C1417 The Old Grudges

On the Phoenix Feather Fan, a group of young men and women of similar ages suddenly let out exclamations of surprise.

The name Yu Yuan resonated like thunder!

These young dark disciples from the Skyblight Cult, Taintborn, and Ruby Hand had all, to varying degrees, heard of Yu Yuan's exploits and knew of his exceptional rarity.

Having lived two lifetimes, he awoke in Asvetaesi within the Silvermoon Empire. Initially adrift in confusion, upon awakening, he advanced through realms with an unstoppable momentum.

Wherever the Moonfall Sanctuary was activated, turmoil and bloodshed seemed to follow.

Yet, he always managed to survive, emerging stronger each time.

Yu Yuan had undeniably become a legend in the eyes of all.

This was particularly true for the members of the Ruby Hand, who were acutely aware of the emotional ties between the "blazing red lotus" of their sect and Yu Yuan.

They were also privy to the fact that Yuan Lianyao, Faang Yao, Zhou Cangmin, and their companions had recently returned from the Silver Sands Astral Domain.

Yuan Lianyao, whose Solar Spirit had once been flawed, appeared to have acquired a precious artifact in the Brugeth Astral Domain. Upon her return, she declared her intention to enter seclusion to purify her Solar Spirit.

Faang Yao, known for his rough demeanor and tendency to speak his mind, would glow with admiration whenever he spoke of Yu Yuan, his words and demeanor radiating genuine respect.

It was common knowledge that Faang Yao had survived in the extraterrestrial Star River due to Yu Yuan's intervention.

Likewise, it was known that Mo Yan of the Devil Palace had his newly formed Solar Spirit shattered by Yu Yuan during an unfortunate encounter in the extraterrestrial realms.

Having suffered the loss of a Solar Spirit, Mo Yan, with his father's assistance, managed to reform it, though his self-confidence was greatly diminished.

Xu Jingyao of the Sunlit Order, who wielded the "Flame Spear" with an air of arrogance and defiance, also fell on hard times after crossing paths with Yu Yuan.

The women from the Taintborn, Skyblight Cult, and Ruby Hand were visibly captivated.

They instinctively moved from the rear to the forefront of the Phoenix Feather Fan, aligning themselves with Qi Nandou and Hou Tianzhao, their gazes locked in anticipation as they hovered midair.

On an unnamed island, in front of a cave nestled in a low hill, stood Yu Yuan, clad in practical black attire. His features were strikingly handsome, his physique tall and robust. Beneath his sword-like eyebrows, his eyes shone with the clarity of a mountain stream, devoid of any malice or sharpness, exuding an air of unparalleled ease and natural grace.

It was hard to reconcile his demeanor with the notorious reputation of the Plaguedevil.

"He's quite the looker!"

"He's more handsome than Senior Brother Tianzhao and more masculine than Senior Brother Nandou. He really stands out. It's no wonder Junior Sister Yuan can't stop thinking about him."

"The Junior Sister Yuan you're talking about is two whole realms above you!"

"What does it matter if her cultivation is higher? She joined the sect later, so she still has to address me as Senior Sister!"

The two women from the Ruby Hand, both at the Lunar Spirit Stage—one sweet, the other brash and sassy—were quietly bickering about Yu Yuan.

Hou Tianzhao, with his round face and large ears, became silent upon laying eyes on Yu Yuan. He had learned from Faang Yao about most of the events that had transpired in the Brugeth Astral Domain. He was aware that not only Yuan Lianyao but also Faang Yao and the Hellbreed still valued their friendship with Yu Yuan, despite the longstanding opposition between their factions.

After Yuan Lianyao and Faang Yao's return, the Sunlit Order, Ebon Star, and Devil Palace all voiced their criticisms, urging the Ruby Hand to enforce strict discipline and clarify their allegiance.

Now, near the Frozen Hellscape, Hou Tianzhao encountered Yu Yuan, who had unexpectedly returned from the extraterrestrial. Yu Yuan was clearly intent on defending Chou Muge and Lyu Geng, prompting Hou Tianzhao to proceed with caution.

"Yu..."

Qi Nandou dismounted from the Phoenix Feather Fan, hovering in the sky above the island. His slender eyebrows furrowed, and his face, more delicate than that of a woman's, showed a hint of bewilderment. "How have you returned from the extraterrestrial?"

"Qi Nandou! Have you come to hunt us down as well?"

Before Yu Yuan could respond, Lyu Geng's foot slammed into the ground, causing the entire island to tremble.

He glared at the junior from the sect, whom he deemed different from Yun Hao and Lee Tihai. "Come on then! I'll stand right here and wait for you to try and kill me!"

Qi Nandou grimaced, "I only received a message and happened to be in the vicinity, so I thought I'd check things out."

After speaking, he curiously observed Chou Muge, whose body was emanating a faint cyan glow. Wisps of light moved like clouds beneath his skin, and Qi Nandou could distinctly sense the Evil Swords within Chou Muge stirring from their slumber, releasing a subtle sword's will.

Qi Nandou's eyes sparkled with realization. Without a second thought, he deduced that it must have been Yu Yuan's assistance that allowed Chou Muge to break free from the Voodoo Beetle's torment and get back on track.

"Let's act as if we never saw him. Just go wherever you were headed."

Yu Yuan spoke with a calm demeanor. He gave Qi Nandou a nod and then turned his gaze to Hou Tianzhao on the Phoenix Feather Fan, offering a smile. "The forces from the Skyblight Cult and Poison Cult are en route. They'll be here within half an hour. You two... best stay out of it."

"Understood."

Hou Tianzhao was decisively brief, flashing a grin and nodding. He beckoned to Qi Nandou, "Come on over. There's no need for us to worry about things... with him here, our intervention isn't necessary."

Hou Tianzhao, having learned of Yu Yuan's combat prowess from Faang Yao and Yuan Lianyao, was confident in a different way than Qi Nandou.

He was convinced that with Yu Yuan close by and Chou Muge clearly out of danger, there was no need for him and Qi Nandou to offer covert assistance.

He understood Yu Yuan's battle strength and the power he could wield even better than Lyu Geng and Chou Muge did.

"I..."

Qi Nandou was hesitant, his concern evident.

"Believe me, it'll be fine!" Hou Tianzhao exclaimed reassuringly.

"Well, if you say so." Qi Nandou nodded, offering an apologetic smile to Lyu Geng and Chou Muge before rejoining Hou Tianzhao and the others on the Phoenix Feather Fan. "I'm just worried that when the Skyblight Cult arrives, they might force me to act."

"It's simple. Just feign casting a few spells," Hou Tianzhao suggested through a covert message.

"Yu Yuan won't... actually kill me, will he?"

"It's possible! So brace yourself. There's something off about his gaze, so be cautious."

"Don't frighten me!"

Qi Nandou's face was etched with a brooding melancholy, thrown into disarray by a few covert remarks from Hou Tianzhao.

"Lin Tianming, Lee Tihai, along with several dark disciples, are already en route," Yu Yuan said with narrowed eyes and a relaxed tone. "Good. It's about time to resolve some old scores. Although..."

Yu Ying and his parents had passed away, and since he was resurrected with his memories intact, his emotional connection to them was shallow.

Moreover, by the time his earthly soul and heaven soul had returned, his parents had already met with misfortune.

And it was all because of him.

Having never met or lived with them, relying solely on hearsay made it hard for him to feel deeply connected to the familial bonds of this life.

Upon discovering he had lived three lifetimes, his attachment to his family in this current life grew even fainter.

Nonetheless, he remained thankful to the Yu family, wishing for their prosperity in the Everlands and for his parents to find peace in this life.

After learning from Ann Ziqing that Dragon Lake had freed his father, Yu Jue, allowing him to reunite with his mother within the Colddeath, and subsequently being sent to the Serpent Spine Mountains—where many of the Yu family had also relocated, joining forces with the Skyreach Consortium—he felt completely reassured.

Had he not encountered Lyu Geng, he wouldn't have given the Skyblight Cult's Yun Hao or Lee Tihai a second thought for quite some time.

But now, Lee Tihai was on his mind again, especially his use of the nefarious Soul-Igniting Kin-Seeking mystique, leveraging his mother's soul to coerce him into confronting the Skyblight Cult and venturing into Eshvehona.

He recalled Lee Tihai's numerous vile acts and the persecution the Yu family had endured.

"Just stay put," Yu Yuan said, inhaling deeply and cracking a smile.

His smile was chillingly frosty.

"Lee Tihai has the Skyblight Cult's endorsement; he joined as a counselor in his capacity as an independent cultivator. Lin Tianming is a bona fide elder of the Poison Cult, having only recently returned to the Everlands. There's an unspoken agreement between us and you, and the rules forbid us from killing each other without cause," Hou Tianzhao conveyed through a discreet message.

Yu Yuan offered a casual smile.

In an instant, he departed the unnamed island and materialized before the group that was hastening toward him.

"No need to hurry anymore—I'll help you on your journey," Yu Yuan said with a chuckle.

Lin Tianming and his companions were taken aback.