C57 Moon Fragment

Within the forbidden zone, each massive pitfall harbored a Moon Fragment at its deepest point. The spiritual essence of Heaven and Earth here was exponentially richer than in Darkmoon City or Elfview. During the Forbidden Area Trial, even without undertaking any specific tasks, merely dedicating oneself to intense cultivation could yield efficiency surpassing that of Darkmoon City. However, this was only true for the initial four months.

Yuan Lianyao had explained that the spiritual essence within the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area was capricious by nature. At times, it became wildly turbulent and disorderly, unsuitable for cultivation and even detrimental to those of lesser realms. The Silvermoon Empire, after years of scrutiny, discerned that during this phase, the essence would be somewhat gentler. Hence, they scheduled a Forbidden Area Trial every decade.

The trial spanned six months, with the spiritual essence turning increasingly volatile after the first four. This tumultuous essence would obscure everything, thwarting any attempt from the outside to perceive the area through weapons, Yin Gods, or soul consciousness. Consequently, once those four months elapsed, if a practitioner chose to remain, the empire's noble houses and even the Empress herself could no longer intervene in the ensuing conflicts within the forbidden zone.

...

With a deep exhale, Yu Yuan's focus drifted away from the white paper fan in his hand. The four dark injuries it bore glowed with a dim, mournful light, and the pain in his soul had significantly subsided. Yu Yuan was confident that within a few days, the white paper fan would completely heal the wounds inflicted upon his Tianhun.

"Lee Yuchan..." he whispered the name, gazing up at the star-filled night sky and the cool crescent moon above. "The Silvermoon Empire's most ruthless female general, with a cultivation at the Late Period of the Penetrating Stage. A mere inadvertent glance from her could injure me, causing my Tianhun to experience a sensation of being ripped apart. The Silvermoon Empire is not to be underestimated."

At that moment, he was situated within a pit. Before him lay a stone path leading downward, surrounded by several caves of varying sizes, each claimed by Yuan Tine, Zhao Yafu, Yu Feifei, and others. Upon their arrival in the forbidden zone, they had casually selected a pit to absorb its spiritual essence and acclimate themselves to the forbidding environment.

"Brother Yu, are you interested in descending to check out the so-called Moon Fragment?"

Zhao Yafu, having discerned the end of his meditation through his breathing, approached and murmured, "Take a look at this. Many of these stone paths were carved by those who came before us. Countless have ventured here to experience the enigma of the Moon Fragment."

The crater, formed by the lunar meteorite, had walls that were once smooth, but now bore numerous chiseled passageways and stairways that spiraled down into the depths.

A cursory glance revealed a dozen or so stone steps, dangling like vines toward the abyss below.

The crater's walls were also dotted with dozens of honeycomb-like caverns.

Some were merely nooks, bare and empty.

Others were expanded into tunnels leading to different chambers.

"Let's have a look then."

Yu Yuan rose to his feet and began his descent on one of the stone staircases. "But keep your expectations in check. For ten thousand years, this place has been scoured by explorers, and for the last three hundred, no one has made any groundbreaking discoveries in the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area. To me, the Forbidden Area Trial seems like a way for the Silvermoon Empire to pit the five great families and the seven cities against each other, testing the mettle of the younger generation."

He was rather indifferent about this trial in the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area.

In his past life, he had roamed secret realms and exotic lands alongside the elite of the Boundless Land, gaining insight into the wonders of many such places.

He had never visited the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area simply because it was known not to yield any exotic treasures or spiritual herbs.

After all, in that life, he had been an alchemist, not a cultivator.

"If you stumble upon anything, give me a shout."

Yuan Tine, coming to, gestured to them and said, "I'll keep watch from up here. I'm not heading down just yet."

For the past four months, the various teams in the Forbidden Area Trial were forbidden from engaging in lethal conflicts.

At the entrance to the Forbidden Area, observers were covertly monitoring the interior with their psychic senses and instruments.

Should any combat ensue, those outside would be alerted instantly.

For this reason, Yuan Tine wasn't concerned for the safety of Yu Yuan and Zhao Yafu.

At the very least, there was nothing to worry about for the moment.

"Mm, let's head down and check it out," Yu Yuan said as he continued his descent. Every so often, he glanced down to find that Zhao Yafu had outpaced him and was no longer in sight.

It took a good fifteen minutes before he reached the Moon Fragment where Zhao Yafu was waiting.

The Moon Fragment, spanning about three acres, gleamed silver-white. At a glance, it resembled an unusual type of gold metal, casting a silvery glow in the moonlight.

"It feels somewhat chilly."

Zhao Yafu, already perched on the Moon Fragment, crouched and ran her palm over its surface. "Yu, this Moon Fragment is truly peculiar. It's like rock yet akin to gold metal."

"Does it allow Spiritual Qi to penetrate?" Yu Yuan inquired.

"There's no reaction on my end," replied Zhao Yafu, who had attained the Yellow Court Stage, gently shaking her head. "Not a hint of Spiritual Qi can seep through."

"What about absorption?" Yu Yuan probed further.

"Nothing at all," Zhao Yafu responded.

As they spoke, Yu Yuan too landed on the Moon Fragment, extending his hand to feel its surface. It was just as Zhao Yafu had described—slightly cool to the touch, stone-like yet metallic.

He covertly activated his Glorious Heavenly Wheel but failed to draw any unusual power from the Moon Fragment.

It seemed to be completely solid.

"How is it that some practitioners can glean profound Spiritual Spells from these Moon Fragments? And even leverage them to advance their own cultivation levels?" Zhao Yafu marveled, incredulous. "It's merely a stone with no discernible patterns. How can they possibly comprehend anything?"

"Perhaps this piece lacks any secrets, or maybe other fragments hold the key?" Yu Yuan suggested with a smile. "It's also possible that this piece once contained wonders, but they've since been claimed by someone else."

Zhao Yafu felt a pang of regret upon hearing this. "If only we were born a few years earlier, we might have had the chance to make some discoveries."

Yu Yuan walked around the Moon Fragment, inspecting it closely.

He noticed numerous areas on the lunar meteorite that bore the marks of chiseling, as well as the scars from blade strikes and the impact of powerful forces during combat.

However, the marks lacked any discernible pattern, indicating they were not deliberately etched by someone. This suggested that the so-called Moon Fragment bore no ancient spells or legacies from those who came before, nor did it possess any mystical qualities.

"Let's head up."

Without further delay, he signaled to Zhao Yafu and began to ascend.

Some time later, he could make out the cave they had left behind.

"Brother, hurry up here! We've found something!"

Yu Feifei's head appeared, and upon spotting him, she eagerly waved him over.

​