C1427 Not a Problem
Mo Yan was unaware that Yu Yuan had already returned from the extraterrestrial realms of the Star River. The explosion of his Solar Spirit in the vastness of space had drastically altered his psyche, causing his Cycle of Life and Death Spell to malfunction. As a result, Mo Yan had become a gaunt old man. His true age and the indelible marks of his soul could no longer be hidden.
Following the destruction of his Solar Spirit, the soul fire he left behind at the Devil Palace was reconstituted into a Solar Spirit once more, thanks to Zhu Zhenlin's expenditure of Soul Power and rare magic items. This transformation refined the Solar Spirit, allowing Mo Yan to ascend once again to the Solar Spirit realm.
Yet, even with the rebirth of his Solar Spirit, Mo Yan found himself haunted during his meditations by the memory of its shattering and Yu Yuan's assault. This took a heavy toll on his confidence, leading to a mental block that stunted his progress in the dark arts.
Zhu Zhenlin, having reconstructed the Solar Spirit for him, made it clear that it would be the last time. Should Mo Yan face death again or be slain, Zhu Zhenlin would not exert himself to save him from the brink. Mo Yan was painfully aware of his father's profound disappointment and his readiness to abandon him.
Ever since the conflict at the Embers Sea, Mo Yan had consistently been outmatched by Yu Yuan. He was repeatedly outmaneuvered and led astray by his adversary, culminating in the destruction of his Solar Spirit in the extraterrestrial Star River. The loss of his Solar Spirit seemed to have dissipated his once-sharp vitality.
Plagued by inner demons and a lack of confidence, Mo Yan's practice of the Cycle of Life and Death Spell faltered, leading him down a path of madness that transformed him into the frail elder he is now—stripped of his former charisma and vigor.
"It's Qin Yun who is forging the Solar Spirit. He was once the sect master of the Midnightshields and later became a follower of Yu Yuan..."
Accompanying him to the Frozen Hellscape was a dark adept from the Devil Palace named Qing Xing, a late-stage Solar Spirit cultivator known for her gentle and pliable nature. Her renowned patience was the only reason she could endure the current Mo Yan, maintaining her composure even when he was at his most erratic.
"Yu Yuan! Always Yu Yuan!" Mo Yan's gaunt face twisted as if a sinister serpent lurked beneath the surface. The mere mention of that name unleashed a torrent of demons in his mind, igniting a fury that erupted violently. "Kill him! Shatter Qin Yun's Solar Spirit just as I obliterated it before!"
Qing Xing watched his breakdown with a look of pity, seemingly accustomed to his outbursts.
"We've struck a new understanding with the Boulderdawn and Divine Soul Sects. Qin Yun's Solar Spirit... is nearly complete. Per our agreement, one who achieves the Solar Spirit Stage is not to be harmed."
"What rubbish!" Mo Yan exploded in a tirade, as dark fire billowed from within him, a flame that not even the waters of the Frozen Hellscape could quench. "A Solar Spirit that hasn't stabilized isn't truly a Solar Spirit! I want Qin Yun dead. Will you help me, Qing Xing, or not?"
"The opposition has their own guardians in place. I'm powerless to assist," Qing Xing replied with a gentle sigh.
Mo Yan was beyond reason, his eyes alight with an unceasing dark fire. "If you won't go, I'll storm in myself! I refuse to believe the old man will just stand by and watch me perish in the Everlands! I've longed to see whether I still matter to him as a son!"
Suddenly, a figure in a white robe appeared.
Zhou Cangmin's Lunar Spirit stood before Mo Yan and Qing Xing. He pointed at Mo Yan, his finger swaying gently, signaling for him to regain his composure.
The gentle motion of his finger sent ripples through the sea, exuding a tranquilizing aura.
Remarkably, Mo Yan began to settle down.
"Mr. Zhou!" Qing Xing, a descendant of Zhu Zhenlin from the Devil Palace, immediately showed reverence upon recognizing Zhou Cangmin.
She and Zhou Cangmin were both in the late period of the Solar Spirit, yet Zhou Cangmin was merely a Lunar Spirit, while she was present in her true form, with a Solar Spirit concealed within her...
Despite this, she maintained a respectful demeanor, showing no inclination to engage in conflict.
"Take Mo Yan away, and quickly," Zhou Cangmin instructed, turning his attention away from Mo Yan. With the backing of the Devil Palace and at Mo Yan's age, he had yet to prove his worth...
In Zhou Cangmin's heart, Zhu Zhenlin's son was essentially ruined.
—Ruined by Yu Yuan.
Encountering Yu Yuan at the bottom of the Embers Sea was the greatest tragedy of Mo Yan's life.
"If you don't want Mo Yan to truly die here, then you'll need to be more forceful."
Zhou Cangmin had volunteered, seizing the opportunity while Yu Yuan was at the Wintermaw, using his physical form and Lunar Spirit to intercept the strange power. He swiftly arrived and halted the imminent conflict.
"Who's in there?"
Qing Xing's face paled, instantly sensing that something was amiss.
Tong Laoqian, Tan Yuan, and herself were all Solar Spirits, and she doubted that with their combat abilities, they could kill someone right under her watch.
Moreover, she didn't believe that they had the audacity to do so!
After all, Mo Yan was Zhu Zhenlin's son, a fact known to all!
"Stop asking questions. Just take my advice and get Mo Yan out of the Frozen Hellscape quickly. Otherwise, once that person is free, I doubt I could stop them," Zhou Cangmin said with a wry smile, urging her on.
Qing Xing paused, then after a moment's thought, decided to trust Zhou Cangmin.
Whoosh!
Leaves fluttered from her palm, enveloping the recently pacified Mo Yan, giving him no chance to speak or resist. She whisked Mo Yan away without a second thought.
"You'll thank me for this..."
With a soft chuckle, Zhou Cangmin vanished from the spot.
...
Days later, at the bottom of the Wintermaw.
Yu Yuan had successfully repaired the Wintermaw and repositioned it on the Dragon Slaying Stage. His Lunar Spirit returned to his consciousness, and the Dragon Slaying Stage settled into the Shenque acupoint.
The previously obstructed hole, filled with a mix of psionic light, now appeared dark and eerie.
Yu Yuan took one look and knew that the several fractures within the hole had been mended.
The colorful threads that connected the Wintermaw and the hole had been reformed, reestablishing their bond.
When he ventured into the extraterrestrial Star River, the snow bear found a suitable icy domain in the Astral Domain. With the snow bear's assistance, he could set up a conduit to the vast Frozen Hellscape of the Everlands.
He had unraveled the mysteries of the Frozen Hellscape and understood the involvement of the Root of the Lunar Meridian. Lowering his head to glance at his feet, he watched as the tendrils of his consciousness, which had dispersed in all directions, swiftly returned to his Mindscape.
"Where do you plan to go next? If you tell me clearly, I can prepare myself mentally," Zhou Cangmin, who had been steadfastly at his side, expressed his relief for having taken preemptive action to prevent the deaths of Mo Yan and Zhu Zhenlin.
Zhou Cangmin was acutely aware that the Everlands needed stability at this time. The five supreme forces, along with the Boulderdawn, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Divine Soul Sect, could ill afford intense conflicts during this delicate period.
He feared that if Mo Yan were to die, Zhu Zhenlin might act irrationally, disregarding the bigger picture.
"You've seen what's become of Mo Yan. You've completely shattered his essence, energy, and spirit. He's no longer a threat. Trust me, he won't be able to overcome the demon within him. That's because you, Yu Yuan, are that very demon. As you continue to grow stronger and your status rises, how could he possibly break free?" Zhou Cangmin advised.
"There's no need to concern yourself with him. Honestly, I can't even bear to give him another glance, so why should you?"
Zhou Cangmin spoke with a mix of concern and persuasion.
"Alright, I won't waste my time pursuing him to end his life," Yu Yuan said with a wry smile, taking a deep breath. "I'm heading to the Order of Healing!"
