C148 Soulforge Matrix

Yu Yuan was indifferent to Lin Zhuyun's fate.

However, Yu Feifei had been his companion throughout the journey, and a bond akin to that of siblings had formed between them.

The Terra Fiend, White Walker, hovered in the void, clutching one in each hand. Using Lin Zhuyun and Yu Feifei as leverage, he intended to coerce Yu Yuan into action, and Yu Yuan was curious about what White Walker ultimately wanted from him.

How could he bring about the mutual destruction of the Stormcrowned Emperor and the Indigo Wraith?

"Please, approach the bronze monument. Then, harness the power of the seal to bind the monument and transport it to the Soulforge Pool. Once the monument is submerged in the Soulforge Pool, all its inscriptions will be purified," White Walker explained, his knowledge of the secrets of this realm extensive. "If you desire stability in this world, heed my words."

"Soulforge Pool?" Yu Yuan raised an eyebrow.

"You're clueless?" White Walker questioned.

With a huff, Yu Yuan replied, "All I know is that this forbidden area is under the protection of the fourth upper sect!"

"Fourth upper sect?"

"What fourth upper sect?"

Qin Yun, Lee Yuchan, and Lee Yu exchanged puzzled glances.

The Terra Fiend, White Walker, glanced at them and elaborated, "In the Euwrea Continent, aside from the Ebon Star, the Sunlit Order, and the Sword Sect, there once existed the Boulderdawn. The sealing formation here is known as the 'Soulforge Matrix'! Crafted by the Boulderdawn, it has the power to seal every alien soul and evil spirit within this realm."

"The heart of the Soulforge Matrix, or rather, the source of its power, lies within the Soulforge Pool."

"This forbidden area has recently been plagued by disturbances, with a surge of alien souls and goasts emerging due to issues with the Soulforge Pool."

"If we can rectify the Soulforge Pool's troubles, the Soulforge Matrix will regain its stability. Then, everything will return to normal, and the myriad evil spirits and alien souls, like the Stormcrowned Emperor and the Indigo Wraith, will once again lie dormant."

White Walker offered a succinct explanation.

Yet, Qin Yun and Lee Yuchan were profoundly shaken by his revelation.

This was their first encounter with the notion of the fourth upper sect and the Boulderdawn, and they had no prior knowledge of the perils within the Moonfall Sanctuary.

Suddenly, a "Soulforge Matrix" emerged, with ancient beings like Hantian and the Indigo Wraith struggling to break free from their endless imprisonment. The thought alone filled everyone with dread.

"Do you mean that if the bronze monument merges with the Soulforge Pool, the forbidden area will be restored to its original state?" Yu Yuan inquired with a hint of astonishment.

"The problem with the Soulforge Pool is that after millions of years, the Soul Power sustaining the Soulforge Matrix is nearly exhausted," White Walker clarified. "The destruction of the Boulderdawn Sect resulted in the souls of many of its formidable members being absorbed into the Soulforge Pool, allowing it to function for so long."

"Now, the souls of the Boulderdawn Sect's experts are almost completely consumed within the Soulforge Pool."

"Without new, powerful souls, the Soulforge Pool will gradually wither. The rune circle will then be riddled with flaws and eventually cease to function. When that happens, the sealed alien souls and goasts will break free in succession."

"I instructed you to cast the bronze monument into the Soulforge Pool, which will then activate on its own."

"The Soul Battle between the Indigo Wraith and Hantian, which took place within the monument, will infuse the Soulforge Pool with the Soul Power released, regardless of the outcome."

"Once they both become part of the Soulforge Pool, it will be reinvigorated with Soul Power, enabling it to operate for at least another five hundred years."

"For those five hundred years, the Soulforge Matrix will remain as stable as a mountain, with no complications."

"After five hundred years, when the Soulforge Pool dries up again, we'll face a different situation," White Walker explained to Yu Yuan.

Yu Yuan paused, then suddenly asked, "If that's the case, what about you?"

"Me?" White Walker was momentarily perplexed before he caught on and chuckled, "You're asking if I'll be bound by the Soulforge Matrix again after the souls of Hantian and the Indigo Wraith are integrated into the Soulforge Pool?"

"I'm curious about how you stand to benefit from all this," Yu Yuan pressed.

"Firstly, I'm not as powerful as Hantian or the Indigo Wraith. Whichever one of them wins will see a significant increase in strength," White Walker earnestly explained. "The victor will then set their sights on me. No matter where I hide, the one who grows stronger will inevitably track me down."

"So, once the victor emerges, he will slay and refine me. Then, he'll proceed to challenge other formidable alien souls."

"I don't want to vanish, so I must act before their Soul Battle concludes."

"And you, when you bring the bronze monument into the Soulforge Pool, the forbidden area will loosen slightly as the Pool begins to refine it. At that moment, I will abandon your sister and your fiancée, breaking free from the constraints of this realm with the utmost speed to return to my birthplace."

"By the time the Soulforge Pool has absorbed both Hantian and Indigo Wraith, resealing the world, I will have already departed."

"When everything in this world resets to its original state, you'll be able to escape unharmed. Wouldn't everyone be pleased?"

If his proposed plan could be executed smoothly, it seemed that it would be satisfactory to all.

Yet, whether it was Yu Yuan, Qin Yun, or Lee Yuchan, none trusted him.

The Sky Fiend was known for its cruelty and thirst for blood, while the Terra Fiend was infamous for its cunning and heartlessness—such was the consensus among the world's living beings.

Take the White Walker, akin to the Terra Fiend, filled with malevolent plots. To cooperate with him could very well mean being devoured to the bone in the end.

Everyone harbored doubts about his words.

"Fine! I will follow your instructions!"

Yu Yuan communicated with the sword spirit using his remnant soul to transmit his intentions.

"Whoosh! Ssssh!"

The chains and vines that had ensnared him suddenly released their grip, allowing him to plummet onto the bronze monument.

He landed with a thunderous crash on the bronze monument, coming to a halt like a fly on a vast door.

Upon closer inspection, the bronze monument underfoot was alive with an unending stream of faint light, with millions of inscriptions that would surface and then vanish.

Yu Yuan, standing upon the monument, attempted to connect with it through his consciousness, and his mind was jolted.

From within the bronze monument, he sensed a tumultuous and fierce clash of Soul Power, as if every second, billions of remnant souls were weaving arcane mysteries, vying and consuming each other.

The wills of the Stormcrowned Emperor and the Sky Fiend Indigo Wraith pervaded every inch of the monument, their battle raging fiercely, at its most intense juncture.

Immersed in their own world, they were oblivious to the shifting environment around them.

The bronze monument, reinforced by the Stormcrowned Emperor's infusion of his refined vitality and soul, stood even more resolute. Both the Stormcrowned Emperor and the Indigo Wraith were convinced that not even the lightning or the streaks of sword light cascading from the waterfall could damage the monument or disrupt their combat.

"To the Soulforge Pool!"

Yu Yuan, having composed himself, concentrated and once again reached out to the sword spirit.

He then witnessed the chains and vines, crafted from the multitude of glyphs and spells etched into the crater's walls, entwining the bronze monument once more.

The chains and vines appeared to be desperately propelling the bronze monument, enabling it, after millennia buried in the crater unseen by the sun, to finally break free.

The bronze monument, without triggering any further prohibitions, simply hovered above the crater.

The Indigo Wraith, who should have seized the opportunity to flee and rip through the sky's barrier, was locked in a fierce battle with the Stormcrowned Emperor and could not extricate himself.

Yu Yuan sat down calmly and kept transmitting his thoughts.

The restrictions of the land seemed to assist him in moving the bronze monument, which suddenly soared through the void.

"Hehe, young man, you're quite astute," the Terra Fiend White Walker said with a radiant smile. "Good job. Rest assured, if you follow my instructions, I guarantee everyone will leave the forbidden area unscathed."

With those words, he nonchalantly dropped Yu Feifei, holding onto Lin Zhuyun instead.

A white diamond-shaped mark appeared between Yu Feifei's eyebrows, glowing faintly. "Your sister will be safe. As long as you comply, she will turn this misfortune into a blessing."

Taking the Soul Splitting Staff from Yan Lu, he glanced at Qin Yun and Lee Yuchan with a smirk and advised, "I suggest you two stay out of this."

With that, he chased after the bronze monument, soaring through the air.

Lin Zhuyun, clutched in his grasp, looked utterly ashen and distraught.

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