C99 You Cultivate the Devil Spell Right?

As Yu Yuan drew nearer to the entrance of the forbidden area, his sense of unease intensified. It could have been the effects of the Soul Recovery Pill, which had further refined his Heavenly Soul, or the sword intent etched into his arm that was triggering this feeling. Either way, he was convinced that the entrance, typically manned by the Empire's elite, was now fraught with peril.

Lee Yu's brow furrowed. "You have no proof?"

"Just a gut feeling," Yu Yuan admitted.

"I'm feeling it too—the closer we get to the entrance, the more uneasy I become," Lee Yu said, gazing in the direction of what should be the forbidden area's threshold. "I suspect it's due to the subtle influence of the soul sacrifice ball. At times, this artifact enables me to detect the presence of powerful soul spirits. There's definitely a formidable soul spirit guarding the entrance, and it's not one of our own."

Su Yan expressed her surprise, "You're experiencing the same sensation?"

Lee Yu nodded affirmatively.

The rest of the group exchanged worried glances at his confirmation.

Zhan Tianxiang, Han Hui, Zhao Yafu, and a few others were the ones who genuinely trusted Yu Yuan and valued his instincts highly. The other practitioners, however, tended to see Lee Yu as more credible in these matters.

Yu Yuan's warning of danger had initially been met with skepticism, but with Lee Yu echoing the sentiment, the group was beginning to take the threat seriously.

"What's our next move?" asked Yan Lu, still recovering from his injuries, his waist tightly bound with bandages. His wound was freshly scabbed, and his breath came in short gasps as he spoke. "The forbidden area is expansive, but it's bordered by vast ravines. These chasms are like insurmountable barriers to those who can't fly. How do we exit without crossing them?"

The question hung heavy in the air as everyone pondered their options.

Yuan Lianyao had briefed them on the peculiarities of the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area before their arrival. She had provided a simple map and described the landscape they would encounter.

The Fallen Moon Forbidden Area was a landscape scarred by the descent of the Moon Fragment from the heavens, leaving behind a series of unfathomable pits. This cataclysmic event had also caused the surrounding land to collapse, creating a series of deep trenches along the perimeter.

The Fallen Moon Forbidden Area had become a unique expanse, a special territory standing apart from the surrounding wasteland.

From a bird's-eye view, the forbidden area would appear as an island set within the wasteland, its perimeter marked by deep trenches. Only a few spots remained unsevered, maintaining a connection to the barren landscape.

The Fallen Moon Forbidden Area was akin to a solitary island amidst the desolation.

The trial's entrance served as one of the few links between the forbidden area and the outside world, providing a pathway to the Silvermoon Empire.

Without passing through the forbidden area's entrance and its grand archway, one would have to find another way to cross the trenches and fly into the forbidden area.

"My Celestial Clothing enables me to soar through the skies, but it's not sustainable," Su Yan said with a moment's hesitation. "Carrying others would make it even less so, particularly when the spiritual energy of heaven and earth turns wildly turbulent, increasing the danger."

"I think it's unwise to risk using the Celestial Clothing to traverse the chasms," Zhan Tianxiang weighed in. "For starters, the chasms are simply too vast. Moreover, who's to say there aren't Moon Demons lurking in the shadows? What if we're ambushed by a Moon Demon while crossing?"

A look of dismay crossed Su Yan's face. "To the Moon Demon, the Celestial Clothing's ability to conceal is utterly useless."

The Moon Demon, harboring Fong Xin's powerful Soul Spirit, could detect any soul's movements.

The Celestial Clothing couldn't mask the essence of one's soul. It couldn't fool even those at the Penetrating Stage, much less a Moon Demon.

"What's our course of action?" Han Hui inquired gently.

Many instinctively turned their eyes to Lee Yu, including Zhan Tianxiang, Han Hui, Zhao Yafu, and also to Yu Yuan. After glancing at Lee Yu, their attention shifted to Yu Yuan.

Clearly, for many, Lee Yu and Yu Yuan were the ones who might steer them through this predicament.

"Do you have any suggestions?" Lee Yu asked after a thoughtful pause, turning to Yu Yuan, "Should we attempt to break through, or should we stay within the forbidden area?"

"We stay," Yu Yuan responded decisively. "We'll find a way to eliminate the Moon Demon. The one entrusted to Fong Xin is formidable, and it will only become more fearsome upon its return. Still, I believe the Moon Demon here is more manageable. The aura emanating from the entrance of the forbidden area is far more ominous."

"Is it possible to track down the fleeing Moon Demon?" Zhao Yafu inquired.

"Indeed, the Moon Demon that fled is severely wounded. Even with a new host, it's unlikely to regain its full strength quickly," Han Hui chimed in. "If we proactively hunt it down in the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area, wouldn't that ensure our safety?"

"I should be able to utilize the soul sacrifice ball I possess to aid in the search for the Moon Demon," Lee Yu added, turning his gaze back to Yu Yuan. "Ultimately, we'll rely on you to deliver the final blow. How are you holding up?"

Yu Yuan, who was practicing the Evil Body Refining Skill, appeared frail and debilitated, leaning on Zhan Tianxiang for support, a sight that didn't inspire confidence in his ability to land the finishing strike.

"If we're certain we can locate the Moon Demon, I'll do everything I can to restore my combat strength quickly," Yu Yuan said with a smile, revealing his teeth. "The most significant drain was on my vital essence. So, if any of you have pellets similar to the Spirit Nurturing Pills, I'd greatly appreciate your contribution."

He was blatantly requesting spiritual materials.

The other cultivators exchanged glances, yet none spoke up. Pellets capable of nurturing the three souls—Heaven, Earth, and Man—were exceedingly rare, not something the average cultivator would possess. Moreover, Yan Lu, who wielded the Splitting Soul Staff, was in need of such pellets himself. Those who didn't need them likely wouldn't have brought them along.

"Van Ning," Yu Yuan said with a sheepish grin, "as the young master of the Van family and the head of this trial, you wouldn't be without such pellets, would you? If you have them, I'd be grateful if you could share. Refining my three souls will enhance my ability to detect danger and defeat the Moon Demon."

"Come on, Van Ning, you're the trial leader for the Van family. Surely you're not lacking such soul-nourishing pellets?" Zhan Tianxiang, now in cahoots with Yu Yuan, joined in the coaxing, "Don't hold back. If you've got them, let's have them."

Van Ning inwardly scoffed, though his expression conveyed nothing but dejection and resignation. He spread his hands and said, "It's not that I'm stingy; I truly don't have any."

"The Van family's foundation seems awfully thin, doesn't it? No wonder they're at the bottom of the five great families," Zhan Tianxiang said with a sneer. "Keep this up, and one day, the Zhan family might just take your place."

"If the Zhan family has the resources and strength, there's nothing we can do," Van Li responded.

"Speaking of resources," Yu Yuan shifted the conversation, eyeing his fiancée, Lim Zhuyun, "what about the Lim family? As the future disciple of the Cold Yin Sect elder, surely he'll bestow some pellets upon you, right?"

Lim Zhuyun stood silently, giving him a brief glance before coolly replying, "No."

Several Lim family members bristled with anger at her side, yet none dared to make a scene.

The mere thought of Yu Yuan from Darkmoon City causing their young lady's reputation to be tarnished was infuriating. Now, emboldened by his success, he had the audacity to demand pills from her in the forbidden area? Once they left the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area and returned to the Empire, they'd see how long he could keep up his antics. The Lim family members seethed with resentment.

"Ugh, what a drag. I should've never come back to deal with these thankless people," Zhan Tianxiang scoffed. "Yu Yuan, you've put in so much effort and sustained serious injuries, yet your family isn't wealthy. You all, born into great families and sheltered by others, shouldn't you contribute some sort of protection fee? Otherwise, why should anyone assist you in slaying the Moon Demon?"

"The two of you, at least, have some sense," he said, nodding at Yan Lu and Su Yan.

Lee Yu, sensing the growing tension and Zhan Tianxiang's increasingly offensive remarks, decided to intervene. "Yu Yuan, you seem to be holding up for now. But when the Moon Demon reappears, the strain on your three souls will be immense. I'll provide you with a pellet more potent than the Recuperation Pill to aid your recovery. How does that sound?"

Yu Yuan nodded in agreement, "Sounds good."

"Zhan Tianxiang, I'd like a word with Yu Yuan in private," Lee Yu interjected, approaching the two men. He offered his support to Yu Yuan, suggesting, "Let me take over."

Zhan Tianxiang turned his gaze to Yu Yuan.

Yu Yuan replied, "I'm okay."

Lee Yu stepped in for Zhan Tianxiang, taking Yu Yuan by the arm and guiding him away from the throng.

"You're practicing the Devil Spell, aren't you?"

...