C411 He Explored Alone

Yu Yuan sought refuge in the Embers Sea to escape the spotlight.

He was acutely aware that his presence in the Forgotten Ruins drew too much attention. The seven lower sects and the three upper sects would keep a close eye on him due to his association with Yu Zhu.

Without Yu Zhu by his side, the mysterious occurrences in the Forgotten Ruins would not be linked to him.

Yu Yuan was well-acquainted with the Embers Sea region and was privy to three enigmatic locations that even the cultivators from the Devil Palace and Shadow's Keep could not penetrate.

Trial-takers from other sects ventured to the seabed of the Embers Sea to familiarize themselves with the extraterrestrial oddities, magic items, and crystals.

They observed the starshards from beyond to expand their knowledge, preparing them for the day they might refine a Solar Spirit and venture beyond the starry sea, armed with understanding.

Yet, Yu Yuan's interest in the Embers Sea's hidden treasures was minimal.

He knew that the meteor showers and rare stones hurtling toward the Everlands would inevitably catch the attention of the cultivators stationed in the extraterrestrial realm.

Around the Everlands, cultivators of the Unbound and Solar Spirit realms guarded the starry sky wall, with at least one Divine Level cultivator or Dark Deity always present.

Any meteorite or meteor shower approaching the Everlands was scrutinized by these extraterrestrial cultivators' remnant souls. Alien souls or extraterrestrial beings were promptly destroyed upon detection.

Should any astonishing rare stones, spiritual senses, crystals, or alien flora exist, they would be claimed by the cultivators beyond the starry sky wall before even reaching the Everlands.

What chance would those below have to acquire such treasures?

Understanding the reality, Yu Yuan remained indifferent to the wonders beneath the Embers Sea.

His priorities in the Embers Sea lay in the cultivation and expansion of his Golden Sanctum's little world and the advancement of his realm.

Together with Liu Ying, he showed little interest in the island's beauty—the vibrant corals, colorful fish, occasional rare stones, and translucent crystals all went unnoticed by them.

Liu Ying's words fell on his ears, but Yu Yuan didn't take them to heart. Without deploying her cosmic energy shield, Liu Ying moved through the water with the grace of a fish, her body stretching fluidly. With a slight ejection of cosmic energy from her feet, she propelled herself forward with ease. Periodically, she employed telepathy to communicate something to Yu Yuan.

Beside her, a dazzling orb of starlight kept her company, now on her left, now on her right, shimmering brightly. This orb was the Fallen Star Eyes, miniaturized by a factor of thousands, and even at the bottom of the sea, it served as Liu Ying's eyes, linked to her spirit.

The Fallen Star Eyes possessed a unique vision that could discern the most subtle details and sense the stirrings of life. It could detect objects with significant energy fluctuations or exotic plants with remnant souls within a certain range.

Liu Ying had claimed that accompanying her offered numerous advantages, and she wasn't exaggerating. The Starmoon Sect's trial-takers, who had initially dispersed in various directions, were now gradually drawn to the radiant starlight, converging one by one.

Aware of the wonders of their sect's treasures, the trial-takers seemed to be summoned by Liu Ying, gathering around her. They cast curious glances at Yu Yuan, who swam in the sea unaided by a breathing apparatus. Initially, his movements were clumsy and comical, lacking a sense of balance and control.

Gradually, Yu Yuan mastered his movements, manipulating his spiritual energy to regulate his buoyancy and gravity, and he soon found his equilibrium. The tiny bubbles emerging from Yu Yuan's skin revealed to the onlookers that he possessed a Primal Body, enabling him to navigate the waters freely without the need for a breathing device.

"This region was once part of the Embers Sea," Liu Ying mused. "I doubt there's anything of value left to find."

With a flicker of her spell, Liu Ying released a cascade of starlight from her lips. The specks glinted like a swarm of fireflies, illuminating the path for the Starmoon Sect's trial-takers.

Her elegant form shimmered amidst the splashing starlight, making her appear as a celestial goddess from the depths of the extraterrestrial Star River. She projected her voice broadly, ensuring that every member of the Starmoon Sect could hear her. The others nodded in agreement, signaling to her that they understood and were ready for her to lead the way.

They trusted her, and even more so, they trusted the Fallen Star Eyes. Liu Ying nodded and took her position at the forefront of the group, her voice carrying far and wide, wrapped in cosmic energy.

Yu Yuan was close by, yet he paid little attention to her words. He was already well-acquainted with the many rare stones they had encountered along the way, even more so than Liu Ying.

His mind was preoccupied with finding a secluded spot within the Embers Sea where he could cultivate in peace, undisturbed, and continue to challenge the Golden Sanctum using the Nine Glories Wheel.

Time flew by swiftly. Liu Ying and the Starmoon Sect encountered other trial-takers along their journey. With cultivators from the Devil Palace and Shadow's Keep overseeing the area, the groups naturally parted ways upon meeting. They were, after all, traversing the most ancient parts of the Embers Sea, far from where the new starshards had fallen.

Suddenly, Yu Yuan, who had been swimming alongside Liu Ying, came to a halt. The Starmoon Sect trial-takers behind him also stopped, puzzled, and looked to him for an explanation. Sensing his abrupt pause, Liu Ying gracefully turned in the water, her luminous eyes capturing the light as she used telepathy to inquire, "What's the matter?"

"Liu Ying, you're heading to the new locations where the extraterrestrial starshards have fallen. I have a rough idea of where they are," Yu Yuan said, his words accompanied by a flicker of spiritual light. "I'd like to explore this ancient area a bit more. You go ahead, and I'll catch up with you later."

"Do you want me to stay and look around with you?" Liu Ying offered.

"No need," Yu Yuan replied with a smile, shaking his head. He addressed the Starmoon Sect trial-takers, "As you know, with the Devil Palace and Shadow's Keep watching over us, there's little chance of trouble. This area is ancient and unlikely to hold any undiscovered treasures, so I doubt I'll run into any conflicts."

"But..." Liu Ying found herself in a bit of a quandary.

She had invited Yu Yuan to join her in the Embers Sea with the best of intentions, hoping to leverage the wonders of the Fallen Star Eyes to provide him with some assistance and guidance, ensuring that everyone would reap some benefits.

However, they had only just begun their exploration of the sea, and Yu Yuan, still acclimating to navigating the waters in his Primal Body, had already suggested they part ways for a while.

As the leader of the trial-takers, she couldn't neglect the other members of her sect who were relying on her guidance with the Fallen Star Eyes. She couldn't devote all her time and energy solely to Yu Yuan.

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

As she hesitated, Yu Yuan chuckled and spoke those words, then he left the Starmoon Sect's group, choosing a direction and swimming off on his own.

"Yu Yuan!"

Liu Ying called out, but he ignored her, simply waving goodbye without looking back.

"Senior Sister Liu, there's no need to worry," a charming young girl reassured her, her hands casting moonlight. "He's right. This region is ancient. Anything that could have been discovered here has already been found. No one lingers in this area for long."

"Moreover, this place could easily draw the attention of those from the Devil Palace and Shadow's Keep. Any disturbance of spiritual energy or signs of battle will be quickly detected."

Comforted by these words, Liu Ying watched Yu Yuan's departure in silence, then let out a soft sigh, "Let's move on."

She resumed her role as the guide, leading the group towards the site of the meteor's fall.

Meanwhile, Yu Yuan was becoming a distant figure, gradually disappearing from her view.

Half an hour later.

Yu Yuan came to a halt in a stretch of water, his gaze fixed on a wrecked ship with intense concentration.

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

The ship's body was riddled with dense cracks, clearly inflicted by sharp blades.

Enigmatic runes, resembling birds and beasts, were etched across the hull, rendered with such realism they seemed to come alive.

"This ship is an artifact from beyond our world, having descended here with a starshard in tow."

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