C1831 It Was Unfair to Win

Lin Daoke's ultimate form finally awakened everyone to the sheer magnitude of Yu Yuan's combat prowess!

The fact that Lin Daoke was pushed to reveal three swords by Yu Yuan is a testament to Yu Yuan's fearsome strength.

Yet, Lin Daoke's brilliance was so dazzling that it seemed to overshadow Yu Yuan.

In contrast, when Xue Jiu, the Sword Sect Lord, was astounded by the Sect Master's might, he abruptly realized that Yu Yuan, having driven the Sect Master to such extremes, must possess an equivalent level of combat power.

"Could he be even stronger than the Divine King Shehun?"

"We've observed for so long; have we ever seen Lin Daoke confront Shehun in such a form?"

"Moreover, think about it—wasn't Lin Daoke always on the offensive while Shehun merely defended? Yu Yuan, on the other hand, has been relentlessly attacking!"

"The Divine Soul Sect is indeed a cradle of heroes!"

"Yu Yuan! Yu Yuan!"

"…"

Similar conversations echoed throughout the Oblivion Starfield, with all regions abuzz with the epic clash between Lin Daoke and Yu Yuan.

As the preeminent swordsman and the human race's strongest warrior, Lin Daoke's sword had commanded the respect of all the formidable beings who ventured into the Oblivion Starfield.

Neither Loong Jie nor the Divine King Shehun had managed to best him, nor could they draw out his full potential.

Yet Yu Yuan, the emerging talent, managed with just two waves of assault to elicit the Sword Sect Lord's most powerful form, revealing for the first time that Lin Daoke wielded three swords—forged from his very essence and soul.

Suddenly, the words of the Chaos Roc resonated with truth, and many began to believe that Yu Yuan was indeed worthy of battling the Demon Phoenix in the Dim Starfield.

...

"Sect Master Lin is truly our human race's pride."

Upon a drifting shard of the Sword Prison, Duan Yisheng, newly awakened, gazed upon Lin Daoke, who was amidst a myriad of swords, in the company of Jun Chen and Tan Junshan.

Despite his prolonged captivity, Duan Yisheng bore no resentment towards Lin Daoke. He even instructed Jun Chen and Tan Junshan to refrain from seeking vengeance against the Sword Sect.

Beside the three Unrestrained Stage cultivators stood a striking figure.

It was Lee Yuchan, once a disciple of Han Qi.

After Han Qi and Andrea ventured into the Demon Domain, this former female general of the Silvermoon Empire, who had been meditating in her secluded cave, was rescued by Tan Junshan when her abode exploded.

Her intervention on behalf of Tan Junshan in the Sword Prison had earned her this favor.

Now, with a bittersweet heart, Lee Yuchan joined the others in gazing toward the distant battlefield.

Her eyes were fixed on Yu Yuan, her emotions a tumultuous mix, scarcely able to believe that upon their reunion, Yu Yuan had risen to such heroic stature.

He was even capable of contending with Lin Daoke of the Sword Sect!

"If only you had stopped him back then, or even persuaded him," she lamented.

Lee Yuchan held the Divine Soul Sect and Yu Yuan responsible for her sister Lee Yupan's tragedy and for Lee Sha's death at the hands of Lin Daoke.

...

"A Kun, Yu Yuan has opened my eyes to something."

The Abyss Goanna, now in the guise of an elder from the Silver Scale Clan, watched the intense battle and reflected on his past, saying, "The blood-red river that just manifested is at the Starry Border I know so well. Back then, the heavens... we had not yet come into existence."

The Chaos Roc paused, puzzled. "What does that mean?"

"Yu Yuan may be trying to show us that whether it's the Demon Phoenix, the Desolate God, Lvliu, or the Barbarian Tiger, they are all akin to the alien beasts of the vast starry river," the old lizard intuited, choosing his words with care. "They don't belong to this realm!"

Loong Tianxiao and the Chaos Roc turned their attention to him.

"The origin of the Yang meridian, carrying the bloodline seeds, scattered across the starry river when the world was in chaos," the old lizard mused, his expression grave. "This is an enormous secret. I suspect that Yu Yuan was able to uncover the truth only after he refined and dissolved the Yang meridian, stripping away the memories it concealed!"

"From the Abyss? Did it originate in the Abyss?" Loong Tianxiao asked, his voice quivering.

The old lizard ignored him.

"Now I understand."

The Chaos Roc had an epiphany. Having been privy to his old friend's experiences, he realized that the fantastical visions his friend had witnessed were likely those of a mighty being from another world.

Beast God!

In a world where the Beast God reigned, the origin of the Yang meridian was forged and dispatched to this nascent, chaotic realm, sowing the seeds of alien beasts.

"Lord Yuv Qian, isn't Yu Yuan's strength a bit too incredible?"

Jiaang Miaojie, a rising star of the Divine Soul Sect, stayed close to Yuv Qian after his return to the "Tears of Blue Devil." Her eyes sparkled with fascination as she watched Yu Yuan's every move.

"Even Lord Shehun has to resort to the Devil Soul to counter Lin Daoke's swordsmanship."

This striking woman had always revered the powerful. She had once believed that figures like Taishi, Tianqi, and Shehun were the spiritual pillars of the Divine Soul Sect.

Yet now, Yu Yuan had supplanted Taishi, Tianqi, and the other Divine Kings in her esteem, becoming her ultimate pillar of strength.

"It's only natural."

Yuv Qian murmured, his expression one of unsurprised acceptance.

"Ah? But why?"

Jiaang Miaojie gasped, her curiosity piqued by Yuv Qian's comment.

"You'll understand in time."

Yuv Qian replied dismissively, his thoughts already on ascending to the rank of Great Demon God once his business in the Oblivion Starfield was concluded.

"The Gray Domain! Lord Beilstein once advised me to advance to Great Demon God there!"

Yuv Qian's determined gaze briefly swept over the area frequented by Zhong Chichen, aware of a hidden passage that could lead him to the Gray Domain.

Clang!

The Dragon Slash Platform, akin to a golden shield, erupted with dazzling blood-red light, parrying the onslaught of sword beams.

Within the platform's inner world, the sword light had shattered the imprints of Heaven and Earth's profound mysteries and the bloodline laws, only to be reforged and refined once more.

Controlled by the blood shadow, the Dragon Slash Platform labored to neutralize each successive wave of sword light.

Suddenly...

Yu Yuan sensed a clear change; the Sword Sect Lord, a formidable figure in the Sword Dao, had once again brandished his sword light using his body, Yang God, and highest divine authority. Yet the sword's might was evidently diminishing.

He opened his eyes, took a discerning look, and instantly understood the situation.

Boom!

The towering blood shadow, tens of thousands of feet high, seemed to transform into a blood-red river that morphed into a vast crimson cape, suddenly wrapping around his body. The blood shadow solidified, becoming a vague form of Yu Yuan, interwoven with countless strands of crimson lightning.

Yu Yuan, wielding the Dragon Slash Platform, poured infinite blood energy into it, turning it into a massive jade door that shattered the soaring sword lights. In an instant, he dramatically widened the gap between them.

The colossal blood shadow, amidst a dance of lightning, rapidly contracted as if it had vanished into the Dragon Slash Platform. Yu Yuan's true form took the place of the fearsome blood shadow, standing once more on the blood-stained platform, now even further from Lin Daoke.

"Sect Master Lin, please return," Yu Yuan said, bowing to Lin Daoke with genuine respect. He looked up and continued, "There's no need to continue sealing the Plover Realm. Your previous decree is hereby nullified. Yue Mu, Mr. Fan, and the other Great Sword Immortals from your Sword Sect, you may take them back to the Vast Expanse or to any other place of your choosing."

He voluntarily ceased the battle.

Many onlookers were confused. In the midst of their excitement, Yu Yuan's abrupt withdrawal left them somewhat dissatisfied. Why not fight to the bitter end? At this juncture, what phase had the battle reached? Was Yu Yuan scared?

Did he fear being slain by Lin Daoke, prompting him to concede and seek peace?

"Let's leave it at that," Taishi murmured, signaling Taixu and Tianqi to remain in place as he glided toward the battlefield.

"Old thief Han is old thief Han, and you are you," Taishi's gaze fell on Lin Daoke's lower dantian, and he spoke softly, "The Divine Soul Sect has not acted honorably, first with Shehun and now Yu Yuan..."

Yuv Qian let out a soft sigh, "His sword force is nearly depleted."

"The Divine Soul Sect has indeed acted dishonorably," lamented the old lizard.

Lin Daoke furrowed his brow, as if he had only just realized what had transpired, following the actions of Yu Yuan and Taishi.

The source of his power, his Yellow Court Little World, was nearly depleted of spiritual energy.

With Han Miaoyuan absent, Lin Daoke's ability to gather and refine the starry sky's energy into spiritual power couldn't keep pace with his rapid expenditure. He was on the brink of running out.

Having engaged in a prolonged battle with Shehun, his spiritual energy was already severely taxed. No sooner had Shehun departed than he was locked in combat with Yu Yuan once more.

Caught in such relentless fighting without Han Miaoyuan's Profound Dao Flag to replenish his spiritual energy continuously, Lin Daoke found himself in an embarrassing predicament of powerlessness.

Yu Yuan's sword, too, was on the verge of coming to a halt.

"The Divine Soul Sect has truly drained Lin Daoke of his strength," someone observed.

The Chaos Roc suddenly came to a realization, slapping its thigh and cackling oddly, "Yu Yuan, why have you stopped? You wield Han Miaoyuan's sword. You have the opportunity to finish him now. Why hesitate?"

In an instant, countless eyes shifted their focus to Yu Yuan.

"Yu Yuan!" Van Heqing and Yue Mu called out in unison.

​