C423 Stop Dreaming!!

The young man was strikingly handsome with a tall, lean build. Dressed in a black robe, his black hair cascaded over his shoulders. Swimming through the sea without any spiritual energy to shield him, he wore a carefree smile, seemingly oblivious to the earth-shattering events that had transpired on the islands of the Embers Sea.

Clutched in his hand was an ancient sword sheath, its blade missing. Nearby, a bizarre fish about half a meter long sported two rows of sharp teeth, and its back was studded with stone tridents resembling chopsticks. One eye was a vivid red, the other a luminous white. As the fish's eyes swiveled, a mysterious light danced within them, giving the impression of a creature brimming with intelligence, as if deep in thought.

"Yu Yuan!" Tang Cen let out a cold snort upon catching sight of him. Frowning, he remarked, "In this chaos, how can he still be among the living?"

"He was with Liu Ying from the Starmoon Sect!" Qi Nandou from the Skyblight Cult chuckled with evident interest. "Odd, why isn't he with Liu Ying now? She possesses the Fallen Star Eyes; he should be sticking close to her."

"What's his name?" Hou Tianzhao, with a copper ring dangling from his earlobe and a broad, bare chest, found the name familiar and inquired once more.

"It appears to be Yu Yuan," Qi Nandou replied, stroking his chin while appraising Yu Yuan. "Your Ruby Hand, along with the three upper sects, the Devil Palace, and Shadow's Keep, descended first, so you missed his arrival. He and Liu Ying from the Starmoon Sect, along with the seven lower sects, came after you had entered the sea. He was part of our group when we ventured into the depths."

At that, Qi Nandou snickered, nudging Hou Tianzhao with his shoulder and gesturing towards Tang Cen. "Look, have you noticed that girl from Winter's Bite? Her name is Lin Zhuyun, and she's rumored to be Yu Yuan's betrothed. And Lin Zhuyun? She's the object of Tang Cen's affection. Isn't that intriguing?"

Qi Nandou's presence was marked by his finely drawn, colored eyebrows and unnaturally bright red lips. The spells and techniques practiced by the Skyblight Cult were eccentric and unorthodox, not widely accepted by the common folk.

Despite being a man, Qi Nandou's behavior carried a certain softness.

Hou Tianzhao, who had just been nudged by Qi Nandou's shoulder, quickly stepped back. His hands, ablaze with spiritual energy, were cautious not to ignite the spot he'd been touched. Annoyed, he snapped, "Just talk, don't crowd me! Do that again, and I won't be so polite!"

With a look of grievance, Qi Nandou replied, "Got it, got it."

"Since you two are acquainted and here for the Embers Sea trial, I'll call him over."

Lu Baichan, astride the Nebula Gem, exuded the grace of a well-bred lady. Her voluptuous figure, delicate skin, and evenly distributed flesh made her face as captivating as an ink wash painting.

Her gown shimmered with iridescent clouds, complementing the Nebula Gem that seemed to become one with her.

Lu Baichan, reminiscent of a celestial nymph, possessed early Subtlety stage cultivation. As a trial-taker for the Ebon Star, she was somewhat renowned across Euwrea.

A native of Euwrea, Lu Baichan was considered fortunate, though her innate talent for cultivation was modest.

Her parents, once counselors of the Ebon Star, had perished in battle shortly after her birth.

In recognition of her parents' contributions, the Ebon Star had been generous to her, bestowing upon her the Nebula Gem, a rare treasure that not only shielded her but also aided in her cultivation.

Yet her progress was slow compared to the Ebon Star's true prodigies, and she was occasionally outpaced by those brought over from Aetherius.

Her exceptional beauty was of little advantage within the Ebon Star or Euwrea.

Lacking remarkable talent, she could not hope to reach the highest echelons of cultivation and was at risk of fading into obscurity within the sect.

This was likely why she had been sent to the Embers Sea for her trial.

"Yu Yuan..."

Hou Tianzhao of the Ruby Hand, toying with the copper ring on his earlobe, let out a low chuckle.

A vibrant arc of light burst forth from the Nebula Gem, stretching out toward Yu Yuan like a dazzling pathway. Inside the gem, Lu Baichan beckoned gently and nodded at him, signaling for him to enter.

Yu Yuan glanced at the radiant path and then at the stunning Lu Baichan within the orb, who resembled a fairy in colorful attire. His eyes sparkled as he smiled and respectfully gestured with his hands before stepping onto the path.

"Is that fish one of the evilkind?" Qi Nandou of the Skyblight Cult squinted, eyeing the odd fish skewered on a stone trident. He looked puzzled. "I don't recall such a member of the evilkind in the sea."

"Why concern yourself with such matters?" Hou Tianzhao shot him a look and abruptly stepped forward from the group of Ruby Hand disciples, calling out, "Yu, come join us! I've taken a liking to you right from the start!"

His words left many within the Nebula Gem dumbfounded. Hou Tianzhao's sudden warmth seemed too peculiar, almost as if he harbored ulterior motives.

Hou Tianzhao, a member of the Ruby Hand, was at the middle period of the Subtlety Stage, just like Tang Cen of the Sunlit Order. Although not of noble birth like Tang Cen, Hou Tianzhao was nonetheless a prominent figure among the Ruby Hand's younger generation. Known for his outward cordiality and ruthless actions, it was common knowledge that the Ruby Hand and the Sunlit Order were sworn enemies, naturally opposed to each other.

Thus, when they witnessed Hou Tianzhao's unexpected warmth and recalled Qi Nandou's remarks, they suspected he was deliberately provoking Tang Cen, aiming to irk him rather than genuinely appreciating Yu Yuan or seeing him as a kindred spirit.

"And you are?" Yu Yuan stepped into the Nebula Gem, eyeing Hou Tianzhao with curiosity.

The Abyssal Leviathan that had accompanied him, now devoid of seawater, floated eerily in the void.

"I hail from the Ruby Hand; my name is Hou Tianzhao!"

"Ruby Hand..." Yu Yuan allowed a wry smile to play across his lips before laughing softly.

With a nod, he made his way directly toward Hou Tianzhao. As he walked, he glanced at Tang Cen and Lin Zhuyun, whose expression was frosty, and cheerfully remarked, "What a coincidence to encounter you two again. Impressive, truly impressive. You're both quite resilient, having survived it all."

Tang Cen declared, "I've always been one to defy the odds!"

Lin Zhuyun opted not to engage.

"Is your name Yu Yuan?" Lu Baichan's curiosity was piqued by his remark. "Are you aware of what transpired? I've heard that you and Liu Ying from the Starmoon Sect descended into the sea together. Where is she now? The Fallen Star Eyes is a more advanced artifact than my Nebula Gem. Her chances of survival at the bottom of the sea should be greater than mine."

"After we went into the sea, we parted ways," Yu Yuan responded nonchalantly, his attention shifting to the trial-takers from various sects. By their attire and positioning, he deduced their origins and affiliations.

The Ruby Hand and Skyblight Cult were grouped on one side, with the others on the opposite side. The sects from the Land of Quiescence and Euwrea were clearly delineated, accustomed to this clear-cut separation.

"The Sunlit Order, Ebon Star Sect, Sword Sect, Ruby Hand, and Skyblight Cult are all clustered together. But what of the Devil Palace and Shadow's Keep? Are Liu Ying, Yan Lu, and the rest united? Given that Lu Baichan is aware of the upheaval beneath the sea, Liu Ying should also be alert, right? If I'm to leave, if I'm to take anyone with me, it shouldn't be them."

Yu Yuan mulled over his next move, considering how to reach out to Liu Ying. He had ties with Liu Ying, Su Yan, and Yan Lu and intended to take them with him when he escaped the Azure Veil, securing a path to safety for them all.

"You're clear on what occurred at the sea's bottom, aren't you?" Lu Baichan pressed.

Hou Tianzhao also fixed his gaze on Yu Yuan, hanging on her words.

"I'm aware," Yu Yuan confirmed with a slight nod. "An extraterrestrial object has been wreaking havoc at the seabed. Yes, many have likely perished, and I suspect more will follow."

He gestured upwards, "The same holds true above."

Lu Baichan's face darkened. "Don't spout such foolishness!"

Tang Cen chimed in sharply, "Enough with the alarmist talk!"

They all clung to the hope that the elders from the Devil Palace, Shadow's Keep, and the various sects would detect the anomalies beneath the sea and come to their rescue.

When Yu Yuan made that statement, wasn't he effectively dashing their last shred of hope?

"Nonsense?" Yu Yuan shook his head, casting a cold yet sympathetic glance at the trial-takers. He then slipped his sword sheath into the Bracelet of Holding and continued, "Everyone out on the sea—be it Devil Palace's Hei Xun, Shadow's Keep, or Ruby Hand's Faang Yao—will find it nearly impossible to escape the clutches of the Embers Sea!"

"If you're still holding out hope that they'll come to your rescue, I suggest you wake up from that fantasy."

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