C491 A Lone Man and a Woman

Yuan Lianyao gazed at Yu Yuan before her as if beholding a treasure of unparalleled worth, a marvel of the world.

"Eighth level..."

Her eyes sparkled with brilliance, as if divine rainbows were spontaneously springing into existence.

For cultivators who have reached the eighth level of the Golden Sanctum acupoint, as long as their spell is correct, they can condense the Lunar Spirit and embark on the Spirit Walk. Achieving the realm of the Solar Spirit is just a matter of time.

With a stroke of luck and sufficient insight, entering the Unbound realm is also highly probable.

Even attaining the primordial spirit is within the realm of possibility!

In the vast Everlands, any sect would spare no effort to cultivate those with the eighth level Golden Sanctum acupoint, treating them as the flame that ensures the sect's prosperity and the pillar of its revival.

As Faang Yao progressed in his cultivation and deepened his understanding of the Ruby Hand, Yuan Lianyao became increasingly cognizant of the critical importance of the innate cultivation talent one is born with.

"It seems the state preceptor's foresight is indeed remarkable!"

Her smile radiated as she poured wine for Yu Yuan, clinking her cup against his. "Come now, let me pamper you a bit. When you've condensed your Solar Spirit and are gliding through the Star River beyond our world, don't forget to take me with you."

Yu Yuan took another sip and asked, "The Devil Palace and Shadow's Keep, they truly have no designs on the Crucible of Evil?"

"I haven't heard anything of the sort," Yuan Lianyao replied.

Yu Yuan's spirits lifted, and he laughed heartily, engaging in a merry bout of drinking with Yuan Lianyao.

As they sipped and chatted, Yu Yuan soon learned that after he had traveled on the Silver Rainbow Shuttle with Yan Lu to the Embers Sea, the Shadowlight Empire had come under the firm grip of the Yan family.

Families like the Su and Lin, with ties to the seven lower sects, were ostensibly favored by the Yan family but were being suppressed behind the scenes.

The Yu family's status in Asvetaesi was now secure, no longer swayed by the Su and Lin families.

And due to their ties with the Ruby Hand, Yuan Lianyao's own Yuan family had earned the new emperor's deep favor.

She didn't linger in Asvetaesi; sensing the moment for her breakthrough was imminent, she reached out to the Ruby Hand. They swiftly arranged transport overseas for her.

Faang Yao himself came, bringing necessary herbs and magic items, choosing an island with frequent volcanic activity to harness the earthfire essence. This aided her in refining her earthly soul into a Lunar Spirit.

The island, being a great distance from the Shadowlight Empire, and with Faang Yao preoccupied with other matters, led to coordination with the Skyreach Consortium to secure her passage on the Sea Wanderer.

The Sea Wanderer would ensure her safe arrival at the Sundering Isles, where the Ruby Hand had a presence.

The Skyreach Consortium maintained a teleportation circle on the Sundering Isles, which she could use to be directly transported to the Forgotten Ruins by the Consortium.

The rune circle, once sabotaged by Yan Qiling and costly for the Ethereal Void Sect to construct, had been successfully restored.

Now, Yu Zhu was the undisputed master of the Forgotten Ruins. Her teleportation there would surely be well-managed.

As they shared a drink, bidding each other farewell, Yu Yuan recounted his experiences in the Embers Sea to Yuan Lianyao, sharing the details he could divulge.

She had already learned much from Hou Tianzhao, including the details of the Abyssal Leviathan and Hei Xun's betrayal.

The information she relayed to Yu Yuan was consistent with what Feng Zhong, the Windspeaker, had said.

"I heard from Hou Tianzhao that you came across some Giant Beast Sunsorrow. Is that true?" Yuan Lianyao, her cheeks flushed from the wine, asked with a playful smile. "I only learned of the Giant Beast Sunsorrow's remarkable properties from overhearing a conversation between Lord Faang Yao and Hou Tianzhao. Yu Yuan, did you know it has a unique application? It's not useful for cultivation, but many cultivators seek it out."

Yu Yuan remained silent, setting down his cup. "Alright, that's enough. Let's leave it at that."

"But I'm asking you—do you know or not?" Yuan Lianyao pressed, her face still flushed.

"I don't," Yu Yuan replied, shaking his head.

"That..."

Yuan Lianyao bit her lower lip, her head slightly bowed. "Lord Faang Yao mentioned that the essence of a cosmic giant beast's vitality, when refined by a female cultivator through a mystique and complemented with a special pill, can significantly increase the likelihood of conception." Her voice trailed off to a near whisper.

Yu Yuan reiterated, "I don't know."

In the universe, there is a cosmic order. The more formidable the being, the more difficult it is for them to procreate.

From the Lunar Spirit state onward, a cultivator's chances of conceiving diminish as their cultivation level rises.

The higher the realm, the less probable it is to leave offspring.

It's as though the heavens, in an effort to maintain cosmic balance, punish the great cultivators who defy the natural order.

Many cultivators who have ascended to the Spirit Walk, Solar Spirit, and Unbound realms, upon realizing their potential is depleted with no hope of further advancement, or after suffering grievous injuries that prevent them from reclaiming their peak, entertain the idea of having a child. They hope to nurture this offspring to surpass their own achievements and reach even higher realms.

Sadly, it remains just a wishful thought.

Numerous cultivators from the Spirit Walk and Solar Spirit realms have forcibly taken many women, yet despite years of effort, they have achieved nothing.

Female cultivators face the same issue; even when choosing a mortal man, the chances of conception are virtually nonexistent.

When such individuals unite, the glimmer of hope fades to nothing.

Legend has it that the Sunsorrow, imbued with the essence of life, possesses miraculous power capable of transforming the cosmos and overturning the established rules.

Many powerful cultivators, whose abilities reach the heavens, yearn to encounter cosmic giant beasts within the vast Star River. Whether through entreaty or exchange of rare treasures, they seek even a fragment of Sunsorrow, hoping it will enable them to leave behind a progeny to inherit their spiritual spells and millennia of knowledge.

Indeed, the offspring of a high-realm cultivator would naturally possess extraordinary talent.

Should two such cultivators combine their lineage, the resulting child would undoubtedly possess a one-in-a-million formidable gift.

Regrettably, the chance of encountering a cosmic giant beast beyond our world is an exceedingly rare occurrence.

"Tell me, did you truly find the Giant Beast Sunsorrow at the bottom of the Embers Sea?" Yuan Lianyao asked, her lips pursed, her gaze fixed on him with a tipsy allure.

"Uh..." Yu Yuan hesitated briefly before giving a slight nod.

"Could you save me just one piece? Only that much!" Yuan Lianyao gestured, her thumb slick with red oil, "About the size of a fingernail. I've heard that's all I need."

Yu Yuan gave her an incredulous look. "What are you planning to do with it?"

"Why are you so nosy!" Yuan Lianyao, flustered, avoided his gaze. "Just remember to leave me that tiny piece, okay?"

"Alright." Yu Yuan responded.

"You find somewhere to rest. I've had too much to drink; I'm going to lie down." The inebriated mayor rose gracefully and headed toward a chamber, advising as he went, "On the fourth floor, each suite has three quiet bedrooms. That one is mine; make sure you don't get confused if you're drunk."

As he watched her shapely and attractive figure retreat, Yu Yuan felt a surge of frustration, his curiosity piqued even more by her request for the Giant Beast Sunsorrow. He couldn't resist teasing, "Sister, are you hoping I'll pick the wrong room, or not?"

The fire lotus about to enter her room paused, spun around, and beckoned him with a crooked finger, "If you're brave enough, go ahead and make that mistake."

"There's no chance of that happening." Yu Yuan chuckled heartily and strode toward her.

Yuan Lianyao, however, suddenly lost her nerve and darted into the room, locking it from the inside. She then shouted, "You impudent boy, you've become so brazen, even daring to flirt with me. Just wait until I get back to Asvetaesi; I'll be having words with your grandfather!"

Standing at the door, Yu Yuan let out a sigh. "I was going to give you the Giant Beast Sunsorrow now, so you could use it tonight. Sister, you're so harsh."

"Go to another room!" Yuan Lianyao yelled from within.

"Forget it, then." Yu Yuan sighed again and walked away.

Inside, the stunning lotus, whose beauty was coveted by countless men, leaned against the door with flushed cheeks. She clutched her heaving chest with one hand and her forehead with the other, whispering to herself in a voice only she could hear, "It's definitely the alcohol... I've had too much to drink, that's why I'm acting like this..."

Her lips curved into an alluring arc as she mused, "After being maligned and drenched in slander for so many years, I'd almost forgotten that I've never truly flirted with a man. So this is what it feels like. It's quite... intriguing."

In high spirits, she hummed a tune while making her way deeper into the house.

Before departing, she casually removed the previously secured inner lock.

Over the next two days, Yu Yuan and Yuan Lianyao engaged in their separate cultivation practices.

From time to time, she would summon Yu Yuan with an offering of meat, wine, and fruit, insisting on the importance of balancing work with leisure.

In their moments of respite, the pair exchanged playful banter and reveled in each other's company.

Two days later, the Sea Wanderer, after a stint of deep-sea navigation, gradually decelerated until it came to a complete halt.

Yuan Lianyao, having never set foot on the Sea Wanderer before, emerged from the inner room, her confusion evident. "It seems the ship has stopped."

"We're passing islands where magic items can be exchanged," Yu Yuan explained, emerging from another room upon hearing her voice. "En route to the Sundering Isles, the ship docks at some of the larger islands to collect magic items for sale at our destination."

"You seem to know quite a bit," Yuan Lianyao remarked, impressed.

Yu Yuan offered a smile. "Would you like to explore the island?"

"Sure!" Yuan Lianyao responded eagerly.

"Let's head out then. With you by my side, it should be very safe to disembark," Yu Yuan assured her as they walked. "The Skyreach Consortium has a policy: once you leave the Sea Wanderer, what happens on the island is of no concern to them, life or death. If you're not back on board at the designated time, your soulstone deposit is forfeited, and your accommodations are relinquished."

Yuan Lianyao gasped, "So you're saying the Skyreach Consortium washes their hands of us once we're on the island?"

"Exactly. If we're attacked on the island, the Consortium turns a blind eye. The soulstone I've paid could then be used to house someone else," Yu Yuan explained, glancing back at her. "But with you, safety shouldn't be an issue. The Skyreach Consortium has promised Faang Yao that they will ensure your safe passage to the Sundering Isles, and they intend to keep you under their protection."

As expected, Jiang Yurong materialized in the corridor just as they were conversing. She first cast a surprised glance at him and Yuan Lianyao, then inquired, "Is Ms. Yuan planning to disembark?"

"I'd like to go down and have a look. Would that be possible?" Yuan Lianyao dismissed her odd expression with grace and poise, remaining cool and collected.

"While it might be inconvenient for others, for Ms. Yuan, it's naturally no trouble at all," Jiang Yurong replied, her suspicion growing. She silently speculated about the man and woman who had spent two whole days and nights alone in such a spacious room, wondering what indecent acts they might have engaged in.

She mused to herself that this fire lotus truly lived up to the rumors, flaunting her countless conquests with practiced allure.

"As long as it's convenient," Yuan Lianyao responded, paying no heed to Jiang Yurong. Accustomed to such stares and judgments, she was unfazed. Alongside Yu Yuan, she descended from the Sea Wanderer, her smile undimmed by the myriad of peculiar looks cast their way.

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