C421 Tears of the Azurefiend!!

"Tears of the Azurefiend?"

Yu Yuan had no recollection of such an item, which meant that in his previous life, despite traversing the three continents and uncovering many secrets, he had never come across it.

"It's extraterrestrial, like you?" he inquired with curiosity.

"Yes!" responded the Abyssal Leviathan promptly. "The Tears of the Azurefiend, too, hail from beyond our world. However, it arrived after I did. I was subdued by the ancient demon race and confined to this region of the sea for many years before it descended here."

"Go on, tell me more," urged Yu Yuan.

"I'm afraid you don't have the luxury of time for such tales."

The consciousness of the Abyssal Leviathan seemed to strengthen somewhat, sensing no ill intent from Yu Yuan, who had refrained from using his sword sheath against it.

"It has slain many of your fellow trial-takers," the Abyssal Leviathan added.

"Many trial-takers have perished?" A ripple of concern passed through Yu Yuan's Heart Lake as images of Liu Ying, Su Yan, Yan Lu, and a few others surfaced in his mind.

These were the few individuals he had formed close bonds with, the ones he genuinely cared about.

"The trial-takers at the sea's depths have died, but what of the guardians from Shadow's Keep and Devil Palace above the waves?"

Upon reflection, he began to question the Abyssal Leviathan's claims. "I've encountered the cultivators from Shadow's Keep and Devil Palace. Given their level of cultivation and combat prowess, it's highly unlikely they wouldn't notice the Tears of the Azurefiend inflicting harm on the trial-takers!"

"You're underestimating the power of the Tears of the Azurefiend," came the mocking retort from the Abyssal Leviathan's consciousness. "Hei Xun possesses the cultivation of a Solar Spirit, and Dusk Raven is an eighth-level archdemon, yet that is the extent of their might! Once the Tears of the Azurefiend breaks its seal, neither Hei Xun nor Dusk Raven can contend with it!"

"Are the Tears of the Azurefiend truly that formidable?" Yu Yuan's expression darkened.

"It was never meant to break its seal. The recent meteor shower from the extraterrestrial realm must have triggered something, aiding its release," the Abyssal Leviathan explained, choosing its words carefully. "The relics related to the Tears of the Azurefiend, scattered across the Everlands and the three continents, are likely converging here, drawn by the news of its awakening."

"What?" Yu Yuan's heart sank.

"Everyone gathered in the Embers Sea, whether from the Devil Palace or Shadow's Keep, including sect elders, will struggle to escape the region once the Tears of the Azurefiend break the seal," the Abyssal Leviathan stated decisively. "They have no idea how terrifying the Tears of the Azurefiend are, or even what it is!"

"What is it?" Yu Yuan demanded.

"The Tears of the Azurefiend is the last Blood Altar of the Azurefiend lineage!" The Abyssal Leviathan snorted, the cool crescent moon hanging in the sky casting a disdainful glow. "Explaining won't help; you wouldn't understand! Do you even know what a Blood Altar is? Do you know its purpose?"

"Just know that the Tears of the Azurefiend are incredibly dangerous and will kill everyone!"

"Including me!"

With that realization, the Abyssal Leviathan paused, noticing Yu Yuan's silence.

"The sword's will and light contained within your scabbard can't reach their full potential in your hands. Honestly, it's unlikely that the scabbard could counter the Tears of the Azurefiend. However, it might just be able to penetrate the Azure Veil that shrouds the entire Embers Sea."

"If we could pierce the Azure Veil and burst forth from the sealed domain of the Tears of the Azurefiend, perhaps we could escape."

"Young man, what if we join forces? You exit my belly, retaining the scabbard's power, and I'll take you to the very edge of the Tears of the Azurefiend's reach. You break through the Azure Veil, and together we'll escape the Embers Sea. We can all survive and gain our freedom."

The Abyssal Leviathan patiently laid out its plan to Yu Yuan.

It explained that it had awoken and spoken so much only to break free from the Tears of the Azurefiend's seal over the Embers Sea. It wanted Yu Yuan to wield the power within the scabbard to rupture the Azure Veil, ensuring survival for both of them.

After it finished speaking, Yu Yuan remained silent, deep in thought for a long while.

Yu Yuan's expression was gravely serious, a flicker of unusual light sparking in his eyes as he weighed his options.

"Kid? Kid?" The Abyssal Leviathan, leveraging the chilling light of the crescent moon, intensified the vibrations of its consciousness, urging Yu Yuan not to dwell too long on his thoughts at this critical moment. Moments later, Yu Yuan's form shuddered slightly, and he awoke.

He gazed once more at the crescent moon, took a deep breath, and spoke with a grave tone, "The Azurefiend, is it a faction of the Star-Spawned Terror?"

"Yes," came the reply.

"Why have I never heard of it before?"

"The Azurefiend, like the Moonfiend Clan, were among the first wave of Star-Spawned Terrors when human cultivators and evilkind began their incursions into the Star River. They were determined to exterminate the human cultivators. The first formidable forces that the human cultivators and the evilkind faced in the Star River were them."

"The advance of the human cultivators was unstoppable, and both the Azurefiend and Moonfiend races suffered catastrophic defeats."

"The Azurefiend Race fared even worse than the Moonfiend Race. After several brutal battles in the Star River, they were nearly wiped out."

"In this age, the Azurefiend Race has become so ancient that they are nearly forgotten. Your generation of human cultivators is unlikely to encounter the Azurefiend Race in extraterrestrial realms."

"That's why it's normal for you to have never heard of the Azurefiend Race. Your mentors and elders have neither heard of nor seen them," explained the Abyssal Leviathan.

"So, the Tears of the Azurefiend is the Blood Altar of the Azurefiend Race?" Yu Yuan exclaimed.

"Exactly."

"I understand now."

Yu Yuan's expression turned exceedingly grim at this revelation, "The Devil Palace and Shadow's Keep have some nerve, to actually imprison a Blood Altar of the Star-Spawned Terror and place it at the bottom of the Embers Sea! Do they not realize the catastrophe that could ensue if a Blood Altar were to be unleashed?"

"Young man! You're actually aware of the Blood Altar of the Star-Spawned Terror?" The Abyssal Leviathan was taken aback, "Given your age, level of cultivation, status, and experience, it's highly unlikely you'd have access to such a closely guarded secret of the Star-Spawned Terror."

"What does it matter how I came to know of it!" Yu Yuan huffed, "I'm heading out now. After you've freed yourself, find me by the sunken ship outside!"

He was aware that the "Tears of the Azurefiend" was actually the Azurefiend's "Blood Altar," and he could roughly surmise the peril that the Embers Sea would face if the seal was broken.

It was in his best interest to leave sooner rather than later.

The disaster unfolding in the Embers Sea was beyond his control or influence.

Escape was clearly the most prudent option.

"Don't rush off! Please, help me!"

The Abyssal Leviathan grew desperate upon seeing his eagerness to depart. "Just destroy one of the ancient totem-poles of the evilkind! Just one! Shatter one and the totem within it! With one pole damaged, the rune circle will be incomplete, and I'll be able to break free much more easily."

"Assist you in a swift escape?"

Yu Yuan, clutching his sword sheath, cast a sidelong glance at the chilly crescent moon and said, "I don't actually need your help. I can exit through your belly and find my way to the edge of the Embers Sea. With this sword sheath, I can still penetrate the 'Azure Veil' and flee from the domain covered by the Tears of the Azurefiend."

"Your size is too large; you're too conspicuous. You might inadvertently make me a primary target."

He shook his head gently.

"We should go our separate ways. You focus on your escape, while I'll use the power within the sword sheath to break through the 'Azure Veil.' I appreciate the information about the Tears of the Azurefiend. Rest assured, I'll take good care of myself."

With those words, Yu Yuan feigned a thrust toward the silver-white stern rudder, signaling his intent to depart from the belly of the Abyssal Leviathan.

"Stop! I implore you! I can be of use to you!"

The consciousness of the Abyssal Leviathan became tumultuous in an instant. "Young man! I am certain you need me! The sunfire, you need that, don't you? You need to assimilate it for your cultivation, right? Moreover, there are treasures within me! And I've been on an island in the Embers Sea for eons; I'm familiar with everything here!"

"I am the Abyssal Leviathan, a colossal creature of the cosmos! Shrinking my form and escaping is a trivial matter for me!"

This 'great fish,' having been confined for untold years, was now on the cusp of freedom, its consciousness emanating waves of urgency and intensity.

"Speak up, what can you offer me?" Yu Yuan pressed, his impatience evident.

​