Chapter 1406: Ancient Tree Gestation

Even though the other party no longer possessed Long Kun's original memories, Xu Yang was keen to discover the unique innate ability of this special Star Venerable. He found it crucial to understand why, after this individual's appearance, the strength of every other Star Venerable had significantly improved.

“Your strength is formidable,” Xu Yang stated directly, cutting to the chase. “I simply couldn't resist the urge to spar with you and witness your unparalleled talent firsthand.”

The First Venerable, Long Kun, showed no hesitation. With a gentle wave of his palm, a moon-wheel-shaped halo suddenly appeared. This marked the first time one of the Twelve Star Venerables had revealed their unique weapon. Xu Yang immediately sensed an incredibly dense aura of starlight emanating from the surface of the First Venerable’s moon-wheel ring.

Undoubtedly, this was a moon-shaped ring crafted from the power of stars. What truly shocked Xu Yang, however, was that this individual could conjure a magical artifact in the shape of the moon. This was an anomaly, defying all conventional rules.

Both the Yingzhou Continent and the Great World's main continent were moonless realms. The moon-wheel had disappeared from the world's system after a war hundreds of thousands of years ago. All traditions and civilizations connected to the moon had been sealed, and moonlight had lain dormant for far too long. The First Venerable Long Kun, currently before him, could not possibly be a life form from that ancient era. Therefore, the very existence of a moon-shaped magical artifact was a massive point of suspicion.

“Before we engage,” Xu Yang began, “I want to understand the origin of the magical artifact in your hand.” The First Venerable Long Kun, smiling, made no attempt to conceal the truth. “It was, of course, forged from the condensed power of the stars within my own body. Is there a problem?” “Then what I wish to know,” Xu Yang pressed, “is how you were inspired to craft it into this particular form?”

The First Venerable Long Kun smiled and gently shook his head. “If I told you I don’t know, that it was simply an instinct, would you believe me?” “I believe you,” Xu Yang replied, “but your words also open up many more possibilities for speculation.”

Xu Yang trusted his intuition; the other party was not lying. This meant that a certain instinct had guided him to condense and forge a moon-shaped magical artifact. What did this signify? It indicated that the First Venerable Long Kun had once encountered the source of power related to the moon’s legacy. In other words, if Xu Yang could uncover all the secrets of what the First Venerable Long Kun had experienced, it meant he might well reveal the ultimate secret to the path to the Moonless Heavens during this battle.

This was the true purpose of his journey to the Yingzhou Continent. “One last question,” Xu Yang continued. “If you can answer truthfully, I will owe you a favor. During our upcoming confrontation, should I subdue you, I promise I will not harm your life. Consider that my repayment of this favor.”

Upon hearing Xu Yang’s offer, the First Venerable Long Kun merely smiled and gestured with an open palm. “Ask whatever you wish,” he said. “I will tell you everything I know, without reservation. Once your questions are answered, then we shall fight to the death.”

“Where exactly is the life source that nurtured you?” Xu Yang inquired. “Is it somewhere deeper within Treasure Mountain?” This time, however, the First Venerable Long Kun delivered an incredibly shocking answer. He gently waved his hand, then pointed a finger towards the shimmering ancient tree not far behind Xu Yang—the very tree he used to summon the Twelve Star Venerables.

“To tell you the truth,” he revealed, “it was this ancient tree that gave birth to my life. And there’s something else you could never guess: the lives of the other eleven Star Venerables were also born from within my body. I am like a seed born from this ancient tree; as I grew and transformed, the other eleven Star Venerable-level powerhouses gradually differentiated and emerged from within me.”

Upon hearing the First Venerable Long Kun's answer, Xu Yang was not as shocked or surprised as he might have imagined. Instead, all the doubts that had plagued him suddenly made perfect sense.

“No wonder your appearance could significantly enhance the strength of all other Star Venerable-level powerhouses,” Xu Yang mused. “It’s because your aura provides a more powerful guidance and refinement for the latent life force within them. Essentially, you are the very source of their life force. With you present, their life force fluctuations become more vigorous, attracting more primordial starlight. Naturally, this would lead to a significant boost in their abilities.”

Long Kun nodded gently. “You are indeed the strongest leader of the human race; your insight is truly astonishing. I have told you everything I know, word for word, the most truthful and reliable information. Therefore, it is now time for you to fulfill your promise. Bring forth your strongest power and fight me; I merely wish to see the true gap between us.”

For some reason, as Xu Yang heard the First Venerable Long Kun utter these words, every memory of fighting alongside Long Kun instinctively resurfaced in his mind. The remarkably familiar sensation, combined with the tone of his voice, filled Xu Yang with a profound sense of déjà vu. Yet, he could not produce any concrete evidence to prove that the individual before him was indeed his brother, Long Kun.

The only thing he could do was, at the start of the battle, raise his left fist and thump his right chest. This was a gesture Long Kun had made to him more than once before. Throughout their arduous cultivation journey in the Great World, whenever Long Kun sought to break free from Xu Yang’s protection, fight independently, and share his elder brother’s burdens, he would always make this gesture before taking action. However, as Xu Yang replicated the movement, he observed no unusual reaction whatsoever in the First Venerable Long Kun’s eyes.

At that moment, Xu Yang knew for certain: this individual merely possessed Long Kun’s appearance. He could not possibly be the same brother with whom Xu Yang had shared countless life-or-death struggles.

“Alright,” Xu Yang stated, “I have nothing more to say. Unleash your strongest power.” With words now exhausted, mutual confrontation became the only path forward.

Both sides simultaneously erupted with incredibly terrifying aura fluctuations. Xu Yang, too, shed all external disguises from his illusory body, revealing his true, complete form. Although this was merely an illusory body of Xu Yang, even at just 70% of his true strength, it was enough to sweep aside virtually anyone on the Yingzhou Continent. However, facing the First Venerable Long Kun with only 70% of his power, Xu Yang's illusory body might still encounter some trouble.