C895 A Crisis Descended

The scarlet anaconda, formed of bloodlight, voraciously consumed the flesh of the green dragon, savoring its meal. In a short while, the green dragon, which was on the verge of materializing above Yu Yuan's head, vanished without a trace.

Then, the menacing and savage anacondas, like dragon boas returning to the depths of the ocean, plunged into the Profound Gate acupoint on Yu Yuan's chest, disappearing into his little world of vitality.

Wen Xin and Wen Lu watched, utterly astonished by the rapid succession of events. They had not anticipated that the green dragon, on the brink of formation, would be slain not by a formidable Bane released by Yu Yuan, but rather perish by his own hand.

The Wen family, with their close ties to Dragon Lake, were privy to many of the lake's mystiques. They knew that the green dragon, brought to life through the flesh, bones, dragon's blood, and dragon's breath of a Dragon Attendant, should not be a creature that even a mighty Lunar Spirit could contend with. The mere presence of the forming green dragon had instilled fear in them.

Yet, Yu Yuan, with streams of bloodlight erupting from within, had torn the green dragon asunder before swiftly consuming it. What could possibly explain this?

"Asvetaesi, Yu Yuan..." Wen Xin murmured, her voice tinged with bitterness. Clutching Wen Lu's hand, her heart raced with inexplicable emotions. Had they escaped the tiger's den only to enter the wolf's lair? In Wen Xin's mind, Yu Yuan now seemed even more dangerous than the denizens of Dragon Lake.

Lost in her thoughts, she was unaware of the scarlet Altar of Rebirth within Yu Yuan, which was silently spinning. The delicate green dragons within the translucent altar were being rapidly melted down.

At that moment, Yu Yuan felt a tug at the lifeblood and dragon's breath of the green dragons being dissolved by the Altar of Rebirth.

"Seven Star Aegis!" he exclaimed internally.

The dark green iron ring he had acquired from beneath the Yu family estate had eluded his mastery despite his long efforts. Recently, he had been experimenting, occasionally infusing it with remnant soul and vitality to maintain a connection with the artifact.

Now, the Seven Star Aegis, worn casually on his left wrist as a bracelet, was actively drawing in the wisps of vital energy released by the Altar of Rebirth as it spun, refining the essence of the green dragon.

The artifact in question lacked an artifact soul; it was purely a defensive item. Yu Yuan had spent a considerable amount of time refining it, yet it had shown no discernible effects.

Nor had there been any signs of anomalies.

"Could it be that the dragon blood and dragon's breath from the eighth-level green dragon at Dragon Lake, once purified by the Altar of Rebirth, are particularly compatible with the Seven Star Aegis?" Yu Yuan realized.

Squinting his eyes to focus, he indeed observed that the streams of vital energy, which were meant to fortify his physique and mend his physical wounds, were all being absorbed by the green-black iron ring on his hand.

"It is so!"

A glimmer of realization sparked in Yu Yuan's eyes. He contemplated whether he should seek out more Dragon Attendants and refine their dragon blood to expedite the Seven Star Aegis's acceptance of him and its ability to harness his power.

"Yu, Yu Yuan, shouldn't we make for the Serpent Spine Mountains without delay?"

Wen Xin, who had been standing by for quite some time, watched as the man who had doggedly pursued and faithfully served the green dragon was not slain by the Blood Moon. On the contrary, upon Yu Yuan's approach, the man's bones shattered, and even the green dragon he had become was consumed by Yu Yuan's anaconda. This left her feeling anxious.

The ease with which Yu Yuan tore apart the green dragon was disconcerting to Wen Xin.

She wondered if Yu Yuan might have designs on the Otherkin bloodline within Wen Lu.

Despite her fears, the thought of the eighth-level green dragon possibly lurking nearby meant she had no choice but to rely on Yu Yuan.

"Indeed, we must head to the Serpent Spine Mountains."

Surveying the bones scattered across the ground, belonging to both the Wen family's counselors and the Dragon Lake's Dragon Attendants, Yu Yuan remained composed as he leapt into the Crucible of Evil.

As he entered the cauldron, the Second Bane, Blood Moon, receded to the base of the vessel.

"Both of you, come up here."

With a beckoning call, he drew the Crucible of Evil closer and ushered Wen Xin and Wen Lu inside before issuing instructions to the cauldron spirit.

"There's still one more, the beautiful and enigmatic sister you released earlier—she hasn't returned yet!" Wen Lu exclaimed anxiously.

"Don't worry, she'll be fine on her way back," Yu Yuan said with a smile.

Whoosh!

The Crucible of Evil, carrying the three of them, immediately set off toward the Serpent Spine Mountains. At this moment, Yu Yuan felt a sense of foreboding; something wasn't quite right.

Upon reaching the edge of the Serpent Spine Mountains, he released the Crucible of Evil. The Frost Queen emerged, but there was still no sign of Yan Qiling.

Yu Yuan had expected that once the Crucible of Evil took to the skies, Yan Qiling, with his level of cultivation, would have immediately sensed it. Given the short distance, Yan Qiling would only need to expend a small amount of energy to employ space magic and arrive swiftly.

Yet now, with Yang Chuhe's corporeal body destroyed by the Frost Queen and numerous Dragon Attendants slain, Yan Qiling had yet to make an appearance.

"Could my luck really be this terrible?" he mused with a wry smile.

The only plausible explanation for Yan Qiling's prolonged absence was that he was not currently in the Serpent Spine Mountains.

"Considering the timing, the grand trading event at Fiendpeak is about to commence," Yu Yuan pondered, a realization dawning on him. "He's always been pivotal. Could it be that Boulderdawn has assigned him to oversee the banquet at Fiendpeak alongside them?"

The more he considered it, the more likely it seemed.

Damn!

The Crucible of Evil soared through the void, its power maximized due to his communication with Yu Yiyi. His initial plan had been to reach the Serpent Spine Mountains as quickly as possible, then head to the Moonfall Sanctuary. Once inside the sanctuary, with the Soulforge Matrix resonating with him, he would fear no pursuers, not even the most formidable from the Crimson Sun Empire or the Ethereal Void Sect.

Even the eighth-level green dragon from Dragon Lake would meet its end if it dared to venture into the Moonfall Sanctuary.

But now, his plans had shifted.

If Yan Qiling was not currently in the Serpent Spine Mountains, heading there would be a waste of time.

"Change course, directly to the Moonfall Sanctuary!"

With that thought, he conveyed his intent to the cauldron spirit, directing it to alter its path.

"No, no!"

Wen Lu's scream pierced the air, her grip on Yu Yuan's arm tightening in terror. "Stop! Brother Yu, don't go any further! Don't venture deeper into the Serpent Spine Mountains!"

"What?" Yu Yuan was taken aback.

"He's in the Serpent Spine Mountains! He's there!" Wen Lu shuddered with fear.

Yu Yuan's face paled. "The green dragon?"

Wen Lu nodded emphatically.

Whoosh!

The Crucible of Evil ground to a halt. Inside the cauldron, Yu Yuan inhaled deeply, confident his suspicion was correct.

Yan Qiling was not in the Serpent Spine Mountains. Instead, the eighth-level green dragon from Dragon Lake had stealthily arrived there due to the situation with his mother.

"Mr. Yan won't abandon my mother. It's very likely that he took her away after she awoke."

Once he had calmed down and thought things through, he issued orders to Yu Yiyi.

The Crucible of Evil veered sharply. Within the cauldron's little world, the Devil Soul power ignited like fuel, propelling the cauldron forward at breakneck speed.

Hua! Hua!

The surrounding forest erupted with unnatural sounds as if a colossal creature was flying low, snapping the trees in its wake.

"He's coming."

Wen Lu's hold on Yu Yuan's arm grew increasingly forceful, her entire body quaking with fear.

"Sigh."

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

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Yu Yuan's heart raced, its rhythm accelerating wildly.

The Altar of Rebirth within him resonated in tandem, as if his heartbeat, the altar, and even the fibers of his flesh were all warning him.

Warning him of the imminent, terrifying danger.

"Dragon Lake, an eighth-level green dragon."

Yu Yuan drew a deep breath, striving for composure. He quickly reached out to the cauldron spirit, urging the Frost Queen to come at once.

He silently summoned the sword sheath from the Cosmos Ring. Soul Power, vitality, and spiritual energy merged, activating the myriad sword's wills at the base of the sheath.

The somber cauldron ceased its attempts to flee, remaining suspended in midair.

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