C386 The Glory of the past

Su Kui and Su Kang, two elders of the Su family, were resolutely positioned behind him. With a meaningful glance, he cautioned them to stay still and not make any rash moves.

Su Kang harbored doubts about Su Xiangtian's claim, unable to believe that Su Yin could be dead. Dissatisfied, his expression grew heavy with skepticism.

On the verge of an outburst, Su Kui raised a hand and gently patted Su Kang's shoulder, signaling for silence.

"What's going on, brother?" Su Kang inquired, turning to Su Kui.

Su Kui shook his head, urging restraint, then turned his intent gaze back to Su Xiangtian.

Su Xiangtian, a collateral member of the Su family, had been undervalued and even suppressed by the mainline relatives, nearly stifling his growth. It was Su Kui who had quietly observed and recognized Su Xiangtian's character and potential for cultivation, advocating for him against popular opinion.

Su Kui was, in essence, Su Xiangtian's patron and the most significant support he had before rising to power. Su Kui had immense trust in Su Xiangtian's abilities and character.

"Trust me," Su Xiangtian implored, locking eyes with Su Kui. "I anticipated the empire's turmoil. I've ensured Xiao Yan's safety and returned to not let you down. You endorsed me to lead the Su family, and no matter the peril, I will always prioritize our family's interests."

"Good," Su Kui responded with a nod.

The exchange between the two men gradually soothed Su Kang, who had been on the brink of reacting impulsively.

Su Kang restrained himself from any further disruption.

Suddenly, a gap formed between Yu Yuan and Lin Mu, allowing them to lock eyes without obstruction.

Lin Mu, meeting Yu Yuan for the first time and unsettled by the recent incident involving Su Xiangtian, took a cautious approach and scrutinized Yu Yuan closely.

"He truly has a powerful ally," Lin Mu muttered to himself as his Lunar Spirit picked up on something, prompting him to look outside.

Qin Yun, clad in the garb of a scholar, entered with a stiff smile, taking his time as he approached.

When Yu Yuan checked in, he felt somewhat sheepish and quickly made his stance clear: "There's no suspicious activity at the Yu family. I don't think my presence is necessary."

Yu Yuan had tasked him with safeguarding the Yu family to prevent any opportunistic attacks from lesser threats.

As a Lunar Spirit in the late period, he had spent some time with the Yu family, extending his spiritual sense, yet he detected no ill-intentioned individuals lurking in the shadows.

All the formidable figures were concentrated in the Keep, and he had also learned that Yu Cen was there as well.

Thus, Qin Yun made haste to the location.

"Crimson Sun Empire, Midnightshields, Qin Yun!"

Lin Mu's lips curled into a chilly smirk as he had an epiphany and exclaimed, "So, Yu Yuan's backup is the former sect master of the Midnightshields! Hahaha, are you aware that he's now a criminal of the Crimson Sun Empire? No one within the Midnightshields recognizes his authority as sect master anymore?"

Su Kang's brow furrowed as he commented, "He ran into trouble in the Moonfall Sanctuary, causing his cultivation to plummet and his power to greatly diminish. He's no longer welcome in the Crimson Sun Empire, and even his closest allies within the sect have turned against him. Such a figure was not to be underestimated in the past, but now..."

Van Xuan, meanwhile, wore a face full of scornful amusement.

Clearly, as Lunar Spirits of the same caliber and with the Crimson Sun Empire and Silvermoon Empire as archrivals, they were all familiar with Qin Yun.

Their recognition went beyond mere acquaintance; they had clashed several times in their youth.

Qin Yun had advanced to the late period of the Lunar Spirit Stage a few years before them, and his tenure as the sect master of the Midnightshields marked the zenith of his career, his most illustrious days.

The Midnightshields comprised seven Lunar Spirits, with Qin Yun as the foremost among them, his status surpassing theirs.

But those days were long gone.

The Qin Yun of today was akin to a dog without a home, expelled by the Crimson Sun Empire and shunned by the Midnightshields. Whether it was his status or his actual combat prowess, he had suffered a steep decline.

In his current state, Qin Yun hardly merited a second glance from Lin Mu.

"He's not up to par."

Su Kui shook his head discreetly and whispered to Su Xiangtian, "I assumed Yu Yuan had a formidable patron, perhaps favored by a mighty sect. But if Qin Yun is all he has, then he lacks both the qualifications and the strength to keep the kid alive."

Su Xiangtian preferred to remain tight-lipped and simply advised, "Let's not jump to conclusions."

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

Lin Mu advanced toward Yu Yuan with deliberate steps, his gaze fixed on Qin Yun. Each footfall seemed to make the entire Keep quiver ever so slightly, and with every step, fresh green leaves sprang up on the stone ground.

The flora within the Keep's courtyard grew increasingly vibrant with his passage.

Yu Yuan, eyes narrowed and smiling, watched the foliage sprout beneath Lin Mu's feet, recognizing that the Lin family elder practiced a spell and technique connected to the spiritual energy of plants. Such an individual could have been an excellent herbal cultivator if he hadn't been so focused on pursuing strength.

A verdant glow enveloped Lin Mu, transforming him into the likeness of a robust ancient tree, standing as if it had weathered thousands of years, never to succumb to decay.

"The Ancient Wood Spirit Art," Qin Yun murmured, his fighting spirit suddenly kindled. A miniature arrow materialized stealthily on his forehead.

The moment the arrow was released, Qin Yun's presence underwent a dramatic shift. His formidable vitality sent ripples through the Keep, plunging the slumbering commoners nearby into nightmarish visions.

All present in the Keep, whether Su Kui or Van Xuan, looked on in astonishment.

How could the former master of the Midnightshields possess such potent and unadulterated vitality, even more tumultuous than their own?

"In the Moonfall Sanctuary, it was the Lunar Spirit I wounded, the Soul Power I depleted," Qin Yun declared, standing as rigid and piercing as a spear, a smile playing on his lips as he addressed Lin Mu. "During my Veil Breaking phase, the refinement of my corporeal body was far more intense than yours. I chose the Moonfall Sanctuary a year ago because I knew it well."

"It was there, in the most tumultuous spot of divine force, that I made my breakthrough."

"Lin Mu, at my zenith, before the Dawn Arrow was spent, would you have dared to challenge me? And you, brothers of the Su family, and you, Van Xuan, wasn't each of you once overshadowed by me?"

"Even though we're peers, I've always been a cut above the rest of you!" Qin Yun declared, his pride untamed. Where was there any hint of the downtrodden stray he once seemed to be? It was as if the founder of the Midnightshields, who had once commanded respect and power, had returned.

Yu Cen and Zhao Zhenghao of the Zhao family silently acknowledged this truth. The name Qin Yun, associated with the Midnightshields, resonated with them like a thunderclap.

In the Crimson Sun Empire, before the High Oracle Zhou Cangmin emerged and overshadowed all, Qin Yun was undoubtedly a man of influence, enjoying the deep trust and favor of the Sunfire Emperor. He founded the Midnightshields, commanding seven Lunar Spirits, surpassing even the might of the empire's great families.

Without Zhou Cangmin as an outlier, Qin Yun's status within the Crimson Sun Empire would have been unrivaled.

Back in his heyday, contemporaries like Lin Mu, Su Kui, Su Kang, and Van Xuan paled in comparison to him. Representing the Crimson Sun Empire, he had repeatedly put the Silvermoon Empire in awkward positions during their confrontations.

Even after suffering setbacks and being reduced to wandering in Asvetaesi, such a man retained his pride. After all, everyone present had once been beneath him!

"The past is the past, and the present is now. I've already witnessed the robustness of your physique. It's just unfortunate that you're neither a dark adept nor of the evilkind. Physical strength alone can't surpass the power of the three souls!" Lin Mu scoffed. "From the Lunar Spirit Stage onwards, what truly determines one's combat strength is the Lunar Spirit and Soul Power!"

With those words, branches formed from green spiritual energy sharpened into thorns and lunged at Qin Yun.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Only those attuned to the Subtlety and Lunar Spirit Stages could perceive the assault of the remnant soul. In the eyes of Su Kui, Su Xiangtian, and Van Xuan, bizarre trees sprouted from Lin Mu's head, wildly reaching out towards Qin Yun.

This was the ethereal force of the remnant soul, a Spirit Magic aimed directly at Qin Yun's mud pellet acupoint.

"Qin Yun! Your era of oppression is long gone! The Crimson Sun Empire has no place for you. Do you really believe that by coming to our lands, you can reclaim your former glory?"

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