C482 Waiting for the Boat

Basking in sunlight on a pristine beach of an unnamed island, Yu Yuan lay sprawled with his limbs stretched out to the sky, squinting at the heavens and feeling the thrilling sensation coursing through his body.

In the little world of the Profound Gate, a place where vitality converged, the Crucible of Evil floated serenely. Thousands of energy tendrils emanated from the cauldron, winding like streams into his limbs and throughout his body.

Occasionally, Yu Yuan would clench his teeth and let out a pained groan. As the Evil Body Refining technique operated, psionic power burst forth from the crucible, unleashing forces of destruction, devastation, and obliteration, along with the toxins and impurities of fine gold from the ocean's depths. These were expelled from the Crucible of Evil and channeled into his veins and arteries through hidden pathways, dispersing into his flesh and bones.

Snap! Crack! The sound of rupturing veins and shattering bones would erupt without warning, causing Yu Yuan to grimace in agony.

Peering inward, he could see the Crucible of Evil suspended in the Profound Gate of Vitality, its inner walls flickering with ghostly light. The lethal energies consumed by the Spawn of Chaos were drawn into his body through the glyph-lined crevices of the crucible's inner wall, compelled by the Evil Body Refining technique.

Also within the cauldron were resplendent solid crystals, carefully preserved. The Sunsorrow of the giant beast radiated a natural pine scent and was imbued with boundless creative force, possessing miraculous powers capable of tempering life itself.

"Just a little longer," he thought. "After the first cycle of refining the corporeal body is complete, I'll use the Sunsorrow to transform the little world of vitality."

The sight of the Sunsorrow, gleaming with divine brilliance and infinite potential, brought him a measure of solace. The torment inflicted upon his corporeal body suddenly seemed more bearable.

Now, it had been over ten days since his escape from the Embers Sea. Leveraging the swift currents of the Crucible of Evil, he had flown ceaselessly, day and night, in the initial days, striving to elude Liu Ying's Fallen Star Eyes and Hou Tianzhao's Phoenix Feather Fan.

The adage that an innocent man bears no guilt, but one in possession of a treasure invites trouble, resonated deeply with him.

Yu Yuan trusted Liu Ying, Su Yan, and Yan Lu, but each of them was backed by powerful sects. Additionally, Du Huang, Chi Yin, Qi Nandou, and Lin Yue were in hot pursuit.

The Crucible of Evil, a Divine Artifact, had been clandestinely placed in the Embers Sea by the Devil Palace and had now come into his possession.

The Sunsorrow from the giant beast was a world-renowned treasure, a divine item that could drive the Colddeath cultivators and those at the Veil Breaking level to madness!

He doubted that his modest rapport with the Colddeath Sect would be enough to dissuade Lin Yue and the others from their malevolent intentions.

Moreover, once he departed from the Embers Sea, it wouldn't take long for Lin Yue, Hou Tianzhao, Qi Nandou, Chi Yin, and the rest to establish contact with their sect elders.

The dramatic events within the Embers Sea couldn't remain concealed for long and would inevitably draw in numerous formidable figures.

The adventures he had encountered in the Embers Sea wouldn't stay secret for long. He feared that once Lin Yue and the others spread the word, it would bring him endless complications.

The Devil Palace demanded the return of the Crucible of Evil, but should he comply?

If Lin Yue and the others, backed by their sect elders, demanded a share of the Sunsorrow from the giant beast, how should he respond?

Aware of the treacherous nature of humanity and harboring various concerns, he had promptly decided to extricate himself upon realizing that the Azure Veil was irreparably torn and the seal was gone.

He certainly heard Liu Ying's call, but after careful consideration, he chose to feign ignorance.

His reasons were twofold: he was eager to solidify his Veil Breaking cultivation without distraction, and he didn't want to invite unnecessary trouble at such a critical juncture.

Currently lying on the beach, he was engaged in Evil Body Refining to fortify his corporeal body and stabilize the flesh, blood, and bones of his early Veil Breaking stage. He intended to use this time to tear down and rebuild every inch of his body, and once he had a solid foundation, he would harness the power of the Sunsorrow from the giant beast to purify his elixir field and vitality.

This approach had been agreed upon after consulting with the artifact soul.

"Be cautious—there are Nagas active in the deep sea nearby."

Following a bout of carnage, the beach was strewn with filth and impurities. Yu Yuan, who was gradually healing his vitality, listened to the cauldron spirit's remnant soul and softly murmured an acknowledgment.

He allowed his body to sink slowly until the fine, salt-like white sand completely covered his bare form.

He concealed his presence, ceasing the circulation of spiritual energy and vitality, leaving only his thoughts and his connection with the cauldron spirit intact.

Beneath the sand, the Crucible of Evil enveloped him with its psionic power, masking his aura.

This precaution was taken to avoid alerting the Nagas wandering the ocean floor to his presence.

He was also concerned about cultivators seeking to slay dragons, who could employ far-reaching spells to observe dragons from afar.

Such individuals possessed the ability to detect even the slightest disturbances in the sea, akin to the Fallen Star Eyes, within moments.

To avoid unintentional detection and the consequences that might follow, he remained hidden beneath the sand, leaving no trace of his presence.

In recent days, he had become accustomed to this routine of cultivation, concealment, and cautious travel.

Eventually, the artifact soul signaled, "It's clear now."

Yu Yuan emerged leisurely from beneath the sand, continuing to gaze at the sky in a relaxed manner. Basking in the warmth of the burning sun, he felt a profound sense of ease.

"The might of the giant beast's Sunsorrow is immense. To harness it effectively, we'll need to adapt your little world of vitality with a special pill," the artifact soul said, revisiting a previous conversation with a hint of hesitation. "You mentioned having a method—what is it?"

The essence of the Abyssal Leviathan's vitality was rich with life power, and for Yu Yuan at his current level, assimilating it into his middle elixir field was fraught with peril.

A unique pill could be the key, one that would extract strands of the life-creating force from each piece of Sunsorrow and integrate it slowly and incrementally into his little world of vitality. That would indeed be the wisest course of action.

The artifact soul informed Yu Yuan of the situation with a sense of urgency, yet he remained composed and assured that he would resolve the issue.

Emerging from the Boulderdawn sect, the artifact soul had become the Crucible of Evil's guiding spirit for reasons unknown. Nevertheless, it retained a wealth of knowledge. It was concerned that, given Yu Yuan's current state—lacking affiliation with any sect and without the protection of a powerful cultivator—it would be quite a challenge for him to fully utilize the Sunsorrow amber. Yu Yuan, however, appeared unfazed and brimming with confidence.

"I'll find a way to make some pills once we reach the Sundering Isles," Yu Yuan said with a smile to the cauldron spirit. "There's no need for worry. Stay here for a couple more days. After you've refined the evil spirit, I won't need you to be constantly vigilant. Instead, help me keep an eye on our surroundings."

Within the Crucible of Evil, a bizarre evil spirit, born from the Sky Fiend, was firmly contained. The cauldron spirit had repeatedly advised Yu Yuan to refine this evil spirit quickly, to erase its self-awareness, and transform it into a Bane, entirely subject to the cauldron spirit's command.

The evil spirit, altered by the Sky Fiend, could never have imagined that the Crucible of Evil's artifact soul was still present in the world. Growing increasingly powerful in the ocean depths, the evil spirit had planned to infiltrate the Crucible of Evil and use it as a foundation for its own evolution.

Regrettably for the evil spirit, the artifact soul was one step ahead, remaining concealed and biding its time until the spirit unwittingly delivered itself. Eventually, the Crucible of Evil absorbed the evil spirit, temporarily subduing it within the cauldron.

The cauldron spirit claimed that this particular evil spirit was quite unique and immensely powerful. Refining it would not only benefit the cauldron spirit but also fortify it. The downside was that, due to its weakened state, the cauldron spirit couldn't multitask; it couldn't maintain communication with Yu Yuan while focusing on the refinement process. Moreover, during Yu Yuan's confrontations with adversaries, he wouldn't be able to call upon the Crucible of Evil.

Yu Yuan's only option was to continue using the cauldron to temper his corporeal body and practice the Evil Body Refining technique.

"Sundering Isles?" the artifact soul exclaimed in surprise. "You're planning to go to the Sundering Isles, seeking the Order of Healing to purchase pills and spiritual medicines?"

Yu Yuan chuckled. "You don't need to concern yourself with the details. I have everything under control."

The artifact soul pondered, "That explains why you've been directing me. I can't just fly aimlessly." It continued, "But to get to the Sundering Isles, I'd still need to carry you, wouldn't I? If I'm to concentrate on refining that item, I can't also be flying you to the Sundering Isles. Moreover, I need to do it quickly."

"There's no need for you to guide me; a boat will be provided," Yu Yuan clarified.

"When will it be here?" the artifact soul inquired.

"Very soon. Just a bit longer," Yu Yuan reassured.

"Ah."

As time flowed like a river, Yu Yuan lay sprawled on the beach, basking in the sun for several more days until the artifact soul was startled once more. "A massive ship is drawing near!"

Yu Yuan, previously lounging idly, sprang up from the sand with a beaming smile. "The ship I've been waiting for has arrived! You no longer need to look after me. Go refine the evil spirit within my elixir field. I won't summon you for some time, and I won't be needing the Crucible of Evil either."

The artifact soul was skeptical but chose to trust him.

Roughly an hour later, a towering five-story ship, resembling a small mountain afloat at sea, slowly drew closer.

A flag billowed in the breeze atop the ship.

Emblazoned on the flag was a seven-colored staircase that stretched into the misty clouds above.

The staircase seemed to reach into the very depths of the sky, as if ascending to the heavens.

It was the flag of the Skyreach Consortium!

With its headquarters nestled in the southern part of the Land of Quiescence, the Skyreach Consortium's intricate network of trade routes spanned the three continents, making it one of the most distinctive powers in the Everlands.

The Skyreach Consortium maintained various degrees of interaction with the three great upper sects of Euwrea, the seven great lower sects, the Devil Palace, and Shadow's Keep, as well as the numerous empires of Aetherius.

It could be said that the Skyreach Consortium had a hand in the affairs of countless sects and imperial families across the three continents.

Almost all formidable sects respected the Skyreach Consortium, careful not to cross it completely.

In the repeated civil wars between the Land of Quiescence and the Euwrea Continent, the Skyreach Consortium consistently maintained its neutrality, refusing to support either side.

Yu Yuan had timed his arrival perfectly, knowing that a ship from the Skyreach Consortium would be passing through this stretch of sea on its way to the Sundering Isles, so he had been waiting here for some time.

"Hey! Hey! Hey!"

On the pristine white beach, Yu Yuan, clad in a simple gray robe, waved and called out loudly. He was aware that the cultivators aboard the Skyreach Consortium's massive ship had spotted him quite some time ago.

The vessel, laden with supplies and bound for the Sundering Isles, would not halt for him. However, it was highly probable that someone on board would come to investigate his shouting.

Sure enough, his expectations were met.

An orange figure soared from the great ship, descending upon the island in an instant. The figure stood before Yu Yuan, scrutinizing him with a cold gaze. "Young man, where do you hail from? Where are you headed? Why are you alone?"

A middle-aged woman, dressed in vibrant orange attire, bombarded him with questions.

"I am Lee Qi, from the Shadowlight Empire. I intended to travel to the Sundering Isles with my family elders. Along the way, we were ambushed by a Dragon Attendant from Dragon Lake. My elders fought valiantly, but I and the other younger family members were scattered in the chaos," Yu Yuan offered his well-rehearsed story, bowing his head with a soft sigh. "With the regime change, even we, the peripheral branches of the Lee family, have been caught in the upheaval."

"Lee Qi, the Shadowlight Empire..."

The woman, adorned in bright clothing and a white jade 'peace buckle' around her neck, murmured to herself as if piecing things together. She nodded, saying, "The Dragon Lake crowd relishes kicking someone when they're down. They're notoriously harsh on those who've lost the backing of their families and sects."

Yu Yuan's expression turned somber as he replied, "I'm familiar with the Skyreach Consortium's policies."

With that, he retrieved a number of soulstones from his Bracelet of Holding and presented them to the woman with both hands. "This is my passage fee for the journey to the Sundering Isles."

He had counted eighty soulstones in total, quietly estimating that it should suffice.

"The saying goes, 'A lean camel is larger than a horse,' and the Lee family, once of the Silvermoon Empire, truly lives up to its royal heritage. Even the distant relatives possess a Bracelet of Holding. You've got some nerve." The woman reached out, effortlessly drawing the soulstones into her sleeve. "You're lucky to have encountered the Skyreach Consortium. In the hands of less scrupulous folks, you'd be dead by now."

Yu Yuan nodded, acknowledging the truth in her words. "I only revealed the Bracelet of Holding because I recognized the flag of the Skyreach Consortium."

"You're quite astute," the woman remarked, her estimation of him visibly rising. "The fall of the Lee family won't impact your dealings with our Skyreach Consortium. Our reputation is impeccable across the land. Provide us with the soulstone, and we'll ensure your safe passage to the Sundering Isles."

"However, once you're there, your fate is your own concern."

"I'm well aware," Yu Yuan replied.

"Come with me."

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