C82 I Can Do It!

Inside the cave, Yu Yuan withdrew the White Paper Fan and immersed his consciousness within it. His thoughts, like invisible tendrils of smoke, danced around the four black characters of "To Know All is to Suffer All" inscribed on the fan. During this time, he distinctly sensed his heaven soul consolidating and healing.

Back at the pit's bottom, when he pointed at the green light that had separated from Zhu Huan, the profound, boundless, and ancient sword's will that radiated from his arm hadn't depleted his spiritual energy. The fatigue he later felt stemmed largely from his soul.

Naturally, since he hadn't reached the Subtlety Stage and lacked a formed spiritual sense, it wasn't possible for the attack to have been powered by his own Soul Power. He understood that it was the sword spirit etched into his arm bone that had vanquished the alien soul. His soul merely served to activate the sword spirit. Nevertheless, the effort left his soul feeling weary and frail.

Thus, upon realizing that Lou Ling, like Zhu Huan, was under the control of an alien soul, he knew he needed to restore his soul's vitality as swiftly as possible. He now regretted not accepting the pill Yan Lu had offered, which could have nurtured his soul and expedited its recovery.

He hadn't anticipated the second intruder arriving so soon.

"Was there a terrifying incident down there?" Yuan Ting quietly inquired, pulling Zhao Yafu aside. He had pieced together from the exchange between Yu Yuan and the folks from Sillserine that something unusual must have occurred. They had also faintly heard the sounds of combat and seen flashes of spiritual light from above.

"Zhu Huan of Wethtalos was defeated by us," Zhao Yafu explained in a hushed tone. "It happened shortly after you ascended. Zhu Huan had been harboring a bizarre soul with nefarious intentions. If Brother Yu hadn't detected it first..."

Her explanation left Yuan Ting, Yu Feifei, and the others looking shocked and dismayed; they had not expected such a perilous conflict to unfold beneath them after their departure.

"Now, Lou Ling of the Lin family has become another Zhu Huan," Zhao Yafu added.

Upon hearing those words, Yuan Ting and Yu Feifei turned ashen with fear.

Time ticked away, second by second.

Suddenly, Zhao Yafu dashed to the mouth of the cave and peered down.

The people from Sillserine were doing the same, their faces etched with urgency as they gazed into the depths.

The distance made it impossible to see clearly what was happening at the bottom of the pit, but the cacophony of battle, roars, and bursts of light were telltale signs of the struggle below.

"It's begun."

Zhao Yafu inhaled deeply and said, "With Yan Lu, Su Yan, Zhan Tianxiang, and the newcomer Lin Zhuyun, along with Han Hui and Lee Yuan, we should be able to handle it."

"That Zhu Huan before, he almost didn't make it," a girl from Sillserine fretted.

"Having dealt with Zhu Huan, we've gained experience, which should make things a bit easier," Zhao Yafu reassured her. "Besides, now that Lou Ling has descended, everyone should be well aware."

"By striking with intent against the unsuspecting, we aim to destroy her physical form first, forcing the alien soul out, then deliver the fatal blow."

"Don't worry, it should be alright."

Her words brought a measure of comfort to the group from Sillserine.

Shortly thereafter.

Yu Yuan, who had been meditating with the White Paper Fan, suddenly opened his eyes.

An astonishing aura burst forth from him.

With a swift motion, he raised his hand, his fingers forming a sword, and thrust forward into the air.

From the pit below, seven or eight eerie green lights emerged and were extinguished almost instantly.

"Alien soul!"

"The alien souls that flew out are the dispersed soul lights!"

"Was it Yu Yuan who vanquished the alien souls?"

"Then, was it also Yu Yuan who dealt with the one that fled Zhu Huan's body?"

The trial-takers from Sillserine had clearly seen Yu Yuan's gesture, his terrifying sword's will piercing through and extinguishing the green glow.

Even Zhao Yafu took notice.

She hadn't realized that Yu Yuan's move in the fight against Zhu Huan was an attack aimed at the alien soul; she had assumed it was the combined force of Yan Lu, Zhan Tianxiang, and Su Yan.

"Now I see."

She suddenly grasped why Yan Lu, Zhan Tianxiang, and Su Yan, the esteemed prodigies, had come to Yu Yuan's defense when Lee Yuan had confronted him for accountability.

Yan Lu and Zhan Tianxiang's gestures of goodwill now made sense.

"Brother Yu, you truly are the most formidable."

She beamed and approached the now-conscious Yu Yuan, marveling, "How did you manage that? Those green lights were clearly the alien souls splitting apart."

Even cultivators at the Golden Sanctum and Veil Breaking levels couldn't attack with Soul Power, as their spiritual sense hadn't yet solidified—unless they used special instruments.

Yet, Yu Yuan had no instruments whatsoever. With a mere lift of his head and a point of his finger, the soul beams from the alien souls were extinguished one by one.

It was beyond comprehension!

After repeating his feat, Yu Yuan grew increasingly weak and had no desire to elaborate. "I'm exhausted. I need to rest."

"Oh, okay." Zhao Yafu nodded earnestly.

The trial-takers from Sillserine now viewed Yu Yuan with newfound respect.

Some time later, four figures hurriedly emerged from the stone path below.

They were Yan Lu, Zhan Tianxiang, Su Yan, and Lin Zhuyun.

The quartet, having just survived a battle to the death, wore grave expressions and their eyes were stern. Lin Zhuyun's clothes were stained with blood—whether it was hers or Lou Ling's was uncertain.

As they ascended the stone steps, a young girl from Sillserine burst into cheers, "Brother Zhan, I'm relieved you're safe."

"Did any of you see a green light floating out?" Yan Lu demanded.

"Yes, we saw it," the girl responded promptly, "but it was extinguished by Yu Yuan, or rather, Brother Yu. As for how he did it, I'm not sure."

Lin Zhuyun's gaze shot towards Yu Yuan, who was resting with his eyes closed.

She had already learned some details from Su Yan, Yan Lu, and Zhan Tianxiang, and had heard that the alien soul from Zhu Huan had been destroyed by Yu Yuan.

But deep down, she struggled to believe it.

Now, with the Sillserine girl's firsthand account, disbelief was no longer an option.

Still, how had Yu Yuan accomplished it?

"I told you, with Brother Yu here, that alien soul had no chance of escaping," Zhan Tianxiang visibly relaxed, "I'm glad it didn't get away. Otherwise, we'd be facing even bigger problems."

Yu Yuan weakly waved his hand at Yan Lu and said, "I need that pill that nourishes the soul now."

"I came specifically to deliver it to you," Yan Lu replied without a moment's hesitation. He made his way into the cave where Yu Yuan was and passed him a porcelain bottle engraved with exquisite patterns.

The astonishment in Lin Zhuyun's eyes deepened.

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