C1756 The Sneaky Behavior

Beneath the Land of Terror, silver streams meandered, teeming with ghosts yet to awaken their spiritual wisdom. They drifted and wandered with the river's current.

Once these ghosts acquired wisdom, they no longer depended on the River Styx for existence and ascended to the Land of Terror.

They would join the ranks of the Ghost Kings as lowly minions. In their early stages, they could strengthen themselves by battling other ghosts, progressing through the ranks of Earth Specter, Ghost, Celestial Shade, and Spectre.

At that moment, the ghosts within the River Styx writhed uncomfortably under the glimmer of what seemed like starlight. Through Yu Yuan's conscious probing, this light was revealed to be droplets of blood.

—Denise's blood.

Though he hadn't yet seen Denise, Yu Yuan knew her noble blood had been shed upon the River Styx.

Refocusing, he noticed that within each drop of Denise's blood, tiny veins wove together, forming star-like networks brimming with pure Soul Power.

This was undoubtedly the influence of Soul-Capturing!

Soul-Capturing had infused her Soul Power into Denise's blood, muddying the waters of the River Styx.

This not only severed the spiritual link between Luo Yue, Taruer, and Razses and their respective sections of the River Styx but also blocked their communication with the Root of the Lunar Meridian.

It appeared that Soul-Capturing had temporarily disrupted the soul connections between the Root of the Lunar Meridian and its adherents.

Perhaps even Youyu, in the distant extraterrestrial reaches, and Yu Zhu, battling in the Dark Star Domain alongside the Dark Phoenix, were unable to contact the Lunar Meridian.

"Yu Zhu!"

Yu Yuan, in his real body at the Skyreach Consortium, pondered and began to grasp the implications.

"Yu Zhu, though she bears the blood of evilkind, ascended to her lofty status through the Lunar Meridian. She is, in fact, more inclined to heed the Root of the Lunar Meridian. Her elevation to deity was sanctioned by both the Dark Phoenix and the Lunar Meridian, propelled by various forces."

Shi Jing'er spoke with measured caution, watching Yu Yuan's expressions closely. "Setting aside Yu Zhu's allegiances, her attainment of a divine position and role as the voice of the murky was deliberately orchestrated by the Root of the Lunar Meridian, with the covert support of the Dark Phoenix."

"I suspect that the Root of the Lunar Meridian and the Dark Phoenix had an unspoken agreement long ago," Shi Jing'er mused. Jun Chen let out a cold snort, leaving it unclear whether his dissatisfaction was directed at the Lunar Meridian or Shadow's Keep.

Yu Yuan also considered this possibility, sensing that Soul-Capturing could discern the Lunar Meridian's long-standing indecisiveness and potential underhanded actions.

"There's another matter. I've recently come across confidential information that Cao Jiaze of the Ebon Star suffered a grave soul injury after Han Miaoyuan's departure," Shi Jing'er said, her voice dropping. "Our sources are confident that the Root of the Lunar Meridian was behind the attack on Cao Jiaze!"

"It sought the arcane knowledge imparted to Cao Jiaze by Han Miaoyuan, particularly the secrets pertaining to the Boulderdawn."

At that point, Feng Zhong, Jun Chen, and Zhou You chimed in, defending Youyu and Yu Zhu, stating they had not engaged in actions harmful to any parties.

Nonetheless, the Root of the Lunar Meridian likely had covert dealings with the Dark Phoenix due to Yu Zhu, and had collaborated with Han Miaoyuan.

So what transpired?

As soon as Han Miaoyuan left the Everlands and was spotted fleeing a battle with Yu Yuan, the Root of the Lunar Meridian swiftly targeted Cao Jiaze.

There seemed to be a general air of grievance towards the Root of the Lunar Meridian among the group.

"I'll take another look."

Yu Yuan's consciousness hovered high above the Land of Terror, persistently seeping downward.

He soon observed a layer of silver-gray shadow energy enshrouding the depths below.

Even he could barely discern Denise's silhouette through the haze.

Beneath the silver-gray veil, Denise appeared to be standing by the river, a manifestation of the Lunar Meridian, engaging in some exchange.

Yu Yuan attentively probed the aura emanating from the silver-gray shadow energy.

Before long, he sensed the profound essence of reincarnation, rebirth, and the purification of the soul.

Remarkably, these aspects of Mind Magic, governed by the Root of the Lunar Meridian, were also present in Denise's aura!

In the caves of Zekrica, Denise had received only a fraction of the Mind Magic from the Lunar Meridian. It was highly unlikely that she had been granted such pivotal Spirit Magic.

Since it wasn't Denise's doing, it had to be the work of Soul-Capturing!

A flash of spiritual wisdom crossed Yu Yuan's mind, and his eyes sparkled with realization. He quickly pieced together a theory.

The Soul-Capturing God-King, an extraterrestrial being, had not adhered to the traditional Spirit Magic of the Boulderdawn sect. She hadn't used the Boulderdawn's Way of Heaven to refine her primordial spirit.

Legend has it that she blazed her own trail, creating a new Path of the Soul and with it, forged her primordial spirit.

This unique Path of the Soul appeared to share a connection with the Root of the Lunar Meridian in the Everlands. It's quite possible that Taixu had once shared with Soul-Capturing some of the Bloodbrawlers' cultivation techniques and mystiques related to reincarnation.

In his first life, he had exchanged knowledge with Youyu. When Youyu received the Mind Magic from him, he reciprocated with the Bloodbrawlers' Mind Magic.

Taixu had documented this exchange of the Bloodbrawlers' Mind Magic, which had also manifested its wonders in the extraterrestrial realm.

Although the Bloodbrawlers had fallen in the Everlands, their sect had once flourished, shining brightly due to the Spirit Magic they derived from the Root of the Lunar Meridian.

Soul-Capturing, born in the extraterrestrial realm, might have taken a keen interest in the Bloodbrawlers' mystiques, showing a natural aptitude for them.

She had seized Wei Zhuo's essence, intending to craft a divine throne, and it seemed she aimed to inscribe a deeper cosmic order.

Part of this deeper cosmic order, tied to the cycles of reincarnation and the purification of the soul, was now in the possession of the Root of the Lunar Meridian. That's why she sought it out, hoping to directly acquire it from the Lunar Meridian.

If denied, she might resort to taking it by force.

"Impressive. This is truly a case of the student surpassing the master," Yu Yuan mused, his gaze turning curious. "The Dark Phoenix has been openly coveting the Root of the Lunar Meridian in the Dark Star Region, a fact known to all. Yet, she silently slipped into the Everlands, seeking the Root of the Lunar Meridian on its home turf, intent on claiming a share of the Mind Magic for herself."

"Who is it?"

Shi Jing'er and her companions exclaimed in surprise.

"Soul-Capturing has taken refuge in Denise's body. Right now, she's beneath the Land of Terror, standing before the Root of the Lunar Meridian," Yu Yuan clarified.

"Soul-Capturing!" Feng Zhong exclaimed in alarm, glaring at Yu Yuan. "Can't your Boulderdawn Sect give us a heads-up before you act? Are you planning to wage war against the Root of the Lunar Meridian and the Bloodbrawlers? At least warn us so we can be prepared!"

"Weren't the Bloodbrawlers supposed to be neutral?" Zhou You asked, bewildered.

"Without Youyu to hold them back, and given the relationship between Yu Zhu and me, the Lunar Meridian would have already compelled the Bloodbrawlers to make a move," Yu Yuan sighed, gripping the Dragon Slaying Stage. "I'm going to assess the situation."

With a whoosh, the Dragon Slaying Stage materialized in the skies above the Land of Terror. The shadow energy that once eroded his flesh and blood now had little impact on him.

He didn't fully descend but instead stood atop the Dragon Slaying Stage.

Shortly thereafter, Luo Yue, Razses, and Taruer, the three Ghost Kings, instructed their Spectres to remain in place while they ascended one by one into the heavens.

"Denise is of the Starborn, and she claims to recognize you," Luo Yue remarked, her tone mixed with complexity.

Taruer reproached, "Yu Yuan, what exactly is happening on your end? It's one thing for Tian Zang and the Land of Terror to part ways, but why bring in Denise? Now we've lost our connection with the River Styx. What's the purpose of involving this Starborn girl?"

"She lacks the power to threaten anyone," Razses stated icily.

"Has the one beneath the surface commanded you to strike at the Boulderdawn?" Yu Yuan inquired gently.

Seeing the three Ghost Kings brought back memories of his time in the Land of Terror. Luo Yue had been his alchemy protégé, making her somewhat of a disciple. Taruer and Razses, both Ghost Kings, had also fought alongside him, maintaining a cordial relationship up to this point.

At this moment, a wave of concern washed over him. What if the Root of the Lunar Meridian and Soul-Capturing clashed in battle? Could it lead to the deaths of Luo Yue, Taruer, and Razses, or cause their powers to diminish?

Could Youyu and Yu Zhu be caught in the crossfire?

"We usually only communicate with the God of Ghosts and heed His guidance," Razzes admitted, his gaze falling to the ground. "We can sense it, we're aware of its presence, but we have no real connection with it."

His words implied that their allegiance was to Youyu, not the Root of the Lunar Meridian.

"Understood."

With a swift whoosh, Yu Yuan's Lunar Spirit soared out, descending beneath the Land of Terror. Yet, his real body remained atop the Dragon Slaying Stage, still conversing with the three Ghost Kings.

"The Dragon Slaying Stage has emerged in the Land of Terror!"

"It's Yu Yuan! Yu Yuan has returned!"

"He's actually come back!"

The unexpected emergence of the Dragon Slaying Stage sent shockwaves through the gathered powerhouses, drawing the gaze of countless onlookers.

From the Land of Quiescence to the vast oceans, from the Euwrea Continent to Aetherius, those with the means to track Yu Yuan's movements immediately turned their full attention to him.

Was Boulderdawn on the brink of declaring war against the Bloodbrawlers?

​