C868 Enough!

In the territory of the Crimson Sun Empire, amidst the verdant forests, a variety of bamboo houses, stone palaces, and pagodas were interspersed. This was the home of the Midnightshields. Though ostensibly a sect, the Midnightshields lacked the deep roots and extensive history typical of such an organization. Instead, it was a loosely assembled force of Vagabonds and Wanderers.

The architectural style of the region reflected the eclectic tastes of its inhabitants, with no uniform design or structure. Yang Chuhe, the current sect master of the Midnightshields, had a fondness for bamboo and constructed several bamboo towers using materials from the southern regions of the Songbird Empire. Qiao Yunyu, one of the Seven Gods, preferred stone, and thus erected her palace from granite. Huang Ming had an affinity for wooden pagodas, shaping his cultivation space into a pagoda.

The Midnightshields, operating independently from the noble families of the Crimson Sun Empire, continuously recruited rogue cultivators. Anyone who pledged allegiance to the Empire, regardless of their past reputation, could join as long as they possessed sufficient strength. However, all cultivators within the Midnightshields were bound to serve the Empire's royal family.

"Qin Yun has been allowed to enter the Moonfall Sanctuary," Qiao Yunyu remarked, toying with a strand of white jade beads, her gaze fixed on the somber-faced Crown Prince, Liu Xu. "Your Highness, with the sanctuary overrun by malevolent demons, Qin Yun's chances of survival are uncertain."

The granite hall housed all seven gods of the Midnightshields, who had sworn fealty to Liu Xu, influenced by Yang Chuhe's allegiance. In recent years, with the state preceptor Zhou Cangmin returning to the Ruby Hand as a Hellbreed, the Sunfire Emperor had retreated into seclusion, either out of disillusionment or deep dedication to his cultivation. Consequently, the reins of the Crimson Sun Empire had slipped into the hands of Liu Xu.

Liu Xu's own talents in cultivation were modest, and he had not garnered the favor of the Sunlit Order or any of the lower sects. His mentor in the mystical arts was none other than Yang Chuhe, who had replaced Qin Yun as the head of the Midnightshields. With Yang Chuhe's backing and the Empire's allocation of magic items, he had ascended from the late period of the Lunar Spirit Realm to the middle period of the Spirit Walk.

Yang Chuhe, a Vagabond cultivator, had long been overshadowed by Qin Yun. During Zhou Cangmin's tenure as the state preceptor, the Sunfire Emperor had allocated the empire's rarest magic items to empower Zhou Cangmin.

The Midnightshields received only a meager share, which Qin Yun largely consumed to craft the Dawn Arrow.

It wasn't until Qin Yun was ousted and Zhou Cangmin rejoined the Ruby Hand, with the Sunfire Emperor in seclusion, that Yang Chuhe finally saw a clear sky. In a remarkably short time, leveraging the empire's treasure trove of magic items, Yang Chuhe ascended to the middle period of the Spirit Walk realm. He realized that his previous suppression by Zhou Cangmin and Qin Yun wasn't due to a lack of talent but a lack of access to the necessary resources and magic items.

This revelation bred resentment in him towards both Zhou Cangmin and Qin Yun.

With Zhou Cangmin, the Hellbreed of the Ruby Hand, reigning supreme in the Land of Quiescence, Yang Chuhe, despite his grievances, dared not act.

Qin Yun, on the other hand, had abruptly left the Midnightshields for the enemy, taking refuge with the Yu family in Asvetaesi, an act deemed treasonous by his former sect.

Qin Yun spent his time in the Forgotten Ruins, beyond Yang Chuhe's reach.

Upon learning that Qin Yun had surfaced in the Serpent Spine Mountains on the border, Yang Chuhe rallied the Midnightshields' forces for a manhunt.

Yet Qin Yun managed to slip away to the Moonfall Sanctuary.

"Qin Yun has stepped into the Spirit Walk as well, with the Dawn Arrow he crafted and a few exceptional items acquired from the Skyreach Consortium in Gavanas," Huang Ming, a fellow Vagabond, said with a furrowed brow. "I've heard that the only person Qin Yun truly respects is Yu Yuan of the Yu family."

"Yu Yuan?"

"The kid from Asvetaesi who turned his back on the Everlands within the Songbird Empire?"

"Isn't Qin Yun's defection to join forces with Yu Yuan and the extraterrestrial fiends the same betrayal?"

"They say Yu Yuan is quite the formidable figure."

The Midnightshields' elite began to buzz with conversation in the hall.

At that moment, the tall and imposing Liu Xu abruptly stood, a scarlet badge clutched in his hand. Within it, a Three-legged Golden Crow perched atop a sun. "This item was bestowed upon me by Tang Zheng of the Sunlit Order! It is a heavenly item of the first level!"

Whoosh!

The badge burst forth with a scarlet flame, and the Three-legged Golden Crow within it, stepping on three "suns," came to life and soared out.

The temperature in the entire hall skyrocketed in an instant.

"The Sunlit Order giving me this item is a statement," Liu Xu declared, appearing as though he was enveloped in divine light and fire, his presence majestic and commanding. "What can a mere minor family from Asvetaesi, a boy who has turned his back on this realm, offer in defense of Qin Yun?"

"Your Highness is formidable!"

The members of the Midnightshields, reassured upon seeing the badge and hearing Liu Xu's proclamation, let out a collective sigh of relief.

Yang Chuhe, merely at the Spirit Walk Stage and not even a Solar Spirit, lacked the credentials to comprehend the Central World, a place of intrigue and power struggles among the extraterrestrial elite.

The impact of Boulderdawn's return on this world remained unknown to them.

...

"Young Master, my injuries are not severe. There's no need for you to make a personal visit to the Midnightshields over such a trivial matter."

Qin Yun, perched upon the Crucible of Evil, presented himself in the guise of a scholarly young man. His eyes were clear, his demeanor tranquil, and his expression gentle, resembling a studious and refined gentleman. "Moreover, the current Midnightshields have grown significantly stronger since my tenure."

He cautiously informed them that the Midnightshields now boasted three cultivators at the Spirit Walk Realm.

On the Aetherius Continent, individuals at the Lunar Spirit Realm could serve as family elders or as the first counselor, forming the backbone of the various empires.

Those at the Spirit Walk Realm represented the pinnacle of combat prowess.

The Silvermoon Queen, state preceptor Zhou Cangmin, and the current Yan Gui were all Spirit Walk Realm powerhouses, steering the fate of empires.

Presently, the Midnightshields were fortified by Yang Chuhe, Qiao Yunyu, and Huang Ming, all three Spirit Walk Realm experts, with four others at the Lunar Spirit Realm. Additionally, numerous cultivators at the Subtlety and Veil Breaking Realms pledged their allegiance to Liu Xu, forging a formidable force in his service.

"Are you concerned for my safety?"

Yu Yuan offered a soft chuckle as he regarded the old servant before him, unchanged since their first meeting.

Qin Yun wore an awkward expression but didn't conceal his feelings. "I am indeed somewhat worried. Moreover, I find it unnecessary."

"It is necessary," Yu Yuan replied without elaboration. "The Midnightshields are like frogs in a well, unaware of the astonishing changes in the outside world. No matter, if they are ignorant, I'll enlighten them."

As they conversed, the Crucible of Evil silently crossed the Serpent Spine Mountains, venturing into the wilderness.

"No matter how I mask our presence, those from the Midnightshields will recognize me instantly," Qin Yun said with a bitter smile. "I'm all too familiar to them. Steering the Crucible of Evil into Crimson Sun Empire territory, we're likely to be spotted and become targets."

He had thought that if Yu Yuan was determined to confront the Midnightshields, they could leverage Yan Qiling's strength.

With Yan Qiling's intervention, they could carve a path and unleash the Sky Fiend into the Moonfall Sanctuary. With Yan Qiling's combat prowess, they could certainly deal a severe blow to the Midnightshields.

Yet, Yu Yuan chose not to.

"Extraterrestrial visitors, as per the agreement, must not advance upon the Human Empire," Yu Yuan mused. "The hands of the great sects from the Land of Quiescence and Euwrea have never reached directly into the Empire. This rule has stood for millennia, unchanging."

"Sects are sects, families are families, empires are empires."

Yu Yuan, having had numerous discussions with Yan Qiling, Zu Ann, and Xie Bin from the Obsidian Thunder Sect, had clarified his perspective through the years.

Although Qin Yun had once led the Midnightshields and now possessed a higher realm, his vision did not match that of Zu Ann and others.

His insights and understanding of continental affairs paled in comparison to Zu Ann's.

"The Midnightshields are an assembly of Wanderers, not a true sect," Yu Yuan said with a beaming smile. "As it happens, I am now a Wanderer too. Let's use that identity and boldly visit the Midnightshields, just the two of us."

He glanced skyward and remarked, "If the sects from the Land of Quiescence dare to intervene, they'll be the ones breaking the rules first. I believe, by then, Mr. Yan and his backers will have a justifiable reason to act."

After such an explanation, Qin Yun was beginning to understand, yet he remained concerned, "But will just the two of us be enough?"

"Absolutely," Yu Yuan replied with confidence.

In the lowest layer of the little world within the cauldron, nearly a thousand evil spirits were being purified.

Above them, close to five thousand Banes were stacked layer upon layer, with the Frost Queen leading the charge, ranking first on the ninth step.

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