Evan Chu could see Claire Ouyang, and naturally everyone else could see her too. The bizarre events today were utterly shocking—first the colossal lake monster, then the palace looming faintly in the sky. Everyone’s nerves were stretched tight, filled with both anxiety and anticipation.
The palace in the sky was shrouded by clouds, its outline barely visible. But Evan poured all his focus into his eyes, determined to see what this palace truly looked like and why it would appear here at all.
Peering through the clouds, he could just barely make out the palace’s shape, but it was so enormous he couldn’t see it clearly. Suddenly, a stabbing pain shot through his mind, his face went pale, and he nearly fell from the sky.
"Evan, what’s wrong? Why do you look so pale?" Claire Ouyang asked anxiously, her eyes fixed on Evan.
"It’s nothing, just a sudden headache. It’ll pass soon. But that palace in the sky is really strange—is it real, or just some kind of illusion?" Evan said, confused.
"I’m not sure either. I’ve heard people mention this palace many times, but I never thought I’d actually see it with my own eyes today. It’s honestly unbelievable," Claire replied.
"Evan, don’t look at that palace! It can only bring you harm, never any good. We need to leave—right now!" Sword Spirit Luna’s voice sounded urgent and anxious.
"What’s going on, Luna? Can’t you explain it clearly? And what about that monster?" Evan asked, bewildered.
"That palace is a projection, but it can sense everything happening on the ground. If you don’t leave now, we may never meet again. I’ll explain when we’re back—someone else will deal with the Glazewater Kraken!" Luna’s tone was unusually flustered.
It was the first time Evan had ever heard Luna sound so worried. He immediately realized that the palace in the sky must be connected to her, so he turned to Claire at once and said, "Claire, let’s go back. This place is just too strange."
Without another word, Claire seized Evan’s hand and shot toward the Mermaid Kingdom’s palace at full speed.
After Evan and Claire left, voices echoed from the sky-palace: "Red-sister, I sense Yara’s presence—could she really be in this world?"
A middle-aged man stood in purple robes, a massive golden sword embroidered across his chest—his presence radiated dominance.
Brother Lei, you must miss Yara too much. We've searched endless worlds for tens of thousands of years, shattered the void again and again, yet no sign of her. All we know is she still lives in soul form—her life-jade plaque still half aglow.
If Evan saw her now, he’d be stunned—she looked exactly like Sword Spirit Luna, an ethereal beauty untouched by mortal dust.
I hope I’m just worrying for nothing... If not for that undying Lone-so-and-so, Yara would never have suffered so terribly—forced to merge with the Solarion Sword and become its Sword Spirit. She did kill him, but a fragment of his soul escaped. I’m afraid it could still threaten Yara.
You worry too much. Solarion Palace is nothing like before—who would dare provoke us now? As for Yara, there’s no need to rush. After searching so many worlds, I’m sure she’s here; maybe the time just isn’t right. Some things can’t be forced.
That thing below is the Glazewater Kraken. I never thought it would show up here. Go—bring it back and put it in Imperial Lake. That way, you’ll be doing a good deed for the people!
At once, a small sword flashed into her hand. With a flick, a golden light shot down from the heavens, striking the monstrous beast on the lake.
Agony tore through the beast—it roared so loudly the sky shook, its massive body thrashing in the lake and sending waves crashing in every direction.
Suddenly, the massive beast shrank rapidly until it was no bigger than a palm, a golden sword jutting from its back.
It shot up into the sky and vanished in an instant. At the same time, the golden palace above the clouds faded away without a trace.
Everyone stared, their minds reeling—was this real? A tiny golden sword from the palace had subdued and whisked away a beast the size of a mountain. It was beyond miraculous.
The lake returned to calm, and people descended from the sky. Soon, Mermaid Kingdom experts arrived, but none had witnessed the miracle. For a while, wild rumors swirled—everyone exaggerated the golden palace’s mystery above Mist-Cloud Lake.
After Evan and Claire returned to the palace, they slipped into the bridal chamber. Evan turned to Claire, "I need to meditate for a while—something from our outing sparked an insight. Please, don’t disturb me for now."
Though Evan’s words were abrupt, Claire didn’t mind. She knew breakthroughs could come in a flash—maybe this was his moment. Quietly, she left the room.
At the door, she called softly, "I’ll be next door. If you finish cultivating, come find me."
Evan wasn’t really cultivating—he wanted to ask Luna what had happened, and why she sounded so anxious.
Before Evan could speak, Luna interrupted: "Evan, I know you have questions, but some things are hard to explain. The golden palace you saw—that’s my father’s palace."
They’ve searched for me for countless years. Because of my youthful stubbornness, I became what I am now—I don’t want them to see me like this. Their power is beyond imagination. Just remember, I’ll never harm you.
In truth, Luna longed to return home, but she couldn’t bear to leave Evan. She didn’t know when she’d come to love this mysterious, stubborn youth. If she left now, she feared she’d never see him again.
Luna, where’s your real home? Is it the Divine Battlefield? It can’t be the Azure Tide Ruins, right? Please, tell me the truth," Evan asked.
I’m not from this world. My home is Solarion Palace—even the weakest guards there are Saint Martial experts. When you master Ninefold Stellar Transformation, I’ll tell you everything. That art is our palace’s supreme technique, far beyond ordinary Saint-grade skills…