C172 Come Down!!

Despite all of Duan Guanlan's calculations, he could never have anticipated that the Order of Healing would play a role in crafting the Ruby Hand's seven Cursemarks.

Yu Yuan's mentor, the Sect Master of the Order of Healing, was involved in the creation of the Cursemarks.

Yu Yuan himself was there at the time!

Afterward, his mentor described to him in great detail the many intricacies of the Cursemark and its magical connection to the sect's sacred land.

The glyphs and magic diagrams imprinted on the seven Cursemarks were even used by his mentor to challenge Yu Yuan.

Indeed, reaching a certain level in the art of alchemy requires an understanding of the world's medicinal principles.

One must also know how to etch glyphs and maximize the potency of ingredients within the furnace.

Yu Yuan's knowledge of the Cursemark's origins came from his genuine understanding of the Ruby Hand's mystical spells and their subtle complexities.

Duan Guanlan's attempt to draw his heaven soul into the fiery realm within the Cursemark was a grave misstep.

The most disastrous error, however, was when Duan Guanlan inadvertently allowed specks of sword light to enter the spell's fiery domain.

The nine points of sword light transformed into an ancient Divine Sword, which Yu Yuan's heaven soul wielded. Within the illusory realm of the Cursemark, it was as if he had been handed a cleaver fit for butchering an ox.

Yu Yuan traced the inner pathways of the Cursemark, the configuration of glyphs and magic diagrams, with ease. With a mere flick of his wrist, he caused this realm to fracture and crumble.

What he shattered was the Cursemark's very foundation, the essence of the spell.

With each stroke of the sword light's blade, the fiery world blazed as if doomsday had arrived.

Majestic palaces crumbled, their bricks and tiles peeling away, and as they fell, the sky, heavy with fiery clouds, tore open with numerous flaming rifts.

The rivers of flame that snaked across the land began to wither and dry.

The entire inner world of the Cursemark was collapsing, spiraling into the most dreadful of ends.

Duan Guanlan, who had pressed the spell firmly to his forehead, first bled from his brow.

Then from his eyes, nostrils, and ears.

The blood flowed ceaselessly!

Duan Guanlan's face was devoid of any trace of a smile, his expression an indescribable mix of shock, fear, despair, and confusion.

"How can this be possible? How could this happen..."

He seemed to have lost his soul, muttering incessantly as if he could no longer perceive the presence of the "Cursemark."

In the late stages of Veil Breaking, he had secretly practiced the Crimson Soul Spell, condensing strands of spiritual sense before even reaching the Subtlety Stage. His goal was to control the "Cursemark" with his spiritual sense, to activate it for his own protection.

Typically, spiritual sense could only be condensed upon reaching the Subtlety Stage. It was like a blind tentacle, capable of sensing the environment.

Spiritual sense could also delve into the depths of the Cursemark's spell, triggering a response and allowing him to rely on the Ruby Hand's arcane spells to accomplish feats beyond his wildest dreams.

For instance, he could deal a heavy blow to the ancient Moonfiend or extract Yu Yuan's heaven soul and peel away the sword light etched into Yu Yuan's arm bone.

"I wonder how many Cursemarks the Ruby Hand still possesses."

Suddenly, Yu Yuan himself spoke, looking mockingly at the soulless Duan Guanlan, "I'm sorry, but I must destroy this Cursemark."

With those words, the illusory world of fire before Duan Guanlan blazed fiercely.

Nine distinct lights, entwined with a wraith, burst forth.

The wraith entered Yu Yuan's brow, while the nine lights vanished into his arms.

He smiled broadly as the fiery world, marked by the remnant soul, burned to nothing before Duan Guanlan's very eyes.

The spell that had been affixed to Duan Guanlan's forehead was now just a blank piece of paper.

Bloodied and defeated, Duan Guanlan slumped to the ground, a shadow of his former self.

In contrast, Yu Yuan's gaze sparkled with vitality, his spirit undiminished as if he had not sustained a single injury.

"Lee, your silence at that crucial moment will not be forgotten," he said with a smile, betraying no hint of anger as he nodded at Lee Yuchan. "The Duan family has a strong alliance with the Ruby Hand. You believe they can bring greater benefits to the Silvermoon Empire, don't you?"

Snapped out of her shock, Lee Yuchan looked at Yu Yuan, momentarily unsure of what to say.

"Mr. Qin!" Yu Yuan called out, looking up at the sect master of the Midnightshields. "I'm relieved that you didn't take advantage of my vulnerability."

With a wry smile, Qin Yun descended from the sky, landing next to Duan Tianxi and stopping in front of Yu Yuan. "Yu, after all, I belong to the Crimson Sun Empire. Please, don't hold it against me for not intervening. The truth is, I'm simply no match for him." He gestured toward Duan Tianxi.

Yu Yuan's expression remained cool as he let out a disdainful snort.

"General Lee is also in a difficult position," Qin Yun continued. "Duan Guanlan is shielded by the Cursemark, and we've all seen what happened to the ancient Moonfiend. What could we do? We can't break through the Cursemark, we can't rescue you, and with the Duan brothers lurking in the shadows, our hands are truly tied."

After a moment of silence, Lee Yuchan finally spoke up, "Yu Yuan, I acknowledge my mistake in this matter."

"There's no need for further words," Yu Yuan interrupted, gesturing dismissively before sitting down quietly in front of Duan Guanlan at the edge of the Soulforge Pool.

Qin Yun and Lee Yuchan exchanged a look of mutual consternation.

Perched atop the crimson big bell, Duan Tianxi, manifesting as the Flame Deity, gazed down at Yu Yuan with a complex look. "You've destroyed a Cursemark, kid!"

Yu Yuan met his gaze and chuckled, "And what of it?"

"Knowing the origin and value of the Cursemark, you still dared to destroy it!" Duan Tianxi bellowed in anger. "Regardless of your ties to the Ruby Hand or the backing of your sect, you cannot justify the destruction of a Cursemark!"

"Explain? To whom should I explain?" Yu Yuan scoffed with disbelief. "Senior Duan, don't flatter yourself. You and your brother are hardly worth an explanation from me!"

"Young man, I truly don't understand where you get the audacity!" Duan Tianxi retorted with a laugh rather than anger.

But his laughter abruptly ceased the next moment.

He was suddenly gripped by an extremely inappropriate sense of danger!

Yu Yuan, seated within the Soulforge Pool, casually lifted his left hand and pointed at him from a distance, speaking coldly, "You're standing too high for my comfort. It's tiring looking up at you! Come down!"

A profound and ancient sword's will surged from Yu Yuan's left hand, resonating with the world around him.

From the fissures surrounding the Soulforge Pool, ancient sword wills and streaks of sword light burst forth, forming a spectrum of rainbows that soared into the sky.

It was as if dazzling meteors had erupted from the earth, ascending in reverse.

Duan Tianxi, practicing the Flame Demon Spell, had his Flame Deity-like Lunar Spirit suddenly penetrated. The crimson big bell beneath him sparked and sputtered.

With a thunderous crash, Duan Tianxi, along with the crimson big bell, fell to the ground outside the Soulforge Pool as his Lunar Spirit returned to him.

Lee Yu, Qin Yun, and Duan Guanlan watched in horror from the bottom of the pool.

"This place no longer welcomes anyone. Please leave," Yu Yuan declared, his tone icy as he gave each of them a definitive glance.

Duan Guanlan, grievously wounded and bereft of fighting spirit, heeded the words without a second thought and hastily exited the Soulforge Pool despite his injuries.

"Brother Yu?" Qin Yun pleaded with a pitiable look.

"Take care," Yu Yuan responded dismissively.

With a heavy sigh, Qin Yun reluctantly took flight from the Soulforge Pool.

That left the Silvermoon Empire's female general, who frowned and began, "Yu Yuan, you are still one of our own. Even if I have erred, I..."

"Out!" Yu Yuan cut her off sharply.

"Yu Yuan, how dare you speak to me in such a manner?" Lee Yuchan erupted in rage.

She acknowledged her own faults, but given the previous circumstances, with Duan Guanlan shielded by the Cursemark and Duan Tianxi backing him, she had been truly helpless.

If she engaged in battle half-heartedly, it would not only be fruitless, but she would also risk serious harm to herself.

Instead of facing such an outcome, it would be wiser to foster good relations with the Duan family and establish a rapport with the Ruby Hand.

She believed that she was acting out of necessity, choosing the best way to serve the Silvermoon Empire, yet Yu Yuan seemed to have trouble grasping this.

"I'll say it again, please leave!"

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