C108 Unprecedented Unity!
"I'm joining them!"
Yan Lu of the Yan family flashed a grin. "I'm curious to see what secrets lie deep within the forbidden area. With the Moon Demon's awakening, the empire might undergo a transformation. Who knows what significant changes could occur in those depths?"
With a wave of his hand, he strode toward Yu Yuan.
His waist wound had healed over time, and now he was back at his peak.
He had this inkling that his breakthrough to the Profound Break Stage was imminent.
Rumor had it that the forbidden area was fraught with danger and the spiritual energy was wildly turbulent. Without reaching the Profound Break Stage, navigating it would be fraught with difficulties.
Yan Lu was already planning to find a spot to shatter the constraints of his current level and formally advance to the Profound Break.
Having spent recent times together, fighting shoulder to shoulder, Yan Lu had gained a newfound respect for Yu Yuan. He increasingly believed that partnering with Yu Yuan in the forbidden area would significantly boost his odds of survival.
Now restored to full combat strength, Yan Lu was second in prowess only to Lee Yu.
His choice to join was a game-changer for many.
"We'll go with them as well," declared Su Yan of the Su family, her demeanor serene as she smiled and turned to Lim Zhuyun. "Sister Lim, what about you? Will the Lim family opt for the safety of the nearest exit back to the empire, or will you take a bolder approach?"
Lim Zhuyun's face was etched with indecision.
Without the Moon Demon's threat, she would have unhesitatingly led her clan back through the entrance they'd used. But now...
No one knew where the most formidable Moon Demon was lurking. What if it emerged unexpectedly?
"Oh, right," Yu Yuan interjected, halting and pivoting to address the group. "You really don't need to worry about the Moon Demon, not even the most powerful one. I have a feeling it's already fixated on me as the primary target. To put it bluntly, in the eyes of the Moon Demon, your fates are inconsequential to the bigger picture."
His words cast a peculiar look across the faces of those gathered.
"I don't mean to target anyone personally," Yu Yuan clarified earnestly. "During the Forbidden Area Trial, I acquired something that allows me to counter the Moon Demon, and it's made me a prime target for elimination. So, sticking with me means a guaranteed confrontation with the Moon Demon. On the other hand, if you part ways with me, the Moon Demon might not even give you a second glance."
"Really?" Van Ning's eyes sparkled with hope.
He had been standing at a distance, feeling increasingly alienated from the group these past few days. He sensed the others were ostracizing him, quietly distancing themselves. His reluctance to leave stemmed from a fear of becoming prey to the Moon Demon once isolated, especially without a "soul sacrifice ball" and lacking the means to defeat such a creature.
Hearing Yu Yuan's declaration that the Moon Demon was solely fixated on killing him, Van Ning recalled the previous encounter when the formidable Moon Demon had abruptly shifted its focus...
"The Moon Demon is after me; it will use every method at its disposal to end my life," Yu Yuan reaffirmed. "Therefore, distancing yourself from me might spare you from its wrath. The farther away you are, the less likely you'll encounter the Moon Demon."
"Understood," Van Ning responded, nodding and offering a respectful gesture to Lee Yu and Yu Yuan. "Farewell."
He then strode resolutely toward the entrance of the forbidden area in the Silvermoon Empire, not looking back. He was the first to choose a path divergent from the rest.
Lim Zhuyun was next, having received renewed assurances from Yu Yuan. "We've decided to return to the entrance we came through."
"Take care," Su Yan said with a warm smile. "I wish you a safe and smooth journey."
With that, Lim Zhuyun and the Lim family members slowly disappeared into the distance.
The remaining individuals didn't follow suit; their eyes were fixed on Lee Yu, whose decision was critical for the trial participants from the various cities.
"I'm uncertain about the situation in the Empire, but I too sense anomalies deep within the forbidden area," Lee Yu mused before making his stance clear. "I will join Yu Yuan."
"Welcome," Yu Yuan called out confidently from ahead.
The departure of Van Ning and Lim Zhuyun was, in fact, a weight off his shoulders. Van Ning, with his treacherous and venomous nature, was a threat to the group's cohesion.
As for Lim Zhuyun and the Lim family, their hostility and aloofness had always been apparent. Should they face any dire circumstances in the future, Yu Yuan knew better than to count on the Lim family's aid—they were more likely to kick him when he was down.
"Yu Yuan, do you have a premonition?" Zhan Tianxiang sidled up with a playful grin. "There's got to be some mystery hidden deep within the forbidden area, right? Come on, be honest, do you feel it?"
"I just have this sense that something out of the ordinary might happen there," Yu Yuan responded. "But I can't pin down exactly what."
For a considerable stretch of time, the group trekked across the wilderness, guided by Lee Yu as they ventured deeper into the forbidden area.
Lee Yu was thoroughly prepared. He had a mental map of the terrain, knew the locations, and was even familiar with specific pits in the area. Without Yu Yuan's presence, and had he not received that ancient sword soul, Lee Yu would have been the most fitting leader.
The Moon Demon remained elusive.
Armed with the Demon Core, Yu Yuan boldly persisted in practicing the Evil Body Refining Skill. Night after night, he endured grueling cultivation sessions, harnessing the wild and chaotic spiritual energy to purify his flesh and blood over and over again.
He was acutely aware of his expanding meridians and the significant hardening of his bones.
The early phase of the Spirit Accumulating Stage was crucial for forging the body and transforming the flesh. At this level, Yu Yuan laid a rock-solid foundation that would yield immense benefits as he advanced to the Profound Break Stage.
Several days later, Yan Lu from the Yan family achieved a breakthrough to the Profound Break Stage after a session of cultivation!
Under the daunting pressure of the Moon Demon and in the face of a relentless environment, the others were also making breakthroughs.
Some progressed from the early to the middle phase of the Yellow Court Stage.
Others ascended from the Spirit Accumulating Stage to the Yellow Court Stage.
The intense pressure and fear spurred everyone on, fueling their desperate cultivation efforts. They even exchanged tips and insights on their practices.
Even Lee Yu, who was known for his reticence, occasionally offered a word or two of guidance when asked.
After Van Ning and the Lim family members departed, the remaining survivors banded together, facing the Moon Demon's menace with unprecedented unity.
"Brother, I've run out of Elemental Pills."
Yu Feifei approached Yu Yuan that night, a hint of sheepishness in her voice. "I've made a breakthrough too. I'm now in the middle phase of the Spirit Accumulating Stage, and I need the Elemental Pill to help me refine my body."
"Elemental Pill, is it?" Su Yan chimed in from the side.
Yu Yuan turned to her with a puzzled look.
Rising from her seated meditation, Su Yan approached Yu Feifei and offered two pills. "These are the Elemental Pills crafted by our Su family. They'll aid in your swift recovery during your cultivation at the Spirit Accumulating Stage."
Yu Feifei, momentarily taken aback, sought reassurance from Yu Yuan. Only after he gave a nod did she quickly express her gratitude, "Thank you so much, Miss Su."
Internally, Yu Feifei harbored a fear of Su Yan, having long been aware of her reputation and knowing that her father was the heir-apparent to the Su family's leadership.
The Yu family had always trodden lightly in their dealings with the Su family, whose representatives often carried themselves with an air of superiority.
The fact that Su Yan was now proffering two Elemental Pills without any expectation of payment was beyond Yu Feifei's wildest dreams.
"There's no need for thanks. Your brother has done so much for us; these Elemental Pills are the least we can offer in return," Su Yan said dismissively, then moved closer to Yu Yuan. After a brief pause, she asked in a low voice, "What's the story with the Yuan family and Zhao family's Elemental Pills?"
