C424 Yu Yuan's Devil Power!!

"Where did this guy come from? Spouting endless nonsense!"

"Senior Sister Lu, I suggest we expel him and leave him to his fate!"

"This man's reckless words within the pearl are causing widespread panic!"

The survivors from the Ebon Star, Sunlit Order, and Sword Sect all glared at Yu Yuan, hurling accusations at him.

Over at the Ruby Hand, despite their displeasure with Yu Yuan, they remained silent due to Hou Tianzhao's earlier overtures of friendship.

The trial-takers standing behind Qi Nandou of the Skyblight Cult also wore grim expressions.

Yu Yuan had barely set foot inside the pearl and had already managed to offend everyone.

Most within the pearl were still clinging to the hope that the guardians of the Devil Palace and Shadow's Keep would sense the trouble and descend in time to lend aid.

Yu Yuan's words had effectively dashed their hopes, plunging them into a sense of impending doom.

"Madman."

Tang Cen, with a cold expression, addressed the people from the Sunlit Order and Winter's Bite, "Does he really think his words can change anything? Seeking attention at a time like this is unwise."

Watching Yu Yuan alienate everyone upon his arrival only diminished Tang Cen's opinion of him further.

He then pondered, "What stroke of luck allowed this kid to integrate a Horcrux into his being, almost catching me off guard during our first encounter?"

He didn't consider the possibility of Yu Yuan practicing some extraordinary Spirit Magic or that his own three souls were powerful; he simply thought Yu Yuan was relying on external forces.

"Could it be happening again?" Lin Zhuyun murmured to herself.

A wave of déjà vu washed over her, reminiscent of the time back in the Moonfall Sanctuary, where Yu Yuan, despite being less capable than the others, slowly but surely gained significant influence, earning genuine respect and a following.

Amidst the criticism, Lu Baichan fell into contemplation. At that moment, a tall figure from the Sword Sect, exuding a calm demeanor, felt a sudden stir.

He was Kong Banbi, the leading trial-taker of the Sword Sect, in the early period of Subtlety.

Yu Yuan gripped the sword sheath as he entered the Nebula Gem, his gaze fixed on it in silence, his brow furrowed in concentration. It wasn't until he placed the sheath into the Bracelet of Holding that he finally exhaled a long sigh of relief, as if a great weight had been lifted from his heart, leaving him feeling significantly lighter.

"Why would you say that?"

Kong Banbi stepped forward from among the Sword Sect's trial-takers, positioning himself alongside Tang Cen directly in front of Yu Yuan with a stern look on his face. "Do you have any proof to back that up?" he asked earnestly.

"Why even bother with him, Kong Banbi?" a plump-faced young girl from the Sword Sect huffed dismissively.

Kong Banbi let out a soft snort, and the rest of the Sword Sect survivors fell silent.

He continued to scrutinize Yu Yuan. "You can't just spout nonsense without any evidence."

Yu Yuan couldn't help but chuckle at the serious man before him, a fellow disciple of the Sword Sect like Chen Qingyan. "So, do you think I'm exaggerating without cause?" he asked.

After a moment's thought, Kong Banbi replied, "No, I don't believe you are."

"I don't believe it either!" Hou Tianzhao bellowed, drawing everyone's attention before turning to Lu Baichan. "I stand by what I said. Stop worrying about the other survivors! I'm not sure if the situation above the sea is as dire as Yu Yuan suggests, with the elders unable to fend for themselves."

"I just believe that staying submerged for an extended period is not a viable strategy!"

"That entity will surely find us! And when it does, we will all perish!"

Sects from the Land of Quiescence, such as the Ruby Hand and Skyblight Cult, adhere to the brutal rule of survival of the fittest, showing no regard for sect camaraderie. To them, the deceased disciples and seniors were merely a testament to their own incompetence, and they gave them no second thought.

However, sects like the Ebon Star, Sunlit Order, and the Sword Sect showed a bit more compassion for their fellow members. Lu Baichan, in particular, couldn't shake the feeling that not all the disciples she had bid farewell to were gone. She harbored the hope of finding and rescuing any remaining sect members.

"I don't want to stay at the bottom of the sea..."

Yu Yuan spoke again, his tone and gaze dripping with scorn and mockery.

"From the depths to the surface, the Azure Veil stands in the way. How can you be sure of its vast expanse? And how do you know whether the Azure Veil doesn't shroud the entire seabed of the Embers Sea?"

His words were directed at Hou Tianzhao, who was desperate to flee.

Upon hearing this, Hou Tianzhao's face stiffened, and he forced a strained smile.

His smile was so pained it was worse than tears. "Brother Yu, surely it can't be as dire as you're suggesting?"

"Brother Hou, we hit it off from the start, so I won't keep anything from you," Yu Yuan sighed deeply, his voice laden with sincerity. "I've just returned from the very edge of the Embers Sea. And truth be told, the Azure Veil is there too, making escape impossible."

"Ah!"

Hou Tianzhao of the Ruby Hand slumped onto the iridescent light curtain, lamenting, "I'm done for! I never should have come to the Embers Sea! After spending so long at Ruby Hand, constantly purified by fiery magma, I thought I'd take a break and relax here."

"If I had known it would come to this, I would've stayed and diligently continued refining my spiritual sense."

Kong Banbi of the Sword Sect, after hearing Yu Yuan's revelation, fell into silence once more.

After a moment, he shook his head and withdrew back to the midst of the Sword Sect's survivors.

"Is that the truth?"

Lu Baichan of the Ebon Star asked, her lips quivering as if echoing her inner turmoil.

Her voluptuous figure and exquisite face were set against a backdrop of light that flickered with intense disturbance—mirroring the storm within her heart.

"Undoubtedly," Yu Yuan assured her, his gaze then sweeping over the group, "This Nebula Gem seems to specialize in defense and the accumulation of spiritual energy, not in offense. Therefore, it's nearly impossible for it to break through the Azure Veil. Does anyone possess any extraordinary rare treasures capable of earth-shattering feats?"

"I'm referring to those capable of breaking enchantments and delivering attacks at or above the seventh heavenly level."

According to my communication with the Abyssal Leviathan and its knowledge of the Azure Veil, only an artifact of at least the seventh heavenly grade, renowned for its fierce and piercing power, might stand a chance of penetrating the light screen.

The sword sheath held a sword light and sword's will with remarkable abilities.

Yet, these were remnants of the Moon Slayer, a great cultivator's legacy.

Their use was finite; once depleted, they could not be replenished or reformed.

Yu Yuan's venture into the Nebula Gem was to ascertain whether members of esteemed sects like the Ruby Hand and the Skyblight Cult possessed such wondrous items.

"A treasure of the seventh heavenly level, with a focus on fierce offensive capabilities..."

"Typically, only those in the Solar Spirit Realm of major sects are entitled to wield such items."

"Where could we possibly find one?"

A collective sigh and rueful head-shaking from the group made it clear they were at a loss.

"Liu Ying!"

"The Starmoon Sect's Fallen Star Eyes should meet the criteria!"

"If we find Liu Ying, there's hope!"

Qi Nandou of the Skyblight Cult was the first to have this epiphany.

Promptly, everyone's demeanor brightened, and they echoed in unison.

Yu Yuan, having suggested this to provoke deeper thought, felt reassured when they finally mentioned the Fallen Star Eyes, concurring, "Indeed, the Fallen Star Eyes might possess such strength!"

"I'll go find her!" Lu Baichan resolved.

She ceased her aimless wandering and search for survivors, focusing instead on Liu Ying and the Fallen Star Eyes, just as Yu Yuan had hoped.

Yu Yuan had revealed that the entire seabed of the Embers Sea was shrouded by the so-called "Azure Veil." To break free, their only hope lay in a Divine Weapon capable of penetrating the confining barrier.

Liu Ying of the Starmoon Sect was widely recognized as a future leader, having been granted the Fallen Star Eyes early on.

Lu Baichan was far from foolish. Upon learning that the "Azure Veil" enveloped the whole Embers Sea, not just its surface, she committed to heeding the advice.

The Nebula Gem's trajectory accelerated, streaking through the water like a beam of light.

Lin Zhuyun of Winter's Bite, her gaze icy and proud, felt a surge of mixed emotions, thinking to herself, "As expected, it's just as I surmised."

She felt as though history was repeating itself.

Yu Yuan, undeniably less powerful than everyone else, with neither exceptional cultivation nor combat prowess, always managed to rise to the occasion when disaster struck. He had a way of getting others to embrace his ideas and follow his lead, earning their trust and obedience.

Lu Baichan, Hou Tianzhao, Kong Banbi—weren't they all superior to him in both cultivation and status?

Yet, the current turn of events had Lu Baichan discarding her initial plan to search alone, instead wielding the Nebula Gem to seek out Liu Ying.

After all, it was Liu Ying who had accompanied Yu Yuan into the sea. Surely, it was Yu Yuan's suggestion to look for Liu Ying, wasn't it?

"How does he possess such an ability, or should I call it a charm?" Lin Zhuyun was brimming with bewilderment, as if a jar containing a mix of flavors had been knocked over, flooding her with a rush of emotions.

"Yu, my dear friend, come over here, let's get to know each other better, let's chat!" Hou Tianzhao beamed with a radiant, friendly smile, a stark contrast to his demeanor with Qi Nandou. He eagerly reached out to Yu Yuan, engaging him in animated conversation.

​