C236 The Intimidation of the Upper Sect!

The Yin Stellar Wind emerged from the shadowy depths of the cavern.

Yu Yuan had already been seated at the cave's mouth, legs swinging as he engaged in animated conversation.

Now, Yu Yuan remained at the entrance, merely shifting to the side to allow the Yin Stellar Wind to pass freely.

"Poisoner..."

Standing within the cave, he furrowed his brow slightly, gazing into the deep valley below, tuning into the network of caves that burrowed into the earth.

Were the Poisoners, once notorious for their misdeeds on the Profound Sky Continent, still clinging to life?

This question preoccupied his thoughts.

Loong Tianxiao and Kuan Xianyun were mistaken about one thing: the one manipulating the Yin Stellar Wind wasn't Yu Yuan, but rather an entity within the miasmic clouds.

An unspoken pact had been formed between him and this entity, thanks to Mei Qiurong.

The entity could discern his thoughts instantly and would respond in kind.

While the Yin Stellar Wind's direction shifted on his account, he was not its true master.

"Mei Qiurong of the Profound Sky Sect, holding a Heaven Palace Seal, has appeared in Chilly Wind Valley under mysterious circumstances." Yu Yuan dismissed thoughts of Mei Qiurong, focusing instead on deepening his understanding of the Soul Forging Technique and preserving the clandestine link with the enigmatic space beneath the Soul Transformation Pool.

His mind was a whirlpool of doubts.

For one, the moment he connected with the four ancient black characters in the Space Oddity, Mei Qiurong's Profound Whirlpool ceased to function.

His three souls—Heaven, Earth, and Human—had managed to break free from the Profound Whirlpool's grasp, firmly anchored within his own spiritual sea of consciousness.

The phenomenon defied explanation.

He had heard of the Profound Sky Sect's formidable soul technique, the Profound Whirlpool, in his past life. He was well aware of its potency, knowing that many trolls and demons had succumbed to it, their souls wrenched away and extinguished in an instant.

Even Mei Qiurong, at the Yin God Stage, had demonstrated its formidable power.

So why did the technique falter the moment he established a connection with the "Soul Forging Technique" and the ancient black characters within that strange space?

"Rumor has it, the Profound Whirlpool didn't originate with the Profound Sky Sect but belonged to another. A sage of the Profound Sky Sect chanced upon the art and, through meticulous study and refinement—further enhanced by the sect's great cultivators—transformed it into the Profound Whirlpool, a legendary technique of the Profound Sky Sect."

"Another sect?"

Yu Yuan pondered for a moment, slowly discerning the subtle intricacies hidden within the notion.

"The 'other sect' in question, barring any unforeseen circumstances, is likely the Divine Soul Sect!"

A wry smile curled the corners of his mouth as he experienced a flash of insight. "As the once-dominant upper sect of the Heavenly Source Continent, the Divine Soul Sect's foundational strength and resources surpassed those of the Profound Sky Sect before its downfall. Their Soul Arts were unparalleled among mortals, striking awe across all beings on the three continents."

"It stands to reason that the secret arts possessed by a venerable member of the Profound Sky Sect originated from the Divine Soul Sect!"

"Given that the Profound Whirlpool's origins trace back to the Divine Soul Sect, and considering that a formidable Divine Soul Sect expert left behind the white paper fan, it's no surprise that the Soul Transformation Pool, a pinnacle of their wisdom, remains unaffected by the Profound Whirlpool's constraints."

"In essence, the cultivation of the Soul Forging Technique and the resulting Heavenly Soul are, in a way, derived from the Divine Soul Sect, upholding its true legacy."

Yu Yuan quickly arrived at this conclusion.

"Why has Mei Qiurong returned to Chilly Wind Valley? My arrangements there are exceedingly covert. The Profound Sky Sect shouldn't be aware of them by any means. Could it be related to that incident? No, that doesn't fit—the time it spent escaping the marsh was brief; the Profound Sky Sect couldn't possibly have learned of it so swiftly."

"If not that, then something within Chilly Wind Valley must be drawing the Profound Sky Sect's attention!"

"Could it be the Poisoners, whose fates—dead or alive—remain unknown?"

Yu Yuan's brow furrowed in contemplation.

Meanwhile, Mei Qiurong's true form was inexplicably drenched in blood.

Her skin was lacerated with gory fissures, presenting a sight too ghastly to bear.

Each assault on the palace by some unseen force within the thick miasma felt as though it were piercing her flesh, leaving her unable to withstand the torment.

As she evaded the Yin Stellar Wind, her concentration fractured, unable to sustain the power needed for the Heaven Palace Seal.

Additionally, the Yin God, eroded by bizarre emotions, was unable to return to its original form. Even if Mei Qiurong ceased her actions, she found it challenging to wield control over the Heaven Palace Seal.

"Thunder Temple..."

A flicker of unusual light crossed Mei Qiurong's eyes as she turned her attention to the three practitioners from the Thunder Temple.

Under her intense scrutiny, an inexplicable chill settled in their hearts.

"Master Mei?"

The towering figure clutching the yellow gourd chuckled nervously, "We're not unwilling to assist; we're simply powerless to do so!"

Proclaiming himself the Great Elder of the Thunder Temple, he gripped the gourd firmly and nodded deferentially to Mei Qiurong.

Caught between the fear of provoking Mei Qiurong's wrath and the dread of becoming a target for the miasma-enshrouded entity, he was terrified of a swift and brutal end.

"You can still make some effort to help."

While Mei Qiurong's physical form continued to dart through the air, her Yin God transformed into a streak of light, hurtling towards the Thunder Temple's Great Elder.

"Profound Whirlpool!"

She unleashed the same Soul Arts once more.

This time, her focus was not on Yu Yuan, but on the Thunder Temple's Great Elder.

The Great Elder's face turned ashen as he stammered, "Master, what is your intention?"

Mid-sentence, he fumbled with the yellow gourd, about to open it.

But before he could act, Mei Qiurong's "Profound Whirlpool" engulfed him. "Emerge!" she commanded fiercely.

Seven shadowy orbs materialized above the Great Elder's head, coalescing into a voracious abyss that seemed to swallow souls whole.

An eerie suction force emerged instantly!

"Chi! Chi!"

Beneath the seven shadowy orbs, the space above the Great Elder's head warped, emitting terrifying, bizarre ripples.

The Great Elder's Yin God, like a goldfish ensnared in a net, was abruptly pulled free.

The resplendent Yin God darted into the shadowy orbs, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Subsequently, the Heavenly Soul and the main soul, which had not evolved into the Yang God and Primordial Spirit, were forcibly extracted. Within a mere moment, they too were drawn into the "Profound Whirlpool," disappearing without a trace.

"Hu!"

Before the other two members of the Thunder Temple could even register what was happening, Mei Qiurong's true form materialized in front of the First Elder.

Continuing to wield the "Profound Whirlpool" with her Yin God, she was in the process of dissolving and refining the First Elder's three souls.

Her physical self swiftly grabbed the yellow gourd, took a deep breath, and declared, "Such a treasure, originating from the Thunder Temple, must be the refined essence of lightning if I'm not mistaken!"

The pair of Thunder Temple cultivators, taken aback, fixed their gaze on her.

"Given the deep connection between the Thunder Temple and the Thunder Sect, you ought to recognize the relationship between the Thunder Sect and our Profound Sky Sect!" Mei Qiurong's icy stare pierced the two men. "For the Thunder Temple, losing a First Elder is not insurmountable. You two are also elders; upon his death, you can simply assume his duties."

"This gourd of lightning essence, I shall borrow for the time being!"

No sooner had she spoken than she retrieved a yellow paper from the deceased Great Elder's chest.

The paper enveloped her hand like a glove.

Instantly, a golden radiance spilled from the paper, trickling down through her fingers like liquid light.

She pried open the gourd and upended its contents.

With a hiss and a thunderous roar, streams of green lightning burst forth, accompanied by the explosive echo of thunder.

"Even in death, one must be resourceful," Mei Qiurong murmured as she pressed her hand against the Great Elder's chest and yanked forcefully.

She extracted a beam of light, a volatile mix of Qi and thunderous energy, from within him.

In a flash, Mei Qiurong was surrounded by arcs of green lightning, their thunderous cracks reverberating, threatening to shatter eardrums.

"Crack!"

Around Mei Qiurong, lightning flared and thunder boomed, countless fragments of light flickering into existence only to be snuffed out moments later.

Her vicinity alternated between bursts of brilliance and sudden darkness.

A chilling breeze, laden with the "Earth Core Stellar Lightning," swept in, clashing with the myriad bolts from the external lightning pool, setting off a chain of explosive detonations.

Clutching the yellow gourd, Mei Qiurong siphoned off the Great Elder's life force until he collapsed, limp and lifeless, to the ground.

She showed not a hint of remorse. On the contrary, she strutted with an air of superiority and commanded the other two from the Thunder Temple, "You two better heed my commands. Once we emerge from Chilly Wind Valley, the Thunder Temple will acknowledge your service."

The pair appeared bewildered.

"The Thunder Temple serves at the behest of the Thunder Sect, and the Thunder Sect has been a long-standing ally of our Profound Sky Sect!"

Mei Qiurong let out a scornful snort, "I wield the Heaven Palace Seal, entrusted with the high expectations of our sect. My mission to the Jade Peak Mountains is a grave responsibility! Should I succeed, the sect will reward me generously! A few favorable words from me to the Thunder Sect, and they will surely commend you to the Thunder Temple."

"Because of me, you two could be appointed as Great Elders by the sect and receive substantial rewards! And should any misfortune befall me in Chilly Wind Valley, none of you will escape the Profound Sky Sect's scrutiny!"

Her words were a mix of threats and promises.

"We shall follow the High Priest's decree."

The two practitioners from the Thunder Temple, also at the Yin God Stage, felt no urge for vengeance, even after the Great Elder was killed by Mei Qiurong using the Profound Sky Whirlpool, under the oppressive shadow of both the Profound Sky Sect and the Thunder Sect.

Despite their inner turmoil, they ultimately bowed their heads, signaling their willingness to obey her commands.

In the vast expanse of the Boundless Land, with its three continents and intricate web of sect alliances, this peculiar standoff had taken shape.

The way the most powerful sects dominate the lesser ones is indeed a fearsome spectacle!

Sects like the Thunder Temple, due to their ties with the Thunder Sect, could not muster the courage to resist Mei Qiurong's tyranny. They had no choice but to swallow their pride, even after the loss of their Great Elder.

"The Yin Wind can no longer threaten me!"

Clutching the yellow gourd, Mei Qiurong inhaled deeply, ready to call forth her Yin God.

Yu Yuan had already emerged from the cave that unleashed the Yin Wind. He inexplicably found himself overlooking another cave leading underground, and as he peered down, he murmured to himself, "All the Poisoners are dead, the air thick with the stench of blood. This... feels strangely familiar."

...