C200 Hidden Cultivation

As Zhou Cangmin's Lunar Spirit descended, Su Xiangtian and Yuan Lianyao were both shaken to their core.

"Zhou Cangmin!"

Yuan Lianyao inhaled deeply, and a flurry of bright red lotuses burst forth, swirling around her like a vibrant cloud.

She was ready for a fight to the death in a heartbeat.

The state preceptor of the Crimson Sun Empire, the archenemy of the Silvermoon Empire, was the bane of every cultivator within the empire.

Since his rise to power, the once feeble Crimson Sun Empire had become unstoppable, shining bright and steadily overshadowing the Silvermoon Empire.

The empress's dread of Zhou Cangmin even surpassed that of the Sunfire Emperor.

Every Silvermoon Empire cultivator would seethe at the mention of the state preceptor, yet they were powerless to oppose him.

"Su Xiangtian of the Silvermoon Empire pays his respects to the state preceptor."

A dazzling light burst from the depths of Su Xiangtian's eyes, his demeanor suddenly sharp and commanding. He straightened his spine, radiating an aura as piercing as a drawn sword. "I have long revered the state preceptor's renown and am honored to encounter you here in the Moonfall Sanctuary."

Zhou Cangmin had gained his fame before Su Xiangtian and was significantly older.

Having reached the Spirit Walk state, he had spent a long time in seclusion, disengaging from many affairs of the Crimson Sun Empire.

Su Xiangtian's knowledge of him came from the current head of the Su family and the empire's empress.

Deep down, he held a quiet admiration for the state preceptor before him.

"I've heard of you."

Zhou Cangmin gave him a penetrating look and a casual smile, "However, my Lunar Spirit's descent is not on your account."

He gazed toward where the Soulforge Pool should have been. "What about the boy named Yu Yuan?"

"He vanished along with the Soulforge Pool," Yuan Lianyao interjected, "The peculiar rune circle that sealed this realm dissipated, and the pool beneath the earth disappeared with it."

As she spoke, she moved closer to Su Xiangtian, both of them bracing for battle.

"How curious..."

Zhou Cangmin murmured to himself.

Blazing streams of light burst forth from the sleeves of his Lunar Spirit form, a blend of remnant souls and spiritual energy, as they plunged into the earth and burrowed thousands of meters deep with swift agility.

His thoughts were like liquid mercury, seeping into every crevice.

Su Xiangtian and Yuan Lianyao stood by quietly, careful not to make any sudden moves.

It wasn't long before Zhou Cangmin shook his head, his expression one of confusion. "They've vanished without a trace. The alien souls, long imprisoned, have broken free in their complete forms. That young man, Yu Yuan, seemed to be in harmony with the rune circle, yet he let those alien souls escape. It must have been his doing."

"State Preceptor, please don't spout such nonsense!" Yuan Lianyao exclaimed.

"Nonsense?" Zhou Cangmin gave a wry smile and shot her an amused look. He nodded and conceded, "Let's just say I am, then."

Yuan Lianyao was unaware of the intricate ties between Zhou Cangmin and the Ruby Hand.

Faang Yao had once mentioned that Yuan Qiufang had been taken to the Ruby Hand, binding the Yuan family and the Ruby Hand together from that point on.

Thus, in Zhou Cangmin's view, the mayor of Asvetaesi was now a junior of the sect, practically family.

"The Moonfall Sanctuary has returned to its former state, and it should remain stable for centuries to come," Zhou Cangmin mused for a moment before adding, "The alien souls that fled have flooded into the Crimson Sun Empire. It seems we're in for a busy period. As for the young Yu Yuan, his fate is unknown, but I intend to find out."

"State Preceptor..." Su Xiangtian began, but hesitated.

Zhou Cangmin, still in his Lunar Spirit form, said nothing more. He transformed into a streak of white lightning, darting deep into the earth, and vanished in an instant.

"Why is he searching for Yu Yuan in this forbidden area?" Yuan Lianyao wondered aloud.

"Yu Yuan has a connection with the forbidden area; he's likely trying to uncover some truths through Yu Yuan," Su Xiangtian said, relieved. "Even as a Lunar Spirit, and not in his true form, if he wished us dead, we, along with Senior Lee Yuangui and the Lunar Spirits of the empire, would stand little chance..."

The Lunar Spirit at the Spirit Walk stage was significantly more powerful than those like Su Xiangtian and Lee Yuangui. Given Zhou Cangmin's formidable abilities, if he were to unleash his full power, no cultivator within the Silvermoon Empire would stand a chance of escape; they would all perish within the forbidden area.

"Should we try to find Yu Yuan?" Yuan Lianyao suggested.

"Let's conduct a search," Su Xiangtian agreed. "Yu Yuan possesses many peculiar qualities. His ability to resonate with the rune circle is extraordinary. Now that the circle's restrictions have been lifted, and he has vanished along with the Soulforge Pool, his fate is uncertain."

"Understood!"

The remaining Silvermoon Empire cultivators, realizing no more alien souls or Aberrant Souls were emerging—with the previous ones having been completely devoured—began to regroup.

At Su Xiangtian's behest, the empire's cultivators, Lee Yuangui among them, employed various methods in their attempt to locate Yu Yuan.

Zhou Cangmin, the state preceptor of the Crimson Sun Empire, in his Lunar Spirit form, scoured the depths of the earth as well.

Three days flew by in an instant. Neither Zhou Cangmin nor the Silvermoon Empire's cultivators had any success in their search.

Yu Yuan and the Soulforge Pool, though certainly concealed within the forbidden area, remained elusive despite the relentless searches by the cultivators, who found not a single clue.

The forbidden area reverted to its former state, no longer plagued by frequent appearances of alien souls or Aberrant Souls.

Once the top-ranked alien souls either broke free from the Everlands or were obliterated by the area's defenses, an eerie silence descended upon the realm.

The spatial passageway to the extraterrestrial world was securely sealed, imperceptible even to the common folk.

As the enigmatic events ceased, the once-determined searchers gradually lost their zeal.

After some time, Su Xiangtian reconnected with the Celestial Plume Raiment and was relieved to learn that his daughter, Su Yan, had briefly passed through the Crimson Sun Empire under Lee Yuchan's protection and was already on her way back to the Silvermoon Empire.

Lee Yuangui and the remaining Silvermoon Empire cultivators, having found no further fortunes within the forbidden area, withdrew one by one.

The state preceptor, Zhou Cangmin, roamed alone for some time, haunting the hidden place that once imprisoned an alien soul. Despite his efforts, he detected no trace of its powerful presence.

Nevertheless, his understanding of the forbidden area deepened, revealing a profound connection to the vanished fourth upper sect of Euwrea.

Ultimately, he decided to depart. His cultivation had reached a pivotal juncture, and with numerous plans awaiting him in the Crimson Sun Empire, he couldn't afford to have his Lunar Spirit wander for an extended period.

Before he knew it, two months had elapsed since Yu Yuan and the Soulforge Pool vanished.

On a night aglow with a brilliant starry sky, at a remote edge of the forbidden area bordering the Crimson Sun Empire, the ground shook violently. A fissure appeared, as if forcibly pried open by unseen hands.

"Whoosh!"

A figure was abruptly ejected into the stillness of the deep night.

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