Chapter 118: Goddess of the Moon

“Let’s go!” A martial artist riding the Azure Blood Demon Bat shouted loudly, stamping forcefully on its back.

Like an arrow released from a bow, the Azure Blood Demon Bat shot forward with great speed. The Shura Blood Guards behind it also changed their expressions drastically, urging the bat forward recklessly toward the Shi family’s direction.

Shi Yan’s face twisted in shock. “What’s happening?”

“The Three Gods Sect is an opposing faction to us. From that Divine Stone, I sensed a terrifying aura. Whoever awakens from within it must be a key figure of the Three Gods Sect. The moment they see the Azure Blood Demon Bat, they’ll know we’re affiliated with the Yang family. With Lord Xiao absent, we cannot guarantee that Young Master Yan won’t be harmed!” The Yang family warrior standing beside Shi Yan wore an unusually grave and cautious expression.

The Three Gods Sect—again, it was the Three Gods Sect!

Shi Yan furrowed his brow, feeling a newfound wariness toward the forces in the Endless Sea.

Though curious to see what would emerge from the Divine Stone, Shi Yan quickly realized the danger upon hearing the warning. Reluctantly, he followed the Azure Blood Demon Bat as it sped away, frequently glancing back toward the Divine Stone Plaza.

Suddenly, a blinding lunar radiance erupted from the Divine Stone Plaza, shaking the heavens and earth.

Amidst a tremendous explosion, a mysterious woman dressed in pure white martial attire appeared like a goddess above the plaza.

Though distant, Shi Yan could still discern her ethereal beauty—she seemed to embody the very essence of the moon’s glow, her delicate features as captivating as a lunar deity. Her snowy skin and icy composure gathered the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

The enigmatic woman hovered in midair, appearing somewhat dazed. After lingering briefly over the plaza, she transformed into a beam of moonlight and swiftly flew eastward.

“A Celestial-level powerhouse!” The warrior beside Shi Yan gasped in terror, his face pallid. “Good thing we left quickly. If she had locked onto us, we’d all have been slaughtered.”

“Stronger than Uncle Xiao?” Shi Yan was stunned.

“I don't know for sure, but her aura rivals that of Lord Xiao,” the warrior mused, then added, “The Three Gods Sect’s Sun, Moon, and Star Deities master profound secrets and countless mystical arts. They also possess saint-level martial techniques. At the same level, even Uncle Xiao might not stand a chance against her.”

Shi Yan’s complexion darkened.

From behind, the Azure Blood Demon Bat approached rapidly, with Xia Xinyan seated atop.

Xia Xinyan’s eyes sparkled with surprise. Drawing near, she demanded, “Shi Yan, what exactly did you do just now?”

“Nothing much.” Shi Yan frowned. “I was near the Divine Stone Plaza when the starry martial soul within me suddenly condensed into a luminous star curtain. It uncontrollably burst forth from my body and landed on the Divine Stone. Shortly after, the stone’s radiance blazed brilliantly, as if it cracked open. That woman must have emerged from it.”

“This Divine Stone is said to have existed for a thousand years?” Xia Xinyan’s gaze was filled with astonishment.

Nodding, Shi Yan said, “Yes. As far as I know, this meteorite fell from the heavens long before Tianyun City even existed. The city’s name itself derives from this Divine Stone. Do you know anything about it?”

“We’ll discuss that after seeing Lord Xiao,” Xia Xinyan breathed out, clearly recalling some dreadful memory.

Seeing her unwillingness to elaborate, Shi Yan refrained from pressing further but was left with deep curiosity.

The Azure Blood Demon Bat flew swiftly and soon landed within the Shi family’s courtyard.

Xiao Han Yi, Shi Jian, and their companions had yet to return. Shi Yan waited alone on the vast plaza, anticipating their arrival.

As dawn broke, Xiao Han Yi, Shi Jian, Zuo Xu, and their group slowly returned from the Beiming family’s direction.

Each bore fierce expressions, yet their eyes gleamed with excitement—it seemed they had fought fiercely at the Beiming estate.

“Eh!” Upon arrival, Xiao Han Yi cast a brief glance at Shi Yan before suddenly exclaiming, “Young Master Yan, you—you…”

Under Xiao Han Yi’s gaze, Shi Yan nodded slowly. “Perhaps the full power of the Immortality Fortune Pill was unleashed by accident, and I advanced another step.”

Shi Jian was stunned, disbelief written all over his face. “Boy, you’ve broken through to the Hundred Tribulations Realm?”

“Mm.”

“How is that possible?” Zuo Xu’s expression twisted oddly. He shook his head repeatedly, his eyes flashing strangely as he looked Shi Yan over again and again, unwilling to believe it.

“Hahaha! Hahahaha!” Xiao Han Yi threw back his head and laughed heartily. “Never expected this! Seventeen years old and already in the Hundred Tribulations Realm! Even in the Yang family, such talent is unheard of! Young Master Yan, I’m certain now that once you return to the Yang family, the head of the family will treasure you like a priceless gem.”

At Xiao Han Yi’s words, Shi Jian’s smile vanished, and he hung his head, sighing repeatedly.

Shi Yan’s talent was extraordinary. If he remained with the Shi family, they could dominate the Merchant Alliance and one day even surpass the royal families of the Blazing Fire Empire and the Divine Providence Empire.

Seventeen years old, Hundred Tribulations Realm! Even Bei Ming Ce hadn’t reached such heights.

The thought of Shi Yan leaving the Shi family to return to the Yang family in the Danjin Sea weighed heavily on Shi Jian’s heart. Knowing he could do nothing to stop it only deepened his pain.

“Lord Xiao, just now at the Divine Stone Plaza…” The warrior who had accompanied Shi Yan shared their encounter with a solemn expression.

Xiao Han Yi’s face darkened, his features twisted in amazement.

After a moment, he turned to Xia Xinyan and asked gravely, “Xia girl, what do you make of this?”

“A thousand years ago, the Three Gods Sect’s Sun, Moon, and Star Deities, along with many sect masters, ventured into the Sevenfold Underworld. In the battle against the Abyssal Underworld King, only the Sun Deity returned. The Star and Moon Deities disappeared and have not appeared in the Endless Sea since. The Star Deity Ouyang Zhi left behind the False Celestial Gate in the Deathly Silent Swamp, passing down the Martial Soul Source Seal. But the Moon Deity Ouyang Xiahua vanished without a trace. Could that woman from the meteorite be her?”

“Impossible!” Xiao Han Yi shook his head, interrupting Xia Xinyan’s speculation. “Ouyang Xiahua is a divine realm powerhouse. Even if she sealed herself for a thousand years, her divine consciousness would remain intact and her aura would never be so faint. From what you’ve described, that mysterious woman is only a Celestial-level cultivator, definitely not Ouyang Xiahua!”

“I heard that Ouyang Xiahua has a prodigious daughter named Ouyang Luoshuang, who also journeyed to the Sevenfold Underworld. But at that time, Ouyang Luoshuang was only twenty-one and had reached the Hundred Tribulations Realm. Could that mysterious woman be her?”

“Ouyang Luoshuang?” Xiao Han Yi’s expression froze, then he exclaimed, “It’s very likely! A thousand years ago, she’d already attained the Hundred Tribulations Realm. Given what happened in the Sevenfold Underworld, the Moon Deity must have been gravely injured and escaped with her. They then used the meteorite to form a natural barrier, sealing Ouyang Luoshuang inside. If it is her, the Three Gods Sect’s strength will surge tremendously.”

“Why?”

“The Three Gods Sect’s Sun, Moon, and Star Martial Souls continuously absorb the energy of the sun, moon, and stars. The more energy absorbed, the faster the martial souls evolve and the more formidable they become. Typically, the older the cultivator, the higher the level of their Sun, Moon, and Star Martial Souls, because more energy has been absorbed. When enough energy accumulates, the martial soul naturally evolves.”

Xia Xinyan took a deep breath. “If that mysterious woman is truly Ouyang Luoshuang, she’s likely absorbed a thousand years of lunar radiance. No telling how advanced her Silver Moon Martial Soul has become. Ouyang Luoshuang was one of the sect’s Divine Children. Sealed for a millennium and bathed in moonlight, her Silver Moon Martial Soul must have reached unimaginable heights.”

“A millennium ago, the Three Gods Sect suffered devastating losses. Although the Sun Deity returned alive, he perished three centuries later. Yet he spent those three centuries cultivating a new generation of Sun Deities. The Moon and Star Deities vanished, and while other Divine Children have since appeared, none have become the new Star or Moon Deities. Even so, with only the Sun Deity left, the Three Gods Sect remains one of the strongest forces in the Endless Sea. If Ouyang Luoshuang returns after absorbing a millennium of lunar radiance, she will surely become the most powerful Moon Deity in history. The sect’s power will skyrocket.” Xiao Han Yi sighed deeply.

Shi Yan listened silently, growing ever more intrigued by the mysterious Three Gods Sect.

“Shi Yan has obtained the Star Deity’s Starry Martial Soul. If he could join the Three Gods Sect and master their martial soul techniques, he might become the sect’s next Star Deity,” Xia Xinyan pondered before suddenly fixing her gaze on Shi Yan. “The Star Deity holds a unique status within the sect. If the sect does not know Shi Yan’s true identity and willingly imparts all their martial soul secrets to him, then…”

Xiao Han Yi’s eyes brightened as he nodded silently. “Everything still depends on the head of the Yang family. Sending Young Master Yan to the Three Gods Sect to learn their martial arts is a tremendous risk.”

“Shi Yan belongs to your Yang family. It’s up to you to decide. I’m merely offering a suggestion,” Xia Xinyan said calmly.

“Master Shi, I intended to stay a few more days, but given the change in circumstances, we must return to the Endless Sea soon. Fortunately, those who needed to die from the Ling, Mo, and Beiming families have been dealt with. The rest, I believe you can handle,” Xiao Han Yi said thoughtfully, then withdrew two slim tomes from his chest and handed them to Shi Jian. “Here are two spiritual-grade martial techniques. I hope they help. Also, here’s a way to contact the Yang family. If you ever encounter troubles you cannot resolve, you can pass the message to Kuro of the Mist Pavilion, who will relay it to the Yang family.”

Shi Jian was both surprised and delighted, unsure what to say as he accepted the gifts.

“Young Master Yan, we must depart soon,” Xiao Han Yi said, looking at Shi Yan.

“I’m going to see my father,” Shi Yan nodded silently and left.

Half an hour later, Shi Yan bid farewell to the Shi family and boarded the Azure Blood Demon Bat with Xiao Han Yi.

As the first rays of sunlight appeared, Shi Yan took advantage of the bat’s swift flight, heading eastward toward the Endless Sea.