C657 Enemy!

The Starskiff was moored in a realm beyond our own.

The stars were faint, and the heavens were shrouded in darkness on this particularly bleak night.

Especially after the Fallen Star Eyes had vanished.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Figures converged from all directions of the Scarlet Dunes, some piloting artifacts, others draped in Celestial Plume Raiments, or soaring on swords. They were all drawn here by the emergence of the Crucible of Evil.

"Where's Yu Yuan?"

Zhan Tianxiang, having just returned the Sunsilver Throne to his master, landed with the force of a rampaging elephant.

Upon touching down, the resplendent golden elephant apparition dissolved into his body.

Brimming with demon energy and vitality cascading like a waterfall, Zhan Tianxiang looked skyward to behold a massive black umbrella unfurling.

The Spectral Umbrella spanned hundreds of acres in the sky, its interior alive with swirling psionic power, resembling a tumultuous ocean of clouds.

Even with Zhan Tianxiang's level of cultivation, the sight of the black umbrella was awe-inspiring, hinting at a conflict beyond his league.

Kong Banbi, arriving swiftly on his sword, cried out in astonishment, "Spectral Umbrella!"

"Brother Kong."

At the forefront of the Starskiff, Han Xu of the Ethereal Void Sect, mustered his courage to greet Kong Banbi, "It's Qu Jing of our sect. He's in the Spirit Mirage, speaking with Liu Ying and Yu."

Kong Banbi hailed from the Sword Sect, not as renowned as Chen Qingyan, yet a remarkable individual who had risen through the ranks with steady determination.

The Sword Sect, an upper sect like the Ethereal Void Sect, was well-known throughout Euwrea, and Han Xu dared not show any disrespect.

"What exactly is this Spectral Umbrella?"

Zhao Yafu, clad in her Celestial Plume Raiment, resembled a celestial maiden traversing the Star River. Having arrived in the Everlands by chance, she was unaware of any entanglement between Qu Jing and Yu Yuan. With genuine curiosity, she implored, "Tell Qu Jing to retract the Spectral Umbrella at once. I need to speak with Yu Yuan."

The fame of the Moonfang Tiger was widespread, and Zhao Yafu, a disciple of the Astral Tiger, had been particularly prominent in the Scarlet Dunes of late. It was no wonder Han Xu recognized her immediately.

"Wait a moment," Han Xu said, his head throbbing with the onset of a headache.

Kong Banbi inhaled deeply, his expression grave as he regarded the expanded Spectral Umbrella. After a moment's thought, he spoke, "I'm familiar with Qu Jing's tactics and his temperament. I'm not concerned about Liu Ying. I'm aware that both the Ethereal Void Sect and Qu Jing wouldn't trouble her."

"Who is Qu Jing? Is he trying to harm Brother Yu?" Zhao Yafu exclaimed.

"Tell Qu Jing to release him," Kong Banbi demanded as he landed, lifting the sword at his feet. He gazed up at Han Xu and continued, "I'm not privy to the issues between your Ethereal Void Sect and Yu Yuan, but I urge you to convey a message to Qu Jing to cease his foolish actions."

"I'm aware that you oversee this Starskiff and that you have the means to ensure Qu Jing hears your words."

Han Xu offered a wry smile and nodded, "I'll see what I can do."

He could dismiss Zhao Yafu, Zhan Tianxiang, as well as the newly arrived Hou Tianzhao and Lin Yue, since they hailed from the Land of Quiescence and were naturally his adversaries.

But Kong Banbi was a different story. The Sword Sect he represented was an upper sect of Euwrea.

Han Xu had no choice but to comply.

...

Within the confines of the black, colossal Spectral Umbrella, in the realm of the Spirit Mirage.

Yu Yuan's expression was icy as he commanded, "Stop!"

Liu Ying's fingers, trembling as they clutched the Skystone Amulet, were on the verge of tearing it away when she heard his voice. Her wrist quivered, and she turned her luminous, expressive eyes toward him.

Her face was a canvas of hurt and reluctance. She was never one to mask her feelings; her sorrow and sadness were immediately apparent in her eyes and on her face.

Just like now, her heart brimming with hurt, she wore her emotions openly for all to see.

"I don't want you to be harmed," Liu Ying said, gripping the Skystone Amulet tightly. She forced a smile more pained than tears and added, "Yu, you've saved me so many times. It's only right that I help you this once."

With those words, she found a sense of release, no longer preoccupied with the consequences that might follow.

She yanked hard, and the diamond-shaped amulet, crafted from Mystic Crystals, dropped into her palm like a falling star. Her fingers came together, forming makeshift scissors, ready to snip away a lock of her dark hair that draped over her shoulder.

Yu Yuan bellowed, "There's no need for this!"

Whoosh!

The Second Bane burst forth from the Crucible of Evil, transforming into a streak of scarlet light that sped directly toward Qu Jing.

"A Bane crafted from the disciples of the Colddeath Cult—how intriguing!"

Qu Jing, far from alarmed, was delighted. With his hands forming a mystical seal, he emitted a resonant and piercing cry.

The handle of the Spectral Umbrella, sharp as a spear, plummeted from the heavens.

It was as though a sword had cleaved the sky, parting two realms!

The umbrella's handle descended with precision, piercing the fleeting scarlet light within the Spirit Mirage, following the Way of Heaven's pathways.

Struck by the umbrella's handle, the Second Bane exploded into a shower of blood, scattering in all directions.

Yu Yuan could sense the Second Bane's agonized howl.

"Master, the wielder of the Spectral Umbrella possesses immense power, and it has the potential to advance to a Divine Artifact," the cauldron spirit's remnant soul communicated within Yu Yuan's Mindscape. "This individual is the future Sect Master, whom the Ethereal Void Sect is cultivating with all their resources, in the hopes that he will one day achieve the status of a primordial spirit."

"His realm is high, he possesses rare treasures, and with the Spectral Umbrella, he is indeed a formidable opponent."

"Frost Queen, the Second Bane is meant to grow alongside the Crucible of Evil. Moreover, the Crucible's greatest strength lies in its ability to amass numerous Banes, forming a vast and powerful array."

"So..."

The cauldron spirit relayed a message to Yu Yuan with a hint of resignation after the Frost Queen faced a setback and the Second Bane was struck by the umbrella's handle.

"Yu Yuan, if you have any other strategies, now's the time to deploy them."

Qu Jing's eyebrows twitched slightly, having already secretly received Han Xu's message.

But it didn't faze him.

As the bearer of the Spectral Umbrella, his connection to the world beyond had never been severed.

He didn't need Han Xu's hints; he was acutely aware of every arrival, every expression, and every word spoken by Zhao Yafu, Zhan Tianxiang, Kong Banbi, and the rest.

Yet, none of it could sway his resolve.

"I'm curious about something."

With a mere thought from Yu Yuan, the Second Bane, which had dispersed into a mist of blood, reassembled and descended into the icy luminescent barrier, using its own force to infuse the barrier with a tinge of crimson.

It should be able to hold up a bit better and last a little longer.

"Go ahead and tell me, but I can't promise I'll be able to clear up your confusion."

Qu Jing's expression remained unchanged, and he even had the leisure to address Liu Ying, "Sister Liu, there's no need to rush. I'm actually curious to see what doubts and techniques this youngster, who has suddenly emerged from Asvetaesi in the last three years, possesses."

"Is Yingye also in the Scarlet Dunes?" Yu Yuan called out.

Qu Jing fell silent. It was only after some time that he finally spoke, "I'm not sure if he's there."

"Yingye!" Liu Ying clutched the diamond-shaped amulet, finally understanding, and with a sense of alarm, she exclaimed, "Yingye, the master of assassination, has he made an attempt on your life?"

"It happened just before the Starskiff made its appearance," Yu Yuan explained.

"Why?" Liu Ying was incredulous. "He's in the late stages of the Spirit Walk, having slain both the Solar Spirit and archdemons of the eighth level. Why would he strike at you, a junior?"

"That's a question for the Ethereal Void Sect," Yu Yuan retorted with a snort.

Qu Jing's brow furrowed. After Yu Yuan brought up Yingye, a flicker of strange light passed through Qu Jing's eyes. Suddenly, he declared, "I apologize, Sister Liu, but I've changed my mind."

"What?" Liu Ying was perplexed.

"I no longer require you to offer the amulet to Jinghai, bound with your hair," Qu Jing said with a sigh of regret. "I must take Yu Yuan's life."

No sooner had he spoken than the handle of the Spectral Umbrella reappeared, thrusting toward the acupoint between Yu Yuan's eyebrows.

Liu Ying's face changed dramatically, and she was filled with intense regret. She lamented her earlier hesitation, wishing she had immediately, without a second thought, removed the amulet to secure Yu Yuan's departure from the Spirit Mirage.

She deeply blamed herself, recognizing that her hesitation had led Qu Jing to commit to such a deadly course of action.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

One after another, beams of brilliant starlight shot toward the umbrella's handle.

The starlight shattered against the handle, scattering like a shower of stars across the sky.

With unstoppable momentum, the handle of the umbrella bore down, poised to pierce Yu Yuan's acupoint.

"Given that the Crucible of Evil has made its presence known, you should be aware that another of my possessions could very well be with me." Yu Yuan inhaled deeply, the sheath of the Moon Slayer, once lost to the mortal realm by the cultivator Qu Jing, now unexpectedly gripped in his hand.

The sword spirit burst forth from the sword spell inscribed on his arm bone, linking Yu Yuan's arm to the sheath.

He thrust it toward the handle of the umbrella.

"..."