C160 Upper Sect Disciple

Yu Yuan's thoughts soared within the realm of the White Paper Fan, weaving through its ethereal space.

The artifact soul of the Soul Splitting Staff, a fusion of black and white in the form of a child, did not reveal itself this time. It seemed to be concealed within the profound depths of the four ancient black characters, "To Know All is to Suffer All."

For the moment, Yu Yuan's thoughts appeared to be confined to the world represented by the character for "wisdom."

The mysterious spell, Soul Forging through Enlightenment, had granted him, at the Soul Awakening Realm, the ability to condense his heaven soul early on, enhancing his intelligence and clarifying his thoughts.

A pervasive sense of sorrow infused every ancient black character of "To Know All is to Suffer All," resonating with Yu Yuan's mind and mood.

Time passed, unmeasured.

Suddenly, Yu Yuan's thread of consciousness felt a strong pull and turned its attention to a specific place.

Within the character for "wisdom," a door seemed to have quietly opened.

The Yin-Yang Acolytes, having merged, appeared to push through from another realm into the world of "wisdom," struggling slightly to take shape.

The Yin-Yang Acolytes, with one black eye and one white, wore garments of alternating colors. Now, their soul appeared exceptionally vivid, with even the individual hairs of their eyebrows materializing.

In this realm, they spoke directly, "What brings you here again?"

Yu Yuan's thoughts shifted, and his intention was naturally conveyed, "I've come to refine my heaven soul. I also seek to understand something: a Terra Fiend, the White Walker, intends to draw you into the Soul Splitting Staff."

"White Walker?" The Yin-Yang Acolytes sneered, "Nothing but a contemptible wretch!"

"The White Walker, Stormcrowned Emperor, and the Sky Fiend, Indigo Wraith, were all taken to the Star River in the extraterrestrial realms by your former master," Yu Yuan articulated his thoughts clearly within the world of the character 'wisdom.' "According to the White Walker, the bronze monument is the lid of the bronze coffin, beneath which your master lies hidden."

"My master..." The Yin-Yang Acolytes' expression turned distant, as if lost in memories of bygone years. "The master has utterly succumbed to the dark path. Since suffering a grave injury, my remnant soul has yet to recover. Much has been forgotten. All I know is that the Soul Splitting Staff that once bore my soul fragment has undergone significant changes. Entering it now would only serve to bind and confine me."

"I seek true freedom and a different way of existence."

"The White Paper Fan serves as a temporary abode for my soul, allowing me to gradually reclaim the memories I've lost."

The Yin-Yang Acolytes yearned for more than an eternal existence trapped within the Soul Splitting Staff as an artifact soul.

They aspired to roam the world as freely as the Terra Fiend White Walker and the Sky Fiend Indigo Wraith, wielding the power of mighty souls to traverse the earth and even delve into the depths of the Star River with boundless liberty.

"White Paper Fan, with four ancient black characters inside?" Yu Yuan mused in astonishment. "Can they truly help you regain your forgotten memories?"

"Yes," the Yin-Yang Acolytes confirmed with a subtle nod. "I'm not sure why it is so. I just sense that there's something miraculous within the little world inside those characters. Moreover, they strike a chord of familiarity. I suspect that the one who inscribed these words knew my master, perhaps even as a fellow disciple!"

"A fellow disciple?" Yu Yuan's complexion shifted.

The formidable entity lying dormant in the bronze coffin was deemed the transgressor of Boulderdawn, the linchpin in the sect's downfall.

If the holder of the White Paper Fan, the one who etched the four ancient black characters, was from Boulderdawn, it would mean they shared the same lineage.

"The first time I ventured within, it was as if a scene flashed before me," the Yin-Yang Acolytes recounted with a furrowed brow. "The person who carved the words 'To Know All is to Suffer All' seemed to have expended all his vitality and soul in the process. I believe the essence of Heaven and Earth within those words was born from his very breath and remnant soul."

Yu Yuan was taken aback by this revelation.

If the Boulderdawn entity had indeed exhausted his vitality and soul to inscribe those words, thereby creating four little worlds within, then the master of the White Paper Fan must possess an extraordinarily terrifying level of cultivation.

He would have to be at least of the Unbound realm!

If so, then the technique of Soul Forging through Enlightenment would also be a legacy of Boulderdawn, a secret art of soul refinement unique to the sect.

Boulderdawn, before its demise, stood as the fourth upper sect of all Euwrea!

As the thought crossed his mind, Yu Yuan's consciousness was thrown into disarray, momentarily disconnecting from the enlightened realm within the White Paper Fan.

When his consciousness snapped back into place, he abruptly noticed Lee Yuchan, the Empire's female general, with a dark, foreboding expression, staring intently in a certain direction. The younger members of the Empire also wore bitter smiles.

"Lee, who are they?" Yu Yuan quickly realized the gravity of the situation.

"The cultivators from the Crimson Sun Empire are a formidable gathering! They must have entered through the entrance after the great formation vanished," Lee Yuchan explained, taking a deep breath. "This place is quite distant from our Silvermoon Empire. It would take much longer for our people to arrive and locate this area."

She paused, then added, "And that's after dealing with the alien souls and goasts."

At the edge of the forbidden area, where it meets the Moonfall Empire, numerous alien souls and goasts had swarmed. With the seal lifted, these creatures were the first to rush in. The cultivators from the Silvermoon Empire would inevitably be behind them, potentially clashing with the alien souls and goasts along the way. The Crimson Sun Empire faced none of these issues and, being closer, naturally arrived more swiftly.

But the question remained: how had they pinpointed the Soulforge Pool with such precision?

Before anyone could express their gratitude, a golden carriage materialized in the distant sky. Over ten meters in length and forged from yellow Sunsilver, it was adorned with an array of glittering gems that lent it an air of unmatched opulence.

Aboard the carriage were a man and a woman. The man exuded a noble presence, his stature tall and features handsome, while the woman was delicately beautiful, her smile enchanting. Their attire clearly indicated they hailed from the same sect.

Following the golden carriage was a retinue of Qi Practitioners of varying realms—some soaring through the void, others mounted on Spirit Birds, and yet others aboard treasure wheels. Even a single glance at these Qi Practitioners was enough to evoke a sense of oppression.

They were all formidable cultivators, akin to Lee Yuchan and Midnightshields' Qin Yun, with many among them at the Lunar Spirit Stage.

"My heavens!" Su Yan exclaimed in a hushed tone, her expression one of utter disbelief as she gazed upon the newcomers.

Lee Yu and his companions wore uneasy expressions, seemingly recognizing some individuals among the crowd.

Qin Yun from the Midnightshields, who had been recuperating at a great distance with the aid of a Psicrystal, now rushed skyward. Before the golden carriage could arrive, he bowed mid-air and greeted, "Young Master Duan, Miss Wu."

The tall, dignified young man returned the greeting with a radiant smile, "I'm relieved to see Mr. Qin is unharmed."

Qin Yun inquired, "Young Master Duan, what brings you here this time?"

The tall young man offered no reply. Instead, he watched with amusement the cultivators from the Silvermoon Empire gathered inside the Soulforge Pool as the golden carriage came to a halt.

The charming woman accompanying him also cast her gaze in their direction.

The more seasoned and higher-ranking cultivators from the Crimson Sun Empire halted in their tracks the moment the carriage stopped, not daring to pass in front of the pair.

Yu Yuan scrutinized the attire of the man and woman within the Soulforge Pool and quickly understood their identity.

The pair were indeed official disciples of the Sunlit Order from the continent of Euwrea.

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