C659 Becoming Famous in One Battle!!

"The individual who just appeared, is that the God of Plagues from Asvetaesi?"

A cluster of women from the Cloudwater Sect fixated on the Crucible of Evil suspended in the void, the fleeting glimpse of Yu Yuan etched into their memories.

They seemed unusually exhilarated and astonished, as if they thrived on the world being in disarray.

"Did you notice that he burst out of Qu Jing's Spectral Umbrella? And did you see the hole torn in the fabric of the umbrella?"

"No way! How could he possibly breach the Spectral Umbrella?"

"Qu Jing is the prospective Sect Master of the Ethereal Void Sect, armed with an array of mystiques and rare treasures. How could he be bested by Yu Yuan?"

"It's inconceivable!"

It wasn't just the Cloudwater Sect; numerous other sects, influential powers, and elite members of imperial families gazed up at the Crucible of Evil from the desert below, all abuzz with conversation.

Prior to this, Yu Yuan, despite his renown, wasn't associated with profound cultivation or formidable combat prowess.

Yu Yuan's fame was largely tied to the rare treasures he encountered and the catastrophic events that seemed to follow him, rather than his own martial abilities.

Lacking the backing of a sect and only loosely connected to the Shadow's Keep through Yu Zhu, many regarded him as someone who had stumbled upon incredible fortune.

Yu Zhu, of humble origins and modest cultivation, had only managed to make a name for himself in the Aetherius due to sheer luck and acquiring an artifact like the Crucible of Evil amidst a land teeming with powerhouses.

Now, having witnessed him tear through the Spectral Umbrella and Qu Jing departing with a pallid complexion, the crowd came to a stark realization: this rising star from Asvetaesi indeed possessed the combat strength to match his burgeoning reputation.

The Ethereal Void Sect was on the cusp of ascending to the ranks of the upper sects, with Qu Jing as a contender for the next Sect Master!

Despite wielding the Spectral Umbrella and the powers of the Lunar Spirit Realm, he was unable to secure a victory over Yu Yuan!

This was the most compelling evidence yet!

With a whoosh, Yu Yuan observed the Altar of Rebirth emerge from the Profound Gate's acupoint, consuming a finger before retreating back into his body.

Completely drained, he was drenched in sweat, having never experienced such fatigue.

This battle marked the fiercest he had faced since his rebirth as a mortal. His equally formidable opponent delivered an impact that stirred his very soul. Sensing the subtle shifts within his body, he had an epiphany: such combat offered immeasurable benefits for breaking through his current realm and fortifying his physique. For cultivators, the act of battle honed their skills like nothing else.

With this in mind, he retrieved a Soul Essence Pill from his Bracelet of Holding and pinched a Spirit Returning Pill, which he had swiftly refined. Swallowing them, he used his internal organs and vitality to rapidly activate their effects. Once he felt the dispersal of the medicine, and the spiritual energy and spiritual sense began to coalesce in his elixir field and mud pellet, he steadied himself.

The next moment, his body quivered. He acutely sensed his nearly depleted body, starved of spiritual energy and spiritual sense, voraciously absorbing the pill's potency. The pill was metabolized at a rate far beyond his expectations, nearly seven to eight times faster than usual.

"Battle nourishes battle. After each fight, after each depletion of spiritual energy and spiritual sense, the newly formed energies seem even more refined and pure!" Yu Yuan mused, beginning to understand why those fabled warriors of battle achieved rapid breakthroughs in their realms.

"Yu Yuan!"

"Yu Yuan!"

The voices of Zhao Yafu, Kong Banbi, and Zhan Tianxiang grew increasingly loud outside the crucible. Yu Yuan, with a wry smile, emerged from the Crucible of Evil, his gaze first meeting the Fallen Star Eyes and Liu Ying, followed by Zhao Yafu, Kong Banbi, and the rest. Liu Ying's eyes held a newfound affection that he had never seen before, sending a ripple through his heart.

"Young man, you never cease to amaze me!"

Zhan Tianxiang approached, slapping him on the shoulder and inadvertently sending Yu Yuan tumbling back into the Crucible of Evil.

"Ah!"

Zhan Tianxiang, taken aback by his own strength and the golden aura enveloping him, hastily retreated and called out, "Yu Yuan, are you alright?"

"He's spent from his battle with Qu Jing, having exhausted his spiritual energy and spiritual sense," Kong Banbi explained, watching as Yu Yuan slowly emerged from the crucible once more. "After all, Qu Jing is a Lunar Spirit, a full realm above him."

As he spoke, gasps of astonishment and stunned gazes filled the air around him.

Everyone suddenly realized that not only did Qu Jing come from a more noble lineage and have the support of Sage Lingxu, but he was also a whole realm above Yu Yuan.

Despite this, he failed to kill Yu Yuan and seemed to have even come out worse for wear?

Hou Tianzhao of the Ruby Hand and Lin Yue of the Colddeath Sect inhaled sharply, feeling the pressure emanating from Yu Yuan.

After stepping away from the Crucible of Evil, Yu Yuan stood on the cool sand and observed the young representatives from various sects arrayed in a circle around him.

Most of these youths were in the Veil Breaking or Subtlety realms, with only a few older ones having reached the Lunar Spirit. They kept their distance, their eyes shining brightly in the night, clearly employing some mystique to scrutinize him closely.

Their intense interest was evident; otherwise, they wouldn't have engaged their spiritual sense to watch him from afar.

Fortunately, it seemed they were wary of something, as they refrained from projecting their spiritual sense directly onto him for a more detailed observation.

"Yu Yuan, why did you have to engage in battle with Qu Jing?" Kong Banbi asked, furrowing his brow in apparent concern. "I'm familiar with Qu Jing's character and tactics. He wouldn't clash with someone without reason. But once a conflict starts, it's a fight to the finish. You don't have any feud with the Ethereal Void Sect, do you?"

"There is one," Yu Yuan replied quietly.

Seeing his response, Kong Banbi's expression shifted, and he wisely chose not to pry further.

With the crowd around them, he understood that it wasn't the right time for Yu Yuan to elaborate.

"I'm going to the Fallen Star Eyes to recalibrate. Once I'm in better shape, we can discuss other matters."

Yu Yuan smiled and nodded to Zhao Yafu, Zhan Tianxiang, and Lin Yue, who were a little farther away, before soaring into the Fallen Star Eyes.

Those from the sects who had no personal ties to him were satisfied after witnessing the Crucible of Evil and meeting him in person, and they departed.

As they departed, there was still hushed conversation about the clash between him and Qu Jing.

Following this fight, Yu Yuan's reputation would soar among the youth of Aetherius, as well as those on the continents of Euwrea and Quiescence.

He had earned this renown through his own efforts!

In his battle with Qu Jing, he demonstrated to all that he had the strength to stand toe-to-toe with the core disciples of major sects!

...

"You're aware of Yingye's situation; keep it to yourself and don't spread the word."

Liu Ying, seated on a crescent stone platform at the heart of the Fallen Star Eyes, gazed at him with radiant eyes, a soft smile playing on her pink lips. "You really are a stubborn ox! You dare to provoke someone like Qu Jing and even risk a fallout with him."

"Why shouldn't I dare?" responded Yu Yuan.

"His future could be as the Master of the Ethereal Void Sect. The Ethereal Void Sect might rise to become an upper sect, surpassing even our Starmoon Sect in strength," Liu Ying remarked with a sideways glance, then shyly lowered her head, "This Skystone Amulet is of no use to me anymore. You didn't have to do that."

"Neither Qu Jing nor Qi Jinghai should dictate your choices. Who you like is a matter for you alone. Qu Jing trying to influence you through me is unacceptable!" Yu Yuan declared firmly, "Besides, Qu Jing isn't the sect master of the Ethereal Void Sect yet."

"And as for the future, if he meets an untimely end, he'll have no future at all."

"There are far too many cases of promising individuals like Qu Jing, favored by all, who meet unexpected ends."

Kong Banbi and Liu Ying had made it clear: becoming adversaries with someone like Qu Jing meant a relentless struggle to the bitter end.

With that in mind, Yu Yuan resolved to eliminate Qu Jing at all costs.

He would not allow him the opportunity to ascend as the master of the Ethereal Void Sect!

...