C406 First Level!

The primordial spirit is the most crucial criterion for determining whether a sect qualifies as a super sect!

The Everlands boast a rich history, with the ranking of top sects in Euwrea and the Land of Quiescence being anything but static.

Sects like the Sword Sect, Sunlit Order, and Ebon Star were once on par with lower sects such as the Ethereal Void and Starmoon Sect. Their ascension to upper sect status was due to the emergence of a primordial spirit!

A common adage states that without a primordial spirit, a sect can never reach the first level.

Legend has it that the Forgeroses, once among the seven lower sects, saw the rise of a primordial spirit, presenting the possibility of becoming the fourth upper sect.

Tragically, the primordial spirit of the Forgeroses met their end in the extraterrestrial Star River.

Their demise led to the Forgeroses' decline. Once the foremost among the seven lower sects, they fell to the bottom rung, weakened by the Ethereal Void Sect's machinations.

The Ruby Hand's annals mention a certain Duan, known as the Flame Demon, who was in the late period of the Unbound Stage and on the cusp of achieving primordial spirit status.

During the human race's internal conflicts, the Sunlit Order shattered the Ruby Hand's protective circle at great cost, ultimately slaying the Flame Demon to thwart his ascension.

This act exacted a terrible toll on the Sunlit Order.

Yet, had they not intervened, the Ruby Hand might have risen to the first level, rivaling the likes of the Devil Palace and Shadow's Keep.

This incident is no secret; it's common knowledge.

Currently, disciples of the Ruby Hand stand among the first wave of trial-takers in the Embers Sea, alongside those from the Devil Palace and Shadow's Keep.

Liu Ying is convinced that the Ruby Hand has members who have forged a primordial spirit beyond the Everlands!

Reflecting on Zhou Cangmin's boldness and his disregard for revealing his identity in the Crimson Sun Empire, even openly discussing his origins with Yu Yuan, it's clear that the Sunfire Emperor was well aware of who he was.

Zhou Cangmin, originally destined to be sent to the Sunlit Order for training as a covert pawn by the Crimson Sun Empire, has become too prominent to ignore.

He was fearless, undaunted, abandoning his journey to the Sunlit Order to wreak havoc across Aetherius, possibly relying on the power of a primordial spirit!

In the Ruby Hand, there were powerhouses who had achieved the primordial spirit in extraterrestrial realms. Coupled with the Ruby Hand's remarkable heritage and millennia of accumulation, they had secured an exceptional standing in the Land of Quiescence and throughout the entire Everlands.

The Ruby Hand stood a great chance of ascending to the first level, ranking alongside the Devil Palace, Shadow's Keep, and the three upper sects!

"When did this happen?" Yu Yuan inquired, astonished.

"Shh!" Liu Ying gestured for silence and glanced around before whispering, "Our Starmoon Sect only recently received this news. The High Oracle must have been aware of it for some time, which explains his bold and unrestrained actions in the Crimson Sun Empire and Shadowlight Empire's Forgotten Ruins."

Yu Yuan nodded, signaling his understanding.

"Actually, if you're seriously considering a sect to call home, the Ruby Hand is an excellent choice," Liu Ying mused. "In our generation at the Starmoon Sect, I'm afraid no one is likely to break through to the primordial spirit realm."

Her demeanor turned somber, clearly privy to the inner workings. The wistful sighs of her master and the elders were telltale signs that the Starmoon Sect's older generation had little hope of reaching the primordial spirit stage.

She had been gravely wounded yet was held in high regard by the Starmoon Sect, her master sparing no effort in her cultivation, all because the sect's elders had pinned their hopes on her.

They believed she might be the one to shatter the constraints of the Unbound Realm, refine her dominant soul into a primordial spirit, and elevate the Starmoon Sect to the status of the fourth upper sect in Euwrea, thereby utterly transforming the sect's destiny.

"For the time being, I have no intention of joining any sect," Yu Yuan stated.

Following that, the conversation between them ceased.

At the island's edge, Yu Yuan sat in meditation, working with a soulstone to continue his cultivation, awaiting the arrival of the first-level sect disciples to the island in the depths of the Embers Sea.

He practiced the Evil Body Refining technique to temper his body and advance his cultivation, standing out as somewhat of an anomaly.

This region was populated by elders and trial-takers from the seven lower sects, all hailing from the Euwrea Continent, and were deemed traditional cultivators.

As a practitioner of the "Evil Body Refining Technique," he should be classified as a cultivator from the Land of Quiescence. His presence among the Starmoon Sect's disciples was indeed out of place.

His strength allowed him to disregard the stealthy probes of remnant souls and spiritual senses.

He feigned obliviousness to the curiosity and scrutiny of others.

The fifth refinement of the Golden Sanctum unfolded unhurriedly.

Time passed swiftly, and what felt like a brief session of focused cultivation ended with Liu Ying's gentle call and the Starmoon Sect disciples gearing up for action.

"Let's go, it's our turn," Liu Ying said cheerfully.

Whoosh!

The Fallen Star Eyes emerged, hovering over the island, dwarfing the one they were on.

At Tian Wanrou's command, the sect's young disciples boarded the Fallen Star Eyes in succession.

Yu Yuan, already acquainted with the Fallen Star Eyes, joined Liu Ying in stepping onto it after the others had ascended.

The trial-takers from the other lower sects summoned carriages, treasure ships, or stable flying carpets, ushering their sect's disciples aboard.

Artifacts like the Fallen Star Eyes were exceedingly rare. The Starmoon Sect had invested considerable effort into its creation.

The flying devices of the other sects paled in comparison to the Fallen Star Eyes, both in rank and function.

Even the Silver Rainbow Shuttle piloted by the Dark Herald of the Devil Palace couldn't match up to the Fallen Star Eyes.

The Fallen Star Eyes vanished in a flash.

In just an instant, a myriad of islands came into Yu Yuan's view.

Two colossal islands stood at the center of the smaller ones, shining prominently like the sun and moon amidst the stars.

These islands were not naturally occurring; they were the handiwork of powerful cultivators from the Devil Palace and Shadow's Keep, who had reshaped the land with their extraordinary abilities.

Atop the islands loomed dark palaces and pavilions constructed from demonic bones. The cultivators from the Devil Palace and Shadow's Keep were stationed here year-round, refining the boundless spiritual energy from the surrounding seas into their bodies. While advancing their cultivation, they also guarded against any disturbances in the Embers Sea.

For millennia, extraterrestrial starshards had plummeted into the sea, drawing a myriad of strange beings to the area. Terra Fiends, alien souls, and even Otherkin from beyond the vast expanses of the Everlands were among them.

Yu Yuan was acutely aware that these Otherkin from beyond the stars had ventured across the Star River long before humans had embarked on the path of cultivation, back when evilkind and Nagas dominated the Everlands.

Most Otherkin were vanquished by the Nagas and evilkind in ancient times. A few survivors posed no threat. Some even went into hiding, intermarrying with humans and producing offspring.

These offspring might live their entire lives unaware of their heritage, but a select few would one day come to a realization. They would feel a void that could only be filled by something from the Embers Sea. Driven by this, they would seek out the sea, hoping to find relics that resonated with their essence.

The cultivators from the Devil Palace and Shadow's Keep remained vigilant, ready to prevent any unforeseen events.

"Hahaha!" A robust laugh erupted from a one-armed elder with a gaunt face and red hair cascading over his shoulders. He stood among a group, speaking animatedly and with great vigor. Without casting a single spell, his presence was as formidable as a volcano on the verge of eruption, his vitality overwhelming, exerting a palpable pressure on those around him.

"Ruby Hand! Faang Yao!" Tian Wanrou inhaled sharply, standing atop the Fallen Star Eyes with a look of apprehension. "The Ruby Hand is indeed formidable. With Hellbreed like Zhou Cangmin who have forged a Solar Spirit, pillars of strength like Faang Yao, and a great cultivator who has shattered boundaries to ascend to the realm of the primordial spirit."

"Faang Yao..." Yu Yuan murmured, his gaze fixed on the commanding figure of Faang Yao in the crowd, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Have you ever encountered him?" Liu Ying inquired with a hint of wonder.

"Back in Asvetaesi, this formidable member of the Ruby Hand made an appearance," Yu Yuan replied with a smile. "The former head of the Yuan family, Yuan Qiufang, was taken by him to advance his training with the Ruby Hand. I only caught a glimpse of him from a distance, shrouded in a giant fireball, so his features were obscured."

"I see, so there was such an incident," Liu Ying mused, not dwelling on it. "Faang Yao is quite remarkable, achieving significant victories for the Ruby Hand. He's both skilled and eager in combat! My teacher mentioned that Faang Yao's cultivation is exceptionally solid. Currently, he's in the late stages of the Spirit Walk realm, and his ascension to the Solar Spirit realm is all but assured."

"My teacher believes he's destined to reach the Unbound Realm and may well become another Flame Demon within the Ruby Hand!"

Tian Wanrou added, "The Ruby Hand truly is formidable. Over the last century, Faang Yao has led their forces in numerous campaigns, slaying many cultivators from the Sunlit Order. They despise him to their very core."

"Did you catch the look in Tang Cen's eyes?" Liu Ying said with a light laugh.