C1089 Starborn Holy Weapon

On the sixth floor of the hall, Yu Yuan stepped in and was immediately enveloped in silence, the clamor from below fading away. The pyramid-shaped building narrowed with each ascending level, and the value of the items displayed increased correspondingly.

This floor was equipped with soundproofing and a wall that blocked the perception of remnant souls, creating an unusually quiet atmosphere. Only those of extremely high status and wealth frequented this level—individuals like Beru from the Starborn Curtis family, Noeyr the Voidweaver, Canli of the Dawnbringers, the archdemon Green Willow, and Tian Zang, the Ghost King.

"Yu Yuan!" A tall man with silver hair and a radiant smile greeted him. "Look at you, making a name for yourself so quickly after leaving Afnetalos. I'm impressed."

He appeared to be in his forties, his gray robe adorned with crescent moon patterns.

"Tan Junshan!" Yu Yuan was taken aback, not expecting to encounter this recluse from the Moon Sect at the Ionodios gathering.

Tan Junshan, a late-stage Unbound practitioner, was a renowned figure within the Starmoon Sect, rumored to be the most devoted supporter of the enigmatic Moon Sect leader. Yu Yuan recalled that during his time in Afnetalos, it was the archdemon Green Willow who had been sent to intercept him, with Zu Ann stepping in to pressure the Songbird Queen into abdication. Beru had once mentioned clashing with Tan Junshan, neither gaining the upper hand.

"Don't be surprised," Tan Junshan said with an easy smile. "The Starmoon Sect and the five Supreme Forces of the Everlands are no longer allies. You've probably heard about our leader, who, with the support of the Moonlit Wanderers and the Boulderdawn Sect, has ascended to the Supreme God position."

Beside him stood a slender woman from the Moonlit Wanderers, strikingly beautiful with a ninth-level bloodline.

"She's not the Moon Sect leader; her name is Winona, an elder of the Moonlit Wanderers, just like Bertha," Tan Junshan said, playfully gesturing towards Yu Yuan. "She's heard about the little misunderstanding between you and Bertha."

"I offer Bertha's apologies to you."

Winona, who appeared to be in her thirties, bowed with her palm against her chest.

"Bertha has..." Yu Yuan began softly.

Winona nodded, signaling that the Moonlit Wanderers' leadership was well aware of the situation.

Yu Yuan chose not to elaborate further.

"Yu Yuan, allow me to introduce someone to you."

Beru, whose life had been revitalized by Yu Yuan's pill, brought forward a somewhat timid Starborn youth from behind Tan Junshan and Winona, saying, "Leo, this is Yu Yuan I've been telling you about!"

The Starborn youth named Leo, with a broad forehead and kind eyes, was clad in a strikingly loose snow-white priestly robe. He greeted Yu Yuan with a radiant smile, "Thank you for your pill."

Although Leo's Starborn lineage was only of the eighth level, Yu Yuan sensed something extraordinary about him.

"You..." Yu Yuan carefully chose his words.

"You feel it, don't you?"

Canli approached from a distance, smiling, "Like me, Leo was born with an altar. So, even though his family isn't highly ranked, he's most likely to become the next chieftain of the Starborn."

Yu Yuan was inwardly astonished.

Those born with an Altar of Rebirth were the darlings of fate, treasured as the most precious beings by any race.

Canli and Leo were no exceptions.

"Yu Yuan, your timing is perfect." Tan Junshan beckoned him over, clearing a space and pointing to a radiant necklace behind the counter, "I want to buy this necklace for Liu Ying, but Beru is also interested."

Even from a distance, Yu Yuan was captivated by the sight of the necklace. Shaped like a ring, it resembled a dazzling starry sea, with its dozen irregular crystals emitting a pure light.

"The Starfall Sea is a sacred artifact of our Starborn people," Beru remarked with a huff.

Not long ago, Tan Junshan had aided the five greatest powers in their ventures into the Star River of the extraterrestrial realms.

Although this recluse from the Moon Sect wasn't known for committing acts of violence, he had repeatedly assisted allies in escaping the clutches of the Otherkin coalition, drawing Beru's ire.

Yet Tan Junshan's combat prowess was so formidable that it left Beru in awe. His numerous attempts to ambush Tan Junshan had all been thwarted.

The Starfall Sea is indeed a treasure of your Starborn, but as it stands, it's currently in the possession of the Chamber of Commerce, isn't it?" Tan Junshan said to Yu Yuan with a chuckle, "Liu Ying will surely emerge in a few years. I'd like to get a head start on finding her a gift. This item doesn't require any special lineage to wield, and Liu Ying is perfectly capable of handling it."

"Why involve Yu Yuan if you're buying it for Liu Ying? Just buy it for her," Ann Ziqing said from behind, glaring at Tan Junshan with impatience. She was still fuming from the grievances she'd suffered on the previous level, with no outlet for her frustration. "Or is it that the Starmoon Sect has fallen on hard times and you're looking to Yu Yuan for a loan?"

"Of course not," Tan Junshan replied with a cough, followed by an awkward chuckle. "Yu Yuan, you've already given Beru a new lease on life. Could you persuade him to let Leo part with the Starfall Sea for us? Even if you don't want to do me a favor, think about Liu Ying, won't you?"

Yu Yuan appeared somewhat troubled. "This..."

"Is this Liu Ying someone you're responsible for?" Beru interjected suddenly.

Yu Yuan hesitated before responding, "She's a very good, very dear little sister."

After a moment's thought, Beru said, "Leo intends to secure the Starfall Sea first to delve into its secrets. If Liu Ying truly breaks free from the Everlands, and if the Starmoon Sect remains as it is now, not aligned with the five supreme forces, then have Liu Ying come to me."

"When that time comes, I'll assess whether she has the potential to earn the Starfall Sea's recognition."

Leo chimed in, "The Starfall Sea conceals certain rules and secrets I yearn to understand. The holy weapon itself doesn't offer me much assistance; it's more a symbol of the High Priest."

"That works for me!" Tan Junshan said, breaking into a wide smile. He gave Yu Yuan a friendly pat on the shoulder, "Your influence is truly impressive! I've been pleading with old Beru for ages, and he wouldn't give me the time of day. It's maddening how some people have all the luck."

"Tan Junshan, if you've got no business here, then make yourself scarce. Stop being a nuisance," Green Willow snapped coldly.

"Hey, can we keep things friendly here? The past is the past. Our Starmoon Sect hasn't stooped to colluding with the five supreme beings," Tan Junshan pleaded with a pained expression, tugging Winona of the Moonlit Wanderers down to the next level.

Winona paused, then spoke up, "The Silvermoon Queen is also one of our Moonlit Wanderers. Could you possibly speak to the Stormcrowned Emperor and ask him to release the missing part of Yue Fei's residual soul in Ionodios?"

Yu Yuan was taken aback.

He recalled that during his time in the Moonfall Sanctuary, the Stormcrowned Emperor had used the Shadow Curse to refine Yue Fei's remnant soul.

This left Yue Fei incomplete.

"Even after refining it, can he still return it?" Yu Yuan inquired.

"Yue Fei's rank surpasses that of the current Stormcrowned Emperor. He only managed to refine her Soul Power. The core imprint of Yue Fei remains unassimilated," Winona clarified.

"I'll have a word with him," Yu Yuan promised.

"Thank you," she expressed her gratitude before she continued following Tan Junshan down the stairs to depart.

Yu Yuan stroked his chin thoughtfully. "So, the Moonlit Wanderers and the Moonfiend are on good terms now?"

"The Moonfiend were nearly eradicated by Nie Qingtian. The few that survived can't really make waves anymore. Their relationship with the Moonlit Wanderers has consequently shifted, with the Moonfiend becoming dependent on the Wanderers," Tian Zang explained with a smile. "Particularly since the Moon Sect Master advanced to a primordial spirit as a member of the Moonlit Wanderers, they've become quite sought after. They hold a decisive advantage over the remaining Moonfiend, so there's no longer any concern."

Yu Yuan nodded, indicating his understanding.

"Come, take a look at this," Tian Zang beckoned, "I think you'll find this quite useful."

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