C407 Unbalanced

A flying carpet glided in from behind the Fallen Star Eyes, unfurling like a scroll in mid-air. Aboard were the practitioners of the Cold Yin Sect, including elders and disciples participating in the trial. Lim Zhuyun and Tang Cann stood prominently among them.

Tang Cann's expression turned stormy the moment he heard Faang Yao's laughter. His gaze toward Faang Yao was intense, his eyes flashing gold and red with an unusual light. This time, however, it wasn't the activation of the Scorching Sun Spell that caused the change; it was pure, unbridled anger.

"Faang Yao recently infiltrated the Heavenly Source Continent under the radar," Lau Ying recounted with a hint of schadenfreude. "There, he clashed with cultivators from Quill Mountain over a Seven Flames Ghost Fire Grass in a lava river. Not only did he secure the Heaven Level Eighth Grade herb, but he also killed Han Feng."

"Han Feng was one of Tang Zheng's esteemed disciples, newly advanced to the Soul Wandering Stage. He had hoped to use that Seven Flames Ghost Fire Grass to solidify his new level. Little did he expect to meet his end at the hands of Faang Yao from the Red Devil Sect amidst the molten rivers of the Heavenly Source Continent."

Lau Ying paused before adding, "Han Feng had been a mentor to Tang Cann since his childhood. During Tang Zheng's periods of secluded cultivation, it was Han Feng who elucidated the intricacies of the Spiritual Spell to Tang Cann. And when Tang Cann wandered the world, Han Feng was his unseen guardian. His death will undoubtedly weigh heavily on Tang Cann."

Yu Yuan responded with a knowing smile, "Understood."

The enmity between the Red Devil Sect and the Primordial Yang Sect ran deep, fueling a centuries-old feud that showed no signs of abating. In this realm, there existed an unspoken rule: deaths resulting from conflicts between those below the Yang God Stage wouldn't escalate into full-blown war between the sects.

Both Han Feng and Faang Yao were of the Soul Wandering Stage. Faang Yao's killing of Han Feng meant the latter's life was lost in vain. The Primordial Yang Sect couldn't directly confront the Red Devil Sect over the matter; the most they could do was seek retribution by targeting the Red Devil Sect's cultivators elsewhere as an outlet for their rage.

"It seems Faang Yao's advancement to the late stage of the Soul Wandering Stage can be attributed to the 'Seven Flames Ghost Fire Grass.' He's truly formidable," Tian Wanrou couldn't help but express her admiration. "He ventured alone into the Heavenly Source Continent, extracted Han Feng from the clutches of the Primordial Yang Sect, and even managed to pull it off successfully."

"By the time the Primordial Yang Sect got wind of it and sent assassins, Faang Yao had already made his escape," added Lau Ying.

Yu Yuan's interest in Faang Yao deepened after hearing their conversation. Years had passed, and the once naive and slow-witted boy had indeed become a significant figure.

Observing Faang Yao, Yu Yuan noted the diverse group of cultivators surrounding him, both young and old. Their attire made it clear to him that they hailed from the Quietus Continent, representing the Fiend Sect, Filthy Spirit Sect, and Blood God Cult.

The Red Devil Sect, Fiend Sect, Filthy Spirit Sect, and Blood God Cult were formidable forces under the Devil Palace and Demon Palace, akin to the Seven Lower Sects of the Heavenly Source Continent. The Ghoul Glyph Sect and Voodoo Cult, on the other hand, were merely part of the third echelon.

As a leader from the Red Devil Sect, Faang Yao had already set sail with his sect's disciples, joining forces with those from the Devil Palace and Demon Palace in the Ember Waters. His exuberance and pride were evident; he took great pride in the fact that the disciples of the Red Devil Sect could journey alongside those from the first echelon.

The disciples of the Fiend Sect and Filthy Spirit Sect were still here, awaiting the arrival of representatives from the Seven Lower Sects to venture together into the deeper sea regions.

It was clear that the elders and disciples of the Fiend Sect and Filthy Spirit Sect gathered around Faang Yao were also lavishing him with praise and flattery.

Yu Yuan took a few more glances before turning his attention to the Blood God Cult's contingent. He noticed that the Blood God Cult's elders and disciples were not mingling on the same island as Faang Yao and his group; instead, they were positioned on a separate end.

The appearance of the Blood God Cult's members also caught Yu Yuan by surprise.

Ann Ziqing mentioned to him that disciples from the Blood God Cult were planning to descend into the Ember Waters, which struck Yu Yuan as odd.

The Blood God Cult was generally shunned, with many influential figures from both the Devil Palace and the Demon Hall openly expressing contempt for their cultivation practices.

Historically, followers of the Blood God Cult were nearly always barred from participating in such trials.

The presence of the Blood God Cult members this time signaled a shift—indicating that the upper echelons of the Devil Palace and the Demon Hall were beginning to recognize and accept the Blood God Cult.

"Could this have something to do with Ann Jieshan's return? She mentioned that upon his return, Ann Jieshan began to refine the Blood God Cult's techniques, eliminating some of the more extreme ones..."

Yu Yuan found himself reflecting on Ann Ziqing's words, speculating whether the Blood God Cult had undergone changes due to Ann Jieshan, leading to newfound respect from the Devil Palace and the Demon Hall.

Earlier, Ann Ziqing's conversation with the Devil Envoy of the Devil Palace had led to the Envoy agreeing to anchor the Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle and wait, which seemed to reflect a change in the Devil Palace's stance.

"The Red Devil Sect is poised to enter the first echelon. The Blood God Cult has always been formidable, only lacking recognition and facing oppression from both the Devil Palace and the Demon Hall. Now, with the Blood God Cult inching closer to these powers, coupled with the ancient Fiend Sect and Filthy Spirit Sect, the might of the Quietus Continent grows ever more formidable."

"Beyond these battle-thirsty factions, the Quietus Continent also hosts the Medicine God Sect, the Artifact Sect, and the Babel Chamber of Commerce."

"If they could truly unite under the influence of the Devil Palace and the Demon Hall's power, I fear..."

As Yu Yuan pondered this, a sense of foreboding weighed on him.

He was well-versed in the secrets of this realm, aware that when the Heavenly Source Continent and the Quietus Continent were evenly matched, conflicts were less likely to arise. They would live in harmony, jointly resisting the onslaught of the Heavenly Demons and the encroachment of various other races.

Should the balance of power between the two continents become severely skewed, or if external threats were to vanish, internal conflicts could erupt.

Each civil war is catastrophic, with innumerable casualties.

A civil war between the Heavenly Source Continent and the Quietus Continent would have far-reaching consequences, devastating the Boundless Land and potentially involving beings from the Yang God to the Freedom, and even those at the Primordial Spirit Stage.

They could perish in the upheaval!

Countless others at the Soul Wandering Stage, Yin God Stage, and Penetrating Stage might also fall.

Some sects may never recover from such turmoil, or they could be wiped out entirely!

Yu Yuan observed that the Quietus Continent's power was consolidating, growing increasingly dominant.

At the Demon Palace, the emergence of the Demon God Sky Tiger and Yu Zhu was notable, as was the Red Devil Sect's unveiling of a Primordial Spirit and the conspicuous actions of the Demonic Seed, Zhou Cangmin.

With Ann Jieshan's return to the Blood God Cult, the Demon Palace began attempts to integrate the Blood God Cult into the mainstream.

Should the Demon Palace convince the Medicine God Sect, the Artifact Sect, and the Babel Chamber of Commerce to abandon their neutrality, the Quietus Continent's formidable power could utterly overshadow that of the Heavenly Source Continent.

"No, it can't be, it shouldn't be. The external enemy still exists."

Yu Yuan shook his head, banishing the dreadful notion, and continued to survey the evolving situation.

"Now that everyone has arrived, there's no need to delay any further."

A piercing voice echoed from a bone-constructed pavilion on the massive island housing the Demon Palace.

Simultaneously, a figure emerged from the pavilion.

Upon exiting, she glanced around, her gaze landing on Yu Yuan. She offered a smile and a nod in acknowledgment.

"Aunt Xu!" Lau Ying exclaimed.

Yu Yuan, taken aback to see her, returned the nod from a distance as a form of greeting.

Xu Zixi had already been in the Ember Waters for some time, engaging in conversation with the Demon Palace's Great Cultivator on their island stronghold.

Yu Yuan's keen senses picked up on something in the brief moment Xu Zixi nodded to him: the probing soul thoughts of a Great Cultivator from both the Devil Palace and the Demon Palace had descended upon them simultaneously.