Chapter 495: Chapter 412: The Chase Chapter 495: Chapter 412: The Chase Su Yuan pondered the information that had just been relayed from the Qingming Profound Phoenix and the Qingming Realm.
The Qingming Realm had indeed absorbed the Wolf Vein from the Blue Crystal; however, it did not directly use this Wolf Vein as the source of star power for the Qingming Realm.
Instead, it used it as energy to hatch a star vein unique to the Qingming Realm, called the Phoenix Vein.
This Phoenix Vein wasn’t merely an additional “level” of star vein; rather, it was a fundamental “type” difference.
Compared to typical star veins, it was created using the power of the Qingming Profound Phoenix, making it more suitable for the Qingming Realm and unique to Su Yuan.
Like ordinary star veins, it was divided into Dog Level, Wolf Level, Tiger Level, and Dragon Level.
Due to the significant consumption of star vein power during its formation, the currently birthed star vein was only at Dog Level.
It seemed like a downgrade by one level, but it wasn’t a loss, for this was a star vein that could grow!
For Su Yuan, the Phoenix Vein of the Qingming Realm had many advantages over external star veins.
First, it had the ability to grow!
Under the power of the Qingming Profound Phoenix’s Heavenly Throne, the Phoenix Vein could continue to absorb other star veins, grow, advance, and eventually evolve to the Dragon Level!
Devouring and absorbing were akin to a “fusion” function.
Even if he couldn’t consistently occupy higher-level star veins, by constantly devouring star veins of the same level, he could aspire to reach higher levels.
A simple example: if Su Yuan were a native of the New Dust Realm.
Even with only the Dog Vein, Su Yuan could continually use the Qingming Realm’s Phoenix Vein to absorb Dog Veins and evolve it to the Wolf Vein level, eventually breaking through to Radiant Moon in the Qingming Realm.
If that were the case, Su Yuan would be the absolute ruler of the Qingming Realm!
Secondly, it was private.
Ordinary star veins were unowned and could be used by whoever occupied them. The Heaven and Earth star power they produced was fair to everyone.
But the Phoenix Vein was born in the Qingming Realm and naturally belonged to Su Yuan, thus solely serving him as the master of the Qingming Realm!
In the Qingming Realm, all star power converged towards him, allowing him to cultivate faster than in the Sky Patrol Department.
Third, it was symbiotic.
Most people could only cultivate their soul power through meditation. A few had special methods to accelerate their soul power cultivation.
Like Su Yuan, he could only improve the power of the Qingming Profound Phoenix’s Heavenly Throne through meditation.
Even if Su Yuan had stronger soul cards and stronger spiritual power, making his meditation more efficient.
Such progress was still modest and couldn’t compare to the exhilaration of leveling up through skill points.
Now, the growth of the Phoenix Vein would also drive the growth of the Qingming Realm, consequently promoting the growth of the Qingming Profound Phoenix.
Besides regular meditation, Su Yuan could now enhance his soul power by absorbing star veins to nurture the Phoenix Vein.
Already, the Qingming Realm not only expanded by about thirty percent, but its stability also significantly improved, which greatly increased Su Yuan’s control over Space Power.
The potency of space-related skills increased, rising from the original twenty percent to fifty percent, equivalent to some Star Card Masters who used the Power of Soul for elemental enhancement!
These three advantages were the primary ones. The other differences of the Phoenix Vein would have to be discovered gradually over time.
After carefully sensing the changes in the Qingming Realm, Su Yuan exited the Qingming Realm.
Although he was thrilled with the changes brought by the hatching of the Phoenix Vein, it also posed a problem.
“To promote the growth of the Qingming Realm’s Phoenix Vein, I must continue to absorb more star veins…” Su Yuan mused.
On Blue Sea Star, even the Vein Extraction Barrier was forbidden, much less vein absorption, which essentially meant transforming the veins into his own.
Such a thing would undoubtedly be unacceptable to others.
At least for the current Blue Sea Star, if Su Yuan did this, it would make him an outcast.
After thinking for a while, Su Yuan decided that he should focus on enhancing the Phoenix Vein as much as possible in the New Dust Realm for now.
As for the future… He would adapt when the Earth Tribulation arises.
After all, what couldn’t be done in a time of peace might just be possible in times of war…
“According to the feedback from the Qingming Realm, devouring another Wolf Vein should elevate the Phoenix Vein to the Wolf Vein level.”
Su Yuan pondered momentarily, then took out the empty Blue Crystal he had obtained earlier.
“Since the two subordinates from Qiguang Holy Temple carried these vein extraction Blue Crystals, extracting star veins must be one of their tasks.
Earlier, I simply wanted to follow the demon soul and take them out all at once. Now, it seems there might be some good harvests…”
After pondering briefly, Su Yuan’s figure flickered and he instantly teleported away from his original spot…
In a volcanic region full of black smoke and dense lava in the New Dust Realm,
a streak of golden light appeared on the horizon. It was Mi Lu, rushing in from afar, flying directly to the edge of the largest volcano.
“Mark! Something’s happened!”
Mi Lu shouted towards the volcanic crater.
Within two seconds, the quiet, flowing golden-red magma inside the volcano suddenly started to churn, as a half-naked young man floated up from it.
This youth had a tuft of red hair and wore an earring on his right ear, looking quite unique.
If anyone else were there, they would be greatly surprised.
The temperature of the magma was around a thousand degrees. Even an average Fire Star Card Master could hardly withstand it.
Yet this red-haired youth could immerse himself in it as if it had no effect.
“What happened, Mi Lu?” the red-haired youth asked coldly. “Weren’t you assisting Dominic and the others? Where are they?”
Mi Lu looked solemn: “Dominic and the others were killed!”
“Hmm?”
The red-haired youth furrowed his brows, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
“Killed? Was it by a Star Lord…? No, wasn’t the Star Envoy preparing to deal with the Great Flame’s Star Lord? Could it be that a new Star Lord has entered…”
Mi Lu interrupted, “It wasn’t a Star Lord, just an ordinary Special Envoy.”
In the Sky Patrol Department, the uniforms for first, second, and third-level Special Envoys were the same, but the Star Lord’s was different, making them easily recognizable.
“Not a Star Lord?” Mark raised an eyebrow.
Given Anthony and Chad’s capabilities to save their lives, even if they were outmatched, they shouldn’t have been killed so easily.
However, thinking of something, Mark said in a low voice, “There are indeed some troublesome people among the Great Flame’s Special Envoys.”
A cold light flashed in Mark’s eyes as he recalled the Great Flame woman with the fire bow he had encountered days ago.
Earlier, he had discovered a Wolf Vein only to be severely injured by her and retreated to the volcano group to recover using the magma.
Moreover, that woman actually possessed Divine Fire!
Had she not stayed behind to extract the vein, he might not have escaped.
However, it was a blessing in disguise as this volcano contained Red Flow Fire Essence!
In areas rich in star power, it was rare to find even one Red Flow Fire Essence among a thousand volcanoes.
This was a top-tier fourth-level fire material, which could be used to forge an Epic Star Artifact.
Mi Lu said gravely: “Let’s meet up with Hannah first. Great Flame’s experts are increasingly entering this area. We either act together or retreat to the main force.”
Mark, sensing his condition was about seventy to eighty percent recovered, flew out of the magma.
No sooner had he emerged than he glanced towards a small volcano in the distance, squinting his eyes: “Mi Lu, it seems you’ve brought along a tail…”
“Hmm?” Mi Lu paused in surprise, quickly turning to look behind.
Mark’s eyes grew cold. He struck the magma with his palm.
The underground magma surged, and with a “boom,” a pillar of lava shot up from behind the distant small volcano.
A figure in red robes swiftly dodged to the side.
“Oh? They noticed me…” A faint smile appeared on the demon soul’s face as he walked out from behind the small volcano.
The Great Breath’s passive ability can synchronize with the demon soul, which made the demon soul’s Concealing Breath very powerful. It was quite easy to stealthily follow Mi Lu.
However, the red-haired youth ahead seemed to amplify his senses by using the fire elements of this volcanic cluster, thus detecting the demon soul.
“It’s you?” Mi Lu’s expression changed slightly, surprised that Su Yuan had followed so far. “No… not entirely.”
Mi Lu wasn’t sure if Su Yuan had transformed or switched to some state, but there was no doubt this was the person who appeared earlier.
Mark carefully sensed, confirming no one else was around, he began scrutinizing the demon soul.
Yet upon closer look, the other party seemed like an unfathomable abyss, impossible to discern.
Mark raised an eyebrow, testingly said, “Daring to chase alone, you sure are confident.”
A slight smile curved on the demon soul’s lips, “To deal with you two, I alone should be more than enough.”
“Arrogant!” Mark and Mi Lu both frowned.
As subordinates of a Star Envoy, their strength in the myriad stars of Qiguang placed just below the Star Envoy. They’d never been so underestimated!
“Then go die!” Mark extended his right index finger. “Alpha, Fire Line!”
A flicker of flame turned intensely hot, finally shooting out like a golden red laser, striking the demon soul in an instant!
The demon soul horizontally raised the demon saber. At the critical moment, he precisely blocked the lightning-fast fire line.
But upon looking down, he saw a small dent on the demon saber!
The demon soul was slightly surprised: “The power is quite impressive…”
Though the Demon-controlling God Demon Saber was condensed by the demon soul rather than its body, it still retained nearly half of the original attributes.
Yet, it was dented by just one fire line.
Fast and strong!
Mark sneered, “Able to block? Let’s see how you block this!”
Mark’s five fingers spread open, each fingertip glowing with a flame, then transforming into five fire lines shooting towards the demon soul in mid-air!
The fire lines were incredibly fast. In a flash, they pierced through the demon soul, even creating five small holes in the volcano behind, spilling some golden-red magma!
However, the demon soul remained calm, looking at the five transparent holes on his body, which then healed instantly under the influence of red light.