C1061 Undo the Net
Within Fernand's body, thousands of strands of sword light, akin to delicate rivulets, intertwined to form an intricate and mystical sword net known as the Skyfall Net. This net of sword light permeated every piece of Fernand's flesh, every vein, and encircled each bone like shimmering, slender ropes, constraining his every movement.
Yu Yuan's vitality, Soul Power, and spiritual energy wandered through Fernand's body, quickly detecting the ebbing of vitality. The Skyfall Net silently absorbed the vitality that Yu Yuan had infused, causing the net, already saturated with Fernand's flesh and blood, to grow increasingly radiant and otherworldly.
Yu Yuan's remnant soul acutely perceived that the strands of sword light within the net functioned like intricate knots and locks, binding the bloodline chains of Fernand, a ninth-level platinum Shura. The Otherkin's theurgy, deeply intertwined with the bloodline chains, was rendered ineffective as the chains were constrained, leaving Fernand utterly powerless.
Any attempt by Fernand to mobilize the essence of blood within his heart was futile, as the sword net would consume it before it could even spread. Yu Yuan's contemplative consciousness roamed the Skyfall Net, confirming its unique ability to absorb vitality and fortify itself. Whether it was Fernand's own vitality or that which Yu Yuan had released, both would inadvertently strengthen the net, rendering it increasingly impregnable.
Realizing this, Yu Yuan withdrew the strands of vitality imbued with "strange life" from Fernand's body, choosing instead to employ his refined spiritual energy in tandem with his remnant soul to continue his perception.
He swiftly concluded that the Skyfall Net was a flawlessly unified entity. Should he exert his power to sever any part of it, the net would detonate, unleashing the fearsome sword energy within in a mere instant. Immobilized and unable to defend himself with his vitality, Fernand was likely to perish the moment the sword energy was unleashed.
"Yue Mu's sword light still harbors his remnant soul. Even from afar, he must be able to sense my probing through this sword net," Yu Yuan thought suddenly. It was then that he fancied he could hear a warm, indolent chuckle emanating from the enigmatic Skyfall Net.
As laughter erupted, Yu Yuan's face immediately took on a grave expression.
He pondered deeply, and after some time, a daring idea took shape.
"Spiritrend!"
Without a flourish of his sword sheath, he pressed his palms to Fernand's chest. With Fernand's soul seemingly scattering in terror, Yu Yuan closed his eyes.
The Lunar Spirit from his Mindscape silently reached his palm.
There, the diminutive Lunar Spirit, in the guise of a soul, began to wield its arms like swords, unleashing the Spiritrend's energy directly into Fernand's chest.
As the Lunar Spirit swung its sword, the sword spirit within Yu Yuan's own arm bones resonated in kind.
Suddenly, countless fine crimson threads of sword light, finer than the thinnest needles, infiltrated Fernand's flesh.
The sophisticated sword spell of Spiritrend was uniquely unleashed by his Lunar Spirit, aiming to detach Yue Mu's lingering remnant soul consciousness from the Skyfall Net itself.
Countless tiny crimson sword lights surged into the layers of Fernand's organs, like streams of platinum, meticulously purging Yue Mu's lingering thoughts.
The sword lights didn't sever a single Skyfall River or rip through the platinum sword light; they infiltrated and unraveled from within.
"Yue Mu!"
The Lunar Spirit cried out, and within the sword net, amidst the platinum streams, he saw hundreds of Yue Mu seated calmly at the nexus of the sword light.
Each intersection of sword light appeared to be an acupoint of the sword net, with a Yue Mu presiding over it.
This was the remnant soul of Yue Mu, his secret to controlling the Skyfall Net from afar.
Now, the Yue Mu at the crossroads of sword light watched with wry smiles as a deluge of crimson sword light flooded in, compelling them to depart.
"Alas."
The hundreds of Yue Mu sighed together, and as the relentless crimson sword light approached, they vanished abruptly.
Like bubbles in water, they burst one after another.
All remnants of Yue Mu's soul within the "Rillrender" returned to him in a flash.
Fernand's form trembled slightly, sensing the force that had been constraining his soul and vitality partially dissipate.
Yet...
The sword net remained intact!
Taking a deep breath, Yu Yuan, drenched in sweat, wielded thousands of fine crimson sword lights to assail the Skyfall Net. In a brief moment, wielding the Spiritrend, he pinpointed the intersection of the Skyfall Net, driving Yue Mu's remnant soul away. The effort had nearly depleted his energy.
His vitality and spiritual energy had been siphoned from Fernand's body.
Only strands of thought lingered within the sword net as he persisted in his quest to understand and scrutinize it.
He realized that even in the absence of Yue Mu's remnant soul, the sword net remained steadfast.
His own level was insufficient; even employing the Shadow Moon Essence, spiritual energy, and vitality to create the crimson Soulsever sword light, he could only sever the connection between Yue Mu's remnant soul and the sword light.
To completely annihilate the wondrous sword net was nothing short of a fool's dream.
"Poison..."
He abruptly recalled Yue Mu's words from before the crane's cry had sounded.
He paused, a contemplative look crossing his face. Under the astonished and confused stares of Hu Caiyun, the white crane, Fernand, and Elena, he summoned the furnace named "Serpentflame."
Nine points of fiery brilliance ignited in his palm, encircling the gradually contracting furnace.
Dozens of vials, their contents of poison spilling like clouds into the furnace, and the colorful liquids of spiritual herbs he had collected over the years were expertly arranged and cast into the furnace at the most precise moments, sparking a cascade of sparks within.
"Hong Qi!"
"God of Medicine!"
Hu Caiyun and the white crane murmured in awe.
The white crane's previous nonchalance vanished, replaced by a face full of genuine respect as Yu Yuan began his alchemical work.
In any field, those who master their craft to the point of artistry command respect.
Yu Yuan, having once ascended to the pinnacle of herbalism, was a Divine Level herbalist revered by multitudes.
Like a cultivator's primordial spirit, the evilkind's Dark Deity, or the Otherkin's supreme tenth level Mighty.
It wasn't long before a vibrant red pill, radiant like a cherry, enveloped in a halo of colorful mist, was carefully extracted from the "Serpentflame" furnace by Yu Yuan.
He then forcefully fed it to Fernand, urging, "There's no time to waste. Swallow it now!"
Hu Caiyun's lips quivered at the sight before her, and without a second thought, she retreated three steps.
The white crane, revered as the Death Crane, employed its demon soul to detect the mist shrouding the scarlet pill. Overcome with dizziness and blurred vision, it inwardly cursed and quickly positioned itself beside Hu Caiyun.
Fernand, with a look of utter resignation, stared at the pill teetering on the edge of his mouth, too afraid to make a move.
"Oh, I forgot—you're powerless to do anything," Yu Yuan said, tapping his forehead in a gesture of apology. He then pried open Fernand's mouth and inserted the vibrant red pill.
He pushed half his fist into Fernand's mouth to ensure the pill would swiftly descend into his intestines. "If this pill can't break the sword net, there's nothing more I can do."
Yu Yuan, with a look of disgust, shook off the saliva from his hand and took out a pristine handkerchief to meticulously clean it. "Yue Mu crafted the 'Skyfall Net.' I've permeated each strand of sword light with poison, corroding the ever-changing flow within, and thus poisoning and shattering the net."
He explained nonchalantly, unconcerned with whether the others grasped his meaning.
"He left this sword net on purpose," Yu Yuan mused silently.
To breach the "Skyfall Net" was to engage in a strategic duel with Yue Mu. The once timid swordsman, now a Grand Sword Immortal three centuries later, possessed a power and cunning that astounded Yu Yuan.
Wielding the Lunar Spirit, he executed "Spiritrend," using numerous tiny crimson sword lights to compel Yue Mu's remnant soul to depart—a test of his own mettle.
Yue Mu appeared to be guiding Fernand through the sword net within him, refining his swordsmanship and revealing the most intricate workings of the sword spell.
This was an unconventional method of imparting swordsmanship.
As for the poison, it was necessary to verify the identity, to see if this was indeed Hong Qi, the God of Medicine from three hundred years ago.
"Kid, you're full of surprises," Yu Yuan muttered under his breath. Sensing the dissolution of the sword net within Fernand's body by the poison pill, he unraveled all of Yue Mu's intentions.
Yue Mu knew he was repaying the favor of the pill he had given three hundred years ago in his own unique way.
...
Millions of miles away, he leaned against a jutting rock, squinting at the "Rillrender" amidst the Dark Nebula. A shiver of realization passed through him, and his eyes sparkled with a touch of delight.
"It really is the Senior God of Medicine reborn."
He shifted his position to rest his back against the other side of the rock.
Leaving Fernand and the sword net behind was a test.
If Yu Yuan had truly mastered the "Titanblade" and possessed the requisite wisdom, he should be able to use Spiritrend to strip away the remnant soul from the sword net and separate the soul power from the sword light.
Whether Yu Yuan was the God of Medicine or not, achieving this feat meant he had earned Yue Mu's recognition.
The second step involved deliberately mentioning poison because when he had deciphered the Skyfall Net in his past life, Yu Yuan had played a part in it.
If Yu Yuan was indeed Hong Qi, the God of Medicine, capable of crafting poison pills, then with Yue Mu's hint, he should have thought to use poison to permeate the sword light river, gradually dissolving and eroding the sword's will.
If Yu Yuan had succeeded, it would confirm that he was indeed the God of Medicine reincarnated, the very same Hong Qi from the past.
Yue Mu didn't buy into the external rumors or the talk of reincarnation; he was determined to verify it himself!
"Since it truly is you, I'll no longer meddle with the affairs of the Annihilation Nebula."
Mulling over his thoughts, Yue Mu patted his behind, stood up, scratched his ear, and said, "I'm heading back to make my report."
