C1279 It Was Better Not to See

Yu Yuan's expression was distant and unfocused.

In contrast to Yan Qiling, Yu Yiyi, and the rest, his gaze and attention were solely fixed on Yuan Lianyao and Lin Zhuyun.

His thoughts seemed to drift, following the elusive movements of the two figures.

In the depths of the Frost Queen's eyes, those two figures stood out prominently.

Having left the Everlands years ago to venture into the extraterrestrial Star River, Yu Yuan hadn't expected to encounter Yuan Lianyao again so soon.

Her level of cultivation before his departure wasn't particularly remarkable, especially when compared to Ann Ziqing of the Colddeath.

While Ann Ziqing's swift departure from the Everlands was unsurprising, Yuan Lianyao's rapid progress was indeed unexpected.

His feelings for the striking sister mayor were complex; she was someone he could never truly forget.

He came to realize that he was destined to rebel against the path and become an adversary to the Five Supreme Factions. Consequently, he deliberately distanced himself from the Ruby Hand and Yuan Lianyao, even going so far as to avoid them at times.

His actions were out of consideration for Yuan Lianyao, to spare her from becoming entangled in controversies and endless troubles.

After all, the Ruby Hand had become a sworn enemy of his own factions, Boulderdawn and the Skyreach Consortium.

He had assumed that, due to her insufficient strength, it would be a long time before they crossed paths again.

But who could have predicted...

As the true wielder of the Crucible of Evil and the Frost Queen's real master, she perceived details so subtle they seemed to etch themselves into Yu Yuan's soul.

This allowed Yu Yuan to perceive things more intricately and profoundly than anyone else.

He observed that Yuan Lianyao's Solar Spirit Body, similar to Xu Jingyao's, had a slender, radiant neck with many tiny, almost imperceptible cracks.

With his current level of insight, he immediately recognized that Yuan Lianyao's refinement of her Solar Spirit Body was far from perfect.

Such a condition often stemmed from a hasty desire for advancement, leading to imperfections.

In the long term, these could negatively impact future breakthroughs and the merging process at the Unbound Stage.

In severe cases, the flaws could significantly hinder the breakthrough into the Unbound Stage.

"Why?" Yu Yuan found himself wondering about the stubborn and strikingly beautiful mayor who had pushed herself to the brink, forsaking sleep and sustenance to forge her body. She had utilized the swift dark arts of the Ruby Hand to refine her Solar Spirit with unparalleled speed, all to leave the Everlands and rush to the extraterrestrial.

What could be so urgent to drive her away?

A wave of guilt washed over Yu Yuan.

His gaze then naturally shifted to Yuan Lianyao's adversary, the figure who stood amidst cold flames, with ice mountains rising behind her. The Frost Queen's eyes radiated a fierce, chilling intent.

"How unexpected..." Yu Yuan murmured, his expression subtly shifting.

Unlike Yuan Lianyao, he discovered that Lin Zhuyun was actually present in her real body form within the Brugeth, and the impression she made on him was eerily reminiscent of his own and Chen Qinghuang's.

Her vitality was abundant and powerful, like an ocean, and her cold spiritual energy was seamlessly integrated with her flesh and soul.

His eyes unconsciously drifted to the Frost Queen's chest, where he saw a vibrant, fist-sized, green heart pulsating with life. This heart had been miraculously formed by a drop of the Queen's lifeblood.

Lin Zhuyun's body harbored a similar essence, an aura that felt familiar to him.

— It was the essence of the Abyssal Leviathan!

He immediately realized that after Lin Zhuyun had been taken by the Abyssal Leviathan in Ionodios, she must have been regarded with newfound respect and cultivated with great enthusiasm.

Regardless of the Abyssal Leviathan's intentions, it had willingly sacrificed its lifeblood to assist her in undergoing a profound metamorphosis, purifying her marrow and transforming her bones.

Her flesh and the Solar Spirit Body she had honed, including her soul, were now without blemish, achieving perfection.

Yu Yuan felt certain that her advancement to the Unbound Realm was inevitable, and she might even ascend further, potentially reaching the Primordial Spirit Realm.

Considering her innate talent, potential, and current combat prowess, she was, in truth, far superior to Yuan Lianyao.

The battle between Yuan Lianyao and her appeared evenly matched, but only because Yuan Lianyao was relying on the Red Demon Bell and other external aids.

Yet Lin Zhuyun had not resorted to any remarkable spiritual tools. Yu Yuan sensed that she hadn't even tapped into her full strength, nor was she in any rush to reveal her most formidable techniques.

Suddenly...

Yu Yuan watched in astonishment as the shadowy figure locked in combat with Yuan Lianyao seemed to momentarily stall within the depths of the Frozen Flames.

Almost instantly, a pair of eyes brimming with cold fury and boundless resentment appeared to magnify abruptly!

She was gazing at them from a distance!

At that moment, the Frost Queen's eyes, sparkling with icy lightning, closed in evident pain.

"That woman has sensed me, and even glanced our way through my eyes!"

The Frost Queen, massaging the corners of her eyes, pinched and shattered the strands of frosty lightning. "She has also deciphered the arcane secrets and blood mysteries of our Frostfiend lineage. My sister has been consumed by her, and I can no longer feel even the faintest trace of her lingering thoughts."

"It's all her soul's essence!"

The Frost Queen, whose true name was Adele, spoke with a voice heavy with sorrow, her teeth clenched in anguish.

"Princess Aofra?"

Moore, an elder of the Frostfiend, was moved to sorrow by her words and sought confirmation in a subdued tone.

The Frost Queen, struggling to open her eyes, nodded slowly. "My sister once evaded disaster, concealing herself in the Frozen Hellscape. Later, to rescue me, she stealthily entered the Embers Sea and inhabited that woman's body. But due to the Abyssal Leviathan's vile plot, that woman absorbed and dissolved my sister, stripping away everything!"

"My sister is gone, with not a trace of her devil soul remaining. It's my fault she's dead." The Frost Queen hung her head in self-reproach.

"Our clan, our clan's honor..." Moore lamented with a mournful howl.

The most gifted pair of sisters met a tragic end; the elder sister's devil soul was extinguished by Lin Zhuyun, erased from existence.

And the younger sister became a formidable Bane within the Crucible of Evil, enslaved by humankind, forever robbed of her freedom, destined to battle on their behalf for the rest of her days.

The once-mighty Frostfiend clan had been reduced to this sorrowful state, filling the old man with inconsolable grief.

"Yu Yuan!"

Yan Qiling had no interest in the conflict between Lin Zhuyun and Yuan Lianyao. Noticing his silence, she urged, "Listen to me, don't go over there just for the sake of it. You've seen it for yourself. With Ogeus and so many Human cultivators present, neither the Ghoul King nor that girl stand a chance against them."

"Consider what will happen if you go there," he said.

"Ogeus and Yuan Lianyao have emerged victorious. If you show up, they'll turn their weapons against you. And if Ogeus, along with the other Solar Spirits from the Land of Quiescence, demand that Yuan Lianyao kills you, what will she decide? Your presence would only cause her trouble and put her in a difficult position."

"It's better to not meet at all!"

Yan Qiling cautioned.

"No, I believe if I don't go, Lin Zhuyun will kill her," Yu Yuan countered, shaking his head, confident in his judgment. "You all stay here and follow the original plan. I'll head over there to assess the situation."

"You!" He pointed at Yu Yiyi, "You stay put! With you here, I can monitor every move made in this place."

Yu Yiyi, who had been ready to depart with him, stiffened.

"Can you detach yourself from this cauldron?" Yu Yuan inquired further.

Yu Yiyi replied with a sense of resignation, "Once separated, the cauldron's power will diminish, and my combat abilities will significantly decrease."

"As long as it's possible to separate, that's good," Yu Yuan said as he stepped into the cauldron, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Frost Queen. He commanded decisively, "Head to that location. I know you can see it, so you should be able to pinpoint it accurately!"

"Understood."

The Crucible of Evil soared into the air.

The Frost Queen, aware that he was the true master of the Crucible of Evil, did not seek Yu Yiyi's opinion or feelings on the matter.

Once Yu Yuan had made up his mind, the Frost Queen had no choice but to comply without a hint of resistance.

"None of you should follow me!"

He sternly stopped Yan Ziyang and Moore, who seemed intent on tailing them.

Before departing, Yu Yuan gave Chen Qinghuang a lingering glance. Seeing that the empress was still deep in slumber, he left with his mind at ease.

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