C133 The Reversal of Status!

In the Aetherius Continent, various empires both within and beyond their borders were home to numerous cultivation sects.

These sects, while not comparable to the might of the great families of the empires, possessed strength that was on par with them.

Among these sects, the Midnightshields had a particularly close relationship with the Crimson Sun Empire.

The sect was anchored by seven Lunar Spirits.

In any empire, the presence of a Lunar Spirit represented a formidable cultivation force, and this was true for both the Silvermoon Empire and the Crimson Sun Empire.

With seven Lunar Spirits, the Midnightshields enjoyed a significant reputation within the Crimson Sun Empire and were held in high esteem by the Sunfire Emperor.

The sect had been involved in several conflicts between the Crimson Sun Empire and the Silvermoon Empire, playing a crucial role in these skirmishes.

Seeing the old and young men clad in the Midnightshields' attire, the onlookers' expressions soured.

These were, after all, the enemies of their empire, and many trial-takers had lost family elders to the Midnightshields.

Had Yu Yuan remained silent, the Midnightshields' elder and youth might have been slain to prevent future threats.

At Yu Yuan's behest, Zhan Tianxiang reluctantly retrieved several soulstones and tossed them at the feet of the old and young men.

The soulstones grazed their fingertips.

With a hiss, a dark red light emanated from the elder's fingertip, infusing one of the soulstones.

The soulstone was swiftly depleted of its spiritual energy and burst into pieces, turning into ordinary grey stones.

The elder's consciousness was evidently revived, as he proceeded to tap another soulstone.

One by one, the soulstones arrayed before him were drained of their spiritual energy.

Throughout this process, Yu Yuan watched intently, seeking confirmation from Lee Yuchan with his gaze.

Annoyed by his persistent staring, Lee Yuchan finally responded with a frosty demeanor, "He's merely at the middle period of Subtlety."

Upon hearing this, the previously anxious crowd relaxed.

A cultivator merely in the middle period of Subtlety, even at full strength, was no match for them, let alone in his current state of severe exhaustion, teetering on the brink of collapse.

The elderly man and his young companion posed no threat to the group. They could be easily overpowered and killed. If they were to awaken, so be it.

The youth remained in a near-death state, while the elder, having used soulstones to regain his vitality, eventually opened his eyes. Upon doing so, he gathered the soulstones that had been placed near the young man and brought them in front of himself.

Then, clutching a few soulstones, he faced the person before him squarely. A single glance was enough to send a chill to his core, his voice quivering as he spoke, "Li, Lee Yuchan?!"

"You recognize me?" Lee Yuchan asked in a cold tone.

"I've seen your portrait," the elder replied, his voice filled with restraint and unease. He hurriedly stood up and distanced himself from her, "My disciple and I came to Moonfall Sanctuary to try our luck. I'm just showing him around. We have no intention of disrupting the trials of your Silvermoon Empire's new generation of cultivators."

He was clearly worried about being misunderstood by Lee Yuchan.

Lee Yuchan's expression remained impassive. "Given the level of your and your disciple's cultivation, you indeed lack the strength to interfere with the Land of Trials we have selected."

Had there not been a sudden upheaval in the forbidden area, the master and disciple from Midnightshields would never have dared to set foot there. The mere exposure to the Pearl of Illusion would have led to their execution.

"What has happened to you?" Yu Yuan inquired, advancing step by step as the elder retreated, "Moonfall Sanctuary is now out of control, with alien souls and goasts emerging, potentially threatening the Crimson Sun Empire. Given the current state of affairs, there's no risk of war between the Crimson Sun Empire and the Silvermoon Empire, so you needn't worry overly."

The elder's demeanor suggested he was ready to flee, even at the expense of his disciple's life. His fear was palpable upon recognizing Lee Yuchan, the female general who clearly commanded a fearsome reputation within the Crimson Sun Empire.

"Stop backing away; I have no intention of killing you," Lee Yuchan declared with a huff.

The elder complied, standing still.

"How did it come to this?" Yu Yuan asked once more.

"We hail from the Crimson Sun Empire, and we entered the forbidden area before your trials even commenced," the elder said, his face etched with bitterness. "By all accounts, we should have returned long ago, and we attempted to do just that. But..." He let out a heavy sigh. "For reasons unknown, the Moonfall Sanctuary turned sinister. An invisible barrier appeared on our path home. We tried several times to break through, but the barrier thwarted us, preventing our departure from the forbidden area."

"Left with no other option, we continued to wander the forbidden area, only to be assaulted by soul spirits."

"Combat, as expected, took its toll. The magic items and soulstones we carried were gradually depleted. The divine force here is too chaotic to absorb directly. Over time, this led to our current plight." He candidly revealed the truth.

A hush fell over everyone present after his words. Their eyes turned to Yu Yuan, their silent queries apparent: If the route to the Crimson Sun Empire is also blocked by a barrier, what choice do we have?

Yu Yuan was about to respond when his expression abruptly shifted.

Lee Yuchan and Lee Yu also sensed danger, their attention snapping to the young man who appeared to have been forsaken by the elder.

Clad in green, with his hair tied in a traditional bun, the young man seemed no older than seventeen or eighteen.

His presence was even weaker than before, his spiritual energy and vitality nearly spent.

All that remained of him was a faint heartbeat, a testament to his clinging to life.

Suddenly, a powerful surge of Soul Power burst forth from his upper elixir field, mud pellet.

It was as if the immense Soul Power, lying dormant within the mud pellet, had erupted without warning.

The tumultuous soul activity caused Lee Yuchan to react instantly, her expression turning grave as she fixed her gaze on him and demanded, "Who are you?"

The elder, who had been retreating, stopped in his tracks, no longer fleeing or showing submission. Instead, he stood tall and waited in silence.

It seemed he was waiting for the young man's soul to emerge from its dormant state.

"The dramatic upheaval within the Moonfall Sanctuary was truly unexpected," the elder reflected.

The youth's voice emanated from the direction of his chest, his eyes still closed as if his soul was gradually awakening. "We were supposed to enter your Land of Trials and cause some trouble for you seeds of the Silvermoon Empire. I had vowed to kill Lee Yu, Yan Lu, as well as Su Yan and Lin Zhuyun, several prodigies."

It was only then that he opened his eyes.

His gaze was clear and serene, which, combined with his handsome features, conveyed a sense of tranquility and scholarly refinement. Yet, the words he spoke sharply contrasted with his demeanor.

"I never anticipated the numerous upheavals that would occur in the Moonfall Sanctuary. Not long ago, I encountered an alien soul within a bronze monument and suffered severe injuries from which I have yet to recover." He offered a slight smile, then turned his attention to Lee Yuchan, asking softly, "Now, do you know who I am?"

Lee Yuchan nodded, her expression growing colder. "I would have never imagined that our nation's modest trial would draw the personal attention of the sect master from Midnightshields."

"Lee Yu, Yan Lu, this generation's five new moons, will one day pose a significant threat to the Crimson Sun Empire. The sooner they perish, the better for our country," the young man in the scholarly robe remarked with a smile.

"By the way, who might you be? You seem quite unfamiliar, yet everyone seems to heed your command?" He directed his gaze toward Yu Yuan.

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