C411 He Explored Alone

Yu Yuan sought refuge in the Ember Waters to escape the spotlight. Staying in the Absence Relic made him too conspicuous, drawing the intense scrutiny of both the seven lower sects and the three upper sects, all because of his ties to Yu Zhu.

Without Yu Zhu by his side, the peculiar occurrences in the Absence Relic wouldn't be linked to him. Yu Yuan was well-acquainted with the Ember Waters, aware of three enigmatic locations that even the mighty cultivators from the Demon and Devil Palaces couldn't penetrate.

Other sects' disciples were at the seabed of the Ember Waters, learning to identify the oddities, spiritual materials, and precious crystals from other realms. Observing the meteorites from beyond the sky broadened their horizons, preparing them for the day they might condense their Yang God and venture beyond the starry sea without ignorance.

Yet, Yu Yuan found little fascination with the treasures of the Ember Waters' depths. He knew that the meteors and exotic stones hurtling toward the Boundless Land were already under the vigilant gaze of the powerful cultivators stationed there year-round. Across the vast expanse, at the edges of the starry sky's barrier, stood the Unrestrained Stage cultivators and Yang Gods from various sects, ever-watchful.

Moreover, a Primordial Spirit or Demon God of Divine Level was always present in the outer realms. Any meteor or meteor shower approaching the Boundless Land was subject to the soulful inspection of these celestial sentinels, ready to obliterate any alien beings or spirits on sight.

Should any astonishing rare stones, sentient crystals, or exotic flora truly exist, they'd be claimed by these high-level cultivators long before reaching the Boundless Land, leaving nothing for those below.

With this knowledge, Yu Yuan's interest in the Ember Waters' curiosities remained tepid. His focus was on cultivating, on reopening the Yellow Court Stage within his own microcosm, and on the breakthroughs that were paramount during his time in the Ember Waters.

As Yu Yuan and Lau Ying explored together, they seemed indifferent to their surroundings, paying little attention to the stunning corals, vibrant fish, and the occasional rare stones, shells, and clear crystals beneath the sea.

Lau Ying's words would enter Yu Yuan's ears, but he wouldn't take them to heart.

Without deploying a Starlight Barrier, Lau Ying moved through the water with the grace of a fish, her body stretching as she propelled herself forward with gentle bursts of Star Energy from her feet.

She would weave her voice into threads, sharing stories and thoughts with Yu Yuan as they traveled.

Beside her, a dazzling orb of starlight kept close company, shifting from left to right, shining brilliantly. This orb was the Fallen Star Eyes, miniaturized a million times, serving as Lau Ying's eyes and connecting to her very soul, even deep beneath the sea.

The Fallen Star Eyes possessed a unique vision, capable of discerning the finest details and sensing the stirrings of life. They could detect any peculiar object with significant energy fluctuations or any exotic plant with a sentient presence within a certain range.

Lau Ying had claimed that accompanying her offered many benefits, and it was no empty boast.

Earlier, a group of about ten practitioners from the Silver Moon Sect had descended and scattered. Now, drawn by the radiant starlight, they were converging one by one.

The sect's practitioners recognized the wonder of their sacred relics, gathering as if summoned by Lau Ying's call.

Curiosity filled their gazes as they observed Yu Yuan, who swam through the sea without a breathing apparatus. Initially, his movements were uncoordinated and comical, lacking balance and control.

Gradually, Yu Yuan mastered his movements, harnessing his spiritual power to regulate his buoyancy and weight, eventually finding his equilibrium.

The tiny bubbles emerging from Yu Yuan's skin revealed his true nature; he possessed a Yuan body, which allowed him to navigate the waters freely without the aid of breathing gear.

"This region was once part of the Ember Waters," he mused. "I doubt there's anything of value left to find here."

Lau Ying activated her Spiritual Spell, and specks of starlight burst forth from her mouth, twinkling like hundreds of fireflies as they danced towards the trial participants of the Silver Moon Sect.

Amidst the flurry of starlight, her elegant form seemed to embody a celestial goddess from the far reaches of the Outland Star River.

She projected her voice in a wide arc, ensuring that every member of the Silver Moon Sect could hear her clearly.

The cultivators nodded in understanding, signaling to her that they would heed her guidance and follow her lead.

Their trust in Lau Ying was strong, but their faith in the Fallen Star Eyes was even stronger.

Lau Ying acknowledged their response with a nod and took the lead at the forefront of the group. As she swam, she wrapped her voice in star energy, broadcasting her message far and wide.

Yu Yuan, close by her side, seemed uninterested in listening.

He was already familiar with the many rare stones they had encountered along the way, possessing a deeper and more detailed knowledge than Lau Ying offered.

Yu Yuan's thoughts were elsewhere, focused on finding a secluded spot within the Ember Waters where he could practice his cultivation undisturbed.

Unnoticed by others, he was intent on advancing to the Yellow Court Stage through the practice of the Glorious Heavenly Wheel.

Time flew by swiftly.

The Silver Moon Sect, led by Lau Ying, occasionally crossed paths with cultivators from other sects. With the Demon Palace and Devil Palace's high-ranking officials keeping watch, the groups parted ways upon meeting, each continuing on their separate paths.

This was because they were traversing the oldest regions of the Ember Waters, far from where the new stars had fallen.

Suddenly, Yu Yuan, who had been swimming alongside Lau Ying, came to a halt.

The Silver Moon Sect cultivators trailing behind him also stopped, puzzled, and turned their gazes toward him in curiosity.

Lau Ying, sensing his abrupt pause, gracefully ceased her motion in the water and turned to face him. Her bright eyes sparkled as she focused her voice and inquired, "What's the matter?"

"Lau Ying, you're heading to the area where the new star fragments have fallen. I have a rough idea of the location," Yu Yuan said, his words accompanied by a flicker of spiritual light. "I'd like to explore this ancient region a bit more. You go ahead, and I'll come to find you later."

"Shall I join you for a look around?" Lau Ying offered.

"No need," Yu Yuan said with a smile, shaking his head as he observed the trial participants from the Silver Moon Sect. "You know, with the guardians from the Demon Palace and Devil Palace around, there's nothing to worry about. Besides, this region is ancient; it's unlikely that anything of value has been overlooked or that I'll run into any conflicts."

"But..." Lau Ying hesitated, conflicted.

She had invited Yu Yuan to join her in the sea, with the best of intentions, hoping to offer him assistance and guidance through the wonders of the Fallen Star Eyes, and to ensure everyone reaped benefits from the journey.

Now, shortly after their descent into the sea, Yu Yuan, still acclimating to navigating the waters in his Nascent Soul form, proposed they part ways for a time.

As the leader of the trial participants, Lau Ying couldn't neglect the other members of her sect to focus solely on Yu Yuan.

"I'll come find you later. Let's leave it at that."

Amidst Lau Ying's uncertainty, Yu Yuan chuckled and parted with those words, breaking away from the Silver Moon Sect's group to swim off in his chosen direction.

"Yu Yuan!" Lau Ying called out, but he seemed not to hear, simply waving goodbye without looking back.

"Senior Sister Lau, don't worry," a charming young girl reassured her, her hands casting moonlight. "He's right. This place is ancient. Anything that could have been found here has already been discovered. No one lingers in these parts for long."

"Plus, this area is under the watchful eye of the Devil Palace and Demon Palace. Any disturbance or signs of battle would be quickly detected."

Comforted by these words, Lau Ying watched Yu Yuan's departure in silence, letting out a soft sigh before saying, "Let's move on."

She resumed her role as guide, leading the group toward the site of the meteor's fall, while Yu Yuan's figure receded into the distance.

Half an hour later, Yu Yuan paused in a section of the water, his gaze fixed on the remains of a wrecked ship.

This vessel was larger and broader than both the Silver Rainbow Magic Shuttle and the Fallen Star Eyes, its dark form resting silently on the ocean floor like a slumbering behemoth.

The ship's hull was riddled with dense cracks, the unmistakable marks of being slashed through by a blade.

The hull was adorned with numerous mysterious runes, resembling various birds and beasts, each etched with such precision that they seemed to spring to life.

"This sunken ship is an object from beyond our world, having descended alongside a shard of a star to its resting place here."

…