C870 Chebus

Four arc lights formed a square around the Crucible of Evil.

The elder who bore a resemblance to Qin Yun had white hair and a beard, with eyebrows that dangled like two small silver serpents. Despite his aged appearance, he was only in the middle period of the Lunar Spirit Stage.

Upon seeing Qin Yun, who was at the Spirit Walk Stage, he glared furiously and berated him, "The empire has been good to you, yet you betray it and seek a living in a rival nation! Qin Yun, do you have the gall to show your face in Flamehold?"

"I'm merely passing through." Qin Yun's expression darkened as he signaled Yu Yuan with a look to disregard these people.

Despite being of a higher rank and appearing younger, he seemed somewhat intimidated by the man.

"And who might you be?" inquired Yu Yuan, his curiosity piqued.

"I am Qin Feng, an elder of the Qin family from Flamehold," the old man declared with pride. He gave Yu Yuan a sidelong glance before adding, "Qin Yun should call me his uncle!"

Yu Yuan, taken aback, remarked, "At your age, you're still not at Qin Yun's level. There's no need to flaunt your seniority."

Qin Yun's face turned crimson. "I've dedicated the family's rare magic items and pills to cultivating the talented youth of our clan. Fostering an exceptional next generation for the Qin family is what matters to me. Unlike some, when I became the leader of the Midnightshields, I thought only of myself!" His words were a veiled jab at Qin Yun.

"Lack of talent is no excuse for making so many excuses."

Yu Yuan huffed, his gaze briefly scanning the other three, all of whom were at the Lunar Spirit Stage.

The most formidable among them, in the late period of the Lunar Spirit Stage, was as skinny as a reed and clad in a pale green robe.

As he approached through the air, Yu Yuan almost mistook him for a billowing green flag.

Adorned with a Bracelet of Holding, the man's piercing eyes were fixed on the Cosmos Ring on Yu Yuan's finger.

"Heh, greed knows no bounds," Yu Yuan muttered to himself, quickly realizing the man's covetous intentions towards his ring.

"Zheng Dongbang."

When Yu Yuan's attention settled on the man, Qin Yun scoffed and coolly revealed his identity, "Of Flamehold City, the patriarch of the Zheng family."

He casually gestured toward two other elders who were merely at the early stages of the Lunar Spirit realm, "Wushan and Wushui, two elders from the Wu family of Flamehold."

His demeanor only became somewhat restrained and uneasy in the presence of Qin Feng, who was, after all, his senior. In his youth, Qin Feng had frequently disciplined him, leaving a deep-seated unease about Qin Feng in his mind.

He paid little attention to the elders from the Zheng and Wu families. After advancing to the middle period of the Lunar Spirit realm and enduring the trials of the outside world, he joined the Midnightshields. Since then, whenever he interacted with members from the Zheng and Wu families, their elders were always all smiles.

As the sect master of the Midnightshields, his influence in the Crimson Sun Empire was second only to the state preceptor, Zhou Cangmin.

"Crimson Sun Empire..."

Yu Yuan nodded to himself as he listened to the introduction, feeling well-informed.

It was at this moment that he truly grasped the vast difference between the cultivators of the secular dynasties and those from the other two continents.

The various empires boasted individuals with exceptional talent and ability. Some were identified by sects from the two continents at a young age, awaiting only their advancement to the Veil Breaking realm before being whisked away.

Those who had not stood out in their youth would be recruited by the sects once they demonstrated extraordinary talent and reached a certain level of cultivation.

Even the more rebellious independent cultivators would seek out places like the Sundering Isles, the Forgotten Ruins, and the Godsblight Marsh once they had achieved a certain level of cultivation.

The majority who remained in the empires had resigned themselves to their fate, possessing only ordinary talent.

Take, for example, the four individuals before him, all elders of Qin Yun, who had lived at least a hundred or two hundred years before barely reaching the Lunar Spirit realm.

Even with good fortune, the pinnacle of their cultivation in this lifetime would likely be the Spirit Walk realm.

Higher accomplishments were improbable for them.

"I'm not even thirty, and I've already reached the Lunar Spirit realm. These individuals are a hundred or two hundred years old and have achieved no more than this," Yu Yuan thought to himself, feeling disinclined to engage in further conversation with them.

"Forget it. Since you have ties to the Qin family, I'll spare them any trouble."

With a dismissive wave of his hand, he addressed Qin Feng, "Return to where you came from."

Unmoved, Qin Feng fixed Qin Yun with a stern gaze and barked, "Don't persist in your delusions! If you sincerely repent before it's too late, I can implore the First Prince to show mercy."

"He's Yang Chuhe's apprentice..." Qin Yun shook his head.

"Then stand aside. We'll seize the lad and deliver him to the First Prince!" Qin Feng declared.

Yu Yuan, growing impatient and aware that Qin Yun was reluctant to confront the elder due to his lineage, was about to intervene. However, he paused, considering the unknown strength of the new Banes from the Crucible of Evil. It seemed like a good opportunity to test them.

Whoosh!

The first to emerge was Chebus, shrouded in a black robe.

Her face concealed by the robe, only her grey-white hair peeked out. Upon her arrival, she began to mourn in a low, despairing voice, as if calling out to the spirit of her deceased son.

"Wuwu, wuwu!" She suddenly wailed.

A wave of dark, sorrowful malevolence spread out like ripples, reaching into the depths of the soul.

In an instant, the Lunar Spirit visitors from Flamehold all bore bloody marks on their foreheads!

Zheng Dongbang, gaunt as a pole and in the late period of the Lunar Spirit state, wore a green robe adorned with the image of a mystical fowl. Its wings unfurled, casting a soothing, spirit-steadying glow.

Crack!

Within seconds, the glow from the divine fowl faltered under the assault of the evil soul, showing signs of fracturing.

Zheng Dongbang's heart skipped a beat, taken aback by the potency of Yu Yuan's Bane and his swift, unhesitating attack.

As the halo continued to fracture, Flamehold's mightiest warrior made a hasty retreat towards the safety of the city.

The two elders from the Wu family, Wushan and Wushui, were merely in the early period of the Lunar Spirit state and lacked any artifacts for immediate protection. They had already begun to bleed from every orifice.

The blood that flowed from Wushan and Wushui's seven orifices was a disturbing mix of black and green.

Yu Yuan glanced at them and couldn't help but chuckle. "Of all the things to practice, why secretly delve into the Venomcraft of the Poison Cult? It's a shame that the Wu family of Flamehold had such dealings with the Poison Cult behind the scenes."

As the two Wu family elders, known as Wushan and Wushui, struggled to flee...

Chebus's figure split in two, each part burrowing into the minds of the elders.

Subsequently, the elders who had been practicing Venomcraft let out blood-curdling screams that sent shivers down one's spine.

Qin Feng, in the middle period of the Lunar Spirit Stage, had blood trickling from the corner of his eyes. Shaking, he pointed at Qin Yun, trying to muster the strength to loudly condemn him.

Qin Yun sighed, "Return to Flamehold at once! Can't you see? If the young master hadn't been merciful, you'd be sharing the same fate as Wushan and Wushui right now!"

Qin Feng hesitated, not daring to meet Yu Yuan's gaze. Instead, he shot Qin Yun a venomous look and spat, "You'll get what's coming to you!"

With that, he turned and departed.

Meanwhile, numerous silhouettes crowded the towering walls of Flamehold, overlooking the Crucible of Evil from a safe distance, none daring to make a move.

"Old Master Zheng has returned!"

"The two Wu family patriarchs... they seem to be on death's door!"

"Qin Yun hasn't even lifted a finger. What did that kid from Asvetaesi unleash? How is it so fearsome?"

Their voices carried from a distance, tinged with trepidation.

Moments later, the vitality of the Wu family elders from Flamehold visibly waned, their eyes hollow.

Chebus's figure emerged from their brows, and in Yu Yuan's perception, it seemed to be subtly transforming...

The original soul of Chebus and the black robe were interchanging seamlessly. To the onlooker, it appeared as two separate Chebuses entering Wushan and Wushui's acupoints, but in reality, one was a spirited body and the other a garment. Moreover, they could switch effortlessly, eluding any attempt to grasp their true form.

Halfway through, the two Chebuses converged and respectfully bowed before Yu Yuan, then dissolved into the surface of the cauldron.

The bodies of Wushan and Wushui plummeted from the sky like great birds felled by arrows, lifeless in their descent.

"There should be no one left to stop us at Flamehold."

Yu Yuan's mind stirred, and the Crucible of Evil soared once more. He spared no further glance for the remains of Wushan and Wushui, instead silently communicating with Yu Yiyi to delve into the enigmatic wonders of Chebus.

Qin Yun, who was within the crucible as well, showed a look of astonishment. He had been near Thylethlume recently and hadn't ventured to Gavanas.

He was unaware that the Crucible of Evil wielded by Yu Yuan had become so formidable. A mere unleashing of a Bane was enough to slay Wushan and Wushui and send Zheng Dongbang, who was in the late period of Lunar Spirit, fleeing without a fight.

"Midnightshields!" He suddenly found himself eagerly anticipating the journey ahead.

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