C255 Speak of the Devil

In the Land of Quiescence and Euwrea, nearly all the parents of newborns are cultivators. It's widely accepted that children born on these continents are naturally endowed with considerable talent for cultivation. This is partly because offspring of cultivators inherit their parents' exceptional qualities. Additionally, the divine force on these lands is particularly potent, giving infants an innate advantage even while in the womb, unlike those born in Aetherius.

As a result, children from Quiescence and Euwrea are highly sought after by major sects, often becoming core disciples. The most distinguished disciples from Euwrea's three great upper sects, the Devil Palace, and Shadow's Keep, are typically native to the continent, born to local cultivators.

Take Chen Qingyan, for instance, born in Aetherius and favored by the Sword Sect, such cases are exceedingly rare. Similarly, talents like Lee Yu, Lin Zhuyun, Su Yan, and Zhan Tianxiang, celebrated prodigies of the Silvermoon Empire in Aetherius, might have been early picks for the sects of Quiescence and Euwrea.

Yet, once these individuals reach the new continent and join the sects that chose them, the majority find themselves as just ordinary disciples. Many may spend their entire lives as peripheral members of the Outer Sect, never breaking into the Inner Sect's core.

Duan Guanlan and Wu Zimo were among the elite young talents of the Crimson Sun Empire and were early selections of the Sunlit Order. After advancing to the Veil Breaking stage, they were brought into the Sunlit Order for cultivation. However, within the Sunlit Order, they were merely regular disciples. The Inner Sect core often regarded them with disdain and acted haughtily towards them.

The sects from Quiescence and Euwrea recruit disciples from Aetherius to train rigorously within their ranks for a simple reason—the fertility rates among cultivator couples are exceedingly low. Due to the rules of the world, as cultivators reach higher realms, their lifespans extend dramatically, ranging from several centuries to a millennium.

If cultivators with extended lifespans possessed the same reproductive capabilities as mortals, they would likely produce innumerable offspring. However, the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth is not infinite. Should a vast number of cultivators divide this spiritual energy among themselves, both the Land of Quiescence and Euwrea would eventually buckle under the strain. Within a few years, their spiritual energy might become as scarce as that of Aetherius.

This is precisely why cultivators who reach the Solar Spirit level often opt to wander the Star River. By cultivating in the Infinite Galaxy's extraterrestrial realms, they are, in essence, seizing the resources and energy of others to fortify themselves. From the perspective of the Star-Spawned Terrors and Mutants inhabiting these extraterrestrial regions, it is the human cultivators who are the invaders, the malevolent plunderers.

Within the Everlands, an intriguing form of balance exists: once an individual embarks on the path of cultivation, the difficulty of procreation increases with each advancement in their union. Moreover, the higher one's realm, the more diminished their fertility becomes. Coupled with the fact that most cultivators are more enamored with their practice than with finding a life partner, the birth rates in both the Land of Quiescence and Euwrea have been steadily declining.

Yet, these same cultivators from both lands are constantly engaged in battle with the Star-Spawned Terrors and other extraordinary beings in the extraterrestrial Star River, leading to significant losses. To ensure the human race thrives and does not face extinction, it is imperative to recruit a wide array of disciples.

The countless mortals of Aetherius are the prime targets for discipleship by the two continents. Among these mortals, there are those like Chen Qingyan, who, despite not being native to either continent, possess immense potential for cultivation. In essence, the mortals of Aetherius serve as the foundational disciples for the two continents' cultivation efforts.

However, while many may be considered top-tier talents in Aetherius, they often appear quite ordinary when compared to their counterparts in the two continents. The children born there, each one a prodigy in their own right, almost invariably exhibit greater aptitude and potential than the so-called prodigies from Aetherius.

Zhou Cangmin, having been born in the Land of Quiescence and proclaimed a Hellbreed of the Ruby Hand from birth, undoubtedly possesses an extraordinarily profound gift for cultivation.

Yu Yuan was acutely aware that the Hellbreed was seen by the Ruby Hand as the future leader they were grooming. Rather than coddling such an individual, they had sent him to the Crimson Sun Empire in secret, with plans to have him assume a new identity and infiltrate the Sunlit Order—a move that undoubtedly signified grand schemes.

The abrupt cessation of the Ruby Hand's long-term plans indicated that something of even greater importance had arisen. Zhou Cangmin's words had set off a storm within Yu Yuan, leaving him unsettled for a considerable time.

The myriad of peculiar events in Gloomhollow, the machinations of Mei Qiurong, Wu Xiting, Ann Jieshan, and others, as well as the unfolding of the situation, had mostly been anticipated and deduced by the state preceptor. Ultimately, Ann Jieshan managed to flee, Mei Qiurong perished, and the Mark of the Celestials was lost. It seemed Zhou Cangmin's strategy had been successful.

The sole unforeseen factor might have been Yu Yuan's own intervention, rescuing the gaunt girl from Gloomhollow rather than letting her fall into Wu Xiting's grasp and subsequently into Zhou Cangmin's hands. Now, with Yu Yuan's presence in the Moonfall Sanctuary, was he there to rectify the imperfections in the plan?

With these thoughts, Yu Yuan surmised that his best course of action was to attempt a connection with the Soulforge Pool. By harmonizing the sword spirit with the grand formation, he might pose a threat to Zhou Cangmin. Although Zhou Cangmin was merely at the Spirit Walk Stage, this distant Lunar Spirit might not be as formidable as the Stormcrowned Emperor or the Indigo Wraith.

Should Yu Yuan manage to reactivate the Soulforge Matrix, he was confident that the Crimson Sun Empire's state preceptor would not dare confront him within the forbidden area, risking a fallout or attempting to slay him to seize the miasma.

As Zhou Cangmin spoke at length, Yu Yuan was covertly summoning the sword light within his arm and engaging with the sword spirit. He also quietly contemplated the Soul Forging through Enlightenment technique, reaching out to the four archaic black characters beneath the Soulforge Pool.

He could faintly perceive the presence of the Soulforge Pool and, with his heaven soul, detect the essence of the ancient characters, releasing his own intentions into the ether. Regrettably, the reawakening of the Soulforge Matrix hinged on the availability of substantial Soul Power.

The sword spirit within his arm bone showed no signs of awakening. Below the Soulforge Pool, the four ancient black characters harbored a strange power, but it was solely for suppressing the space channel that connected to the extraterrestrial realms. It failed to activate the Soulforge Pool as he had hoped, and the ancient and powerful formation remained dormant.

"Stop wasting your time," Zhou Cangmin said with a calm and composed smile, offering his advice. "You're quite the enigma, practicing both the Nine Glories Wheel and Evil Body Refining. If you were truly a disciple of the Sunlit Order, Mo Baichuan's own protégé, I wouldn't let you live."

"You've assisted Yuan Qiufang in Asvetaesi. And that girl from the Colddeath, she's been hiding with your Yu family. Ann left with great expectations for you. When Ann Jieshan returns, I'm sure he'll have plenty of praise for you from the Colddeath."

"Considering this, you should be more aligned with the Land of Quiescence. What puzzles me is how you know so much."

"There are many things even I am not aware of. How do you, at such a young age, come by this knowledge?" Zhou Cangmin narrowed his eyes, curious.

Yu Yuan remained silent.

"The covert struggle between the Land of Quiescence and Euwrea has never ceased. Once we gain the upper hand in the Extraterrestrial Star River, internal turmoil often follows," Zhou Cangmin mused, gazing up at the Star River. "Perhaps it won't be long before the Everlands are engulfed in turmoil. We're simply preparing in advance."

"The Ruby Hand doesn't wish to meet the same fate as the Terror Claws. We intend to reclaim what we've lost from the Sunlit Order."

"To this end, we've undertaken many actions and made numerous sacrifices."

"I, for one, do not wish to become a casualty."

Zhou Cangmin found himself perplexed by the multitude of questions he had when facing Yu Yuan.

Yu Yuan, outmatched in this situation, maintained his silence, offering no further words.

"That short spear you have is of no use to you; hand it over," Zhou Cangmin suddenly extended his hand. "I'll exchange it for something from the Colddeath."

The short spear in question was the one Wu Xiting had used to stab the frail girl, which Yu Yuan had subsequently removed and kept. When Ann Jieshan took Wu Xiting away, he only took the Mark of the Celestials, leaving the short spear with Yu Yuan.

At that moment, Zhou Cangmin extended his hand for the item...

Without a word, Yu Yuan tossed the short spear to him. Frowning, he asked, "Your Lunar Spirit?"

A true Lunar Spirit, purely a soul form, usually finds it difficult to hold onto anything.

The Lunar Spirit of an Illusory Soul can maximize its speed, soar to the heavens and delve into the earth, typically unable to grasp material objects.

It was unusual for Zhou Cangmin's Lunar Spirit to be holding a pill.

"It's not the true form of a Lunar Spirit," Zhou Cangmin said with a smile, taking the short spear. He glanced at her, shrouded in noxious mists, and explained, "There's an additional layer, imbued with the power of vitality, that has solidified into a semi-illusory form, allowing me to hold objects. I'll discard that layer when I face a formidable foe."

After accepting the short spear, he hesitated before asking, "Are you returning to Asvetaesi?"

Yu Yuan nodded.

"One last question," Zhou Cangmin pressed earnestly. "Do you have ties to Euwrea, or is your connection deeper with the Land of Quiescence? Moreover, if Euwrea and the Land of Quiescence were to wage an all-out war, which side would you choose?"

"Either neutral or with the Land of Quiescence, depending on future developments," Yu Yuan replied.

"Alright then," Zhou Cangmin nodded. "Good luck to you."

With those words, the white-clad youth's Lunar Spirit drifted away.

"Yuan Qiufang once mentioned you're an ancient demon from the northern Land of Quiescence, reborn through soul possession. I've observed you for some time, but I can't be certain. Regardless, our paths will cross again. Whatever your circumstances, our lives are bound to intersect once more."

"Also, the current predicament of your Yu Family is rather dire, and you're quite vulnerable. Take good care of yourself."

With no further sound, the figure in white vanished.

Yu Yuan remained under the chill moonlight, lost in thought for a long while, pondering Zhou Cangmin's words and wondering why he had only requested the short spear instead of taking action against him.

Yuan Qiufang's remarks left Zhou Cangmin feeling apprehensive. He was concerned that his actions might provoke the other 'himself' lurking in the northern reaches of the Land of Quiescence.

Or perhaps Zhou Cangmin harbored different intentions altogether?

Since his rebirth, he had encountered numerous cultivators, but Zhou Cangmin of the Crimson Sun Empire stood out as the first to strike him as extraordinary and enigmatic.

"Is the Yu family in trouble?"

After some time, he furrowed his brow and resolved to delay no longer, intent on making his way home with all haste.

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