C326 The Shura of the Dark Realm
The Fallen Star Eyes might as well be Liu Ying's third eye.
This artifact was in tune with her soul, constantly broadening her perspective, allowing her to survey the world from above as if she were a Lunar Spirit.
Even the likes of Shen Feiqing and Xu Zixi were only sensitive to particularly strong auras.
Imagine a mortal on the ground: if a liger or an elephant charged at them, they would detect the threat in advance through the trembling earth and the heavy breaths of the beasts.
But if an insect were to creep silently through the grass, it might escape notice.
Shen Feiqing, Xu Zixi, and the others failed to detect Bai Shang because his vitality, soul fluctuations, and spiritual energy were so faint as to be negligible.
To them, Bai Shang was no more significant than a fly.
But Liu Ying, with her Fallen Star Eyes, could not only sense anomalies but also scrutinize them from above.
She could see everything with crystal clarity.
And sure enough.
No sooner had Liu Ying spoken than a man in humble sackcloth, who seemed almost invisible, stumbled in as if by accident.
Yu Yuan and Shen Feiqing's heated argument stopped dead.
"Mr. Bai."
Yu Yuan's brow creased as he regarded Bai Shang, who had arrived alone. "The lake is quite distant from here. How did you manage to find this place?"
"I just walked and somehow ended up here," Bai Shang replied, standing firm. He turned his attention to the skull forged from platinum, clicking his tongue in amazement and murmuring, "Such a massive Dark Realm Shura's head is truly a rarity. Its platinum hue indicates that this Shura was a warrior of the highest order."
He then looked directly at Yan Qiling.
Yan Qiling's face turned ashen. "Who might you be?"
He had not revealed the skull's origins to Yu Yuan and the others.
He had merely stated that it belonged to neither a human nor an Everlands archdemon, nor a Star-Spawned Terror.
He had assumed that no one capable of discerning the skull's true nature would be in the Forgotten Ruins.
At least, not yet.
Unexpectedly, someone had appeared out of the blue, and with just a glance, had not only identified the skull but also deduced that it belonged to a Platinum War God from the Dark Realm.
Yan Qiling gazed intently at Bai Shang, suddenly recalling that this was the man who had accompanied Yu Yuan on the Nimbuswing.
Yet, he had never given Bai Shang a second glance.
After all, there was nothing remarkable about Bai Shang. His vitality, spiritual energy, and remnant soul were all unexceptional, akin to a commoner just embarking on the path of cultivation.
Why would such an individual ever catch his eye?
Yet, this inconspicuous figure had abruptly revealed the origin of the platinum skull, putting Yan Qiling on high alert.
"The Shura from the Dark Realm?"
Zhou Cangmin's demeanor grew somber as he spoke, "I'm familiar with the tales. But due to my insufficient cultivation level, I've yet to qualify for refining the Solar Spirit beyond our world, hence I've never witnessed it."
He paused briefly before adding, "Still, I've heard that the Shura of the Dark Realm were annihilated."
The Ruby Hand's ancient scrolls contained scant mentions of the Shura.
But those few lines were etched in his memory.
The Shura of the Dark Realm, an extraterrestrial oddity, were fierce warriors. With a miniature cosmos concealed within their singular eye, they could craft the most exquisite Cosmos Rings. Yet, they were wiped out.
"Legend has it that the Shura of the Dark Realm were eradicated."
Bai Shang's eyes narrowed slightly, his tone detached, "Legends are just that—never verified. This colossal Shura of the Dark Realm, a Platinum War God, possessed combat prowess on par with our Unbound cultivators. Such a formidable Shura met its end here, its skull shattered."
He stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Sir, how did you come by such detailed knowledge of the Shura's origins and traits?" Yan Qiling stepped forward, a curious energy swirling around him, "And, did you come here specifically to venture into the Mysterious Realm?"
Yu Yuan didn't intervene but watched Bai Shang with equal caution.
Rumor had it that the Silvermoon Queen had three shadows aiding her rise to power, repeatedly thwarting the Crimson Sun Empire's cultivators and securing her unyielding reign.
Bai Shang was very likely one of the three shadows operating behind the Silvermoon Queen. The origins of these three shadows, their reasons for aiding the Queen, and the extent of their power and combat abilities remained an enigma. If Bai Shang was indeed one of them, his appearance in the Forgotten Ruins could be at the behest of the Queen herself.
Even if the Queen were to personally intervene, given the current situation, it would likely prove challenging to sway the resolute wills of those present. The High Oracle Zhou Cangmin, Shen Feiqing, and Yan Qiling each possessed power and mastery not inferior to that of the Silvermoon Queen. Zhou Cangmin, in particular, had long been a thorn in the Queen's side, unable to be dislodged, which attested to his formidable and vexing nature.
Therefore, if Bai Shang were indeed one of the Queen's shadows, his proficiency in stealth would be insufficient to stir any significant trouble without the requisite power and realm.
Yu Yuan was intrigued by Bai Shang's ability to instantly recognize the skull as belonging to a Shura from the Dark Realm. In his own illustrious but brief former life, Yu Yuan had stood at the pinnacle alongside the mightiest, yet he had never heard of the Shura's fearsome reputation. Yet, Bai Shang was somehow aware of it.
Confronted by Yan Qiling's interrogation, Bai Shang remained stoic, his gaze fixed on the massive platinum skull with a detached air. His eyes betrayed a profound aversion and wariness when he glanced at the scabbard.
With a hiss, a peculiar remnant soul nearing Yu Yuan's Heart Aperture was suddenly ignited and extinguished. Yu Yuan's arm bones became intensely hot in an instant. As the heat seared through him, Yu Yuan's expression turned icy. He glared at Bai Shang with a sinister sneer, "Are you trying to kill me?"
The delicate, luminous space rifts that had been hovering above Shen Feiqing's head were suddenly disturbed, aligning themselves towards Bai Shang. Then, the rifts emitted an unrelenting sharpness of sword's will, converging in an assault on Bai Shang. The scabbard embedded in the platinum skull vibrated slightly as the sword's will roared to life.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Dozens of fearsome sword's wills transformed into interweaving strands of Divine Thunder, intent on annihilating Bai Shang. With his head bowed, Bai Shang's face contorted with shock. After a stifled grunt, his figure abruptly blurred.
In a fleeting moment, Bai Shang, clad in tattered sackcloth, vanished as if he had never existed.
"Not of this world!" Zhou Cangmin, the High Oracle, flashed a cold smile. "It's no surprise his presence was undetectable, with no trace of vital energy fluctuations. Heh!"
"Moonfall Sanctuary, the one that got away," Yan Qiling remarked with a snort. "He's cut from the same cloth as White Walker and Fides."
"Terra Fiend?" Yu Yuan exclaimed in astonishment.
The bizarre remnant soul that had attacked him was unleashed by Bai Shang, but it was intercepted by the residual sword's will in his arm bone and dissolved before reaching his heart.
Failing to land his strike, Bai Shang resorted to the Terra Fiend's mystique to make a swift getaway.
Among the three fiends of heaven, earth, and man, the Terra Fiend excels in stealth, deception, and malice. Yu Yuan had already encountered the likes of White Walker and Fides.
To his surprise, Bai Shang, who had been traveling alongside him in the Nimbuswing, was also a Terra Fiend, and his movements were even more unpredictable.
"Legend has it that the Silvermoon Queen is shadowed by three figures," Xu Zixi said, pausing before his expression shifted subtly. "Could it be that she relies on such beings?"
At these words, Yu Yuan felt a slight jolt.
During his time in Moonfall Sanctuary, he had heard unconfirmed rumors from White Walker, Fides, and other alien souls. They claimed that the Silvermoon Empire's rise to power initially depended on archdemons like them to ascend to royalty by eliminating others. Later, they were quietly suppressed and sealed away to prevent discovery.
If Bai Shang and the other two shadows behind the empress were indeed alien souls who had fled Moonfall Sanctuary, then the founding of the Silvermoon Empire had many intriguing aspects.
"There have indeed been alien souls that escaped Moonfall Sanctuary in the past. Bai Shang is very likely one of them," Zhou Cangmin stated.
"I never imagined that the Silvermoon Empire had the specter of alien souls lurking behind it," Xu Zixi admitted, visibly shaken.
"The more noticeable and rebellious alien souls were likely executed or sealed away," Shen Feiqing interjected. "Those that remain must have reached an understanding with the Silvermoon Queen. Given the Empire's proximity to Moonfall Sanctuary and their periodic trials there, it seems there's a deeper purpose at play."
"It's no surprise that no one knows their origins or identities. If it were common knowledge that the Lee family from the Silvermoon Empire had allied with an archdemon, the entire empire could collapse overnight," Xu Zixi remarked.
They took turns sharing what they knew about the connection between Bai Shang and the Silvermoon Empire.
Yu Yuan felt a growing weight in his heart as he listened.
Back when the Nimbuswing was present, Bai Shang had spared his life. It was either because Bai Shang was unaware of the unique nature of his arm bone, or he needed Yu Yuan for something.
Now, in the pit facing formidable opponents like Zhou Cangmin and Shen Feiqing, Bai Shang had struggled to restrain himself.
Was it because he possessed that ancient and powerful sword's will?
If Bai Shang was a Terra Fiend alien soul that had slipped through the cracks of the forbidden area, it was highly probable that the other two were as well. Did this mean that the Silvermoon Empire was filled with ill will towards him?
