C872 Fighting!
A massive water dragon surged from the depths of the Nemo River with sudden ferocity. The overwhelming spiritual energy of water coalesced, empowering the hundred-ton silver beast as it charged with both fierce momentum and crushing weight.
Before Yu Yuan could even alert Yu Yiyi, the water dragon struck the bottom of the Crucible of Evil like an upstream waterfall with brutal force.
Boom!
Yu Yuan, standing within the cauldron, reeled as the world seemed to spin, losing all sense of direction.
A dense fog of water surged in, filling the cauldron and sending thousands of tiny streams that appeared to infiltrate Yu Yuan's acupoints.
"Humph!"
With a mere thought, the refined spiritual energy from the Golden Sanctum's little world spread instantly throughout his meridians, shattering the invasive water streams.
Such fierce torrents would have left any other Lunar Spirit cultivator bloodied and battered. But for Yu Yuan, whose body had been forged through relentless trials, this was no more than a tickle.
"Yang Chuhe, is that the extent of your power?" Yu Yuan taunted.
At that moment, above the Nemo River, beams of bright water light wove together like a net, ensnaring the Crucible of Evil and yanking it downward with great force.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The water dragon, having collided with the Crucible of Evil and retreated to the river, erupted forth once more with renewed violence. Alongside it, a colossal water elephant, towering like a small mountain, emerged and joined the water dragon in a frenzied assault on the Crucible of Evil.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The dark cauldron, trapped within the "fishing net," endured a barrage of heavy strikes as it plummeted.
Inside, Yu Yiyi's enraged roar echoed through the little world, ready to unleash the cauldron's fierce and savage Bane upon the river below, to shatter the water-formed dragon and elephant into a spray of droplets.
"No need."
Yu Yuan, having steadied himself within the cauldron, issued the command and leapt out into the fray.
Before him, Qin Yun had already departed. As soon as they left, the water dragon and water elephant, which had been slamming into the cauldron, immediately shifted their focus onto the two men.
Yang Chuhe let out a soft chuckle. "My abilities? You'll get to experience them soon enough!"
The water dragon and water elephant came to a halt atop the water, while the net of interwoven water light continued to ensnare the cauldron, dragging it down into the Nemo River.
The cauldron swiftly descended as if gripped in the jaws of a Fellbeast, ready to be devoured at the river's bottom.
Yang Chuhe, now a Lunar Spirit merged with the Nemo River, had his form refined by the river's spiritual energy, becoming distinct and clear.
He stood upon the proud head of the massive water dragon and addressed them, "You've traveled a great distance to treat my Crimson Sun Empire as if it were uninhabited. Isn't that a bit presumptuous? Brother Qin, even though you've successfully entered the Spirit Walk realm, you must realize that I am not the same as I once was. You are certainly no match for me now, are you?"
With a cold huff, Qin Yun's features underwent a drastic change, aging decades in mere moments. Transforming from a dashing young man into an aged scholar clad in green, he revealed his true form and produced three Dawn Arrows. Clasping one between his fingers, he then spoke, "Yang Chuhe, how does the Emperor condone your method of cultivation?"
The Crimson Sun Empire was known for its scorching climate, abundant mountains, and scarce water. Within its borders, there were only three significant rivers: the Nemo River, the River of Whispers, and the Nine Winding River.
Yang Chuhe had refined these three rivers, causing the spiritual energy to surge through him. This would lead to the gradual withering of trees along the rivers' paths and a decrease in the aquatic life within. Over time, this could potentially lead to droughts, resulting in severe harm and loss of life among the empire's mortal citizens.
Yang Chuhe's method of refining the rivers was through dark arts, not the harmonious Merge of the Unbound. Refining meant monopolizing the rivers' spiritual energy for personal use, whereas Merging was a symbiotic process that benefited both the cultivator and the river, creating a mutually beneficial relationship.
During Zhou Cangmin's reign, he recognized Yang Chuhe's boundless ambition and was aware that the arcane techniques he practiced could endanger the empire. He was resolute in not allowing Yang Chuhe to act recklessly.
This was precisely why he held the position of sect master of the Midnightshields when their levels of cultivation were comparable.
Yang Chuhe's spellwork leaned towards fire, which was well-suited to the mountainous and arid climate of the Crimson Sun Empire.
The empire, already suffering from a scarcity of rivers and frequent droughts, would only face exacerbated water shortages and increased suffering for its people if Yang Chuhe were to refine those three rivers.
He had faith that the Crown Prince, Liu Xu, could also perceive this threat, yet he seemed to permit Yang Chuhe's actions. Why?
"As long as I advance quickly enough in my cultivation, the Crimson Sun Empire can conquer the Silvermoon Empire and the Sunblessed Empire, thus eliminating the threat," Yang Chuhe said nonchalantly. "Once I refine the rivers of those empires, I'll possess the combat prowess of a cultivator in the Unbound state."
"With me here, the empire is more than capable of standing toe-to-toe with the Songbird Empire and claiming a share of the Aetherius Continent."
"Even the state preceptor might not match my pace of cultivation with this approach."
Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, Yang Chuhe spoke of his grand ambitions with ease. "Qin Yun, even with a hundred more years to practice your Azure Yang Arts, you wouldn't reach the Unbound state. It was only because the state preceptor held me back that you became the sect master of the Midnightshields. Without his interference, I would have refined those rivers long ago. By now, I should be at the pinnacle of the Spirit Walk realm, preparing to ascend to the Solar Spirit."
His long-held grievances were finally being aired after many years.
Yu Yuan watched the cauldron being pulled into the Nemo River by the shimmering 'net.' After a brief exchange with Yu Yiyi, he felt at ease.
"To refine a great river and use it to channel the flow of spiritual energy through one's veins, drawing upon the life force of an entire nation for personal gain... Tsk tsk," Yu Yuan commented, shaking his head with a look of scorn. "Yang Chuhe, you're even more ruthless than the Colddeath Cult of the Land of Quiescence. It seems you're willing to sacrifice the Crimson Sun Empire as the dowry for your breakthrough."
"Young brat, what do you know?" Yang Chuhe said with a scowl.
With a wave of his hand, the massive water elephant soared from the water, its hooves eclipsing the sun as they thundered down towards Yu Yuan.
Yu Yuan looked up to see the elephant's hooves shimmering in the sunlight, refracting a crystal brilliance. On closer examination, the hooves seemed to be filled with countless fish and shrimp, arrayed like an army, cheering on the elephant's mighty stomp.
With a sneer, Yu Yuan clenched his fist and charged head-on.
A vast, vibrant sphere of light blossomed from his fist, containing the raging energy of a thousand rampaging demons. It detonated against the elephant's hooves in an instant.
Puff!
The colossal water elephant's hooves, as majestic as a mountain, burst apart with a single punch.
Then, it transformed into a torrential rain that showered down upon the Nemo River.
"The body tempering technique of the Terror Claws is indeed impressive," Yang Chuhe admitted, somewhat taken aback. His water-formed elephant, with its formidable and heavy-hoofed assault, would typically be too much for any ordinary Lunar Spirit realm expert to handle without a mystical artifact. Yet Yu Yuan, relying solely on his physical prowess, met the challenge with his fist effortlessly.
If I possessed the authentic dark arts of the Terror Claws, why would I need to resort to the extreme, cultivating that sinister river-refining technique?
Yang Chuhe mused to himself, suddenly envious of Yu Yuan's fortune.
Without warning, three more giant elephants coalesced from the water, accompanied by a Kylin, a giant snake, a Spirit Turtle, and other alien beasts, all manifesting to besiege Yu Yuan.
"Brother Qin, you survived your retreat to the Moonfall Sanctuary. Why not stay put? What possessed you to come out here seeking death?" Yang Chuhe's attention shifted from Yu Yuan to Qin Yun. "You have the Dawn Arrow, but do you think I lack the Tide Arrow?"
