C563 The Empress Woke up

A group of four, comprising two men and two women, were out together as couples. Among them, the sole individual of the Lunar Spirit Realm stood tall and lean, with a face as smooth and warm as jade, exuding a remarkable handsomeness.

He gazed curiously at the mid-lake island, sensing the convergence of spiritual energy. "If the rumors hold true, this lake and island belong exclusively to Yu Zhu. It seems that others are not permitted to set foot here."

The petite and beautiful woman at his side whispered in agreement, "Indeed, there are those who are cultivating within."

The other young couple also marveled at the mid-lake island, exchanging surprised glances and silent admiration.

Whoosh!

In the twilight's glow, a stream cut swiftly through the air.

Lu Qingyu, an archdemon of the seventh level, had once again taken the form of a young girl. Sensing the unusual stirrings of this realm, she suspected Yu Zhu's return and hastened to the scene.

She descended quietly, her expression shifting subtly as she observed the four individuals.

"Dedsend Lake, Lu Qingyu!" exclaimed the Lunar Spirit Realm man leading the group, his surprise evident as he scrutinized her. "What brings you here?"

As a member of the Chen family from the southern regions of the Songbird Empire, he recognized the human guise of the archdemon from the depths of Dedsend Lake.

"Chen Liangquan!" Lu Qingyu huffed, nodding in acknowledgment.

Chen Liangquan reflected briefly before smiling. "You find yourself in the Lost Lands, home of its master. Lu Qingyu, you carry with you the dense scent of water. I've also heard that the bottom of Dedsend Lake has been unusually tranquil of late, without you causing any commotion…"

His eyes sparkled with realization. "It's unexpected that Lu Qingyu, once the formidable force of Dedsend Lake, would now venture to the Forgotten Ruins, seeking refuge with Yu Zhu."

The revelation sparked a flicker of intrigue in the eyes of the other three.

"And what of it?" Lu Qingyu retorted icily.

"When you ascended to the seventh level, the Shadow's Keep itself paid a visit to Dedsend Lake," Chen Liangquan said, standing confidently with his hands clasped behind him, unfazed in the presence of the powerful archdemon. "You turned away the Shadow's Keep back then. So why seek out the Forgotten Ruins now? Has the Songbird Empire somehow failed you?"

"Dedsend Lake is not within the Songbird Empire's territory, nor am I a servant of the Songbird Empire!" Lu Qingyu declared.

"In the eyes of the Chen family, Dedsend Lake is part of the Songbird Empire's domain," Chen Liangquan said, shaking his head as he earnestly clarified. "It's not just Dedsend Lake; the vast expanse to the south should also be under our empire's control."

As he spoke, pride and a sense of entitlement shone on his face and those of his companions.

The Songbird Empire is the mightiest empire on the Aetherius continent, and the Chen family is its most powerful clan.

Chen Liangquan, a disciple of the Chen family, reached the middle period of the Lunar Spirit Realm before his fortieth birthday. In his youth, he was coveted by the three upper sects, each eager to recruit him.

However, the Songbird Queen turned them all down.

Chen Liangquan ultimately joined the Ebonthorn Sect on the Euwrea continent, a sect not as renowned as the others.

Ebonthorn couldn't hold a candle to the three upper sects, much less the seven lower sects. Since its inception, the sect had yet to produce a Solar Spirit. Its current sect master was only at the Spirit Walk stage, barely making a mark on the illustrious Euwrea continent.

Chen Liangquan's partner was the only daughter of the current Ebonthorn Sect master, a woman of delicate stature and in the late period of the Subtlety stage.

Many believed that it was for his wife that Chen Liangquan implored the Songbird Queen to reject the upper sects' offers, choosing instead to join Ebonthorn Sect without a second thought.

When Chen Liangquan first joined the Ebonthorn Sect, he was merely in the early period of the Veil Breaking stage. In less than a decade, he advanced through Veil Breaking to Subtlety and then ascended to Lunar Spirit.

Now in the middle period of the Lunar Spirit Realm, Chen Liangquan is poised to become the first Solar Spirit in Ebonthorn Sect's history.

After stroking his chin and reflecting for a moment, Chen Liangquan suddenly announced, "Please wait here for a moment." With those words, he transformed into a burst of light and sped toward the seven-colored cloud, leaving his companions from the Songbird Empire behind.

At that moment, above the seven-colored cloud, numerous holes had appeared, allowing dense spiritual energy to pour in. Yet, around the edges of these holes, the colorful flames of the Shadowflame Blight Array were incredibly thick, emanating a deadly corrosive poison. Even Lu Qingyu, a seventh-level archdemon, would decay upon contact.

"Chen Liangquan, don't be reckless. You're protected by the Serpent's Coils!" Lu Qingyu warned.

"Thanks for the heads-up."

Transformed into a radiant orb of light, Chen Liangquan flashed a brilliant smile and suddenly descended through one of the large holes onto the mid-lake island.

"Hey! Someone's getting in!"

Tong Laoqian, who had hurried over upon hearing the news, witnessed a sphere of light breaking through the miasma cloud and plummeting toward the island. He couldn't help but cry out in surprise, "Lu Qingyu, who is that?"

"He's from the Songbird Empire, of the Chen family—Chen Liangquan," Lu Qingyu informed him.

"It's him!" Tong Laoqian's face showed a hint of concern. He had come to realize that the Chen family member he had seen at the Ethereal Void's teleportation circle was indeed Chen Liangquan, the once most brilliant cultivation prodigy before Chen Qingyan in the Songbird Empire.

Chen Liangquan had become a figure of controversy after the Songbird Queen had turned down the recruitment offers from the three upper sects.

"Chen Liangquan, how could he dare to set foot on that island!" Tong Laoqian was astonished by Chen Liangquan's boldness and sensed that something was amiss. "He's not going to die in there, is he?"

Tong Laoqian knew that the Songbird Queen held Chen Liangquan in high regard as a member of the Chen family. Should Chen Liangquan perish in the forbidden area, it could provoke the Songbird Queen's wrath.

The Empress's anger was not easily soothed, and even Shadow's Keep might be compelled to provide an explanation.

"Please, don't die in there! If you do, it'll be a huge problem," Tong Laoqian fretted.

With a hiss, green and purple-red flames, filled with acidic and corrosive power, began to consume Chen Liangquan's clothing. His garments were reduced to ashes before even reaching the island. Then, he burst forth with light, his bare form seemingly transforming into a solidified body of light energy, causing all the toxic flames and miasma to spontaneously shed from his body.

Chen Liangquan donned a new set of clothes and descended gracefully.

Thanks to a special "Soul Essence Pill," Qin Yun, who had already healed from the ice energy of the Lunar Spirit, was no longer on the island.

The only ones left were Yu Yuan, deep in meditation within the Crucible of Evil, and the Silvermoon Queen, trapped at the bottom of Moon Lake.

The spiritual energy, swirling beneath the seven-colored cloud, poured into the island, filling it to the brim.

Thick with spiritual energy, the mist rolled like waves in a sea of clouds. Most of it funneled into the mouth of the Crucible of Evil, while the rest nourished the medicinal herbs scattered across the island.

Chen Liangquan adjusted his attire as his eyes sparkled with an intense brilliance, outshining the most luminous diamonds. "Silvermoon Queen, Lee Yupan..."

His gaze first settled on the Silvermoon Queen, a Lunar Spirit devoid of spiritual wisdom, swimming aimlessly in the crescent-shaped Moon Lake.

Next, his attention turned to the exotic flora flourishing on the island. "Who would have thought that such high-grade herbs could thrive in the Forgotten Ruins?" he mused.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Chen Liangquan's eyes shifted to the Crucible of Evil. "So it's not Master Yu Zhu who's cultivating here, but that young man from the Yu family."

Having been motionless at first, he now sprang into action, striding towards Moon Lake. Arriving at its edge, he peered down at Lee Yupan, bound and suppressed by the potent toxins at the bottom. With a deep sigh, he lamented, "I've arrived too late."

With a resounding boom, Chen Liangquan radiated a brilliant light. The pure, sacred beams, imbued with the essence of the sword's will, stabbed towards the depths of Moon Lake.

The water's surface erupted with clashing forces, casting a dazzling array of light across the lake.

Chen Liangquan leaned forward and transformed into a streak of light, diving into Moon Lake. Moments later, he emerged, pulling the Lunar Spirit of the Silvermoon Queen from its depths.

He touched the center of Lee Yupan's forehead, and a multitude of light spots sprang forth from his fingertip. "Awaken, O Queen!"

Memories and traces of souls from all around the island were gently coaxed from their hidden recesses, unraveling like threads in Chen Liangquan's hands.

The memories and soul marks seamlessly integrated into the center of Lee Yupan's forehead.

The lost spiritual wisdom of the Lunar Spirit was restored.

The queen's once listless eyes sparkled with life and shone with intelligence once more.

Upon awakening, Lee Yupan's first words were, "Why have you only just arrived?"

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