C262 Sea Stabilizing Needle

The Earth Soul harbors memories, the Heavenly Soul grants intelligence, and the Human Soul is the cornerstone.

The Soul Forging Technique primarily refines the Heavenly Soul.

Yu Yuan, not yet having reached the Penetrating level, depended solely on his extraordinary perception of the Heavenly Soul and Lei Xiao's blatant use of Spiritual Sense to ascertain Lei Xiao's true level. He was at the same Penetrating Stage as Lau Wei.

At the Penetrating Stage, one's Spiritual Sense can discern the minutiae, yet it still pales in comparison to the power of soul thought.

From the moment he arrived and Lau Wei began to speak, both Lei Xiao and Lau Wei covertly probed him with their Spiritual Sense.

Spiritual Sense is unforgeable.

Yu Yuan, drawing on his own insights, deduced from Lei Xiao's pulsing energy and the subtle lines on his face that the man was of advanced age.

Given his age and the fact that he had been diligently practicing in the Thunder Sect on the Heavenly Source Continent, yet had only attained the Penetrating Stage, it was clear he was no prominent figure.

Setting aside his past life.

In this life, having recently survived the trials of the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area and honed by the trials of the Jade Peak, not to mention his encounters with various Alien Soul Demons, Yu Yuan was unimpressed by Lei Xiao, who was merely at the Penetrating Stage.

"What a sharp-tongued kid!"

Lei Xiao, enraged to the point of laughter, shook his arm, and as his bones clicked into place, it sounded like thunderclaps splitting the sky.

Crack!

From his chest, near the Dantian, green lightning crackled with thunder, threatening to burst forth like a serpent of electricity.

Lau Wei of the Cold Yin Sect, witnessing Lei Xiao's rage, opened his mouth as if to speak.

But then, as if recalling something, Lau Wei abruptly fell silent.

"This is the domain of the Silvermoon Empire, the lands of Darkmoon City!"

Zhao Dongsheng, astride a Mystical Tiger, leapt down from the white tiger with a thunderous thud, planting himself firmly before Lei Xiao.

Positioning himself between Lei Xiao and Yu Yuan, Zhao Dongsheng's eyes, small as soybeans, suddenly shone with astonishing brilliance.

His hefty frame suddenly swelled up like a balloon being filled with air.

A domineering surge of Qi and blood, tumultuous as the prelude to a volcanic eruption, stirred the surrounding Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth into utter chaos.

Somehow, he had attained the late Profound Break Stage, and his bulky form concealed a fearsome combat power.

"Hmm?"

Lei Xiao, who was a whole level above him, watched and let out a soft exclamation, his face growing increasingly grave.

Liu Wei of the Cold Yin Sect was taken aback for a few seconds before he remarked, "Who would have thought such a modest Darkmoon City would be a den of hidden dragons and crouching tigers? Quite extraordinary, indeed!"

Behind Zhao Dongsheng, Yu Yuan's eyes flickered with recognition, clearly sensing something exceptional.

"Elfview is indeed under Darkmoon City's jurisdiction. We'll extend this courtesy to the Yuan family and the Red Devil Sect," Lau Wei said with a light smile, patting Lei Xiao on the shoulder. "Old brother, let's let it go."

"If we're not welcome, so be it." He turned to face Yu Yuan. "The Lim family's young lady has been taken as a direct disciple by our Cold Yin Sect's Great Elder. We've decided to arrange a different marriage for her and would like the Yu family to surrender the marriage contract and consider it null and void."

Yu Yuan responded with a smile, "Have Lim Zhuyun come and speak to me herself."

Lau Wei's smile stiffened. "Must it be this way?"

"If Lim Zhuyun comes personally, I might consider it, depending on my mood," Yu Yuan replied nonchalantly.

"This kid is asking for trouble!" Lei Xiao fumed.

"Enough, enough!" Lau Wei grabbed him and led him away. "Yu Yuan, you're being quite unwise. Hand over the marriage contract and sell the Ice Soul Crystal to our Cold Yin Sect. Some issues could be resolved that way. Why be so obstinate?"

Yu Yuan remained silent.

Lau Wei gave up on further persuasion and forcefully escorted Lei Xiao away from Elfview.

"Uncle Zhao, when did you start practicing the Demon Spell from the northern Quietus Continent?"

After they left, Yu Yuan turned to Zhao Dongsheng with a beaming smile. "Impressive! If I'm not mistaken, you were only at the early Profound Break Stage when we first met. To have reached the late stage in such a short time, and to be on the cusp of advancing to the Penetrating Stage—you've truly earned my respect."

Zhao Dongsheng had leaped from the early to the late period of the Profound Break Stage in just one year. Such a swift advancement in cultivation was extraordinary.

The Demon Spell and the Demon Spell outshone the majority of standard Spiritual Spells in refining the physique at the Spirit Accumulating and Profound Break Stages. As a result, practitioners of these spells often possessed formidable bodies.

During his time in the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area, he had only witnessed Zhan Tianxiang practicing the Demon Spell. He hadn't anticipated that upon his return, he would discover Zhao Dongsheng had done the same.

"Well, after encountering a new opportunity, I switched to cultivating the Demon Spell to strengthen my body, and it turns out I'm quite suited to it," Zhao Dongsheng said, scratching his head sheepishly. "To be honest, I owe it to my daughter."

"Little Sister Yafu?" Yu Yuan's mind stirred.

Zhao Dongsheng gave a subtle nod.

Yu Yuan had an epiphany. He surmised that Zhao Yafu must have had a series of fortunate experiences in the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area. Coupled with her exceptional talent, she likely attracted the attention of a fearsome demon or a Demon Spell cultivator from the northern Quietus Continent, either on her journey back or upon her return to the Zhao family.

If that individual was from the Demon Palace...

"Congratulations, Uncle Zhao," Yu Yuan offered with a smile.

Zhao Dongsheng realized that Yu Yuan had likely unraveled the enigma. He gestured towards the Fourth Level Profound Tiger and explained, "This tiger, with combat prowess on par with a Profound Break Stage tiger, came about in the same way."

"I've noticed," Yu Yuan acknowledged, then turned to the astonished Ning Ji behind him, "Elder Ning, doesn't Lau Wei from the Cold Yin Sect seem familiar to you?"

"What are you implying?" Ning Ji asked, puzzled.

"The one who has been eroding your cold flow and hindering your progress into the Profound Break Stage is none other than him," Yu Yuan revealed.

Ning Ji was thunderstruck, fury boiling within him as his face quivered slightly, "Him? Lau Wei from the Cold Yin Sect?"

"Exactly," Yu Yuan confirmed, "I sensed a familiar presence on him. When I helped you neutralize the cold flow recently, a peculiar cold poison seeped out. The aura from that poison matched the one from Lau Wei's dantian."

"Lau Wei!" Ning Ji hissed through clenched teeth.

But his anger quickly faded into a despondent sigh.

What did it matter if he knew?

Neither in cultivation level nor in heritage could he match Lau Wei.

Even now, the cold current wreaked havoc in his dantian, its next flare-up unpredictable. Without advancing to the Profound Break Stage, his life would soon peak and decline.

Lau Wei, meanwhile, had already attained the Penetrating Stage, with prospects of forming a Yin God.

Facing such disparity, even knowing Lau Wei was undermining him, was there truly any hope for retribution?

"Don't worry, the cold current within you will be taken care of. You'll have the chance to step into the Profound Break Stage before your life reaches its zenith, after the cold subsides," Yu Yuan assured him with unwavering confidence. "Whatever debt I, Yu Yuan, owe you, it will be repaid."

Hope sparked in Ning Ji's eyes.

"You sought refuge in Elfview Town after your injury, didn't you? Waiting in silence for me?" Yu Yuan chuckled. "Elder Ning, your trust and expectations in me are profound. How could I possibly let you down?"

"I trust you!"

...

"Yu Yuan!"

"You little rascal! You've finally decided to return!"

"It's good to see you back, safe and sound!"

"What on earth did you do in the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area to earn such enmity?"

Upon his arrival, Yu Cann, Zhao Zhenghao, and various relatives all rose to their feet, bombarding him with a barrage of questions.

Despite their scolding, their faces and eyes were brimming with joy.

Their conversations eased the atmosphere considerably, as if Yu Yuan's return had blown away the dark cloud looming over the Yu family.

"Yellow Court Stage! You've reached the Yellow Court Stage?"

The leader of the Zhao family, his eyes suddenly gleaming, exclaimed in astonishment, "Impressive! You were merely at the Pulse Opening Stage when you left for the trial in the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area. How much time has passed?"

"Yellow Court Stage? Yu Yuan, you've ascended to the Yellow Court Stage?"

"It's truly the Yellow Court Stage!"

The Yu family erupted in surprise and elation, their cheers ringing out as if celebrating the New Year.

"Come on, tell us everything about your time in the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area!" Yu Lili demanded with a huff. "The stories circulating out there are a mix of truth and fiction; we want to hear it straight from you."

In Yu Yuan's absence, a myriad of rumors about him had woven through the Silvermoon Empire.

Some claimed he conspired with the Alien Soul Demon, leveraging outside forces to exact revenge on the Lim family by slaying Lim Fengyan.

Others whispered that the Empire's esteemed cultivators met their end at the hands of the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area's formations because of him.

There were whispers that he had been overtaken by an evil spirit and demon long ago, explaining his sudden resurgence after seventeen years of dormancy—a calculated move leading to his entry into the Forbidden Area.

Some even speculated he was an evil spirit and demon himself, intent on wreaking havoc within the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area.

Rumors abounded that he was a pawn of the Rainier Empire, secretly pledged to the Seven Divine Sect and a disciple of Sect Leader Qin Yun. They said he feigned madness and stupidity while covertly practicing Qin Yun's techniques, biding his time to enter the Forbidden Area and assassinate Empire prodigies like Van Li.

These rumors spread like wildfire across the Empire's cities, blurring the lines between fact and fiction.

Younger members of the Empire, like Su Yan, Zhao Yafu, Lee Yu, and Zhan Tianxiang, lacked persuasive power due to their youth.

Over time, the rumors only grew more entrenched and believable.

Such was the impact of these tales that the Yu family's standing in Darkmoon City and across the Silvermoon Empire suffered greatly.

So when powerful families like the Lim and Van sought to undermine the Yu family, it seemed to many a justified course of action.

"Well, it went something like this..."

Pressed by the crowd, Yu Yuan offered a succinct account of his ordeal in the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area, deliberately omitting any mention of Jade Peak and Chilly Wind Valley, and keeping many secrets close to his chest.

"Don't pry into the rest; I simply found that the environment of the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area was better suited for my training, so I extended my stay," he said.

Before the crowd could process his words, he swiftly shifted the conversation. "Is the family planning to sell the Ice Soul Crystal?"

Yu Cann, who had been standing, let out a heavy sigh and slumped down, speaking with resignation, "A family needs a wealth of Spirit Stones to thrive. We've lost our very foundation for survival and can't see any other way out at the moment. Our only option is to put the Ice Soul Crystal on the market to tide us over this rough patch."

"Our Zhao family can lend a hand," offered Zhao Zhenghao.

"It's hardly a sustainable solution," Yu Lili lamented.

"Are we talking about medicinal herbs with no buyers?" Yu Yuan asked, his smile radiating warmth. "Now that I've returned, I intend to tackle this issue once and for all!"

"And that's not all. I plan to make our Yu family a bustling hub, drawing in those herb-buying families to Elfview in droves!"

"Moreover, our reach won't stop at the Silvermoon Empire!"

Each of Yu Yuan's declarations was delivered with booming confidence.

Yu Cann and the others stared at him, dumbfounded by his assertive proclamations, feeling a mix of bewilderment and hope.

Could things truly turn out as he described?

That was the question on everyone's mind, yet no one voiced their doubts to challenge Yu Yuan.

"Just give me a little time, and you'll see the fruits of my labor. You'll witness not only folks from the Silvermoon Empire but also people from other empires and even alchemists from the Medicine Sect flocking to Elfview!" Yu Yuan proclaimed.

"The Medicine Sect, too? Are you serious, Yu Yuan?" Yu Lili gasped in astonishment.

"Wait and watch," Yu Yuan replied with a knowing smile.

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