C6 I Am Yu Yuan!

The journey of cultivation is one that demands resources.

Talent, mentorship, pills, advanced spells, and the concentration of spiritual energy in the place of practice are among the numerous factors that influence the speed at which cultivators advance through realms.

The foundational realm is Spirit Channel.

In Euwrea and the Land of Quiescence, native children, under the guidance of their parents and sects, often begin their cultivation journey as soon as they come of age. Most can cross the Spirit Channel and reach Soul Awakening by the time they are seven or eight years old.

Those with exceptional gifts may break through the Spirit Channel Realm as early as four or five.

In Aetherius, where spiritual energy is more scarce, the environment limits the potential of newborns. Talented cultivators, with the guidance of esteemed teachers and the support of their family's wealth, often manage to open their twelve meridians around the ages of thirteen or fourteen.

If they haven't succeeded in crossing the Spirit Channel by fifteen, their abilities are deemed ordinary, and their prospects of reaching the latter four realms are slim.

This implies that the Lunar Spirit Realm is the ultimate boundary for such cultivators.

For this reason, those in Aetherius who fail to achieve the Spirit Channel by the age of fifteen are at great risk of being forsaken by their families and sects, who would then cease to allocate cultivation resources to them.

Under the devoted cultivation of the Lin family and Winter's Bite, Lin Zhuyun surpassed the Spirit Channel at the age of ten and stepped into the Soul Awakening Realm.

Aetherius is unlike Euwrea and Quiescence; here, crossing the Spirit Channel at ten is a testament to one's status as a true prodigy.

Her talent is on par with that of native children from Euwrea and Quiescence who break through the Spirit Channel at four or five years old.

Winter's Bite and the Lin family hold her in high regard precisely because she has demonstrated her exceptional capabilities from an early age.

Everyone is aware that Winter's Bite sees her as a gem of the sect and will ensure she is well-guarded on her path to Veil Breaking.

Upon reaching Veil Breaking, the Chief Elder will personally welcome her into Winter's Bite as a hand-chosen disciple for dedicated training.

"She crossed the Spirit Channel at ten, broke through Soul Awakening at fourteen, and ascended to the Golden Sanctum. Three years have gone by; I wonder, what stage of the Golden Sanctum might my betrothed be at now?"

"Middle period? Or late period?"

Following another intense effort to clear his ninth meridian, Yu Yuan opened his eyes, famished. He paused his relentless cultivation and pondered with a furrowed brow.

Having practiced with the Nine Glories Wheel for some time, he had managed to clear a tenth of the ninth meridian.

He was confident that with persistent cultivation, even in an area with sparse spiritual energy, he could swiftly unblock the ninth meridian.

Yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that progress was too slow.

"I was the sect master of the Order of Healing in my past life! And the Yu family, while at the bottom rung of alchemy, still cultivates spiritual herbs and plants. Wouldn't it be a disservice to my former glory and my current Primal Body if I didn't fully utilize the resources at hand?"

"Is it really that impressive to overcome the Spirit Channel at ten?" He scoffed, murmuring to himself, "If my earthly soul and heaven soul had been complete at birth, with my Primal Body, I wouldn't be overshadowed by her, even without resorting to my past life's alchemy skills."

"And if I combined my leechcraft with the Nine Glories Wheel, my name, Yu Yuan, would likely have already echoed throughout Aetherius, and perhaps even the lands of Euwrea and Quiescence!"

With this realization, Yu Yuan abruptly rose, concluding his first session of intentional cultivation.

"Young Master, you've emerged!"

Outside, the purple-clad maid Ann Ziqing snapped out of her stupor as soon as she saw the door open, chattering away like a sparrow.

"The old master's fever has broken, and he has come out of his coma. He credits Mr. Ning's treatment for his recovery."

"He heard about your true awakening and that you can now communicate normally. He was so overjoyed, he wept. He wanted to see you right away, but Mr. Ning, sensing you were in the midst of cultivation, advised him to wait. The old master has decreed that he'll see you as soon as you step out."

"The news that you're alive has spread all over Asvetaesi. Now that you can talk, many are seeking information about you."

"And..."

Ann Ziqing spilled the details like a cascade, recounting all the events that had transpired within the Yu family and Asvetaesi during his period of cultivation.

Yu Yuan realized that time had slipped by unnoticed, and two days and nights had passed.

He had been so engrossed in cultivating with the "Nine Glories Wheel" that he had forgotten to eat or sleep for such a long stretch. It was no surprise that hunger had finally forced him out of his trance.

"Take me to see Grandfather."

"Of course, I will show you the way."

...

In the Yu family's Hundred Herb Garden.

"Grandfather, I pay my respects!"

Upon arriving, Yu Yuan saw Yu Cen seated in his wheelchair, feigning composure. He crouched down and greeted him with a radiant smile, "Thanks to your careful nurturing over the past seventeen years, Grandfather, I have been spared many hardships and have passed through life safely."

Having heard the servant girl's extensive chatter, Yu Yuan understood that the Yu family's deepest affection was reserved for the elderly man before him.

Old Master Yu Cen scrutinized his grandson with a complex look, seemingly torn about what to say.

"What's the matter, Grandfather? Aren't you happy to see that I've truly awakened?" Yu Yuan inquired, puzzled.

"Mister Ning informed me that my coma was due to a Ruby Parasite. Yet, it was you, not him, who resolved the issue with the parasite. Could you explain to me what exactly happened?"

At this point, a look of unbearable pain flashed across Yu Cen's eyes. "Be honest with me... has my grandson passed away? Are you merely an evil spirit that has taken over his body, mistakenly summoned by the Invocation Circle?"

The weight of his sorrow was like a heavy chain, constricting him so tightly he could scarcely breathe.

It was understandable for him to harbor such suspicions. Since Yu Yuan's awakening, the spiritual wisdom he had displayed and the method he used to neutralize the Ruby Parasite were both exceedingly peculiar and incredible.

These events had led him to the heartbreaking conclusion that his grandson might be gone, and that someone else now inhabited his body.

Even if his grandson had been slow to catch on, he was still his flesh and blood.

If another soul had usurped his grandson's body, no matter how clever or wise, that being would not be his grandson.

"Grandfather, it's me, Yu Yuan!"

With firm conviction, Yu Yuan provided a clear answer. Then, as Yu Cen looked on in astonishment, Yu Yuan knelt before his wheelchair, gently holding his hand, and earnestly explained, "Ever since I was little, I've been confused and slow to develop my spiritual wisdom, but there's certainly a reason for that."

"What's the reason?"

"Well, a master had taken an interest in me early on and secretly imparted to me the path of cultivation. His techniques are unique, and since he doesn't reside on our Aetherius Continent, I had to remain in a state of chaos. This allowed me to overcome spatial boundaries and learn from his distinct Spirit Magic."

Yu Yuan, with a plan already in mind, earnestly spun a grand deception about a non-existent mentor.

"What? There's such an unusual method of imparting cultivation in the world?" Yu Cen was visibly shaken.

"The paths to cultivation are manifold. It's certainly possible to find Spirit Magic that can transcend the spatial limits of the three continents," Yu Yuan boasted. "My master never disclosed his origins or sect, so I'm not privy to the extent of his powers. All I know is that he likely spends most of his time in seclusion somewhere within the Land of Quiescence."

"His three souls—of heaven, earth, and man—each possess their own independent intelligence. This enabled him to instruct me and share numerous cultivation techniques and alchemical knowledge even while he was in seclusion."

"The reason I've suddenly awakened with all three souls intact is that my master sensed someone was plotting against me. Thus, he paused my instruction, allowing me to emerge from seventeen years of cultivation to address the immediate troubles."

Yu Yuan relayed the preconceived explanation he had crafted to the elder.

"The Land of Quiescence, with such peculiar Spirit Magic... could your master be from..." Yu Cen shuddered involuntarily, his mind racing to the cultivators of the Devil Palace and Shadow's Keep in the northern Land of Terror—a place even the three great upper sects of Euwrea dared not tread lightly. The most fearsome and malevolent cultivators in all the Everlands hailed from there.

Yu Yuan nodded subtly. "Though my master hasn't been explicit, I suspect he is indeed from that region."

"Ah!" Yu Cen exclaimed, his alarm evident. "You must never speak of this to another soul! The cultivators from the Land of Terror are the epitome of evil. It's imperative that no one learns your master is associated with that place!"

"Of course I understand," Yu Yuan said with a wry smile. "Grandfather, I need some medicinal herbs from our family's stores to refine pills that will aid my cultivation."

"Don't worry about whether the family has them or not; I can acquire them from elsewhere if necessary!" Yu Cen declared emphatically.

"Thank you, Grandfather!" Yu Yuan responded with a grin.

"You're my grandson; there's no need for thanks," Yu Cen reassured him warmly, then after a brief pause, he continued, "Your fiancée visited yesterday. She mentioned that members of Winter's Bite have arrived in Asvetaesi in secret. She wants me to call off the engagement, so she can clear things up with Winter's Bite."

"I suspected Winter's Bite was meddling in the shadows!" Yu Yuan scoffed. "Grandfather, did you agree to her request?"

"I told her I would think about it," Yu Cen admitted, his brow furrowed with concern. "Winter's Bite is formidable. If we don't comply with their demands, they'll persist in their vendetta against you. Our Yu family can't even best the Huang family within the city, much less stand against Winter's Bite."

For the Yu family, Winter's Bite, one of the seven great lower sects of Euwrea, loomed like a colossus.

"Don't consent to her demands," Yu Yuan said, a hint of defiance playing at the corner of his mouth. "Yin Jue not only plotted against me but also used the Ruby Parasite to attempt to kill you. She must be held accountable for her knowledge of these events! Besides, Grandfather, don't fret too much. I have a hunch that our adversary from Winter's Bite is also in a tight spot."

"Very well," Yu Cen nodded gently.

His grandson was no longer naive and had been taught the ways of cultivation by the sages of the Land of Quiescence. Perhaps one day, he could leave the Aetherius Continent and restore the Yu family's glory!

Such a grandson, he believed, was indeed a match for the young Miss Lin.

With this thought, hope was rekindled in his heart.

"List every spiritual herb and magic plant you need, and I will personally see to their collection for you."

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