C505 Seeking the Pearl

Deep beneath the sea, phantoms swam gracefully, releasing waves of soul energy. Upon closer inspection, one would notice that all these phantoms shared the same form, representing a single person—or more accurately, a single Lunar Spirit. This spirit hailed from the Sunlit Order, a prominent lineage within the Mensend Hill sect.

With a whoosh, the dispersed Lunar Spirits abruptly coalesced into one and soared up from the ocean depths. Once it materialized clearly, it drifted towards Sunlit Isle in the Sundering Isles. There, atop a towering hundred-foot crimson mountain, a person with flowing red hair slowly rose to their feet. The Lunar Spirit cascaded over their crown like a waterfall before vanishing in an instant.

"It's been nine days, and still nothing," he murmured. "The Abyssal Leviathan, refining the sun in the extraterrestrial Star River and integrating it into its eye—this matter is crucial. If I could assimilate it into myself, I might also seek to merge with the cosmos and break through to the Unbound Realm, just like the renegade from the Devil Palace."

...

On Aemon Island, a cultivator clad in green robes spoke with a mix of apology and detachment. "I'm truly sorry, but my master is in deep meditation and cannot meet with you."

Lee Yu clenched the referral letter in his hand and nodded, conceding, "I'll return another time." For someone as prideful as he, the mere utterance of "next time" was a significant concession.

He was the prodigy of the Lee family, the royal bloodline of the Silvermoon Empire, and the foremost of the nation's five new moons. An Ebon Star traveler had once taken notice of him, promising to bring him into the Ebon Star once he reached the Veil Breaking stage. Now, having achieved that realm, he held the letter and sought out Aemon Island, where he had heard that the very same person now presided over the island on behalf of the Ebon Star.

He had journeyed far to the Sundering Isles, seeking an audience, but...

"The master's seclusion could last years. Young Master Lee, you'd be wasting your time," the green-robed cultivator said, his expression growing sterner. "The doors of the Ebon Star are now closed to you."

Upon hearing this, Lee Yu's face was etched with misery as his self-esteem shattered. Unable to face the humiliation, he turned and walked away.

By the seaside, a black-caped boat awaited, with Lee Yuchan standing nearby.

The imperial female general appeared much leaner, her expression cold, lacking the arrogance of her earlier years.

As Lee Yu boarded the boat, she offered words of encouragement, "It's Ebon Star's loss for not accepting you. With your abilities, you can make your mark without relying on them."

"How can I avenge my family without the backing of a major sect?" Lee Yu sighed.

"The day will come," Lee Yuchan replied with an icy tone.

...

Within the sealed tower on Demon's Scar, Yu Yuan trembled uncontrollably.

He was still uncertain whether the Abyssal Leviathan, the giant beast suppressed deep within the Embers Sea, was dead or alive.

The information Windspeaker Feng Zhong had obtained was fragmented and unclear.

Pei Zhen, who was present, could not provide clarity either.

The ancient life, born in the depths of the Star River at the dawn of creation, possessed boundless divine power and wisdom.

Legend had it that the cosmic giant beast, born from the radiance of cosmic order, was eternal, capable of refining the sun, moon, and stars, and could teleport and shine within the starry sea's depths.

For such a supreme being, as long as a strand of consciousness resided within its eyeball, it was not considered dead.

"Perhaps its massive body was divided among Hei Xun, Peach Madam, and Crane Rider. Its bones merged into the Blood Altar, with parts of its body escaping into the extraterrestrial. Another remnant soul fused into the eyeball, finding its way to the Sundering Isles."

Yu Yuan's face darkened as he brooded deeply.

He had the nagging feeling that the eyeball was seeking him out.

The eight clusters of sunfire within him were repeatedly stirred, as if beckoned by the eyeball.

Had he not restrained them, the sunfire would have likely followed the mutual attraction and flown towards the eyeball of the Abyssal Leviathan.

"Yu Yuan?"

Pei Zhen's soft call snapped him back to the present.

"Stop being paranoid. The cosmic giant beast is probably gone." She shared the recent oddities with him, "About half a month ago, when the sun fell, another burning sun, seemingly diminished, plunged into the sea. It descended near the northern part of the Sundering Isles."

The Skyreach Consortium, Devil Palace, and Shadow's Keep, the three upper sects, including myself and many others responsible for the Sundering Isles, have all attempted the search."

"Unfortunately..."

Pei Zhen offered a wry smile, "No one has a clue."

The Sundering Isles' waters are unlike those of the Embers Sea; here lies the deep ocean.

Should the Abyssal Leviathan's eyeball, if it possesses the ability to stealthily evade, sink into the dark depths, it would elude detection by not just someone like Pei Zhen, but even a Solar Spirit or an Unbound cultivator might fail to perceive it.

"What would you have me do?" inquired Yu Yuan.

"If the sunfire you've harnessed is indeed connected to that eye, perhaps you could join forces with my sect." Pei Zhen's demeanor brightened, "If you agree, I can call upon other masters from our sect to collaborate in locating that eye!"

"I need to consider this." Yu Yuan replied, his tone even, a smile playing on his lips, "Given my rapport with the state preceptor, the Ruby Hand wouldn't coerce me, would they?"

"I shall convey this matter to him," Pei Zhen affirmed.

"As you wish," Yu Yuan nodded, then smoothly shifted the conversation, "That young girl, Xiao Yun, I've encountered her in the Embers Sea. Yet, the tales she told you are likely fabrications. She did recognize the mask on my face, but that information must have come from the Sea Wanderer's steward."

At his words, both Pei Zhen and Yuan Lianyao were taken aback.

"Do you mean to say?" Pei Zhen was astonished.

"She's with the Skyreach Consortium," Yu Yuan clarified, "The Consortium wouldn't commit such a basic oversight. The mask they provided wouldn't have this flaw; Xiao Yun couldn't have detected anything amiss. It must be the steward who informed her, hoping she'd reveal my identity to you."

Pei Zhen's face fell, "Now that you mention it, it seems quite plausible! Zhu Peining is playing a clever game!"

"The Skyreach Consortium has managed to plant a pawn within the Ruby Hand?" Yuan Lianyao was incredulous, "How could they dare? And how do they wield such influence?"

"It's not necessarily someone from the Consortium, but they likely had dealings with them in the past," Pei Zhen huffed, "Regardless, for passing messages on behalf of Zhu Peining, that girl will be expelled from the sect!"

"The issue with the Abyssal Leviathan's eye has given me much to ponder over the past few days," Yu Yuan remarked.

"Alright!"

Pei Zhen nodded, her face set in a stern expression as she quietly slipped away.

"Could that giant beast actually be alive?" Yuan Lianyao asked, astonished.

"The eyeball that sank to this cluster of islands still harbors its consciousness," Yu Yuan explained, taking a deep breath. "But even if it is alive, with its spiritual wisdom residing within the eyeball, it must be incredibly weak!"

He recalled the several times he had felt its presence while aboard the Sea Wanderer.

If the Abyssal Leviathan retained its former strength, there would be no need for it to approach the Sundering Isles. It could have easily ambushed the Sea Wanderer en route and effortlessly taken control.

The Sea Wanderer's overseer, Zhu Peining, was merely at the Spirit Walk level.

The fact that it had not attacked suggested it knew victory was out of reach and that it needed a different strategy.

Narrowing his eyes, Yu Yuan let out a cold laugh. "If it's so feeble and insists on hiding beneath the sea, it should do so thoroughly. Yet, it still meddles from the shadows, seeking vengeance against me in the Sundering Isles. It shuns the path to the heavens, preferring instead to plunge into the abyss of hell!"

"What will you do?" Yuan Lianyao exclaimed.

"I'll wait for it to come to me willingly," Yu Yuan said, a scheme forming in his mind. "Of course, it can't be at Demon's Scar. With Pei Zhen present, if it truly is that eye, it wouldn't dare to approach."

"When will you be leaving the island?"

"In the next few days!"

​