C1414 Disloyalty of the Heavenly Evil
"Yu Yuan!"
A somewhat unfamiliar shout drifted up from the island below, the voice sounding faint and weary.
Yu Yuan, suspended mid-air, was startled and peered downward.
The island below was barren, devoid of vegetation, and no sign of any person was immediately visible.
He extended his vitality to probe the island. Without relying on the Dragon Slaying Stage, he quickly detected a distinct aura of blood emanating from deep within a cave.
He focused his gaze and asked in an even tone, "Who's there?"
The caller, upon being questioned, fell silent.
It seemed as though they had only just noticed him and had called out on impulse.
They probably hadn't believed that Yu Yuan not only heard them but had also pinpointed their exact hiding spot.
This hesitation was evident.
"Since we're acquainted, why not come out and meet?" Yu Yuan suggested smoothly.
"Well, okay then..."
Lyu Geng of the Skyblight Cult emerged from the cave, head hanging and face etched with resignation.
Gazing at Yu Yuan, still hovering in the air, he spoke with mixed emotions, "I never imagined it would really be you."
Decades had passed since their last encounter.
Lyu Geng was aware that Yu Yuan had ventured into the Moonfall Sanctuary, taking two pieces of the Dragon Slaying Stage with him as he headed into the extraterrestrial realms. Since then, Yu Yuan had fallen off the radar for many years.
Only recently had Lyu Geng heard rumors that Yu Yuan was thriving in the extraterrestrial.
He could hardly believe that they would encounter Yu Yuan, suspended in the sky above this sea.
He had thought his eyes were deceiving him, that it was merely an illusion, so he had called out tentatively.
His voice hadn't been loud, yet Yu Yuan had heard it.
Moreover, Yu Yuan had managed to locate their hiding place with unerring accuracy, leaving them no room to evade.
"Yu, Mr. Lyu?"
Yu Yuan's face broke into a grin. When he had stirred up trouble in Eshvehona and at the Skyblight Cult, he had held Lyu Geng and Chou Muge in the highest regard. Though both were part of the Skyblight Cult, they didn't see eye to eye with Yun Hao and Lee Tihai.
Because Lee Tihai had imprisoned his mother's spirit, they recognized him as a descendant of the Evil King and had even supported him in his denunciation of Lee Tihai.
Unexpectedly, he encountered Lyu Geng in these waters.
"You're still alive?"
Yu Yuan flashed a bright smile. "Since Yun Hao is still the sect master of the Skyblight Cult, he hasn't managed to kill you and Chou Muge?"
"Not yet..."
Lyu Geng's face tensed.
He then glanced back at the cave with a bitter expression. "I'm still here. But Chou, he's nearly gone."
As soon as he spoke, wails emerged from the cave.
The women, having held back their tears for so long and endured scolding from both Lyu Geng and Chou Muge, had just settled down when the exchange between Lyu Geng and Yu Yuan stirred their grief anew.
"Did my curse actually come true?"
The women's crying left Yu Yuan momentarily stunned. After a moment of reflection, his demeanor grew more solemn, "What's going on?"
"What do you think? We're being hunted by Yun Hao and the Skyblight Cult."
Lyu Geng didn't hold back, cursing towards the cave to silence Chou Muge's women.
Once the women quieted down, he continued, "We really wanted to go to the Land of Terror to seek... that esteemed one."
Shaking his head, Lyu Geng admitted with resignation, "We were turned away! He now goes by White Bone and said that since we're not dead, it's improper for us to wander the Land of Terror in the flesh."
White Bone, the God of Ghosts, was once the Evil King, Yu Xi. In the annals of the Everlands, he was the first to ascend to the Supreme God as a soul.
Moreover, he successfully transcended the cosmic order of the Everlands!
Lyu Geng and Chou Muge, having differing philosophies from the Skyblight Cult, were naturally marginalized by Yun Hao. With their inherent pride, they've ended up in their current plight.
Chou Muge had many enemies in the Everlands. Once he left the Skyblight Cult, he was repeatedly ambushed.
Now, gravely injured, he's been hidden away here by Lyu Geng.
"Why didn't you leave the Everlands sooner after the fallout? The world is vast; there are endless places to go. I can't fathom why you'd choose to remain in the Everlands," Yu Yuan remarked.
Having ventured into the extraterrestrial realm, Yu Yuan understood the vastness of the starry sea and knew that the reach of the five supreme powers was limited.
Those who found the Everlands unbearable often sought the freedom of the extraterrestrial world. Hei Xun, Peach Madam, and the Abyssal Leviathan were among those who had successfully ventured beyond.
Yu Yuan believed that Lyu Geng and Chou Muge should take this route instead of remaining in the Everlands, locked in a bitter struggle with Yun Hao.
"We haven't achieved the Unbound state yet. If we leave, it can only be with our Solar Spirit. But if the Solar Spirit ventures into the extraterrestrial, our physical forms will be even more vulnerable. If the Skyblight Cult or any rogue cultivators target us, we'll meet our end much sooner," Lyu Geng said, his brow furrowed with concern.
"Currently, only by aligning with the five great forces, Boulderdawn, or the Chamber of Commerce can we break through the Everlands' wall and leave via the two Star Roads."
"Since our expulsion from the Skyblight Cult, we haven't decided on our next move."
The wall of the Everlands, a combination of natural formation and man-made fortifications, was not easily breached. Jun Chen and Peach Madam had managed to escape, largely because the Abyssal Leviathan drew everyone's attention. Its ascent had also disrupted the seal over the Everlands. At that time, Boulderdawn's experts had held back the guardians of the supreme forces.
Realizing his oversight, Yu Yuan acknowledged that not everyone had the same luck or resources as he did. He could leave or return at will, but others didn't have that luxury.
"Have Old Bro Chou come out for me to see," Yu Yuan requested.
Aware that the cave sheltered six women with negligible cultivation and frail constitutions, he felt it inappropriate to enter, so he made the request to Lyu Geng.
"He's immobile. I'll bring him out..."
As he spoke, Lyu Geng glanced uneasily at the sky and expressed his concern, "The Skyblight Cult is still on our trail. That Chou fellow's vitality is impossible to hide. I'm worried that once he emerges, he'll become a target for the Cult's members."
"Skyblight Cult..." Yu Yuan stroked his chin and smirked, "Had you not mentioned it, I might have nearly forgotten about them. Since both of you have been expelled from the Skyblight Cult, there's no need for caution. Bring him out and let's cause a scene. I'm curious to see how the Skyblight Cult will react when they encounter me."
Yun Hao, fueled by the supposed demise of the Evil King, Yu Xi, was intent on eradicating the Yu family.
The downfall of Yu Ying and the plight of his parents in this life were likely orchestrated by Yun Hao and his lackey, Lee Tihai.
It was highly unlikely that the Order of Healing knew into whom he would be reincarnated. Thus, even if they were involved, they weren't targeting him specifically.
It was merely because the Sacred Hands were intent on thwarting lovers.
Therefore, the primary source of my enmity was the Skyblight Cult, Yun Hao, and Lee Tihai.
Recalling how Lee Tihai had resorted to the Soul-Igniting Kin-Seeking technique, Yu Yuan's forehead veins subtly throbbed, and his expression turned grim. "Don't worry. I'm actually looking forward to encountering the Skyblight Cult's envoys."
"You're the prime target for elimination by the five supreme powers. What are you stirring up?" Lyu Geng was puzzled.
"Enough chatter. Bring out Chou Muge for me. I want to see if there's any hope for him," Yu Yuan said, growing impatient. He gestured dismissively for Lyu Geng to cut the small talk.
"Fine, fine," Lyu Geng reluctantly agreed, heading towards the cave. Amidst the soft murmurs of the women, he pulled out the once robust and towering Chou Muge, now gaunt and emaciated.
Chou Muge's eyes were the only things left moving, rolling around helplessly. He was completely immobilized and unable to speak.
Squinting, Yu Yuan could see numerous venomous insects bustling within Chou Muge's veins, bones, and bloodstream. It was as though they were using Chou Muge as a breeding ground.
These insects were not only feasting on his blood but were also gnawing away at his bones and Soul Power to fortify themselves.
His body had become a haven for the venomous insects.
"He's been cursed by the Poison Cult; now, all he can do is wait for death," Lyu Geng said with a heavy sigh. "What's most exasperating is that both his Lunar Spirit and Solar Spirit are trapped within him. Initially, he clung to the slim hope that his strength would be enough to obliterate the insects and restore himself to his former condition."
"Unfortunately, his struggle with the venomous insects ended in utter defeat."
"By the time he regained his senses and considered abandoning his corporeal body, both his Lunar Spirit and Solar Spirit were too feeble to even leave their physical shell."