C864 Underground of Yu Family

Jin Rourou lay on the emerald jade bed, her expression tranquil and her breathing even. The soul, a fusion of heaven, earth, and man, had been carefully guided into her Mindscape by Yan Qiling through the acupoint on her forehead. As a result, her heartbeat quickened slightly.

Before, she seemed to be in a deep state of hibernation, with her heart beating only once in a great while. But now, with her soul reunited with her body, her heartbeat had increased manifold. Her blood flow and life force were also swiftly rejuvenating.

Yu Yuan narrowed his eyes, taking a closer look. He could make out a faint image of a green Jade Spirit Turtle positioned at the Profound Gate acupoint in her middle elixir field, acting as a guardian over her vitality.

This Jade Spirit Turtle was, in fact, a heavenly-grade pill designed to protect the body's spirit and vitality. It was likely the handiwork of Shi Yuxuan. The Turtle Spirit Pill, crafted from a blend of forty-nine rare herbs and centered around the lifeblood of an eighth-level Green Jade Spirit Turtle, transformed into a miniature world of vitality within her, constantly radiating life force to sustain her physical health. This single pill attested to Shi Yuxuan's deep affection for her.

Yu Yuan could discern the scent of medicinal herbs emanating from her, identifying four additional pills with properties to soothe the soul, calm the mind, and rejuvenate the spirit, likely taken over an extended period. It was these pills that had preserved her body in such pristine condition after her soul had departed.

Yu Yuan silently acknowledged the situation.

"Let her soul and body merge without interference," Yan Qiling instructed, withdrawing his hand as he addressed the leader of Sacred Hands. "The process should be as gradual as possible. Given the lengthy separation of her soul from her body, and the fact that she's only reached the Subtlety Realm—not the Lunar Spirit Realm—she will need more time to adjust."

Shi Yuxuan expressed his gratitude with a respectful bow.

"In one or two months at most, your mother should awaken," Yan Qiling reassured, clapping Yu Yuan on the shoulder. "As for what happened back then and your father's current state, you can ask her once she regains consciousness."

With a heart full of tumultuous emotions, Yu Yuan gazed at his mother's form in silence.

"Come on, I'll take you to Asvetaesi."

Yan Qiling seemed eager to help Yu Yuan swiftly resolve his familial and clan affairs in this life. He gave him little time for sentimentality and quickly led him outside. "It's better for you to understand the many mysteries sooner rather than later."

And with that, they departed.

"Rou Rou, you're alright now. You're going to wake up soon."

The master of Sacred Hands stood by the bedside, bending over with eyes brimming with love and compassion. "My dear, don't hold it against me for being harsh. I genuinely believed Yu Jue wasn't good enough for you. If only I had known the Yu family were descendants of the Evil King, if only I had realized the potential of your child with him, perhaps..."

Shi Yuxuan was filled with regret.

"Sect Master?"

Bai Shenshen, who had been silent until now, stood to one side, seemingly uncertain about speaking up.

After a moment, Shi Yuxuan shifted his gaze from Jin Rourou and turned to her, "What's on your mind?"

"Sect Master, you must be aware of how extraordinary Yu Yuan is today," Bai Shenshen said, her head bowed, her voice conveying her own astonishment. "He claims to be the heir of the God of Medicine, Hong Qi, and that the Yu family descends from the Evil King. He brought the master of the Forgotten Ruins from Gloomhollow. I've also heard that he is now..."

"No matter how much the young man resents me, by seniority, he should address me as his granduncle!" Shi Yuxuan declared, lifting his head with pride. "Once Rou Rou awakens, we'll have plenty to discuss. Given that he's from the Order of Healing and a direct descendant of Hong Qi, we at Sacred Hands can certainly leverage this connection."

"Sect Master intends to?" Bai Shenshen asked, taken aback.

"There's a bigger picture you're not seeing," Shi Yuxuan said, taking a deep breath and speaking softly. "The Everlands have undergone monumental changes. The new emperor of the Silvermoon Empire recently visited me in secret, painting a vision of a brand new future. At the time, I thought he was out of his mind, spouting madness."

After a brief pause, Shi Yuxuan spoke with a bitter edge to his voice, "But recently, as I've delved deeper into understanding, I've come to realize that many of the things Yan Gui talked about are turning into reality."

"Yu Yuan, that kid, Yan Gui has brought him up several times. He must be aware of Jin Rourou's situation."

Bai Shenshen exclaimed in surprise, "Sect Master, you're not considering betrayal, are you?"

"Shut up!"

Shi Yuxuan gave her a fierce glare.

Bai Shenshen immediately fell silent.

"Choose your words carefully. Observe more and pay closer attention to what's happening in the outside world!" Shi Yuxuan huffed, "Particularly in the Land of Quiescence, the Moonfall Sanctuary, and the vicinity of the Godsblight Marsh."

"Understood."

...

In Asvetaesi, home of the Yu family, the night was pitch black. Yu Yuan, transported instantly from the Sacred Hands in the Serpent Spine Mountains by Yan Qiling's space magic, stood in a weed-choked courtyard, his remnant soul reaching out, detecting no signs of life.

"Is that Yu Yuan?"

Suddenly, a remnant soul surged from the direction of the Keep.

Caught off guard, Yu Yuan heard a quick identification, "Hold on a moment, it's me, Yan Yu!"

With that thought, the image of a burly, full-figured woman whose armor could scarcely contain her robust form sprang to Yu Yuan's mind, "She's in Asvetaesi."

"I'm well aware. She's currently in charge here," Yan Qiling said with an approving smile.

Yan Yu, with her rugged demeanor and sturdy build, didn't keep Yu Yuan waiting long. She approached swiftly from the Keep, her loose robe fluttering and two silver rings on her feet glinting in the darkness like twin silver moons.

The unusual surge of spiritual energy drew many of Asvetaesi's new residents outside, where they gazed up at her in awe.

"Mayor, where are you off to in such a rush?"

"Looks like she's heading to the Yu family!"

"The Yu family?"

With the Gao family ousted and the Zhao family gone, many families and cultivators from other cities had seized the opportunity to settle in Asvetaesi, shifting their allegiances to pledge loyalty to the new emperor.

Even the city's half-bloods with their peculiar vitalities watched Yan Yu with curiosity and amazement.

Moments later, Yan Yu descended with a thunderous crash into the Yu family's courtyard, standing before Yu Yuan. She flashed a radiant smile at Yan Qiling before speaking, "Yu Yuan, Yu Zhu from the Forgotten Ruins has claimed Thylethlume. I've extended an invitation for the Yu family to return to Asvetaesi."

She gestured toward the direction she had come from. "The position of mayor is ready, and your grandfather is welcome to fill it."

"The Gao family has been dealt with; their patriarch is dead. And as for the Zhan and Zhao families, due to your special connection with them, we merely expelled them without resorting to harsh measures."

Upon her arrival, she concisely relayed the most crucial updates. "The Silvermoon Empire has undergone a complete transformation, much like the Songbird Empire. I suspect you're more familiar with the details than I am. Consider whether it's time to bring the Yu family members back."

Yu Cen declined her invitation, citing the need for consideration.

"Did many significant events transpire while I was in the Land of Terror?" Yu Yuan inquired, intrigued.

"Not particularly," Yan Yu responded with a chuckle. "The empress emerged from the Moonfall Sanctuary and sought out the Yan family patriarch in secret. Following that, he publicly declared that the Shadowlight Empire would revert to its former name, the Silvermoon Empire. The Yan family has severed ties with the Devil Palace and now aligns with Boulderdawn."

"Where is the empress now?" Yu Yuan asked.

His actions in the Forgotten Ruins had thwarted the plans of Shen Feiqing and the Silvermoon Queen, resulting in the separation of her soul and its imprisonment in various locations.

As he ventured down a different path, he realized the Silvermoon Queen's inclination towards Boulderdawn.

With lingering questions, he sought the Silvermoon Queen for answers.

Yan Yu shook his head. "I'm not sure."

"She's out there," Yan Qiling said, pointing to the dark expanse above.

Yu Yuan and Yan Yu looked startled.

"That's right. After her breakthrough to the Solar Spirit realm, she ventured into the extraterrestrial Star River," Yan Qiling explained calmly. "Your betrothed, Lin Zhuyun, has delved into the Frozen Hellscape. She's encountered many opportunities, but danger lurks at every turn. One misstep could lead to her demise."

Before Yu Yuan had a chance to speak, he gestured to the ground beneath them. "You've achieved the Lunar Spirit Stage, which means you can delve into the secrets hidden beneath the earth. With me here, no one in Asvetaesi will bother you."

Yan Yu, full of curiosity, inquired, "Is it true that you learned about the Yu family's lineage from beneath the ground? I've heard about your grandaunt, Yu Ying, who left many secrets buried there. She mentioned that only Yu family descendants who have reached the Lunar Spirit Realm can gain access and uncover the truth. Is that the case?"

Yu Yuan nodded in confirmation. "Indeed, it is."

He had encountered the ancestor of the Yu family in the Land of Terror and learned of the vendetta born from Zhu Zhenlin's murder of his disciple, which led to the ancestor's retaliation against Zhu Zhenlin's disciples and grandchildren. This feud ultimately resulted in the ancestor being ambushed and killed by Otherkin warriors in the Star River shortly after advancing to the realm of the primordial spirit.

Yu Yuan was already well-versed in the Yu family's history and the Evil King's secrets. While he understood the mysteries related to the Evil King, the enigmas surrounding his grandaunt, Yu Ying, remained shrouded in mist.

"The time has come to fully unravel the affairs of the Yu family," Yan Qiling indicated, giving him the go-ahead.

With that, Yu Yuan, under the vigilant care of Yan Qiling and Yan Yu, cautiously released his Lunar Spirit and set out to explore.

​