C96 Winning Respect

The Soul Orb soared into the heavens, but the multitude of green lights scattered like fireflies in the night, fleeing in every direction. Lee Yu, wielding the Soul Orb, was uncertain of his target. In an instant, the green lights vanished without a trace.

The Moonfiend, no longer inhabiting Feng Xin's body, chose not to seek a new host due to the presence of the Soul Orb, opting instead to flee. This formidable Moonfiend had not anticipated encountering a trial-taker with such a refined heaven soul at the Moonfall Sanctuary.

The Moonfiend was aware of the ancient sword's will, an enigmatic force that, when imprinted within a trial-taker, typically wielded little power. Thus, the Moonfiend remained fearless.

Despite being confined, the Moonfiend was well-informed that the Silvermoon Empire periodically conducted trials. These trial-takers were the Empire's youth, and it was highly improbable for any to achieve Subtlety. Reaching Veil Breaking, as Lee Yu had, was considered the pinnacle.

Without attaining Subtlety, it was exceedingly difficult to gain the approval of the ancient sword spirit. Even if one managed to do so, without a refined soul, it was nearly impossible to harness the sword's will or connect with the sword spirit.

As an ancient adversary, the Moonfiend knew the dread and might of the sword's will better than anyone. Its sheer terror and strength made wielding it and unleashing a single strike all the more challenging.

The Moonfiend could never have predicted that among the trial-takers venturing into the forbidden area would be an anomaly like Yu Yuan. Through the practice of Soul Forging through Enlightenment and the use of the White Paper Fan, he painstakingly refined his heaven soul, becoming an unexpected variable.

It was the scent of his refined heaven soul that led the ancient sword's will to fortuitously merge into his being, branding itself onto his arm and bones, and granting him the potential to wield the sword.

Others, such as Lee Yu, Yan Lu, and Zhan Tianxiang, had not reached the Subtlety Realm and had not yet had the chance to condense the three souls of heaven, earth, and man. Their previous influence over other Moonfiends was solely through the use of artifacts.

It wasn't a matter of their own strength.

Possessing such an artifact made it even less likely to gain the approval of the ancient sword's will. Without it, the Moonfiend would have had no reason to fear the trial-takers in the forbidden area.

Yet, the unexpected occurred. Yu Yuan's presence threw the Moonfiend's plans into disarray.

"The Moonfiend that escaped will reappear."

Lee Yu remained composed as he gestured to Su Yan, Zhan Tianxiang, and Zhao Yafu to safeguard Yu Yuan, who had collapsed. "He's merely exhausted and has temporarily lost consciousness."

As the myriad of green lights dissipated, the trial-takers who had narrowly avoided disaster breathed a sigh of relief, but were also engulfed in profound sorrow.

Around them were the bodies of their fallen comrades.

The deceased were peers and fellow warriors, slain by Feng Xin, who was possessed by the Moonfiend, with Moonblades that rained down from the heavens.

"How are you doing?"

Lee Yu turned to check on Yan Lu.

Yan Lu, whom the Moonfiend had dubbed the Soul Splitting Staff, had been impaled through his midsection. Now, with the gold and silver staff back in his hands, his wounds were treated and bandaged.

"I'm not going to die, but I doubt I'll be able to fight again anytime soon."

Yan Lu was pale but his eyes shone with unwavering resolve. "I never imagined this trial in the forbidden area would bring us face to face with such a formidable challenge from the Moonfiend. But as long as I live, I'll make it to the Veil Breaking Realm!"

"Lee Yu, what about the Moonfiend?" Lin Zhuyun inquired gently.

"The Moonfiend was gravely wounded by your betrothed," Lee Yu replied, glancing at Yu Yuan. "We owe it all to Yu Yuan. Without him, no one could have subdued the Moonfiend."

He paused before adding, "I couldn't have managed it either."

With those words, all the survivors instinctively turned their gaze to Yu Yuan, who lay unconscious.

It was then that they truly appreciated the wisdom and resolve of Zhan Tianxiang and Han Hui.

Who would have guessed that the one capable of overcoming the crisis, restraining the Moonfiend, and leading them all to safety would not be Lee Yu, the empire's most formidable young warrior, but Yu Yuan from Asvetaesi?

In the modest household of the Yu family in Asvetaesi, a young man who had been perceived as simple-minded for seventeen years had undergone a remarkable transformation.

"I know, it's all thanks to him."

Lin Zhuyun bowed her head gently, her emotions a complex tapestry. "Without him, the Moonfiend that had latched onto Feng Xin would have slaughtered us all."

Lee Yu might have been unaware of her and Yu Yuan's fabled story, yet when he spoke of Yu Yuan, he referred to him as her betrothed.

But after enduring a series of trials, whenever she heard the term "fiancé," she couldn't shake the feeling that it was a sneer directed at her and the entire Lin family.

How could Yu Yuan be deemed unworthy of the Lin family, unworthy of you, Lin Zhuyun?

The Lin family, including you, Lin Zhuyun, stirred up trouble, pressuring the Yu family to break off the engagement, claiming that the Yu family's naive young master didn't measure up.

Yet Yu Yuan, who is merely in the Soul Awakening Realm, demonstrated his prowess in the forbidden area's trial. With a mere gesture, he wielded the ancient sword's will to stir the divine force, shredding Feng Xin's flesh and blood, and gravely wounding the Moonfiend.

The revelation and subsequent demise of Zhu Huan were also at Yu Yuan's hands.

The Moonfiend that fled from Lou Ling's body met its end by Yu Yuan's actions as well.

Setting aside other considerations, focusing solely on the trial in the forbidden area, who among Yan Lu, Van Le, or even Lee Yu, contributed as much as Yu Yuan? Who possessed his discernment to unmask Zhu Huan as the Moonfiend?

Is Yu Yuan truly unworthy of the Lin family, of you, Lin Zhuyun?

Lin Zhuyun's heart was steeped in bitterness, feeling that Yu Yuan's exceptional performance only magnified the shame cast upon her family and herself.

She was convinced that the gaze of others upon the Lin family and herself was laden with insinuations, brimming with spiteful jeers and mockery.

"The Moonfiend's soul did not scatter. Its hasty retreat was due to the Soul Orb's ability to contain it," Lee Yu said gravely. "The Moonfiend will seek a new vessel for possession. Anyone we encounter next could be the new host. Having been thwarted once, the Moonfiend will return with greater caution."

"Moreover, the Moonfiend is steadily growing stronger."

"When the Moonfiend reemerges, it might be even more terrifying than when we entrusted Feng Xin with the task. And Yu Yuan, I wonder what his condition will be at that time."

With these words, Lee Yu acknowledged that the heavy responsibility of slaying the Moonfiend had fallen on Yu Yuan.

Yu Yuan's life and recovery would determine whether the rest of us could survive in the forbidden area.

"I never imagined that my fate would be in Yu Yuan's hands," Van Le from the Van family said with a self-deprecating smile, shaking his head. "It's quite absurd."

Others shared this sentiment.

Lee Yu, slightly irritated, asked, "Van Le, do you have any objections?"

"None."

"If you do have objections, or if you're unwilling to join us, you're free to leave on your own," Lee Yu said bluntly. "Frankly, everyone gave their all in the last battle, except for you. You dodged and held back. Knowing you as I do, I'm certain your capabilities exceed what you've shown."

His words caused Su Yan, Yan Lu, and Lin Zhuyun to frown as well.

How severe were Yan Lu's injuries?

Su Yan had quietly protected Yu Yuan, and Lin Zhuyun had joined forces with Lee Yu to restrain Feng Xin for a while. Van Le, on the other hand, had merely used his Spirit Armor to protect himself.

When the Moonfiend's focus was entirely on Yu Yuan, Van Le even breathed a sigh of relief, remaining detached and inactive.

Such behavior suggested that while Van Le was physically present, his heart was not with the team.

Caught off guard, Van Le didn't expect to suddenly become the center of everyone's criticism.

"There won't be a next time. When the Moonfiend reappears, I'll give it my all," Van Le quickly assured everyone.

"I will step into the Veil Breaking Realm the next time the Moonfiend appears," Lin Zhuyun said softly, then turned to Su Yan, "Next time, I'll be the one to protect Yu Yuan before he delivers the final blow."

"Since he's your fiancé, I'll naturally let you protect him," Su Yan said with a smile.

At the mention of 'fiancé,' Lin Zhuyun felt a jolt in her heart, as if the word carried a sting.

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