C486 A Fire Lotus Transforming into the Lunar Spirit

After assisting Lee Yuchan and Lee Yu with their escape from Asvetaesi, he made a beeline for the Keep and didn't concern himself with the aftermath.

Subsequently, he caught wind of Lee Yuchan and Lee Yu stealthily departing Asvetaesi that very day, vanishing without a trace.

With the transformation of the Silvermoon Empire into the Shadowlight Empire and the Yan family supplanting the Lee family as the new imperial lineage, the Lee family faced a brutal purge.

Given that Lee Yuchan and Lee Yu were key figures within the Lee family, their early departure amidst the turmoil was a prudent move.

Yet, to his surprise, both Lee Yuchan and Lee Yu had also chosen the Sundering Isles as their refuge.

According to Zhang Manman and Zhang Miao, the pair had already found sanctuary on the peculiar islands before him.

Was Lee Yuchan still Zhang Manman's savior? And did Zhang Miao harbor affection for Lee Yu?

Yu Yuan stroked his chin, his gaze playful as he mulled over the sisters' words, weighing their truthfulness.

One thing seemed certain—he could reasonably assume they truly knew or had encountered Lee Yuchan and Lee Yu.

"I do hail from the Lee family, but unlike them, I'm merely a distant relative from the Yu family," Yu Yuan sighed. "In the Shadowlight Empire, anyone with the surname Lee is at risk. Who would willingly leave their home to seek a livelihood in the perilous Sundering Isles unless absolutely necessary?"

"A distant relative, huh..."

Zhang Manman's eyes shimmered with a trace of disdain as she regarded Yu Yuan anew. "The Lee family must be incredibly wealthy for even a distant relative like you to possess a Bracelet of Holding at such a young age."

"This bracelet is the only valuable thing I own," Yu Yuan responded with a wry smile. "An elder in my family discreetly handed it to me during the attack by the cultivators at Dragon Lake. Those villains probably overlooked me because I was young and my cultivation level was low..."

He bowed his head slightly, seemingly lost in the harrowing memories, his expression tinged with sorrow.

"He's not as formidable as we thought. The big devil is deliberately making fools of us!" Zhang Manman internally fumed, her scorn for the refined young man before her growing. She pondered whether she should indeed follow the big devil's advice and entice the young man with her mystique.

Yu Yuan certainly had an impressive background, and she wouldn't hesitate to use her own body as a bargaining chip for a promising future if it meant breaking through to the Subtlety Stage.

She had seen it time and again—female cultivators without powerful patrons, much like herself and her sisters, leveraging their beauty to ally with influential figures, thereby escaping hardship and securing a prosperous path forward.

To them, Tong Laoqian represented a robust tree under whose shade they could find refuge.

He was of a high realm, merciless in his ways, and his family wealth was substantial.

Gaining Tong Laoqian's favor and being accepted into his sect would mean a secure and respectable haven for both sisters.

Yet, Tong Laoqian remained indifferent. He showed little interest in them and offered no solid promises, merely toying with them for his amusement and to pass the time on his journeys.

Before approaching Yu Yuan, Zhang Manman had considered that if Yu Yuan were affiliated with a sect like the Skyblight Cult or Taintborn, with exceptional potential and a renowned master's support, serving as maids wouldn't be a bad alternative for them.

However, if he was merely a distant relative of the Lee family, left with nothing but a Bracelet of Holding after the fall of the Shadowlight Empire...

The Lee family itself was struggling for survival, seeking refuge in the Sundering Isles. This Lee Qi before her, merely in the early stages of Veil Breaking, didn't seem particularly remarkable.

Given the Lee family's peripheral lineage, no sect would likely recruit him upon reaching the Sundering Isles.

These thoughts raced through Zhang Manman's mind, diminishing her desire to engage further with Yu Yuan.

"How do you know the general of the Lee family, this new generation's legend?" Yu Yuan, intrigued by her, took the initiative to inquire, eager to learn more about the situations of Lee Yuchan and Lee Yu.

"We just happened to meet; there hasn't been much interaction," replied Zhang Manman, her demeanor shifting dramatically as her once radiant smile faded. "I need to rest and gather my energy. Perhaps we can talk more later."

Suddenly, she became aloof and distant.

Yu Yuan's smile remained, but his gaze grew icy.

"We encountered them on another Sea Wanderer," his sister interjected quietly, her voice soft. "There's more than one Sea Wanderer traveling to the Sundering Isles. They make stops at some of the larger islands to transport magic items. We disembarked from our Sea Wanderer and stayed on the island for a while before they boarded another one and headed to the Sundering Isles ahead of us."

Zhang Miao didn't elaborate on the specifics of her and her sister's interactions with Lee Yuchan and Lee Yu.

Yu Yuan nodded, his interest in the conversation waning. He had pondered Zhang Manman's shift in demeanor and felt he had a grasp on the situation.

With a scoff, he dismissed the matter, leaning casually against the wooden wall, lost in his own thoughts.

Over the following two days, he, Zhang Manman, and Zhang Miao coexisted peacefully, each immersed in their own cultivation practices.

The process of repeatedly breaking down and purifying his corporeal body with the chaotic and murky forces contained within the Crucible of Evil was excruciatingly painful.

As a result, during his cultivation sessions, Yu Yuan would often be drenched in cold sweat, contorting his face in agony, and sometimes even curling up on his bed, shivering slightly.

Initially, Zhang Manman was somewhat perplexed by his condition. After observing him for some time, she assumed Yu Yuan was afflicted with a severe illness or a stubborn internal malady.

The intricacies of Evil Body Refining were beyond her comprehension.

His more reserved sister occasionally showed signs of confusion, seemingly pondering whether there was something peculiar about the spell Yu Yuan was practicing.

Yu Yuan, for his part, paid no mind to the sisters. He found their level of cultivation and their spells to be quite mundane.

Though both women had reached the Veil Breaking Realm, in Yu Yuan's estimation, their foundations were shaky at best. They had numerous issues with the development of their elixir field, meridians, and acupoints.

It seemed likely that their advancement into the Veil Breaking Realm was aided by special means rather than the result of years of dedicated cultivation.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, their cultivation journey would probably plateau at the Veil Breaking Realm.

As for progressing to the Subtlety Realm, the sisters seemed to have little hope of achieving this on their own.

Given their modest abilities, even if they were passably attractive, they did not capture Yu Yuan's interest, and he felt no inclination to pay them much heed.

That evening, even from the second floor of the building, Yu Yuan, who was deep in his cultivation, keenly sensed the temperature soaring rapidly. A loud commotion erupted from outside, thoroughly rousing him from his practice. Frowning, he flung open the window to assess the situation.

A massive fireball, engulfing two figures, hurtled toward him. Within its fiery embrace, Faang Yao of the Ruby Hand, his expression grave and commanding, even without a trace of anger. Alongside him, another figure, all too familiar to Yu Yuan. She was clad in a vibrant red dress, her form exuding an enchanting allure—the "blazing red lotus," her face radiating with the joy of her recent breakthrough to the Lunar Spirit Stage, a delight she could scarcely hide.

"Lord Faang Yao!" An elderly woman's voice echoed from the fifth deck of the Sea Wanderer, "The accommodations are ready. Please be at ease, Lord Faang Yao. We will ensure Ms. Yuan's safe passage to the Sundering Isles."

"Yuan Lianyao of Asvetaesi, the Shadowlight Empire! Has she truly advanced to the Lunar Spirit Stage with Faang Yao's assistance?"

"Faang Yao personally escorting her to the Sea Wanderer—Skyreach Consortium had been informed well in advance. It's clear she holds significant value to them!"

"Anyone escorted by Faang Yao to achieve the Lunar Spirit Stage should not be taken lightly!"

"Rumor has it that Ms. Yuan has accrued numerous merits for the Ruby Hand over the past couple of years. They regard her highly and have invested much in her development."

Whispers fluttered through the windows of the first three floors as many eyes, alight with interest, followed the striking woman who stepped out of the fireball, red lotus flowers swirling around her voluptuous figure. Even far from the Shadowlight Empire, here aboard the Sea Wanderer of the Skyreach Consortium, this distinguished mayor continued to captivate, drawing the covetous gazes of many men.

"Thank you," Faang Yao offered a slight bow from within the fiery sphere, a gesture of gratitude.

Affected by the recent upheaval in the Embers Sea, Faang Yao, in a somber mood, imparted a few words to Yuan Lianyao through his remnant soul before drifting away.

As Yuan Lianyao descended, Jiang Yurong was already there to greet her with an obsequious smile, "On the fourth deck of the Sea Wanderer, one of the twelve rooms has been reserved for you, Ms. Yuan, for quite some time."

"Thank you."

Surrounded by countless intense stares, Yuan Lianyao wore a smile and felt cheerful as Jiang Yurong guided her towards the fourth floor.

From the first to the fifth floors, onlookers pushed open their windows to catch a glimpse of her.

Amidst the throng, many gazes were filled with lewd thoughts, making her uncomfortable, so she chose not to pay them any attention.

Unbeknownst to her, Yu Yuan was also among the spectators.

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