C433 Meng Lang's Actions

The Fallen Star Eyes darted beneath the sea, with Qi Nandou masterfully guiding the Ethereal Vial, trailing swiftly behind like a bolt of shadowy lightning.

"Did you already know him?"

Qi Nandou squinted his eyes, a look of deep resentment crossing his face as he peered through the crystal-clear vial at Yu Yuan, who was encircled by a crowd atop the Fallen Star Eyes. "He's connected to the Ruby Hand, isn't he?"

At that moment, the Ethereal Vial held only members of the Skyblight Cult and the Ruby Hand. The Ruby Hand survivors looked on in surprise at Qi Nandou's words.

"Senior Brother Tianzhao, do you recognize him?"

A gaunt youth from the Ruby Hand widened his eyes in bewilderment, gazing at Yu Yuan. "Isn't he from Aetherius? To my knowledge, Senior Brother Tianzhao, you haven't visited Aetherius, have you?"

Hou Tianzhao, with his chubby cheeks and wide grin reminiscent of a jovial Maitreya Buddha, chuckled, "He hails from the nascent Shadowlight Empire."

"How so?" The youth was still puzzled.

"The most illustrious member of our sect is currently in the Shadowlight Empire," Hou Tianzhao explained, clapping the youth on the shoulder. "The Python Queen of Shadow's Keep specifically instructed me to look out for someone. She said when I see him beneath the sea, I should extend every courtesy."

"Our sect, in the Shadowlight Empire..." The youth paused, his voice rising in astonishment, "The Hellbreed Lord!"

Qi Nandou's expression shifted dramatically.

Zhou Cangmin's name had been echoing far and wide, not just in Aetherius, but also throughout the Land of Quiescence, where many had heard of the Ruby Hand's Hellbreed's extraordinary feats. Even the elders of the Skyblight Cult, Colddeath, Taintborn, and the Divine Cult spoke of the Ruby Hand's current Hellbreed in awe-inspiring terms.

The fact that the Python Queen held him in high regard was no longer a secret. Was Yu Yuan the very person the Python Queen had mentioned to Hou Tianzhao?

"I had intended to look after him," Hou Tianzhao admitted, now feeling a touch embarrassed. "But it seems that we are the ones in need of care."

"About that fish..." Qi Nandou began, then hesitated.

Hou Tianzhao looked at him curiously, "Hmm?"

"The Ethereal Vial and I share a connection; I can deeply sense anyone who enters it," Qi Nandou said after a moment's hesitation. "That odd, floating fish that entered with Yu Yuan gave me a terrifying feeling."

"What kind of feeling?" Hou Tianzhao asked, intrigued. He was well aware of the Ethereal Vial's enigmatic powers and its status as a rare treasure within the Skyblight Cult.

"As the fish entered, I felt as though the Ethereal Vial was on the brink of shattering," Qi Nandou explained.

While speaking, he cast a distant glance at the Fallen Star Eyes above, where the Abyssal Leviathan, which had been following Yu Yuan persistently, spoke up, "The sensation was fleeting, but unmistakable. Afterwards, I didn't experience it again; it seemed as though the strange fish had made some adjustment..."

"Impossible, surely?" Hou Tianzhao exclaimed, astonished. "An archdemon that could elicit such a feeling from you would have to be at least of the eighth level, right?"

Qi Nandou nodded affirmatively, "At the very least!"

"Yu Yuan!" Hou Tianzhao, renowned for his boldness and brashness, gasped in awe and looked at Yu Yuan with deep respect. "I'm truly more impressed with you by the minute!"

...

As the Fallen Star Eyes soared by, one skeletal corpse after another emerged on the ocean floor.

These were not only the remains of trial-takers but also those of sect elders who had led them to this place.

"Elder Li Fen! She was in the late period of the Lunar Spirit Stage!" A young girl from the Cloudwater Sect gazed at a desiccated, elderly corpse passing beneath the Fallen Star Eyes and began to sob mournfully. "She was the kindest to me, always looking out for me on our journey."

"Senior Huo Yan!" Lin Yue of the Colddeath Sect's face, usually handsome, was now twisted with bitterness and rage.

A skeletal corpse, clad in a bright red robe, lay scattered across the ocean floor like shards of broken porcelain.

Lin Yue instantly recognized the elder who, despite his fearsome reputation and strictness with his followers, had always held Lin Yue in high regard.

"Azurefiend! Blood Altar!" he whispered to himself, as a subtle blood mist began to emanate from his body.

The two senior disciples from the Colddeath Sect at his side quickly stepped forward to caution him against losing his temper.

Lin Yue retrieved a pill from his scarlet bracelet and swallowed it. Closing his eyes, he silently processed the medicinal effects.

Yu Yuan remained as unmovable as a mountain.

Throughout his journey, he had witnessed countless departures and deaths, leaving his heart hardened and detached.

Dwelling on such emotions would only disrupt his inner peace and cloud his judgment.

He had observed that Liu Ying, too, had emerged from her sorrow after the loss of many from the Starmoon Sect.

She was naturally aloof.

Perhaps it was individuals like her who were best suited for cultivation, most in tune with the Way of Heaven.

The Way of Heaven is unfeeling, and that's precisely the point.

Luo Yiyi of the Cloudwater Sect wasn't overly emotional about Li Fen's death. Su Yan's sect, the Abyssal Dawn, had nearly lost all its trial-takers, yet she remained composed.

Others, like Chi Yin and Du Huang, were equally unmoved by the passing of their sect elders.

After quietly observing for a while, Yu Yuan inwardly remarked, "Those capable of leading are indeed promising talents."

"I can't break through the 'Azure Veil' formed by the Blood Altar. When we reach the borderlands, we'll still need to..." Liu Ying's eyes dimmed as she exerted herself to control the Fallen Star Eyes.

"Don't worry."

Yu Yuan, serene and assured, interjected, "With me here, and Qi Nandou from the Skyblight Cult, you just need to guide us. We'll handle the 'Azure Veil'."

At his words, Liu Ying's face softened, visibly relieved.

"Your name is Luo Yiyi, isn't it?"

Yu Yuan's gaze shifted to the Cloudwater Sect's practitioner of the Water Spell, her delicate figure draped in a white gown, exuding a serene aura. She seemed petite and was momentarily taken aback by his question, but then she confirmed, "Yes, that's me."

"The Cloudwater Sect," Yu Yuan acknowledged with a nod, then strode towards her, leaving the onlookers in surprise.

"What are you doing?" Luo Yiyi asked, her voice tinged with alarm.

Liu Ying raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Yu Yuan?"

Yan Lu and Su Yan, staunch supporters of Yu Yuan, were equally baffled by his behavior.

Approaching Luo Yiyi, Yu Yuan suddenly leaned in close, his head hovering over her chest as he inhaled deeply, seemingly trying to identify the scent of the rouge she had applied.

Luo Yiyi recoiled in shock, her embarrassment quickly turning to anger as she exclaimed, "You shameless rogue! How dare you behave so indecently in front of everyone!"

"Yu Yuan, what on earth are you doing?" Yan Lu asked, torn between amusement and disbelief.

Su Yan, clad in green and exuding a presence that outshone Luo Yiyi's, watched Yu Yuan's impulsive act in bewilderment, wondering to herself, "What is he up to?"

Chi Yin of the Taintborn sect chuckled mischievously, "Yu, the lady is shy, but I'm not. Care to get cozy with me?"

"You might not be pretty, but you dream big," Yan Lu jested.

Undeterred, Chi Yin retorted, "Who knows? Yu might just fancy someone like me."

"I don't care whether you're useful or not; your behavior is repulsive!" Luo Yiyi continued to rant, drawing the crowd's attention as she pointed an accusing finger at Yu Yuan. "Don't think you can act recklessly just because you're somewhat useful!"

Members of the Cloudwater Sect, naturally siding with her, joined in the uproar.

Liu Ying's expression turned icy as she addressed them without preamble, "If the Cloudwater Sect is unhappy, feel free to leave."

She didn't bother to discern right from wrong; her stance was clear—she was backing Yu Yuan.

"Liu Ying! How can you be so unreasonable?" Luo Yiyi fumed, "He blatantly harassed me, and instead of condemning him, you're blaming me?"

"I am being unreasonable," Liu Ying retorted, her graceful neck held high, "If you or anyone from the Cloudwater Sect has a problem, I suggest you leave promptly."

Luo Yiyi's face flushed with rage, her frustration palpable.

She turned her pleading gaze toward Du Huang, Fei Yi, Lin Yue, and Chi Yin, only to realize that they were all merely spectators, showing no interest in intervening for justice.

"I, I, I..."

Luo Yiyi faltered, struggling to find her words. She desperately wanted to just walk away, but the thought of the repercussions made her suppress the urge.

"Given that you possess a seventh level earthly Soul Essence Pill and have no immediate use for it, and knowing full well that Liu Ying's spirit is gravely depleted, why not offer it up?" Yu Yuan's eyes lingered on Luo Yiyi's chest as he spoke, "I can distinguish the scent of a Soul Essence Pill."

At his words, those who had been amused began to furrow their brows in disapproval.

"Soul Essence Pill?"

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