C282 Watching the Battle

Deep within the clouds, thunder boomed and lightning wove a net across the sky. A snow-white figure, once as tiny as a grain of rice, swelled to the size of a mountain in a mere moment. With a crackling roar, a whip of lightning and thunder unfurled like a galaxy torn from the extraterrestrial heavens, lashing out into the distance.

The colossal snow-white figure snorted. With a swift motion, he conjured a spell and the electrified net that loomed overhead plummeted down. It was as though an ancient deity from beyond was casting a net, intent on capturing the souls of the mortal realm.

Simultaneously, in the northern skies, a cascade of ice shattered and soared heavenward. The countless fragments burst into a blinding display of icy brilliance, each etched with the mysteries of bitter cold. A diminutive wraith appeared to divide the Lunar Spirit into myriad shards, infusing each fragment of ice with its own chilling essence.

Beside the Nimbuswing, the veteran General Lee Yuangui's eyes suddenly sparked with insight, and he let out a heavy sigh, "This is troublesome." He recognized that the Thunder Sect and Winter's Bite experts, in alliance with the Silverfrost Dragon and its Dragon Attendants, were targeting the commander of the Blackfang Legion. The Silverfrost Dragon alone was no match for the legendary commander, and the Dragon Attendants were mere fodder, useful only for forming battle arrays.

But as the hidden experts of the Thunder Sect and Winter's Bite emerged from their concealment, Lee Yuangui realized that the commander's predicament was growing dire. After his sigh, he cast a glance at Wei Feng. Her head was bowed, her expression forlorn, clearly anxious for the commander's safety yet powerless to intervene.

On a hillside adjacent to the battlefield in the north, Lei Xiao and Liu Wei were suddenly invigorated. Each carrying a sect disciple on their backs, they gazed up at the resplendent firmament, feeling the powerful stirrings of their shared lineage. They watched the celestial whip and the icy luminescence formed from millions of ice shards coalesce.

Both men understood that if their sect brethren, who had been commanded to depart from the Euwrea continent, had chosen to reveal themselves, they must be assured of their strength. The Thunder Sect and Winter's Bite had long maintained cordial relations with the Sunblessed Empire. Having been personally requested by the empire's emperor, they would certainly not let him down.

The individual in question was once a discarded disciple of the Forgeroses. With the Thunder Sect and Winter's Bite joining forces to hunt her down, there was no concern about repercussions from the Forgeroses.

"The Blackfang Legion has been on the run for quite some time, yet the outcome remains unchanged."

Lei Xiao gazed skyward and huffed, "No matter her former glory within the Forgeroses, the moment she lost the backing of her sect and fell to serving a nation in Aetherius, she forfeited her esteemed status. Moreover, since her master's incident in the extraterrestrial realms, the Forgeroses have disowned her."

"She can't go back," Liu Wei murmured, a sense of relief washing over him.

They were acutely aware that the pursuit by the Blackfang Legion would cease once the Silverfrost Dragon made its appearance.

The Blackfang Legion would soon regroup.

"We'll just observe the changes."

Lei Xiao settled down, ingested a pill, and his worries dissipated.

...

"Yu Yuan."

The veteran general, Lee Yuangui, stood at the edge of the Nimbuswing and softly called out.

Narrowing his eyes, he strained to discern the distant battle but couldn't make out Yu Yuan clearly. Surprised, he turned and inquired, "Elder, may I assist you?"

Without needing to look, Lei Xiao knew the newly emerged powerhouses from the Thunder Sect and Winter's Bite were certainly of the Spirit Walk Realm.

Cultivators of the Spirit Walk Realm represented the pinnacle of strength in the major empires across Aetherius.

Consider the Empress of the Silvermoon Empire, Zhou Cangmin, the state preceptor of the Crimson Sun Empire, and the commander—all of whom were of this caliber.

The two from the Thunder Sect and Winter's Bite, bold enough to ally with the Silverfrost Dragon, were surely of the same realm.

Even in the Land of Quiescence and Euwrea, reaching the Spirit Walk Realm was no mean feat.

Such a high-level conflict was beyond the Silvermoon Empire's elite's capacity to intervene.

In the vast area surrounding them, if anyone could sway the aerial battle, Yu Yuan could only think of Yu Zhu.

Yet, he had no desire for Yu Zhu to emerge and risk revealing herself.

"Have you been to the Serpent Spine Mountains?" Lee Yuangui's gaze remained fixed on the distant fray as he posed the question.

When Yu Yuan heard the mention of the Serpent Spine Mountains, he couldn't help but feel a surge of alarm.

Bai Shenshen of Sacred Hands glanced their way, her attention caught by the conversation between Yu Yuan and Lee Yuangui.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Silvermoon Empire's onlookers remained fixated on the ongoing clash between the commander and the formidable opponents from the Silverfrost Dragon, Thunder Sect, and Winter's Bite, paying no mind to the exchange nearby.

"After leaving Moonfall Sanctuary, I did spend some time wandering the Serpent Spine Mountains, but I didn't stay long," Yu Yuan admitted, his curiosity piqued. "Why do you ask?"

"Somebody was inquiring about you not too long ago," Lee Yuangui revealed.

"Who might that be?" Yu Yuan inquired.

"A young woman from the Songbird Empire, last name Chen," Lee Yuangui replied, giving him a meaningful look.

Yu Yuan paused, then realized it must be Chen Qingyan. He wondered how she had managed to track him, likely having someone else inquire on her behalf.

"Oh," Yu Yuan responded nonchalantly.

"You know her?" Lee Yuangui asked, visibly surprised.

"We've met, but I wouldn't say we're well-acquainted," Yu Yuan answered.

Bai Shenshen, overhearing this, couldn't help but think how adept Yu Yuan was at spinning tales; she knew for a fact that not a single word he said was true.

She was aware that after Yu Yuan had met Chen Qingyan, they had journeyed to Gloomhollow together.

Following the turmoil in Gloomhollow, it was confirmed that many strong individuals had perished, with numerous losses among those in the Lunar Spirit and Subtlety states.

Yet Yu Yuan had vanished without a trace, only to reappear within the borders of the Silvermoon Empire, in Thylethlume.

Chen Qingyan, too, had disappeared. She had not returned to the Songbird Empire and remained unseen.

As Lee Yuangui was about to continue, his brow furrowed, and he called out sharply, "Who's there, lurking in the shadows?"

The elite of the Silvermoon Empire within the Nimbuswing tensed, scanning their surroundings as if bracing for an imminent threat.

Alas, they detected nothing.

Yu Yuan also cast a curious glance around but noticed nothing amiss.

He trusted, however, that Lee Yuangui wasn't mistaken; there must have been something that triggered his question.

"Relax, it's just an old acquaintance making an appearance to say hello," Yu Yuan reassured them.

A black and a white beam of light suddenly converged in front of the Nimbuswing, coalescing into a boy Yu Yuan recognized. He wore a carefree expression, and upon materializing, he simply gazed at Yu Yuan and remarked, "What a coincidence, we meet again."

Their last encounter had been a brief one in Gloomhollow, from which he had hastily departed.

A year had passed, and now he reappeared, seemingly even more powerful than before in Yu Yuan's estimation.

"Why are you here?" Yu Yuan asked, taken aback.

Lee Yuangui's expression darkened ever so slightly. Having previously met this individual at the Moonfall Sanctuary, he was well aware of the challenge he presented. "Are you planning to intervene in that distant battle?"

"Yes."

The Yin-Yang Acolytes nodded gently, their tone neutral as they inquired, "So, does the Silvermoon Empire intend to meddle?"

Lee Yuangui was quick to clarify, "We are merely observers! Our presence here is solely to ensure that the conflict does not spill over to the Silvermoon Empire. We hope the battlefield remains where it is!"

"That's reassuring," the Yin-Yang Acolytes responded, visibly at ease. They then turned their attention back to Yu Yuan, "And you?"

His demeanor appeared more solemn when addressing Yu Yuan than when questioning the intentions of the Silvermoon Empire.

This shift in gravity left the Silvermoon Empire's elite feeling inexplicably uneasy.

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