C160 Upper Sect Disciple

Yu Yuan's consciousness soared through the inner realms of the white paper fan, agile and unfettered.

The Artifact Soul of the Splitting Soul Staff, now merged with the monochrome boy, did not reveal itself this time. It seemed to be concealed within the depths of the four ancient black characters, especially behind the last three.

For the moment, Yu Yuan's thoughts appeared to be confined within the world of the character "Hui."

The Soul Forging Technique was an enigmatic Soul Art that enabled him, at his Spirit Accumulating Stage, to refine his Heavenly Soul early on, enhancing his wisdom and clarifying his thoughts.

A pervasive sense of melancholy filled every ancient black character of "Hui." Yu Yuan's consciousness and mood were perfectly aligned.

Time passed, unmarked.

Suddenly, Yu Yuan's consciousness felt a strong pull and he turned his attention sharply in one direction.

Within the character "Hui," it seemed a door had silently swung open.

The Monochrome Boy, a fusion of black and white, appeared to push through from another dimension into the world of "Hui," struggling slightly to take shape.

His eyes, one black, one white, matched the alternating colors of his garb.

Now, unlike before, his soul spirit was exceptionally vivid; even the individual hairs of his eyebrows were distinct and materialized.

In this realm, he spoke directly, "Why have you returned?"

Yu Yuan's thoughts stirred, his intention effortlessly transmitted, "I'm here to temper my Heavenly Soul, and I seek to understand something. There's an Earth Demon known as White Ghost who desires your presence within the Splitting Soul Staff."

"White Ghost?" The Monochrome Boy scoffed, "Nothing but a contemptible wretch!"

"The White Ghost, along with the Sky Shocking Emperor and the Green Incubus, were all taken to the Outland Star River by your former master," Yu Yuan communicated clearly within the realm of "Hui." "According to the White Ghost, the bronze monument is actually the lid of the bronze coffin, beneath which your master lies hidden."

"My master..." The Monochrome Boy's expression turned distant, lost in memories of bygone years. "My master has utterly succumbed to the dark path. Since suffering grievous injuries, my soul has yet to recover. Much has been forgotten. All I know is that the Splitting Soul Staff that once housed me has undergone significant changes. Entering it now would only serve to bind and confine me."

"And I seek true freedom, to exist in a different manner."

"This white paper fan serves as a temporary refuge for my Artifact Soul, where I can gradually reclaim the memories I've lost."

The Monochrome Boy's aspiration was not to remain eternally bound within the Splitting Soul Staff as an Artifact Soul.

He yearned to roam the world and the cosmos as freely as the Earth Demon White Ghost and the Sky Demon Green Incubus, harnessing the might of the world's powerful souls and even venturing into the far reaches of the Outland Star River.

"White paper fan, with four ancient black characters inside?" Yu Yuan mused in astonishment, "They can help you regain your lost memories?"

"Yes," the Monochrome Boy confirmed with a gentle nod. "I'm not sure why, but I sense that there's something extraordinary within the small universe of those four words. They also strike a chord of familiarity. I believe the one who etched these characters knew my master, perhaps they were even from the same sect!"

"From the same sect?!" Yu Yuan's face paled.

The formidable being concealed within the bronze coffin was the infamous sinner of the Divine Soul Sect, the linchpin in the sect's downfall.

If the carver of the four ancient black characters on the white paper fan was from the Divine Soul Sect, then they shared the same lineage.

"The first time I ventured into it, it was as though a scene flashed before me," the Monochrome Boy recounted, his brow furrowed in concentration. "The person who inscribed the 'Soul Forging Technique' seemed to have exhausted his life force and spirit. I sense that the universe within those words was born from his essence and soul."

Yu Yuan was taken aback by this revelation.

If the Divine Soul Sect's entity had depleted his life force and spirit to inscribe the four ancient black characters, thereby creating four small worlds within,

then the owner of the white paper fan must possess an extraordinarily fearsome level of cultivation.

He must have been at least at the Unrestrained Stage!

If so, the Soul Forging Technique would undoubtedly be a legacy of the Divine Soul Sect, one of their secret arts.

Before its demise, the Divine Soul Sect stood as the Fourth Upper Sect of the Heavenly Source Continent!

With this realization, Yu Yuan's thoughts were thrown into disarray, his consciousness momentarily disconnecting from the world within the Soul Forging Technique.

As his consciousness snapped back into place, he suddenly noticed the Empire's female general, Lee Yuchan, with a grim expression, staring intently in a particular direction as if bracing for a formidable enemy. The Empire's younger generation, who had gone to comprehend the sword marks, all wore bitter smiles.

"Sister Lee, who's coming?" Yu Yuan quickly came to his senses.

"Cultivators from the Rainier Empire, a gathering of masters! They must have entered through the gateway after the grand formation vanished," Lee Yuchan inhaled deeply. "This location is quite remote from our Silvermoon Empire. It would take much longer for our people to arrive and find this place."

She paused, then added, "And they would likely arrive after the Alien Soul Evil Spirits."

At the border of the forbidden land and the Fallen Moon Empire, numerous Alien Soul Demons had swarmed and were the first to rush in after the seals were lifted.

The cultivators from the Silvermoon Empire would inevitably lag behind, possibly clashing with the Alien Soul Demons along the way.

The Rainier Empire faced none of these troubles or setbacks, and given their proximity, they naturally arrived quicker.

But how did they so precisely locate this Soul Transformation Pool?

Before anyone could express their gratitude, a golden carriage materialized in the distant sky.

The carriage, over ten meters in length and crafted from yellow gold metal, was a sight to behold. Adorned with an array of sparkling gems, it exuded an air of opulence.

Atop the carriage sat a man and a woman, both exuding elegance—the man, tall and handsome; the woman, radiant and charming, her smile captivating. Their matching attire clearly indicated they hailed from the same sect.

Trailing the golden carriage was a retinue of Qi Practitioners of varying ranks, some soaring through the void, others mounted on mystical creatures, and a few aboard enchanted wheels.

Just one glance at these Qi Practitioners was enough to evoke a sense of suppression. They were formidable cultivators, akin to Lee Yuchan and Qin Yun of the Seven Divine Sect, with numerous practitioners at the Yin God Stage.

"My heavens!" Su Yan exclaimed under her breath, her face a picture of disbelief.

Lee Yu and the rest appeared uncomfortable, seemingly recognizing some of the newcomers.

Qin Yun of the Seven Divine Sect, who had been recuperating at a great distance using Spirit Crystals, now rushed skyward. Before the golden carriage could land, he soared up and bowed mid-air, greeting, "Young Master Duan, Miss Wu."

The tall and imposing young man flashed a radiant smile and said, "I'm relieved to hear that Sect Master Qin is unharmed."

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

The tall young man remained silent. As the golden carriage came to a halt, he watched with amusement the practitioners from the Silvermoon Empire within the Soul Transformation Pool.

A beautiful woman with a smile also shifted her gaze in their direction.

The more advanced and older cultivators from the Rainier Empire all promptly stopped in their tracks as the carriage ceased its motion.

They dared not pass in front of the two individuals.

Yu Yuan scrutinized the attire of the man and woman in the Soul Transformation Pool and immediately understood.

The pair were official disciples of the Primordial Yang Sect from the Heavenly Source Continent.

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