng’s consciousness returned. This review gave him a clearer and more severe understanding of his current situation.

“Internal and external troubles…” He sighed softly. Externally, the Abyss loomed menacingly, and internally, “Vanguards” lurked and caused mischief, while the “world heart,” crucial for the world’s survival, was nowhere to be found.

He had to quicken his pace.

After emerging from seclusion, Yun Feng immediately summoned Nie Li.

“Effective immediately, Cloud Court enters a Level Two combat readiness,” Yun Feng stated directly, his tone leaving no room for doubt. “Mobilize all forces to thoroughly investigate all suspicious factions and areas on the continent, focusing on those with close ties to the Feather God Sect, or those whose recent behavior is abnormal or show signs of ‘Dead Zones.’ Once ‘Abyssal Vanguards’ or their collaborators are found, execute them without mercy or further report!”

“Yes!” Nie Li felt the killing intent in Yun Feng’s words, his heart tightening, knowing that a major discovery must have been made.

“Additionally,” Yun Feng took out a Jade Slip. This was a secret technique he had developed based on the Abyss Qi detection methods from the Star Alliance intelligence database, optimized through System deduction. “Distribute this ‘Evil Discernment Technique’ to all Cloud Court branches and allied forces, to be used for identifying lurking Abyssal polluters.”

“Understood!” Nie Li took the Jade Slip and immediately turned to make arrangements.

Yun Feng, meanwhile, once again cast his gaze into the distance. Dealing with internal troubles was the top priority, but finding the “world heart” was even more crucial. He recalled the drop of chaos source blood that had stirred his Bloodline, and the fallen “Ruins.” Did this ancient Watcher, by leaving him the Legacy and source blood, imply that the clue to the “world heart” was also related to this chaos source blood?

He had a vague premonition that when he could fully control the wisp of source blood power deep within his heart, that might be the day he found the “world heart.”

Just as the Cloud Court’s war machine began to operate efficiently, stirring up a silent purge across the continent, far away at the border of the Southern and Western Regions, deep within an ancient mountain range rarely visited by humans.

A figure clad in a black cloak, whose aura was almost integrated with the surrounding environment, was kneeling before an ancient altar emanating faint spatial fluctuations. Around the altar, runes similar to those on the destroyed Feather God Sect altar were carved, but they were more complex and ancient.

The cloaked figure raised his head, revealing a pale and fanatical face. He chanted blasphemous incantations in a low voice, embedding crystals containing pure Soul energy into the altar’s grooves one by one.

“Great Dominator… Your humble servant has found… the clue to the ‘key’… It is on the newly promoted Legendary… Yun Feng…”

“Please grant me more power… I will surely… open the gate to the ‘delicious’ for you…”

The spatial fluctuations on the altar suddenly became violent. An Abyssal will, far purer and more terrifying than that of the Black Water Marsh, seemed to cross the endless Void Realm, projecting a sliver of power down and injecting it into the cloaked figure… A secret war revolving around the “world heart” and the “key” had silently begun. And Yun Feng was the undisputed center of this storm.