C770 He Was Already a Hero
After many years, his own direct disciple had become the son-in-law of his senior brother, Zhong Chichen.
Witnessing the fourth-ranked Horror Ghost from Horror Land speaking obsequiously to Chu Yao, Yu Yuan could tell that Chu Yao had undoubtedly become a sought-after figure within the Medicine God Sect.
On this journey, having teleported from Luan Bird City on the Profound Sky Continent to the Quietus Continent via a formation, he had anticipated the possibility of encountering acquaintances.
For practitioners who reach the Profound Break Stage, their life force undergoes a dramatic transformation, granting them an extended lifespan.
Three hundred years might be unfathomable to mortals, but for early cultivators like Zhong Chichen, Luo Yue, and Chu Yao, it's not an excessively long span of time.
This continent, after all, was where he had spent a significant portion of his past life, making the acquaintance of many individuals.
He was aware that if he lingered on the Quietus Continent long enough, he would surely run into someone he knew.
Yet, he hadn't expected to encounter Luo Yue and now Chu Yao so soon, right in Horror Land.
He composed himself, methodically quelling the dark emotions that stirred within.
The Black Sickle Ghost remained a threat, obedient to Chu Yao's commands. From his exchanges with Yu Yiyi, he understood that this Horror Ghost was particularly troublesome.
With the Ice Concubine out of commission and the combined forces of the Blood Moon and the Evil Devils offering little hope for victory, Yu Yuan committed to maintaining his cool while multitasking, pondering how to refine the movements of his Broken Soul Slash.
Could the full force of the Broken Soul Slash be enough to intimidate the Black Sickle Ghost into retreat?
"Chu Yao!"
Yuan Lianyao's demeanor tensed, her soul spirit form instinctively drawing nearer to Yu Yuan in her disquiet. She murmured, "Yu Yuan, he's the leader of the Medicine God Sect, Zhong Chichen's disciple, and a cultivator in the late Soul Wandering Stage. How do you know him? Is there a history of animosity between you?"
She was intimately familiar with Yu Yuan and, being so close, had picked up on the pronounced shift in his emotions, leading her to certain conjectures.
"Yu Yuan, Chu Yao has been cultivating for over three hundred years without forming a Yang God. He may seem unremarkable, yet there's a reason for that," Yuan Lianyao murmured. "Rumor has it he's on the verge of becoming a Divine Level alchemist!"
"His primary focus has been on alchemy, which explains the slower progress in his cultivation. The leader of the Medicine God Sect, Zhong by surname, hasn't crafted pills in years. Those seeking high-grade pellets from the sect rely on Chu Yao's expertise."
"Currently, he commands immense respect across the entire Boundless Land. The Unrestrained Stage cultivators from the three upper sects, including the Demon Palace, hold him in high regard. They frequently seek his assistance for their pill needs."
"We really can't afford to provoke him."
Yuan Lianyao's face was etched with a mix of bitterness and resignation as she spoke.
"Even with a higher cultivation level, Lord Faang Yao and the National Advisor's status still fall short," she sighed softly. "The Red Devil Sect is unlikely to cross Chu Yao on my account."
Despite her reluctance to accept it, Yuan Lianyao understood the harsh reality.
Chu Yao, with his exceptional alchemical skills and his ties to Zhong Chichen, was a coveted ally for anyone in the world.
The more advanced the cultivator and the more powerful the faction, the more crucial it became to foster a relationship with someone of Chu Yao's stature.
The Red Devil Sect would not risk a confrontation with Chu Yao for her sake.
Yu Yuan gave a curt nod, his expression stoic.
He observed that after Chu Yao had dismissively spoken, he arrogantly made his way toward the Dark Mountain, seemingly intent on taking a break and leaving the Black Sickle Ghost to deal with him and Yuan Lianyao.
This indicated that Chu Yao was merely curious about them and didn't truly consider them a threat.
As Yu Yuan pondered this, his feelings grew increasingly complex.
A man on the brink of becoming a Divine Level alchemist and a likely successor to the Medicine God Sect's leadership—how prestigious was his standing? Yu Yuan was well aware of the significance.
In the vast expanse of the Boundless Land, an alchemist capable of refining Divine Level pills was the epitome of influence and power!
Forget Faang Yao or Zhou Cangmin; even the current leader of the Red Devil Sect and Mo Yan's father would defer to such a person!
After all, even those at the Primordial Spirit Stage might find themselves in dire need of Divine Level pills at critical moments.
These pills could make even the most accomplished Unrestrained Stage cultivators vie for them, compelling Primordial Spirit Stage powerhouses to bend the knee when the time came!
Chu Yao, it turns out, had ascended to become the most radiant beacon in this realm over three hundred years!
"I have to get to the bottom of this!"
Yu Yuan's mind raced with this relentless thought, as he resolved to uncover whether Chu Yao had played a role in the flawed Reincarnation Pill.
Zu Ann had revealed that after his "death" in a past life, his two closest disciples vanished without a trace.
He suspected that Chu Yao had either secretly detained or stealthily eliminated his senior and junior disciples.
Their disappearance coincided with Chu Yao's marriage to Zhong Chichen's treasured daughter, Yuan Lianyao, which marked the beginning of his meteoric rise to greatness.
"Just die first."
Amidst Yu Yuan's contemplative mood, the Black Sickle Ghost, whose spirit resided within 28 black sandalwood beads, abruptly set his sights on Yuan Lianyao.
"Since Brother Chu has commanded it, eliminating you will draw no ire from the Red Devil Sect."
The Black Sickle Ghost's spectral forms emerged vividly from the beads, his focus locking onto Yuan Lianyao's Yin God.
Like a ghost with 28 visages, all eyes were trained on her.
And then there was Yu Yuan!
Suddenly, a wave of dizziness overcame him. Soul shadows howled within his pupils, and a sinister psychic intrusion, emanating from the Evil Cauldron, assailed him.
In an instant, he was lost in a haze, his identity slipping from his grasp.
"Come out."
The Black Sickle Ghost whispered, beckoning. Yu Yuan remained still, but Yuan Lianyao's Yin God sprang from the cauldron, soaring towards him.
"I've had a change of heart. Imprison this girl; I'll take her with me later," came Chu Yao's icy voice from behind Dark Mountain.
Hearing this, the Black Sickle Ghost, poised to obliterate Yuan Lianyao's soul, let out a chilling laugh and complied without hesitation.
Whoosh!
Yuan Lianyao's Yin God soul body plunged into a round bead of black sandalwood and vanished without a trace.
Simultaneously, the twenty-eight souls of the Black Sickle Ghost vacated the bead, coalescing into a towering ghostly figure.
A strand of sandalwood beads draped around the ghost's neck, resembling a necklace.
The colossal Black Sickle Ghost, standing a hundred zhang tall, nonchalantly seized the massive sickle resting on Dark Mountain and brought it down upon the Evil Cauldron. "To think it didn't answer my call from within the cauldron. Heh, I've detected another soul presence, likely the Artifact Soul of this cauldron. Excellent, an Artifact Soul from a Divine Artifact will serve as a nourishing feast for me!"
With a mighty swing, the Black Sickle Ghost unleashed a dark gray stream that surged forward, composed of dense Yin Qi, and struck at Yu Yuan.
The protective light shield around Yu Yuan, along with the Evil Cauldron's own shield, sizzled as if corroded by sulfuric acid upon contact with the gray stream.
A gaping hole was melted through the Evil Cauldron's light shield.
Whoosh!
The sickle's radiance, which had lain dormant, now burst forth, charging through the breach and aiming straight for Yu Yuan's brow!
"The sword spell earlier was formidable, yet it lacked staying power," the Black Sickle Ghost cackled, bobbing its head. "I have no use for the Evil Cauldron, but I can certainly trade it for rare spiritual materials. And as for Yu Yuan, should I slay him, I wonder if the three great upper sects, the Devil Palace, and the Demon Palace would thank me, showering me with lavish gifts?"
"He carries the scent of Giant Beast Amber within him. Keep an eye out; I claim his body," Chu Yao instructed.
"Whatever you say, Brother Chu Yao."
