C845 Anxiety

"Stay calm!"

Luo Yue's brow furrowed deeply as she observed Yu Yuan's demeanor, recognizing the signs of a man on the brink of madness. "Don't act rashly. Whichever member of the Skyblight Cult is responsible for this spell, their intent is to bait you into leaving the Land of Terror."

White Bone had thwarted the grand schemes of the three great upper sects, the Devil Palace, and Shadow's Keep.

Yu Yuan was the visible accomplice in all this.

Moreover, Yu Yuan had nearly led Mo Yan to his doom using the Soulforge Pool.

Mo Yan was backed by Zhu Zhenlin, the second-in-command of the Devil Palace and a cultivator with a primordial spirit.

Yu Yuan had not only disrupted the plans of the three great upper sects, the Devil Palace, and Shadow's Keep, but also crossed Zhu Zhenlin. Leaving the Land of Terror now would spell immense peril.

"I think I have an idea of what's going on."

Yu Yuan took deep breaths, striving to stabilize his emotions. He forced himself to remain composed, yet the haunting vision of his soul aflame persisted in his mind.

Each time the vision surfaced, his heart would wrench with pain.

The Skyblight Cult must be aware of the Yu family's connection to the Evil King, Yu Xi. The current sect master of the Skyblight Cult was a hand-chosen disciple of White Bone and maintained a close relationship with Zhu Zhenlin.

It's possible that he sought to curry favor with Zhu Zhenlin or eliminate a potential threat by employing the Soul-Igniting Kin-Seeking technique, using his own mother's soul to compel him to step out of the Land of Terror.

The moment he left the Land of Terror, attempting to rescue his mother would lead him into a trap with no escape.

Even with his advancement to the Lunar Spirit Realm and wielding the Crucible of Evil, his current power was no match for the Skyblight Cult.

Not to mention, Zhu Zhenlin was covertly backing the Skyblight Cult.

"I understand how you feel, but this is not the time to leave," Luo Yue gently advised. "It's clear that this is a trap set by your adversaries, designed to force your hand. You know as well as I do that if you step out, whatever awaits you near that place won't be good."

"I'm aware."

Yu Yuan ran his hands roughly through his hair, crouching on the frigid earth of Shadow Mountain like a cornered animal. His eyes occasionally flashed with reckless ferocity. "I can sense that if things continue this way, she might be utterly destroyed."

"It would be best if White Bone could smoothly progress to the status of a God of Ghosts," Luo Yue sighed softly. "Once he becomes a God of Ghosts, he's likely to defend your mother. She is, after all, the daughter-in-law of the Yu family."

"You've figured it out?" Yu Yuan was taken aback.

"The Evil King Yu Xi, your Yu family's ancestor from seven hundred years ago," Luo Yue confirmed with a nod. "He mentioned that after his reincarnation, he attained the Primordial Spirit Realm. In a millennium, there have been only a handful who have achieved this state. After some thought, and considering your sudden change of heart, I put it all together."

Tian Zang had his suspicions, Luo Yue had her theories, and it was probable that Taruer had his own inklings by now.

White Bone, for his part, had stopped concealing his intentions. He declared that once he emerged from his seclusion, having reached the God of Ghosts realm, he would reveal his past identity as the Evil King.

"He's in seclusion, and I can't predict when he'll emerge. My fear is that by the time he achieves the God of Ghosts state, it will all be too late," Yu Yuan lamented with a growing sense of unease.

"The enemy has timed their move perfectly, knowing he would be in seclusion. This entire scheme is aimed directly at you," Luo Yue observed, clearly understanding the gravity of the situation. She urged Yu Yuan to remain calm, time and again.

She remained in the cave, steadfastly refusing to leave, worried that Yu Yuan might act impulsively.

Yu Yuan, with no desire left to cultivate, sat on the ground, restless and agitated.

Over the next few days, the Skyblight Cult repeatedly employed the Soul-Igniting Kin-Seeking technique, sending visions that allowed Yu Yuan to pinpoint a general location.

At the base of the Skyblight Cult's mountain was a town known as Eshvehona.

This town was naturally under the Skyblight Cult's domain, serving as a home for the sect members' families.

Many of the Skyblight Cult's elders and disciples, upon returning from their travels across the Aetherius Continent, would bring back beautiful women and men. These individuals were typically only at the Veil Breaking Realm, lacking the potential for further advancement, and thus not eligible to join the Skyblight Cult.

They were settled in Eshvehona.

His mother, in this life, was now in Eshvehona, subjected to spells by a cultivator of the Skyblight Cult. Through the ties of blood, he employed arcane arts, invoking an Evil Curse that caused a resonance within him.

After two more days, a weary Yu Yuan fell into a fitful sleep and was tormented by a nightmare. Startled awake, he was drenched in a cold sweat and impulsively decided to take an ill-advised course of action.

"I must go to Eshvehona."

His eyes, steely with resolve, met Luo Yue's as she stood watch at the cave entrance. "I realize it's unwise, and I'm aware of the dangers, but I have to go. If I don't, and she dies, the weight of guilt will crush me. It will spawn an inner demon that will violently emerge later on."

"An inner demon, born of unresolved feelings..." Luo Yue pondered for a moment before letting out a soft sigh, "I'll go with you."

Her past as the leader of the Poison Cult had been revealed, and now, leaving the Land of Terror could make her a target of both the current leader and the Order of Healing. As the Ghost King, she was formidable within the Land of Terror, where outsiders struggled to contend with her. Both Zhong Chichen and the current cult leader, despite their Unbound Realm cultivation, could be suppressed by the Way of Heaven and potentially fall to her within this domain. Outside, however, the situation could change drastically.

"There's no need; I should leave by myself," Yu Yuan insisted, shaking his head. "Together, we would only draw more attention, making us an even larger target."

"Silly junior brother, I've already employed the Soul-Igniting Kin-Seeking technique. Thinking you can conceal your essence and identity is pure fantasy," Luo Yue chided with a stern look. "The moment you step outside, if they use that vile spell again, they'll pinpoint your location instantly. Any disguise you attempt will be futile."

"I'll seek out an ally," Yu Yuan declared.

"An ally?" Luo Yue scoffed. "What caliber of ally? A cultivator at the Primordial Spirit Realm? Even if you managed to enlist Zu Ann, it might prove ineffective in Eshvehona. The spellcaster behind it all surely has the silent endorsement of the Skyblight Cult's sect master. In Eshvehona, even Zu Ann would be no match for that opponent."

"Furthermore, this situation might also involve Zhu Zhenlin."

Yu Yuan said, "Senior Sister, you're well aware of the dangers of this journey. Please don't get involved. You know where I'm headed. Once he emerges from seclusion and ascends to become the God of Ghosts, just inform him of what transpired."

Despite knowing the risks, Luo Yue was adamant about joining him, which touched Yu Yuan's heart, making him even less inclined to let her come along.

"No, I must accompany you. If things go south, I'll just communicate with the Styx and return directly," Luo Yue stated with confidence. "Don't worry, if I can't save you, I won't bother with your fate."

Her words were light, but Yu Yuan was aware that the Ghost King's escape wasn't foolproof.

If the enemy had laid a trap and sealed the world with an array, her Ghost King's escape might not work.

"Let's just head out first."

Unable to convince her and concerned about his mother's condition, Yu Yuan gave in.

A man and a Ghost King, after gathering their thoughts, he instructed the ghost shaped like a Fox Monkey. Despite the ghost's objections, they left the Land of Terror.

Outside, the sky was a canvas of blue with white clouds.

"Yu Yuan!"

...