C183 Yu Help Us Out!
Su Yan, adorned in Celestial Clothing, floated serenely in the void, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon.
Lee Yuchan, in her ethereal Yin God form, hovered aloft as well, her eyes locked on the Soul Transformation Pool.
Lee Yu, Yan Lu, Zhan Tianxiang, and the other prodigies of the Silvermoon Empire wore grim expressions as they struggled against the sudden, violent surge of spiritual energy from Heaven and Earth.
Some sat grounded, using Spirit Stones to focus intently on their cultivation.
A heavy aura descended from the heavens, weighing on the hearts and souls of these younger practitioners, leaving them ill at ease.
Lee Yuchan felt the discomfort most acutely.
Her detached Yin God sensed a brewing discontent within the cloud's enchantments.
The roiling clouds above crackled with lightning, as if targeting the disembodied souls with their intimidating display.
"Swoosh!"
Suddenly, Lee Yuchan's Yin God snapped back and settled within her.
From beneath the earth, she glanced at Su Yan and inquired, "Su, how fares your father?"
"The outlook is grim," Su Yan replied with a bitter smile, meeting the questioning gazes of Lee Yu, Yan Lu, and Zhan Tianxiang. "The battle has escalated. My father and the Empire's elders seem to be at a severe disadvantage."
Through her Celestial Clothing, she maintained a connection with Su Xiangtian's mind, keenly capturing even his fleeting thoughts.
The future head of the Su family, who cherished his beloved daughter deeply, would deliberately nurture thoughts in his heart to send her messages, keeping her informed of the unfolding events.
"Even the combined might of the Rainier and Silvermoon Empires is no match for those Alien Soul Demons?" Zhan Tianxiang's face paled at the thought.
At that very moment—
"Ah!"
A shrill, ear-piercing scream reverberated painfully.
A massive Crimson Bell, like a cluster of bright red clouds, soared toward the sky where they gathered.
"Duan Tianxi!" Lee Yuchan exclaimed, her shock giving way to recognition as she spotted Duan Tianxi and Duan Guanlan atop the Crimson Bell.
The bell, a relic of the Red Devil Sect and no ordinary artifact, now seemed to be desperately carrying Duan Tianxi and Duan Guanlan away in its flight.
Then, a figure with the head of a man and the golden, glittering body of a dragon, a hundred meters in length, emerged with a menacing grin.
A golden streak, like a meteor, cut through the sky.
"Clang! Clang!"
Innumerable golden dragon scales collided with the Crimson Bell, sending sparks scattering.
The ancient runes etched into the bell's surface faded away one by one.
The man with the head of a human and the body of a dragon let out a hearty laugh as his elongated golden form coiled around the Crimson Bell.
A blaze of golden light radiated in every direction.
He expelled a breath of golden dragon blood onto the Crimson Bell, seemingly quenching the fiery spells Duan Tianxi had imbued within.
The blood morphed into glistening golden serpents that burrowed into the bell's structure.
The wails of Duan Tianxi and Duan Guanlan abruptly filled the air.
Before the onlookers, the Crimson Bell rapidly diminished in size.
It seemed as though Duan Tianxi and Duan Guanlan were being smelted by the draconic man within the confines of the bell.
In short order, the once massive bell had shrunk to the size of a hand.
The draconic man grasped the miniature bell and peered down at the silent crowd below.
Su Yan, clad in her Celestial Clothing, recognized the futility of concealment under his watchful eye and refrained from attempting it.
Lee Yuchan and the rest remained mute.
The man with the dragon's head observed them briefly, then shook his head and, with a twist of his long dragon body, made his way toward the Soul Transformation Pool.
"Does he disdain us for our weakness?"
After his departure, Zhan Tianxiang lamented, "It seems our fates are inconsequential to the grand scheme, hence his disregard."
"I believe Zhao Yafu plays a role in this," Han Hui murmured.
"Duan Tianxi and Duan Guanlan, just like that, they're gone?" inquired Yan Lu.
"It appears they truly are," Su Yan exhaled softly, then abruptly added, "General Lee, I've received a soul message from my father."
"What is it?" Lee Yuchan inquired.
"He instructs us to retreat towards the Rainier Empire and to make no stops along the way," Su Yan said with a look of resignation. "The battle there seems to be faring poorly."
Lee Yuchan paused only briefly before nodding in agreement, "Move out! We retreat to the Rainier Empire!"
The Soul Transformation Pool was not far off, and the cultivators from the Silvermoon Empire no longer dared to linger or even watch from a distance.
...
Whoosh!
Every so often, a Soul Spirit or a burst of Yin God fragments would be sucked into the walls of the Soul Transformation Pool.
Dark soul energy streamed beneath Yu Yuan's feet, slowly filling the pool to the brim.
The Earth Demon Xiquan hovered midair, careful not to touch the pool's depths.
As the dark soul energy beneath the pool rose, Xiquan floated higher, his gaze toward the pool's bottom filled with dread and unease.
The sword light within Yu Yuan's arm bone grew intensely hot.
He tuned into the thunderous roars echoing from the depths of the sky and sensed the ancient sword intent stirring beneath the earth. He knew that with the convergence of soul energy, the Heaven Sealing Soul Transformation Formation was on the verge of reactivation.
The surrounding battles raged fiercely.
Alien Soul Demons fell, and Silvermoon Empire cultivators were struck down without warning.
Only when Xiquan and Ann Jieshan, leading the Alien Soul Demons, entered the fray and unleashed their full might did Yu Yuan realize that the forces of the modest Silvermoon Empire were no match for the Yin God Stage and Penetrating Stage.
Suddenly, a strange and heavy bell chime echoed.
Yu Yuan looked up.
A figure with the head of a man and the body of a dragon, mostly outside, approached with Zhao Yafu.
He gripped a small crimson bell, his dragon claw-like fingers tightening around it.
"Pfft!"
It was as though a soul had been shattered by his grasp.
From the tips of those claw-like fingers, a stream of lava-like, magma-red flame spilled forth, carrying the scent of sulfuric souls, and showered down upon the Soul Transformation Pool.
Then, the sword marks etched into the pool's walls instantly absorbed it.
"Duan Tianxi! Duan Guanlan!"
Yu Yuan inhaled sharply, taken aback that a disciple of the Primordial Yang Sect and a scion of the Red Devil Sect had been so effortlessly slain.
Beside Zhao Yafu stood Qin Yun of the Seven Divine Sect. He drew a quiet breath, his eyelids fluttering slightly, but he remained silent.
Zhao Yafu, initially startled, quickly regained her composure and managed to offer a sweet smile to the draconic figure.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here. No one will harm you."
The humanoid dragon reassured Zhao Yafu before turning to Qin Yun, "Your weapon bears a wisp of Yu's soul. Until things are clearer, I'll spare you for Yu's sake."
Qin Yun gave a slight bow, his smile more pained than joyful. "Much appreciated."
"Sect Master Qin, would you escort my sister?" Yu Yuan interjected.
"Rest assured. The deaths of those Silvermoon Empire youngsters won't benefit the Soul Transformation Pool in the slightest. I see no reason to bother myself with them," the humanoid dragon declared.
Qin Yun glanced at Yu Yuan.
Yu Yuan signaled with his eyes, "Proceed."
Feeling like a reprieve had been granted, Qin Yun, noticing the humanoid dragon's indifference, transformed into a rainbow and swiftly departed.
"Stay put."
The humanoid dragon instructed Zhao Yafu before rocketing into the sky, joining forces with the ghost ape to deal a deadly blow to another member of the Duan family.
"Brother Yu, could you do us a favor and let us leave?"
Xi Yue pleaded earnestly, bowing to Yu Yuan midair.
"Leave? The Fallen Moon Forbidden Area?" Yu Yuan asked, astonished.
"No," Xi Yue gently shook her head. "Leave the Boundless Land."
Yu Yuan was taken aback. "How could I possibly assist with that?"
