C428 Yes I Haven't Given up Yet!!

Fallen Star Eyes.

Under Lau Ying's leadership, the other group of sea-bottom trial-takers was in utter disarray. Lau Ying, at the helm of the Fallen Star Eyes, wandered the ocean depths. Yet, the living creatures she could detect were dwindling rapidly.

It wasn't just the trial-takers from the various sects who were scarce; even fish were nearly impossible to find. The underwater world of the Ember Waters lay in eerie silence.

The trial-takers from the Cloud Water Sect, Ancient Desolate Sect, Blood God Cult, and Filthy Spirit Sect, all aboard the Fallen Star Eyes, wore grim expressions, their initial enthusiasm long gone.

Lau Ying had attempted to use the power of the Fallen Star Eyes to break through the barrier of light and escape the ocean's grasp, but to no avail. Trapped beneath the waves for an extended period, they slowly came to a stark realization: neither the guardians of the Demon Palace nor the Demon Palace above could rescue them. They were on their own, left to hope for the best.

Initially, Yan Lu had pinned his hopes on Yu Yuan, repeatedly urging Lau Ying to search for him. This had caused considerable discontent among the others.

As the Fallen Star Eyes continued its flight, and Lau Ying's search only uncovered the bodies of the deceased, even Yan Lu, who had always had unwavering faith in Yu Yuan, began to lose confidence. He feared that Yu Yuan, who was only of the Yellow Court realm, might have met with disaster without the Fallen Star Eyes.

"Lau Ying!" Fei Yi of the Demon Palace approached the weary Silver Moon Sect girl. "I know you've done so much for everyone. But I believe we no longer need to look for any survivors."

With that, he cast a glance at the members of the Cloud Water Sect, Ancient Desolate Sect, Blood God Cult, and Filthy Spirit Sect, who all nodded in agreement.

"What would you have me do?" Lau Ying asked, her spirit significantly drained from mentally maneuvering the Fallen Star Eyes through the sea's depths, her energy constantly ebbing away. With a detached look in her eyes, she continued, "Honestly, I'm out of confidence too. If you have any viable suggestions, I'm open to them."

"Activate the Fallen Star Eyes and depart from the Ember Waters," Fei Yi instructed.

At his words, a renewed sense of vigor swept through the crowd.

It was clear that hope for others had been abandoned; everyone was now solely focused on their own survival.

Concerns for fellow survivors or sect members had dissipated; they were no longer a priority.

"Escape?"

Lau Ying gently shook her head, her snow-white neck gleaming like polished jade. "The dark blue light barrier that shrouds these waters isn't just on the surface, but also surrounds us. I've been aware of it for some time..."

"I'm aware of the barrier at the sea's edge as well," Fei Yi acknowledged with a nod. "But I sense that the energy of the dark blue light at the periphery may be slightly weaker. Perhaps there's a chance?"

"Had I not wandered in search of survivors from the start, I could have harnessed eighty to ninety percent of the Fallen Star Eyes' power," Lau Ying said with a wistful sigh. "Now, even at full strength, I can only muster half of its potential."

"Only fifty percent?" Fei Yi was taken aback.

"Yes," Lau Ying confirmed with a nod. "With just half of the Fallen Star Eyes' power, I'm uncertain I can penetrate the dark blue energy barrier. And regardless of success, such an attempt would leave me wounded. The Fallen Star Eyes likely won't be able to ensure everyone's safe passage."

She paused, then added somberly, "That's the harsh truth."

Her words cast a pall of silence over the group.

Unbeknownst to them, she had already sacrificed much on their behalf.

Wielding the Fallen Star Eyes, she had dodged formidable life forces and tirelessly sought out any survivors, depleting her own vital energy in the process.

The Fallen Star Eyes, capable of drawing star power from the celestial bodies above, was now confined to the ocean's depths.

Unable to sustain its absorption of star energy from beneath the sea, the Fallen Star Eyes would be rendered powerless once its reserves were exhausted.

This was the reason she had refrained from deploying the Fallen Star Eyes initially, when the crisis was still ambiguous and the threat seemed less dire.

"If we could locate Yu Yuan, we might stand a chance at breaking through the Ember Waters' periphery and that dark blue light curtain!"

These words came not from Yan Lu, but from Lau Ying herself.

Under the astonished and bewildered stares of those around her, she spoke up once more: "I haven't taken the Fallen Star Eyes to the brink of the Ember Waters for a trial because, frankly, I'm not confident right now. The truth is, I'm still here, still holding on to hope! I know Yu Yuan has that kind of power!"

"Even I'm close to losing hope, and yet you persist!" Yan Lu exclaimed in disbelief.

Su Yan, also of the Silvermoon Empire, visibly shuddered at his words.

Lau Ying affirmed with a decisive nod, "Yes, I haven't given up yet!"

She had witnessed Yu Yuan's every action within the Absence Relic, observed as he pocketed the sheath that once adorned a platinum skeleton's skull.

The Fallen Star Eyes had sensed the dreadful sword light emanating from within that sheath.

She had also seen Yu Yuan, with a mere flick of his finger, direct a sword intent at an Asura's eyes in the Dark Domain—a sword intent that seemed to rip through the heavens and the earth.

It was these moments that cemented her belief in Yu Yuan's capabilities.

"I'm eager to meet this fellow," remarked the stocky, braided-haired youth from the Ancient Desolate Sect in his deep, resonant voice.

Prompted by Yan Lu and Lau Ying, the remnants of the Cloud Water Sect, Blood God Cult, and Filthy Spirit Sect found themselves gripped by an intense curiosity about the enigmatic Yu Yuan.

What was it about this man? What kind of charm or perhaps magic did he possess?

Why were Yan Lu, Lau Ying, and Su Yan—all acquainted with him—so convinced that, if he were still alive, he could lead them out of their dire straits and lend them aid?

What was the reason?

Those who were both curious and skeptical were left with a tangle of emotions.

"Eh?" Lau Ying's spirit rallied, her focus sharpening as she eyed the pristine stone platform before her. "The Profound Sky Sect's Rosy Jenny, belonging to Lu Baichan! They're within our reach!"

"Rosy Jenny?" Fei Yi raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. "Regardless of our affiliations, we trial-takers should set aside our past conflicts for now."

"Don't worry, I'm well aware," Lau Ying retorted with a pout.

The Fallen Star Eyes accelerated, closing in on the Rosy Jenny.

Moments later, the Fallen Star Eyes and the Rosy Jenny converged within the Ember Waters.

"Fallen Star Eyes, Lau Ying!"

"Fantastic! With the power of the Fallen Star Eyes, we should be able to break through the barrier and escape this place!"

The members of the Profound Sky Sect and the Primordial Yang Sect could hardly contain their excitement upon spotting the Fallen Star Eyes. They gestured eagerly towards the Rosy Jenny, their faces alight with joy.

Yu Yuan had mentioned that the Fallen Star Eyes, now in Lau Ying's possession, might very well shatter the boundary's seal and lead them to freedom. This prospect filled them with delight.

However, Lau Ying and Yan Lu's spirits sank when they realized that Yu Yuan was absent from the Rosy Jenny, under Lu Baichan's control. "Yu Yuan isn't here. Oh, how wonderful it would have been if he were," Yan Lu lamented, shaking his head in dismay.

Lau Ying echoed the sentiment, "If only Yu Yuan were here, that would be ideal."

"Baichan, what are they saying? As the Rosy Jenny's master, you can hear them, can't you?" asked the elder cultivator from the Profound Sky Sect, puzzled by the apparent regret in Lau Ying and Yan Lu's conversation.

Noticing Lu Baichan's peculiar expression, he called out, "Baichan?"

"Oh!" Lu Baichan snapped out of her reverie. After hearing his question again, she replied with a mix of emotions, "They're expressing regret and disappointment."

"Regret and disappointment about what? Shouldn't they be pleased to see us?" Tang Cann interjected with a huff.

With a heavy sigh, Lu Baichan explained, "They're disappointed that Yu Yuan isn't among us in our Rosy Jenny."

"Ah!" The revelation caused a collective gasp of astonishment among the Profound Sky Sect members.

"How can Yu Yuan wield such influence?" the senior brother from the Profound Sky Sect wondered aloud, his gaze fixed on Lau Ying and the others as he shook his head in disbelief.

Tang Cann's complexion turned a shade of steel, "Yu Yuan, again!"

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