C374 The Upheaval in the City
In Darkmoon City, within the grand hall of the Yu family, a heavy silence fell as Yu Wei announced to the patriarch, "Lim Mu has arrived." His tone bore the weight of the news, as if the very name Lim Mu was a mountain pressing against his chest, suffocating him with its gravity.
The hall was filled with notable figures, including the family elder Yu Cann, Yu Lian, Yu Lili, and several senior members, as well as a few steadfast guest elders who had weathered various hardships without abandoning the Yu family. Their assembly was spurred by the unexpected visit of Lim Mu of the Lim family, who had graced Darkmoon City with Lim Hanyu by his side.
Unbeknownst to the Yu clan, a monumental shift had occurred at the Absence Relic, drawing the attention and convergence of numerous powerful entities. As a minor family within the Empire, the Yus were not privy to much information and remained unaware of the intricacies within the relic. Their concerns were immediate, focused solely on matters concerning their own kin.
The Lim family had faced its own turmoil when Lim Fengyan perished in the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area, and Lim Hanyu stepped up to lead without Lim Mu's blessing. The eldest and most powerful member of the Lim family had been secluded, striving to reach the Soul Wandering Stage. Yet, here he was, suddenly appearing in Darkmoon City alongside Lim Hanyu, a development that set the Yu family on edge. Lim Mu had been Lim Fengyan's staunchest supporter, openly favoring him above all others in the family. And now, whispers swirled that Lim Fengyan had met his end at the hands of Yu Yuan in the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area...
A message from the Zhao family interrupted their thoughts. Yu Lili, the embodiment of martial grace, stood out among them, her presence commanding as she furrowed her brow in concern, prompting a wave of tension to ripple through the hall. It was well-known that this formidable daughter of the Yu family had recently shattered the barriers of the Profound Break Stage, stepping into a realm of boundless potential. With the middle dantian's Gate of Opening now unlocked, her Qi and blood could flow through the eight extraordinary meridians, shattering the limits of her lifespan and opening a world of endless possibilities.
Her innate talent for cultivation surpassed that of both Yu Wei and Yu Lian, and she could very well be the linchpin for the Yu family's future flourishing.
Yu Cann looked at her with a gaze brimming with satisfaction, nodding as he encouraged, "Go on."
"The Zhao family reports that members of the Cold Yin Sect have been escorting Lim Hanyu to a meeting with Lim Mu," Yu Lili shared, her brow furrowed with concern. "Initially, Lim Mu was reluctant to meet with Lim Hanyu, but he was swayed once the Cold Yin Sect showed favor towards Lim Zhuyun."
She paused briefly before adding, "It seems the Cold Yin Sect made certain promises to Lim Mu that persuaded him."
"Consequently, Lim Mu has formally recognized Lim Hanyu as the head of the Lim family and made his stance clear to all its members. My suspicion is that the Cold Yin Sect has offered some assistance with Lim Mu's cultivation endeavors."
For far too many years, Lim Mu had been ensnared in the late stages of the Yin God Stage, relentlessly secluding himself in an effort to ascend to the Soul Wandering Stage.
The leap to the Soul Wandering Stage was notoriously arduous; despite years of effort, Lim Mu remained mired in the late Yin God Stage, unable to make the breakthrough.
Should the Cold Yin Sect provide the needed boost for his advancement, it stands to reason he would throw his full support behind Lim Hanyu within the Lim family.
Given Lim Zhuyun's exceptional talent and their intent to wield influence over the Lim family through Lim Hanyu, the Cold Yin Sect undoubtedly offered something substantial.
"This complicates matters," Yu Cann exhaled heavily. "Our current predicament is challenging enough. We're stuck stockpiling medicinal herbs we can't sell, on top of contending with the spite of that old fiend, Lim Mu."
The mere mention of Lim Mu cast a pall over the group.
"Yu Yuan has been in Elfview for quite some time now; what's keeping him from returning?" Yu Wei wondered aloud. "Elder Ning even made a special trip back to wait for him there. It's been nearly half a month, and he's neither returned to Elfview nor to the city. What exactly is happening?"
"He's likely training in that desolate place," Yu Lili remarked.
"What's the use of training there? The spiritual energy is so sparse," interjected a guest of the Yu family who had once spent time in the Absence Relic. "Hardly any cultivators are willing to endure it for long. Besides the toxic miasma, there's nothing of value—no medicinal herbs, no ore."
"What's worse, there aren't any formidable spiritual beasts to hunt," added another.
Amidst the conversation, a Yu family member rushed in, his face etched with panic.
"What's the matter?" Yu Wei demanded.
"A member of the Lim family has arrived with a letter!" The man, following instructions, approached Yu Cann and presented the letter.
Yu Cann opened it, his face turning ashen. "This is from Lim Mu, that old fiend. He's demanding we surrender Little Yuan. He intends to use his Yin God to probe Little Yuan's Earth Soul, to uncover the circumstances of Lim Fengyan's death in the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area."
The patriarch's voice shook with rage as he spoke.
"Out of the question! With Little Yuan's current state, if Lim Mu's Yin God were to rove through his mind, even if it doesn't kill him, he might end up confused and lost, just like before," Yu Lili protested vehemently.
"How dare Lim Mu be so brazen!" Yu Wei exclaimed.
Yu Cann shook his head. "I can't fathom his audacity. He's given us three days to comply and hand over Little Yuan."
"I'll go to the City Lord!" Yu Lili declared.
"Yuan Lianyao has been absent from the city for some time," Yu Cann sighed.
"What do we do now? Without the City Lord or the Zhao family's support, we're at a loss," someone lamented.
"Lim Mu wouldn't make such a bold demand without something to back him up," another pointed out.
"And Young Master Yu Yuan has been in that desolate place for so long without returning."
"Whether we can find any support in three days is uncertain."
The hall was filled with furrowed brows and heavy sighs. The arrival of Lim Mu, seeking to use Yu Yuan to unravel the mystery of Lim Fengyan's demise, left the already troubled Yu family feeling utterly helpless.
The night enveloped Darkmoon City in a deep darkness, and as Su Xiangtian set foot within its bounds, a sense of oppression weighed heavily on his spirit.
He and his daughter, Su Yan, had parted ways with Yang Yinquan and the rest of the Taiyuan Sect. Upon realizing that the Tusk Troops had ceased their pursuit, he took Su Yan to see an evil cultivator of some repute in the Absence Relic—a man who owed him a favor and had agreed to escort Su Yan to the Divine Might Empire. Su Xiangtian had connections there who would look after her.
Alone, and armed with the cultivation of the Yin God Stage, he skirted the areas of turmoil, taking a circuitous route to return to Darkmoon City.
As the patriarch of the Su family, his presence was imperative amidst the empire's instability.
But upon his arrival, his Yin God senses immediately alerted him to something amiss. The Spiritual Qi within the city was unnaturally concentrated, swirling in various locations—a clear sign of the presence of powerful cultivators who hadn't bothered to conceal their arrival.
In one corner of the city, the domain of the Huang family, he recognized several auras, but two, in particular, left Su Xiangtian astounded.
"Xiangtian, come to us," beckoned a soul message, piercing through the night from the direction of the Huang family, resonating within his heart.
"Old Ancestor Kui!" Su Xiangtian's face paled with shock.
"And me," followed another soul message, echoing in Su Xiangtian's mind.
"Old Ancestor Kang!" The revelation jolted him. Su Kui and Su Kang, both in the late stages of the Yin God Stage, were the stalwart pillars of the Su family within the Silvermoon Empire.
Despite their esteemed status, these two venerated elders of the Su family had remained at the late Yin God Stage for years, never managing to break through to the next level. Yet, they had seen potential in him, Su Xiangtian, deeming him the future of the Su family. They had championed his rise to the position of family head, confident in his ability to ascend to the Soul Wandering Stage.
Su Xiangtian held a deep respect for Su Kui and Su Kang, knowing full well that all they did was for the good of the family.
It was almost inconceivable, yet there they were – the two elderly members of the Su family had actually made their way to Darkmoon City.
Su Xiangtian, his mind swirling with immense curiosity, followed the directives of the family elders and stealthily made his way to their whereabouts.
Upon reaching the former Huang family's estate, he was struck by shock once more.
Only when he drew nearer did he sense the presence of Lim Mu from the Lim family and Van Xuan from the Van family among the group.
Su Kui, Su Kang, Lim Mu, and Van Xuan were not only venerable experts from their respective families but also the most powerful figures within the three great clans.
A sense of foreboding suddenly washed over Su Xiangtian.
As Su Yin guided him further into the estate, his unease grew.
Stepping into the main hall of what once belonged to the Huang family, his eyes immediately fell upon the bound figures of Lee Yuchan and Lee Yu, captured and very much alive.
