C698 The Identity
Bodies lay strewn throughout the southern part of the city.
Many of the corpses were mutilated, some shredded by archdemons, others had their vital parts taken by the powerful Otherkin from extraterrestrial realms, treasured as spoils of war.
The souls of the deceased, always a delicacy for Sky Fiends, were inevitably consumed completely.
The acrid stench of blood was enough to make even Yu Yuan feel slightly ill at ease. He scanned the area, noting that any weapons or garments of slight value had been scavenged.
Looking around, there was truly nothing left that caught his eye.
"These extraterrestrial evil demons and local archdemons certainly know the value of goods," he mused.
Yu Yuan, who had hoped to scavenge some items, shook his head and sighed inwardly.
"Whew!"
The Crucible of Evil hovered, drifting through the depths of the Ashen Shadowmist, voraciously collecting the surging bane.
The bane, rich and abundant, naturally coalesced around the ascending Crucible of Evil, drawn in from every direction.
"Wraithbinding!"
With a single thought, he multitasked, using his earthly soul to invoke the peculiar Spirit Magic from Boulderdawn, attempting to absorb more little devils to benefit his earthly soul.
His cultivation had smoothly progressed to the middle period of Subtlety. After several refinements of his earthly soul, he found himself yearning for the Sky Fiend.
Yet...
It seemed as though all the Sky Fiends and Otherkin had vanished with the departure of Green Willow.
When he deployed Wraithbinding, not one low-tier devil was lured by the magnetic field emanating from his earthly soul, leaving him with a tinge of disappointment.
Fortunately, the Crucible of Evil, suspended midair, was reaping wisps of baleful qi.
"First, let's enhance the cauldron's power," he decided.
With that thought, he wandered somewhat listlessly through the Ashen Shadowmist, examining the remains on the ground while remaining vigilant.
He kept a watchful eye out for any sect disciples who might arrive from other regions to provide support.
...
Inside the city, at the southern gate, within the azure glow of the barrier.
Chen Langzhi, Jin Xiaolie, and Weixian all felt a profound sense of heaviness as the sounds of battle from the south gradually subsided.
The sudden emergence of the archdemon Green Willow snuffed out the flicker of hope that had ignited in their hearts, making it clear that the newly arrived reinforcements were unlikely to survive.
And indeed, that was the outcome.
Green Willow, having revealed his true form, unleashed a piercing shriek, leading the Sky Fiend, extraterrestrial experts, and the local archdemons and Terra Fiends into oblivion. The onlookers remained in a daze, long after they had vanished.
They were still engulfed in feelings of fear and despair.
"Crucible of Evil!"
Out of nowhere, Qu Jing from the Ethereal Void Sect, clutching the Spectral Umbrella, seemed to discern through some mystique a glimpse of a dark cauldron fleeting within the depths of the Ashen Shadowmist.
Qu Jing couldn't help but cry out in astonishment.
"Crucible of Evil!"
Following Qu Jing's lead, Chen Langzhi, Jin Xiaolie, and Liu Ying from the Starmoon Sect also employed their mystiques to catch sight of the Crucible of Evil through the Ashen Shadowmist.
"Yu Yuan is still alive!"
"Not only is he alive, but he's also been spotted on the southern battlefield! Why haven't those Sky Fiends and Otherkin, those bloodthirsty archdemons, taken him down?"
"With his level of Subtlety, even with the Crucible of Evil, could he really match up to Ditdite? Could he stand against Elder Kou Poshan of the Thunder Sect?"
"Yu Yuan must have struck a deal with the extraterrestrial evil demons! That's the only way he could have survived!"
"..."
The revelation of the Crucible of Evil deeply disturbed the survivors within Afnetalos, as they accused Yu Yuan of conspiring with the extraterrestrial demons.
They further claimed that Yu Yuan had ventured to the Godsblight Marsh and used the sword sheath to release the Evil Demons from the Sword Prison, including Green Willow.
Some even suggested that Yu Yuan was responsible for awakening the beings sealed within the Moonfall Sanctuary.
Suddenly, Yu Yuan found himself the target of everyone's ire.
This time, not even Chen Langzhi, Jin Xiaolie, or Liu Ying could find the words to defend him.
Yu Yuan, with his modest level of cultivation, should have either been lucky to escape Afnetalos or met an early demise.
Yet, days passed, and Yu Yuan had not fled. Instead, he lingered just outside the city, very much alive and well—a fact that was exceedingly peculiar.
Liu Ying sighed inwardly, reflecting on how Yu Yuan's safety was due to Zu Ann's protection.
Zu Ann, the leader of the extraterrestrial evil devils, shielded Yu Yuan and endorsed him. Regardless of the motive, it was clear evidence of Yu Yuan's extraordinary nature.
"Do I really have to join the opposing camp?"
The thought threw Liu Ying into turmoil.
...
As time flew by, the seven-day deadline given by Zu Ann arrived in the blink of an eye.
Yu Yuan found himself back in the Crucible of Evil, adrift in the Ashen Shadowmist, contemplating whether to head north to the teleportation circle and return to the Forgotten Ruins.
Swoosh!
The Terra Fiend, now in human form, arrived punctually and spoke with reverence, "Sir, I have been instructed to escort you there."
"What will become of this city?"
Yu Yuan turned to gaze upon the towering expanse of Afnetalos within the Ashen Shadowmist, his brow furrowed. "Will the grandest city in Aetherius remain standing?"
"The city is likely to stand as before, but many cultivators within will perish," the Terra Fiend confessed candidly. "Truth be told, apart from those allied with us, all others will die. The ultimate fate of this city rests with the Songbird Queen."
"The Songbird Queen?" Yu Yuan exclaimed in surprise.
"If she consents to relinquish the throne to my master, many issues will be resolved with ease. The city could then be preserved intact, avoiding destruction," the Terra Fiend explained. "Should she refuse, the outcome is uncertain."
"The succession of the throne!" Yu Yuan was profoundly shaken.
The revelation from the Terra Fiend was startling. He hadn't anticipated that Chen Liangquan, a member of the Chen family, would attempt to dethrone the Songbird Queen and seize the imperial title for himself within the Songbird Empire!
Chen Liangquan's abilities did not seem particularly advanced, yet his power was undeniably immeasurable.
But did he truly possess the might to confront the Songbird Queen?
Moreover, hadn't the construction of the city been a joint effort between Chen Liangquan and the Songbird Queen?
Afnetalos was the chosen site for the Songbird Queen's ascension to the Unbound realm!
Relinquishing her throne would mean surrendering everything, Afnetalos included. How could she possibly permit that?
Yu Yuan knew from the rumors he'd heard that this empress would never tolerate defiance.
Chen Liangquan, through his exchanges with the cauldron spirit, learned that this individual likely had Otherkin ancestry, the kind regarded as mixed-blood remnants by the three great upper sects. Disfavored and distrusted by these sects, how could such a person ascend to the throne of the Everlands, the foremost empire?
Moments later.
At the northern teleportation circle, Yu Yuan encountered Zu Ann once more.
Zu Ann, sitting solo before the rune circle, looked up, his eyes moving from the Mirror of Fates to rest on Yu Yuan, his expression icy, "Have you practiced the Spirit Magic of Boulderdawn?"
"Yes," Yu Yuan confirmed with a nod.
Confronted with a friend from his past life, Yu Yuan had an abundance of words and queries within him, yet the peculiar circumstances prevented him from voicing them.
"Having received his legacy, you should focus on mastering leechcraft. You're destined to be a person of significance in this world. Why pursue Boulderdawn's arcane arts?" Zu Ann huffed, "Don't you realize that by showcasing your exceptional talent in medicine and acknowledging your mentorship, you'll be welcomed no matter what the future holds?"
Yu Yuan reflected briefly before responding, "I seek greater strength."
He paused before adding, "If my practice of Boulderdawn's arcane arts bothers you, then why do you associate with them? You've made the choice to join their ranks; all I've done is learn Spirit Magic. What harm is there in that?"
"You've practiced Wraithbinding!" Zu Ann retorted sharply.
"And what difference does that make?" Yu Yuan inquired.
"The difference? You'll soon understand the implications of Wraithbinding!" Zu Ann inhaled deeply, "You can no longer return to the Forgotten Ruins. The three upper sects, Devil Palace, and Shadow's Keep will all see you as a thorn in their side!"
...
