C327 Difficult to Choose

Bai Shang's abrupt arrival and subsequent vanishing act cast a lingering shadow over Yu Yuan's heart.

He had been dispatched by the Silvermoon Queen's command, an elusive survivor from the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area. This lent credence to the whispers that the two mysterious figures behind the empress were likely fiends from that same cursed land.

The Silvermoon Empire, nestled beside the forbidden area, appeared to have been entwined with it since its inception.

The mighty sects and forces across the Boundless Land would never tolerate the chaos wrought by the Alien Soul Demons from the forbidden area.

Should word of the Silvermoon Empire's collusion with these demons leak out, it would surely draw the ire of many.

Likewise, Yu Yuan, bearer of the ancient sword intent and instigator of the Heaven Sealing Soul Transformation Formation within the forbidden area, was naturally an adversary to the Alien Soul Demons once held captive there.

From another angle, was it possible that the Empire's empress had been seduced by these demons into plotting his demise?

And could his birthplace, the Yu Family, face annihilation at the hands of the Silvermoon Empire because of him?

"You're overthinking it. From what I see, your empress is likely just using Bai Shang, even if she's entangled with him," Zhou Cangmin said with ease. "The situation isn't as dire as you imagine. The Devil Palace and our Red Devil Sect's esteemed cultivators commonly capture Earth Demons to refine and infuse into Magic Tools as Artifact Souls."

"Yang Gods and Unrestrained Stage cultivators roam beyond the stars, seizing special Demon Gods and mastering the Demon God techniques without taboo."

"As long as we're not deceived and dominated by these malevolent spirits, employing them for our own ends isn't out of the question."

Zhou Cangmin spoke with a natural ease.

However, Yan Qiling, who was also present, seemed visibly disturbed, his gaze turning frosty.

Yu Yuan was well aware that Yan Qiling had once been the Artifact Soul of the Splitting Soul Staff, refined by the master of the bronze coffin back when he was with the Divine Soul Sect.

It was only through a twist of fate that Yan Qiling had managed to break free and merge with the remnants of a soul, achieving his current formidable presence.

Having escaped the seal of the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area and gained his freedom, Yan Qiling was particularly cautious due to his past experience as an Artifact Soul.

"Let it go, Bai Shang, it's not worth your concern."

Yu Yuan deftly steered the conversation away, gesturing toward the massive platinum skeleton of what was known as the Dark Domain Asura. "That eye—if it's the gate to the secret realm, who's willing to venture inside for a look?"

All eyes instinctively settled on Shen Feiqing.

Beneath the grim mask, the commander's eyes seethed with resentment and displeasure. His voice, rough with emotion, betrayed his frustration, "Without that scabbard, I'd be the first to step through. But now..."

The peculiar sword intent within the scabbard found harmony with Yu Yuan's, transforming the spatial fissures that had infiltrated her blood and soul into distinctive 'swords.'

These 'swords,' with their extreme sharpness and unsettling sword intent, made her deeply uneasy.

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

"It's no surprise that the spiritual Qi in the Absence Relic has grown so sparse and depleted," Yan Qiling mused aloud before explaining, "An Asura of the Dark Domain is naturally a single eye, capable of crafting the highest tier of Universe Rings. Each ring is a self-contained space, an ideal storage realm."

"There's a belief that whenever a Dark Domain Asura arrives in the Boundless Land, whether alive or dead, their solitary eye can devour the spiritual Qi from thousands of miles around.

"A living Dark Domain Asura, simply by lurking within the Boundless Land, can tap into its abundant spiritual Qi and rapidly increase in power.

"This is because the spiritual Qi in their native Dark Domain appears to be exhausted. They struggle to break free, and once they do, they seek out stars rich in spiritual Qi to empower themselves.

"And the Boundless Land, known to the Outland Devaputra and other alien races as the Central Great Heaven and Earth, is their coveted utopia and sacred ground.

"An Asura that arrives here undetected by the human cultivators can grow at an alarming rate.

"Even in death, their single eye continues to consume the boundless spiritual Qi of the world. This enduring instinct, this deep-seated yearning for spiritual Qi, is so ingrained that not even death can alter it."

"In the Dark Domain Asura, before their clans are annihilated, the mere arrival of one would set off alarm bells among the major sects, who would spare no effort to strike them down before they grow too powerful and troublesome."

"This one in the Boundless Land seems to be a long-dead Dark Domain Asura."

After Yan Qiling offered his explanation, he gestured towards the brown eyes and clarified, "That's not a gate to a secret realm; it's a small, self-contained world. We'll only discover its mysteries once we step inside."

"Yu Yuan, you should be the one to remove the sword sheath," the White-robed Imperial Advisor abruptly suggested.

"Me?" Yu Yuan said, touching his nose.

With an approving smile, Zhou Cangmin scanned the crowd and proposed, "It's clear to all of us that the sword sheath has a deep connection to him. Therefore, I propose that once he removes the sword sheath, it should become his personal possession. Any objections?"

Heads nodded in agreement without hesitation.

Lau Ying paused, then spoke with a hint of envy, "Yu Yuan, that sheath once housed a fearsome Divine Sword. Brimming with pure sword intent, its mysteries remain intact. This sheath represents a tremendous opportunity for you—one you shouldn't pass up."

Joy sparkled in Yu Zhu's eyes as well.

Yan Qiling chuckled heartily, adding, "Yu Yuan, just look at your good fortune. You've found an exceptional sword sheath even before entering the secret realm. The whereabouts of the Divine Sword are unknown, but with this sheath in your possession, you might 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 moon-slaying Divine Sword, it will be the envy of all."

The group took turns praising the Divine Sword's wonders, each urging him to draw it forth.

Yet Yu Yuan remained uneasy. "What if, after the sheath is drawn, this so-called Asura from the Dark Domain isn't quite dead and suddenly awakens?"

His words cast a sudden hush over the group.

"It seems unlikely, doesn't it?" Xu Zixi glanced at Yan Qiling, the one most knowledgeable about the Dark Domain Asura, and reasoned, "After all these years, the sword intent within the sheath has been refining the platinum skeleton. Surely it's dead by now, right?"

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

"Even if it's not entirely dead, it can't possibly regain its peak combat prowess, right? According to that person, a white gold Asura from the Dark Domain is on par with an Unrestrained Stage cultivator. After being slain by the sword sheath for so many years, even if it were to awaken, it's unlikely it could muster even one percent of its power," Lau Ying added.

After a moment's hesitation, Yan Qiling spoke up, "I have no intention of deceiving any of you. If the consciousness within the skull of this platinum Asura still lingers, then once the suppression of the sword sheath is lifted, it can rapidly regain its combat strength. The crux lies in its single eye, which over time, has amassed an immense and terrifying concentration of spiritual energy."

"That lone eye, for the Asura of the Dark Domain, is akin to our lower dantian, the Yellow Court—it's where energy crystallizes."

"Should it awaken and manage to harness the Asura's power, it could use the world's spiritual energy stored within that eye to swiftly ascend to the heights of power once again."

"It might even become a platinum-level God of War at the zenith of its strength."

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

Having laid out all the potential scenarios in explicit detail, Yan Qiling refrained from further comment, leaving the decision to the group.

A hush fell over the crowd once more.

If a Great cultivator from the Unrestrained Stage were present, Yu Yuan would certainly be in the safest position to extract the sword sheath.

Yet, each Unrestrained Stage Great cultivator is a force to be reckoned with, typically presiding over major sects for extended periods, engaged in deep meditation, or soaring through the heavens as a Yang God.

The Red Devil Sect couldn't possibly summon an Unrestrained Stage Great cultivator in such short notice.

With the platinum skeleton before them, time was of the essence. Should the Spirit Void Sect sense something amiss, they might resort to other means to secure the Absence Relic.

Then, the situation would no longer be as manageable as it currently was; instead, they would confront the formidable pressure of the seven lower sects.

"It seems like everyone is a bit hesitant to make a decision."

Yu Yuan mused for a while, then his face broke into a sudden smile. "What are we worried about? A Dark Domain Asura that may not even be fully dead? I think there's no need for such anxiety. If things start to look fishy, we can just give up the Absence Relic and let the powerful cultivators of the Boundless Land deal with the headache."

"Alright, I'm off to draw the sword from its sheath now!"

...