C257 Yu Yuan Is Back!

In the heart of Asvetaesi City lies the Yu family estate, where deep underground, a stone chamber sits, impervious to the wind. At its center, a stone table holds a unique transparent glass vessel, cradling a crystal clear shard.

This shard, an irregular polyhedron, radiates a pure blue sheen, emitting delicate wisps of icy blue smoke. The glass vessel contains the smoke, preventing it from escaping into the chamber. Illuminated by the gemstones and pearls embedded in the chamber's dome, the crystal, as large as a human head, shines with an eye-catching brilliance.

"Is this the Celestial Ice Crystal from the Frozen Hellscape?" Yu Lili, who had returned with soulstones from the Zhao family's Vault of Wonders, gazed at the crystal, mesmerized by its beauty. "This Ice Shard is truly exquisite."

Standing by, the patriarch Yu Cen, alongside the second generation Yu Wei and Yu Lian, all bore solemn expressions. The Yu family's key members had gathered in this secret chamber, their attention fixed on the crystal.

"Pills, weapons, and magic items in our world are categorized into five grades: mortal, spirit, earth, heaven, and god, each with nine levels," Yu Cen explained. "Typically, to craft earthly or heavenly grade pills and items, one must use herbs and spiritual medicines of the corresponding grade as primary ingredients. For instance, to concoct a heavenly grade pill, at least one heavenly grade herb is required as the base, supplemented by lower-grade herbs to increase the likelihood of success."

"To forge a heavenly level sword or weapon, a heavenly level magic item must serve as the cornerstone, melded with refined iron."

"The Celestial Ice Crystal, nestled deep within the Frozen Hellscape, is a crystalline embodiment of its intense ice power, a rarity in this world."

"Classified as a seventh-level heavenly grade magic item, the Celestial Ice Crystal in our possession is of considerable size, making it an ideal primary material for weapon forging."

"With just this one piece of Celestial Ice Crystal, the Artifact Sect in the Land of Quiescence could craft two swords, each imbued with a chilling aura of ice."

"If a forger reaches a sufficient level of mastery, and they succeed in forging a sword, that sword will be of the heavenly tier!"

The old man's face lit up with excitement as he spoke.

"Besides its use in crafting artifacts, the ice power within the Celestial Ice Crystal can also aid in cultivation. For cultivators at the Golden Sanctum or even the Veil Breaking stage who practice ice element spells, utilizing the Celestial Ice Crystal can cause a radical transformation in the lower elixir field of the Golden Sanctum!"

"At the Veil Breaking Realm, using this Celestial Ice Crystal to purify and temper one's bones and organs can have the mystical effect of bone cleansing and marrow washing."

"For a girl like Lin Zhuyun, if she were to wield this Celestial Ice Crystal, she could swiftly break through the constraints of the Veil Breaking Stage, reaching the late period much sooner, and thus stand a chance of advancing to Subtlety!"

With that, Yu Cen let out a cold snort.

According to the information received from the Lin family, Lin Zhuyun, who vanished mysteriously in the Moonfall Sanctuary, was actually discovered by members of Winter's Bite and taken directly into their fold.

Lin Zhuyun, now under the tutelage of the Chief Elder at Winter's Bite, had already achieved the strength of the Veil Breaking Realm.

That was the reason he brought up Lin Zhuyun as an example.

"Is the Lin family targeting us at every turn because they want this Celestial Ice Crystal?"

Yu Lian, of the Yu family's second generation, frowned as he gazed at the exquisite Celestial Ice Crystal, "Do they intend to obtain this Celestial Ice Crystal and give it to Lin Zhuyun?"

"No," Yu Wei shook his head, looking at his brother with a heavy sigh, "The Lin family's ambitions go beyond just acquiring the Celestial Ice Crystal; they want to see our family fall. Even if we were to surrender the Celestial Ice Crystal, the Lin family would not be appeased."

"Then what?" Yu Lian asked, puzzled.

He was unsure why his uncle, Yu Cen, was so urgently convening the three siblings in this secret chamber.

"It's not just the Lin family; many throughout the empire have their eyes on this Celestial Ice Crystal," Yu Cen said gravely, "It's likely that Lin Hanyu is the one who let slip that our Yu family possesses it. I'm not clear on what Yuan did in the Moonfall Sanctuary to draw the ire of so many powerful cultivators, but now..."

As he spoke, the old man's eyes welled up with tears, and he found himself unable to go on.

His grandson had been aimless for over a decade, but upon awakening, he astounded everyone with his brilliance. He had placed great hopes in Yu Yuan, and Yu Yuan's recent actions had filled him with immense pride. Just when he was ready to help the Yu family soar to new heights, he was struck by devastating news.

His grandson, dead in the Moonfall Sanctuary? He couldn't bear the thought.

He had been in a deep funk for a long time, watching the Yu family's decline. With enemies on all sides and the family's finances in dire straits, they had been forced to borrow soulstones from the Zhao family just to keep afloat. The old man, left with no choice, had to consider other options.

"That kid is blessed with good fortune; he may not have met the fate the rumors suggest," Yu Lili quickly interjected, seeing the old man's emotional turmoil. "They say he perished in the Moonfall Sanctuary, but who has actually witnessed it? Without evidence, we must consider the possibility of a different outcome."

Yu Lian murmured under his breath, "Everyone else has returned, and yet he's been missing for so long. Logically speaking..."

"Silence!" Yu Wei shot him a stern look before turning to his uncle. "What are your plans for the Celestial Ice Crystal?"

"We'll have to find a buyer," Yu Cen replied, his face etched with sorrow. "Neither the Yuan family nor the Zhao family can keep bailing us out indefinitely."

Yu Lili glanced at the bag of soulstones Zhao Dongsheng had returned and remarked, "What's borrowed must be repaid. Possession of a treasure can be a crime in itself. With the Celestial Ice Crystal drawing so much unwanted attention, it's best to sell it sooner rather than later."

"A buyer? Who would that be?" Yu Wei inquired, intrigued.

"In the entire Silvermoon Empire, only the royal family would dare to handle the Celestial Ice Crystal," Yu Cen stated gravely.

"The Lee family?" Yu Lili asked, taken aback.

"Lee Yuchan. She sought me out in secret during her last visit to Asvetaesi," Yu Cen revealed.

"That bloody female butcher?" Yu Lian's face darkened abruptly. "She's been in the Moonfall Sanctuary since she ascended to the Lunar Spirit level, leading her troops in battle against the Crimson Sun Empire. It's been ages since she returned to the empire. Would she even consider purchasing the Celestial Ice Crystal from our Yu family?"

"She thought very highly of Yuan. During our secret meeting, she gave me her contact details and assured me that she would be available to assist if I ever encountered any difficulties," Yu Cen mused, puzzled as to why the infamous female general would favor Yu Yuan and go so far as to look after the Yu family for his sake.

"If it's her, then it might just work," Yu Lili acknowledged with a nod. "But what about the future? If we can't secure a steady supply of soulstones, even the wealth from a single Celestial Ice Crystal will eventually be depleted."

"We'll have to deal with that when the time comes," Yu Cen admitted, feeling weary and resigned.

...

"Sir!"

Within the Keep, the captain of the guard, Le Feng, arrived not in his heavy armor but in plain clothes.

A vibrant red lotus materialized out of thin air in the vast hall.

The lotus burst open from its closed state, revealing a figure at its heart who managed to exude an alluring presence even while seated.

Yuan Lianyao, roused from her meditation, spoke with a touch of irritation, "What's the matter?"

Since Lee Yuchan's advancement to Lunar Spirit, the mayor had been in deep seclusion, fervently cultivating after her return from the Moonfall Sanctuary. Now, she had progressed to the late period of the Subtlety Stage!

Back when she first met Yu Yuan, she was merely at the early period of the Subtlety Stage.

Her rapid advancement from the early to the late period of the Subtlety Stage was due to her extraordinary experiences in the Moonfall Sanctuary and the covert support of the Ruby Hand.

After Yuan Qiufang was taken under the wing of the Ruby Hand by Faang Yao, the Yuan family formed an alliance with them. Faang Yao even paid a clandestine visit to Asvetaesi.

Soon after Faang Yao's departure, she made the leap from the middle to the late period of the Subtlety Stage.

However, there was still a significant hurdle to overcome before reaching Lee Yuchan's Lunar Spirit level.

She had been covertly vying with Lee Yuchan for quite some time. However, since Lee Yuchan was of imperial birth and enjoyed a privileged upbringing, she could never quite catch up to her in terms of cultivation level and combat strength.

It wasn't until the Yuan family formed an alliance with the Ruby Hand, and she received a boon within the Soulforge Pool at the Moonfall Sanctuary, that she was able to progress rapidly.

She treasured this hard-won opportunity dearly. Upon her return to Asvetaesi, she made it clear that unless it was a matter of great importance, no one was to interrupt her cultivation.

Le Feng, too, heeded her directive and refrained from bothering her.

Yet, at the height of her concentration, Le Feng unexpectedly showed up, rousing her from her meditative state, which naturally irked her.

Le Feng inhaled deeply before announcing, "My lord, Yu Yuan has returned!"

"What?!" Yuan Lianyao was visibly shaken, her eyes sparkling with incredulity. "Are you serious? Has that young man truly come back to Asvetaesi?"

"He hasn't made it to the city yet. He's just been spotted in Thylethlume. It's possible that even the Yu family isn't aware yet," Le Feng clarified. "After all, the Yu family doesn't have a dedicated communication array."

In the blink of an eye, before Le Feng could finish, the stunning mayor, who had been secluded for an extended period and forbade any disturbances, had vanished.

"What is it about Yu Yuan that's so extraordinary?"

Le Feng paused, then shook his head gently.

Yuan Lianyao had instructed him during her seclusion that he should not summon her with the mystique unless it was of utmost importance.

Nevertheless, should Yu Yuan appear or if there was any reliable news of him, he was to be informed immediately—regardless of whether she was in deep seclusion.

...

In Thylethlume.

"Elder, why are you still here?" Yu Yuan asked Ning Ji with a warm smile. "Logically, you should have departed by now."

"I've been waiting for you," Ning Ji replied with a smile. "I had faith that you would return alive."

...