C327 It Was Difficult to Make a Choice

Bai Shang's abrupt appearance and equally swift departure left a shadow lingering in Yu Yuan's heart.

He had arrived on the orders of the Silvermoon Queen, a Terra Fiend who had slipped through the net of the Moonfall Sanctuary. This suggested that the other two figures rumored to be behind the Silvermoon Queen might also be demons from the forbidden area.

It appeared that the Silvermoon Empire, bordering the forbidden area, had been entwined with it since its inception.

The powerful sects and forces of the Everlands could not permit the archdemons of the forbidden area to wreak havoc upon the world.

Should the collusion between the Silvermoon Empire and the forbidden area's demons become public knowledge, it would likely provoke a response from various factions.

Likewise, Yu Yuan, who bore the ancient sword's will and had reactivated the Soulforge Matrix within the forbidden area, was an enemy to the imprisoned and subdued archdemons there.

From another angle, was it possible that the Empress of the empire, under the influence of these demons, might have sought to eliminate him?

Could his birthplace, the Yu family, face annihilation by the Silvermoon Empire because of his actions?

"There's no need to overthink it. From what I can tell, even if your empire's Empress has ties with Bai Shang, she's likely just using him," Zhou Cangmin said calmly. "The situation isn't as dire as you imagine. The Devil Palace and our Ruby Hand's cultivators commonly capture Terra Fiends in treacherous lands to refine them into Cursed Artifacts, using them as artifact souls."

"Solar Spirits and Unbound cultivators roam beyond the stars, seizing special Sky Fiends and practicing the Demon God spells without taboo."

"As long as one is not seduced by the Demon Gods, using them for one's own ends is not inherently wrong."

Zhou Cangmin's words flowed naturally.

However, Yan Qiling, who was also present, looked visibly upset, his gaze turning icy.

Yu Yuan was well aware that Yan Qiling had once been the artifact soul of the Soul Splitting Staff, refined by the master of the bronze coffin during his time with Boulderdawn.

By a twist of fate, Yan Qiling finally managed to wrestle free from the clutches of the residual soul, merging it into a single cauldron, which led to the spectacle we see today.

Having escaped the confines of the forbidden area, he savored his newfound freedom. His past experience as an artifact soul left him with a deep-seated caution against such a state.

"Alright, let's not dwell on Bai Shang," he dismissed.

Yu Yuan steered the conversation elsewhere, gesturing towards the massive platinum skull of what was known as a Dark Realm Shura. "If that eye is indeed the Mystic Gate, who's willing to step through and explore?"

All eyes instinctively turned to Shen Feiqing.

Beneath her menacing mask, her eyes seethed with resentment and displeasure. With a raspy voice, she expressed her frustration, "Were it not for that scabbard, I'd be the first to venture forth. But now..."

The peculiar sword's will within the scabbard echoed with Yu Yuan, transforming the space rifts infiltrated by her vitality and remnant soul into distinctive 'swords.'

These 'swords' were exceedingly sharp, exuding a sword's will that unsettled her.

In light of this, her initial strategy was disrupted, leaving her feeling constrained and hesitant to make any rash moves.

"No wonder the divine force in the Forgotten Ruins has grown so scarce and depleted," Yan Qiling mused aloud. "A Shura from the Dark Realm is inherently born with a single eye capable of crafting the most superior Cosmos Rings. Each ring forms its own independent space, making it an ideal storage realm."

It was rumored that whenever a Shura arrived in the Everlands, whether dead or alive, its lone eye could engulf the divine force from the surrounding ten thousand miles.

"A living Shura from the Dark Realm, simply by lurking in the Everlands, can rapidly grow in power by drawing upon the abundant divine force."

"The reason being, the spiritual energy in their native Dark Realm appears to have withered away. They struggle to break free, and upon escaping, they seek out stars rich in spiritual energy to bolster their own strength."

"And the realm that the Otherkin and Star-Spawned Terror refer to as the Central World, our Everlands, is their coveted utopia and sacred ground."

"Should they arrive undetected by the cultivators of the Human Race, the Shura of the Dark Realm can evolve at an astonishing rate."

"Even in death, their singular eye continues to voraciously consume the vast divine force. It's an instinct that has withstood the test of time, a craving for spiritual energy so ingrained that not even death can extinguish it."

"Before the annihilation of the Dark Realm's Shura, the mere arrival of one would alert all the sects, who would spare no effort to slay it, to prevent it from growing too powerful and troublesome."

"The one in the Everlands must be a long-deceased Shura from the Dark Realm."

After Yan Qiling's explanation, he pointed at the brown eyes and clarified, "That's not a Mystic Gate; it's an independent little world. The space within holds untold mysteries that we can only discover once we venture inside."

"Yu Yuan, you go and pull out the sword sheath," the High Oracle suddenly instructed.

"Me?" Yu Yuan touched his nose.

Zhou Cangmin smiled and nodded, sweeping his gaze over the group. "As you've all noticed, the sword sheath has a profound connection to him. Therefore, I propose that once he withdraws the sheath, it should become his personal possession. Any objections?"

There was a chorus of nods in agreement.

Liu Ying blinked in surprise, then spoke with a hint of envy, "Yu Yuan, that sheath once contained a fearsome Divine Sword. Filled with pure sword's will, it still holds great wonders. This sheath represents a tremendous opportunity for you, one not to be missed."

Yu Zhu's eyes sparkled with happiness for him.

Yan Qiling chuckled heartily, "Look at you, Yu Yuan, your fortune is truly remarkable. You've secured an excellent sword sheath even before setting foot in the Mysterious Realm. The whereabouts of that Divine Sword are unknown, but with the sheath in your possession, you may one day uncover its location."

"If the sword still exists within this world, you will surely sense it," Zhou Cangmin declared softly. "Should you come to wield the Divine Sword capable of executing the Moon Slayer, it would be the envy of all."

One by one, they spoke of the Divine Sword's marvels, urging him to draw it forth.

Yet Yu Yuan remained apprehensive. "Aren't you worried that once the sword sheath is removed, the so-called Shura of the Dark Realm, not quite dead, might suddenly awaken?"

Upon hearing his words, a hush fell over the group.

"It seems highly unlikely," Xu Zixi remarked, casting a glance at Yan Qiling, who was most knowledgeable about the Dark Realm Shura. "After all these years, the sword's will within the sheath has been purifying that platinum skull. Surely it's completely dead by now?"

Yan Qiling offered a wry smile. "I don't know."

"Even if it isn't entirely dead, it couldn't possibly regain its peak combat strength, could it? According to what we've heard, a platinum Dark Realm Shura is on par with an Unbound cultivator. After being slain by the sword sheath for so long, even if it were to awaken, it likely couldn't muster more than a fraction of its power," Liu Ying added.

Yan Qiling paused, then spoke with reluctance. "I don't wish to deceive anyone here. If the platinum Dark Realm Shura's spiritual wisdom remains within its skull, it could rapidly regain its combat prowess once the suppression of the sword sheath is lifted. The crux lies in its solitary eye, which over time has amassed a formidable and terrifying concentration of spiritual energy."

"That lone eye, for the Dark Realm Shura, is akin to our lower elixir field Golden Sanctum, a nexus of energy."

"If it awakens and can harness the Dark Realm Shura's power, it could ascend to its zenith in an incredibly short span using the divine force stored within that eye."

"Possibly, we're looking at a Platinum-level Battle God at the height of his powers."

"If that's the case, it would be exceedingly difficult for any of us here to escape."

Yan Qiling laid out all the potential scenarios without omission, speaking with clarity and thoroughness, then held his peace, leaving the others to decide for themselves.

Once again, silence enveloped the group.

If an Unbound Realm cultivator were to be called upon to fortify our position, Yu Yuan would undoubtedly be the most secure choice to extract the sword sheath.

Yet Unbound Realm cultivators are formidable, often entrenched within the major sects for extended periods, engaged in secluded cultivation, or soaring through the extraterrestrial realms as Solar Spirits.

The Ruby Hand could not possibly summon an Unbound Realm cultivator in such short notice.

The platinum skull was right before their eyes, and the group couldn't afford to wait too long. Otherwise, the Ethereal Void sect might realize something was amiss and take alternative measures to obliterate the Forgotten Ruins.

At that time, they wouldn't have the luxury of being as carefree as they were now. Instead, they'd be up against the formidable pressure of the seven lower sects.

"It seems everyone is struggling to make a decision," Yu Yuan mused, after a lengthy contemplation. Then, with a sudden bright smile, he declared, "What's the big deal about a Shura who might not be entirely dead? I don't see the need for such anxiety. If things start to go south, we can just abandon the Forgotten Ruins and let the cultivators of the Everlands deal with the headache."

"Alright, I'm going to extract the sword from its sheath now!"

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