C466 Cycle of Life and Death Spell!

As disciples of the Devil Palace, Hu Tianyang, Shi Si, and Yan Lu were completely baffled.

Clearly, they weren't as privy to the details as Fei Yi.

Other trial-takers from the Taintborn, Skyblight Cult, and Ruby Hand were equally perplexed by Yu Yuan's words.

Yet, when Hou Tianzhao, Qi Nandou, Chi Yin, and Lin Yue showed their astonishment, they stared at Yu Yuan with eyes wide in shock.

Their amazement wasn't due to Mo Yan's breakthrough to the late period of the Veil Breaking Realm and his subsequent reach into the late period of Subtlety.

Rather, it was Yu Yuan's lack of surprise and his utterance of something even more startling that shocked them.

— Mo Yan could directly condense a Lunar Spirit!

After Fei Yi's outburst, he demanded to know how Yu Yuan had come by such information, inadvertently confirming the plausibility of such a feat!

Mo Yan's expression turned icy as he huffed, "When did you become aware of this?"

The crowd erupted into murmurs!

The reactions of Hou Tianzhao and the others, Fei Yi's outcry, and Mo Yan's interrogation nearly laid bare the facts!

Could it really be possible to condense a Lunar Spirit in mere moments from the Veil Breaking Realm?

Many were visibly shaken, casting incredulous glances at Mo Yan and the confident Yu Yuan!

"In the legends, I'm somewhat familiar with the 'Cycle of Life and Death Spell,' which has the power to transform the heavens and earth and alter one's innate abilities," Yu Yuan said, pulling at the corner of his mouth. "The requirements for practicing this dark art are incredibly stringent and fraught with peril. It seems you've been practicing this particular art, and have even undergone a cycle or two, haven't you?"

"What dark arts are you referring to?"

"The Cycle of Life and Death Spell? How come I've never heard of it? Does our sect even possess such dark arts? I've never come across it during my time at the Devil Palace," Wu Pei exclaimed in surprise.

Despite being accepted by the Devil Palace and enduring rigorous cultivation in the northern reaches of the Land of Quiescence, he had never encountered this spell.

"The one who led me and imparted the dark arts to me never mentioned it," Shi Si said, shaking her head.

The Devil Palace's practice of selecting potential geniuses outside their walls always involved sharing the myriad of exquisite spells from their arsenal, allowing them to choose their path of cultivation.

Yan Lu, Shi Si, Hu Tianyang, and others had not yet been initiated into the Land of Quiescence, but they were already well-versed in many dark arts. However, they had neither encountered nor even heard of the Cycle of Life and Death Spell before!

Many survivors from sects in the northern part of the Land of Quiescence also showed they were unfamiliar with the Cycle of Life and Death Spell when Yu Yuan mentioned it.

Recovering from his astonishment, Yan Lu exclaimed, "Is this dark art incredibly powerful?"

Mo Yan, having advanced to the late period of Subtlety, extended his spiritual sense, harnessing both vitality and spiritual energy to wield the Shadowblade. He managed to submerge the Blood Altar into the ocean depths, rendering it immobile.

Yu Yuan's words erased any trace of Mo Yan's previous nonchalance, replacing it with hesitation. He seemed to be considering whether to follow Yu Yuan's suggestion to directly refine a Lunar Spirit to command the Shadowblade, thereby imposing a stronger restraint on the Blood Altar.

His reaction left everyone even more bewildered and amazed.

"The Cycle of Life and Death Spell differs from the spells you and others practice," Yu Yuan said, glancing at Wu Pei and Mo Yan. "It is akin to the Ancient Echoes of the Void from the Forgeroses—a closely guarded secret. Such spells are beyond the reach of even Inner Sect core disciples, let alone those of the Outer Sect."

"The Cycle of Life and Death Spell may not be as renowned as the Ancient Echoes of the Void because it's not disclosed outside the sect, nor even within the inner circles."

"A dark art capable of altering one's innate abilities, the boundaries of the Golden Sanctum, and the frequency of its condensation—this can fundamentally transform the practice. It's not something that just anyone in the Devil Palace can undertake," Yu Yuan declared solemnly.

"Change one's innate talent?" Yan Lu was profoundly shaken.

The survivors, too, were incredulous at Yu Yuan's revelation.

Wasn't talent immutable, fixed from birth?

For those embarking on the path of cultivation, the expanse of their little world upon reaching the early period of the Golden Sanctum varied from individual to individual. Wasn't altering that supposed to be exceedingly difficult?

In the middle period of the Golden Sanctum, wouldn't a cultivator still face death after several rounds of tempering in their little world?

Is there a magical spell capable of altering one's innate abilities, transforming fixed talents into something different?

If such a dark art truly existed, why wouldn't the Devil Palace disseminate it widely, allowing every disciple's talents to evolve through its practice?

Imagine if Devil Palace disciples could refine their Golden Sanctum acupoints seven or eight times. Wouldn't that lead to the emergence of more Solar Spirits and even Primordial Spirits?

"The Cycle of Life and Death Spell enables those with scant aptitude to gain extraordinary talents. It can also propel those who are already exceptional to ascend further, becoming one in ten thousand," Yu Yuan revealed the intricacies with a measured tone. "This transformation is quite challenging, requiring the condensation of the Lunar Spirit and its subsequent shattering to symbolize a return to the early period of the Golden Sanctum."

"Shattering the Lunar Spirit?" Wu Pei quivered in shock.

For a cultivator advancing to the Lunar Spirit, an accidental destruction could spell true death, leaving no chance of survival.

At this stage, without a condensed Solar Spirit or Primordial Spirit, the demise of the Lunar Spirit equates to the end of one's life.

The transformation brought about by the Cycle of Life and Death Spell comes at the steep cost of the Lunar Spirit's destruction, inherently fraught with immense danger.

The profound fear between life and death, rife with unforeseen perils, leaves no one certain of making it through.

"Indeed, you must shatter the Lunar Spirit, which causes an immediate plummet back to the early period of the Golden Sanctum. This uses the power of the shattered Lunar Spirit to expand the limits of the Golden Acupoints postnatally. The process is fraught with peril, and a single misstep could mean death."

"However, those who endure and survive could witness a miracle!"

"This dark art can reshape the Golden Acupoints anew. Upon reaching the middle period of the Golden Sanctum, it even allows for the creation of another little world, thus increasing the potential for further refinement." Yu Yuan maintained his gaze on Mo Yan as he spoke, "The Cycle of Life and Death Spell is what you practice, and you have already condensed the Lunar Spirit."

Mo Yan, now a towering young man, had undergone a transformation in appearance, temperament, and physique with the ascension of his cultivation level.

It was as though he had morphed into a completely different person in a brief span of time.

Across the Land of Quiescence, myriad peculiar dark arts abound, among which the "Cycle of Life and Death Spell" is notably enigmatic and little-known.

Yu Yuan was familiar with the "Cycle of Life and Death Spell" due to his experiences across two lifetimes, his previous close ties with the Devil Palace, and his consideration of this particular spell as a means to embark on the path of cultivation in his past life.

Regrettably, the "Cycle of Life and Death Spell" was not a spell one could simply learn; with his meridians sealed, Yu Yuan had abandoned hope of mastering it.

Nevertheless, he was privy to the many mysteries and secrets of the "Cycle of Life and Death Spell."

"Yes, I practice the Cycle of Life and Death Spell," Mo Yan admitted, his face shadowed with solemnity. "So, you must understand the significant harm caused by not progressing in the traditional, step-by-step manner."

"An instantaneous breakthrough means you've lost the chance to use the 'Cycle of Life and Death Spell' again, due to the shattering of the Lunar Spirit, eliminating the possibility of a return," Yu Yuan said, his face etched with regret as he bowed slightly. "As you've seen, the circumstances are exceptional. It wasn't my intention to push you to this point."

The wonder of the "Cycle of Life and Death Spell" lies in its ability to allow for continued cultivation even after a failed attempt, offering another opportunity upon the second formation of the Lunar Spirit.

To shatter the Lunar Spirit and revert to the early period of the Golden Sanctum is to engage in the so-called "cycle."

But for someone like Mo Yan, who hadn't refined the Lunar Spirit in the conventional, gradual way, there was no turning back, no chance to return to the Golden Sanctum after the Lunar Spirit had been condensed.

Mo Yan had forfeited the capacity for another cycle.

"I was aware you were ensnared by the Abyssal Leviathan, which is why I summoned Qi Nandou to turn back and came expressly to lend you a hand," Mo Yan said, inhaling deeply as he steadied his emotions, wielding the Shadowblade. "My intention was to ally with you, to deal a severe blow to the Abyssal Leviathan, preventing him from seizing the opportunity to escape these waters."

"But is this how you repay me?"

"You sensed that the Blood Altar's target was shifting from the Abyssal Leviathan to yourself, so you immediately had the Fallen Star Eyes depart and enter our Ethereal Vial, bringing the Blood Altar's flames upon us?"

"Are you seeking our deaths for your brief respite, forcing me to break through my limits just to buy you time?"

Upon hearing Mo Yan's words, Qi Nandou, Chi Yin, and the rest wore looks of displeasure.

Lin Yue, who had a connection with Yu Yuan, and Hou Tianzhao's faces also darkened.

Yan Lu sighed quietly, at a loss for words.

Yu Yuan remained stoic, clutching the Crucible of Evil in one hand and his sword sheath in the other. "Your opinions are of no consequence to me. The only thing I'm certain of is that we stand a chance of survival at the sea's bottom only if you stop concealing your true power, swiftly refine your Lunar Spirit, and unleash the full force of the Shadowblade."

"Liu Ying and Kong Banbi, despite their abilities, can't do this. Since we can't rely on them, my hopes rest solely on you."

With these words, he fixed his gaze on the Blood Altar, indifferent to the thoughts and stares of those around him.

An uncomfortable silence ensued.

Gradually, the group's mindset shifted, their eyes moving from Yu Yuan to Mo Yan.

If he could rapidly advance and forge his Lunar Spirit, wielding the Shadowblade with its power, could he indeed exert greater pressure on the Blood Altar?

People are inherently selfish.

Once they believed Yu Yuan might have a point—that only Mo Yan's sacrifice could alter the course of events—they naturally wanted him to proceed.

Besides, Mo Yan had already transcended from Veil Breaking to Subtlety.

Having already broken the rules, why not go all the way?

Yu Yuan had adeptly redirected the pressure from himself to Mo Yan, compelling Mo Yan to quickly refine his Lunar Spirit and impose further constraints on the Blood Altar.

"If I follow your advice and instantly refine my Lunar Spirit to subdue the Blood Altar..."

Mo Yan drew out his words, turning to look at Yu Yuan, and said, "What about you? You've come from the Fallen Star Eyes, and now you expect all of us to join you in confronting the Blood Altar and the Abyssal Leviathan."

"What can you do for me, for us?"

His gaze turned icy in an instant.

It seemed that if Yu Yuan's response wasn't satisfactory, he would disregard the Blood Altar's risks and slay Yu Yuan first to appease his wrath.

His orchestration of the bloody massacre led by Qi Nandou against Lu Baichan, Luo Yiyi, and Tang Cen revealed his merciless nature.

If he dared to kill Tang Cen, what would stop him from killing Yu Yuan?

"Now that you're refining your Lunar Spirit and doing your utmost to suppress the Blood Altar, I'll show you what I'm capable of." Yu Yuan replied with a smile, sidestepping a direct answer. He spoke with detachment, "Don't even consider trying anything against me right now. You're preoccupied with the Blood Altar, and you're no match for me in your current state."

Mo Yan, in the late period of Subtlety and having practiced the Cycle of Life and Death Spell, had formed the Lunar Spirit, perhaps more than once. Was he really no match?

Lin Yue and Hou Tianzhao subtly shook their heads, disagreeing.

They were aware of Mo Yan's reputation, having heard of his remarkable prowess from their sect elders, which is why they were prepared to follow his lead upon meeting him.

Understanding Mo Yan's strength, they doubted that Yu Yuan, even after advancing into Veil Breaking and assuming control of the Crucible of Evil, could surpass Mo Yan.

Yet, after a long look at Yu Yuan, Mo Yan reluctantly nodded in agreement.

"I'll wait for you to prove it!"

With those words, his myriad threads of spiritual sense swiftly converged at the mud pellet acupoint in his upper elixir field, coalescing and beginning to refine into a deity.

He entered the Lunar Spirit Stage in a flash.

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