C532 Silently Leaving the Island

Inside the cauldron, glyphs swirled with a fierce suction force that targeted the once-great female general of the empire. Lee Yuchan lay weakened on the ground, her aura faint, as the corners of her eyes cracked, releasing tendrils of smoke and a prism of light.

Yu Yuan stood within the cauldron, silently observing her. Behind him, a unique “Bane” that had transformed from a Sky Fiend radiated a chilling, somber aura, watching the fallen Yuchan with an impassive gaze.

Wisps of energy stirred within the female general's mud pellet acupoint. Her Lunar Spirit, once ravenous with bloodlust and brimming with madness and brutality, began to regain its spiritual wisdom amidst the hazy blend of psionic power. The evil force that had earlier infiltrated her spirit through its fractures now ebbed away.

As the strange power that had tainted her soul receded, the Lunar Spirit's fragmented spirited body began to mend, its wounds stitched together one by one. The eyes of the Lunar Spirit suddenly sparked to life with renewed vigor.

In that moment, a thought from the cauldron spirit reached Yu Yuan: "She is an exemplary 'Bane.' Her spellwork is unique, and her Lunar Spirit harbors profound mysteries. With your consent, Master, we could end her life within the little world of the cauldron, using her soul to swiftly undergo a transformation."

"First, she would become an 'evil spirit,' then be refined into a 'Bane.' The 'Bane' she becomes will be a wondrous entity, rivaling even those evolved from the Sky Fiend."

The "Terror Claws," which had once shone brightly in the Everlands, had met their demise long ago. It was after their disappearance that the Stormcrowned Emperor, creator of the "Shadow Curse," rose to prominence across the Aetherius Continent.

The "Shadow Curse," which had shaped Lee Yuchan, was extraordinarily compatible with the doctrines of the now-extinct "Terror Claws." Yuchan, who had harnessed the Soul Power of fallen soldiers to enhance her cultivation, attracted various "evil spirits" within her mud pellet acupoints, risking self-inflicted harm.

Yet for Yu Yuan, wielding the Crucible of Evil, this was a boon—a potent remedy that could aid in the cauldron's enhancement and progression.

According to the cauldron spirit, even Lee Yuchan, who had undergone a transformation from her earthly soul, could be refined directly within the cauldron, swiftly becoming a brand-new "Bane" and significantly enhancing the cauldron's might.

It seemed that with a mere nod from Yu Yuan, the cauldron spirit could fulfill this purpose.

"No need."

Yu Yuan shook her head, declining the cauldron spirit's proposal.

The cauldron spirit let out a gentle sigh of regret.

Lee Yuchan, sprawled on the ground, twitched her eyelids and abruptly opened her eyes.

As her eyes fluttered open, she was momentarily disoriented, unsure of her surroundings.

She recalled that just before losing consciousness, the Lunar Spirit had become overwhelmingly intense, and she was unable to withstand the backlash of the strange power. It weighed heavily upon her, causing dizziness and a burgeoning desire for a murderous rampage.

She was aware that she was on Celestial Isle, where such actions were forbidden.

Otherwise, the moment she acted on those impulses, Celestial Isle would have struck her down without mercy.

As she fought against the malevolent thoughts with her willpower, her psyche shattered, and the Lunar Spirit tore even more severely, leading to her sudden collapse into unconsciousness, devoid of all awareness.

Her blackout signified a total loss of control, making it impossible to contain the damage to her soul.

Yet now, upon awakening, she was astonished to find that the tormenting backlash that had plagued her night and day had been resolved!

The fissured Lunar Spirit had inexplicably mended, and the malevolent aura that had haunted and eroded her for years was nowhere to be found.

Confused, she surveyed the unfamiliar terrain and fixed her gaze on Yu Yuan.

Her face abruptly turned icy. "How did I end up here? What did you do to me while I was unconscious?"

The strange setting, her own unresponsive state, and Yu Yuan's enigmatic presence involuntarily brought back memories of her capture by the Huang family in Asvetaesi, and the demeaning treatment and gaze she received from the master of the Van family.

She shivered suddenly, and a surge of murderous intent flared within her, spontaneously triggering a soul blade.

With a swift motion, the soul blade she unleashed was penetrated by an ice-blue glow as it exited the acupoint on her forehead.

She let out a cry of pain, and that's when she noticed the ice-blue figure standing behind Yu Yuan—an extraordinary being sculpted from Ice Shards, with the upper body of a woman and the lower body of a scorpion.

The woman, her body a crystalline ice-blue, exuded a chill that made even her Lunar Spirit shudder.

This woman lacked any trace of human emotion, and within her translucent form, it seemed as though flames of the same color burned fiercely.

With just a hint of perception, she knew this enigmatic woman was exceedingly dangerous, a force she dared not provoke.

"You're awake, that's good," Yu Yuan said evenly. "You were struck by the Shadow Curse and fell unconscious. Lee Yu saw you were in bad shape, so he carried you here."

"You and Lee Yu are out of the loop; you're not aware of my achievements in the Embers Sea."

"Fortunately, the cauldron you're in is perfectly suited to counteract the Shadow Curse's backlash. And it's not just for now; I can also strip away the unrefined power that accumulates in your soul whenever you practice the Shadow Curse in the future."

"There's no need to thank me; I benefit from refining that power as well."

Having said his piece, he added, "Now, I'll send you on your way."

The world seemed to flip, and space itself jolted.

In an instant, Lee Yuchan found herself outside the cauldron's little world, materializing in a spacious hall with her nephew, his face etched with worry, standing beside her.

"Aunt, you look much better," Lee Yu exclaimed joyfully.

Lee Yuchan, still in a daze, was taken aback and stood frozen.

"She's alright now," Yu Yuan said with a slight smile. "I need to meditate for some time. Take her out. And if there's anything else, you can always come to me."

He understood that Lee Yuchan needed time to process the recent events.

She also needed to decide on her path forward and how she would treat herself in the future.

"Okay."

Lee Yu, understanding the situation, gently led the bewildered Lee Yuchan away.

Under the watchful escort of Jiang Yurong and Gao Qin, the pair departed from the inner sanctum of the Chamber of Commerce.

"Can you see it now?" Gao Qin stroked his chin, watching the aunt and nephew duo disappear into the distance. Turning to Jiang Yurong, he remarked, "Just one night, and the female general, once tormented by the backlash of her Lunar Spirit, has been completely healed."

Jiang Yurong nodded, remarking, "That's truly incredible."

"The God of Plagues indeed has astonishing abilities that take one's breath away," Gao Qin reflected with a sense of awe. "It's no surprise that even the Grand Sword Immortal from Sword Island would draw his sword for him."

"Could it be that the Sword Sect has taken an interest in him?" Jiang Yurong wondered.

"Regardless, we should take good care of him for now. I've heard that the Hellbreed from the Ruby Hand has settled their affairs and will soon arrive at the Sundering Isles," Gao Qin said, his eyes narrowing. "This Hellbreed is almost certainly the future Sect Master. He was enraged to learn of the massacre on Ruby Island and has come to the Sundering Isles to confront the female disciples of Winter's Bite."

"Wasn't there talk of her being possessed by the Sky Fiend?" Jiang Yurong inquired.

"The island's most enigmatic guardian is convinced she wasn't possessed by the Sky Fiend; she retains her own consciousness and spiritual wisdom," Gao Qin explained, taking a deep breath. "Those who choose to fall into darkness are the most frightening of all."

Two days later, as dawn broke, Yu Yuan quietly woke Jiang Yurong before slipping away from the courtyard, mentioning he was going for a walk.

He reached the most secluded part of the island, where Tong Laoqian appeared abruptly. "Have you made up your mind? The rules of Celestial Isle are straightforward: leaving is easy, but arriving is hard. Departing Celestial Isle amidst such uncertainty is a considerable risk."

"I'm aware, and I've given it a lot of thought," Yu Yuan replied.

With a resigned tone, Tong Laoqian conceded, "Very well."

Following a brief conversation, they both leaped into the sea.

Moments later, Gao Qin materialized like a specter at the spot where they had dived in, peering down at the deep blue sea. He murmured to himself, "He left Celestial Isle without notifying the Chamber of Commerce. Should any misfortune befall him, it's on his own head, and the Chamber will have their excuse."

In his hand, a crystal ball spun effortlessly, displaying the scene of Yu Yuan and Tong Laoqian's clandestine meeting and their subsequent plunge into the ocean.

"This item serves as my report to the Grand Sword Immortal of Sword Island," Gao Qin said with a lazy smile. The crystal ball soared back to a secret spot on the island, and without warning, he plunged into the sea.

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