C959 I Am Hong Qi!

Yu Yuan was none other than the God of Medicine, Hong Qi!

Despite being somewhat prepared for the revelation, Luo Yue, Xi Quan, Shi Yuxuan, and the others were still profoundly shaken when Yu Yuan confirmed it himself.

Reincarnation successes were exceedingly rare. In ancient legends, only the Ghost King from the Land of Terror was thought to have the potential to live again.

To be reborn with all memories intact, carried by the three souls in a single pill, was unprecedented.

Or perhaps it had happened, but it remained unknown to the world.

Now, before their very eyes, stood a living testament to such a miracle!

This individual was someone they either knew well or had heard countless tales about.

"Master, master..." Luo Yue stuttered, unable to utter the term "junior brother."

Three hundred years prior, although favored by Yu Yuan, her affiliation with the Poison Cult prevented her from joining the Order of Healing and being formally acknowledged by Yu Yuan as his disciple.

She yearned to call him master, yet hesitated, burdened by many concerns.

Moreover, upon learning Yu Yuan's true identity, she became noticeably more restrained in his presence.

The deep-seated awe she felt for him had not diminished, even after three centuries.

It all made sense now...

Luo Yue finally grasped why Yu Yuan was so confident in assisting Beru with his alchemy, and why he could take up the cauldron and master the art of potion-making.

Xi Quan, standing nearby, also had several realizations.

"The God of Medicine, Hong Qi!"

Shi Yuxuan, the current leader of the Sacred Hands, was visibly moved, his fists clenched and shoulders quivering with emotion.

Since Yu Yuan was the Hong Qi of three hundred years past, his actions would surely be forgiven!

After all, the previous leaders of the Sacred Hands, his mentors, had all been staunch supporters of Hong Qi!

Indeed, the close bond between the Sacred Hands and the Order of Healing could be traced back to Hong Qi's tenure as the head of the Order of Healing, the one who forged the connection between the two sects.

Many of the Sacred Hands' elders still revered Hong Qi and mourned his tragic demise.

Regardless of the sect's current troubles, once the debacle at the Moonfall Sanctuary was resolved, and he relayed the news to the Chief Elders, the revelation that Yu Yuan of Asvetaesi City was the reincarnation of Hong Qi would clear up many issues. He wouldn't need to elaborate; he trusted that the venerable members would understand.

With a clatter, the prismatic compass came alive with dazzling starlight that whirled chaotically before coalescing into the form of a massive wolf. The Grey Wolf King's demon soul appeared to be etched within the compass, trapped and fading as its howls slowly weakened.

Yet the Starfallen Oracle of the Starborn did not press the advantage. Enveloped in a resplendent Star River, he hurtled toward Yu Yuan, who was ensconced within the dark green barrier.

The sky sparkled with starlight, and the inky Soul Power on the barrier's surface seemed to dissolve in a mysterious fashion.

Yu Yuan's expression darkened as he bellowed, "This plague has an astonishingly destructive effect on the Soulforge Matrix!"

"The Demon Lord rescued me from the Rainbow Ocean, using the poison pill you crafted to set me on an unorthodox path of cultivation. His intent was to exploit my unique traits to target the grand array within the forbidden area," the Dark Herald stated flatly, her eyes vacant as she spoke without emotion. "You are aware of my condition."

"Are your uncontrollable traits still as they were in the past?" Yu Yuan inquired.

The Dark Herald nodded, confirming, "The same as always."

Upon hearing this, both Yu Yuan and Luo Yue's faces took on a grave, somber cast.

The Soul Plague, unleashed by the Plague Demon, specifically targeted the souls of living beings, leaving flesh, blood, and objects unscathed. This lethal soul poison was undetectable, spreading insidiously without warning.

Once infected with the Blighttoxin, a soul would be driven into a frenzied state of slaughter, relentlessly battling any nearby being, regardless of identity.

The deeper one's knowledge of Mind Magic and the stronger the soul, the quicker and more severe the poisoning. Such was one of the Plague Demon's sinister traits.

The second uncontrollable aspect was that once the Blighttoxin was released, not even the Dark Herald, the originator, could control the dissemination of the Soul Plague. Centered on her, it would indiscriminately affect everyone within a certain radius, friend or foe alike, and the area of influence would only continue to expand.

This explained why Lord Dusk Raven and his companions from Shadow's Keep were locked in combat, with two cultivators from the Devil Palace engaged in a life-or-death struggle.

The Blighttoxin released by the Dark Herald's body would only intensify with time, threatening to spread across the entire Moonfall Sanctuary from this region. Soon, the three Sky Fiends at the Domain Channel, Quero of the Silverscale Tribe, numerous Demon Generals and Demon Guards, as well as members of both the Silverscale and Nightscale Tribes, would be overwhelmed.

Near the teleportation circle, Shi Yuxuan, Wen Lu, Qi Yunhong, and others would also struggle to find refuge. Ultimately, every life within the Moonfall Sanctuary—extraterrestrial visitors, native cultivators, Sky Fiends, and evil spirits alike—would perish from the Blighttoxin. The forbidden area would be left devoid of life, save for the Dark Herald.

"Yao Huangqi is the only one outside who knows your true identity," Yu Yuan said, glancing back at the Abyssal Winged Lizard. "It's no surprise he remained so composed upon your arrival, even instructing Cao Jiaze to stand down. He's aware of the catastrophic power you wield within the forbidden area."

The Dark Herald would never dare to use the Blighttoxin beyond the sanctuary due to its uncontrollable nature. Misuse could result in the demise of the Devil Palace, Shadow's Keep, Ruby Hand, Skyblight Cult practitioners, and even the great cultivators of the Euwrea Continent, all succumbing to the Soul Plague.

However, within the confines of the forbidden area, particularly within the Soulforge Matrix, the Blighttoxin could reach its full destructive potential. As for the Dusk Raven, Grey Wolf King, and the radicals from the Shadow's Keep and Devil Palace, their deaths would be considered worthy if it meant the total eradication of the Otherkin.

"Everyone, fall back to the Domain Channel and have Tang Zheng shatter his Divine Visage and perish," Yu Yuan commanded, observing the black Soul Power before him dissolving under the Blighttoxin's influence.

"This poison?" Luo Yue cried out.

"I'm working on a solution!" Yu Yuan responded.

"What about those already infected?" Tian Zang inquired with a frown.

"For now, we disregard them," Yu Yuan replied coldly.

Beru, most of the Shadowkin, and the enchantress had all fallen victim to the poison, along with the Grey Wolf King and Dusk Raven.

Yu Yuan's declaration was tantamount to pronouncing a death sentence on those present!

"Indeed, it's that betrayer!"

Xi Quan inhaled deeply, her eyes filled with a mix of wonder and disbelief as she stared at him. "I can still recall, at the end of your life, how many perished because of your actions. Had Nie Qingtian not been gone, had you not embarked on the path of cultivation, you'd be locked away in the Extraterrestrial Sword Prison just like me!"

With those words, she transformed into a beam of white sword light and swiftly departed.

Following her lead, those who had not been touched by the Soul Plague, Luo Yue included, wisely made a hasty retreat.

Elsewhere.

Yu Yuan's Lunar Spirit stood atop the Soulforge Pool, gazing intently from within the confines of the wall.

Cao Jiaze, Feng Pu, Mo Baichuan, Ji Ningshuang, and other Sword Immortals above the Mountain of Flames ceased their assault on the formation.

"Do you also wish to kill me?"

With his identity revealed, Yu Yuan released his inhibitions and smiled. Turning to Ji Ningshuang, the shadowy figure of his Lunar Spirit was outlined in an eerie black, and suddenly, a vision unfolded.

Within his chest, it seemed as though long-hidden memories surfaced as images.

The vision portrayed the radiant Ji Ningshuang, wielding the "Stardust Blade," accompanied by an indistinct man, wandering through the picturesque mountainous landscape.

The icy glare in Ji Ningshuang's eyes fractured like ice shards at the sight of this scene!

Her normally stern and frosty expression softened abruptly, as if the image had transported her back to the days of her youth.

The Grand Sword Immortal, currently ranked fourth within the Sword Sect, quivered gently.

"You, you..."

Her breath quickened, and as she attempted to speak, she found that even simple words eluded her.

​