C123 The Battle Continued to Shake

The Silvermoon Empire was in a state of constant turmoil. Its seven great cities were haunted by alien souls and malevolent entities that had been sealed away for millennia. Many of these beings were so ancient and obscure that even the seasoned cultivators of the empire had never heard of them. It seemed as though these creatures had existed in the realm long before the rise of the Silvermoon Empire.

Initially, the nation mobilized en masse to exterminate these alien souls and evil beings. But over time, their numbers grew, and they became increasingly powerful. Many of these alien souls and malevolent entities had traveled from distant lands, converging on the Silvermoon Empire with alarming speed.

It was soon discovered that these entities were silently amassing near the gateway to the Moonfall Sanctuary. The Empress quickly realized that they were all attempting to breach the massive archway to gain entry into the forbidden area.

Inside the empire, only a handful of alien souls and evil beings roamed the cities, thankfully not causing widespread calamity. Yet, the chaos inflicted had already severely weakened the Silvermoon Empire, leading to the downfall of numerous noble houses.

Even the five great families suffered varying degrees of harm, with many military commanders and leaders sustaining grave injuries or death. Curiously, the Crimson Sun Empire refrained from seizing the opportunity to invade. The Sunfire Emperor himself declared that he would not dispatch forces to the Silvermoon Empire's lands during this critical time.

At the entrance to the Moonfall Sanctuary, colossal bolts of lightning cascaded from the depths of the clouds. The lightning was resplendent, teeming with innumerable lost Lightning Talismans. These ancient thunder runes, as if nurtured by the extraterrestrial lightning pools, could wreak havoc on ethereal souls.

Not even a Lunar Spirit could withstand their force, and a materialized Solar Spirit would be forced to shed a layer upon impact. Below, countless sword's wills frolicked through subterranean chasms like schools of joyous fish.

Each thread of sword's will radiated an aura of immensity, vastness, and antiquity, as if they had been part of the cosmos since time immemorial, each possessing its own spiritual wisdom and intent.

The sole path to the forbidden area lay through the towering archway, resembling a broad stone bridge. Constructed from massive stones, the arch glowed under the moonlight. Upon closer inspection, one could discern the semblance of flowing silver chains, swiftly coursing through the monolithic stones.

"Swish!"

A colossal alien soul, a hundred feet tall and blood-red, was propelled by an archdemon across the expanse of the valley.

It streaked through the air like a slash of crimson light.

In the ravine, a silver radiance, swift as a cascading ribbon, burst forth.

Deep within the churning clouds, thunder echoed in response.

"Crack!"

A lightning bolt, reminiscent of a plummeting waterfall, split the sky. In concert with the silver light, it struck the alien soul, slaying it instantly.

Around the forbidden area, the wilderness was teeming with wraiths. Some loomed hundreds of meters high, their true forms obscured, while others were as minute as grains of rice, yet emitted soul waves of terrifying intensity.

Archdemons howled, their roars reverberating through the earth.

Imprisoned for millennia, alien souls clung to bronze monuments, drifting near the archway as if in anticipation.

It seemed that at the slightest gap in the arch, they would surge through.

Alien souls and malevolent beings that had existed since before the founding of the Silvermoon Empire, even from the eras of empires long past, now converged here, all awaiting their moment.

They awaited a vulnerability in the timeless grand array.

Some had the majority of their souls sealed within, others had their bones entombed.

These remnants were brought forth by cultivators who had ventured into the forbidden area in bygone times.

What emerged was merely a fragment of their former selves, not the entirety.

Outside the forbidden area, after eons of accumulation, they had regained some semblance of their corporeal forms and strength.

Should they penetrate the forbidden area and merge with their other halves, their combat prowess would surely multiply.

In that event, the modest Silvermoon Empire, and even Aetherius itself, would become their hunting grounds, a place for them to harvest at will.

By the time the mighty from the Land of Quiescence and Euwrea arrived, they would have already dispersed, either retreating into ancient sanctuaries or soaring beyond the terrestrial bounds, unshackled and free.

...

Lee Yuchan was refining her Lunar Spirit, Lee Yu was engaging with the Soul Orb, and Zhao Yafu was integrating the Flood Dragon legacy.

Yu Yuan unfolded the White Paper Fan, allowing his heaven soul's consciousness to meander. He persisted in his study of Soul Forging through Enlightenment, gradually honing his heaven soul.

The power of the Seed of Life within his abdomen was diffusing, aiding him in purifying his flesh and blood.

While cultivating, he experienced a profound and enigmatic sensation.

The sword light etched into his bones seemed to transform into vigilant eyes during his practice of Soul Forging through Enlightenment, silently observing him from the shadows.

More precisely, they were watching over his three souls of heaven, earth, and man.

The feeling was both wondrous and bizarre.

As his heaven soul became more concentrated and his spiritual wisdom awoke, he felt an odd illusion envelop him.

He sensed a natural affinity with the sword spirit lingering within the sword light.

There appeared to be reasons beyond the purity of his heaven soul for the sword light's choice of him over other trial-takers.

Whenever he communicated with the sword spirit, conveying his intentions, it would comply with remarkable docility, not merely because of his strength.

It was as if the sword spirit was inherently drawn to him, eager to heed his command.

"Hmm!"

Yu Yuan abruptly rose to his feet and strode off alone to another location.

Lee Yu simply opened his eyes, casting a glance at the silver robe suspended in the air, and remained silent.

Moments later, Yu Yuan paused, his gaze fixed on the silver robe that floated before him.

Adorned with moons of various shapes—full, half, and crescent—the robe radiated an ethereal moonlight from within its hollow folds.

At the neck of the robe flickered a cluster of green flames, resembling a verdant lantern.

The silver robe halted a cautious ten meters from Yu Yuan, not daring to draw any closer. It seemed poised to flee at the slightest provocation, ready to vanish into the distance.

"You've got quite the nerve," Yu Yuan remarked, eyeing the green flame at the robe's collar. "After your previous attempt on my life, you still dare to tempt fate and try again?"

The soul's presence was unmistakable, allowing Yu Yuan to immediately recognize the green soul inhabiting the garment as the formidable Moonfiend—Yue Fei.

Yue Fei, now enshrouded in an enigmatic robe, had boldly sought him out once more.

"This time, I've come to have a proper discussion with you."

The myriad lunar patterns on the robe shimmered, enabling Yue Fei to articulate her words with remarkable fluidity.

Her voice was even clearer and more melodious than the one Feng Xin and the naive girl in white had used.

"This robe?" Yu Yuan was taken aback.

"I'm not sure why it's scattered across the forbidden area, but it likely belongs to our Moonfiend lineage," Yue Fei's soul shimmered as she spoke. "This time, I'm genuinely interested in discussing terms with you, the guardian of this forbidden place."

"What is it you wish to discuss?" Yu Yuan scoffed. "Do you really believe you're worthy of negotiating with me?"

"Have you ever heard of what's known as the fourth upper sect?" Yue Fei inquired.

"The fourth upper sect?"

"Yes, the fourth upper sect of the Euwrea Continent, among your human societies."

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