C482 Waiting for the Ship

Sunlight bathed the beach of an unnamed island where Yu Yuan lay sprawled, limbs akimbo, squinting at the sky and feeling the thrilling sensations coursing through his body.

In the secluded realm of the Qi and Blood Mystic Technique, the Evil Cauldron hovered silently, emanating a subtle presence.

Countless tendrils of energy unfurled from the cauldron, winding their way into Yu Yuan's limbs and bones like meandering streams.

Occasionally, Yu Yuan would grimace and let out a muffled groan, his face contorted in pain.

As the Evil Body Refining Skill activated, streams of energy laced with destructive forces—devastation, demolition, and pulverizing powers—escaped the cauldron. The accumulated toxins and impurities from the ocean's depths were expelled from the Evil Cauldron, coursing through hidden pathways to converge within his network of meridians and blood vessels, dispersing throughout his flesh and bones.

Snap! Crackle!

The sound of rupturing meridians and splintering bones caught him off guard. Each time, Yu Yuan clenched his teeth in determination.

With his inner vision, he could see the Evil Cauldron suspended within the Qi and Blood Mystic Technique, its inner walls flickering with a ghostly glow.

The Muddy Devil Embryo had absorbed a lethal mix of energies, which were now being drawn into his body through the crevices and Demonic Marks on the cauldron's walls, infusing his sinews and skeleton with the force of the Evil Body Refining Skill.

Also within the cauldron were resplendent, radiant solid crystals, carefully preserved.

The Giant Beast Amber exuded the natural scent of pine, brimming with boundless life-creating power and the miraculous ability to temper life itself.

"Just a bit longer. Once the initial round of flesh and blood refinement is complete, I'll use the Giant Beast Amber to transform the small world of Qi and blood!"

Each glimpse of the Giant Beast Amber, glowing with divine brilliance and infinite potential, brought him a measure of joy, making the torment inflicted upon his body seem suddenly more bearable.

Now, he had been fleeing the Ember Waters for over ten days.

Relying on the swift passage afforded by the Evil Cauldron, he had flown ceaselessly through day and night during those initial days, striving to elude the pursuit of Lau Ying's Fallen Star Eyes and Hou Tianzhao's Fire Fan.

The adage that an innocent man becomes guilty when he possesses a treasure resonated deeply with him.

He had faith in Lau Ying, Su Yan, and Yan Lu, as well as Du Huang. Yet, each of them was backed by powerful sects. And there were others like Chi Yin and Lin Yue, lurking in the shadows, in pursuit of the same prize.

The Evil Cauldron, a divine artifact, had been covertly placed in the Ember Waters by the Devil Palace. Now, it was in his possession.

The Giant Beast Amber was a marvel coveted by many, especially by Lin Yue and the cultivators of the Blood God Cult, who would go to great lengths to obtain it.

He was under no illusion that his slight connection with the Blood God Cult would be enough to dissuade Lin Yue and the others from their dark desires.

Moreover, once he departed from the Ember Waters, it would only be a matter of time before Lin Yue, Hou Tianzhao, Chi Yin, and the rest could reach out to their sect elders.

The upheaval in the Ember Waters would inevitably be revealed, drawing in a multitude of powerful figures.

His extraordinary encounters within the Ember Waters couldn't be kept secret for long. He feared the repercussions once Lin Yue and the others spread the word, potentially bringing him endless complications.

The Devil Palace demanded the return of the Evil Cauldron. Should he comply?

And if Lin Yue and the others, with the backing of their sect elders, demanded a share of the Giant Beast Amber, what should his response be?

Aware of the treacherous nature of human hearts and beset with concerns, he made a swift decision to extricate himself upon discovering that the Deep Blue Curtain had been utterly shredded and the seal was no more.

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

His reasons were twofold: he was eager to solidify his cultivation at the Profound Break Stage without any distractions, and he had no desire to invite unnecessary trouble at such a critical juncture.

Now, lying on the beach and practicing the Evil Body Refining Skill, he was focused on fortifying his flesh and bones in the early phase of the Profound Break Stage. His plan was to methodically tear and break down every inch of his musculature and internal organs before remolding them. Once he had built a solid foundation, he would then harness the power of the Giant Beast Amber to purify his Qi, blood, and dantian.

This strategy was developed in consultation with the Artifact Soul, deemed a viable approach after careful consideration.

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

Yu Yuan, amidst a scene of carnage on the beach strewn with filth, was gradually healing through his Qi and blood. He acknowledged the cauldron soul's telepathic message with a soft "Oh" as his body sank into the fine, salt-like white sand, which enveloped his bare form completely.

He reined in his aura, halting the flow of spiritual power and Qi and blood, leaving only his thoughts to maintain a connection with the cauldron soul.

Beneath the sand, the Evil Cauldron unleashed its powers, encasing him and concealing his presence. This precaution was taken to avoid alerting the Nagas patrolling the ocean floor, preventing them from detecting him and stealthily approaching.

Moreover, he was concerned about cultivators seeking to slay dragons, who might employ celestial spells to observe dragons from afar. Such individuals, with their divine capabilities, could detect the subtlest disturbances in this region of the sea as clearly as one would observe through Fallen Star Eyes.

To evade unintended detection and the consequences of being seen, he remained hidden within the sand, leaving no trace of his presence.

Over the past few days, he had adapted to a routine of cultivation, concealment, and cautious travel.

Eventually, the Artifact Soul signaled, "It's clear now."

Yu Yuan leisurely emerged from beneath the white sands, still gazing indolently at the sky. Basking in the sunlight, he felt a profound sense of ease.

"The might of the Giant Beast Amber is formidable. To harness it effectively and transform your Qi and blood microcosm, you'll need special pellets," the Artifact Soul said, revisiting the topic with a hint of hesitation. "You mentioned having a solution—what might that be?"

The life energy contained within the Chaos Roc's Qi and blood essence was immense, posing a significant risk for Yu Yuan to assimilate safely into his middle dantian given his current level of cultivation.

Employing a distinctive pellet to gradually extract and integrate the life-giving force from each piece of "Giant Beast Amber" into his Qi and blood microcosm would be the wisest course of action.

While the Artifact Soul expressed its concerns, Yu Yuan remained composed, assuring it that he had the matter in hand.

Originating from the Divine Soul Sect, the reasons for its transformation into the Artifact Soul of the Evil Cauldron were unclear, yet it retained a wealth of knowledge. It sensed that given Yu Yuan's current state—lacking a sect, protection, and with no grand cultivator to guide him—it would be quite challenging to fully utilize the Giant Beast Amber.

Nevertheless, Yu Yuan exuded confidence, seemingly unfazed by the predicament. "Once we reach the Crack Archipelago, I'll find a way to produce some pellets," Yu Yuan said with a reassuring smile to the cauldron soul. "Don't worry. Just wait here a couple more days. Then you can proceed to refine the evil spirit. I won't need you to be constantly vigilant, just assist me in keeping an eye on our surroundings."

Within the Evil Cauldron, the mysterious evil spirit, born from a Heavenly Demon, was firmly restrained. The cauldron soul had repeatedly emphasized the urgency of refining this evil spirit quickly, to erase its self-awareness and transform it into a true devil under the cauldron soul's command.

The evil spirit, unaware of the continued existence of the Evil Cauldron's Artifact Soul, had ambitions of infiltrating and assimilating the cauldron to use as a stepping stone for its own evolution. However, the Artifact Soul was always one step ahead, remaining concealed and patiently waiting for the evil spirit to unwittingly deliver itself.

Ultimately, the Evil Cauldron engulfed the evil spirit, temporarily imprisoning it within. The Artifact Soul explained that this particular evil spirit was not only unique but also immensely powerful. Refining it would not only benefit the cauldron soul but also strengthen it significantly.

The downside was its frail state. While preoccupied with refining the evil spirit, it couldn't attend to Yu Yuan's needs or maintain communication. Moreover, during Yu Yuan's battles, summoning the Evil Cauldron was not an option. He would have to continue honing his physique and practicing the Evil Body Refining Skill with the cauldron.

"Crack Archipelago?" the Artifact Soul exclaimed in surprise. "Are you intending to head there in search of the Medicine God Sect, to acquire pellets and spiritual medicines?"

Yu Yuan chuckled, "Don't fret, I've got everything under control."

The Artifact Soul pondered, "It makes sense now why you've been directing me; it's not for me to fly aimlessly. But to reach the Crack Archipelago, don't I still need to carry you? I need to concentrate on refining that object, so I can't just whisk you away there. Plus, time is of the essence."

"No need for you to navigate; a ship will come," Yu Yuan clarified.

"When will it be here?" inquired the Artifact Soul.

"Soon, just a little longer."

"Okay."

As time slipped by like a gentle stream, Yu Yuan, who had been lounging and basking on the beach for several days, was roused by the Artifact Soul's alert, "A massive ship is drawing near!"

With a burst of energy, Yu Yuan leaped to his feet from the sand, grinning broadly, "The ship I've been waiting for has arrived! You're off the hook now. Go refine the evil spirit within my Dantian. I won't be summoning you for a while, and I won't need the Evil Cauldron either."

The Artifact Soul, skeptical yet hopeful, chose to trust him.

Roughly an hour later, a colossal five-tiered ship, resembling a Dwarf Mountain on the move, slowly made its way closer.

A flag danced in the breeze atop the ship, bearing a seven-colored staircase that stretched into the vast clouds above, as if ascending to the heavens.

It was the standard of the Babel Chamber of Commerce!

With its headquarters nestled in the southern reaches of the Quietus Continent, the Babel Chamber of Commerce's intricate network spanned the three continents, marking it as one of the most distinctive powers in the Boundless Land.

The Babel Chamber of Commerce maintained various degrees of interaction with the three upper sects, seven lower sects, the Devil Palace of the Heavenly Source Continent, and the empires of the Profound Sky Continent.

Indeed, the Babel Chamber of Commerce had its fingers in every pie across the three continents, dealing with a multitude of sects and imperial families.

Nearly all formidable sects respected the Babel Chamber of Commerce and avoided full-scale conflict with it.

Throughout the repeated internal conflicts on the Quietus and Heavenly Source Continents, the Babel Chamber of Commerce always stayed neutral, supporting neither side.

Yu Yuan had timed his arrival perfectly, knowing a vessel from the Babel Chamber of Commerce would pass through these waters on its way to the Crack Archipelago, and had been patiently waiting for just this moment.

"Hey! Hey! Hey!"

Yu Yuan, draped in a gray robe, gestured frantically and called out loudly from the pristine white beach.

He was aware that cultivators aboard the Babel Chamber of Commerce's massive ship had spotted him some time ago.

The vessel, brimming with supplies and bound for the Crack Archipelago, wouldn't halt for him.

However, it was likely that someone on board might come down to investigate his shouting.

Sure enough, his expectations were met.

An orange-clad figure soared from the ship, descending upon the island in an instant. The figure stood before Yu Yuan, scrutinizing him with a cool stare, and demanded, "Kid, where do you hail from? Where are you headed? Why are you all alone?"

The questions came in rapid succession from a woman of a certain age, her bright orange attire standing out vividly.

"I am Lee Qi, from the Devil Moon Empire. I intended to travel to the Crack Archipelago with my family elders. Along the way, we were ambushed by the Dragon Servitors of Hidden Dragon Lake. My elders sacrificed themselves in battle, and I became separated from the other young members of the Lee family," Yu Yuan recounted, his head bowed in a feigned sigh of sorrow. "The dynasties have changed, and even our branch of the Lee family has felt the repercussions."

"Lee Qi, Devil Moon Empire..."

The woman, her neck adorned with a white jade 'peace' pendant, murmured to herself, seemingly piecing things together. She nodded, acknowledging his story, "Those Hidden Dragon Lake curs relish kicking those already down. They're notoriously merciless to anyone without the backing of a family or sect."

Yu Yuan's expression was tinged with bitterness as he replied, "I'm familiar with the Babel Chamber of Commerce's regulations."

With that, he produced a stack of Spirit Stones from his Mustard Seed Bracelet, offering them up with both hands. "This is my fare for passage to the Crack Archipelago."

He had eighty Spirit Stones in total, which he reckoned should suffice.

"The thinnest camel still overshadows a horse. The Lee family's imperial lineage is evident. Even a scion of a collateral branch possesses a Mustard Seed Bracelet. You've got guts," the woman remarked as she effortlessly swept the Spirit Stones into her sleeve. "You're lucky to have encountered the Babel Chamber of Commerce. In the hands of less scrupulous folks, you'd already be dead."

Yu Yuan nodded, speaking candidly, "I only revealed the Mustard Seed Bracelet because I recognized the Babel Chamber of Commerce's flag and felt safe to do so."

"You're quite astute," the woman remarked, her gaze reflecting newfound respect. "The fall of the Lee family within the Silvermoon Empire won't interfere with your dealings with us. Our Babel Chamber of Commerce's reputation is renowned far and wide. Provide us with the Spirit Stones, and we'll ensure your safe passage to the Crack Archipelago."

"But once you're on the Crack Archipelago, your fate is no longer our concern."

Yu Yuan responded, "I'm well aware of that."

"Come with me."

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