C402 Meeting His Fiancée Again!

The sky stretched high above a vast sea, dotted with countless islands of various sizes that shimmered like pearls set against the deep blue waters.

Some islands were pockmarked with craters, pierced by irregular Starshards, with seawater still bubbling up from within these holes. Others featured craters that had transformed into lakes and deep pools, connected to the sea below.

In the Embers Sea, there were thousands of islands, some of which were actually enormous starshards that had fallen from the extraterrestrial realm, so large they became islands themselves.

It was common knowledge that the waters of the Embers Sea were shallow, yet for reasons unknown, they consistently attracted meteors from beyond our world throughout the year.

The fallen Starshards would sometimes merge with the existing islands, while others sank to the ocean floor, becoming massive rocks of varying hues.

Not every starshard that descended from the extraterrestrial realm held wonders within it. Over millions of years, innumerable starshards have landed here, but only a few carried the enigmatic treasures of the Star River, such as rare stones, fine gold, and crystals. These truly unique finds were exceedingly scarce.

Yet, the artifacts that were discovered often possessed qualities not found in the Everlands, proving invaluable in the arts of cultivation and refinement.

Each meteor fall primarily attracted those cultivators who had not yet reached the level of the Solar Spirit. Without attaining the Solar Spirit, one could not break through the barrier of the Everlands to soar into the extraterrestrial.

By forming the Solar Spirit Body, composed of pure spiritual energy, one could escape the confines of the Everlands and wander the vast starry sea, seeking out suitable rare stones and Psicrystals to further refine their being and advance their cultivation.

Thus, cultivators at the Divine Level, those who had achieved the Solar Spirit, seldom made their presence known in the Embers Sea, as they had little interest in extraterrestrial objects—they could seek them out on their own.

"There are so many islands!" exclaimed Shi Si of the Stormcrown Empire, practically leaning over the ship's rail, her clothes billowing in the breeze. She marveled, "Besides the numerous islands, there are also... quite a few cultivators."

In that moment, Yu Yuan rose to his feet, standing shoulder to shoulder with Su Yan. With a smile, Su Yan gestured toward a nearby island adorned with robust ancient trees and bustling with silhouettes. "Our people from the Abyssal Dawn are on that island."

Yu Yuan glanced over and said, "Fair winds on your journey."

"Until we meet in the ocean's depths." Dropping that line, Su Yan hesitated briefly, then pointed to an island and whispered softly, "There, that one."

Before Yu Yuan could respond, she donned her Celestial Plume Raiment, transforming into an elegant bird. She soared out of the Silver Rainbow Shuttle and dove toward the island she had just indicated.

"Junior Sister Su!"

A voice filled with surprise suddenly rose from the island, now drawing closer.

Then, figures emerged from beneath the towering ancient trees to greet Su Yan.

Yu Yuan observed them and noted that their attire was similar to that of the trial-takers he had encountered in the Forgotten Ruins.

Their cultivation levels were mostly within the Veil Breaking and Subtlety realms, ranging from mature individuals to youthful boys and girls.

The atmosphere within the Abyssal Dawn was notably amicable. The men and women, upon seeing Su Yan, showed genuine delight, warmly welcoming and accepting her.

Yu Yuan silently nodded in approval.

He was well aware that the internal competition among the various sects and forces on the continents of Quiescence and Euwrea was fiercely cutthroat.

For cultivators, everyone was a rival. Even their fellow sect members and masters could be adversaries.

The Devil Palace and Shadow's Keep not only permitted internal strife but actively encouraged it.

Both powers concurred that only through brutal combat could the strongest emerge.

Only those at the Solar Spirit level and above could exert significant influence on the future of the Everlands.

Those below the Solar Spirit level were considered inconsequential.

The seven lower sects and three upper sects of the Euwrea Continent, while not as vicious as the Devil Palace and Shadow's Keep, still followed many of their practices.

Abyssal Dawn, with its harmonious internal relations among disciples, was indeed an anomaly.

"Yu Yuan..."

Yan Lu called out once more, snapping him back to the present.

"What?" Yu Yuan paused his musings and turned to Yan Lu, "What do you want?"

"You rascal." Yan Lu shook his head, his smile carrying a hint of mischief, "Didn't you notice the island Su Yan pointed out?"

With that prompt, Yu Yuan suddenly realized and turned his gaze toward another island – a barren, triangular, silver-gray landmass devoid of vegetation. "You mean Winter's Bite?"

The island lay adjacent to the one chosen by the Abyssal Dawn, serving as a temporary refuge for the Winter's Bite sect.

Looking around, Yu Yuan noticed that the surrounding islands were populated with members from the seven great lower sects of Euwrea: Thunder Sect, Ethereal Void, Starmoon Sect, Cloudwater Sect, and Forgeroses.

The representatives from these sects were dispersed across the islands, nearly a hundred figures in total.

On the Winter's Bite's silver-gray island, many sought shade from the sun behind jagged rocks.

Their cultivation spells favored the cold, and they naturally preferred cooler climes. Thus, they avoided direct sunlight during their practices, which is why Yu Yuan saw no one from Winter's Bite out in the open.

However, he did spot a tall young man, dressed in the garb of the Sunlit Order, sitting solemnly in the sun.

The young man was meditating, the fierce sunlight transforming into myriad tiny beams that he absorbed through his acupoints, funneling them into both his lower and middle elixir fields.

Cultivators from the other lower sects occasionally cast glances his way, their expressions a mix of reverence and envy.

"Sunlit Order..."

Yan Lu had also taken notice and after watching intently for a moment, something clicked in his mind. He leaned in and whispered to Yu Yuan, "I've heard a rumor!"

"What's with the hesitation? Spit it out," Yu Yuan responded with an eye roll.

"Your fiancée, Lin Zhuyun, is said to have been promised to someone by the Winter's Bite," Yan Lu coughed, nudging Yu Yuan with his shoulder. "The guy's got quite the reputation, apparently a prodigy from the Sunlit Order. I bet that fellow cultivating under the harsh sun on Winter's Bite's island is him!"

At this revelation, both Shi Si and Hu Tianyang perked up with interest.

"You have a fiancée, and she's been matched by the Winter's Bite?" Shi Si leaned in, her eyes narrowing as she chuckled, "Yu Yuan, have you broken off your engagement with her?"

Yu Yuan furrowed his brow and shook his head.

"If you haven't broken it off, what right does the Winter's Bite have to arrange anything?" Shi Si exclaimed.

Being from the Devil Palace, she felt a natural sense of superiority over the Winter's Bite and wasn't afraid to voice her disapproval.

"It hasn't been arranged yet," Yan Lu said, privy to the details. "Winter's Bite may not consider your feelings, but they certainly have to take into account the Sunlit Order's opinion. Thus, before that individual and Lin Zhuyun can proceed, they'll need to address your engagement with Lin Zhuyun. Oh, and by the way, Lin Mu of the Lin family recently visited Asvetaesi!"

He slapped his forehead, suddenly realizing the full picture. "That explains it!"

Lin Mu's visit to Asvetaesi was marked by his confrontational stance toward the Yu family, demanding they surrender Yu Yuan to clarify the circumstances of Lin Fengyan's death, likely seeking to eliminate the nuisance that was Yu Yuan.

Regrettably, Lin Mu had suffered a bloody head injury during his time in Asvetaesi.

"Yu Yuan!"

Just then, from an island below, Liu Ying's voice rang out with surprise and delight.

She, the keeper of the Fallen Star Eyes, had parted ways with Yu Yuan at the Forgotten Ruins not long ago. Now she stood on the island, radiant and graceful, her bright eyes and smile shining like the most luminous star, eagerly waving to Yu Yuan, worried he might not spot her.

The Starmoon Sect's disciples and elders beside her were taken aback by her enthusiasm.

Since when had she become so warm and expressive?

And who was this Yu Yuan?

"Ah, you're here too."

Seeing Liu Ying's beaming smile and vigorous waves, Yu Yuan felt his spirits lift slightly.

He reflected that the Starmoon Sect's spells allowed them to harness extraterrestrial stars to enhance their power. Naturally, the Embers Sea, with its starshards, would be immensely appealing to them.

Liu Ying, a standout among her generation in the Starmoon Sect and the wielder of the Fallen Star Eyes, had every reason to be present.

"Yu Yuan!"

A chilly voice echoed from the Winter's Bite's island.

Lin Zhuyun, who had been lurking in the shadows, stepped out from behind a massive rock.

Drawing a deep breath, she looked up with a mix of emotions at the old friend arriving on the Silver Rainbow Shuttle.

Lin Zhuyun was puzzled. "Why is he using a device from the Devil Palace? Could it be that he's been favored by them?"

Since their parting at the Moonfall Sanctuary, she hadn't laid eyes on Yu Yuan again. In the confines of Winter's Bite, she had made a point of ignoring him, not seeking out information or listening to any news about him.

As a result, she was completely in the dark about the events that had unfolded in Yu Yuan's life.

Neither her family nor her sect spoke of Yu Yuan.

They simply urged her to focus on her cultivation, to not be distracted by other matters, assuring her that they would handle everything else.

She took their advice to heart, dedicating herself to her practice, and her advancement was swift. She had now surpassed Su Yan, reaching the middle period of Veil Breaking, earning the admiration and attention of the Chief Elder of Winter's Bite.

Having been out of touch for so long, she had started to believe that Yu Yuan might have faded into obscurity or that something untoward had happened to him.

Never had she imagined that she would encounter Yu Yuan in the Embers Sea, a nexus for the most promising of the three continents.

Before her arrival, her senior brothers and sisters at Winter's Bite had mentioned that only those young talents with extraordinary gifts, cherished by their sect elders, would be present in the Embers Sea during this meteor shower.

Like herself...

But why was Yu Yuan here? Why was he aboard the Devil Palace's Silver Rainbow Shuttle? And why was he receiving such a warm welcome from Liu Ying?

Liu Ying was the Starmoon Sect's chosen one, the strongest of the new generation.

In possession of the Fallen Star Eyes, Liu Ying's beauty, cultivation talent, and standing within the sect far exceeded her own.

Having joined Winter's Bite not so long ago, she had always looked up to Liu Ying with a sense of awe and envy.

And yet, this exceptional woman, superior to her in every way, was now greeting Yu Yuan with such fervor for all to see.

Wasn't Liu Ying known for her pride, for not bothering with others, for keeping her distance from men her age?

Her behavior was out of character. Could it be that she had feelings for Yu Yuan? That seemed impossible!

What on earth could have happened to Yu Yuan in the year they had been apart?

Lin Zhuyun was utterly perplexed, her thoughts in turmoil as she watched Yu Yuan, radiant with a smile, engaging in conversation with Liu Ying aboard the Silver Rainbow Shuttle.

Then, she suddenly noticed Su Yan, gracefully descending with the aid of her Celestial Plume Raiment, frequently looking back as well.

Her glances towards Yu Yuan were peculiar, and they gave her an odd feeling.

Moreover, on the Silver Rainbow Shuttle, there was another petite and lively woman, eagerly inquiring about something from Yu Yuan.

What was happening? Since when had he become so sought after, attracting the attention of women like this?

…