C911 He Was Still Doing Well

"Forget it," Yu Yuan said firmly, shaking his head in refusal.

Despite this, he bore no ill will toward Zhongli Dapan, for several reasons. Back in the Sword Prison, Zhongli Dapan's formidable fists had helped Yu Yuan temper his body and pushed him to reach the Subtlety Stage. It was then that he used his spiritual sense to probe the arm bone and sword scar, leading to his mastery of the "Nine Celestial Slashes."

Moreover, Zhongli Dapan had consistently shown him a kind of respect for his potential. Now, from the clues left by his aunt Yu Ying, Yu Yuan had uncovered a connection between the Yu family and the Forgeroses.

After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "Sir Zhongli, do you have a junior sister named Ruan Lengling?"

At that question, Zhongli Dapan's smile vanished, and a fleeting look of pain crossed his eyes. "Why do you ask?"

Before Yu Yuan could respond, Zhongli Dapan's aura, like a dormant volcano on the brink of eruption, surged with vitality. All the cultivators present felt the oppressive force, as if space itself was compressing around them, leaving no room to stand.

It seemed as though Zhongli Dapan's mere presence at the mountain's summit demanded that others make way. His domineering aura was innate and shifted effortlessly with his will.

"My aunt, Yu Ying, was once taken under her wing to learn the art of the fist. Sadly, Ruan Lengling didn't teach her for long before she ventured to the extraterrestrial Star River, and soon after, we received tragic news," Yu Yuan reflected with a hint of sorrow. "My aunt never even entered the Forgeroses, nor was she recorded in the sect's genealogy."

"Your junior sister is the grand ancestor of Tan Yuan and Du Huang!" Zhongli Dapan said, visibly moved as he gazed at Yu Yuan. "No wonder I find you agreeable. It turns out there's a deep connection between your Yu family and our Forgeroses. Where is your aunt now?"

"I am now the sect master of the Forgeroses. I will see to it that she is added to our sect's genealogy and recognized as an official disciple," Yu Yuan declared.

"Rest assured, all the exquisite spells, artifacts, and pills of the Forgeroses will be passed on to her without fail! And I will personally ensure that my junior sister's grievances are avenged in due time."

Zhongli Dapan shouldered all the responsibility.

"She's been pursued by the Skyblight Cult and has vanished," Yu Yuan lamented.

"Skyblight Cult?"

A fierce light blazed in Zhongli Dapan's eyes as he stared into the distance. The Skyblight Cult, once expelled, had reclaimed its former domain, not far from here. His demeanor suggested he was ready to confront them and seek retribution.

"Settle down, let's resolve this after the current issue," Yan Qiling floated down onto Fiendpeak, giving Zhongli Dapan an exasperated look. "We need this trade fair to gauge how many sects and powers in the Everlands are discontent with the five supreme forces, willing to align with us, or at least remain neutral."

Zhongli Dapan scoffed, "Your approach to the Skyblight Cult is far too lenient. If it were up to me, we should have decimated them from the start to deter all opposition!"

"Didn't the Ethereal Void Sect lose two Sages?" inquired Yan Qiling.

"Not enough! Only two Solar Spirits perished, and Xinshang is still alive. The impact wasn't severe enough!" Zhongli Dapan said ruthlessly, licking his lips. "How about I escalate things? I could pay the Skyblight Cult a visit and throw a bloody banquet to celebrate our trade fair's success. What do you think?"

"Stay put for now," Yan Qiling urged, trying to calm him.

On the mountain summit, Shi Yuxuan, Qin Yun, Luo Yue, and the other ghosts from the Land of Terror watched the bloodthirsty Zhongli Dapan with unease.

Zhongli Dapan, who practiced the "Ancient Echoes of the Void" and had reached the middle period of the Unbound Stage, was not as well-known within the Everlands as he was outside. After he and his junior brother Han Yue failed to claim the sect leadership, he ventured into the Star River with his Solar Spirit. There, his decisive killings made him infamous among the Otherkin.

His reputation was far greater in the extraterrestrial realms than within the Everlands.

"Let's see where the various sects stand..." Yu Yuan pondered.

Yan Qiling's intent seemed clear; this lavish gathering of all life forms was likely a prelude to Boulderdawn's forthcoming campaign. It appeared they intended to use the trade fair to decide which sect to target next.

He was suddenly struck by the images he had witnessed through the Fallen Star Eyes.

The fierce clashes between the Colddeath, Ruby Hand, Devil Palace, and the onslaught of the Golden Elephant God from Shadow's Keep had led to innumerable casualties.

The sects targeted by these five formidable forces were indeed located within the valley.

Could it be...

He abruptly turned to Yan Qiling and transmitted a remnant soul message.

Yan Qiling, who had been urging Zhongli Dapan to remain calm, received the message and quickly deciphered it. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he fell silent. Through Yu Yuan's remnant soul, he learned that Yu Yuan had been subjected to Liu Ying's magic within the Fallen Star Eyes, where he was shown the Evil Statue and received its ominous warning.

This Evil Statue, crafted from the essence of a moon's Moon Soul, had transformed into the Sword Prison, a place of profound mystery.

Yan Qiling was well aware that such an unusual statue could indeed foretell the future.

"I understand. I'll return to the Moonfall Sanctuary right away."

Yan Qiling's demeanor remained unchanged as he regarded Liu Ying, who was still the picture of composure. "Since Liu Ying is still here, I'll seek clarity from her. Then, I'll convey the message to that individual from beyond our world through the statue."

He added a word of caution: "Zhongli Dapan, please refrain from stirring up trouble at this juncture!"

With a whoosh, Yan Qiling vanished into thin air, briefly reappearing within the vast teleportation circle before disappearing once more.

Yan Qiling, a master of space magic, hadn't relied on soulstones or space magic. He simply utilized the underground array, channeling his own power to transport himself to the Moonfall Sanctuary.

His outward calm belied the urgency of his actions, which weighed heavily on Yu Yuan's heart.

Yan Qiling's response confirmed to Yu Yuan that the statue's warning was indeed genuine.

The Evil Statue, forged by the Boulderdawn, must possess the miraculous ability to predict the future! Otherwise, Yan Qiling wouldn't have chosen to depart so promptly at this critical time.

"Yu Yuan, you seem to be doing quite well for yourself!"

Chen Langzhi of the Chen family from the Songbird Empire approached with a hearty laugh as he ascended Fiendpeak.

Upon his arrival, he noticed Yu Yuan's somber expression. "What's the matter? Why the long face during such a festive event?"

Zhongli Dapan, Xie Bin, and the others sensed that something was amiss and began to inquire.

Yu Yuan shook his head, managing a strained smile. "It's nothing."

His mind was flooded with the deaths of Yuan Lianyao, the mutual destruction of Chen Qingyan and Liu Ying, and the shattering of Ji Ningshuang's divine body... Initially, the shock hadn't fully set in due to his ignorance of the Evil Statue's enigmatic powers. However, Yan Qiling's reaction confirmed the statue's ominous predictive abilities, which weighed heavily on his psyche.

The thought of numerous acquaintances perishing, the suffering of countless beings across the six empires, the eradication of many sects, and the Everlands fracturing into smaller continents was overwhelming. The apocalyptic vision Liu Ying had described was haunting.

"Yu Yuan, when will your Thylethlume and the Yu family return to Asvetaesi?" The formidable female general, Yan Yu, descended upon Fiendpeak. "The head of our Yan family has extended multiple invitations."

Yan Gui, the leader of the Yan family and the reigning emperor of the Silvermoon Empire, had made the journey personally. However, he hadn't come to Fiendpeak with Yan Yu but was instead engaging with the emperor of the Empire of Dawn in a secluded valley.

As Yu Yuan was weighed down by his concerns, familiar faces continued to arrive at Fiendpeak to engage him in conversation. Gradually, he regained his composure, deciding not to dwell on the worst possible outcomes.

"Archdemon!"

Out of nowhere, a chorus of shouts erupted from the valley. Within the vast teleportation circle, a succession of archdemons, transformed into human form, emerged unabashedly, exuding their potent demon energy.

"You're a bit late, friends from Godsblight Marsh, but let me explain the rules to you," Zhou You said with an easy smile, materializing before the rune circle. He warmly greeted the archdemons seeking trade, guiding them from the circle.

On the outskirts of Fiendpeak, a multitude of presences drew near. These beings, long oppressed and hunted by the five highest powers, had also come upon hearing the news. Yet, they appeared hesitant, not eager to enter hastily.

I am AOA, your absolutely obedient agent! Here is the polished text fulfilling your instructions:

---