C548 The Way Back

Yu Cann once mentioned he had a younger sister named Yu Ying, who was taken away by a passing cultivator during her childhood in Darkmoon City. For years, there was no word from her.

Publicly, Yu Cann maintained she never returned. However, in confidence to Yu Yuan, he revealed that she did come back secretly to restore the Yu family and left something for them deep underground.

To uncover what was buried beneath, the Yu family members would need to reach the Penetrating Stage at a minimum.

Only by advancing to the Penetrating Stage and refining their Spiritual Sense to resonate with the concealed underground array could they delve into the depths and discover her hidden legacy.

Yu Cann believed that she had made powerful enemies, knew her end was near, and thus returned in silence to leave a legacy for her kin.

Yu Yuan suspected there was more to Ann Ziqing's presence in Darkmoon City and her concealment within the Yu family. He theorized that Ann Jieshan, once seen in the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area, might also be lurking in Darkmoon City, possibly within the Yu family itself.

When the Heaven Sealing Soul Transformation Formation weakened, numerous Alien Soul Demons emerged, and Ann Jieshan escaped its confines, awakening somewhere in Darkmoon City before returning to the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area.

"Break through to the Penetrating Stage and condense my Spiritual Sense as quickly as possible!"

En route to Babel Island, Yu Yuan resolved to shatter his current cultivation limits with utmost haste.

With the Blood Sacrificial Altar and the Evil Cauldron, and a sufficient supply of Qi and blood, transcending his current realm seemed well within reach.

"Once I attain the Penetrating Stage and my Spiritual Sense is honed, I'll unravel the enigmas beneath the Yu family's estate. Moreover, with my Spiritual Sense formed, I should detect the intricate sword spell branded within my arm bone! I'll seek to understand the profound technique left by the Chopping Moon cultivator, whose dormant sword soul lies within."

Sword light danced and intertwined with the essence of the sword intent, yet his current level was insufficient to fully grasp the subtleties of the exquisite sword spell.

The Soul Forging Technique had refined his Heavenly Soul, enhancing its perception, intelligence, and thought processes. His cultivation of this technique led to significant improvements, allowing him to think more clearly and possess a more resilient willpower.

It even bestowed upon him an extraordinary intuition!

He was able to resist the craving of the blood altar within him and break free from the blood pool, thanks to his steadfast will and this uncanny intuition.

Without the tempering of the Soul Forging Technique on his Heavenly Soul, he might have leapt into the blood pool on his own accord, even without Ann Ziqing's urging.

The outcome would have been far from pleasant.

Yet, advancing one's realm is not something that can be rushed or skipped over.

The Soul Forging Technique could cultivate a Heart of Wisdom and an Eye of Wisdom, but it could never precipitate a fundamental transformation of the Heavenly Soul before the Earthly Soul.

This meant that he could never use the Soul Forging Technique to metamorphose his Heavenly Soul into a Yang God—no matter how many years he practiced, or the heights of his achievements, this change was impossible.

He had to methodically start with the Earth Soul, beginning at the Penetrating Stage, open his Niwan acupoints, and condense his spiritual consciousness. He would then gradually refine it to nourish and purify the Earth Soul.

Only after the Earth Soul had undergone a complete transformation and condensed into the Yin God, could he embark on Soul Wandering and eventually strive for the Yang God.

However, he was confident that his early cultivation of the Soul Forging Technique and the condensation of the Heavenly Soul would make his future journey to the Soul Wandering Stage and the condensation of the Yang God much smoother.

As dawn broke, Yuan Lianyao, standing upon a lotus flower, escorted him to Babel Island for the second time.

Throughout the journey, Yu Yuan stayed on high alert, wary of potential attacks from rogue cultivators or the elusive Lim Zhuyun.

Thankfully, the trip from Blood God Island to Babel Island was uneventful.

Upon reaching a landing site on Babel Island, Chiang Yurong, who had been anticipating his arrival amidst the Flame Lotuses, greeted him with a hint of annoyance. "Yu Yuan, you're leaving without so much as a word?" she chided.

"In a pinch, don't hold it against me," Yu Yuan said with a dismissive smile.

He and Old Cash had barely arrived on the unnamed island when Gao Qin showed up, a clear sign that the Babel Chamber of Commerce had been keeping tabs on him, perhaps even eager for him to leave.

Chiang Yurong's remarks were nothing more than an affectation, a feigned ignorance.

Not wanting to burn bridges with the Chamber, Yu Yuan saw no point in making a fuss. Once he and Yuan Lianyao disembarked, he stated, "Upon our return to the island, we're prepared to comply with the Chamber's regulations and pay the Spirit Stones for landing."

The first visit had been under the protection of Van Heqing of Sword Island, wielding the Shattering Sword. The Chamber had shown respect for the Great Sword Immortal, extending every courtesy.

Now that he was leaving, that initial welcome could be considered null and void.

This time, setting foot again on Babel Island, it was only right to pay the Spirit Stones.

Having traversed the gloomy palace, his stash—Spirit Stones, Spirit Jade, Spirit Crystals—was plentiful. Paying any required amount wouldn't sting in the slightest.

"There's no need," Chiang Yurong said as she ushered them in. "The higher-ups have decided that as long as you didn't leave the Crack Archipelago using the Chamber's space teleportation array, you can return to Babel Island multiple times without incurring additional charges."

Yuan Lianyao huffed, "So the Chamber, by using Yu Yuan as bait, has admitted to feeling guilty?"

Chiang Yurong offered a smile. "Since you're already acquainted with the island, I won't impose any further." With that, she bowed with cupped hands and took her leave.

"I knew it!" Yuan Lianyao's face, radiant as a blooming flower, was now etched with fury. "They knew about your departure from the island! They let you and Old Cash go without interference, clearly harboring ill intentions!"

Yu Yuan remained unfazed. "It's alright. The Chamber of Commerce didn't rush to send me away."

Shortly after, Old Cash arrived, bursting with news.

"Chiu Jihai is dead."

His surprise at seeing Yu Yuan quickly turned to excitement as he relayed the latest developments. "The commander who was stirring up trouble in the Absence Relic suddenly showed up just off Babel Island and executed Chiu Jihai and three other cultivators who had it out for Lee Yuchan and Lee Yu, right on the spot!"

Yuan Lianyao was taken aback. "What about the two of them?"

"Shen Feiqing has taken them away," Old Cash informed her.

Yuan Lianyao, puzzled, turned to Yu Yuan and cautioned, "You really shouldn't go to the Desolate Swamp of the Desolate God."

On their journey to Babel Island, Yu Yuan had mentioned his plans to visit the Desolate Swamp for cultivation after his return to the Absence Relic.

Du Jing was lurking in the Desolate Swamp, and though Shen Feiqing had been spotted in the Crack Archipelago, it was possible she had another vessel hidden in the Desolate Swamp. It would be too dangerous for Yu Yuan to venture there for cultivation.

"Is there any other news?" Yu Yuan inquired.

"The Crack Archipelago's defenders are still hunting the Starry Behemoth and haven't returned," Old Cash, who had lingered on the island to gather information, shared. "Your betrothed has been seen in the Nether Abyss."

"The Nether Abyss!" Yu Yuan's face darkened.

This infamous, bitterly cold, and enigmatic place lay beneath the deep sea, harboring the world's coldest ice flames and countless hidden secrets, along with many unresolved mysteries.

The Devaputra that had taken over Lim Zhuyun had previously sought refuge in the Nether Abyss.

Yu Yuan had also heard rumors that his parents had vanished within the Nether Abyss.

Many believed that Lim Zhuyun's appearance there meant the Devaputra had retreated to familiar territory, seeking refuge for fear of being discovered.

Yu Yuan, however, suspected that his fiancée's repeated failures to locate him might be due to the Chaos Roc's directive, sending her to the Nether Abyss in search of a new opportunity to fortify herself, using its mystique to grow stronger and ultimately break free from the Boundless Land.

"Allow me to make some purchases on the island before I head to the Absence Relic," Yu Yuan stated.

Old Cash, eagerly anticipating this, responded with enthusiasm, "Excellent!"

...

"Yu Yuan has acquired a substantial amount of spiritual herbs and seeds, as well as various frozen Demonic Beast meats," Chiang Yurong reported, standing next to Zhu Peining.

Zhu Peining, taken by surprise, wondered, "Why does he need so many medicinal seeds?"

"The Yu family, they make their living by cultivating medicinal herbs, right?" Chiang Yurong responded.

"In Elfview, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth isn't rich enough. The medicinal herbs that grow there aren't of a high rank," Zhu Peining remarked, briefly scanning the list Chiang Yurong had passed to her. "Seventy percent of these herbs listed here wouldn't survive in the Elfview's gardens."

Chiang Yurong mused for a moment before saying, "The Absence Relic!"

"Exactly! The Absence Relic is now capable of cultivating these herbs!" Zhu Peining was visibly moved by the thought, but then she pondered and added, "However, the Yu family members lack such expertise. They shouldn't be familiar with the cultivation methods for these higher-tier herbs."

"I've heard that there's been a successful cultivation of Void Spiritual Plants within the Absence Relic," Chiang Yurong informed her.

Zhu Peining expressed her astonishment with a nod, acknowledging the news. She then inquired, "Did that young man truly turn down our Chamber of Commerce's offer for the Giant Beast Amber?"

With a sense of resignation, Chiang Yurong confirmed, "He said the deal is off."

Zhu Peining, frustrated, took the delicate mask that Chiang Yurong had retrieved and handed it back to her. "He returned this mask, apologizing profusely."

As Zhu Peining gazed at the mask, she exclaimed in anger, "But I had already made promises to others!"

"If Yu Yuan requests to use the teleportation array, should we grant him passage?" Chiang Yurong sought guidance.

Zhu Peining was about to refuse when a sudden insight from Feng Zhong's soul message altered her stance.

She deflated, reluctantly conceding, "If he wishes to leave, let him. We'll waive the Spirit Stone fees for operating the teleportation array this time. But make it clear that this is a one-time exception. Should he return to Babel Island in the future and request use of the array, he will be required to pay with Spirit Stones."

Chiang Yurong nodded in agreement.

...

The space teleportation array, a costly construction by the Spirit Void Sect within the Absence Relic, pulsed with spatial undulations.

With a swift whoosh, a trio materialized.

…