C522 Arriving at the Island

Babel Island bustled with the clamor of countless cultivators converging from far and wide.

The Evil Cauldron had descended upon a grand square to the island's north, flanked by orderly rows of houses.

This locale served as the Babel Chamber of Commerce's quarters for hosting esteemed visitors.

Yu Yuan emerged from the cauldron, and with a mere thought, the dark vessel transformed into a radiant orb of black light, retreating into his personal domain of Qi and blood.

The Demonic Mark array, tampered with by Mo Yan, lay in ruins.

The Evil Cauldron, now integrated into his being, harbored not a trace of influence that could hinder Yu Yuan's cultivation or the mastery of his latent powers.

Even the tenacious will of the evil spirit, a Devaputra swallowed by the Evil Cauldron in the depths of Ember Waters, had been obliterated by the sword intent of the Shattering Sword.

Stripped of its defiance, the evil spirit's indomitable spirit dissolved into nothingness.

Within the cauldron's microcosm, the evil spirit was now enveloped by swathes of bizarre soul energy, much of it sourced from the Muddy Devil Embryo Yu Yuan had previously amassed.

This array of peculiar soul energies purged the evil spirit's original malice and vengeful desires toward the world.

The cauldron soul rejoiced, informing Yu Yuan that the decisive strike from the Great Sword Immortal of Sword Island had eradicated every lurking peril within the cauldron.

A single thread of sword intent had shattered Mo Yan's constructs and the evil spirit's rebellion, restoring harmony to the cauldron's once-turbulent inner realm.

In an ironic twist, Yu Yuan found fortune in calamity.

"Yu Yuan, how did you come to know that venerable sage?"

Zhu Peining of the Babel Chamber of Commerce, with a look of astonishment, turned to Chiang Yurong, who stood at a distance, and remarked, "It's quite unexpected, isn't it? That sage hasn't made an appearance in many years, much less drawn his sword."

Chiang Yurong replied with due reverence, "Indeed, the Great Sword Immortal has long refrained from unsheathing his blade."

At the plaza's rear, rows of dwellings reserved for the Chamber's distinguished guests were abuzz, as numerous cultivators popped their heads out, eyeing Yu Yuan with curiosity.

"Yu Yuan? That name sounds familiar. Where have I heard it before? Ah, Chi Nandou, upon his return from the Ember Waters, he spoke of such a person!"

"I've heard about him! Chi Yin from my sect couldn't stop talking about him when she made her report, and she held him in high regard!"

"Yu Yuan, wasn't he the one who got his hands on the Giant Beast Amber and that big cauldron?"

"Yes, that's the one!"

Only esteemed cultivators from the major sects and standout figures among the independent cultivators were invited to take up residence in those houses.

They all witnessed the Shattering Sword safeguarding Yu Yuan and escorting him to Babel Island.

"The Evil Cauldron!" The connection between Yu Yuan and the cauldron sent a shockwave through many, who quickly pieced together his identity.

"Is it because of Kong Banbi from the Sword Sect? No, that can't be right; Kong Banbi doesn't follow his swordsmanship, he's not from his lineage. It's curious, why would he draw his sword for Yu Yuan?"

"The strike from the Great Sword Immortal carries no ordinary significance!"

The murmurs about Yu Yuan became a clamor that couldn't be contained after the Shattering Sword vanished from Sword Island.

Those in the know shared more, "Recently, the scorching Divine Flame Lightning inflicted serious damage on that figure from the Primordial Yang Sect, another protector from the Chamber of Commerce, and the Devil Envoy from the Devil Palace."

"The woman wielding the Ice Flame and wreaking havoc was there too!"

"..."

A sea of astonished eyes, brimming with questions, all focused on Yu Yuan.

"Come with me."

Zhu Peining cleared her throat, aware that this was not the place for such discussions, and led the way to the other side of the square, to the lodgings for the Babel Chamber of Commerce members.

Old Cash hesitated for a moment.

Zhu Peining spoke calmly, "Yu Yuan, City Lord Yuan, just the two of you come here."

"And me?" Old Cash grimaced.

"You'll enter Babel Island by the book." Zhu Peining didn't look back, her voice firm, "Deacon Jiang, see to his arrangements. Find out where he wants to stay, how long he'll be here, and whether he has anything to buy or sell."

"Understood." Chiang Yurong quickly stepped in, positioning herself between Old Cash, Yu Yuan, and Yuan Lianyao.

Old Cash could only gaze longingly at Yu Yuan. "Brother Yu, for your sake, I've even given up the Jade Tower. Remember, you promised to repay the favor once you safely made it to Babel Island."

Chiang Yurong let out a derisive laugh and said with contempt, "They only managed to set foot on Babel Island thanks to the Great Sword Immortal from the Sword Sect. Old Cash, I doubt you played much of a role, right?"

"I've made significant contributions elsewhere," Old Cash retorted.

Before Chiang Yurong could continue her taunts, Yu Yuan turned to face him and said, "We'll discuss this later. We're both on the island and won't be leaving anytime soon. I haven't forgotten what I promised you."

Old Cash's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Yu, your generosity knows no bounds!"

Without the intervention of the Sword Sect's Great Sword Immortal, who empowered Yu Yuan's Shattering Sword with the intent to obliterate all in its path, Old Cash wouldn't have been nearly as thrilled.

He had always believed that the task he entrusted to Yu Yuan paled in comparison to the Jade Tower he had meticulously crafted.

But if Yu Yuan could gain the favor of that esteemed individual and earn his high regard, it would more than prove Yu Yuan's worth, far exceeding Old Cash's initial estimations.

Such a debt of gratitude from Yu Yuan might just equate to the value of the Jade Tower itself.

Though the Jade Tower was a Heaven Level artifact, in the eyes of the Great Sword Immortal, it was merely a common item—not one in a million, nor irreplaceable.

Across the plaza lay a courtyard adorned with artificial hills, a quaint bridge over a stream, and an array of small, refined buildings nestled in serene elegance.

Zhu Peining guided them to one such building, its white bricks and green tiles gleaming. She ushered them inside before explaining, "This is the safest spot on Babel Island. Unless a Great Sword Immortal like Van Heqing were to strike, the protective formations of mountains and waters within remain unscathed."

Here, she boldly used Van Heqing's real name, foregoing the formal titles of Great Sword Immortal or revered elder.

Clearly, the courtyard reserved for the Babel Chamber of Commerce members was shielded, hiding their presence from prying souls.

Even Van Heqing, without casting a spell to openly break the seal, couldn't eavesdrop on their conversations.

"Thank you for your assistance, Senior."

Yuan Lianyao bowed respectfully and said, "I could never have imagined that Lim Zhuyun, after being possessed by a Devaputra, would become so brutally malevolent, her actions beyond the pale of humanity."

"You're not alone in that," Zhu Peining replied with a sigh. "Devaputras from the outside world are usually very cautious when they descend into the Boundless Land. I've never witnessed such rampant and cruel slaughter as hers."

"Us?" inquired Yuan Lianyao.

"We should settle in first," Zhu Peining said gravely. "The state of the Crack Archipelago is still being assessed. We also need clarity on the conditions of the Primordial Yang Sect, the Devil Palace, and our associate from the Chamber of Commerce."

She paused, then pointed upward.

"But the most crucial task is to understand what exactly is happening beyond the Boundless Land. Until we have a clear picture, I'm hesitant to make any statements."

Yuan Lianyao nodded in understanding. "I've got it."

"Just stay put for now. Don't wander off," Zhu Peining advised before taking her leave.

"What's the situation?" Yuan Lianyao inquired.

Yu Yuan, now seated and with his internal energies settled, flashed a smile. "That sword strike resolved all the lingering threats from the cauldron!"

He held up the sword sheath, "The frigid force at the base of the sheath has been re-sealed and subdued; it won't cause any more trouble."

He then sighed, a touch of regret in his voice. "The only downside is that the strands of sword intent and brilliance I painstakingly gathered were nearly obliterated by Lim Zhuyun's fearsome assault."

"From now on, it seems I won't be able to rely on this sheath to save my life in critical moments."

Taking a deep breath, Lianyao sat beside him and smoothed back a lock of hair. "Why would that Great Sword Immortal extend a sword to you, resolving all your troubles?"

"It must be because of this," Yu Yuan said, gesturing to the sheath.

"Because of it?"

"This sheath originates from the Absence Relic, but the sword itself is missing," Yu Yuan explained openly. "I merged a sword soul I found in the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area into my arm bone. The sheath's owner, presumably from the Sword Sect, nearly wiped out the Moon Demon Clan in the Outland Star River and even cleaved the moon in two."

"It was he who, with only a sword sheath, managed to suppress the white gold skull of the Asura from the Dark Domain."

"This suggests that the Asura of the Dark Domain likely met his end at his hands. His head was severed, and the sword sheath was thrust into it, thwarting any chance of the shattered soul's reawakening."

"The one who wielded the sword must have known the significance of the scabbard to have delivered such a strike."

…