C895 The Danger Descended

"Gurgle!"

A python, wrought from scarlet bloodlight, voraciously consumed the 'flesh' of the green dragon, relishing its meal.

In short order, the nascent green dragon, which had been on the verge of manifesting above Yu Yuan's head, vanished without a trace.

Then, those fierce and savage pythons, like sea serpents returning to the ocean depths, submerged into the Xuanmen acupoint on Yu Yuan's chest—a microcosm of Qi and blood.

Wen Xin and Lulu were left utterly speechless by this rapid succession of events.

They had not anticipated that the forming green dragon would not fall to a powerful Evil Demon released by Yu Yuan, but rather meet its end at his very hands.

The Wen family, with their close ties to Hidden Dragon Lake, were privy to many of the lake's arcane secrets. They knew that the green dragon, born of a Dragon Servitor's flesh and sustained by dragon blood and breath, should not be easily vanquished by Yin God adepts.

Indeed, even their mere presence during the green dragon's coalescence filled them with dread.

Yet, Yu Yuan, with streams of bloody light erupting from within, had torn the green dragon asunder and swiftly devoured it.

What was happening?

"Darkmoon City, Yu Yuan..."

Wen Xin's lips curled with a tinge of bitterness. Clutching Lulu's hand, her heart raced with an inexplicable surge of emotion.

Had they escaped the tiger's den only to find themselves in a wolf's lair?

In Wen Xin's mind, Yu Yuan now seemed even more menacing than the denizens of Hidden Dragon Lake.

As these thoughts swirled in her head, the crimson "Life Altar" within Yu Yuan's body was silently spinning.

Within the translucent altar, delicate green dragons were rapidly being smelted.

At that moment, Yu Yuan's brow quivered as he sensed the green dragon's essence and breath, dissolved by the Life Altar, being drawn toward something.

"Astral Shield!"

The dark green iron ring, a prize from the depths of the Yu family's domain, had eluded his mastery for quite some time.

Lately, he had been experimenting, infusing the Astral Shield with wisps of soul consciousness and blood essence, maintaining a bond with the artifact.

Now, the Astral Shield, worn casually as a bracelet on his left wrist, was actively siphoning the vaporous essence of flesh and blood from the gently whirling Life Altar.

This artifact, devoid of an Artifact Soul, was purely defensive in nature. Yu Yuan had spent considerable time refining it, yet it had shown no discernible effects. Nor had there been any peculiarities.

"Could it be that the blood and breath of the Eighth Level green dragon from Hidden Dragon Lake, once purified by the Life Altar, are perfectly suited for the Astral Shield?" Yu Yuan had an epiphany.

Narrowing his eyes, he sensed that the vital essences, meant to fortify his physique and mend his wounds, were all being drawn into the green-black iron ring on his hand.

"Indeed!"

A spark of realization flickered in Yu Yuan's eyes as he contemplated seeking out more Dragon Servitors to refine their blood, accelerating the Astral Shield's acceptance and its ability to wield his power.

"Yu, Yu Yuan, shouldn't we make haste to the Jade Peak Mountain Range?"

Wen Xin, who had been silently observing, witnessed the loyal man who had served the green dragon escape the Blood Moon's wrath. Yet, upon Yu Yuan's approach, the man's bones shattered, and even the green dragon he had conjured was consumed by Yu Yuan's "python." Anxiety gnawed at her.

Yu Yuan's display of might, the way he tore through the "green dragon," left Wen Xin feeling deeply uncomfortable. She couldn't help but wonder if Yu Yuan had designs on the exotic bloodline within Lulu's veins.

Despite her fears, and the possibility of the Eighth Level green dragon lurking nearby, she found her hopes resting on Yu Yuan.

"We're definitely heading to the Jade Peak Mountain Range."

Surveying the scattered bones of Wen family members and Hidden Dragon Lake's Dragon Servitors, Yu Yuan remained stoic as he leapt into the Evil Cauldron.

As he descended into the cauldron, the second Blood Moon, which had manifested from its depths, receded.

"Both of you, come up here."

With a beckoning call, he drew the Evil Cauldron closer, ushering Wen Xin and Lulu inside before issuing commands to the cauldron soul.

"But there's still one missing. The beautiful and enigmatic sister you freed earlier hasn't returned!" Lulu interjected anxiously.

"She's on her way back, no need to worry," Yu Yuan assured her with a smile.

With a whoosh, the Evil Cauldron, bearing the trio, set off toward the Jade Peak Mountain Range. Yu Yuan's mood had turned somber, a sense that something was amiss weighing on him.

On the fringes of the Jade Peak Mountain Range, he unleashed the Evil Cauldron, and the Ice Concubine emerged, yet Yan Qiling was nowhere to be seen.

He had anticipated that the moment the Evil Cauldron took to the skies, Yan Qiling, with his level of cultivation, would instantly sense it.

At such close quarters, Yan Qiling would need only a trifling amount of energy to employ the Earth Shrinking Technique and hasten over.

But now, with Yang Chuhe's body shattered by the Ice Concubine and numerous Dragon Servitors slain, Yan Qiling remained absent.

"It can't be, my luck can't be that terrible," he muttered with a wry smile.

The only explanation for Yan Qiling's prolonged absence was that he wasn't in the Jade Peak Mountain Range at all.

"Thinking about the timing, the grand trade fair that encompasses all creatures is about to commence," Yu Yuan realized, his thoughts racing. "He's always been crucial. Could it be that the Divine Soul Sect has tasked him with overseeing the banquet at Evil Peak alongside the Dragon Servitors right now?"

The more he pondered, the more likely it seemed.

Damn it!

The Evil Cauldron was soaring through the void, its power maximized due to his communication with Yu Yiyi.

His initial plan had been to reach the Jade Peak Mountain Range as quickly as possible, then head to the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area from there. Once inside the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area, with the bond between him and the Heaven Sealing Soul Transformation Formation, he would fear no pursuit, not from the mightiest of the Rainier Empire or the Spirit Void Sect.

Even the Eighth Level Green Dragon from Hidden Dragon Lake would meet its end if it dared to venture into the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area.

But now, he had a change of heart.

If Yan Qiling was not currently at Jade Peak, then heading there would be a waste of time.

"Change course, head directly to the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area!"

With a single thought, he directed his intent to the cauldron soul, altering its trajectory.

"No, stop!"

Out of nowhere, Lulu's voice pierced the air with terror as she clutched Yu Yuan's arm. "Stop! Brother Yu, don't move another inch forward, don't head towards the Jade Peak!"

"What?" Yu Yuan was taken aback.

"He's at Jade Peak! He's actually at Jade Peak!" Lulu shivered uncontrollably.

Yu Yuan's face turned pale, "The green dragon?"

Lulu nodded emphatically.

Whoosh!

The Evil Cauldron came to an abrupt halt. Inside, Yu Yuan inhaled deeply, confident in his speculation.

Yan Qiling was not at Jade Peak, but the Eighth Level green dragon from Hidden Dragon Lake had stealthily arrived there due to the incident with his mother.

"Mr. Yan won't neglect my mother. Once she awakens, it's highly probable that he'll take her with him."

Once he had calmed down and thought it through, he issued his commands to Yu Yiyi.

The Evil Cauldron veered sharply. Within its inner microcosm, the Devil Soul energy ignited like fuel, propelling the cauldron forward at breakneck speed.

Hua! Hua!

The surrounding woods erupted with unnatural sounds, as if a colossal creature was soaring low overhead, snapping branches in its wake.

"He's coming."

Lulu's grip on Yu Yuan's arm tightened, her whole body quaking with fear.

"Sigh."

Wen Xin let out a soft sigh, seemingly envisioning the vicious green dragon snatching Lulu away and tearing both her and Yu Yuan to pieces with its claws.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Yu Yuan's heart pounded like a wild stallion, its rhythm accelerating sharply.

Simultaneously, the Life Altar within him resonated, as if his heartbeat, the Life Altar, and even the fibers of his flesh were all alerting him.

Warning him of an imminent, horrifying danger.

"Hidden Dragon Lake, an Eighth Level Green Dragon."

Yu Yuan drew in a deep breath, forcing himself to remain composed. He immediately reached out to the cauldron soul, urging the Ice Concubine to come as quickly as possible.

He silently called forth the sword sheath from the Universe Ring. His soul power, blood essence, and spiritual energy were pre-emptively fused, activating the myriad sword intents at the base of the sheath.

The dark cauldron ceased its attempts to flee, hovering instead in the sky.

"..."