C178 An Incredible Figure!

Through the Celestial Plume Raiment, Su Xiangtian could telepathically communicate with his daughter, Su Yan. He could sense her thoughts and feelings with ease. Su Yan, intentionally sharing her innermost thoughts, had informed her father of Yu Yuan's incredible exploits within the Moonfall Sanctuary.

Su Yan was keen on mending the strained relationship between the Su and Yu families. She wanted her father to recognize Yu Yuan's exceptional talents, hoping he would take the lead in fostering a renewed friendship between the two families. Thus, her transmissions to her father were filled with commendation and praise.

She spoke in detail about Yu Yuan's wisdom, his decisive and ruthless actions in critical moments, and his deep understanding of their world. Su Xiangtian had always adored and doted on his beloved daughter. After hearing her thoughts and marveling at Yu Yuan's wondrous deeds, he began to entertain other ideas.

"This girl has always set her sights high, never considering Lee Yu or Yan Lu worthy of attention. It's been years, and she has never spoken so highly of any peer. Could it be that she has developed feelings for him, and that's why she speaks so highly of him?" Su Xiangtian pondered, deep down believing that none of the cultivators from Aetherius were suitable for his daughter.

Not even the talents from the Silvermoon Empire, including Duan Guanlan, who was favored by the Sunlit Order, nor the so-called prodigies from the Crimson Sun Empire, seemed good enough for her in his eyes. He had always envisioned a son-in-law from either the Land of Quiescence or Euwrea.

The fact that his daughter held Yu Yuan in such high regard took him by surprise, leading him to secretly wonder if her lavish praise was a result of affection.

Nevertheless, he remarked to Yuan Lianyao, "Asvetaesi has produced a remarkable individual!"

"A remarkable individual?" Lin Fengyan of the Lin family quirked an eyebrow and responded, "The trial-taker from Asvetaesi, Zhao Yafu of the Zhao family, is making quite a name for herself. I've heard that her skills and cultivation have surged forward impressively before she even entered the forbidden area."

The laid-back old general who had once guarded the entrance to the forbidden area was also present among the Silvermoon Empire's crowd. He blinked, a name coming to mind, yet he chose to keep it to himself.

"Guess who?" Su Xiangtian asked, his expression serene, a hint of scrutiny flickering in the depths of his clear eyes.

"Yu Yuan," Yuan Lianyao replied nonchalantly.

"Yu Yuan?" Lin Fengyan echoed in surprise.

The seasoned general gave a slight nod.

The other visitors from the Silvermoon Empire exchanged bewildered glances. Most of them had never ventured to the entrance of the forbidden area and had neither seen nor heard of Yu Yuan before.

"That Yu Yuan is the Lin family's son-in-law, Lin Zhuyun's betrothed," the general clarified.

"What? The fool from Asvetaesi?"

"Really? Isn't Lin Zhuyun's fiancé known to be somewhat simple-minded?"

The cultivators from the Silvermoon Empire were taken aback.

"How can you be so certain it's him?" Su Xiangtian's eyes sparkled as he intently gazed at Yuan Lianyao, speaking softly, "You shouldn't be aware of his actions in the Moonfall Sanctuary. What makes you so convinced that the remarkable individual from Asvetaesi is Yu Yuan and not someone else?"

Yuan Lianyao chuckled, "You're not very familiar with Asvetaesi. Moreover, you haven't paid the Yu family the attention they deserve."

Su Xiangtian furrowed his brow, "I wasn't the one who dealt with the Yu family."

"I understand," Yuan Lianyao nodded, then added, "Now that you recognize Yu Yuan's exceptional talent, I hope you'll take greater interest."

She was unaware of the Soulforge Pool's existence and the intricate connection between Yu Yuan and the Soulforge Matrix. She simply believed Yu Yuan was trapped in the pit ahead.

Hovering above the pit were numerous alien souls, including the Terra Fiend Fides, a tree monster, and a sphere of blood.

Before her arrival, she had learned from Su Xiangtian that the Terra Fiend Fides, the tree monster, the blood sphere, and the Wraith Ape had all made several appearances throughout the history of the Silvermoon Empire, each time bringing chaos and devastation to its people.

The information Su Xiangtian received was from the empress of the empire, documented in the empire's ancient texts.

"Old General."

Su Xiangtian bowed slightly and addressed the elder who had accompanied him, originally stationed at the entrance to the forbidden area. "In the Crimson Sun Empire, Duan Tianhong of the Duan family is locked in fierce combat with the Wraith Ape. Your intervention could tip the scales and subdue the Wraith Ape."

"Understood." The venerable general nodded and soared into the sky.

Beneath his feet, a light boat materialized, unfolding gently. Crafted from green jade, it shimmered with clarity, encapsulating both a Kylin and a Black Turtle within. The boat pulsed with a sea of vitality, the Kylin and Black Turtle voraciously consuming the energy, propelling the vessel with the speed of thunder and lightning straight to the battlefield where Duan Tianhong clashed with the Wraith Ape.

The Kylin and Black Turtle, with roars and bellows, devoured the surging vitality, breaking free from the jade-like vessel.

Once the Black Turtle emerged, it slowly enveloped the Kylin, using it as a mount, its presence growing increasingly formidable.

"Lee Yuangui!" Duan Tianhong, positioned above the magma pool, showered the Wraith Ape with a fiery rain.

The snow-white Wraith Ape, its needle-like fur ablaze, let out earth-shattering cries.

"At the entrance to the forbidden area, your aggressive approach forced me to retreat," the old general remarked, standing on the light boat and observing the expanding Black Turtle. "But now, the situation has changed. We have all assembled."

With that, the light boat plummeted.

In an instant, the Black Turtle, as if mounted on the Kylin, solidified and, inexplicably, produced dark, murky water orbs that it hurled at the Wraith Ape.

Each orb, heavy as a mountain, bore ancient turtle glyphs, heralding the renewal of hostilities.

Beside the Soulforge Pool, Fides glanced down at the murky Soul Power filling the pool's depths. Sensing something, he turned with a sly grin toward the direction of the Wraith Ape.

"The Black Tortoise spirit consuming the Kylin, and the crafting of numerous Black Turtle beads—quite the audacious move by the old fellow."

Fides glanced once and seemed to instantly understand the cultivation method of the old General Lee Yuangui. He recognized the origins of the black water orbs and the formidable might of the Black Turtle.

"Yu, may I come down and have a chat with you?"

He turned back to gaze at Yu Yuan, who sat motionless at the bottom of the Soulforge Pool, his face etched with earnestness.

Yu Yuan looked up and beckoned to him, his smile radiant. "Then come on down."

"Your waving makes me a bit nervous," Fides, the Terra Fiend, suddenly recoiled.

As Yu Yuan gestured, strands of ancient sword will surged from the earth's fissures, zeroing in on his soul.

Simultaneously, a fearsome thunderclap boomed from the cloud's depths.

It was as though the Thunder God was enraged, poised to unleash divine punishment.

A shiver ran through Fides' core, and he promptly withdrew, abandoning the idea of descending into the Soulforge Pool.

In an instant, remnant souls sprang forth from him.

The Wraith Ape, the tree monster, the orb of bloodlight, and even the distant figure with a human head and dragon body all tuned in to his inner voice.

"The kid is truly in sync with the Soulforge Matrix. Don't attempt to break into the Soulforge Pool."

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