C11 Senior

Yuan Qiufang stood at the cave entrance, his gaze complex as he peered outside. Yu Yuan was outside, his back to Yuan, seemingly indifferent to the fight between Yuan and Lyu Yue. It was as though he had foreseen the outcome from the start and thus remained detached.

While Yuan was engaged in battle with Lyu Yue, Yu Yuan was intently writing something on a piece of paper.

"You recognized the Crimson Soul Spell immediately, you're aware of the Ruby Hand's origins, and you've recently come back to life..." Yuan Qiufang pondered for a moment, formulating a theory. As he emerged from the cave, his demeanor shifted to one of greater reverence, and he softly inquired, "Senior? Senior?"

He had come to the conclusion that Yu Yuan, who had been resurrected, must have been taken over by an ancient monster using a soul fragment. A formidable cultivator, once reaching a certain level, would have three souls, each with its own intelligence and awareness.

Moreover, such powerful beings could employ esoteric Spirit Magic to create soul fragments and possess other bodies to fulfill their objectives. Naturally, these soul fragments lacked the capacity for further progression.

Yet, regardless of the distance, these soul fragments could communicate with the main body's three souls. They could leverage their wisdom to freely act and accomplish tasks in the body they had seized.

In Yuan Qiufang's mind, this was the current state of Yu Yuan. His primary form might be on the distant continents of Quiescence or Euwrea, having taken advantage of a soul fragment to inhabit Yu Yuan's body and operate within Asvetaesi.

"Ugh."

Yu Yuan turned, fixing Yuan Qiufang with an amused look. Yuan's respect deepened.

"This list is for you," Yu Yuan said, handing over the paper. "Gather these items quickly. They will help you eliminate the fire toxin. Seek me out once you've gathered them. Of course, in return for resolving your fire toxin issue, you'll need to perform another task for me."

"What task?" Yuan Qiufang asked eagerly.

"We'll discuss that once you've assembled the items," Yu Yuan replied with a smile, his gaze piercing as if he could read Yuan's very soul. "Since you've figured out some things, there's no need for subterfuge. In fact, I'll be frank with you—I have significant ties to the Ruby Hand. Since you practice the Ruby Hand's spell, a simple inquiry there will reveal your identity to me, and rest assured, I have my ways of dealing with you."

"I wouldn't dare!" Yuan Qiufang quickly affirmed, "Senior, rest assured. As long as you assist me with the fire toxin issue, I will fully cooperate with you within Asvetaesi City!"

Yu Yuan nodded, signaling his approval. "This matter is known only to you and me. Remember that—it's between us."

"Understood!" Yuan Qiufang assured him repeatedly before inquiring, "Senior, what about the possessions of that individual from Winter's Bite?"

Yu Yuan gestured for him to take everything, "We're close to Asvetaesi City; there's no need for you to escort me. I'll return to the Yu family on my own. And if you need to contact me, do it as you did last time—without causing a stir."

He still believed that the one who had captured him was the man before him.

"Rest easy, Senior." Yuan Qiufang bowed respectfully, watching him glide down the hillside and make his way toward Asvetaesi.

Half an hour later, an extremely anxious Yuan Lianyao finally arrived.

By then, her father had already stripped Lyu Yue of all possessions and erased all traces.

"Father!" Yuan Lianyao could barely contain her anger, "How many times must I tell you not to wander off on your own? Do you realize the trouble you've caused me with your previous departures? I've been run ragged trying to manage the fallout, barely keeping it under wraps!"

"Oh, you've found me," Yuan Qiufang said cheerfully, "Don't worry, I believe I've found a solution for the fire toxin in my upper elixir field."

"Ah!" Yuan Lianyao was taken aback, "Who? Could it be... that naive young man from the Yu family?"

"Exactly." Yuan Qiufang didn't conceal the truth, "I can't divulge more, or it could lead to complications. I haven't informed him of our relationship, but he likely suspects that I'm from the Keep since he took note when I led him away from the stone path. But none of that matters. All you need to know is that there's a potential solution."

"What?" Yuan Lianyao was utterly bewildered.

"This individual is extraordinary!" Yuan Qiufang inhaled deeply, his tone grave. "He might be the key to curing my fire toxin, and even more, he could be the one to usher me into the Ruby Hand! Ever since the death of the one who taught me the Crimson Soul Spell, I've been without a guide to return to the Ruby Hand."

"Him? He can be your guide and lead you into the Ruby Hand of the Land of Quiescence?" Yuan Lianyao looked incredulous.

Yuan Qiufang gave a firm nod. "Don't concern yourself with anything else at the moment; the time isn't right. Keep a close eye on the Yu family and him in the coming days. Make sure he stays out of trouble."

"Alright, I will."

...

As dusk fell, the sky was awash with the glow of the setting sun.

Yu Yuan made his way back into the city, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of how he could leverage Yuan Qiufang for his own gain.

With Lyu Yue of Winter's Bite now dead, he was confident Yuan Qiufang would manage the situation, ensuring it wouldn't backfire on him. He didn't expect Winter's Bite to send a replacement anytime soon.

He deliberately avoided taking any of Lyu Yue's possessions, cautious of leaving any trace behind. Moreover, many of the items he had requested from Yuan Qiufang were for his personal use; only a fraction were actually for treating Yuan Qiufang's fire toxin. He couldn't help but feel he had come out ahead in the deal.

"Yu Yuan!"

"Is that Yu Yuan?"

"Can it really be him?"

Startled exclamations erupted at the northern city gate, followed by a flurry of stares converging on him.

Roused from his reverie, Yu Yuan paused just outside the city, his brow furrowing as he regarded the unfamiliar faces at the gate.

"I'm Huang Bin."

A tall, slender young man, dressed in a yellow brocade robe and surrounded by admirers, approached him confidently. "I've heard you've come to your senses after being brought back from the brink of death?"

Huang Bin stopped just a short distance away, close enough that they were nearly chest to chest. "Now that you're lucid, are you aware that our families are adversaries here in Asvetaesi?" Huang Bin's eyes sparkled with challenge as he continued, "I've just learned that your grandfather, despite his broken legs, has signed you up for the Spirit Channel Battle among Asvetaesi's four major families."

Yu Yuan furrowed his brow.

The Huang family and the Yu family were archenemies in Asvetaesi. It was rumored that the broken leg of the elder Yu Yuan was the result of the Huang family calling in powerful reinforcements.

Since then, the Huang family had intensified their efforts, continuously suppressing the Yu family.

Yet, upon regaining consciousness, Yu Yuan focused his attention on the Lin family and Winter's Bite, paying little heed to the Huang family. Consequently, he was unfamiliar with their members.

"What? Has the patriarch of the Yu family lost his mind? Is Yu Yuan really going to participate in the battle that's just ten days away?"

"Can it be true? That battle is crucial for determining many of Asvetaesi's privileges! The mayor himself will preside over it, and the outcomes will dictate the redistribution of the harvest from the public forests and mines around Asvetaesi in ten days!"

"Huang Bin is the Huang family's pride and a key player! Why would Yu Yuan be scheduled to participate?"

"The young man has come to his senses. Has his grandfather gone senile in response?"

The crowd buzzed with speculation.

Amidst the clamor, Yu Yuan managed to piece together the situation.

"In ten days, there's going to be a battle among the four major families in Asvetaesi, and Grandfather has signed me up?" He paused, then addressed Huang Bin, who was standing too close for comfort, "Excuse me, could you step aside? You're in my way back to the city."

"Heh, I'll let you pass today," Huang Bin said, stepping aside without a hint of fear in Yu Yuan. "But in ten days, I won't be so accommodating. If you're brave enough to show up, I might just end up killing you."

"Kill me?" Yu Yuan stopped, looking at Huang Bin with an amused expression. "You?"

Huang Bin pointed to his nose, affirming, "Yes, take a good look—it's me!"

Yu Yuan nodded, said nothing more, and proceeded into Asvetaesi.

That night, fueled by the Channel Opening Pill, Yu Yuan diligently continued his training with the Nine Glories Wheel.

He later learned that every three years, the Yuan, Zhao, Huang, and Yu families would hold contests among cultivators involving the Spirit Channel, Soul Awakening, and Golden Sanctum stages.

The upcoming competition among the four great families would determine the allocation of numerous magic items and Spirit Veins surrounding Asvetaesi for the next three years.

The Yu family's share had been dwindling over the past few competitions, leading to an increasingly dire scarcity of resources. Consequently, the Yu family's power had been on a steady decline.

"In ten days, the contests within the Spirit Channel, Soul Awakening, and Golden Sanctum realms will dictate our family's fortunes for the next three years."

Following another session of intense cultivation, Yu Yuan found himself lost in thought. "Perhaps I should take additional action to provide greater assistance to the Yu family."

While he pondered his next move, Ann Ziqing's voice suddenly pierced the silence from outside.

"Young Master! There's trouble!"

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