C279 It Is also a Legend
The Everlands were comprised of three vast territories.
In Euwrea and Quiescence, powerful sects stood in great numbers, with cultivators at the Lunar Spirit Realm as common as cattle.
Yet, in Aetherius, a Lunar Spirit Realm cultivator would be considered a titan or a grandmaster in any empire.
Qin Yun, during his time in the Crimson Sun Empire, was the sect master of the Midnightshields.
Boasting seven Lunar Spirit Realm cultivators, the Midnightshields held immense power within the Crimson Sun Empire, with a foundation far surpassing that of many renowned families and clans.
In the Silvermoon Empire, esteemed families like the Lin, Van, and Su families had at most a couple of Lunar Spirit Realm elders.
Having a Lunar Spirit Realm cultivator was the hallmark of a formidable family.
Despite his severe injuries, Qin Yun remained a cultivator in the late stages of the Lunar Spirit Realm. Once healed, he could potentially ascend to the Spirit Walk Realm.
And yet, this distinguished figure had sought out the Yu family in secrecy, willing to serve as their counselor?
Bai Shenshen of Sacred Hands gently massaged her temples, feeling that since her arrival near Thylethlume, she had stumbled upon one extraordinary event after another.
Wei Feng wore an expression of confusion, glancing between Qin Yun and Yu Yuan, her mind awash with questions.
Ning Ji, though inwardly astounded, managed to keep his composure.
Wasn't he in the same boat?
Having been gravely wounded by Liu Wei of Winter's Bite, he had chosen to return to Thylethlume and quietly await Yu Yuan's return. What was his reason?
He had recognized something exceptional in Yu Yuan!
"Mr. Qin, you're not pulling my leg, are you?" Yu Yuan asked, his voice tinged with disbelief as he awkwardly smiled. "Even if you found the Crimson Sun Empire unsuitable, with your level of cultivation, you'd have your pick of destinations. You could even find a welcoming sect in Quiescence. So why come to Asvetaesi?"
"I'm quite serious," Qin Yun affirmed.
Yu Yuan, brow furrowed in thought, finally said, "Let's put this conversation on hold for now."
He hesitated to agree immediately because he was unsure of Qin Yun's intentions. Moreover, he harbored concerns that Qin Yun might have committed grave offenses within the Crimson Sun Empire and was now a fugitive, pursued by their forces across the globe.
The Yu family was already dealing with a myriad of issues lately, and the last thing he wanted was to invite further complications on account of Qin Yun.
Qin Yun gave a slow nod, conceding, "I'll heed your advice."
In the distance, a dark and oppressive sea of clouds churned with terrifying turbulence. The thick, heavy clouds were violently dispersed, revealing the dazzling tapestry of stars once more.
Due to the vast distance and the limited cultivation levels of the onlookers, no one but Qin Yun could discern the scene clearly, let alone grasp the intricacies of the battle.
Yu Yuan inquired, "What's the status of the conflict?"
Having projected his Lunar Spirit into the sky, Qin Yun was in a position to observe the distant commotion and gauge the balance of power.
A Silverfrost Dragon of the seventh level was a match for any cultivator in the Spirit Walk state. The commander of the Blackfang Legion, hailing from the Sunblessed Empire, was no ordinary adversary to engage in combat with such a creature.
Wei Feng's anxiety spiked at the thought.
"The commander of the Blackfang Legion clearly has the upper hand," Qin Yun responded. "He's a figure of legend across the Aetherius Continent, a man shrouded in mystery. His sudden emergence has unsettled many cultivators within the Sunblessed Empire. To my knowledge, he has yet to taste defeat."
"Despite the strength of the Silverfrost Dragon and the Dragon Attendants, their combined forces and strategic formations are insufficient to ensnare him."
"The battlefield is too distant for me to see much, but I can make out several Dragon Attendants being struck and plummeting to the earth."
"Judging by the current state of affairs, barring any unforeseen developments, Dragon Lake is headed for a crushing defeat. The seventh level Silverfrost Dragon will likely sustain injuries. However, should the dragon choose to flee, the commander of the Blackfang Legion might not be able to contain it."
Typically, in a battle of equals, if one party is intent on escape, they often manage to survive.
It's only when there is a gross disparity in combat power, with one side completely overpowering the other, that the weaker party finds themselves with no avenue for escape.
"Dragon Lake must be aware of his formidable power to dare confront him," Yu Yuan mused. "They know they're outmatched, yet they still challenge the commander. Despite being at a clear disadvantage, they're not retreating in panic. With the Dragon Attendants being struck down from the heavens, I fear many have perished..."
"Yes," Qin Yun responded, "the commotion is so grand, it's as if they're afraid no one will notice. There must be other tactics at play."
"Besides Dragon Lake, there must be other powerful individuals nearby, also acting on orders from the Sunblessed Empire to hunt down that commander," Yu Yuan agreed with a nod. "With such a significant disturbance, once they detect it, they'll surely approach stealthily. It's even possible that some are already lying in wait, ready to join the battle at the opportune moment."
Wei Feng's gaze became troubled.
"Who is she?"
Qin Yun, who had been observing her for some time, furrowed his brow. "She seems deeply concerned about the Blackfang Legion. Did she also come from the Sunblessed Empire?"
"When I saw her, she too was clad in Blackfang Armor, though she wasn't mounted on a Blackfang Beast," Yu Yuan explained offhandedly. "She will be of great use to me."
"Mr. Yu, my journey here from the Crimson Sun Empire is a testament to my sincerity," Qin Yun declared earnestly. "Should you have any need of me, please command it, and I shall serve with all my heart and strength."
He had recognized Yu Yuan's exceptional nature back at the Moonfall Sanctuary.
Subsequently, he had learned of events that transpired in the Serpent Spine Mountains and Gloomhollow.
He was aware of the cataclysmic upheaval in Gloomhollow, where many experts of the Lunar Spirit and Subtlety Realms had perished.
Yet, Yu Yuan had been there too, and soon after, news spread that Yu Yuan had returned to Thylethlume alive.
The Sacred Hands sect wouldn't give it much thought, considering Yu Yuan's cultivation level to be too insignificant for concern.
But Qin Yun saw things differently.
Unaware of the full circumstances, he firmly believed that Yu Yuan had played a direct role in Gloomhollow's transformation and had reaped considerable benefits.
The series of unusual events surrounding Yu Yuan had led him to make a startling choice when he found himself with nowhere to turn in the Crimson Sun Empire—to pledge allegiance to Yu Yuan.
It was a bold gamble, and he was uncertain whether he would win or lose.
"Huff, huff!"
A sailboat approached, carried by the wind from the opposite direction.
The sailboat measured roughly ten meters in length and seven to eight meters in width, crafted from a special kind of wood. Its edges were adorned with numerous vibrant feathers.
Bathed in moonlight, the feathers shimmered with an array of colors, seemingly infused with spiritual energy that allowed the sailboat to glide through the sky.
Below, Ning Ji caught sight of the sailboat and let out an exclamation, "The Nimbuswing of the Silvermoon Empire."
"Nimbuswing..."
Yu Yuan murmured, gazing up at the sailboat. "A Sky Chariot capable of carrying people is quite the rarity. I've heard they're incredibly costly, and within our Silvermoon Empire, there are only three Nimbuswings, if I'm not mistaken."
Crafting a flying item was no simple feat, requiring a substantial amount of magic items.
In the Land of Quiescence, the Artifact Sect often needed several forgers to collaborate on the creation of a Sky Chariot, a process that was both time-consuming and expensive. As a result, a vast amount of soulstones were charged for each Sky Chariot produced.
Unlike weapons designed for offense or defense, refining a Sky Chariot did not readily enhance a forger's skills.
Conversely, the delicate and intricate flying swords, defensive tokens, and towers were the tools that truly honed a forger's craft.
The larger the Sky Chariot, the more coordination was required among the forgers. A high-level forger had to direct a team of apprentices, delegating specific tasks to each one.
Ultimately, a master forger would engrave the flying array, imbuing each Sky Chariot with its aerial capabilities.
Due to the extensive time, labor, and resources involved, Sky Chariots were scarce and fetch a high price.
Upon witnessing the emergence of a Nimbuswing, and hearing Ning Ji attribute it to the Silvermoon Empire, Yu Yuan surmised that the intense clash between the Blackfang Legion and Dragon Lake had drawn the notice of the Empire's formidable figures.
"Eh?"
Aboard the Nimbuswing, Lee Yuangui, who had spent his days basking in the sun at the Moonfall Sanctuary, let out a startled cry.
The deck was occupied by a group of Silvermoon Empire's elite, a mix of youth and age, all peering over the side at the ongoing battle near Dragon Lake.
At the sound of Lee Yuangui's exclamation, someone turned and inquired, "Old General, what has startled you so?"
"I ran into someone I know."
Lee Yuangui's once-cloudy eyes began to brighten. "I never expected to run into that young man again, especially here."
His encounter with Yu Yuan in the Moonfall Sanctuary had left a lasting impression on him.
After returning, he had learned even more about Yu Yuan through Lee Yuchan and Lee Yu.
He had assumed that Yu Yuan, having vanished from the Moonfall Sanctuary for so long, would likely never return.
The news of Yu Yuan's reappearance had taken him by surprise. He had intended to make a trip to Asvetaesi when he found the time, but his numerous obligations had kept him from doing so.
Unexpectedly, their paths crossed here, halfway through his journey.
"A familiar person?" inquired the man.
"From Asvetaesi, Yu Yuan of the Yu family," Lee Yuangui replied.
At his words, many aboard the ship looked on with intrigue.
"Lin Zhuyun's betrothed?"
"Is he the one rumored to have conspired with an alien soul in the Moonfall Sanctuary, leading to Lin Fengyan's death and jeopardizing the interests of the empire?"
"How did he come to be in this place?"
The crowd was abuzz with surprise.
Prompted by Lee Yuangui's revelation, some began to discreetly gather information.
"The former sect master of the Midnightshields, Qin Yun, is present as well!"