C535 Someone Had Come!
On an unnamed island, the arrival of Zhu Peining and the Silver Rainbow Shuttle sent the scattered cultivators into a frenzy, scattering like startled birds.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
One by one, figures shot up from the ground, making a hasty retreat.
Even those with weaker cultivation bases took to their rudimentary boats, eager to put distance between themselves and the island.
The battle in the Silverwoods between Tong Laoqian and Du Jing had caught the attention of a few keen cultivators.
Many had sensed that something was amiss.
The presence of Zhu Peining and the Dark Herald from the Devil Palace set off a wave of panic. None wanted to linger during such a precarious time and risk unnecessary dangers.
Before long, the island was devoid of any bystanders.
"They're all wise," Mo Yan remarked from atop the Warp Spindle, watching the cultivators flee. He flashed a smile and questioned, "Tong Laoqian, the individual practicing Venomcraft from the Poison Cult bears you no ill will. Why strike at him?"
"I have nothing to say," Tong Laoqian replied with defiance.
Mo Yan nodded in approval. "Very well then. It seems his fate hasn't intimidated you. But Tong Laoqian, surely you don't believe that possessing the Spirit Walk cultivation level allows you to disregard the authority of the Devil Palace?"
At the mention of the Devil Palace, Tong Laoqian's expression subtly shifted.
The Devil Palace, a colossus within the Everlands, stood imposingly in the north of the Land of Quiescence, having birthed numerous Half-Demons and epic, blood-stirring battles.
Only a handful of formidable forces across the three continents would dare to challenge the Devil Palace.
Confronted with the might of the Devil Palace, Tong Laoqian dared not object and fell silent.
"We've come up empty," the Dark Herald's icy voice emerged from within the Warp Spindle. "I've extended my remnant soul across the entire island, probing deep beneath the surface, yet I've failed to detect Yu Yuan or the cauldron's vibrations."
Mo Yan let out a sigh, his tone laced with frustration, "If only the Grand Sword Immortal hadn't infused the cauldron with his sword's will, I would have been able to track his general direction after he left Celestial Isle."
Van Heqing's decisive Shattering Sword strike destroyed the Circle of Damnation within the Crucible of Evil, eliminating the threat in one swift action.
Now, he found himself in a predicament.
The Dark Herald snapped, "Silence!"
Sword Island was part of the Sundering Isles. Given his level of cultivation, if he chose to eavesdrop, he could hear every word Mo Yan uttered with crystal clarity.
"He shattered my Circle of Damnation and foiled my plans. What's wrong with speaking out?" Mo Yan grumbled.
Gao Qin and Tong Laoqian were visibly taken aback by his words.
Mo Yan had the audacity to criticize the Grand Sword Immortal!
Yet, neither the Dark Herald nor Zhu Peining within the Warp Spindle made any attempt to caution him.
Gao Qin's eyes brightened with realization. The cultivator from the Devil Palace, who had previously clashed with Yu Yuan in the depths of the Embers Sea, was clearly no ordinary individual.
Otherwise, Mo Yan wouldn't have dared to be so audacious!
All of a sudden, Tong Laoqian's expression shifted.
Several deeply concealed presences began to seep out from the sea near the island.
He immediately grasped that, in addition to Zhu Peining and the Dark Herald from the Devil Palace, there must be other formidable beings who had secretly arrived and were lurking in the shadows.
Perhaps they had already been in contact with the Dark Herald.
"What other sects are involved?" Tong Laoqian's thoughts were in turmoil. "What cataclysm has befallen the Extraterrestrial Star River? Despite my inquiries on the island, I remain clueless. Are Yu Yuan and Lin Zhuyun truly that pivotal?"
The sudden changes in the sun, casting forth lightning that severely injured several people, had already revealed much.
There had to be a crisis beyond our world!
Yet, on Celestial Isle, he could glean no news, and Yu Yuan, who had been brought there by the Grand Sword Immortal Van Heqing, had left the island only to be immediately pursued.
What was transpiring in the Extraterrestrial and the Everlands?
What was so special about Yu Yuan and his betrothed?
Tong Laoqian was riddled with questions, growing increasingly cautious, not daring to speak without thinking.
Oddly enough, neither the Dark Herald nor Zhu Peining pressed him for information, nor did they show any aggression.
It appeared they were convinced he was genuinely unaware of the underlying situation.
The Dark Herald, the individual who had approached with his presence concealed, seemed to trust his own judgment and senses even more. He was determinedly searching the island, as if he were digging three feet into the ground to uncover its secrets.
...
In the dimly lit hall, the Bracelet of Holding on Yu Yuan's wrist glowed with a crimson light. As his hand passed over the accumulated piles of Psicrystals, jade, and various bottles and jars, they each vanished.
These were all materials he had prepared for himself in his past life, and gathering them now filled him with joy.
The only exception was the furnace, which stood immovable at the center of the hall.
Every time he laid eyes on the furnace, his mood lifted, and his lips curled into a smile.
As the many cultivation materials he had left from his past life disappeared into the Bracelet of Holding, he mused that upon his return to Celestial Isle, he would easily acquire all the items he had previously set his sights on.
The "Sunsorrow" he kept could also be traded at the Skyreach Consortium for even rarer and more secretive materials.
Whether for pill refining or future cultivation assistance, these materials would be perfectly suitable.
He was thoroughly familiar with the many treasures hidden within the Skyreach Consortium.
"Hmm?"
His gaze fell upon several unfamiliar porcelain bottles in a cabinet, sparking his curiosity.
He faintly remembered that space being empty.
When had these bottles appeared?
With a swift movement, he reached for a porcelain bottle, carefully lifted the stopper, peered inside, took a deep breath, and exclaimed, "This isn't right!"
The remaining bottles, which also contained pills, were quickly examined.
His brow furrowed slightly as he murmured, "Someone has been here!"
The pills in the bottles he had just checked were identical in effect to those in another cabinet.
But after a careful sniff and examination, he knew these weren't the ones he had crafted three hundred years prior.
Upon reflection, he was certain that those bottles were not placed by him.
Could they have materialized from thin air?
"The key has always been in Zu Ann's possession, and there's only one," Yu Yuan thought, struggling to remain composed. "Besides Zu Ann, only two others know of this place. New pills have appeared, and they were added later! Could someone be concerned that the efficacy of the pills I refined long ago might diminish over time?"
In fact, there are certain pills that simply can't withstand the ravages of time. No matter how well-preserved, their potency will inevitably be compromised. Those particular bottles of pills are a case in point; they're not suitable for long-term storage.
Zu Ann is unaware of this; his sole responsibility is safeguarding the key.
Zu Ann is also oblivious to the fact that, besides himself, there are two others who are privy to the existence of this place and the provisions he has left for his heirs.
The fact that everything here remains untouched indicates that there was no forced entry, but rather someone with the key has entered.
The ability to obtain the key from Zu Ann, disturb nothing else, and even supplement their own supply of pills points to either of the two individuals as possible.
Yu Yuan stroked his chin, lost in thought, yet he wasn't overly concerned.
His confidence in this place was unwavering; he knew all too well the challenges of penetrating its depths.
The unchanged state of things suggested that there was no violent intrusion. The one who quietly prepared the additional pills must be one of the two trusted individuals.
"Let's take another look!"
His demeanor shifted as he scrutinized the hall with increased attention.
Moments later, clutching another vial, he burst into hearty laughter, "No need to venture to Celestial Isle for extra herbs to concoct pills. Now, I can simply melt the Sunsorrow from the giant beast and refine the little world of vitality!"
