C194 First Ancestor Manifested!

The very thing she had feared most had come to pass.

Given Yu Yuan's temperament, if she made a move against Van Hen, it was likely that none of the cultivators from the Silvermoon Empire present would escape unscathed.

Yu Yuan did not consider herself above the citizens of the Empire; she too saw herself as a subject of the Silvermoon Empire.

She remained the mayor of Asvetaesi, held in high esteem by the Empress herself.

Having already endured numerous calamities within the Empire, how could it withstand Yu Yuan's reckless behavior now?

"Yu Yuan! You've got some nerve!"

Van Hen suddenly took to the air, and beneath her feet, golden books materialized as if by magic.

Each golden book shimmered with a resplendent glow, as if numerous tiny golden letters were trying to escape from the pages.

Van Hen's silhouette shifted, transforming her into what seemed like a colossal bookcase. The array of golden books before her stood like shields.

Her Lunar Spirit cultivation was at work, channeling spiritual energy and vitality to control the weapon, preparing to defend with all her might.

This indicated just how much the oncoming sword's wills terrified her.

At the bottom of the pond, Yu Yuan's expression was one of astonishment, with a peculiar curve forming at the corner of his mouth.

He hadn't anticipated that a mere shift in his thoughts could stir the sword's will so profoundly.

When his malice and desire to kill the human-headed dragon-bodied figure dissipated, the sword's will retreated on its own.

Whenever he found Van Hen to be an irritation, a thorn in his side, the sword's will would respond to his mood, ready to eliminate the nuisance.

Su Xiangtian, Lee Yuangui, and Yuan Lianyao were now utterly convinced of the mysterious connection between him and the sword's wills. Despite his attempts to conceal it, he couldn't sway their beliefs.

He had never held the Van family in high regard, especially because of Van Le.

Van Hen's antagonism only added to his irritation. He had intended to influence the sword's wills slightly, but upon hearing Van Hen's brazen accusation, he decided to wash his hands of the matter, allowing the sword's wills to run rampant.

"Chi! Chi! Chi! Chi!"

Five sword's wills burst forth from the sword scars on the wall.

The quintet of sword's wills shone like crystalline cascades, defying gravity as they ascended.

Deep within the crystalline expanse, even more delicate strands of sword light shimmered, each one carrying the profound essence of swordsmanship and the ultimate truths of the universe. Yu Yuan, with his eyes half-closed, could faintly make out five Grand Sword Immortals, their robes billowing amidst the vast Star River. Clutching wine jugs, they wielded their swords to sever the dazzling Star River, startling the Sky Fiends that swarmed in the dark recesses of the extraterrestrial realm, sending them scattering like terrified bats.

The five sword wills seemed to be linked, as if inherited from the ancient Sword Immortals of the Sword Sect. The arrogance, nonchalance, and confidence inherent in the sword wills burst forth from each glimmer of light.

Golden books were suddenly ripped apart, their radiant pages transforming into molten goldsteel that poured over birds, scattering gracefully in every direction. Van Hen let out a cry as she rapidly shifted her spells. The resplendent ancient tome became a thick shield before her chest.

From those ancient books, the clear and distant voice of a scholar resonated. He was like a learned man brimming with knowledge, instructing children, imparting wisdom to illiterate farmers, and teaching rulers and generals the rules of morality and virtue, urging them to love their people and govern wisely.

Countless golden characters flew from the ancient books, bathing the whole world in a brilliant golden glow. One could barely discern a learned man, clad in golden robes, as if he had stepped right out of a mythological age, holding a book and reading aloud with great enthusiasm.

The five sword wills, seemingly transformed into five Sword Immortals, brandished ancient swords capable of cleaving the Star River and struck at him repeatedly. The learned man was shattered, only to coalesce once again.

The sky was filled with golden ancient text, swarming the space like a dense cloud of gnats. The five Sword Immortals appeared to be holding back, not delivering a fatal blow.

Eventually, the figure of the learned man dissipated, leaving Van Hen standing alone in the void, holding only a golden ancient book in her hands. This book, a relic from an ancestor of the Van family, was entrusted to someone to return to the family just before the ancestor's passing in the land of Euwrea.

This tome was considered the Van family's most treasured heirloom, passed down through generations. Rumor had it that the golden ancient book was authored by that very ancestor of the Van family and had been widely disseminated among the sects of Euwrea. The ancestor, now revered, was deeply esteemed by the cultivators of Euwrea for his contributions.

"Pfft!"

A mouthful of fresh blood erupted from Van Hen's mouth, splattering onto the golden ancient book.

The book absorbed all the blood, its glow intensifying.

"Van Hen!"

General Lee Yuangui's face transformed with concern as he stared at her and exclaimed, "The Van family heirloom has already shielded you from one disaster. Don't be reckless!"

Su Xiangtian, with furrowed brows, added, "The five manifestations of sword's will must have detected the presence of your Van family's golden ancient book and held back."

Both men noticed that the intensity of the sword's will emanating from the pond's edge had significantly diminished following the arrival of the golden-robed learned man.

It appeared as though, out of respect for the Van family ancestor, the attacks on Van Hen had been tempered.

Relying on the golden ancient book, Van Hen had only expended some spiritual energy and vitality. She bore no severe wounds, nor was her soul harmed.

Yet...

Van Hen seemed oblivious to the fact that her lack of injuries was solely due to the Van family's treasured artifact.

After coughing up blood and invoking the family's secret mystique, she irrationally blamed Yu Yuan for her inability to fully unleash the heirloom's power.

She also held Yu Yuan responsible for Van Le's death.

"Yu Yuan struck first!"

Her icy gaze briefly met those of Su Xiangtian and Lee Yuangui. "From what I see, this youngster from Asvetaesi was aimless for years, likely taken over by an alien soul. He only came to his senses when the world began to change. The one who awoke is the Aberrant Soul from the forbidden area!"

Her accusation was malicious.

By linking Yu Yuan's past confusion to the alien soul and forbidden area, she equated him with Ann Jieshan and the formidable figure with a human head and dragon body.

Should these allegations be substantiated, Yu Yuan, the Yu family, and even Mayor Yuan Lianyao would struggle to clear their names.

"It wasn't me who acted first. Don't pin this on me."

Yu Yuan shrugged at the bottom of the pond, his demeanor calm and collected. "The sword scars on the pond's wall are the ones with ill will towards you. How does that concern me?"

Before any facades were torn down, it was only Van Hen, a cultivator from the Silvermoon Empire, who was openly hostile.

Should Van Hen die, and the others remain silent, they would effectively be acknowledging him.

Yu Yuan pondered the situation, stroking his chin as he glanced at the formidable man with the human head and dragon body.

The man, previously unrestrained by the sword light and laughing boisterously, locked eyes with Yu Yuan. In that moment, they seemed to understand each other without words.

"This is utterly nonsensical," Yu Yuan grumbled. "Senior Ann Jieshan is still here, and that one has also escaped his bonds. Why single me out?"

He looked up at Su Xiangtian and Lee Yuangui, "You wish to kill, yet you won't lift a finger yourselves, instead commanding me. Why?"

"Please, excuse my lowly status and meager strength; I'm really of no use to you."

He bowed obsequiously to Su Xiangtian and Lee Yuangui, gesturing for them to go ahead and confront both the man with the human head and dragon body and Ann Jieshan.

Internally, he was utterly disdainful.

"With just you, it's doubtful you could even defeat those two!"

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