C774 The Turning Point

Cao Jiaze stood tall and imposing on the balcony of the grand floating palace, his gaze deep and bright as if capturing the vastness of the Star River, brimming with endless mystery. Clad in a simple green robe and adorned with a dragon-shaped Cosmos Ring, his appearance was unremarkable except for his striking eyes.

"Yu Yuan..." he murmured softly, leaning against the white jade railing as the palace, a manifestation of the Mark of the Celestials, continued to soar. "I never expected the little witch from the Colddeath to come to my aid at such a critical moment."

"I was surprised as well," Chu Yao admitted, his brow furrowed.

Chu Yao, the God of Medicine's disciple who had recently parted ways with Ann Ziqing, had swiftly left Shadow Mountain and, through the use of theurgy, found his way to this floating palace at Cao Jiaze's warm invitation. As Zhong Chichen's son-in-law and a Divine Level herbalist, his arrival prompted all the Lunar Spirits of the assembled powerhouses to greet him with solemn respect.

The Order of Healing maintained amicable relations with many sects across Euwrea. Zhong Chichen's name resonated with great renown throughout the continent, and even the most exalted beings of the Primordial Spirit Realm spoke of him with high regard. Chu Yao, the prospective successor to the Order of Healing's leadership, was someone everyone sought to ingratiate themselves with.

Even Cao Jiaze was careful to treat him with utmost respect, understanding the immense benefits that could come from winning Chu Yao's favor, both now and in the future.

Turning with a slight smile, Cao Jiaze addressed him, "Mr. Chu, what about Imdohr?"

"I must clarify that the Order of Healing does not have a close association with Imdohr," Chu Yao stated earnestly, under the scrutiny of the onlookers. "The Order of Healing merely sold some pills to Imdohr. We did not nurture or support him."

"Of course, I'm aware that the Order of Healing wouldn't concern itself with Imdohr," Cao Jiaze responded with a gentle nod. "The Spectre that your Order of Healing initially took an interest in was White Robe, wasn't it?"

The five Ghost Kings, Razses, and the Colddeath sect are intertwined, with the Black Staff and Devil Palace maintaining connections. Taruer advanced through the use of demon souls.

Wintermaw has ties to the Winter's Bite sect, and the enigmatic Tian Zang refuses to show deference to any sect.

The Order of Healing, seeking to bolster its influence in the Land of Terror, had to select from among the Spectres.

Their initial choice was White Robe, but unfortunately, he had no interest in the Order of Healing. His heart was set on leaving the Land of Terror to wander and explore the outside world.

Imdohr had a less-than-stellar reputation in the Land of Terror, and even though the Order of Healing had dealings with him, they publicly distanced themselves from the association.

Thus, when Cao Jiaze inquired, Chu Yao neither confirmed nor denied, opting instead to remain silent.

"I'll take half of the Shadow Moon Essence hidden within the Shadow Mountain of White Bone," Cao Jiaze declared abruptly.

After a moment's thought, Chu Yao nodded slowly. "I require only thirty percent."

"Agreed," Cao Jiaze said with a smile.

"What about Yu Yuan?"

A cultivator from the Ethereal Void sect asked cautiously.

Unfazed, Chu Yao replied, "A junior at the Subtlety Stage would surely think twice before approaching the Shadow Mountain where White Bone trains upon seeing this palace."

"I admire him," Cao Jiaze said earnestly. "He reminds me of my younger self, even surpassing my early achievements. He has managed to create such turmoil on his own, and the fact that he's still alive is no small feat. As long as he doesn't interfere with White Bone, I truly hope he continues to thrive."

This statement provoked thoughtful expressions among the powerhouses from Euwrea.

Yu Yuan had garnered such favor from Cao Jiaze?

...

Inside a Shadow Mountain devoid of Shadow Moon Essence.

Yu Yuan emerged from the Crucible of Evil and sat in silent meditation within the sealed cave. He practiced Wraithbinding with his earthly soul, while his heaven soul underwent the purifying process of Soul Forging through Enlightenment.

In his palm, the Soul Crystals, having absorbed spiritual energy, disintegrated into fine jade powder.

Within his body, a pill pulsed with vitality, dispersing through his veins to rejuvenate his parched physique, gently leading it towards the middle elixir field at the Profound Gate.

With an unconscious swing of his sword, he nearly depleted all the power within him. He had no choice but to find a quiet place to meditate and recover.

Regardless of his urgent desire to rescue White Bone, he had to ensure he retained enough combat strength.

Outside Shadow Mountain.

Ann Ziqing sent Yuan Lianyao to try to dissuade him from venturing to Shadow Mountain to train with White Bone and to avoid clashing with Cao Jiaze.

Yuan Lianyao gave a wry smile, shaking her head, acknowledging that she knew Yu Yuan's stubbornness all too well.

Ann Ziqing, feeling helpless, dropped a resigned "Let him be," before she drifted away, her whereabouts unknown.

Days later.

A ghost, taking the shape of a Fox Monkey, emerged leisurely from the earth beneath Yuan Lianyao's feet.

The ghost glanced around warily, extremely cautious to avoid drawing any attention.

"It's you!"

Yuan Lianyao's face shifted with recognition at the sight of it. She immediately knew that this Fox Monkey ghost was one of White Bone's trusted lieutenants. "What brings you here? How is White Bone faring?"

"Our lord is trapped. His followers have either perished or fled," the Fox Monkey ghost lamented, still glancing around nervously. "Most have abandoned our lord's domain, with only a few remaining hidden in the shadows."

The ghost's green eyes sparkled with wisdom, a testament to White Bone's trust and its own unwavering loyalty.

"What are you doing out here?" Yuan Lianyao inquired.

"I overheard Yu Yuan say he intends to press on to Shadow Mountain, where our lord is training," the Fox Monkey ghost replied, casting a grateful look toward the mountain where Yu Yuan was cultivating. "I feel compelled to do something for our lord, but I am too weak. I need the aid of Sir Yu's strength."

"You?" Yuan Lianyao expressed her astonishment.

She had not detected any anomalies while conversing with Ann Ziqing and Yu Yuan, despite Ann Ziqing having attained the Spirit Walk Stage and Yu Yuan wielding the Crucible of Evil. Their failure to notice the ghost's presence suggested that the Fox Monkey ghost possessed some exceptional quality.

Yet, as far as she could tell, the ghost's rank was no higher than that of the Spirit Level.

Could such intelligence, coupled with its modest level of power, truly be of any assistance?

Imdohr commanded several Celestial Shades, and dozens of ghosts at the Spirit Level, but it only took one Imdohr to crush this man like an ant.

Moreover, there was Chu Yao from the Order of Healing, Cao Jiaze from Ebon Star, and many more Spectres.

Given the current situation, any attempt to rescue White Bone and aid his escape seemed like a fool's errand, a mere fantasy.

"I need Lord Yu's strength!" the ghost, in the guise of a Fox Monkey, implored with gravity, repeating his plea to Yu, "I hope you can enter and convey my request to Brother Yu."

Yuan Lianyao reflected for a moment before responding, "Wait until he has fully recovered."

"Oh."

...

One hundred meters beneath the domain of White Bone.

Guided by the Fox Monkey ghost, Yu Yuan, starting from the base of an unremarkable Shadow Mountain, navigated a fissure that led underground. Mounted upon the Crucible of Evil, he gazed at a slender stone crack and wondered aloud, "What's this?"

"Lord White Bone instructed me to seek you out and bring you here if he were ever ensnared," the Fox Monkey ghost explained, gesturing towards the gleaming stone crevice. "He wants you to shatter that stone and widen the crevice as much as possible."

Yu Yuan observed the stone, shining like silver, and sensed the heavy Yin Qi emanating from it. "Yet, there's no trace of Shadow Moon Essence."

"Lord Yu Yuan, I'm merely executing orders and know nothing beyond that," the Fox Monkey ghost lamented with a troubled expression.

"What could be inside?" Yuan Lianyao scrutinized the crevice, which seemed unremarkable. Her remnant soul's touch revealed only a faint chill, nothing extraordinary. "Could this be White Bone's contingency? And what change might result from breaking this stone and opening the crevice?"

She was skeptical that this action could truly alter White Bone's predicament.

"White Bone is shrouded in mystery; perhaps he does have a method to extricate himself," Yu Yuan mused, stroking his chin, not rushing to act but instead consulting with the cauldron spirit, Yu Yiyi. "Can you detect anything amiss within the stone crevice?"

"Certainly," Yu Yiyi responded.

After a brief pause, Yu Yiyi reported, "Master, a dense Yin Qi obstructs the deeper parts of the crevice, beyond my perception. I suspect that breaking the stone might disperse the Yin Qi, potentially revealing something concealed beneath the earth. Yet, this depth is quite far from the Root of the Lunar Meridian. It's peculiar—what could lie there?"

She seemed a bit curious as well.

Yu Yuan finally turned his gaze to the ghost that had taken the form of a Fox Monkey and asked, "White Bone, didn't you give any details?"

"Nothing, I'm completely in the dark."

"Well, given how dire things have become, I might as well give it a shot."

The Fox Monkey ghost's emerald eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Please, go ahead!"

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