C452 Talk It over and over Again

Bang!

The Ice Shard encasing Lin Zhuyun shattered under the Bone-Devouring Shuttle. The sinister device, glowing eerily white, hovered above Lin Zhuyun like a shimmering silver fish.

Beams of dense vitality formed into pillars, draping down like beaded curtains.

Lin Zhuyun executed the Winter's Bite sigil and spell, sending slabs of cold jade, etched with the essence of Yin and frost, flying toward the Bone-Devouring Shuttle.

Qi Nandou scoffed, "You think you can outshine the moon?"

Suddenly, a horde of wailing souls surged toward Lin Zhuyun like a relentless army.

Struggling to maintain her sigil, the seawater around her bubbled furiously.

Each bubble seemed to imprison a vengeful spirit, snarling and jeering at her.

Her once cool gaze clouded over, her eyes growing murky as if veiled by dust.

In an instant, the cold jade, solidified by her spell, shattered to pieces.

Qi Nandou, with a slight chuckle, gestured to her from a distance.

Like a marionette, the gem of the Lin family aimlessly swam towards the Ethereal Vial, easily ensnared by Qi Nandou's beckoning.

With a gentle grasp, Qi Nandou seized her hair, presenting her face to the Fallen Star Eyes.

"Mo Yan, what's your plan? I've captured her for you. How do you wish to proceed?"

Qi Nandou's smile was soft yet sinister, his nails gleaming like icy daggers, growing longer as he spoke.

It was clear that at Mo Yan's command, Lin Zhuyun's skull could be easily pierced by those chilling claws.

Despite his effeminate demeanor, Qi Nandou, a disciple of the Skyblight Cult wielding the Ethereal Vial and Bone-Devouring Shuttle, was as brutally fierce as anyone present.

"No need to hurry," Mo Yan said nonchalantly, waving his hand without turning around. He then turned his attention back to Yu Yuan, smiling. "You may not think highly of her, but she is technically your betrothed. See, I've captured her for you and even invited you here. Once she's in the Ethereal Vial, you can do with her as you please."

"Ah, so you captured her for me," Yu Yuan replied, as if the realization had just dawned on him. He expressed his thanks with a bow, then his expression chilled. "Unfortunately, I'm indifferent to her fate. Humiliating or punishing her holds no interest for me. In fact, had I truly desired her death, she wouldn't have even had the opportunity to join Winter's Bite."

Su Yan gave a slight nod.

She was aware that back in the Moonfall Sanctuary, Yu Yuan could have easily slain Lin Zhuyun with the combined might of his sword spirit and the Soulforge Matrix.

"You're really not coming?" Mo Yan's smile gradually disappeared.

Yu Yuan hummed in response, "I appreciate the sentiment."

"Do you want to protect them?" Mo Yan's gaze fell on Kong Banbi, Su Yan, and the others. "What if I let you bring one person with you?"

Yu Yuan shook his head again, this time not even bothering to verbalize his refusal.

Mo Yan fell into a sudden silence.

At that moment, with the sound of flames crackling, Hou Tianzhao appeared to have succeeded, bursting forth from the myriad of bizarre lights and psionic powers that had submerged Tang Cen.

A burst of blood energy erupted, the blood burning fiercely, occasionally spewing out shards of Fire Crystal embedded in bone.

The Bone-Devouring Shuttle arrived swiftly, magnetically attracting the vitality and bone fragments.

Yan Lu, Fei Yi, and the others, once their foes were vanquished, all returned to the Ethereal Vial.

Lin Yue, Chi Yin, and the other leaders instructed the followers of Colddeath and Taintborn to enter the Ethereal Vial first.

The trial-takers from the Land of Quiescence and Euwrea, within the Ethereal Vial, observed Mo Yan and Yu Yuan with solemn expressions.

Mo Yan, fidgeting with his ear and tugging at his hair, alternated his gaze between Yu Yuan and the Abyssal Leviathan, his face a portrait of indecision.

Yu Yuan, in contrast, remained serene and undaunted.

After a moment,

Mo Yan gave Yu Yuan a thumbs-up and a nod, then turned on his heel and entered the Ethereal Vial without a word. He instructed Qi Nandou, "Find a new angle to break through the Azure Veil."

Qi Nandou, about to protest, was silenced by Mo Yan's icy stare.

"Fine."

Intimidated, he refrained from any further objections, quickly ushered Hou Tianzhao inside, and maneuvered the Ethereal Vial away from the area.

The Bone-Devouring Shuttle, having consumed all of Tang Cen's vitality and shattered bones, trailed behind the Ethereal Vial.

Hou Tianzhao, Lin Yue, Chi Yin, and the others frequently looked back, their expressions filled with bewilderment.

Yan Lu offered a wry smile as he spread his hands toward the Fallen Star Eyes, signaling his helplessness now that he had entered the Devil Palace, unable to influence the decisions of Fei Yi and Mo Yan.

The Ethereal Vial receded into the distance.

Within the Fallen Star Eyes, Du Huang plopped down on the ground, feigning to wipe away sweat that wasn't there, and exclaimed, "That scared the life out of me!"

Su Yan took her time to regulate her breathing. The spiritual energy she had previously concentrated within herself flowed back into her Golden Sanctum acupoint. "I never would have thought Mo Yan could have regressed."

Kong Banbi gave Yu Yuan a penetrating look and asked, "What happened between you two inside the Crucible of Evil?"

Yu Yuan shook his head, "Nothing."

The scarlet and white eyes of the Abyssal Leviathan, floating within the Fallen Star Eyes, glimmered with an eerie light, fixated on the departing Ethereal Vial.

Liu Ying regained her composure and asked, "What's our next move?"

"We'll take control of the Fallen Star Eyes and follow the Ethereal Vial," Yu Yuan instructed.

The eyes of the Abyssal Leviathan sparkled.

Kong Banbi, Du Huang, Su Yan, and the others all cried out in disbelief, "What?"

Yu Yuan elaborated, "The disturbance we've caused here will surely draw the attention of the Blood Altar. Mo Yan must realize this, which is why he didn't dare to engage with us and chose to leave quickly. With the Bone-Devouring Shuttle in possession of the sacrifice, and working in tandem with the Ethereal Vial, there's a high chance they could penetrate the Azure Veil. We should follow and seize the opportunity."

Du Huang questioned, "Couldn't the Fallen Star Eyes do the same?"

"They could have, but now..." Liu Ying shot a resentful glance at the Abyssal Leviathan and continued, "This bizarre creature usurped control of my Fallen Star Eyes. The struggle with it drained too much of my energy."

Yu Yuan feigned ignorance.

Left with no other option, Liu Ying followed his advice and once again maneuvered the Fallen Star Eyes, chasing after the Ethereal Vial.

"They're actually following?" Chi Yin of the Taintborn asked Mo Yan, puzzled, "Those folks have some nerve. With Tang Cen and Lu Baichan gone, they still dare to come after us?"

"Why didn't you strike?" Qi Nandou's eyes brimmed with a resentful air as he complained, "Tang Cen has a unique status. If word gets out that we've killed him, it'll definitely cause us trouble. You might not fear Tang Zheng back in the Devil Palace, but we don't share that confidence."

"Indeed, wiping them out would be in our best interest," Hu Tianyang murmured under his breath.

Others from the Colddeath, Skyblight Cult, and Taintborn quietly expressed their grievances as well.

"And where did you get this confidence?" Mo Yan rolled his eyes at Qi Nandou and Chi Yin as if they were fools. "Do you honestly believe you have the upper hand?"

Qi Nandou was taken aback. "Aren't Tang Cen and Lu Baichan easier to handle than Kong Banbi and Liu Ying? Plus, we have you on our side, don't we?"

"Idiot!" Mo Yan huffed, "That youngster from the Sword Sect and the girl from the Starmoon Sect are even more formidable than Tang Cen and Lu Baichan. The Fallen Star Eyes are formidable, and your Ethereal Vial isn't a match for them. Even with the Bone-Devouring Shuttle, you'd still exhaust all the vitality and souls you've gathered."

"If the Ethereal Vial and Bone-Devouring Shuttle clash with the Fallen Star Eyes, both sides will suffer. Then how do you propose we escape?"

"A bunch of fools!"

Mo Yan didn't mince words, reprimanding Qi Nandou as though he were chastising a junior member of a sect.

"Don't we have you?" Qi Nandou stammered, "My confidence was based on having you and the Devil Blade you wield. The Fallen Star Eyes may be strong, but your Devil Blade can counter it."

"Me?" Mo Yan pointed to himself, "But Yu Yuan is also involved with the Fallen Star Eyes, isn't he?"

"Yu Yuan?"

Lin Yue, Hou Tianzhao, Chi Yin, and the others were all taken aback by this revelation.

Even if Yu Yuan had advanced to the early Veil Breaking period, could he truly be a game-changer?

Lin Yue had heard of Yu Yuan, and Hou Tianzhao was aware of some connection between Yu Yuan and Zhou Cangmin. They recognized that Yu Yuan was somewhat enigmatic and possessed exceptional insight.

However, they didn't perceive Yu Yuan to be particularly strong or powerful in combat.

"Even wielding the Devil Blade, I might not be able to best Yu Yuan," Mo Yan huffed. "Ever since he arrived, the sword sheath he's been holding has even made the soul of my Devil Blade quiver in fear! I am acutely aware of the grade and significance of this Devil Blade, more so than anyone else."

"You all understand the gravity of the situation, don't you?"

Mo Yan cast a glance at Qi Nandou and all the others who were in the know.

"Ah!"

The first to let out a scream was not just anyone, but Fei Yi.

Fei Yi, having considered Mo Yan's words, looked at the Devil Blade and his face paled as he came to a realization.

"The sword sheath, that sword sheath?" exclaimed Qi Nandou in alarm.

Hou Tianzhao paused, then had a sudden epiphany and said, "When we were leaving with the Nebula Gem, Lu Baichan tried to prevent Yu Yuan from leaving because of Tang Cen's remarks. Yet, when Yu Yuan pointed the sword sheath at the Nebula Gem, Lu Baichan abruptly allowed him to pass."

Convinced by this explanation, Qi Nandou asked, "Is that sword sheath truly that formidable?"

Mo Yan replied icily, "Obviously!"

​