C370 After the Aftermath

"Yu Yuan, are you alright?"

"How did your remnant soul get into that eyeball? Is it truly dead?"

"What's inside it?"

Zhan Tianxiang, Zhao Yafu, Ning Ji, Qin Yun, and the others crowded around Yu Yuan, bombarding him with questions.

Yu Yuan responded with a smile, yet he was sparing with the details.

He confirmed that the Dark Realm Shura was indeed an extraterrestrial Mutant. Its remnant soul and spiritual wisdom had been utterly extinguished, eliminating any chance of resurrection.

He avoided discussing how he communicated with the Soulforge Pool and the enormous phantom that appeared through his heaven soul.

He was also reticent about Yu Zhu's affairs.

After some initial pleasantries, the group's excitement subsided, allowing for a moment of reflection.

Now, they began to contemplate the aftermath.

What would be their next move?

The Silvermoon Empire had changed leadership, and the Empress was now Zhou Cangmin's captive, confined within the Soul Chart. Meanwhile, the Shura Eye, rumored to be within a Mysterious Realm, had been assimilated by Yu Zhu.

The Mysterious Realm within the Shura Eye was a coveted treasure, long sought after by the seven lower sects of Euwrea.

The Ethereal Void Sect, in particular, had gone so far as to erect a teleportation circle within the Forgotten Ruins for easy access, all in pursuit of this enigma.

With the Mysterious Realm and the Shura Eye now in Yu Zhu's possession, they would surely not rest until they reclaimed it.

Zou Jin was dead, Jiang Moyan was dead, and the Silverfrost Dragon along with Bai Shuang had also perished in the Forgotten Ruins.

The Thunder Sect, Winter's Bite, and Dragon Lake were bound to seek justice.

As the dust settled, a myriad of concerns emerged, leaving many apprehensive about future troubles.

"Let's save the catch-up for later," the High Oracle intoned after a brief pause, addressing the group from within the pit. "Yu Yuan and I need to speak privately. Please step back from the pit for now."

His reputation, demonstrated power, and the presence of the Solar Spirit commanded obedience.

Upon his request, those gathered around Yu Yuan promptly vacated the area.

The High Oracle then looked up, not at Yan Qiling, Qi Hongyi, or Tong Laoqian, but towards Yu Zhu's floating island. He sent forth a whisper of Soul Echo, "I'll need a moment of privacy. The advice I have for Yu Yuan is well-intentioned."

To prevent Yu Zhu from jumping to conclusions and suspecting that he harbored ill intentions towards Yu Yuan, he took this precaution.

A remnant soul emerged from the floating island.

The High Oracle nodded with a hint of resignation and said, "Alright, if you must listen and see, I suppose there's no stopping you."

With that, he gestured with a sweep of his hand.

A continuous stream of light unfurled above the pit, resembling a celestial river of light, just enough to cover the opening.

Within the depths of this river, countless crimson spell symbols twinkled like stars, akin to fire crystals on the riverbed. They arranged themselves into an Infernal Devil's Summoning Array that shifted with Zhou Cangmin's movements, obscuring the senses, soul consciousness, and the penetration of thoughts.

Once the river of light was established, Yan Qiling, Qi Hongyi, Tong Laoqian, and Golden Fiend could only glimpse their silhouettes from afar.

Their words and the exchange of soul echoes remained a mystery to all.

Not even Liu Ying, peering through her Fallen Star Eyes, could eavesdrop on their conversation.

In the depths of the pit, alongside Zhou Cangmin and Yu Yuan, was the Python Queen Xu Zixi—just the three of them.

"From now on, her presence in this realm is akin to that of a deity," the High Oracle declared, pointing to the floating island above and speaking candidly to Yu Yuan. "Zixi hails from Shadow's Keep. Her existence, the transformations she's undergone in the Forgotten Ruins, and her potential for future achievements will all be reported back to Shadow's Keep."

Yu Yuan took a deep breath to steady himself and replied, "I understand."

No one was more aware of Yu Zhu's origins and identity than he was, for Yu Zhu was his own creation from the Forgotten Ruins, later established in the Serpent Spine Mountains.

Yu Zhu was a descendant of two enigmatic archdemons—a fact he was acutely aware of.

As Yu Zhu assimilated the Shura Eye from the Dark Realm, her brilliance surfaced, beyond the capacity of anyone to conceal.

Even as her creator, he lacked the power to do so.

Yu Zhu, having received a tremendous boon, was destined to become the center of attention across the vast Everlands and its three continents.

At least, this would be the case for the foreseeable future.

"All the light will converge upon her, and I, along with Zixi, will make a concerted effort to shield you. Your existence, your bond with the sword spirit, and the favor you've received from the cultivator known as Moon Slayer will be downplayed as much as possible. I'll make sure to caution Yan Qiling, Golden Fiend, Qi Hongyi, and Tong Laoqian."

"Your actions and the traces you leave behind will all be attributed to Yu Zhu."

"Just accomplish one thing, and Yu Zhu will remain unharmed in Aetherius. The Shura Eye from the Dark Realm will be hers as well."

"Even if the seven lower sects and the three upper sects of Euwrea become aware, they won't be able to touch her."

The High Oracle, with a plan already in mind, shared his strategy with a grave demeanor.

"That matter..." Xu Zixi interjected.

"I understand that my task is to convince Yu Zhu to accept the Shadow's Keep's invitation and to be willing to join them." Yu Yuan spoke up before she could continue, "At this point, the only way to protect her is for her to join the Shadow's Keep and come under their protection."

Zhou Cangmin smiled and nodded in agreement. "I knew I was right about you."

"She's indeed a clever girl," Xu Zixi said with a restrained smile. "She may become another Dark Deity in a millennium. In time, she could be venerated in the Shadow's Keep like the Moonfang Tiger, worshipped by countless beings of evilkind across the Everlands."

"The Shadow's Keep will not tolerate any mishaps befalling a Dark Deity!" Zhou Cangmin declared firmly.

Xu Zixi nodded emphatically. "A Dark Deity signifies so much. It's not just the Shadow's Keep that would rejoice; the Devil Palace and the three upper sects of Euwrea would also welcome a Dark Deity emerging from the Forgotten Ruins. It would be even better if this Dark Deity joined the Shadow's Keep rather than living unrestrained like the Untamed."

Yu Yuan sighed, "Joining the Shadow's Keep means committing to the welfare of all evilkind and adhering to their directives. In the future, when the extraterrestrial conflicts escalate, one must be prepared to assist in the battles beyond our realm."

For the mightiest in the Everlands, the true battlefield lies not within, but in the realms beyond. The Sunlit Order, Ebon Star, Sword Sect, Devil Palace, and Shadow's Keep shoulder the duty of safeguarding the Everlands from the incursions of extraterrestrial evils and fiends.

Certainly, for the past several millennia, the Everlands have been thriving, continually engaging in conflicts across other celestial realms. Regardless of the fierce rivalry between Euwrea and the Land of Quiescence within the Everlands, externally, they stand united as steadfast allies in battle. It has been ages since a conflict has thrown the entire Everlands into chaos.

The Extraterrestrial Battle requires the prowess of cultivators at least at the level of a Solar Spirit, each one invaluable. Thus, the internal strife within the Everlands is somewhat permitted, as it is believed that such skirmishes can more easily forge new Solar Spirits and powerful eighth-level archdemons. These cultivators and archdemons become the vital reinforcements for the Extraterrestrial Battle.

Upon joining Shadow's Keep and showcasing her exceptional talent, Yu Zhu has become a prized asset. The Shadow's Keep would not allow any force to harm her. The three upper sects, including the Devil Palace, are also eager for the emergence of a new Dark Deity to alleviate their burdens in the extraterrestrial conflicts.

Yu Zhu's initiation into Shadow's Keep signifies that she is destined to venture deep into the cosmos under their guidance, unlike the Untamed of the Godsblight Marsh, who live unrestrained, indifferent to the Extraterrestrial Battle, and solely protect their own territory without concern for the well-being of the Everlands.

"Losing a bit of freedom for peace and security, and the chance to ascend to Dark Deity in the Forgotten Ruins without being targeted, isn't such a bad trade, is it?" the High Oracle mused, gazing at the floating island. "If she doesn't join Shadow's Keep, to prevent the rise of another Untamed Deity, the three great upper sects, along with the Devil Palace and Shadow's Keep, might intervene and forcibly strip her of all she possesses."

These words were meant for both Yu Yuan and Yu Zhu.

"She will join Shadow's Keep!" Yu Yuan declared.

"With your assurance, the rest should fall into place smoothly," Zhou Cangmin said, smiling and nodding. "Leave it to me; I'll ensure everything is settled properly. And you, you can't linger in the Forgotten Ruins for too long. You'll need to lay low elsewhere until the teleportation circle of the Ethereal Void Sect is operational again. Only after things have calmed down can you return."

...