C11 Senior

Yuan Qiufang stood at the mouth of the cave, his gaze complex as he peered outside.

Outside, Yu Yuan had his back to him, seemingly oblivious to the skirmish between Yuan and Lyu Yue. It was as though he had anticipated the outcome from the start, his indifference palpable.

In the midst of battle, Yu Yuan was engrossed in writing something on a piece of paper.

"You recognized the Devil Refining Spell immediately, you're aware of the Red Devil Sect's origins, and you've even been resurrected recently..."

After some contemplation, Yuan Qiufang formed a hypothesis. Stepping out of the cave, his demeanor shifted to one of greater reverence as he softly inquired, "Senior? Senior?"

He was convinced that Yu Yuan, having returned from death, was now inhabited by the soul of some ancient entity.

A formidable practitioner, once reaching a certain threshold, would harbor three souls, each with distinct intelligence and consciousness.

Moreover, such masters could employ Soul Arts to split their souls and seize other bodies to fulfill their objectives.

Naturally, these fragmented souls lacked the capacity to progress further once they had taken over another body.

Yet, no matter the distance, these souls could maintain a connection with their original form, leveraging their wisdom to move freely and act as they pleased in their new host.

In Yuan Qiufang's mind, this was precisely the state Yu Yuan was in.

His true form might be on the distant Heavenly Source Continent or Quietus Continent, with only a fragment of his soul seizing the chance to inhabit Yu Yuan and operate within Darkmoon City.

"Hmm."

Yu Yuan turned, fixing Yuan Qiufang with an amused look.

Yuan Qiufang's respect deepened.

"This list is for you," Yu Yuan said, extending the paper. "Gather these items quickly. They will help you eradicate the fire toxin. Return to me once you've assembled them. Of course, in exchange for my assistance with the fire toxin, you'll need to do something else for me."

"What would that be?" Yuan Qiufang inquired eagerly.

"We'll discuss that once you've gathered everything," Yu Yuan replied with a smile, his gaze piercing as if he could read Yuan's very soul. "Since you've surmised as much, let's not play games. I'll be frank—I have a deep connection with the Red Devil Sect. Since you practice their Spiritual Spell, a quick check with them will reveal your identity. Rest assured, I have my ways to handle you."

"I wouldn't dare!" Yuan Qiufang quickly made his position clear, "Senior, rest assured. As long as you help me with the fire toxin issue, I will fully cooperate with you in Darkmoon City!"

Yu Yuan nodded, showing his satisfaction. "This matter is between you and me alone. Remember that—it's just us two!"

"Got it!" Yuan Qiufang assured him repeatedly before asking, "Senior, what about the possessions from that member of the Cold Yin Sect?"

Yu Yuan gestured for him to take everything, "We're close to Darkmoon City; there's no need for an escort. I'll head back to the Yu family on my own. And if you need to contact me, do it like you did last time—quietly, without causing a stir."

He still believed that the one who had captured him was the man before him.

"Rest assured, Senior." Yuan Qiufang bowed respectfully, watching as he glided down Dwarf Mountain and made his way toward Darkmoon City.

Half an hour later, an incredibly anxious Yuan Lianyao finally arrived.

By then, her father had already stripped Lu Yue of all his belongings and obliterated any trace of him.

"Father!"

Yuan Lianyao could barely contain her anger, "How many times have I told you not to go off on your own? Do you realize the messes you've left for me? I've been scrambling to deal with the fallout, barely managing to keep it under wraps!"

"Oh, you're here," Yuan Qiufang said cheerfully, a smile on his face. "Don't worry, there seems to be a solution for the fire toxin in my Dantian."

"What?!" Yuan Lianyao was a mix of surprise and confusion, "Who? Could it be... that fool from the Yu family?"

"Exactly him," Yuan Qiufang didn't conceal the truth, "I can't divulge more, or it could lead to trouble. I haven't revealed our relationship to him, but he might suspect I'm from the City Lord's Mansion since he noticed when I led him away from the stone path. But none of that matters. There's only one thing you need to know."

"What's that?" Yuan Lianyao was perplexed.

"This individual is extraordinary," Yuan Qiufang declared with a deep breath, his tone grave. "He might just be the key to curing my fire toxin and could even usher me into the Red Devil Sect! Ever since the one who taught me the Devil Refining Spell passed away, I've been without a guide to lead me back to the Sect."

"Could he really be the one to introduce you to the Red Devil Sect on the Quietus Continent?" Yuan Lianyao asked, her face etched with skepticism.

Yuan Qiufang gave a firm nod. "Don't concern yourself with the details just yet; the time isn't right. For now, keep an eye on the Yu family and him. Make sure he stays out of trouble."

"Okay, got it."

...

As evening fell, the sky was awash with the glow of the setting sun.

Yu Yuan made his way back to the city from the outskirts, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of leveraging Yuan Qiufang for his own gain.

He was confident that Yuan Qiufang would handle the Cold Yin Sect without drawing any unwanted attention to him. It was unlikely that the Sect would send another representative in the near future.

Yu Yuan had deliberately avoided claiming Lyu Yue's possessions, wary of leaving any incriminating evidence.

Moreover, the items he had requested from Yuan Qiufang were mostly for his own use; only a fraction were actually for treating Yuan Qiufang's poison. In this exchange, he had certainly come out ahead.

"Yu Yuan!"

"Is that Yu Yuan?"

"Can it really be him?"

Startled exclamations erupted at the northern city gate, followed by a flurry of gazes converging on him.

Snapped out of his reverie, Yu Yuan came to a halt just outside the city, frowning slightly at the unfamiliar faces gathered at the gate.

"I'm Huang Bin," announced a tall, slender youth clad in yellow brocade, striding confidently toward him, the center of everyone's attention. "So, you've come to your senses after being brought back from the brink of death?"

Huang Bin approached until he was just an arm's length away, his chest nearly touching Yu Yuan's. "Now that you're lucid, are you aware that our families are at odds here in Darkmoon City?" he asked, his eyes gleaming with challenge. "I've just heard that your grandfather, despite his broken legs, has signed you up for the Pulse Opening battle among Darkmoon City's four major families."

Yu Yuan's brow furrowed in consternation.

The Huang and Yu families were archenemies in Darkmoon City, and rumors swirled that Yu Yuan's broken leg was the work of a powerful ally invited by the Huangs. Since that incident, the Huangs had only intensified their oppression of the Yu family.

Yet, upon awakening, Yu Yuan's focus remained on the Lim family and the Cold Yin Sect, paying little heed to the Huangs. Consequently, he was unfamiliar with their members.

"What? Has the Yu family patriarch lost his mind? Yu Yuan is joining the battle that's starting in ten days?"

"Impossible! That battle is crucial for determining many of Darkmoon City's privileges! The City Lord himself will preside, reallocating the yields from the surrounding public forests and mines based on the outcome!"

"Huang Bin is the Huang family's pride, their main contender! Why on earth is Yu Yuan slated to participate?"

"Has the kid's awakening rendered his grandfather senile?"

The crowd buzzed with speculation.

Amidst the clamor, Yu Yuan managed to piece together the situation.

"So, in ten days, there's a battle between the four major families in Darkmoon City, and my grandfather signed me up?" He paused, then addressed Huang Bin, who was looming before him, "Excuse me, could you step aside? You're blocking my path back into the city."

"Heh, today I'll let you by, of course." Huang Bin stepped aside, allowing Yu Yuan to pass. Only then did he add, "But in ten days, I won't be so accommodating. If you show up to fight, I might just have to kill you."

"Kill me?" Yu Yuan halted, a hint of amusement in his gaze. "You?"

Pointing to his own nose, Huang Bin affirmed, "Yes, take a good look—it's me!"

Yu Yuan nodded, said nothing more, and made his way into Darkmoon City.

That night, bolstered by the Channel Opening Pill, Yu Yuan diligently continued his cultivation with the Glorious Heavenly Wheel.

He later learned that every three years, the Yuan, Zhao, Huang, and Yu families would engage in a contest among their cultivators, spanning the Pulse Opening, Spirit Accumulating, and Yellow Court Stages.

The tri-stage competition among the four major families will determine the allocation of spiritual materials and ley lines surrounding Darkmoon City for the coming three years.

In recent tri-stage competitions, the Yu family's share has been steadily reduced, leaving them with increasingly limited resources. This has led to a steady decline in the Yu family's power.

"In ten days, the battles across the Pulse Opening, Spirit Accumulating, and Yellow Court stages will shape our family's fortunes for the next three years."

Yu Yuan was lost in thought after a session of cultivation, pondering, "Perhaps, I should take more action to provide greater assistance to the Yu family."

While he was contemplating this, Ann Ziqing's urgent voice suddenly pierced the air from outside.

"Young Master! Something's wrong!"

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