C285 Sunblessed Empire's Wai Family!
Wei Feng, ensconced within the Nimbuswing, heard the exuberant cheers emanating from the Golden Ship, and the sparkle in her eyes swiftly turned to a dull gray.
She wore an expression of despair and helplessness, as if her heart had been utterly crushed.
As her shoulders quivered, she sensed dense threads of spiritual energy, fine as ropes, entwining around her neck and silencing her voice.
She realized in that moment that she had lost even the ability to end her own life.
It was then that she began to bitterly resent Yu Yuan.
Had it not been for Yu Yuan offering her hope and piquing her curiosity, she would have decisively chosen the path of death, severing all ties with the Sunblessed Empire.
Death would have spared her from all this trouble.
"Hu!"
A valiant man clad in golden armor, brandishing a shimmering spear, soared out from the Golden Ship.
With his sword-like eyebrows and piercing gaze, the man's golden armor appeared heavy yet was adorned with numerous magic diagrams that lent it lightness, enabling him to traverse the void with his Veil Breaking cultivation.
In a single stride, he materialized before the Nimbuswing, a streak of golden light.
The spear-wielding man, at the Veil Breaking level, stood nonchalantly before the elite of the Silvermoon Empire.
His lips curled into a radiant smile as he surveyed the occupants of the Nimbuswing from his elevated position.
At last, his gaze settled on Wei Feng. "Couldn't manage to escape, could you?" he asked.
Brilliant streams of golden light burst forth from his armor, casting him in the image of a resplendent golden war deity.
Upon his arrival, a dozen figures emerged at the edge of the Golden Ship.
Some wore golden armor like his, others donned traditional green attire, exuding an air of nobility, while a few bore icy smiles, regarding the Silvermoon Empire's assembly with the eyes of a hunter sizing up their prey.
Yu Yuan's brow creased with concern.
The mere presence of those who had emerged from the Golden Ship suggested they were formidable Lunar Spirit warriors.
He sensed that the Sunblessed Empire's envoys aboard the Golden Ship possessed enough might to easily overpower those from the Silvermoon Empire.
The region they found themselves in, though nearer to Thylethlume and farther from the Sunblessed Empire, was, in strict terms, not under the jurisdiction of either nation.
In this no-man's land, a chance encounter could lead to conflict.
Should a battle ensue, the Sunblessed Empire's agents on the Golden Ship could swiftly bring about a grim end for everyone from the Silvermoon Empire.
It's no surprise that the striking man clad in golden armor had the audacity to arrive alone, boasting the cultivation level of Veil Breaking. He strode through the air, his armor light as a feather, exuding confidence with every step.
"May I ask who you are?" inquired the venerable General Lee Yuangui, his voice grave and commanding.
"From the Sunblessed Empire, I am Wei Wujiang," the man declared, his mouth curving into a proud smirk before he took another step into the void.
He advanced towards the Nimbuswing, each step resonating with the boom of thunder, as if he were treading on lightning itself.
"Wei Wujiang!" Van Yan's face paled as he cried out, his gaze turning steely.
Upon hearing the name "Wei Wujiang," many aboard the Nimbuswing from the Silvermoon Empire visibly tensed, the mood turning somber. Bai Shenshen of the Sacred Hands Sect's eyes sparkled with recognition, while Ning Ji chuckled wryly, evidently affected by the name.
Lee Yuangui inhaled sharply before acknowledging, "Ah, so it's Young Master Wei."
Unconcerned with whether the Silvermoon Empire's reception was warm, Wei Wujiang continued his bold approach onto the Nimbuswing. Once at the ship's center, he directed his attention to Wei Feng.
"Sister, was it you who captured her?" he inquired, his gaze shifting to Lee Yuangui. His smile persisted, yet his eyes grew icy. "The Wei family bears the imperial lineage of the Sunblessed Empire. My sister left home for a bit of fun nearby. How did she come to be in the hands of the Silvermoon Empire?"
He immediately launched into an accusation.
Yu Yuan watched, astonished and intrigued, as he pondered to himself, "Wei Feng is from that Wei family."
The Wei family of the Sunblessed Empire was renowned across all of Aetherius, a powerful clan known for their martial prowess. For centuries, the Wei family's members had possessed unparalleled cultivation talents in this realm.
Sects from both the Land of Quiescence and Euwrea held the Wei family in high regard, keeping a watchful eye on every child born into their lineage.
The Wei family was synonymous with prodigious talent. In his past life, Yu Yuan was aware that many Wei family members were coveted by sects across both continents, rising to prominence in both the Land of Quiescence and Euwrea.
The Wei family members were an odd bunch. Once they left their kin and ventured into the Land of Quiescence or Euwrea to cultivate, they would almost invariably sever ties with their family.
Moreover, due to allegiance to different sects, it was not uncommon for Wei family members to engage in conflicts and even combat with one another.
The Wei family's ethos was unique, adhering to a survival-of-the-fittest principle from a young age. This was true within the clan, and even more so once they were chosen by a dominant sect to cultivate in the Land of Quiescence or Euwrea.
They were a family that harbored an extraordinary indifference towards familial bonds.
Even the elders who had made names for themselves on the other two continents would not extend a helping hand to the younger members of the family, nor would they offer any support to the Sunblessed Empire.
Otherwise, the Wei family might have been a formidable contender against the Chen family of the Songbird Empire in Aetherius.
"Wei Feng, clad in Blackfang Armor, nearly assassinated one of our young masters from Sillserine City near Asvetaesi," Lee Yuangui huffed, "Even if Wei Feng is from your Wei family, she must face our justice for harming someone on our soil. What issue could there be with my capturing her alive?"
"The Wei family has only injured your people, not killed them. Let's dispense with the punishment," Wei Wujiang replied with an easy smile. "Sister, I've come specifically to take you home. You're among the most gifted of our new generation. Don't let a little friction lead you to a senseless end alongside the Blackfang Legion."
He spoke with an air of authority, ready to take charge of the situation.
Aboard the Nimbuswing, the faces of those from the Silvermoon Empire darkened.
Lee Yuangui had made it clear that Wei Feng and the Blackfang Legion had nearly slain Zhan Tianxiang, and they needed to hold Wei Feng accountable to the Zhan family to uphold the honor of the Silvermoon Empire.
Wei Wujiang seemed to ignore everything that had been said, intent on taking Wei Feng away right before their eyes.
Wei Feng, now constrained by Lee Yuangui, looked at him with eyes filled with loathing and detachment, and there was an almost imperceptible hint of fear.
There was no sign of the joy one might expect from a sibling reunion.
"Wait a moment."
Yu Yuan suddenly stepped between Wei Feng and Wei Wujiang, shielding Wei Feng with his own body.
Wei Wujiang, taken aback, asked in surprise, "What are you doing?"
"What are you doing?" Yu Yuan countered.
"I'm taking my sister with me," Wei Wujiang stated as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"I'm stopping you from taking her," Yu Yuan declared.
Wei Wujiang scratched his head, seemingly unable to grasp the situation at once. He didn't rush to continue the conversation with Yu Yuan; instead, he turned his attention to the most senior figure aboard the Nimbuswing, Lee Yuangui, and inquired, "Elder, do the youth of your empire not understand the gravity of the situation?"
Lee Yuangui's face flickered with uncertainty.
"Did you see that?"
Wei Wujiang gestured toward the individuals on the Golden Ship. "This place is not within the territory of either nation. My presence here, rather than sending them down, is a significant concession to you. Wei Feng belongs to the Wei family. I'm simply taking her back without holding you accountable for her capture. I haven't even asked if you've mistreated her."
"It's been quite difficult to come to this point. I truly don't want a misunderstanding to lead to a clash of arms."
After a brief pause, his expression turned icy as he demanded, "You don't want that either, do you?"
Those aboard the Golden Ship from the Sunblessed Empire, with their superior cultivation levels, were already aware of the incidents on the Nimbuswing. As his words settled, a surge of formidable spiritual energy erupted.
Lee Yuangui's frame shook with indecision.
Yan Yu, along with many other youths from the Silvermoon Empire, felt a sense of injustice but were equally weighed down by the palpable pressure.
The pressure emanated from the Golden Ship.
At that moment, several ballistae were adjusting their aim, ominously pointing in their direction.
As the ballistae targeted them, those with keen senses suddenly detected a death aura. Their pores stood on end, a sensation of discomfort and anxiety washing over them.
With his breathing heavy, Van Yan seized the moment of Lee Yuangui's uncertainty to interject, "If they are indeed Wei family members, and since Zhan Tianxiang is still alive, they've shown good faith. Perhaps we should just... let it be?" He looked at Lee Yuangui with hopeful anticipation.
Lee Yuangui surveyed the talents aboard the Nimbuswing, assessing the situation with a heavy heart before giving a subtle nod.
"Thank you," Wei Wujiang remarked coolly. "Should you visit the Sunblessed Empire in the future, esteemed senior, rest assured you will be welcomed with the utmost hospitality."
As he spoke, he reached for the ropes that bound Wei Feng's hands.
"She's mine," Yu Yuan interjected abruptly, seizing Wei Feng by the neck. He addressed Lee Yuangui firmly, "The one I've captured is mine to deal with."
