Shen Yue talked with the others for the majority of the day and night. At one point, Yang Xin joined and only relayed some information in regards to the needs with the Alchemy Association. Only one or two glances at Shen Yue while they talked. She took her cubs and then left promtly afterward.
Shen Xiu insisted that her rival was actually going through a lot heself and to not mind her behavior. Some Noble families caused a ruckus over the Dark Guild matter with them attacking the students during the Expedition. Somehow it was spun that it was because of the Achemy Association involement.
As the Director and President's "son" was involved it was not in their favor. To placate them, Yang Xin gave them a small dicount for Alcehmy reguests for a month. It was to be done by those who went and no one else to hlp show sincerity.
Little did they know that the those members of the Alchemy Assoc had increased a great deal from that trip. The fighting pushed their control more, the life and death situation pushed their Soul Realm more, the talks over Alchemy openly increased it more , and the overall basking in nature.
Each of the Alchemsit on the trip cut down their overall work time by 20% and increased the potency of the product by 10%. Most of them went into reflectin upon returning and ws happy for the work when they came out.
The Winged Dragon Family had a change that shocked most. Not only did they cut all ties with Sacred Family, but they released some elixers no one heard of before. All contributed to Xiao Ninger who translated work in her family's archives. She had a strong grip on the familiy but rumors sugested she was only helping them before she decided to leave on an adventure.
The Divine Family came out well with all the resources Chen Linjian returned with. The countless Giant Blue Armed Ape bodies defintely helped with food and materials. As for what little they recovered from that additional room, most said it was cursed as a few people in the group became sick.
As for the Snow Wind Family, a large spotlight was on Ye Ziyun who came back as a Silver Star Cultivator. The even bigger thing was her announcement that she would marry Nie Li who was also at the Silver Rank. After he took the Alchemist test and passed, the Snow Wind Elders had less to say in regards to the matter. Rumor that her personality was more mature and that she seemd to be more stict with herself spread like wildfire. With the Alchemy Assoc director very fond of Nie Li with his stellar results from the Alchemy test, they seemed to find someone they wanted to become the head lead for Alchemy.
Ye Hong seemed to be really depressed about something however. Which worried Shen Yue a bit.
Unable to wrap his head around most of what he didgested, Shen Yue decided to go for a walk after taking care of akll the mental notes in his head, a checkup for his people, and sending letters as Liang Yu to meet with a few people while also spreading information about a few Dark Guild people in the City.
.
First Stop-
.
"I am here!" Ye Hong called out to the woods. His senses at the max to try and pick anything up out of the ordinary. Such as Demon Beasts or another Ambush Squad. "Don't ignore me!" In his hand a letter with instuctions were written clearly.
*Bzzt!* A bolt of lighting landed right in front of him. Shen Yue in his disguise faced him arms folded looking only a little menacingly at the teen.
"Student greets master!" Ye Hong paid respects quickly. Thinking this was his last chance to be someone before Ye Ziyun takes the full focus and attention of the Snow Wind Family.
"None of that. I am not looking for a student really." Shen Yue's words almost crushed the young man's hopes. "I am looking for someone I can trust with matters and to walk into the darkest and deadliest of dangers with me. Someone who can stand with me and speak up if I go to far."
He was also looking for a candiate to become the Carrier of the Law of Ice. Shen Xiu or himself would take in Fire. Decisions were still n the works on what they will do when that time comes.
"I am not that strong though!" Ye Hong looked up and thought he saw a pair of glowing purple eyes before a white-blue light blinded him a little. "How can I stand at your side with this little strength?"
"You will become strong, obviously. But I need you to put my goals and that of my Family before the Snow Wind Family. Can you do that?"
"I.. don't know." Ye Hong was conflicted since he didn't want to betray his family despite recent events. But he was no fool. Ye Ziyuin would become the new City Lord, he didn't have a chance at it. His family situation was decent but not much else besides to be used to control a small part of things. Or married of to another family for alliances. That was not what he wanted. "I can not fight my family without just cause. If they are in the wrong I will stop them, but I will not be a part of anything insidious."
"I see." Shen Yue said simply. Ye Hong trembled just a bit thinking this was it. Eveything was falling apart. "You are a good young man, defintely worth the trouble that will come." Removing his hoodie and changing his voice back to normal, all that was left was to make the offer. "I invite you to be a part of my Dark Moon Family, do you accept?"
*Woom!* Spirit energy puled as he held his hand outward. His hand was taken quickly followed by a funny thing. The Connection was formed as Shen Yue was no aware of what he could trust Ye Hong with. And when and if he decided to break away.
"I accept!" Ye Hong looked up seeing Shen Yue and fell on his butt in surprise. "Its you!" He was unbelienving and had to rub his eyes a few times to make sure.
"Yeah, it's me."
"So you are Liang Yu or pretended to be him?" Still unbeliving he pinched himself thinking it a dream.
"I am Liang Yu, no doubt about that. But that is a story for later. Much, much later." Spreading his hands outward, Shen Yue used Astral Sense to carve runes into the ground. A slight distortion in space occurred as he took Ye Hong into his Internal Space. "It takes time to make you stronger, we have things to do. The resources I gave you before was consummed so the foundation has been set to help your body but keep in mind, this will cause you great pain."
"I can handle it!" Ye Hong did not look around only kept his eyes on Shen Yue. Slowly from the darkness statues appeared. The statues originally belonged in Star Martial God Technique. The various Animals that contained Ancient Demon Beast Spiritual Blood served him well when he refined them.
"Whichever animal chooses you with never be able to part from you. It will devour other Spiritual Beasts of its type to grow stronger." A large Bear came out of the darkness. It towered over Ye Hong before bursting into light. "So the pain begins."
"What pa.." Ye Hong was unable to speak as his body broke apart from the energy infusing into him. All that remained was his soul that mixed with the bear. Shen Yue moved the energy from the Flame Vortex Core down to help the process. Thoughts became murky as his own blood contained just a tiny bit of something powerful.
"It has been a while since I have done this. But at least it gets easier everytime." Shen Yue helped the Refining process along. Spinning his Flame Vortex Core slowly to make the process easy. 'I won't have to do myself until after the Legend Rank. No point in wasting resources after what happened for a small boon. Might as well pass some technques to help him fight as well.'
.
City Lord's Mansion-
.
Ye Ziyun and Nie Li sat in place in her room. Despite the protest of some of the elders, the two were permitted to do so. Ye Ziyun's aunt also was in the room. But paid little attention to them at all. In fact, she moved to an adjacent room to award them more privacy.
"Are you sure I am not crazy!" Ye Ziyun asked for the umpteenth time. Nie Li just nodded. "And this is all because of that page we touch in the ruins?"
"Yes." Nie Li smiled at her. A large weight was lifted of his shoulders when she started telling him about dreams she had regarding the two. It took some coaxing to have her explain everything but he was able to do so. "The Temporal Demon Spirit Book page, must have allowed you to remember what happened in our previous life."
This part was true as well as the fact Nie Li snatched some of Shen Yue's energy when he took that attack. When Ye Ziyun helped him recover and later when they took in the spirit energy in the tomb, it acted like a catalyst the same way it did for Xiao Ninger.
Except Ye Ziyuns life was much shorter compared to the other. It was easy with time to sort it all out with any emotional issues or confusion really.
As the took discussed matters over, with Nie Li bringing up Ye Han, the conversation turned serious. Ye Ziyun only rembered that he was responsible for her father having an accident. Nothing more. So plans were made to deal with him when returning.
"But what about Shen Yue? Is he the same as us?" Ze Ziyun thought about how if he was an enemy of Glory City then he would have done something to her during the return back and could have blamed on the Dark Guild or Demon Beasts attacking. "He is really strong already."
"He might be but I have no real memory of what happened to them after they screwed over Glory City." Nie Li shook his head in dismay. "It is even stranger he set up in the West Gate area. That is where the Sacred Family abandoned the defense allowing several people to die making the battle even worse."
"Hmm, let me deal with it then." Ye Ziyun could tell Nie li was unable to think clearly when dealing with any member of the Sacred Family. Even though Shen Yue had removed himself from them long ago. "I am worried about Ye Hong. After I displayed my Rank, more attention has been given to me. Less for him and the others. I need to do something about that."
"We need to do something about that." Nie Li answered. He gripped her hands tight while making her a promise. "We both will make sure Glory City does not fall." One thing he wanted to check with Shen Yue was if he had the Lantern with the Shadow Devil inside. 'If he integrates with that creature, things will not go well for us.'
As the young lovers continued to enjoy their time together, trouble brewed elsewhere.
.
Sacred Family-
.
The Elders have gathered around and looked over Shen Fei's training. They had gone to great lengths to increase his power of the past few weeks. After he spoke of Shen Yue's strength, a sense of urgency overtook them.
"If this method works, we must start using it on all the younger generation." Elder Shen Ming grumbled. His position was already close to falling after Shen Yue continued to shine. Most blamed him for several matters. "I still say we bring Shen Xiu in and make her tell us what is going on!"
"If you want to make it worse go for it, from one of the workers that is helping build that wall, we found out she is mostly spending time managing the family and making contacts." Shen Yan said angrily. Part of wished they still remained in the family if they had this much talent and knowledge. "If worse comes to worst we may have to get the City Lord to do the work for us."
"Ahhhhh!" Shen Fei screamed as his skin turned black like a devil. A wild look in his eyes like that of a beast looked at everyone present. "Ahhhh!" Almost like a wild beast, he lunged at Shen Yan who delivered a palm strike to the chest.
*Bam!* Shen Fei flew back and stood up on shaky legs before fainting. He was not the only one feeling pain. Shen Yan gripped his arms tightly as a corrosive energy traveled up his arm.
"Make sure he is stable but not touch him!" Shen Yan's arm felt like it would catch fire with the intensity of the heat inside. "I can honestly say it works. He defintely in the Black Gold Rank now. Just need to make sure the process does not cause everyone to become monsters."
Thinking about the blood they received from the Leader of the Dark Guild, the Elders hoped that would not happen to the rest of the younger members in the clan as well.