C158 Sword Cleansing

"Yu Yuan! I'm relieved to see you're alright!"

Zhan Tianxiang flashed a wide grin and rushed forward, embracing Yu Yuan tightly despite his attempts to resist.

"Brother Yu!" Zhao Yafu's eyes sparkled with joy, shaping like crescent moons.

Yu Feifei, Su Yan, Lee Yu, and other survivors from the forbidden area emerged one by one. Some greeted him with warm smiles and nods, while others, like Yu Feifei, showed faces full of surprise.

Following Lee Yuchan, they had all made their way to the Soulforge Pool.

"It's great to see everyone's okay."

Yu Yuan surveyed the group, his gaze landing on his younger sister Yu Feifei, whose forehead was now free of the diamond-shaped mark left by the Terra Fiend White Walker. Yu Feifei's complexion was radiant, and her eyes seemed to hold a concealed divine light.

Eyes are the windows to the soul, reflecting the strength of the three souls of heaven, earth, and man. Those with powerful souls often have bright eyes.

Having endured many trials, these prodigies who had arrived at the Soulforge Pool had achieved significant breakthroughs. Their temperaments had matured, showing clear growth in all aspects.

Qin Yun of the Midnightshields surveyed the young talents before him and nodded inwardly.

The Silvermoon Empire boasted many exceptional individuals who would undoubtedly become the nation's backbone.

Yet, he was convinced that Yu Yuan, once an obscure figure from Asvetaesi, would eventually outshine all these gifted individuals, including Lee Yu, who was hailed as the future luminary of the Silvermoon Empire.

"Brother Yu, what happened to Sister Lin?"

Approaching with concern, Su Yan bypassed other inquiries and asked, "Wasn't she taken by the White Walker and the Terra Fiend?"

"Yu Yuan, what exactly happened here?" Zhan Tianxiang inquired, "Was the bronze monument successful in its suppression?"

Yu Yuan simply repeated his earlier explanation.

Regarding Lin Zhuyun, he informed Su Yan, "Lin Zhuyun was ensnared by the dark will of the Terra Fiend White Walker, which led her into a period of self-doubt. She has returned to the Empire on her own."

He refrained from going into detail.

Su Yan didn't press further. Upon hearing that Lin Zhuyun had ventured back to the Empire alone, she let out a soft sigh and expressed her hope, "I just hope Sister Lin is safe and sound."

"My aunt?" Lee Yu asked, puzzled.

It was at that moment everyone noticed the Empire's female general, intently fixated on the sword scars etched into the pool's wall.

"She's attempting to decipher the enigmas of those sword scars," Yu Yuan explained.

Upon hearing this, every self-proclaimed genius with claims of extraordinary insight was invigorated. They crowded closer, their gazes locked on the sword scars, murmuring in amazement.

Qin Yun, dressed like a young scholar, simply shook his head with a dismissive smile, paying no heed to the spectacle, nor did he offer any warnings to Lee Yuchan.

"It's futile..."

The sword light within Yu Yuan's arm bone grew warmer. He surmised that it was due to Lee Yuchan's remnant soul wandering, or rather, sinking into the sword scars and being stealthily siphoned of Soul Power, allowing him to detect the subtle shifts.

Among the younger generation, the mightiest were Lee Yu, Yan Lu, and Zhan Tianxiang. Yet none had reached the Subtlety, lacking even a refined spiritual sense, let alone the ability to refine their heaven soul with the White Paper Fan as he could.

Qin Yun's assumption was correct; those of lower realms couldn't immerse their spiritual sense into the sword scars. Relying solely on their eyes to grasp the true essence of swordsmanship from the dense and intricate sword scars was nothing short of a pipe dream.

Yu Yuan was well aware that the assembled were all proud individuals of the Empire, beyond persuasion. He resigned himself to let them gaze upon the sword scars until they realized their efforts were in vain and abandoned the task.

His primary concern remained with Lee Yuchan. She had been fixated on the sword scars for some time, and he feared that both the sword scars and the enigmatic Soulforge Pool were covertly depleting her Soul Power.

With the Soulforge Matrix now ineffective, the multitude of alien souls and goasts that Lin Zhuyun had warned about would soon converge upon them.

Where these foreign entities would emerge within the forbidden area, and when they would surface, was beyond his perception now that the sword spirit and protective seals were gone.

He would have to depend on Qin Yun and Lee Yuchan to navigate through the impending peril.

Qin Yun's Lunar Spirit had already sustained damage. If Lee Yuchan lingered too long with the sword scars, her condition could worsen beyond Qin Yun's injuries. Could this group of youngsters survive and make their way out of the Moonfall Sanctuary alive?

He still had another point to consider.

With the Soulforge Matrix rendered ineffective, the so-called sinner from Boulderdawn, along with the Stormcrowned Emperor, the Sky Fiend Indigo Wraith, and the Terra Fiend White Walker, had fled to the Star River in the extraterrestrial realms.

What would become of this forbidden area in the future?

Without the emergence of a powerful alien soul, could the Crimson Sun Empire and the Silvermoon Empire continue to coexist peacefully?

If the Crimson Sun Empire no longer perceived the forbidden area as a threat, would they turn their weapons on them once the peace agreement was shattered?

Such thoughts flooded Yu Yuan's mind, leaving him restless.

"Yu Yuan, what about my Soul Splitting Staff?" Yan Lu asked quietly, a hint of hope in his voice, "Did it also go to the extraterrestrial?"

"Yes," Yu Yuan replied candidly. "That item is far too peculiar. In your hands, it might not bring fortune but could instead be a source of calamity."

Yan Lu, filled with disappointment, simply nodded without saying much more.

"Pfft!"

Suddenly, like Qin Yun before her, Lee Yuchan spat out a mouthful of blood.

She collapsed to the ground, her pupils flashing with an odd brilliance that shone briefly before fading away.

"The Gutrender is yours."

She tossed the renowned blade of the Silvermoon Empire, which she had demanded from Lee Yu, toward him.

After discarding the sword, Lee Yuchan, seemingly drained of all her strength, silently produced a Psicrystal. Sitting upright, she began to absorb the spiritual energy within it to replenish her own.

Lee Yu caught the Gutrender, infusing his spiritual energy and vitality into the blade.

His eyes brightened as he sensed the flow of energy through the sword quicken significantly after the infusion.

"Whoosh!"

A ghostly green sword light emanated from the tip of the Gutrender, casting a resplendent and otherworldly glow.

"Little aunt, this sword?" he exclaimed in astonishment.

"I've purified it," Lee Yuchan replied, opening her eyes and glancing at the sword scar on the wall with a sense of trepidation. "I used an external force to cleanse the sword, making the sword's will clear and the blade itself pristine. Of course, it came at a cost."

She observed the Empire's youth curiously inspecting the sword scars.

With a cold huff, she said, "A bunch of greenhorns, don't waste your time gawking at those sword marks. With your level of cultivation, you won't grasp anything, nor will you be able to immerse your thoughts and consciousness within."

"Washing the sword?" Qin Yun exclaimed in surprise, "General Lee, are you using those sword scars to cleanse Gutrender?"

Lee Yuchan replied, "What if I am?"

"I never knew you were so skilled in swordsmanship, General Lee. It's quite impressive," Qin Yun said, his face showing deep admiration. "Gutrender is no ordinary blade, and only someone exceptional could cleanse such a weapon."

He gazed at the sword scars, "Holding Gutrender and using a unique item to cleanse it, you're quite remarkable yourself."

"You're too kind," Lee Yuchan responded coolly, then addressed Yu Yuan, "The situation in the forbidden area is too volatile. We're in the dark about the outside world."

She paused before adding, "I think we should try to understand the situation first."

Yu Yuan nodded slowly, "Agreed."

After a brief hesitation, he said, "Lee, please look after them. I need to meditate."

Lee Yuchan looked surprised, seemingly thinking his meditation inconsequential now that he'd lost the ability to summon the restriction.

But she didn't try to dissuade him and gestured for Yu Yuan to proceed as he wished.

"Mr. Qin isn't going to cause trouble while I'm meditating, is he?" Yu Yuan asked, eyeing Qin Yun with suspicion and caution.

"Of course not," Qin Yun reassured, waving his hands. "If you're doubtful, I can step away for a bit. Call on me whenever you need."

"Then please, Mr. Qin, keep your distance for now. I'll be more at peace that way."

"Ah, despite my sincerity, it seems Yu still doesn't trust me. That truly saddens me."

Despite his words, Qin Yun stood and departed on his own.

Once Yu Yuan felt through the Dawn Arrow that Qin Yun had indeed moved far away, he relaxed. He settled into a corner of the Soulforge Pool, took out his White Paper Fan, and immersed his mind within.

...