C1404 Deviless Witch Bug

Ann Ziqing, adorned in a light purple dress, perched elegantly on a verdant branch, her smile radiant. Her figure, tall and enchanting, had become more shapely, with legs that were long and straight. Her eyes sparkled with mischief and allure, captivating those around her. Once a girl, she had now blossomed into womanhood.

"Young Master, are you here seeking a romantic rendezvous?" she asked, her head tilted down as she looked on with a playful grin. "You truly live up to my expectations, Young Master. After all these years of my service, you've never let me down. Whether in the Plover Realm or elsewhere, you always have a beauty by your side."

Her ambiguous gaze settled on Lulu, who bore the bloodline of Dark Elfkind. Lulu, naturally gentle or perhaps a bit timid, was visibly unnerved under her scrutiny.

Back in the Plover Realm, Lulu had witnessed Yu Yuan tending to Ann Ziqing and was aware of his deep concern for the Blood God Cult's goddess. From the stories she'd heard, it was clear their relationship was complex. Originating from the vast ocean, Lulu couldn't help but feel a coldness within at the thought of the goddess's formidable reputation.

With a slight bow, she excused herself, "I won't interrupt your reunion with Brother Yu." With that, she gracefully distanced herself.

Her demeanor made it clear she feared Ann Ziqing and wanted to avoid any misunderstandings with Yu Yuan that could lead to complications.

Ann Ziqing, ever the schemer, had a history of calculating moves that left many unwitting victims in her wake, especially during her time in the vast ocean. Despite the numerous people who had fallen prey to her, she had ascended to a higher realm, her breakthroughs swift, and she was equipped with an array of extraordinary treasures.

Rumor had it that even the Demon Palace and Devil Palace found her troublesome. Now that Ann Wen had aligned with the Divine Soul Sect, they were left with little recourse against her.

Lulu certainly had no desire to cross her.

"This girl... knows her place," Ann Ziqing mused, watching as Lulu's figure receded into the distance, soon vanishing from the forest. With a satisfied nod, the Demon Witch chuckled, "Considering her tact, I'll spare her any trouble later on. As for her Dark Elfkind bloodline... Hmph! If I wished, I could deplete all of her blood essence in mere seconds!"

A sphere of deep crimson blood materialized in the crystalline center of her palm, shimmering with a terrifying, sanguine light. Within the orb, more than a dozen drops of blood essence, each a different hue, sparkled like an array of diamonds—pink, black, red, green—each one dazzling in its own right.

Each drop of blood essence was linked to a notable lineage—the Silver Scale Clan, female demons, the Void Spirit Succubus, and the Shadow Clan—and none were of a lowly stature.

"Consider these blood essences as my compensation for the aid you provided me in the Plover Realm," she said.

Ann Ziqing's hand, now stained a crimson hue by the reflection of the orb, delicately twirled the blood sphere, intending to hand it over to Yu Yuan for him to integrate into his Yang God. She had made the journey specifically because she knew Yu Yuan had successfully advanced to the Yang God level and believed these drops of blood essence would aid in stabilizing his newfound power.

However, unbeknownst to her, Yu Yuan had undergone a complete metamorphosis. The blood essence she had painstakingly acquired with the help of the Blood God Cult and her own efforts no longer appealed to him.

"You brought these just for me?" Yu Yuan couldn't help but chuckle.

Initially, her biting sarcasm and her demeanor towards Lulu had left a sour taste in Yu Yuan's mouth. But as she revealed the deep red blood orb and her true intentions, any lingering irritation dissipated, "I no longer have a need for it."

"You don't need it?" Ann Ziqing was taken aback.

Yu Yuan nodded, his smile conveying more than words could.

Deep within his eyes, a flicker of crimson light emerged. Drawing upon a fraction of the Dragon Slash Platform's might, he activated an extraordinary "insight." In a flash, he perceived seven amethyst pools within the microcosm of Ann Ziqing's vital energy.

Each pool, brimming with potent blood energy, harbored astonishing power. In the midst of these pools sat another Ann Ziqing, meditating. She was connecting the energy of the seven amethyst pools with seven concealed acupoints on her chest, as if ready to channel the immense blood energy into the depths of those points at any moment.

This version of Ann Ziqing, a refined essence of blood and soul, shared the same essence as Chen Qinghuang and his Yang God. Yu Yuan peered closer, noticing that the blood within each pool still contained impurities yet to be fully refined.

Tiny impurities had infiltrated the amethyst pools, seemingly affecting Ann Ziqing's Yang God.

Yu Yuan had an epiphany that these seven amethyst pools were, in fact, extensions of Ann Ziqing's Yang God and appeared capable of integrating with it.

Yet...

"To advance to the Unrestrained Stage, you must first purify your Yang God and those seven pools," Yu Yuan stated candidly.

"You can see them?" Ann Ziqing exclaimed in surprise.

"I caught a glimpse back in the Plover Realm, but it wasn't as vivid as now," Yu Yuan confessed, not withholding any information and pinpointing the issue within her without hesitation. "I'm well aware of how the Spiritual Spells of the Blood God Cult are both overbearing and unconventional. Your rapid progression is bound to come with certain risks."

He paused briefly.

Continuing, he explained, "Inside your Yang God, within your vital energy microcosm, I saw the seven amethyst pools. Moreover, the seven acupoints corresponding to these pools are tainted with minor impurities."

"If you attempt to force your way into the Unrestrained Stage without fully refining them, I fear you won't succeed."

Yu Yuan had long been under the protection of the Blood God Cult due to Ann Wen's influence and his friendship with the Evil King Yu Xi. Upon learning the truth, he harbored no resentment towards the "Blood Shadow" who had been meticulously plotting behind his back.

It was all part of Ann Wen's deliberate design, his intention for Ann Ziqing to become acquainted with the situation sooner rather than later.

Ann Ziqing, for her part, was oblivious to the machinations, mistakenly believing she was the architect of her own clever strategies...

From the moment they left Horror Land, as truths began to emerge, their adversarial relationship started to dissolve.

Subsequently, they began collaborating, leading to increased interactions between them.

Yu Yuan also acquired an abundance of exotic blood from the Blood God Cult and Ann Ziqing, which significantly bolstered his power.

By the time he was in the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area, his sheer physical strength was sufficient to contend with warriors of the Eighth Level.

Grateful to the Ann family, he had gone to great lengths to rescue Ann Ziqing when he learned of her injuries in the Plover Realm.

The sentiment remained unchanged.

"You weren't just boasting to me after your breakthrough to the Yang God, were you?"

Ann Ziqing's face was etched with skepticism. She scrutinized Yu Yuan from every angle, even employing the Blood God Cult's secret techniques, yet she discerned nothing extraordinary. "Just by looking at me, you've identified so many flaws? You've only just refined your Yang God; surely, you must have some impurities within yourself?"

"I truly don't..."

With a dismissive smile, Yu Yuan emitted a soft whistle. Across the Green Fluorescent Realm, the Evil Cauldron, previously near Yu Yiyi, swiftly made its way over.

Yu Yiyi, who had been maneuvering the Evil Cauldron in search of an appropriate soul to transform into a demonic entity, promptly communicated with him.

Once she received his response, Yu Yiyi felt at ease and resumed her activities.

Whoosh!

In no time, the Evil Cauldron hovered above the heads of Yu Yuan and Ann Ziqing.

The mouth of the cauldron turned downward, instantly covering them both.

"You're not planning any mischief, are you?"

Ann Ziqing cast a sidelong glance at him, her lips curling into a scornful smile. "You're well aware of the relationship between our families by now. I can't imagine you'd dare to cross a line with me."

"Cross a line with you?"

Yu Yuan shook his head, chuckling at the absurdity. He didn't wait for her to reply before speaking. "Ann, I've known you for more than just a day or two. Your mind is a wellspring of cunning plots; I have no desire to mess with you."

"My lord, your words wound me deeply."

Ann Ziqing's face took on a look of pitiable grievance as she settled herself down within the small world of the cauldron, her eyes gleaming as she observed the peculiar demons nestled in the cauldron's recesses. "I've attended to you since childhood, making your bed, dressing and bathing you. Even when you were lost in your own mind, I never looked down on you. And now, you find me contemptible..."

"Silence!"

At the mention of the word "fool," Yu Yuan sharply reprimanded her, his expression darkening.

Regrettably for him, Ann Ziqing was undeterred and kept talking. "I've sacrificed so much for you, silently waiting for you to come to your senses, yet you've been gallivanting around, flirting with others. Yuan Lianyao, Lau Ying, Chen Qingyan—have you ever considered my feelings?"

Yu Yuan was suddenly struck by a headache.

...