C557 Bullying Others too Much!

In Thylethlume, under the scorching sun, Yu Cen's face glowed with a ruddy hue as he stood on the rooftop of a newly constructed building alongside Zhao Zhenghao, the patriarch of the Zhao family. Together, they gazed out at the distant medicinal garden. Once desolate, the garden now bustled with herb slaves meticulously planting new seeds. A delicate mist of spiritual energy wafted from the Forgotten Ruins, gently enshrouding the garden like a gossamer veil.

In certain medicinal fields, the mature herbs thrived, their vibrant green leaves seemingly drawing in the spiritual energy. Zhao Zhenghao couldn't help but express his admiration, "I've heard that a family from a neighboring country came to Thylethlume specifically to purchase medicinal herbs. Which family was it?"

Yu Cen chuckled heartily, replying, "That's a secret!" His face beamed with pride.

With the infusion of spiritual energy guided from the Forgotten Ruins, new Spirit Level and Earth Level herbs would sprout within half a year. By then, even more families would travel great distances to acquire these herbs.

Zhao Zhenghao, curious and eager, inquired, "The Sacred Hands have sent envoys here several times with quite favorable offers. Why haven't you agreed to sell the herbs?" As the head of the Zhao family, he was aware that influential families from the Stormcrown Empire, the Empire of Dawn, and even the Sunblessed Empire had visited, all with the same intent—to procure medicinal herbs.

Following Yu Zhu's recognition by Shadow's Keep, her mastery over the divine force drew spiritual energy to the area, transforming the medicinal fields near Thylethlume into lush, thriving environments ideal for growing herbs.

Before embarking on his journey aboard the Silver Rainbow Shuttle to the Embers Sea, Yu Yuan had left behind numerous medicinal seeds. Many of these herbs were not only unparalleled within the Shadowlight Empire but were also exceedingly rare across the entire Aetherius Continent, with few places like the Serpent Spine Mountains producing them.

Previously, the Su family of the Empire imposed numerous constraints on the Yu family. However, as the imperial surname transitioned from Li to Yan, the Yan family provided support to both Asvetaesi City and the Yu family, rendering the Su family incapable of exerting any further pressure. Ironically, the Su family had since sent three separate delegations to Yu Cen, seeking these coveted medicinal herbs.

However, Yu Cen coldly rejected all of them.

Having regained his strength, Yu Cen, once at the peak of the middle period of the Veil Breaking Realm, had ascended to the late period. Full of vitality and commanding presence, he dismissed the Su family and the Sacred Hands' requests for medicine.

Privately, it seemed he had struck deals with the medicinal clans of the Sunblessed Empire, Stormcrown Empire, and Empire of Dawn.

The new emperor of the Shadowlight Empire turned a blind eye to these dealings.

"The Sacred Hands Sect is not our optimal choice," Yu Cen stated enigmatically.

"But the Su family needs to request medicine from the Sacred Hands! On our Aetherius Continent, the Sacred Hands is the forgers' sanctuary, and the Serpent Spine Mountains are the realm of herbs!" Zhao Zhenghao protested.

Yu Cen offered a slight smile. "As you've mentioned, that's only on the Aetherius Continent."

Before Zhao Zhenghao could add more, a languid voice interrupted, "Deacon Gao Qin of the Skyreach Consortium greets the patriarch of the Yu family. May I inquire as to the whereabouts of my grandson, Yu Yuan?"

"The Skyreach Consortium!" Zhao Zhenghao was thunderstruck.

Gao Qin arrived, alighting on the ground beneath the two elders, bowing respectfully. "The Skyreach Consortium has established a branch in Gavanas! Should the Yu family have any difficulty selling high-grade herbs, you may seek Zhu Peining at the Gavanas branch. She and Yu Yuan are also acquainted."

This announcement sent not only Zhao Zhenghao but the entire Thylethlume into a frenzy.

The Skyreach Consortium's official branch in Gavanas was a most auspicious sign!

Henceforth, Gavanas would become a coveted destination for cultivators from the Shadowlight Empire, Sunblessed Empire, and beyond!

The Yu family's herbs could now be transported to Gavanas, either to be sold through the Skyreach Consortium or directly to other families, attracting cultivators willing to pay top dollar for premium benefits.

"The Yu family's herbs could be favored by the consortium?"

A member of the Zhao family, who had accompanied Zhao Zhenghao, stuttered in disbelief.

His words bore no ill intent.

The Skyreach Consortium's reputation was known far and wide, a formidable power with reach across the vast Everlands, capable of dealings with the three upper sects, the Devil Palace, and Shadow's Keep.

Why would such a colossal consortium concern itself with the modestly graded herbs cultivated by the Yu family?

"The current herbs aren't particularly valuable, so the consortium may not take an interest," Gao Qin said with a light chuckle, casting an intriguing glance at the seeds the herb slave had recently sown. Sensing the spiritual energy enveloping them, along with the climate, temperature, and humidity, he added, "The next harvest, however, will produce the herbs the consortium needs."

It was then that he realized why Yu Yuan had acquired so many herb seeds before departing from Celestial Isle.

Growing many medicinal herbs required stringent conditions; simply possessing the seeds was not enough for successful cultivation.

Yet, as he traveled to Thylethlume from Gavanas, he noticed several concealed areas with traces of seeds being planted. Observing the meticulous sowing in the medicinal field of Thylethlume, he was certain it was Yu Yuan's doing.

"Apologies, the young man has yet to return," Yu Cen said, bowing slightly, careful not to slight Gao Qin. "He's likely still in the Lost Lands."

"Oh, then I shall not intrude," Gao Qin responded, his remnant soul confirming the absence of Yu Yuan's presence. He nodded and continued, "Should the Yu family's new batch of herbs lack a buyer, the consortium will consider purchasing them. Simply send someone to Gavanas, and the consortium will provide an appraisal."

"Many thanks," Yu Cen replied promptly.

Throughout the town, both the Yu family members and the herb slaves erupted in cheers at Gao Qin's visit and his assurances.

"To have such a remarkable grandson is truly enviable," Zhao Zhenghao remarked.

"And your granddaughter is even more impressive, having been chosen by the Moonfang Tiger of Shadow's Keep and taken to the Land of Quiescence," Yu Cen returned the compliment.

Zhao Zhenghao beamed with pride, laughing heartily, "All thanks to your grandson's support!"

...

Beneath the seven-colored cloud.

Qin Yun sat in meditation on the ground. From within his acupoint, a Lunar Spirit emerged, floating gently out.

"Crack!"

Streaks of scarlet lightning, imbued with potent Yang energy, infiltrated the Lunar Spirit shaped like an old scholar.

Qin Yun's Lunar Spirit suddenly exuded a chilling mist.

The ethereal form of the Lunar Spirit, connected at one end to the mud pellet acupoint and floating before his eyes at the other, absorbed the medicinal power of the scarlet lightning, funneling it into the acupoint between his eyebrows. The vaporizing mist from the Lunar Spirit thickened steadily.

Qin Yun, his eyes gleaming with excitement, watched his Lunar Spirit with great anticipation.

The moment he swallowed the pill crafted by Yu Yuan, he dissolved it with his robust spiritual energy of Yang, transforming it into streaks of scarlet lightning that first entered the mud pellet acupoint, then surged into the Lunar Spirit.

As the Lunar Spirit emitted the cold fog within the mud pellet acupoint, Qin Yun feared that Weixian's malicious ice energy might taint his Mindscape, so he endeavored to detach the Lunar Spirit from the acupoint as much as possible.

Due to his injuries not being fully healed, his Lunar Spirit couldn't completely disengage from the mud pellet acupoint, remaining partially connected.

"This is a Soul Essence Pill marked with the force of Yang. Coming from the Crimson Sun Empire, you're among the many cultivators who favor the practice of intense Yang spells. I've witnessed your Dawn Arrow before and have a fair understanding of your methods."

Yu Yuan lifted his hand, and with a press, the three-legged furnace known as "Serpentflame" vanished from the Bracelet of Holding.

"This Soul Essence Pill, blended with Flaming Heart Orchid and a leaf from the Godspan Leaf for balance, releases its fiery power gradually, not igniting all at once."

"It is for this reason that the fiery power, now scarlet lightning, can gradually aid in removing the frost from your Lunar Spirit."

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The seven-colored cloud overhead churned suddenly, with streams of cold air converging.

Qin Yun, intent on healing the Lunar Spirit's wounds, felt a shiver in his heart as the mist evaporating from the Lunar Spirit at his chest began to show signs of frosting over again.

Qin Yun's eyes brimmed with pain as he spoke with resentment, "He's still causing trouble from the shadows!"

"It's not from the shadows; he's right by the lake!" Yu Yuan's expression grew grim. "That elder from Winter's Bite must think that without Yu Zhu here, I'm powerless against him!"

"He must have sensed that I was dissolving the frost within the Lunar Spirit, which is why he stealthily approached from Gavanas." Qin Yun winced in silent agony. "If he doesn't reveal himself and acknowledge his presence, it might be difficult to deal with."

"Try to bear the pain for a moment. I'll compel him to reveal himself!" Yu Yuan declared, his anger palpable.

Time and again, Winter's Bite has overstepped its bounds!

"Release her!"

With a mere thought, the woman who had been transformed from a Sky Fiend into an evil spirit, then into a Bane, having also absorbed the icy blue currents from the Dark Realm within the sword sheath, emerged gracefully.

As soon as the Bane materialized, the Silvermoon Queen of the Moon Jaw Pond recoiled sharply.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The rich spiritual energy on the mid-lake island surged wildly, funneling into the ice-blue figure.

Yu Yuan let out a soft "hmm" of surprise. "This is truly wondrous!"

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