C3 Opened

"I feel like I've truly had an epiphany," Yu Yuan mused, squinting his eyes as he massaged his forehead. "For years, it seemed as though I was trapped in an endless nightmare. Only today did I finally awaken. What was I like before?"

The three souls—of Heaven, Earth, and Man—are the essence of a person, crucial to the path of future cultivation. The Earth soul, bearer of memories, evolves into a Yin God upon reaching a profound understanding. The Heaven soul, the seat of wisdom, ascends to a Yang God after the Earth soul's transformation and the experience of Soul Wandering. The Human soul, also known as the Life Soul or Master Soul, crystallizes into the Primordial Spirit at the zenith of the Great Dao, after the Yin and Yang Gods have been realized.

The Yin God represents the ethereal, the Yang God the tangible, and the Primordial Spirit is eternal and unbreakable.

With the recent return of his Earth and Heaven souls, Yu Yuan's recollection of his previous life was vague. Fortunately, the purple-clad maid before him was ready to unravel the mysteries for him. He was eager to understand his present identity and circumstances.

"Young Master, you belong to the Yu family," the maid, Ann Ziqing, began, her voice a lively stream of information. "In the past, you might have been naive, but you were kind-hearted. Yet, there were many who sought to do you harm..."

As Ann spoke, Yu Yuan occasionally interjected, probing into peculiar details. Through their back-and-forth, it took half the morning for Yu Yuan to grasp the essence of his current life—who he was, his present state, the slander he had faced, and the scorn he had endured.

"Profound Sky Continent, Silvermoon Empire, the Yu family, the betrothed young master, the malicious servant plotting my demise..." Each new memory flowed like unseen light into the recesses of his mind, merging indistinguishably with the experiences of his past life.

The Yu family, a modest lineage within the Silvermoon Empire, cultivated medicinal herbs, primarily supplying the Su family. The Su family, a prestigious household second only to the imperial family, boasted genuine alchemists. The Empire's warriors and cultivators relied on the Su family for their supply of spiritual medicines and pellets.

Several families in the Silvermoon Empire, just like the Yu family, supplied spiritual herbs and medicinal materials to the Su family. Moreover, the Su family acquired a vast array of medicinal herbs from other empires on the Profound Sky Continent for their alchemy practices.

Yu Yuan, who was the sect master of the Medicine God Sect on the Quietus Continent in his previous life, was well aware of the esteemed status of an alchemist and the extensive scope of alchemy. In the grand scheme of the alchemy industry, the Yu family was merely at the lowest rung.

"My parents?"

"Young master, shortly after your birth, people believed you were unable to speak since you didn't utter a word. Your parents ventured out to seek spiritual pellets to awaken your senses, but it's said they perished in the Nether Abyss's Cold Abyss. The patriarch was devastated by their loss. In Darkmoon City, the Huang family, long-standing adversaries of the Yu family, seized the chance to oppress us further, even hiring an expert to cripple the patriarch's knees."

"The Yu family never recovered from that blow, and the patriarch lost all hope."

"Your betrothed, who arrived three months ago, managed to keep the Huang family at bay, preventing them from acting recklessly. We had hoped that the Yu family's misfortune might turn into a blessing, but it turned out she harbored ill intentions as well. Her wicked servant, Yinn Jue, soon showed his true colors, revealing his plot to seize the Ice Soul Crystal."

"Alas, such a hard life for the young master..."

Ann Ziqing's voice trembled with grief, her eyes brimming with tears as she discreetly dabbed at them.

Yu Yuan's eyes narrowed, his face stoic, but his gaze grew icier by the moment.

He had not anticipated facing such a litany of injustices and calamities in this lifetime, nor that his existence would lead to his parents' demise and his family's disgrace.

In his past life, he was an orphan, taken in by the Medicine God Sect and dedicating his life to mastering alchemy. The so-called bonds of family... he had never truly felt them.

"Now that the Heavenly Soul and Earth Soul have returned to their rightful places and my meridians are unobstructed, it signifies that this life holds boundless potential for me! Beyond alchemy, I still harbor the hope of ascending to the pinnacle of the Great Dao!"

"In my previous life, I had many regrets. This time around, I'm determined to make each one right!"

Yu Yuan, despite facing numerous challenges, was far from disheartened; instead, he was brimming with vigor.

"Creak!"

The door opened gently, and in came Ning Ji, his face etched with defeat. He was there to verify Yu Yuan's fate one last time, to put to rest the lingering concern of an old friend.

"Young Master Yu!"

After a brief moment of shock, Ning Ji couldn't contain himself and shrieked, "You're still alive? How can this be? When I left, your soul was on the brink of fading away!"

"Your expert hands laid out the Soul Summoning Formation, reviving the other two souls that lay dormant within me and bringing me fully back to consciousness," Yu Yuan said as he rose and bowed deeply in gratitude.

"Ah!" Ning Ji let out another exclamation, pointing at Yu Yuan in disbelief, "Your Earth and Heaven souls are intact?"

Yu Yuan nodded, his smile serene.

Ning Ji stood there, stunned.

He was well aware that the formation he had set with the four Soul Summoning Flags was a desperate measure, not even sufficient to prevent Yu Yuan's soul from dissipating, let alone awaken the Earth and Heaven souls.

After all, he had no real power to refine those mysterious Soul Summoning Flags.

Yet there was Yu Yuan, with eyes clear and spirited, a divine brilliance flickering within, the unmistakable sign of a man whose three souls were whole and whose wisdom was flourishing.

"Where's my grandfather, why isn't he here?" Yu Yuan inquired, puzzled, "Could it be that he can't bear to face my death?"

"And my grandfather?" Ann Ziqing, wiping away her tears, managed a radiant smile and said, "It's wonderful news that the Young Master has truly awakened. I must tell him right away!"

Ning Ji's gaze dimmed, "He might not be able to receive this news immediately."

"Why?" Yu Yuan's brow furrowed.

"This morning when I visited him, I learned that he had fallen into a feverish coma since last night. His pulse suggested a common fever," Ning Ji explained, clearly perplexed, "The wounds he received yesterday were largely healed. By all accounts, he shouldn't have succumbed to a coma from a mere chill."

"Let's leave the old mansion and head back to the city!"

Two hours later, in the northern district of Darkmoon City, within the Yu family estate, concern etched the faces of several family members as they watched over the patriarch, Yu Cann, lying comatose on his bed. "It must be the shock of losing Little Yuan that's done this. The old master couldn't withstand such a blow and has fallen into a feverish unconsciousness."

"Ah, it's no wonder our eldest uncle is in this state. Little Yuan left no heirs. Does this not mean that our uncle's lineage will end here?"

"With Little Yuan gone, his betrothal to the Lim family's young lady is null and void, right? Once he's officially out of the Yu family, we'll sever ties, and the Huang family will likely seize the chance to cause trouble for us."

"What are we to do if the old master doesn't awaken? Without a leader, our family is adrift."

Amidst the worried chatter, fearing the imminent downfall of their house, a voice full of confidence rang out from outside the pavilion, "Uncles, do not panic. If Grandfather remains asleep, I shall be the Yu family's pillar of strength!"

A poised young man entered with a serene stride, his voice still echoing in the air. "You, who are you?" Yu Wei blurted out, his eyes wide with astonishment as he gazed at Yu Yuan, unable to process the transformation before him.

The person was the same, yet the Yu Yuan standing before them radiated vitality. His eyes sparkled with intelligence, and his entire demeanor was a stark contrast to the soulless figure they remembered.

Not just Yu Wei, but the other Yu family members struggled to reconcile the vibrant young man with the "foolish child" they once knew. "Uncles, it is I, Yu Yuan. I've returned, having narrowly escaped death," Yu Yuan declared.

"Ah!"

"You're Yu Yuan? You're alive?"

"You can speak so clearly now?"

"What has happened to you?"

The family members erupted in a chorus of disbelief. Ning Ji and Ann Ziqing then stepped forward, capturing the astonished looks of the Yu family. They explained that Yu Yuan, after enduring great tribulations and years of dormant earth and heaven souls, had been revived and was now fully restored to his rightful state as a normal person.

The pavilion was immediately engulfed in a cacophony of heated debates.

Yu Yuan's uncles eyed him with suspicion. Some doubted Ning Ji's claims, others questioned whether Yu Yuan before them was an imposter, and a few even wondered if he had been resurrected in another's body.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to spend some time alone with Grandfather," Yu Yuan interjected with a light cough, signaling for a moment of silence. "I understand this is a lot to take in. Believe me, when I awoke, I too was disoriented and am still adjusting."

"Let me speak with Grandfather once he awakens. Meanwhile, I ask you all to reflect on this situation."

"Rest assured, Elder Ning can attest to my identity as Yu Yuan. If there are still concerns, Elder Ning can join me to investigate the cause of Grandfather's persistent fever."

With that, the Yu family members, their minds swirling with doubts, reluctantly vacated Yu Cann's pavilion.

Ann Ziqing, too, was requested to remain outside, ensuring no interruptions during this critical time.

On the bed lay the elder Yu Cann, his body burning up, breaths labored, and complexion flushed with fever.

Chunks of ice jade, swathed in towels, were strategically placed on his forehead and neck to bring down his temperature.

"Last night, you lay there, your breath waning," Ning Ji stepped forward, checking Yu Cann's pulse and heartbeat with a furrowed brow. "It seems to be a common fever, but why the prolonged unconsciousness?"

Yu Yuan watched his grandfather, still afflicted with fever, and was filled with a bitter sense of sorrow. He recalled Ann Ziqing's words about the many hardships the old man had endured on his behalf over the years, his deep affection, and the expectations he held.

After his parents ventured to the Cold Abyss, never to be heard from again, the entire Yu family continued to show him care, never once considering abandonment—except for the old man.

For Yu Yuan's sake, the old man had braved the risk of alienating the Lim family, steadfastly upholding the betrothal to Lim Zhuyun.

"Now that I am awake, you will be alright," Yu Yuan inhaled deeply, turning to Ning Ji. "I was informed by my maid that Yinn Jue made a move against my grandfather last night, is that true?"

"Yes, but your fiancée intervened quickly. She even expended her spiritual energy to help both your grandfather and me recover from most of our injuries," Ning Ji explained.

"What was my grandfather's condition when Yinn Jue attacked him?"

"The slender bloodline at his brow was torn then. But thanks to your fiancée's healing, it's faded significantly. Now, it's almost imperceptible unless you look closely."

"Oh?"

Yu Yuan bent down to inspect the old man's forehead and indeed spotted a fine line resembling a hair. At a glance, it looked like a stray red hair had accidentally adhered to the brow, as if it would vanish with a mere wipe.

Yu Yuan's eyes narrowed, his pupils constricting as he studied the mark intently. His demeanor abruptly turned icy, and he uttered with a cold huff, "Blood Worm!"

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