C369 The Revival of the Lost Lands
Why had Yu Zhu suddenly become so terrifying?
As this thought crossed his mind, he gazed skyward and saw High Oracle Zhou Cangmin and Python Queen Xu Zixi looking down at him with smiles.
The state preceptor, clad in white, descended gracefully toward the pit, light as a feather.
"Hu! Hu! Hu!"
Above the Fallen Star Eyes, Yuan Lianyao, Qin Yun, Zhao Yafu, and others leaped down in succession.
Upon seeing Yu Yuan awake, Yu Zhu, who had been vigilantly protecting him, relaxed her guard.
Whoosh!
She soared toward the floating island, swift as an arrow released from its bow.
At the moment her diminutive figure touched the floating island, those cultivators with profound abilities sensed a wondrous transformation throughout the Forgotten Ruins.
The state preceptor, sharing the pit with Yu Yuan, instinctively turned his gaze toward the floating island.
Yan Qiling, Qi Hongyi, and the forlorn Tong Laoqian watched the world from a distance.
Evening was approaching, and the night was soon to envelop them.
In the vast expanse of the Forgotten Ruins, the state preceptor, Yan Qiling, Qi Hongyi, and others sensed numerous secluded areas where spiritual energy was rapidly converging.
Dried-up ancient ponds, long devoid of water, now had springs bubbling up from their depths.
The springs were crystal clear, imbued with the spiritual energy of water, an invaluable asset for the cultivators of the Cloudwater Sect from Euwrea in advancing their practice.
There was also a desolate stretch of land, untouched by greenery for centuries.
Legend had it that thousands of years ago, this land was teeming with trees and spiritual energy, nurturing numerous medicinal herbs. Many cultivators from Aetherius would journey here to harvest them.
Now, beneath the twilight, a subtle spiritual energy was gathering deep underground, on the verge of bursting forth.
Countless seeds of flowers and plants, long buried, were responding to this surge of spiritual energy, showing signs of life and sprouting anew.
Another city, much like the one where Yu Yuan and the others were, lay in ruins. Huge stones were scattered everywhere, and an eerie silence pervaded the empty streets.
Suddenly, amidst the rubble, the broken stones, pedestals, and round tables began to emit a soft, glowing light.
Numerous stones were spontaneously absorbing and storing spiritual energy.
It appeared that the materials used to build this city, many years ago, were of an extraordinary nature, capable of drawing in spiritual energy and enriching the atmosphere within the city.
However, due to a significant upheaval, the city was utterly destroyed. Coupled with the gradual depletion of spiritual energy in the Forgotten Ruins, the once magnificent city had become an abandoned wasteland, ignored by all.
Elsewhere, on a barren mountain, emerald green vines began to grow quietly along its slopes.
The previously plantless mountain was transformed by this touch of greenery.
Similar transformations were occurring in every nook and cranny of the Forgotten Ruins.
Initially, the changes were subtle and hardly noticeable.
But with time, as Yu Zhu arrived on the floating island, many subtle changes started to emerge more clearly.
"This..."
Yan Qiling was profoundly shaken by the bizarre transformations in the Forgotten Ruins, so much so that even he felt overwhelmed.
Xu Zixi gazed at the floating island, awestruck, and exclaimed, "The very fabric of this world is undergoing a radical transformation! Cangmin, this is far more complex than a mere resurgence of spiritual energy!"
The state preceptor inhaled deeply, a spark of insight flickering in his eyes. "Indeed, it's not that simple!"
He harbored a theory in his mind...
For millennia, the Forgotten Ruins had always been a wellspring of divine force, continuously emerging and dispersing.
The thinness of the spiritual energy here was an illusion, created by the Shura's brown eyeball, which covertly absorbed the emerging spiritual energy and spread it to the surroundings.
Once Yu Zhu integrated the Shura's eyeball into her brow, it ceased to siphon off the spiritual energy from the Forgotten Ruins.
Consequently, the spiritual energy that rightfully belonged to the Forgotten Ruins began to truly bless the land.
Without Yu Zhu's intervention, the spiritual energy of the Forgotten Ruins would, over time, revert to its former splendor.
In those days, the Forgotten Ruins may not have matched the Godsblight Marsh, but they would surpass the Serpent Spine Mountains in spiritual richness.
In that era, the Lost Lands would once again nurture exotic flora and fauna, with spirit animals and birds thriving, and cultivators from neighboring empires would flock here in search of treasures.
Cultivators from both the Land of Quiescence and Euwrea had made the journey here. Left to its own devices, the Forgotten Ruins would have naturally reverted to their original state over time. Yet, Yu Zhu's presence has altered the course of events.
Zhou Cangmin observed that the rapid transformation of the Forgotten Ruins was due to Yu Zhu channeling an immense surge of spiritual energy from the eye of a Dark Realm Shura, using the floating island as a lynchpin. This energy subtly spread throughout the ruins, accelerating the restoration of spiritual energy in the area.
Yu Zhu's affinity with the Way of Heaven in the Lost Lands was profound. She possessed an innate ability to perceive the subtle shifts within this world, which in turn significantly amplified her powers.
Zhou Cangmin speculated that Yu Zhu was a hybrid of the evilkind, with one parent hailing from an ancient lineage and the other originating from the Forgotten Ruins. The latter, a formidable entity within the ruins, had spent countless years in seclusion, cultivating strength. As a result, its blood, demon soul, and bones were infused with the essence of the Forgotten Ruins—a legacy flawlessly passed down to Yu Zhu.
Thus, Yu Zhu's blood, soul, and bones shared an enigmatic bond with the Forgotten Ruins. After assimilating the eyeball of the Dark Realm Shura and acquiring its Soul Power knowledge, she ascended to the role of sovereign over the Mysterious Realm.
She forged a link between the enigmatic realm and the Forgotten Ruins. As the ruler of both domains, she became the conduit that intertwined them. Her existence subtly shifted the foundational core rules of the Forgotten Ruins' Way of Heaven.
The future of the Forgotten Ruins remained unclear to Zhou Cangmin. However, situated within the expansive borders of the Sunblessed Empire and the Silvermoon Empire, this region was bound to diverge from many areas in Aetherius, influenced by Yu Zhu and the eye of the Dark Realm Shura.
It was highly probable that plants never before seen in the Everlands could flourish here. Similarly, unique treasures typically found only in the extraterrestrial Star River, home to the Shura of the Dark Realm, might emerge. Ultimately, everything hinged on Yu Zhu's demon blood lineage and her forthcoming achievements.
"Kid, your luck is enviable," Zhou Cangmin said, giving Yu Yuan a pat on the shoulder and offering a wistful smile. Despite his outward cheer, a twinge of discontent lingered within him. Just how fortunate must one be to earn the trust and loyalty of a unique spirit like Yu Zhu?
"What luck?" Yu Yuan asked, his smile widening as he gripped the sword sheath. "This?"
Zhou Cangmin shook his head, choosing not to elaborate. He was confident that, in time, Yu Yuan would come to understand the significance of the slight, shadowy girl.
"Greetings, my lord," said Yuan Lianyao, known as the Blazing Red Lotus, as she descended from the heavens and bowed deeply.
Zhou Cangmin returned the smile. "No need for concern. The reborn Shadowlight Empire will be better than ever. And both Asvetaesi and the Yuan family will continue to thrive."
His thoughts drifted as he spoke. Thylethlume was the village nearest to the Forgotten Ruins, and Asvetaesi was the city closest to them. With the recent upheaval, the Forgotten Ruins were bound to become a focal point, drawing the attention of both the Euwrea and the Land of Quiescence.
The Ethereal Void Sect's teleportation circle, situated here, was sure to be restored and activated once more. As the spiritual energy within the Forgotten Ruins revived, a myriad of exotic flora would emerge, and flying spirit animals would flock to the region, infusing it with new life.
He could foresee the future splendor of the Lost Lands. And as long as Yuan Lianyao remained the mayor of Asvetaesi, leveraging her friendship with Yu Yuan, she would surely secure numerous advantages for the Ruby Hand.
"You have a keen eye," he mused, his spirits lifting. The High Oracle complimented her with a warm chuckle, appreciating her foresight.