C326 Asura of Dark Domain
The Fallen Star Eyes might as well be Lau Ying's third eye.
This artifact, intertwined with her soul, perpetually expanded her vision, granting her the ability to survey the land from on high, much like a Yin God disembodied in the ether.
Even the likes of Shen Feiqing and Xu Zixi were only attuned to particularly distinct auras.
Imagine a mortal standing on the earth, able to sense the approach of lions, tigers, or elephants through the trembling ground and the heavy breaths and roars of the beasts. Yet, should an ant-like creature silently wriggle through the underbrush, they might remain completely unaware.
Shen Feiqing and Xu Zixi failed to detect Bai Shang because his presence—his Qi, blood, soul's turbulence, and spiritual power—was so faint it was negligible.
To them, Bai Shang was no more significant than an insect.
But Lau Ying, with her Fallen Star Eyes, could not only detect anomalies but also scrutinize them from above.
Naturally, her clarity was unparalleled.
Sure enough.
No sooner had Lau Ying spoken than a man in coarse linen with an indifferent demeanor stumbled in as if by accident.
The heated argument between Yu Yuan and Shen Feiqing stopped dead.
"Mr. Bai."
Yu Yuan's brow furrowed as he regarded Bai Shang, who had arrived solo. "That lake is quite a distance from here. How did you manage to arrive at this place?"
"Just walking along, and here I am," Bai Shang replied, standing firm while his gaze fell upon the white gold-like skull. He clicked his tongue in amazement and murmured, "Such a colossal Dark Domain Asura's head is indeed a rarity. Its white gold hue indicates it's a God of War of the white gold tier."
He then lifted his eyes to meet Yan Qiling's.
Yan Qiling's face turned pale, "Who might you be?"
He had just refrained from revealing the skull's origins to Yu Yuan and the others, claiming it was neither human, a Great Demon of the Boundless Land, nor an alleged Devaputra from beyond.
He had assumed that no one capable of discerning the skull's true nature would be found in the Absence Relic.
At least, not yet.
Unexpectedly, someone had emerged out of the blue, glanced at the skull, and not only identified its origins but also recognized it as the white gold God of War of the Dark Domain.
Yan Qiling fixed his gaze on Bai Shang, suddenly recalling that this was the same individual who had accompanied Yu Yuan to Cloud Sail earlier.
Yet, he had overlooked Bai Shang from start to finish. There was nothing remarkable about him; his life force, spiritual power, and soul were all unexceptional, akin to a commoner just beginning their spiritual journey. How could such a figure ever catch his eye?
But it was this seemingly inconspicuous person who had revealed the origins of the platinum skeleton, putting Yan Qiling instantly on high alert.
"The Dark Domain Asura?"
Zhou Cangmin's expression, cloaked in the garb of a white Yin God, grew increasingly solemn. "I've encountered tales of such a being. But my cultivation level has yet to suffice for tempering the Yang God beyond our realm, so I've never witnessed one."
He paused briefly before adding, "I've also heard that the Dark Domain Asura clan was wiped out."
The Red Devil Sect's ancient scrolls contained scant mentions of the Dark Domain Asura, yet those few lines were etched deeply in his memory. The Asura were otherworldly beings, valiant and formidable in battle, with a miniature universe concealed within their singular eye, capable of being refined into the most elite Universe Rings. They were a clan no more.
"Legends claim the Dark Domain Asura were annihilated," Bai Shang remarked coolly, his eyes slightly narrowed. "But legends are just that—unverified stories. This colossal skull belonged to a Platinum God of War, whose true combat strength in the outer realms was comparable to that of our Unrestrained Stage cultivators. This formidable Asura met its end here, its skull shattered."
He stroked his chin, lost in thought.
"Sir, how did you come to know so much about the Dark Domain Asura's origins and traits?" Yan Qiling stepped forward, an odd current swirling around him. "And did you come here specifically to enter the secret realm?"
Yu Yuan remained silent, his gaze fixed on Bai Shang with equal wariness.
Rumor had it that the Silvermoon Queen was bolstered by three shadows, who had helped her ascend to her current status by eliminating numerous cultivators from the Rainier Empire, ensuring her unyielding reign.
Bai Shang was likely one of the three enigmatic shadows operating behind the Silvermoon Queen.
The origins of these shadows, their reasons for aiding the empress, and the extent of their cultivation and combat prowess remained unsolved riddles.
If Bai Shang was indeed one of these shadows, his appearance at the Absence Relic might be at the behest of the empress herself.
Yet, even if the empress were to make a personal appearance, given the current standoff, it would be a challenge to waver the resolute spirits gathered here.
The White-robed Imperial Advisor Zhou Cangmin, Shen Feiqing, and Yan Qiling each possessed power and cultivation on par with the Silvermoon Queen.
Zhou Cangmin, in particular, had long been a thorn in the empress's side, proving to be an adversary even more formidable than she.
Therefore, Bai Shang, despite possibly being one of the queen's shadows and skilled in concealing his presence, would likely struggle to cause any significant upheaval without substantial cultivation and battle strength.
Yu Yuan was intrigued by Bai Shang's ability to instantly recognize the Asura bone from the Dark Domain.
In his previous illustrious yet brief life, Yu Yuan had stood at the pinnacle, side by side with the mightiest, yet he had never encountered the renown of the Dark Domain's Asura. Yet, Bai Shang was aware of it.
Confronted with Yan Qiling's interrogation, Bai Shang remained stoic, his gaze fixed on the massive platinum skeleton with a detached demeanor.
His eyes betrayed a deep sense of wariness and revulsion when he glanced at the scabbard.
"Chi!"
An eerie soul thought neared Yu Yuan's Heart Aperture, only to be ignited and extinguished in an instant.
Yu Yuan's arms seared with heat, prompting a chilling glare and a sinister chuckle towards Bai Shang, "You're trying to kill me?"
The delicate spatial rifts that hovered above Shen Feiqing's head were suddenly agitated, redirecting their focus onto Bai Shang.
These rifts then unleashed a barrage of razor-sharp sword intents, all converging on Bai Shang.
The scabbard embedded in the platinum skeleton's skull vibrated, as a torrent of sword intent billowed forth!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Dozens of fearsome sword intents intertwined like divine lightning, intent on obliterating Bai Shang.
Bai Shang, head bowed, face contorted in shock, let out a stifled groan as his figure abruptly blurred.
In an instant, Bai Shang, clad in his threadbare, coarse hemp garments, vanished as if he had never existed.
"Such a non-human entity!" sneered Zhou Cangmin, the White-robed Imperial Advisor, with a chilling smile. "It's no surprise his presence was undetectable, with not a trace of abnormal blood flow. Heh!"
"The Fallen Moon Forbidden Area, once a haven for those who slipped through the cracks." Yan Qiling huffed, "He's cut from the same cloth as White Ghost, Xi Yue, and the Earth Demon."
"Earth Demon?" Yu Yuan exclaimed in astonishment.
The bizarre soul thought that had targeted him was unleashed by Bai Shang, intercepted by the residual sword intent in his arm bones. It never reached his Heart Aperture, dissolving instead.
Thwarted in his strike, Bai Shang resorted to the Earth Demon Secret Technique, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
The Earth Demon was adept at stealth, known for their deviousness and malevolence.
Yu Yuan had already encountered the likes of Earth Demon White Ghost and Earth Demon Xiquan.
Unexpectedly, Bai Shang, who had been traveling alongside him within the Cloud Sail, was also of the Earth Demon lineage, his whereabouts even more elusive.
"Legend has it that the Silvermoon Queen is shadowed by three figures," Xu Zixi mused, her expression shifting subtly. "Could it be that she relies on such beings?"
At her words, Yu Yuan felt a tremor run through him.
During his time in the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area, he had gleaned unconfirmed tidings from White Ghost, Xiquan, and other Alien Soul Demons: the Silvermoon Empire's rise to power had been aided by such formidable demons. They had ousted their rivals, ascending to the throne.
Subsequently, they were quietly repressed and sealed away, lest their existence become public knowledge.
If Bai Shang and the other two enigmatic shadows behind the Silvermoon Queen were indeed Alien Soul Demons who had fled the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area, then the founding of the Silvermoon Empire held many intriguing implications.
"History does record the escape of Alien Soul Demons from the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area. Bai Shang is very likely one of them," Zhou Cangmin declared.
"I never imagined that the Silvermoon Empire's history was intertwined with the presence of these Alien Soul Demons," Xu Zixi admitted, visibly shaken.
"The conspicuous, unruly Alien Soul Demons ought to be either executed or sealed away," Shen Feiqing interjected. "Those who remain must have struck some sort of unspoken deal with the Silvermoon Queen. The Silvermoon Empire is right next to the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area, and they conduct training expeditions there every few years. There's clearly a method to this madness."
"It's no surprise that their origins and identities are shrouded in mystery. The revelation that the Lee family of the Silvermoon Empire has allied with an Alien Soul Demon could spell the end of the empire," Xu Zixi remarked.
The group exchanged insights on the connection between Bai Shang and the Silvermoon Empire.
Yu Yuan felt a growing weight in his chest as he listened.
Back during the time of Cloud Sail, Bai Shang had spared him. Perhaps he was unaware of the unique nature of his arm bone, or maybe he needed Yu Yuan for something.
Now, in the presence of powerhouses like Zhou Cangmin and Shen Feiqing, Bai Shang had struggled to restrain himself.
Was it because he possessed that ancient, overwhelming sword intent?
If Bai Shang was an Earth Demon who slipped through the cracks of the forbidden area, then it was highly likely the other two were as well. Could it be that the Silvermoon Empire harbored ill intentions towards him?
