C2 Completely

The following day.

"Elder Yin, there's no need for you to harm Yu Yuan. I am willing to wait a little longer."

Amidst the verdant mountains and clear waters, the medicinal garden was thriving. Lin Zhuyun, clad in a green robe, stood serenely like a bamboo in a tranquil valley.

The ethereal mist, swirling with the wind like a white silk ribbon, framed her as if she were a sprite from the mountain streams or a celestial being from the clouds.

"I truly cannot fathom what the late Lin Jingfei of the Lin family was thinking to have arranged a marriage between you and Yu Yuan," Yin Jue said with a bow. "The Lin family is one of the top five noble families in the Silvermoon Empire, renowned and revered, while the Yu family is but a minor power in the small city of Asvetaesi, not even the strongest there."

He paused for a moment, his gaze intense with longing and reverence, and continued, "As for you, Miss, you have demonstrated exceptional talent in cultivation from an early age and have won the favor of Winter's Bite, one of the seven great lower sects of Euwrea! You are destined to 'ascend to the heavens' and become a fairy of Euwrea! The entire Lin family will prosper because of you!"

"Why the late Lin Jingfei refused to annul the marriage contract and insisted on your adherence to it, marrying into the Yu family, is beyond me."

Lin Zhuyun's brows knitted slightly, equally perplexed. She whispered, "I do not know either."

The disparity between the Lin family and the Yu family, to which she belonged, was stark within the Silvermoon Empire.

Moreover, she was the Lin family's cherished jewel, recognized early on by a Guru from Winter's Bite, who imparted to her the sect's sacred spells and arranged for regular guidance from esteemed masters.

Rumors had it that the Chief Elder of Winter's Bite admired her potential and was merely waiting for her to transcend the Golden Sanctum and enter the Veil Breaking state before personally escorting her to Euwrea to officially accept her as his hand-chosen disciple.

On the vast Aetherius Continent, there are six great empires and countless mortals.

Yet, the chance to gain the favor of a Euwrea immortal master and to ascend as a cultivator to Euwrea was one in a million.

Lin Zhuyun was indeed fortunate, having caught the eye of the Chief Elder of Winter's Bite, one of the seven esteemed lower sects of Euwrea. Her life was marked for ascension, destined to soar to the heavens.

The Lin family took immense pride in her.

Yet, Lin Jingfei of the Lin family, while still in her mother's womb, had defied all objections to betroth her to the yet unborn Yu Yuan of the Yu family. The reasons behind this decision remained a mystery, as Lin Jingfei never offered an explanation.

Shortly after Lin Zhuyun's birth, when she was selected by Winter's Bite and her fate to ascend seemed certain, the news from the City of Silvermoon painted Yu Yuan as nothing but a fool and a simpleton. The Lin family was in an uproar, deeming the marriage agreement absurd and laughable, leaving Lin Zhuyun feeling deeply ashamed.

From a young age, she endured the torment associated with Yu Yuan's name, often weeping as she demanded of Lin Jingfei, "Why?!" It wasn't until she was driven to desperation that Lin Jingfei, cornered by her persistence, finally responded, "It was a lost bet, and... I honor my debts."

The Lin family had been in turmoil over this affair, but ultimately, Lin Jingfei remained true to her word until her passing, insisting that Lin Zhuyun adhere to the arranged marriage.

With half a year to go before the wedding, Lin Zhuyun, accompanied by her servants, moved into the Yu family's residence during their time of crisis. She set out to assess Yu Yuan's character while simultaneously aiding the Yu family in their troubles.

Once she stepped into the Yu household and truly encountered Yu Yuan, any illusions she harbored vanished, and her heart plunged into an icy abyss.

The Yu family patriarch expressed his gratitude for her contributions, confiding that the Yu family possessed a Celestial Ice Crystal, hidden within the Frozen Hellscape for eons. He promised that if she honored her commitment and wed Yu Yuan as planned, the Celestial Ice Crystal would be given as a dowry to aid her cultivation.

As a practitioner of Winter's Bite's spells, Lin Zhuyun understood the unparalleled value of the Celestial Ice Crystal. Such a rare treasure was coveted even on the grand scales of the Land of Quiescence and Euwrea. It would provide a robust foundation for her cultivation within the Golden Sanctum, ensuring that she would eclipse her fellow sect prodigies in the future.

With only three months left until the wedding, you must be patient. I intend to honor Lin Jingfei's dying wish and marry Yu Yuan. Once that's done, the Celestial Ice Crystal will be in our possession, and I'll simply take on the additional role of the Yu family's granddaughter-in-law. Even Grandpa Yu has assured me he won't meddle in my affairs.

The thought of Yu Yuan's soul being extinguished and the subsequent slander I must endure is truly unsettling. Yet, Yin Jue's unwavering devotion to both me and the Lin family makes it impossible for me to rebuke him harshly.

"You are the moon at its zenith; how can you be sullied by the name of wife to that fool, Yu Yuan?" Yin Jue's anger caused him to tremble, his face a mask of icy severity. "Once you set foot in Euwrea and shine within Winter's Bite, this will become an indelible blemish on your life!"

To me, the mere existence of a marriage contract is a profound disgrace, a blemish in itself, let alone an actual marriage!

"That fool Yu Yuan is expendable. His life should not tarnish your future reputation in Euwrea, nor the honor of the Lin family and Winter's Bite. Their wish is for his death!"

"And I am merely executing their will," Yin Jue declared, his voice a low growl as murderous intent flickered in his eyes.

"Winter's Bite concurs with this decision?" Lin Zhuyun asked, taken aback.

Yin Jue nodded emphatically. "Winter's Bite's intent isn't just to have Yu Yuan killed, but also to ensure you refine the Celestial Ice Crystal. Furthermore..."

"What else?"

"The Yu family will be expunged from Asvetaesi, erased from the annals of the Silvermoon Empire. Every individual bearing the Yu surname will be purged."

"Ah! How could it come to this?"

"There are other plans for your marriage, laid out by your future master," Yin Jue hesitated before continuing in a hushed tone, "The Chief Elder wishes to remove any blemish from your past, to see you pure and unblemished, so you may be deemed worthy of that individual. Moreover, the forceful acquisition of the Celestial Ice Crystal is not without its dishonor; it must be done cleanly, without leaving any survivors to spread their tales."

Lin Zhuyun, still a child, was profoundly shaken by Yin Jue's words. It was her first exposure to the darker, bloodier aspects of life.

"The Way of Heaven is merciless. To Winter's Bite, you are destined to be an invaluable part of their future. A small family in Asvetaesi is insignificant, easily crushed like an ant," Yin Jue said with detachment. "If the Yu family seeks someone to blame, they should blame Yu Yuan for involving you in a marriage arrangement."

His mouth twisted into a sneer. "A toad lusting after swan meat! The patriarch of the Yu family knew full well his grandson was a fool, yet he still lusted after your talent for cultivation, hoping you would continue the Yu family line? Delusional! It's only right that the Yu family meets their end, one by one!"

"Elder Yin, what... what else do you want?" Lin Zhuyun, coming to her senses, screamed in terror.

"Indeed, I spoke frankly with you today, Miss, in hopes that you would concern yourself with nothing and feign ignorance," Yin Jue stated impassively. "Rest assured, I will handle everything. In a few days, you'll receive the Celestial Ice Crystal. Then you can focus on your cultivation and await the Chief Elder from Winter's Bite to guide you."

"How could this happen? Why is this happening?" Lin Zhuyun murmured, lost in her despair.

Yin Jue regarded her and said, "You'd best get used to the harshness of this world sooner rather than later. Otherwise, you'll be at a loss and vulnerable to treachery from your peers when you join Winter's Bite."

While they spoke, a blue-clothed maid dashed toward them, swift as a bird, causing leaves to scatter and branches to snap in the medicinal garden with her hurried passage.

"Xiao You, what's the rush?" Yin Jue demanded coldly.

"Elder Yin! Miss! The fool from the Yu family, he survived the night! He didn't pass away as expected!" the maid exclaimed, her voice tinged with fear and anxiety. "He didn't just survive; it seems he's truly come back to life!"

"What!?"

Lin Zhuyun and Yin Jue both cried out in shock.

...

At the old residence of the Yu family.

Yu Yuan, also known as Hong Qi, hadn't anticipated that upon awakening from a deep slumber, he would find himself three hundred years into the future.

"The Reincarnation Pill didn't fail completely; it merely postponed the reincarnation process. So, I wonder if this was within or beyond Senior Brother's expectations. Senior Brother, did you truly wish for my death, or did you simply intend for me to be reborn three centuries later?"

Yu Yuan, newly reborn, was still somewhat disoriented, his mind struggling to contain the flood of fresh memories.

"I am both Hong Qi and Yu Yuan! Yu Yuan is the reincarnated me! My chaotic existence in this life is due to the delayed return of my heaven soul and earthly soul during the reincarnation process. Three hundred years ago, I was the Sect Master of the Order of Healing on the Land of Quiescence, but my innate blocked meridians prevented me from cultivating."

With this realization, he quickly assessed his current state.

"Heh! Hahaha!"

Yu Yuan burst into uproarious laughter.

The very issues that had plagued his last life, driving him to despair and to the dangerous act of concocting the Reincarnation Pill, had vanished with his rebirth!

He was certain that in this life, his meridians were clear, paving the way for his journey on the Way of Heaven.

The ten great realms of cultivation are Spirit Channel, Soul Awakening, Golden Sanctum, Veil Breaking, Subtlety, Lunar Spirit, Spirit Walk, Solar Spirit, Freedom, and Primordial Spirit.

As Hong Qi in his previous life, he had been unable to become a true cultivator due to his blocked meridians, not even achieving the Spirit Channel.

Without becoming a cultivator, one's lifespan is bound by the natural order, capped at just over a hundred years, after which the body ages and succumbs to death.

Despite expending vast wealth and resources, and experimenting with numerous miraculous pills, he was unable to overcome the constraints of his blocked meridians. Until his death, he never achieved the status of a true cultivator.

In his brief lifespan of just a century, he devoted all his energy to the creation of various Spirit Elixirs using the Earthcore Inferno technique of the Order of Healing.

Despite having no prospects in cultivation, his exceptional medically-minded talent led him to become the Sect Master of the Order of Healing, earning the reverence of numerous sects and empires across the three continents, including Euwrea, Quiescence, and Aetherius.

As his life drew to a close, he sought to craft the Reincarnation Pill for a chance at rebirth. Tragically, he was betrayed by his senior brother, Zhong Chichen, in the final moments.

The mortal soul, heaven soul, and earthly soul were separated before the cycle of reincarnation could commence. Only the mortal soul managed to shatter the temporal barrier, delaying its journey by over two centuries to be reborn as Yu Yuan.

The earthly soul, carrier of his memories, and the heaven soul, bearer of his wisdom, were delayed by seventeen years before they could finally reunite, making his three souls whole once more.

"Young Master, is that really you?"

The purple-robed maidservant, drawn by the sound of laughter, opened the door to find Yu Yuan sitting up, a stark contrast to his previous night's prostrate form.

"Yes, it's me," Yu Yuan replied.

The maidservant clasped her hand over her mouth, tears of joy sparkling in her eyes. "Young Master, you're alive! And how are you able to speak so clearly?"

Before her, Yu Yuan's eyes were bright and spirited, completely free from any hint of confusion.

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