C397 The Mysterious Dark Herald

During the era of the Silvermoon Empire, the Su family was only surpassed by the Lee family and the Yan family, making them the third most powerful clan in the empire.

Under the rule of Lee Yupan, the Su family and the Yan family were hardly on amicable terms. In fact, the Su family was considered a rival to the Yan family, with both sides engaged in constant conflict, both openly and covertly.

Then, in a whirlwind of change, the world as they knew it was upended. The Silvermoon Empire ceased to exist, replaced by the Shadowlight Empire, which was now under the firm grip of the Yan family.

Members of the Yan family felt a sense of triumph, looking upon their former adversaries with a victor's pride.

The Su family, aligned with Abyssal Dawn, and the Lin family, allied with Winter's Bite, seemed destined to wane. Meanwhile, the Zhao family, favored by Shadow's Keep, and the Yuan family, backed by the Ruby Hand, were poised to rise to prominence.

Yan Lu saw Su Yan, the daughter of Su Xiangtian and a disciple of Abyssal Dawn, as inevitably diverging from his path and that of the Yan family. Their past relationship was strained, and he anticipated it would only grow more distant, leading him to keep his distance from Su Yan.

Yan Lu was unaware of the means by which the Su family had persuaded the Dark Herald to dispatch the Silver Rainbow Shuttle to Thealone to retrieve Su Yan. He suspected, however, that the Su family had paid a hefty price for the favor.

In his view, Su Yan's safe passage to the Embers Sea was all that mattered. A few taunts and insults from the Devil Palace's disciples along the way seemed inconsequential. With the Dark Herald present, Hu Tianyang wouldn't dare to overstep.

Thus, Yan Lu opted to observe from the sidelines, disregarding Hu Tianyang's taunts directed at Su Yan.

"I am a disciple of Abyssal Dawn, just like you are heading to the Embers Sea," Su Yan said with a smile, her voice gentle. "As for my ride on the Devil Palace's Silver Rainbow Shuttle, there's certainly a reason for it. You're unaware of it simply because you're not privy to that level of information." Her gaze swept the cabin playfully. "Curious? You might want to inquire with Lord Dark Herald."

She refused to be intimidated, unconvinced that a mere disciple from the Hu family could be all that impressive.

Was he anything more than one chosen by the Devil Palace, now a disciple on his way to cultivate in seclusion aboard the Silver Rainbow Shuttle?

Hu Tianyang let out a cold snort, ready to speak again.

But then, a faint remnant soul stirred quietly within the cabin of the Silver Rainbow Shuttle.

None of the Devil Palace disciples on deck, Wu Pei included, could detect it.

Only Yu Yuan, with a slight glimmer in his eyes, took notice.

His heaven soul was exceptionally keen, and he sensed that the enigmatic Dark Herald had issued a warning to Hu Tianyang.

Sure enough.

The mouth of Hu Tianyang, poised to continue his confrontation with Su Yan, suddenly snapped shut.

He glared at Su Yan, snorted coldly, and retreated to a corner where he sat down in silence.

His notoriety in the Stormcrown Empire and distinction within the Hu family did not grant him the liberty to disregard the Dark Herald's caution.

Like him, Devil Palace disciples were dispersed throughout the empires of Aetherius, periodically entering the Devil Palace for periods of cultivation.

Yet, those who truly excelled and progressed swiftly within the Devil Palace were in the minority.

Among those on the Silver Rainbow Shuttle were Yan Lu, Shi Si, and Wu Pei, whose family backgrounds, innate talents, and current achievements all surpassed his.

The fortunate natives of the Land of Quiescence, the genuine prodigies of cultivation, considered by their sects as treasures and Hellbreed, were in a league of their own, far beyond what Hu Tianyang could claim to be.

And the Dark Herald? A venerable senior who had already made his mark within the sect, a Solar Spirit Cultivator—how could Hu Tianyang dare to defy him?

Unless he was a Hellbreed recognized by the Devil Palace, it was wiser to remain compliant.

"Cultivating the purple devil fire is said to be no easy feat. How did you manage to do it?"

Shi Si didn't go back to her place; instead, she approached Yan Lu with an eager expression, eyeing the retracting purple flame at his fingertips. "Yan Lu, I've heard that cultivating the purple devil fire requires the aid of a special pill. Come on, tell me the truth—did you get your hands on such a pill to dare to practice these dark arts?"

Yan Lu, standing before Yu Yuan, chuckled insincerely and said, "There's no special pill involved. It's just natural talent and a bit of luck that got me where I am."

Shi Si clearly didn't buy it. She kept her gaze fixed on him, relentlessly probing for the secrets of cultivating the purple devil fire.

The young woman from the Stormcrown Empire had once attempted to master the purple devil fire herself, but to no avail. She nearly damaged her heart and lungs in the process and had to switch to practicing other dark arts. However, her fascination with the purple devil fire hadn't waned, which is why she was so intrigued by Yan Lu, who had succeeded at the same level as her.

"You might as well ask Brother Wu; he's been to the sect," Yan Lu suggested with a dry cough, nodding towards Wu Pei. "There are surely many in the sect who have mastered such dark arts. Perhaps Brother Wu has even tried it himself. He's likely more knowledgeable than I am. You should talk to him."

"He's as stubborn as a mule; he won't spill anything. It's a waste of time asking him," Shi Si said dismissively of Wu Pei, scolding him before turning her relentless questioning back to Yan Lu.

Yan Lu's expression was one of sheer exasperation.

Meanwhile, Yu Yuan exchanged smiles with Su Yan before settling back against the ship's railing, pulling out a soulstone to resume his cultivation.

Su Yan returned the smile and gently closed her eyes.

Suddenly, Yu Yuan's brow furrowed as he glanced towards the cabin. The moment he had sat down, the enigmatic Dark Herald from the Devil Palace had sent a strand of remnant soul drifting towards him. It hung above his head like a spectral eye, silently observing him.

Yu Yuan looked up, directly at the hovering remnant soul, after sensing its presence. A soft sound of surprise echoed within his Heart Lake.

A second later, the Dark Herald's remnant soul withdrew back into the cabin, as silently as it had come, as if it had never been there at all. No one else but Yu Yuan had sensed anything amiss.

"Heh, Lord Dark Herald, there's nothing noteworthy about me. My journey to the Embers Sea is simply following the plans of Zhou Cangmin from the Ruby Hand. I'm just trying my luck," Yu Yuan mused internally, well-versed in this mode of silent communication.

He was confident that the mysterious Dark Herald from the Devil Palace would be listening in.

Inside the cabin, the Dark Herald, who had yet to reveal himself, did not respond.

Yu Yuan offered a casual smile and refrained from further conversation. He quietly engaged the Evil Body Refining technique, drawing spiritual energy from the soulstone to cleanse his corporeal body. He channeled the refined spiritual energy into the Golden Sanctum's little world.

With the Dark Herald in his presence, Yu Yuan chose not to employ the Nine Glories Wheel, lest he draw undue attention.

After all, the Nine Glories Wheel was the famed spell that brought the Lord of the Sunlit Order to prominence. There was no telling what the Dark Herald might think if he witnessed its use.

The Evil Body Refining Technique originated from the Terror Claws sect, which, despite its downfall, was held in high esteem in the northern reaches of the Land of Quiescence.

Even with the sect's demise, members of the Devil Palace, Shadow's Keep, and Ruby Hand would speak highly of the Terror Claws, often praising it with a thumbs-up gesture.

Thus, Yu Yuan had no concerns that the Dark Herald would take issue with him practicing the dark arts of the Terror Claws.

Several days later, the Silver Rainbow Shuttle traversed the Stormcrown Empire and officially entered the vast sea.

As they reached the ocean, Su Yan, Hu Tianyang, Shi Si, and Yan Lu emerged from their meditative states. They gathered excitedly at the edge of the Warp Spindle, gazing out at the azure expanse. For the four of them, it seemed to be their first time stepping away from Aetherius to venture into the endless sea.

Yu Yuan, who had nearly roamed the Everlands in his past life, remained unmoved and disinterested.

"You're not a sect disciple."

Wu Pei, who also remained seated, unexpectedly initiated a conversation with Yu Yuan.

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