C102 Demon Luring

In the silent and icy wilderness, Yu Yuan unleashed a piercing howl.

The raging gale, like a frenzied storm, enveloped him in layers.

It was as if he stood at the very heart of a tornado.

"Evil Body Refining Technique!"

Yu Yuan clung to his core, preserving the spiritual wisdom of his heaven soul, refusing to succumb to the excruciating pain that threatened to tear his body apart.

"Crack!"

The brittle sound of bones shattering echoed from within him, his face contorted in agony, his consciousness fading. His bare body was riddled with lacerations.

Had anyone been present, they would have witnessed the savage spiritual energy burrowing into his pores and snaking through his mouth and nose like a relentless python.

Yu Yuan's veins and flesh quivered without respite.

At last, blood erupted from the gash in his chest, drenching him as he collapsed.

He fell, surrounded by his own blood.

The tempest of spiritual energy that had swirled around him suddenly dissipated.

Yu Yuan lay in the blood, gasping for air, each breath more labored than the last, teetering on the brink of death.

His left hand was clenched tightly around the Demon Core, gripping it so fiercely he seemed intent on embedding it into the flesh of his palm.

"The violent divine force, the Evil Body Refining Technique, the Demon Core."

Despite the excruciating pain that made every breath a tremor through his bones, his spiritual wisdom remained sharply intact, his gaze steady, as if awaiting something in silence.

He could distinctly sense the vitality of the Demon Core being drawn in by the Nine Glories Wheel, flooding into him like a breached river.

"This place is not particularly far from the forbidden area. And here I am, alone," Yu Yuan assessed internally, "The Moonfiend's perception surely surpasses mine and that of the Soul Orb. If I'm not mistaken, the Moonfiend will detect it eventually."

With this in mind, he continued to voraciously absorb the vitality of the Demon Core, readying himself for what was to come.

Time seemed to stand still in the desolate chill of the wilderness, where he appeared to be the sole survivor.

After what felt like an eternity, a burning sensation emerged from the sword light branded on his arms.

Yu Yuan's heart skipped a beat as he suddenly realized his judgment was spot-on.

"It's here!"

...

A mile away lay a deep crater formed by a fragment of the Moon Shard.

At the top of the crater, a massive stone cave had been hastily carved out.

This cave was a mere seven or eight meters from the wilderness, with five broad stone steps leading swiftly up to it.

Inside, Lee Yu, Yan Lu, Su Yan, and Zhan Tianxiang, along with all the other surviving trial-takers, were gathered, waiting solemnly.

The Soul Orb hovered at the cave's entrance, emitting a misty light.

The light served as both a curtain and a door, not only sealing the entrance but also permeating the cave.

The cave itself was bathed in this misty radiance.

"The Soul Orb's ability to shield soul perception is the only trick I have up my sleeve right now," Lee Yu said, noticing everyone's anxiety. "Cultivators at the Lunar Spirit Stage, with their spirits roaming the vicinity, won't be able to detect us. Unless a Lunar Spirit happens to stumble upon us, we're undetectable."

"That most powerful Moonfiend can't detect us with its remnant soul?" Zhan Tianxiang remained skeptical.

"It shouldn't be able to," Lee Yu reassured the group. "We'll stay here and wait for Yu Yuan's signal. The moment Yu Yuan loudly calls for help, it'll mean the strongest Moonfiend has revealed itself."

"This time, let's not hold back any of our strength," Su Yan said, her eyes fixed on Van Le. "If we fail to kill the Moonfiend now, we might not get another opportunity."

"Don't worry, I know what to do," Van Le replied calmly.

Since Lee Yu had called him out for holding back, the other survivors had started to keep their distance, reluctant to associate with him.

Even his attempts at initiating conversation were met with cold shoulders.

Eventually, Van Le stopped making overtures.

He came to realize that Yu Yuan, whom he considered an enemy and sought to eliminate in the forbidden area, had unwittingly earned the respect and trust of Lee Yu and the others.

It seemed that only he, the Lin family, and Lin Zhuyun still harbored ill will towards Yu Yuan for their own reasons.

"There's something happening."

Suddenly, Lee Yu stood up and approached the Soul Orb floating at the cave's entrance.

He furrowed his brow, gazing at the Soul Orb. "In a state where soul perception is obscured, the Soul Orb cannot detect the movements of other souls. Yet, I can hear some noises."

Upon hearing this, the others crowded around the cave entrance to listen intently.

The Soul Orb only masked their soul vibrations; their voices remained unaffected.

Thus, if there was significant commotion or a battle outside, they would be aware of it.

Even slightly louder conversations could be overheard.

"Hmm."

Yu Yuan, clutching the Demon Core, slowly rose to a sitting position, feeling the intense heat of the sword light within his arm. He gazed ahead with a serene expression.

Time ticked away, minute by minute.

The Moonfiend was cautious, approaching slowly without haste.

In the meantime, Yu Yuan, with the Demon Core in hand, tapped into its medicinal power and his own robust vitality to rapidly heal his previously wounded body.

Such rapid recovery was possible only with the Demon Core.

Had it been the Seed of Life, he would never have taken such a risk.

Half an hour more elapsed.

The Moonfiend, seemingly assured that no one else was lurking nearby, suddenly quickened its pace.

The searing sensation of the sword light within his arm signaled to Yu Yuan that the Moonfiend would soon make its appearance.

And sure enough.

A young man with a pale face, dressed in a brown robe, arrived as if riding on the wind, his presence almost undetectable.

His eyes, a distinct shade of green, were conspicuously unhidden. He made no attempt to conceal them, choosing instead to reveal himself openly.

He seemed to understand that any disguise would be pointless against Yu Yuan, who had been acknowledged by the ancient sword's will, so he presented himself unabashedly.

"My master has sent me to claim your life."

The young man's words were awkward and stilted as he conveyed his intent to Yu Yuan.

Yu Yuan heard him, and so did Lee Yu and the others.

Silence fell within the cave.

"Isn't that the Moonfiend?"

Su Yan scratched a line in the dirt with a stick, her eyes seeking confirmation.

Zhao Yafu and Yu Feifei turned their eager gazes to Lee Yu.

Lee Yu gently shook his head and wrote in the dirt, "He warned us not to make any rash moves unless it's the Moonfiend."

Yu Feifei shook her head vigorously and moved closer to Lee Yu, grasping his sleeve and giving it a gentle tug, urging him to quickly join the fight.

Zhao Yafu approached and took Yu Feifei's hand, her eyes questioning as she asked, "Did he really say that?"

Lee Yu nodded in confirmation.

With a fierce look, Zhao Yafu glared at Lee Yu and traced a line in the dirt with her finger, "If he never said that and something happens to Yu Yuan, you'll be to blame. And it won't matter that you're Lee Yu; we won't let you off the hook."

Lee Yu nodded once more.

Consequently, Zhao Yafu forcefully pulled Yu Feifei away from him.

Others, like Su Yan and Yan Lu, also cast doubtful glances at Lee Yu.

The reason was straightforward. Yu Yuan, in his attempt to deceive the Moonfiend, had deliberately practiced Evil Body Refining, resulting in grave injuries that left him on the brink of death.

It was a common occurrence for those who practiced the dark arts to lose control and succumb to madness.

Yu Yuan's actions were intended to make the Moonfiend believe that there was a flaw in his cultivation, creating an opportunity to strike him down.

If Yu Yuan were at his peak and could wield his sword with ease, the most powerful Moonfiend would never be deceived.

However, to their surprise, the Moonfiend did appear, but it was not the mightiest one; instead, it was a subordinate.

In such a situation, a hasty attack in coordination with Yu Yuan would surely result in a successful kill.

But such an action would also mean tipping off the enemy, and the most formidable Moonfiend would certainly not be duped.

If they didn't intervene, could Yu Yuan, who had intentionally inflicted severe injuries upon himself through his cultivation, survive?

Everyone was deeply skeptical.

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