C115 Golden Skeleton

Moonlight cascaded from the heavens like a silvery waterfall.

In the stone forest, strewn with Moon Shards, stood a trio. Leading them was a white-clad young girl, her body now the vessel for the mightiest of Moonfiends.

Her eyes shimmered with a verdant glow, clear and bright as if two emerald gems were set within her sockets.

This body was a better fit for her than Feng Xin's had been, granting her the ability to unleash greater power in combat.

The moon's light, transformed into countless strands of icy luminescence, was eagerly absorbed by her.

A cultivator with the insight of Lee Yuchan, attuned to the Subtlety of things, would immediately notice that beneath her skin, her bones had turned into green crystals.

They were hard, gleaming, emitting an eerie brilliance.

Her crystalline bones signified that her recent refinement of this body had reached a level of formidable intensity.

She was confident that should she face Yu Yuan again, even if he unleashed the same devastating blow that once rent her soul from flesh, she could withstand it with her rock-solid corporeal form.

Even if her flesh was torn asunder, as long as her bones remained intact, she could retain eighty to ninety percent of her fighting prowess.

With such strength, dispatching a swordless Yu Yuan and his cohorts would be as easy as flipping one's hand.

"Master."

Lost in contemplation, her two followers gazed beyond the stone forest with trepidation and said, "Beyond this point lies unfamiliar territory for our kind."

The other follower added somberly, "This land was a forbidden area ten million years ago. We were severed from our homeland by the sword, cast down here to repair the magic circle and keep them at bay. One more step, and we risk encountering them, our fate uncertain."

"There's no need for concern." The Moonfiend's eyes, as green as jade, sparkled with excitement. "Those suppressed and sealed within the forbidden area's depths long for our aid. We have no substantial conflict with them. We are not of this place. Should we break free, our return to the surface is inevitable."

She raised her gaze to the firmament, fixating on the crescent moon, her mind adrift in memories of bygone days.

"How many years has it been? I wonder if any of my kin have survived in our homeland. Among the myriad Sky Fiends, our Moonfiend Race is but a lesser power. The land we depend on for survival has often become the proving ground for cultivators seeking to forge their Solar Spirits."

"Our home lies in ruins, our people have perished, and it's possible that we are the last of our kind."

As she spoke, a boundless hatred welled up in her emerald eyes, threatening to engulf the heavens and the earth.

"I am determined to break the seal of this forbidden area and release the malevolent spirits and monstrous creatures that have been trapped for eons!"

Her voice took on an eerie cadence, making the chilling winds around her seem to wail in sympathy.

"The Aetherius Continent is the cornerstone of both the Land of Quiescence and Euwrea. This land is steeped in torment and death. Without it, the other two continents will struggle to find new disciples for a great while."

"For the land of our ancestors, for the memory of our fallen kin, I wish to see this continent awash with blood and filled with cries of anguish!"

She lifted her head high and strode confidently through the stone forest, advancing into the heart of the forbidden area.

The other two trailed behind her, matching her every step.

Gradually, the trio vanished from sight.

...

Deep within the forbidden area, Lee Yu, Yan Lu, and others were active within a vast crater, seeking their fortunes.

Zhao Yafu, in particular, had come upon an ancient, dragon-shaped jade pendant.

Time had not been kind to the pendant; it was significantly damaged, and for cultivators of higher realms, it held little practical value.

Indeed, those who had braved this place in years past came from all three continents, possessing skills that reached the heavens. Among them were many at the Lunar Spirit, Spirit Walk, and Solar Spirit realms.

To such individuals, a severely damaged dragon-shaped jade pendant was of negligible worth.

Yet for Zhao Yafu, the pendant still harbored a strand of persistent dragon's breath. She connected with it through her spiritual energy, drawing it forth with her vitality, and slowly reaped its benefits.

Fortune as great as hers was rare among the survivors.

The majority found nothing of value and quickly grew disenchanted.

In one corner of the deep pit, several broad stone paths stretched out, their destinations unknown.

Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from one of the spacious, tall stone paths, causing everyone to look around in alarm.

"There's something coming!"

Yuan Ting leapt to his feet from his seated meditation, the closest to the stone path, and hurriedly turned to investigate.

"Ah!"

He let out a startled cry and stumbled backward in a panic.

At that moment, every eye in the room was drawn to the commotion.

Yu Yuan's eyes sparkled as he quickly turned to Lee Yu, "Newcomer, I'll draw its attention. You and your Aunt Yuchan coordinate with me to lead it elsewhere."

Before Lee Yu could respond, Lee Yuchan's shoulders quivered slightly, and she looked at him questioningly.

Yu Yuan gave a subtle nod, "The soul within is fragmented, yet it's a good fit for you."

Lee Yuchan's eyes shone with anticipation.

"Yuan Ting, what is that thing?" Zhan Tianxiang called out.

"A golden skeleton, humanoid!" Yuan Ting yelled back.

No sooner had he spoken than they all beheld a nearly two-meter-tall humanoid skeleton.

Crafted as if from gold itself, the skeleton gleamed brilliantly, its skull pierced at the brow by some sharp weapon.

Yet within that hollow skull flickered a dark red flame, burning fitfully like a candle in the wind.

The dark red flame radiated a distinct aura of a soul, controlling the golden skeleton as it stepped forth from the depths of the stone pathway.

"That flicker of flame?" Lee Yuchan asked, her expression shifting, "Is it a soul?"

The dark red flame burned like fire, yet the aura it released was chillingly cold.

"A shattered Solar Spirit, refined once more into essence," Yu Yuan observed deeply. "In life, this individual was a formidable Solar Spirit realm warrior. It's a pity he was struck through the mind by a blade, his Lunar Spirit instantly obliterated, and his Solar Spirit torn asunder. A sliver of the Solar Spirit's essence managed to escape in the explosion."

"Regrettably, even the escaped essence of the Solar Spirit was still suppressed by the rune circle of the forbidden area, confined to a specific spot within the cave."

"With the world's transformation, the array that had been containing the Solar Spirit's essence underwent a readjustment, allowing it to break free and instinctively seek out its former body."

Yu Yuan recounted the hidden truths with the familiarity of recounting family lore, his own expression turning peculiar.

He touched his head, feeling the presence of the sword spirit within his arm, and inquired inwardly, "Did you tell me this?"

The sword spirit remained silent, but his arm began to warm.

"You!"

Yu Yuan huffed coldly, his gaze fixed on the golden skeleton, eyes locked on the smoldering dark flame.

The flames erupted into chaos!

Sensing the presence of its arch-nemesis, the golden skeleton charged at Yu Yuan with sudden ferocity. It seemed to understand that by vanquishing Yu Yuan, it could break free, reassemble its fragmented soul, and be reborn into the world.

"Stay here, both of you. Sister Lee, Lee Yu, follow me!"

...