C14 Answer

The Yu family's grand hall had descended into utter chaos!

The news that the Lizard Blood Pill's toxin had claimed the life of Yinn Jue, a cultivator at the Profound Break Stage, and its subsequent release had sent the family elders and guests into a frenzy, scrambling to escape the hall in terror.

Those nearest the exit wasted no time in making their escape!

Others dispersed to the far corners of the hall, intentionally distancing themselves from Yu Yuan.

The majority of the Yu family members and guests now regarded Yu Yuan with the same wariness one might reserve for a deranged stranger or a madman.

"How dare he?"

That was the question on everyone's mind!

It wasn't just Yu Wei; the Yu siblings and even Lim Hanyu and his daughter shared the sentiment: "How dare he?!"

Lim Hanyu was the second son of the prominent Lim family, a leading clan within the Silvermoon Empire!

And Lim Zhuyun was not just any disciple; she was the chosen protégé of the Cold Yin Sect, a future luminary of the Heavenly Source Continent!

What gave Yu Yuan the audacity to strike at them?

On what grounds? By what means?

All present were riddled with doubts, unable to make heads or tails of the situation.

Yet, as they watched the porcelain bottle shatter and the toxic smog of the Lizard Blood Pill thin out, they recalled Yu Yuan's decisive act of throwing the bottle after uttering just "one." They reached the same conclusion as Yu Wei.

Yu Yuan had never intended to merely threaten them.

No, he had resolved to use the Lizard Blood Pill to poison Lim Hanyu and his daughter from the outset!

The question persisted—how could he dare?

As the panicked elders and guests noticed the blood mist enveloping the father-daughter pair, they swiftly arrived at another realization:

—Yu Yuan had premeditated this!

"Let's not panic, everyone. The blood poison of the Lizard Blood Pill is specifically targeting the Lim family," Yu Yuan's calm voice rose, as if to confirm their suspicions, "This is the Yu family's hall. You are all members of the Yu family, my respected elders. On our own ground, when faced with a direct threat, we must, of course, respond!"

"I release the blood poison from the Lizard Blood Pill as the Yu family's answer!" he declared, taking a deep breath. His expression was detached as he watched the Lim father and daughter, enveloped in a halo of spiritual energy, desperately trying to fend off the blood poison. "It's futile. Without a protective treasure, given your level of cultivation and realm, you can't keep the blood poison at bay."

Lim Zhuyun's complexion was ashen, her usually bright eyes clouded with pain and struggle. She could sense the blood poison from the Lizard Blood Pill transforming into countless minuscule, crimson parasites that penetrated her spiritual energy barrier and infiltrated her skin and flesh. This confirmed her belief that Yinn Jue had indeed perished from this poison, and it was indeed the genuine "Lizard Blood Pill."

"Why does this man possess the Lizard Blood Pill? Who provided it to him, and who's aiding him from the shadows?" Lim Zhuyun's mind raced with unsettling questions.

Meanwhile, Lim Hanyu, who had been previously seething with rage, regained his composure as the porcelain bottle shattered and the toxic smog spread. He didn't attempt to flee. Instead, he immediately activated his dantian, channeling robust spiritual energy throughout his body to create a barrier of spiritual Qi—an instinctive defensive response.

But he soon realized that his spiritual Qi barrier was ineffective against the diluted, nearly invisible blood mist. Having reached the Profound Break Stage, his skin was extraordinarily sensitive, and he could distinctly feel numerous imperceptible parasites breaching his pores and burrowing into his flesh. A tingling sensation began to spread.

For the "Lizard Blood Pill," it was easier to permeate the poison in someone at the Profound Break Stage than in someone at the Yellow Court Stage. The fuller the Qi and blood, the quicker the circulation, and an open dantian only facilitated the poison's dissemination throughout the limbs, bones, and internal organs.

"Lizard Blood Pill," Lim Hanyu muttered, tasting the bitterness in his mouth. He gazed at Yu Yuan, who was intently watching him yet remained cautiously vigilant. For the first time, Lim Hanyu took a serious look at the man he had begrudgingly held in his heart as his future son-in-law.

"Uncles, Aunt, I need your protection, please," Yu Yuan requested, clearing his throat before swiftly backing away to increase the distance between himself and Lim Hanyu. "The blood poison is fermenting in his system, spreading rapidly. Should he tap into the Qi and blood energy of his middle dantian now, it would only hasten his demise. His combat strength has significantly diminished. Just guard me for a short time, and we should be out of danger."

He paused deliberately after speaking, then added, "After that, we can simply watch as the poison takes his life."

"Alright!"

Yu Lili reacted instantly, darting over and settling beside Yu Yuan before Yu Wei and Yu Lian could even move. "Given the circumstances, I have no choice but to trust you."

Seeing Yu Lili spring into action, her brothers, Yu Wei and Yu Lian, wasted no time and quickly joined her.

"Don't worry. If I survive today, the Lim family will be the ones with a real problem," Yu Yuan said with a serene confidence. "I still have a Lizard Blood Pill in my possession. Releasing it within the Lim family's domain, I'm certain they'll suffer severe casualties."

"Everyone, protect my grandson!"

The family patriarch was equally resolute, bellowing out the command for the clan elders and retainers to encircle Yu Yuan, ensuring that Lim Hanyu couldn't take him down even in a last desperate act.

"Don't make a move. You're from the Cold Yin Sect; they wouldn't dare act rashly against you," Lim Hanyu instructed his daughter, taking a deep breath. "I'm prepared to lay down my life if it means cleansing the Yu family in blood and eliminating all threats to you. Rest assured, before my end, I will ensure that Yu Yuan yields the antidote."

With those words, he unleashed a piercing howl.

The howl was followed by a pale yellow radiance bursting forth from his sleeve.

This glow revealed a battle blade nearly a meter long.

The blade's sheath was concealed within his sleeve, while the black sandalwood handle was studded with gemstones set in brass.

The blade's semi-curved edge shimmered with a dazzling yellow spiritual light, so intense that it was blinding and uncomfortable to look at directly.

"Huang Yue!"

With a grave expression, Lim Hanyu brandished his sword, the clash of battle resounding with a sharp "Chi Chi" in midair. The trailing sword light resembled a yellow crescent moon, casting a heavy, eerie gloom that was indescribably oppressive.

"A blade that has attained the Spirit Level," Yu Yuan noted, his brow creasing slightly.

"Chi la!"

The battle blade, known as "Huang Yue" in Lim Hanyu's hands, sliced through the void, sending a barrage of yellow light streaking towards Yu Yuan!

The yellow light flashed like lightning, its piercing shriek slicing through the air.

At the sword's hilt, gems flared open like bizarre yellow eyes, fixating in an instant on the Yu family members shielding Yu Yuan.

For reasons unknown, even Yu Lili, the most powerful among them, felt a sense of foreboding unease!

The others were simply no match, their hearts pounding erratically with sudden dread!

A terrifying pain erupted from the middle dantian in their chests, as if on the verge of bursting!

"Puchi! Chi Chi!"

The yellow sword light, with the ease of cutting tofu, sliced through the light screens and shields crafted from the purest Spiritual Qi by the Yu family's elders and guest retainers.

Those caught between Lim Hanyu and Yu Yuan were instantly torn asunder, their blood spraying wildly.

In mere moments, five Yu family elders and retainers were grievously wounded, forced to retreat with agonized cries.

Yu Yuan's countenance was icy. To him, it was as if a school of yellow fish had materialized between himself and Lim Hanyu.

These spectral fish ravaged and rent the Yu family's spiritual defenses, teaching them a bloody, visceral lesson.

"The gap in our powers is vast, and with the addition of a handy spiritual weapon, the Yu family elders appear tragically outmatched." Yu Yuan stroked his chin, his earlier ease evaporating.

He began to worry whether his family, including his three uncles and aunts, could withstand the venomous assault of Lim Hanyu.

At present, not one among the Yu family had achieved the Profound Break Stage.

Even the most advanced among them, Yu Lili, was merely in the late period of the Yellow Court Stage, a full realm below Lim Hanyu, who also wielded the formidable spiritual weapon, Huang Yue.

"Auntie," he said, his eyes darting about before he ventured, "I have a small suggestion."

Yu Lili, who was on high alert and closest to the action, was also the most visibly anxious.

As she watched Lin Hanyu, who had summoned the Yellow Moon and was recklessly channeling his spiritual energy for a killing spree, despite the spread of poison within him, the pressure on her mounted. She could only hope that the blood toxin from the Lizard Blood Pill would weaken Lin Hanyu more swiftly.

Otherwise, if Lin Hanyu managed to close the distance, she doubted her ability to ensure Yu Yuan's safety.

Then, she heard Yu Yuan's soft call and paused, turning to him with a puzzled expression. "What suggestion? Are you saying I should ensure your safety first and then we can talk?"

She suspected Yu Yuan was getting cold feet.

"That's not what I mean," Yu Yuan replied, shaking his head. He gestured towards Lim Zhuyun, who stood alone, and explained, "The blood poison from the Lizard Blood Pill spreads faster with vigorous movement. Her father may be powerful, but she hasn't reached that level of cultivation yet. Aunt, perhaps it's best to leave me be and concentrate on taking her down."

Yu Lili was taken aback and shot him a contemptuous look. "Is that really the best idea?"

Meanwhile, Lim Zhuyun, who was already on edge from witnessing her father's display of might, overheard his comments and shot him a look of loathing. "You scoundrel!"

"If you're concerned about minimizing casualties within the family, the smartest approach is to leverage our numbers and engage in divided combat. We need to quickly subdue my fiancée and get my future father-in-law to simmer down," Yu Yuan said calmly, thinking to himself, "Once he's cooled off, the blood poison from the Lizard Blood Pill won't be as forgiving, continuing its relentless infiltration of his organs."

"Fine!"

Yu Lili was no stranger to tough decisions. She cast an apologetic glance at Lim Zhuyun and said, "Miss Lim, my apologies."

Her regret stemmed from the fact that, until recently, the young Lim had been aiding the Yu family in pressuring the Huang family, their adversaries within the city, to keep them in check.

She had also believed that Lim Zhuyun had intended to resolve the tensions between their families amicably.

But now, the situation had taken a drastic turn.

Without hesitation, Yu Lili signaled to her elder and second brothers with a meaningful look, instructing them to guard Yu Yuan with their lives.

She abruptly shifted her course, curving around Lim Hanyu to lunge at her daughter.

"You dare?!" Lim Hanyu roared in fury.

With a hollow tone, Yu Yuan responded, "Given the circumstances, what do we have left to fear?"

​