C849 We will Tell You Our Name

"Yu Yuan..."

Qi Nandou hesitated, his words trailing off.

A flicker of thought stirred in his mind, rippling through like waves on Heart Lake.

With so many fellow disciples in Eshvehona, he feared the idle chatter, accusations of betrayal. So, he resorted to a forbidden art, reaching directly into Yu Yuan's Heart Lake.

He urged Yu Yuan to leave immediately, even revealing the location of Eshvehona's weakest defenses.

Unbeknownst to him, Yan Qiling had already taken position within the Ashlar Basilica.

He believed that even if Yu Yuan ascended to Lunar Spirit status and caused trouble in Eshvehona, it would be to no avail.

"I appreciate the concern."

Yu Yuan dismissed the advice in a hushed tone, not pausing in his stride.

His gaze pressed Qi Nandou to drop the hesitations and simply lead the way.

"Ah."

Qi Nandou, resigned to the situation, braced himself and took the lead.

"Lee Tihai, why resort to such dark magic on his mother?"

"Could it be that Lee Tihai harbored a deep-seated grudge against the Yu family during his time as a rogue cultivator? Odd, I recall Lee Tihai's activities were largely around the Sundering Isles before the sect master took him under his wing."

"Has he not made enough enemies?"

The residents of Eshvehona watched Yu Yuan and Qi Nandou, murmuring among themselves.

It was common knowledge that Lee Tihai, once a rogue cultivator, was notorious for his misdeeds before becoming a counselor to the Skyblight Cult.

Were it not for Lee Tihai's advancement to the Solar Spirit Realm and the sect master's favor, other Skyblight Cult cultivators would scarcely spare him a glance.

The use of the Soul-Igniting Kin-Seeking spell to compel Yu Yuan's mother to summon her son to the Skyblight Cult deepened the mystery.

What was truly happening?

"Nandou, you need not enter," boomed Chou Muge's voice from within the Ashlar Basilica. "Yu Yuan can come forth on his own."

"Oh."

Outside the hall, Qi Nandou acknowledged the command, gestured towards the entrance, and softly cautioned Yu Yuan, "Be careful."

He surreptitiously pointed in a direction and informed Yu Yuan that if he wished to flee the Skyblight Cult, that was the way to go.

Regrettably, Yu Yuan paid no heed to his well-meaning advice.

He stepped forward into the gloomy Ashlar Basilica, where three Glazed Lamps housed three emaciated phantoms within their shades.

The scene before him was an exact match to the torturous images he had endured in his Mindscape—there was not a single discrepancy.

Yu Yuan immediately concluded that this was where the Soul-Igniting Kin-Seeking technique had been performed, and he recognized the souls in the Glazed Lamps as those of his mother.

A dense aura of murderous intent emanated from him as he glared fiercely at Lee Tihai.

Lee Tihai, like a demon lurking in the shadows, obscured the Glazed Lamps with his form. "Make any move, and she perishes. Kid, I'm aware you possess the Crucible of Evil. I also know that if the cauldron were to envelop the Glazed Lamps, you might sever the mental link between the soul mark and me."

"Therefore, it's in your best interest not to attempt it."

"The moment I detect anything off, the slightest hint of trouble, I'll obliterate your mother's soul."

In Eshvehona, Lee Tihai felt a surge of confidence.

He also sensed a gaze from deep within the Skyblight Cult's mountains, slowly rising and overseeing Eshvehona, alert to any disturbances.

This bolstered his confidence even further.

"I hail from the Yu family of Asvetaesi, descendants of the Evil King, Yu Xi," declared Yu Yuan boldly.

"What?!" Chou Muge, a figure of formidable presence, was staggered by Yu Yuan's claim. "Can this be true? The Yu family, descendants of the Evil King? Don't spout falsehoods, boy!"

There was only one Evil King—Yu Xi!

Throughout the Skyblight Cult's history, many sect masters came and went, but only one ever dared claim the title of Evil King.

He was the one who, in a mere three hundred years, had forged his primordial spirit!

He stood as the most illustrious Evil King in the annals of the Skyblight Cult!

Both Chou Muge's master and the current sect master, Yun Hao, were his disciples.

During the Evil King's lifetime, Chou Muge's master was particularly favored, and seven hundred years ago, he was already seen as the prime candidate for the next Sect Master.

After an incident in the extraterrestrial Star River involving the Evil King, Yun Hao ascended to the position of current Sect Master with the support of Zhu Zhenlin from the Devil Palace.

His mentor, who followed in the footsteps of the Evil King, perished in a battle beyond the stars, his soul shattered and lost.

This very reason fueled the discord between Chou Muge and Yun Hao. Despite being a disciple of the Skyblight Cult, Chou Muge spent most of his time wandering afar.

In his heart, he believed that his own master was the rightful leader of the Skyblight Cult.

Chou Muge held the Evil King Yu Xi in high esteem and revered his master, which is why he harbored no warmth for Yun Hao, despite being a fellow sect member, he was as detached as a solitary cloud or a wild crane.

Upon learning that the Yu family from Asvetaesi were the descendants of the Evil King Yu Xi, he was profoundly stirred.

"Lee Tihai!"

Chou Muge's face was as somber as still water, his eyes blazing with intensity, "The Yu family, being descendants of the Evil King, what is your purpose in imprisoning the soul of Yu Yuan's mother? And how dare you subject her to the Soul-Igniting Kin-Seeking technique?!"

"The descendants of the Evil King have forsaken the Everlands, allied with the Boulderdawn Sect, and consorted with extraterrestrial demons. They are naturally our enemies," Lee Tihai retorted confidently. "Chou Muge, everything I do is for the Everlands! I'll tell you plainly, the Sect Master is also aware of this matter and has made the painful decision to eliminate his kin for the greater good!"

"Eliminate his kin for the greater good?" Chou Muge erupted with anger.

Regardless of Lee Tihai's justifications, Chou Muge had his suspicions about the true nature of the Yu family's lineage after hearing it from Yu Yuan.

The Evil King, whom he deeply admired, had met his end among the stars shortly after forming his primordial spirit, an event shrouded in mystery.

Through the years, he pieced together many secrets from scattered hints.

He was also aware that Yu Yuan's mother's soul had been confined for more than just a day or two.

Lee Tihai had been brought into the Skyblight Cult perhaps to carry out unsavory tasks that others preferred not to handle directly.

"The descendant of the Evil King!"

Outside the hall, Qi Nandou, who had escorted Yu Yuan, lingered, overhearing the conversation within.

"Who is the descendant of the Evil King?"

A disciple, noticing Qi Nandou speaking under his breath, couldn't help but inquire. Mention of the Evil King piqued the interest of any Skyblight Cult cultivator.

"Yu Yuan, and the Yu family from Asvetaesi, are the pride of our Skyblight Cult! He is the progeny of the Evil King, Yu Xi!" Qi Nandou declared loudly.

That was the extent of the help he could offer.

"The Yu family descends from the Evil King, Yu Xi!"

His words sent shockwaves through the crowd. Every sect member in Eshvehona, from disciples to elders, was set abuzz by Qi Nandou's proclamation. Those who had initially stayed out of the affair now flocked to the Ashlar Basilica, where Lee Tihai was located.

To many within the Skyblight Cult, the Evil King was a divine figure. During his life, the Skyblight Cult surpassed both the Ruby Hand and the Colddeath in strength. Upon ascending to the primordial spirit, he vowed to challenge Zhu Zhenlin upon his return from the extraterrestrial realms.

The Evil King's reign marked the zenith of the Skyblight Cult, a time when its cultivators walked with an air of invincibility.

In moments, the Ashlar Basilica, Lee Tihai's stronghold, was besieged by a throng of people.

With a thunderous crash, the stone doors of the Ashlar Basilica were shattered by a burly, bearded elder who brushed aside Lee Tihai's furious glare and barged in. "Lee Tihai, have you imprisoned the soul of the Yu family's daughter-in-law? You have the audacity to employ the Soul-Igniting Kin-Seeking on her?"

"Lee Tihai, have you lost your mind? Do you even know where you stand?"

"You've gone mad! Fully aware that she's of the Yu family, kin to the Evil King, you still dared such recklessness?"

The crowd was electrified with outrage.

Over a dozen figures emerged, among them Lunar Spirit and Spirit Walk practitioners.

The burly elder at the forefront, an early period Solar Spirit cultivator, had been content to instruct his kin in Eshvehona, wanting no part in Lee Tihai's mess. But the revelation that the Yu family was linked to the Evil King was too much to ignore, and he was compelled to act.

...