C355 Refuse!

The Yin God of the Silvermoon Queen stood before Yu Yuan, making a solemn vow.

As the empress of the Empire and head of the Lee family, she wielded absolute power within its bounds!

Should she choose to, she could elevate the Yu family of Darkmoon City to soaring heights, surpassing the Su, Van, and Lim families to become the Empire's newest elite.

Under her promise, Yu Yuan would ascend to the role of Imperial Advisor of the Silvermoon Empire, akin to Zhou Cangmin's esteemed position in the Rainier Empire.

Second only to the emperor, yet above countless others!

It appeared that with a mere nod from Yu Yuan, all would be within his grasp.

Despite being merely a Yin God, Lee Yupan exuded such a commanding presence that even the Yellow Old Devil inwardly acknowledged her. He recognized that this empress, renowned across the Profound Sky Continent and having climbed to the pinnacle as a woman, was truly exceptional.

After manifesting his celestial spirit in this realm and offering his respects, Yu Yuan stood tall once more.

He gazed at Her Majesty with a beaming smile, his eyes clear and bright.

This was his first encounter with the true visage of the queen.

Her features were as exquisite as a painting, with finely arched, elongated eyebrows and captivating silver eyes.

Her lips, the hue of pink petals, and her alabaster skin radiated with the sheen of polished jade.

Her unique aura was on par with her sister Lee Yuchan and Yuan Lianyao, known as the Fiery Red Lotus.

Having beheld numerous beauties in his past life, Yu Yuan had to admit that the queen before him was truly exceptional.

Alas...

Yu Yuan let out a soft sigh.

The Silvermoon Queen, taken aback, spoke with gentle persuasion, "Yu Yuan, I am well aware of your conduct within the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area. I also recognize your indifference toward so-called evil spirits and the distinction between right and wrong. I've met with Imperial Advisor Zhou, who spoke highly of your exploits in the Jade Peak."

"You've boldly slain disciples from both the Profound Sky Sect and the Primordial Yang Sect. And Yu Zhu, your companion, is not of human kin. Her venomous nature, born from the fortunes of the Absence Relic, shares a curious kinship with Bai Shang, one of my own."

"So, I've always felt that we're actually on the same journey."

"When you returned to Darkmoon City, the Lim, Van, and other families all wanted you dead. I've always been there, protecting you both openly and in secret, and I highly value you."

"I've always believed that one day you would fight alongside me, that you would be my ally."

Lee Yupan spoke with heartfelt sincerity.

Her gaze upon Yu Yuan was like that of someone beholding a precious gem. "In my heart, not even Su Xiangtian of the Su family is fit for the role of Imperial Advisor. Xiangtian is too upright, too rigid. I've always felt that eventually, our paths will diverge. But you, your remarkable abilities and your temperament and methods, have many admirable qualities."

The empress lavished him with praise, seeing him as a pillar of the empire.

Beside her, Yellow Old Devil, also in his soul form, was somewhat taken aback.

Was this Yu Yuan really just a youth from the Silvermoon Empire, from Darkmoon City?

Yellow Old Devil had assumed Yu Yuan must be from the most powerful sects of the Quietus or Heavenly Source Continents, or perhaps a disciple of a Yang God or a free-spirited great cultivator.

He had thought Yu Yuan's identity was merely a facade, that his and Lee Yupan's plotting for the Absence Relic had been long in the making.

But Lee Yupan's words only deepened Yellow Old Devil's confusion.

Could it be that Yu Yuan's arrival was merely a fluke?

"Your Majesty!"

Yu Yuan's Soul Sound suddenly surged, sending peculiar ripples through the space, cutting off Lee Yupan's next words.

The Silvermoon Queen fell silent, her gaze steady upon him, listening.

"Does the Empire have a future?" Yu Yuan asked earnestly.

"I understand your concerns," the Silvermoon Queen acknowledged with a nod. "Allying with the Moon Demon Clan, harboring the Earth Demon Bai Shang, the traitor from the Demon Palace, and attempting to awaken the Asura in this realm to wreak havoc—this cannot remain hidden. It's bound to become known to all. Do you believe that the peak sects of the Quietus and Heavenly Source Continents would ever tolerate me, the Lee family, or the Empire?"

"That is my belief," Yu Yuan affirmed.

The queen offered a slight smile. "Do you really think I would take such risks without considering the consequences?"

Yu Yuan paused thoughtfully before speaking. "Your actions have made you an enemy of the entire Boundless Land. I fail to see any chance of victory for you. Even if you were to awaken the Asura from the Dark Domain and restore his peak combat prowess, what then? What can he possibly change? Can he instill fear in those sects at the Primordial Spirit Stage?"

"To me, it seems your actions serve only your own interests."

"They're not for the Tusk Troops, not for the Lee family, and certainly not for the Empire."

"You and the Army Commander might take it a step further and forge your Yang Gods. With that power, you both could potentially escape the confines of this world and traverse the cosmos. But what becomes of the Empire then? What of the Lee family and the Tusk Troops?"

As Yu Yuan spoke, his mouth twisted into a sneer, his tone laced with derision.

He had no faith in the Silvermoon Queen's words.

In his view, her current promises were nothing more than a means to free the Asura, driven by her own selfish desires.

Promises of making him the Imperial Advisor of the Silvermoon Empire and elevating the Yu family to new heights were mere lip service.

"If you truly trust me and follow my lead, I will lay all my cards on the table and reveal the full extent of my plans with Feiqing," Lee Yupan sighed, her expression one of regret. "I can see it, feel it—you don't trust me deep down."

"As a subject of the Empire, and I as your sovereign, you should offer me your reverence and trust wholeheartedly. If you did, my promises would hold true, and the Yu family would gain everything."

"You shouldn't be questioning me like you are now."

She shook her head gently, her eyes, bright as the silver moon, now showing a glint of frost.

With a scoff, Yu Yuan pointed towards the distant Soul Sacrifice Ball, still whirling and unleashing vengeful spirits and fragmented souls. "Many of those souls within that artifact are the Empire's elite, practitioners from the five major families, including your own Lee family."

"And among them are a few I've heard of—venerated ancestors of the Empire, steadfastly loyal to your Majesty."

"I'm unaware of the cause of their deaths, but you..."

"You gathered their lingering souls, confined them within the Soul Sacrifice Ball and Soul Sacrifice Diagram, using them as sustenance for the Asura of the Dark Domain. If such loyalty to you results in this fate, how could I possibly trust you?"

With each word, Yu Yuan's resolve strengthened.

The Silvermoon Queen shook her head once more. "You fail to grasp the situation. You are not like them. They were mere servants, not comrades. They lack the privilege to stand as my equals."

"Forgive my ignorance," Yu Yuan said, cutting the conversation short.

Scarlet sword light, swift as lightning, converged around him.

"Your Majesty, I apologize for this affront."

The gathered sword light, in sync with his will, surged towards the Silvermoon Queen.

"The realm within the Asura's eye in the Dark Domain is not yours to mold, not as you or the sword soul imagine, to act with impunity." The Silvermoon Queen inhaled deeply, gesturing to the distance, and the soul sacrifice ball traversed the void to settle in her hand.

As the soul sacrifice ball was grasped, her silver garments shimmered with a purple radiance.

The garb, a manifestation of the Yin God's soul, solidified in a flash, and the queen's ethereal form seemed to pulse with newfound vitality.

"Yu Yuan, I offer you another opportunity. Do not resist, do not defy my wishes, and my promise remains," she said with a grave tone, her silver gaze radiating a chilling light, an aura of peril emanating from her that instilled dread.

Yu Yuan, taken aback by her display, could not help but admire her.

"No, thank you."

He shook his head, expressing his reluctance, "You're mistaken about one thing. I have no interest in the role of Imperial Advisor or the prosperity of the Yu family. The Yu family, the Silvermoon Empire, they're merely brief interludes in the grand narrative of my life. Regardless of the empire's fate, my departure is inevitable. Why would I linger?"

"Your promises hold no allure for me. Once I've grown strong enough, once my realm is sufficient, I shall have all that I desire."

The sword soul, his practice of the Soul Forging Technique, and the many preparations from his past life were all destined to propel him towards a vaster universe.

Darkmoon City and the Silvermoon Empire were merely constraints that he was bound to outgrow. It was his destiny to move on.

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