C544 See the Light of Day Again

The moonlight filtered thinly through the trees.

I found myself once again amidst the Silverwoods.

Like a phantom rising from the earth, Yu Yuan emerged silently. He glanced at the night sky and heaved a deep sigh.

A short distance away, beneath the Silverwoods, a figure in red caught the light in her striking eyes.

Elsewhere, by the shore, Ann Ziqing, lost in thought to the sound of the waves, allowed herself a small, knowing smile.

With a swift whoosh, she too appeared among the Silverwoods, her smile broadening as she greeted, "Young Master, you've decided to grace us with your presence?"

"You?" Yuan Lianyao exclaimed in surprise.

"What made you think those cultivators who had converged here would just leave?" Ann Ziqing, standing beneath a tree, caressed the luminous crystal at her heart. "I rushed over from the Land of Quiescence in response to your summons, to lend aid."

Yuan Lianyao was taken aback. "It was you?"

"Before I brought Xueyin here, I had already been in touch with a guardian on Celestial Isle," Ann Ziqing clarified. "The Grand Sword Immortal of Sword Island, along with the guardians from Ebon Star, Sunlit Order, and Ethereal Void, were all alerted by the Chamber of Commerce. Still, I never imagined that the cosmic giant beast trapped in the Embers Sea would be so deviously powerful."

She hadn't anticipated that the Abyssal Leviathan could escape.

According to the Chamber of Commerce, and corroborated by the Shadow's Keep's Dusk Raven, Hei Xun, the Pale Reaper, Peach Madam, and the Crane Rider had all joined forces in a fierce attack on the Abyssal Leviathan.

Everyone believed that even if the Abyssal Leviathan survived, it would no longer pose a threat.

Yet, who could have predicted that it would transform into the human guise of Ming Kun, boldly arriving at the Sundering Isles and blending in with the scattered cultivators, biding its time for Yu Yuan to appear.

Had it not been for the enigmatic nature of the hall, and Yu Yuan's chance sighting of him, the outcome might have been uncertain.

"How did you manage to contact me?" Yuan Lianyao inquired further.

Yu Yuan held the red jade pendant, examining it briefly before shaking his head with a wry smile. "When you gave me this pendant, did you have ulterior motives?"

The pendant contained a rune circle for communication, ingeniously hidden and remarkably intricate, allowing it to bypass the shielding runes of the dark hall and subtly link with Ann Ziqing.

He couldn't discern the material of the red jade pendant, nor identify the type of jade it was made from.

"Young Master, you really know how to accuse someone unjustly."

Ann Ziqing felt aggrieved. "I was concerned for you during your trial at the bottom of the Embers Sea, fearing that Lin Yue and those from the Colddeath Sect might kill you. With this jade pendant in your possession, all you need to do is show it to him, and he wouldn't dare to mess with you. The rune circle embedded within can only be activated by you, and only you can come to find me."

"And I can't find you," she said earnestly.

"Let's get out of here," Yu Yuan said quickly, not wanting this secret-laden island to attract too much attention. "Ann Ziqing, I'm aware of your high standing within the Colddeath Sect. Can you tell me what's going on with the extraterrestrial?"

"We should head to Demon's Scar," Yuan Lianyao proposed. "Master Faang Yao is there, and it's closer."

Ann Ziqing countered, "To Acora Island!"

Both women exchanged glances.

"Faang Yao..."

Yu Yuan weighed his options briefly, then with slight hesitation, said, "I feel that Celestial Isle might be a better choice."

"Come with me to Acora Island," Ann Ziqing persisted. "Yuanyuan, if you're worried, you can accompany me."

"I am indeed worried," Yuan Lianyao retorted with a pout.

Ann Ziqing smiled and turned to Yu Yuan once more. "Believe me, on Acora Island, you'll find what you're currently lacking the most."

Yu Yuan was taken aback.

He suddenly recalled that after the formation of the Blood Altar in the little world of vitality, his breakthrough to the Veil Breaking Realm required only an abundance of vital energy.

In the Sundering Isles, the only place that could provide him with ample vitality was Shadow's Keep.

Yet, Shadow's Keep wouldn't allow him to hunt and refine higher-tier Fellbeasts.

The Skyreach Consortium might have some special pills that could aid in his rapid refinement and generation of vital energy.

Beyond that, it would likely be the Colddeath.

With its unique cultivation method shunned by the world, the Colddeath Sect had amassed a variety of alien beast blood and the blood of extraterrestrial beings. They also imprisoned their fellow cultivators.

Almost all of them were ready to be used for the Blood Altar to condense and transform into a source of vitality.

"Alright! Let's head to Acora Island!"

...

"So, Yu Yuan has really emerged."

On Demon's Scar, Faang Yao's eyebrows lifted in amusement as he looked at Yuan Qiufang, saying, "Lianyao went to Acora Island with him and the Goddess of the Colddeath."

After returning, he remained concerned about Yuan Lianyao, occasionally using his remnant soul to sense the vicinity of the island.

When Yu Yuan appeared, Faang Yao checked again with his remnant soul and saw him.

"Where had he been before?" Yuan Qiufang inquired with curiosity.

"No one knows," Faang Yao replied as he released a large fireball from the island's volcano, drawing out chunks of scarlet rock.

The rocks moved with his intent, quickly stacking up.

A new Mountain of Flames was slowly taking form.

Previously, Lin Zhuyun had used overwhelming force to kill Pei Zhen, causing the island's volcano to shatter and collapse, instantly destroying the buildings and nearly damaging the foundation of Demon's Scar.

Faang Yao arrived later, employing his divine powers to reconstruct Demon's Scar, slowly restoring its former glory.

"The odd thing is, that island is completely obscure. I can see everything clearly with my remnant soul," Faang Yao shook his head. "It's astonishing, really. I never paid that kid any attention back in Asvetaesi."

"It seems he has known of your reputation for quite some time," Yuan Qiufang suddenly mentioned.

"He knew of me?" Faang Yao was skeptical. "He shouldn't have left Asvetaesi in his early years, and without a master, how could he know of me?"

"I've spoken with him. He gave me the impression that he's known about you for a long time," Yuan Qiufang responded, recalling Yu Yuan's peculiar demeanor when discussing Faang Yao in the past. "I have this feeling that he's been acquainted with you for quite some time."

"Impossible, impossible," Faang Yao repeated, shaking his head.

"The Colddeath maiden seems to know his whereabouts; that's why she waited for him," Yuan Qiufang pondered, then expressed his confusion, "Given that she is the revered goddess of the Colddeath, why would she demean herself by calling herself a servant?"

"Perhaps it's some sort of perverse pleasure," Faang Yao mused, equally baffled. "With her status in the Everlands, she shouldn't be serving anyone."

"Could she have killed Yu Yuan on Acora Island?" Yuan Qiufang asked, her concern evident.

"I really couldn't say," Faang Yao replied with a chuckle. "If Yu Yuan were to die, Zhou Cangmin would be quite upset. Our Hellbreed have been keen to recruit him into our sect, always remarking on his exceptional nature during our conversations. The Hellbreed's judgment is never wrong, yet that young man has never given a definitive response."

In Faang Yao's view, Yu Yuan wasn't a true member of the sect until he officially joined the Ruby Hand. No matter how gifted or extraordinary an outsider might be, he wouldn't give them special consideration.

...

Bathed in moonlight, an island shaped like a human heart, its hue a vivid red, came into view.

"This is Acora Island."

Ann Ziqing's smile was radiant as she descended onto the island like a blood shadow, leading the way.

Yu Yuan and Yuan Lianyao, supported by her lotus flowers, hovered in the air, surveying the island below.

"Shall we go down?" Yuan Lianyao asked, in no rush. Now that they had reached Acora Island, she suggested, "If you're reluctant, we could head to Celestial Isle instead. Using the teleportation circle there, we can swiftly return to the Forgotten Ruins without drawing much attention."

She wasn't fond of Ann Ziqing and preferred that Yu Yuan not become too entangled with this Colddeath disciple.

"Yuanyuan, we've come all this way; why leave so soon?" Ann Ziqing called up to them, beckoning. "I mean well by our Young Master. If you wish to leave, then by all means, go."

"Young Master, come down quickly, and I'll show you around," she beckoned with a charming smile and a gentle call.

Yu Yuan responded with a beaming smile and descended swiftly toward Acora Island.

Boom!

A secret rune circle embedded within the heart-shaped island sprang to life. Under the moonlight, the island transformed in an instant into a bloodthirsty dire beast roused from slumber!

"Ann Ziqing, how dare you!" Yuan Lianyao exclaimed furiously.

"It wasn't me!" Ann Ziqing protested loudly.

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