C294 A True Genius!

For a prodigy like Liu Ying, transcending boundaries was a walk in the park.

Yu Yuan, who in his previous life never set foot on the path of cultivation, was unfamiliar with its intricacies. Yet, in this life, he fancied himself as having exceptional talent, having witnessed the so-called young elites of the Silvermoon Empire such as Zhao Yafu, Lee Yu, and Zhan Tianxiang.

But in comparison to Liu Ying, they seemed to pale in significance. Amidst their idle chatter, Liu Ying's form shuddered, and she naturally advanced to the next level. Yu Yuan was astounded.

For most cultivators, whether it was a major breakthrough or overcoming a minor hurdle, the journey was often marked by arduous meditation, combat, and sudden realizations. How could Liu Ying achieve her breakthrough with such ease, merely by engaging in light conversation and enjoying some fruit?

"I don't want it to be this way either," Liu Ying confessed, her expression tinged with frustration. She lifted her hand, gazing at the section bathed in starlight. Beneath her skin shimmered a celestial glow. "You might find it hard to believe, but I never wanted to advance so rapidly. I believe that as long as my realm isn't sufficient, there's no need for me to bear the heavy duties of the sect."

"The Starmoon Sect has cultivated me with great dedication, granting me access to a wealth of resources, including magic items, pills, and rare treasures. They've spared no expense for my sake."

"From birth, I've known that I am part of the Starmoon Sect."

"My master even told me that before I was born, I was already destined for the Starmoon Sect. The Liu family was merely where I happened to arrive."

"The sect instilled in me the importance of its responsibilities, encouraging me to place less emphasis on familial ties."

"And that's the path I've followed."

"Yet, I can't shake the feeling that as my realm increases, so too will my obligations to the sect. Eventually, I must repay the sect's kindness, but I wish to delay that moment, to slow things down."

"Because if I push myself too hard, my carefree days will swiftly come to an end."

"I want to slow down; I'm not in a rush. I'm quite content with where I am now."

As she whispered, dazzling streams of starlight cascaded from the heavens, transforming into visible showers of starlight that merged into her Fallen Star Eyes.

Within the Fallen Star Eyes, the twinkling lights danced like fireflies. Refined, they surged towards her one by one.

Suddenly, Liu Ying's body was awash with blinding starlight.

Yu Yuan squinted, observing intently as he peered into her tall frame, feeling as though he was gazing upon a mysterious and arcane sea of stars in the cosmos.

Her organs, flesh, bones, and blood shimmered with the brilliance of countless stars!

Using his heaven soul's perception, Yu Yuan was astonished to discover that Liu Ying's acupoints seemed to be in harmony with the stars beyond our world.

The human body has hundreds of acupoints, and each of Liu Ying's was brimming with star power, much like the Fallen Star Eyes beneath her feet, poised to unleash their energy at pivotal moments.

"The Starmoon Sect has a once-in-a-lifetime prodigy!"

Yu Yuan's spirit was stirred, and he instantly realized that this young woman from the Liu family of the Sunblessed Empire was destined to be a pivotal figure in the flourishing of the Starmoon Sect.

Veil Breaking is the stage where one opens the middle elixir field, saturates it with vitality, and then refines and purifies the flesh, blood, and bones through the eight extra-channels.

Liu Ying, despite her youth, was extraordinary. Her acupoints matched the celestial stars, each forming a microcosm capable of harnessing the power of stars, which she used to temper her body.

This meant that in addition to the power from her lower elixir field, Golden Sanctum, and middle elixir field, she also had access to the star power within her acupoints.

At the Veil Breaking stage, the vast star power contained within Liu Ying could potentially surpass that of several cultivators at the same level.

Armed with the Starmoon Sect's Star Mystique, her true combat strength was likely far superior to Wei Wujiang, the hand-chosen disciple of the Thunder Sect.

Contemplating this, Yu Yuan couldn't help but wonder what his own experience would be like once he reached the Veil Breaking stage.

Liu Ying's innate talent for cultivation and her enigmatic nature had put him under a bit of pressure.

This girl, fearful of shouldering the sect's heavy responsibilities, refused to diligently pursue her training. Instead, she indulged in a life of leisure, propelled by the celestial bodies to attain her current state.

Imagine, if one day she were to experience a shock or have an epiphany and devote herself to the arduous cultivation of the Way of Heaven, how formidable she would become?

"Liu Ying, are you here as well?"

A booming laugh echoed suddenly. It began as a distant sound but quickly seemed to draw near.

A striking young man in blue attire appeared, riding a glaive through the sky with grace.

The man in blue stood tall and exuded an air of nobility, his features and demeanor both impressive.

He arrived on his glaive, hovering above the Fallen Star Eyes, yet an unseen barrier prevented him from breaking through immediately.

At the sound of his laughter, Liu Ying paused, then quickly composed herself, abandoning her casual demeanor for a more restrained posture, tinged with a hint of resignation.

Reluctantly, she gestured towards the newcomer.

The shimmering veil of stars materialized and vanished just as swiftly.

With a casual flick, Liu Ying tore through the starlight barrier that shrouded the Fallen Star Eyes, allowing the young man to smoothly enter and alight upon the suspended aerolite.

"Who might this be?"

The blue-robed youth glanced at Yu Yuan with curiosity, his spiritual sense infiltrating the space around them effortlessly.

In a mere moment, he assessed Yu Yuan's true level of cultivation and age.

He slightly furrowed his brow, perceiving that Yu Yuan's early Golden Sanctum stage was hardly noteworthy.

"He's a friend from the Silvermoon Empire," Liu Ying said, not even offering a name. "Brother Wang, shouldn't you be adventuring in the Stormcrown Empire? I heard that your Ethereal Void Sect discovered an enigmatic Mysterious Realm there and sent many to explore. What brings you to the Forgotten Ruins?"

"The Ethereal Void Sect..." A flicker of recognition crossed Yu Yuan's face.

In Euwrea, the Starmoon Sect stood as the foremost among the seven lower sects.

He had always harbored a distaste for the Ethereal Void Sect, a sentiment that persisted from his past life into this one. His previous encounters with the Ethereal Void Sect had been unpleasant, leading to a deep-seated bias against them. Consequently, he would outright refuse any request for medicine from the Order of Healing if it came from a cultivator of the Ethereal Void Sect.

Three hundred years ago, it was common knowledge in the Everlands that the Ethereal Void Sect and the Order of Healing were at odds. He was well aware that the Ethereal Void Sect had not always been the foremost among the seven great lower sects. Now, the Forgeroses, once at the bottom of these sects, stood as the most powerful following the upper sects. Their decline to their present state was significantly influenced by the Ethereal Void Sect.

In his previous life, he had maintained a good relationship with the Forgeroses, which granted him access to much confidential information. This only intensified his aversion to the Ethereal Void Sect.

"Some unexpected events brought me here," said the blue-clad youth with a slight smile. After a brief pause, he continued, "Liu Ying, there are a few things I'd like to discuss with you in private."

He gestured towards Yu Yuan. "Would you mind asking your friend here to step away for a moment?"

Yu Yuan's brow furrowed slightly.

Unperturbed by Yu Yuan's apparent displeasure, the blue-clad youth maintained his smile, his gaze fixed on Liu Ying.

After a moment's consideration, Liu Ying addressed Yu Yuan, "I've enjoyed our conversation, but there are some matters I need to address. I'll seek you out later to continue our discussion."

"So, you're sending him away?" Yu Yuan asked.

"Senior Brother Wang has a smile that hides his temper; I fear he might bear a grudge against you," a voice echoed in Yu Yuan's mind, swift as a flash of lightning—the voice belonged to Liu Ying.

With the Fallen Star Eyes, she could use arcane techniques to communicate with Yu Yuan's mind right in front of the Ethereal Void Sect's blue-clad youth, without any fear of being discovered.

Before Yu Yuan could reply, a circle of starlight erupted beneath his feet. Enveloped by the light, he was swiftly carried away from the Fallen Star Eyes, streaking through the sky like a meteor, trailing a tail of starlight, and descended directly toward the Forgotten Ruins Liu Ying had mentioned.

"Yu Yuan!"

Moments later, from the spot where he was nearly plummeting, a familiar voice cried out in alarm.

"..."