C1435 The Glory of the World

In the Sundering Isles, Healing Island and Celestial Isle were in close proximity. Yu Yuan, having seized Lian Hu, ascended into the sky without haste.

Hovering mid-air, he keenly sensed numerous gazes from the surrounding islands converging upon him. The three great upper sects, Devil Palace, Shadow's Keep, the seven lower sects, and the sects from the Land of Quiescence, including the Artifact Sect, all had formidable cultivators rooted in the Sundering Isles. Their presence was to engage in free trade, to acquire artifacts and pills from the merchants, and to ensure the flourishing of their sects.

As Yu Yuan soared, the intense scrutiny of these powerful cultivators focused on him. Additionally, countless independent cultivators, unaffiliated with any sect, were covertly observing him.

Utilizing the vantage point of the Dragon Slaying Stage, Yu Yuan, suspended in the sky, could discern the distribution of the Sundering Isles' mightiest with crystal clarity. To his surprise, the Sundering Isles were home to a significant number of Solar Spirits.

Whoosh!

A diminutive figure, brimming with tumultuous fist intent that seemed to warp time and space, emerged from the direction of the Isle of Desolation. Clad in black heavy armor and masked, she called out to Yu Yuan, "Back so soon?"

Her shout reverberated through the space around Yu Yuan, startling Lian Hu. Yu Yuan responded with a silent chuckle and a nod, acknowledging her presence.

Shen Feiqing, the Goddess of War from the Forgeroses and a cultivator of the Solar Spirit realm, was in the Sundering Isles and took the initiative to inquire upon seeing him.

"Hahaha! I am Zhao Chengzhi from the Starmoon Sect. It's a pleasure, Yu!" A figure enveloped in starlight materialized near Moonshadow Isles, clearly a Lunar Spirit.

He greeted Yu Yuan from afar with a wave of his soul in Lunar Spirit form and a warm smile, "Liu Ying from my sect has been eagerly anticipating your return. We would be honored if you could visit our sect at your convenience."

"Certainly," Yu Yuan replied with a smile.

The Starmoon Sect now enjoyed an exalted status within the Everlands and across the extraterrestrial Star River. The Sect Master of the Moon Sect, with her Moonlit Wanderers lineage, had ascended to the primordial spirit and gained the recognition of the Moonlit Wanderers, elevating their bloodline to a new echelon.

It was rumored that he reached the pinnacle with the assistance of Boulderdawn. As a result, Starmoon Sect, a prominent force in the Everlands, naturally aligned with Boulderdawn and the Skyreach Consortium. Liu Ying, a prodigy of Starmoon Sect, had a good rapport with Yu Yuan. Zhao Chengzhi's overture of friendship was clearly an attempt to strengthen their bond. "Starmoon Sect always welcomes you," Zhao Chengzhi said with a hearty laugh.

Following him, Han Ling from Acora Island, who had previously been quite antagonistic towards Yu Yuan, reluctantly transformed into a blood shadow. Amidst the deep crimson mist of the island, he stated, "You should visit our Colddeath first. Our sect leader, the Goddess, has been very generous to the Yu family."

During Yu Yuan's earlier visit to Acora Island, the Altar of Rebirth within him activated the Primal Blood Array, causing the Blood Wells to erupt in a surge of dense, blood-red light. It nearly caused Yu Yuan to lose control and become a follower of Colddeath. At the time, Han Ling had little respect for him and created many obstacles.

Decades later, the hot-tempered Han Ling exhibited a dramatic shift in his demeanor upon Yu Yuan's return to the Sundering Isles. He even took the initiative to invite Yu Yuan to visit Colddeath first.

"The Primal Blood Continent and the Primal Blood Array, I should have known they were closely related to the extraterrestrial ancestral lands of the Blood Fiend clan," Yu Yuan mused to himself. He simply nodded at Han Ling, choosing not to elaborate further. Han Ling, taking the hint, did not press the matter.

"Binders of Shadows..."

"Artifact Sect..."

Behind Han Ling, representatives from various sects friendly with the Boulderdawn and the Skyreach Consortium approached to offer their goodwill, prompted by Yu Yuan's presence. The Artifact Sect had declared neutrality in the conflict between the five supreme sects and Boulderdawn. They maintained relations with the Consortium, and Boulderdawn would commission artifacts from them, provided the price was right.

Yu Yuan was taken aback by their unexpected initiative to greet him. Regarding the Binders of Shadows, they had some past grievances with Yu Yuan. This sect had been covertly clashing with the Poison Cult, never daring to defy the Devil Palace or Shadow's Keep.

Suddenly, even this sect seemed to favor Boulderdawn. Yu Yuan realized that, in his absence, the influence of Boulderdawn and the Skyreach Consortium had grown astonishingly powerful.

As for the other lesser-known sects that came forward to show their goodwill, Yu Yuan merely nodded in acknowledgment.

He then took Lian Hu and flew down to Celestial Isle.

Zheng Luanjie and Qi Lingyu, two Solar Spirit experts, were already there to welcome him. Upon his arrival, Qi Lingyu greeted him with a smile, "I informed Mr. Feng of your visit to Celestial Isle, but he's currently in the Serpent Spine Mountains and can't get away at the moment. Please, understand."

"Can't get away?" Yu Yuan was taken aback.

Mr. Feng was none other than Feng Zhong, the leader of the Windspeaker, who had harbored affection for Luo Yue for many years.

Before Feng Zhong was aware of the Chamber's stance, he had joined Yu Yuan on a trip to the Skyblight Cult for Luo Yue's sake, even ready to defect from the Consortium if they held him accountable.

It was only later that he discovered that the Everlands' Consortium President and President Lyi had always been allies.

Yu Yuan had always been fond of that sly old man and had expected to meet him quickly upon his return to the Sundering Isles. Learning that Mr. Feng was indisposed was both surprising and disappointing.

"He has just had a breakthrough," Zheng Luanjie clarified.

Yu Yuan's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Ah, I see!"

For Feng Zhong, who had been stagnant in the late Solar Spirit Stage for years, to advance to the Unbound Stage amidst the significant changes in the Everlands was indeed a joyous occasion.

Having just achieved this breakthrough, Feng Zhong needed to consolidate his newfound state, which naturally meant he shouldn't be traveling about just yet.

"The teleportation circle on the island can take you anywhere; feel free to use it," Qi Lingyu offered, blinking curiously as she regarded Yu Yuan. "However, going directly to the Order of Healing might be a little problematic. They've recently ceased communications with us."

To use the teleportation circle on Celestial Isle, one simply had to pay with soulstones for transport to the sects across the three continents.

The Order of Healing once had the capability to reach the island, but that's no longer the case.

Qi Lingyu was well aware of Yu Yuan's recent massacre on Healing Island. Anticipating his return to the Order of Healing, she proactively made her stance known.

"No worries," Yu Yuan said with a smile. "I'm without my Crucible of Evil at the moment. May I use your facilities to have a word with Lian Hu?"

"Everything is ready for you."

Zheng Luanjie's resplendent Solar Spirit gestured invitingly and then personally led the way.

Yu Yuan freed Lian Hu, thanked him with a "much obliged," and followed.

He hadn't bothered to ask Lian Hu if he agreed.

As Lian Hu hovered midair, he observed individuals like Shen Feiqing and Han Ling on various islands, all representing their sects and extending overtures of goodwill to Yu Yuan.

Yu Yuan, the God of Medicine three hundred years ago, must have experienced such glory in his prime, right?

Considering that Yu Yuan was backed by the Skyreach Consortium and Boulderdawn, the once subservient Lian Hu hesitated briefly before resigning himself to his fate with a heavy sigh.

The window of a sealed stone chamber on Celestial Isle creaked open, revealing a woman with an oval face. She waved and called out, "I'm Yin Xueqi of the Artifact Sect. Could I take a look at the Baneblade you acquired from beyond our world?"

The self-introduced woman, with her hair in disarray and eyes shining with obsession, waited expectantly.

"The Artifact Sect?" Yu Yuan paused, taken aback.

"She was once with the Artifact Sect, but not anymore," Qi Lingyu said with a light laugh, revealing the woman's true status without a hint of courtesy. "She wasn't expelled; she chose to leave because her creations, much like your Baneblade, often backfire on their users, rendering them of little worth."

"The rules of the Artifact Sect are too restrictive; they wouldn't let me fully express myself. So I left," Yin Xueqi replied, unfazed and smiling. "I've come to join your consortium. If the Artifact Sect won't have me, then surely you will."

"Don't spout nonsense. The Consortium hasn't accepted you; you've merely paid for temporary residence on Celestial Isle," Qi Lingyu corrected.

"Fine, I'll seek refuge with Boulderdawn!" Yin Xueqi huffed, her demeanor quickly brightening into a beaming smile. "Yu, could you put in a good word for me? I assure you, I can be quite valuable!"

As she continued to make her case, Yu Yuan followed Zheng Luanjie, not once looking back, and quickly vanished from sight.

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