C1405 Purple Ghost Flame

On this occasion, Ann Ziqing's demeanor towards Yu Yuan was noticeably different from before. Perhaps her transformation from cold indifference to warmth and exuberance was due to Yu Yuan having saved her from the brink of death in the Plover Realm. This shift left Yu Yuan feeling quite out of his element. He had grown accustomed to the Ann Ziqing who, despite her malicious gaze and seemingly pleasant smile, always had a sinister undertone in her words.

"Is the Evil Cauldron on the verge of reclaiming its status as an Artifact?"

Curiosity sparkled in Ann Ziqing's eyes as she explored the cauldron, floating up to the level where Rend Armor, the Yellow Light Demon, and the dark-clad woman resided. Abruptly, a cluster of purple flames ignited at her fingertips. The small flame emitted an intense soul power, startling Rend Armor, the Yellow Light Demon, Silver Lock, and the dark-clad woman. These Evil Demons caught a whiff of a familiar scent and began searching for its source.

At that moment, the Nether Cat perched atop the ninth floor snapped its eyes open! In the form of a purple feline with matching eyes, it bore a striking resemblance to Ann Ziqing's purple armor. Yet, its gaze was now filled with a wild ferocity, as if it had completely lost control.

"What a fascinating little cat!"

Ann Ziqing paid no mind to the others as her focus settled on the Nether Cat. The purple flame at her fingertip directed at the creature as she lightly laughed, "So it is you!"

Within the depths of the purple flame, tiny crystals and the scent of souls from various races emerged, intensifying the madness in the Nether Cat's eyes.

With the swiftness of lightning, the small, agile cat lunged for the purple flame on Ann Ziqing's fingertip without Yu Yuan's consent.

"Stop!"

Yu Yuan's face tensed with concern, fearing the Nether Cat might harm Ann Ziqing, and he quickly intervened. The Nether Cat's erratic behavior troubled him; it was clear that the creature had become unhinged, likely influenced by the purple flames.

The Nether Cat let out a piercing squeal, and the Demonic Marks on the cauldron's walls shifted in response. A soul-rending force emanated from the screech, resonating through the air.

"I knew it!"

Ann Ziqing let out a sneer. With a deft twist of her wrist, her empty left hand conjured a swirling five-colored blood membrane in mid-air.

The Nether Cat, transformed into a bolt of divine lightning, struck the blood membrane only to become ensnared within it.

Within the membrane, the blood essences of over a dozen different races were meticulously woven by Ann Ziqing's soulful intent into the Blood God Cult's blood sacrifice array, firmly trapping the Nether Cat.

The membrane morphed into a macabre world, exerting its oppressive force upon the Nether Cat.

Countless bolts of lightning, blood-hued mountains, and miniature lakes and rivers manifested within the Nether Cat's corporeal form, revealing themselves as vivid tattoos.

Upon closer inspection, the Nether Cat's body appeared adorned with animated tattoos depicting lightning, mountains, rivers, and lakes.

"You're only at the ninth level. Just a bit more, and you'll reach the tenth," Ann Ziqing said with a smile, her fingertip aglow with a purple ghostly flame as she gestured towards the blood membrane.

The realm inhabited by the Nether Cat seemed to ignite with a soul-extinguishing purple inferno. Even in its illusory world, it could detect the intoxicating scent it so desperately craved, prompting it to let out another series of shrill squeaks.

Its cries were so piercing that they even disturbed Yu Yiyi.

At the tenth level, the Ice Concubine, akin to an Ice Goddess, opened her eyes as if rousing from a deep slumber.

"I am aware that only a tenth-level Evil Demon can awaken its intelligence, possessing a combat prowess nearly on par with the Unrestrained Stage," Ann Ziqing remarked, her gaze settling on the Ice Concubine. "We've met before. I wonder if you recall. Back then, you were at the seventh or eighth level, not yet fully awakened."

"I remember," the Ice Concubine responded coolly.

She then turned her attention to Yu Yuan.

"Alright."

Yu Yuan, appearing somewhat resigned, gestured to the Ice Concubine to hold back. "Ann, are you done playing? If you're looking for a fight, wait until the Nether Cat ascends to the tenth level. Then you can come back and have your battle."

"It clearly attacked me first," Ann Ziqing protested, her expression one of wounded innocence.

With a gentle flick of the blood membrane, the purple Nether Cat was expelled. It looked visibly intimidated, coveting the purple flame at Ann Ziqing's fingertip, yet it no longer dared to make any reckless moves.

"I was feeding you, yet you chose to snatch it away. And I don't take kindly to unruly pets..."

With a flick of her delicate finger, a tiny orb of purple flame shot towards the Nether Cat, which it gulped down in one swift motion.

As soon as the flame was consumed, a series of popping noises erupted from within the Nether Cat's body.

The Nether Cat's mind, which seemed to be missing many soul sparks, was instantly ignited by the purple fire.

Both Yu Yuan and the Ice Concubine witnessed the Nether Cat's soul energy surge remarkably!

"That flame?" Yu Yuan asked, his face a picture of astonishment.

"I stumbled upon it by accident. I knew it was connected the moment I found it," Ann Ziqing said with a smile, her lips curling slightly. "It's likely a fragment of its original soul fire. Where I discovered it, there were depictions of it, and it seemed to be revered as an Evil God by some."

"An Evil God?" Yu Yuan chuckled.

"It was once among the mightiest of Evil Demons, with combat power on par with those at the Unrestrained Stage. It could even leave the Evil Cauldron and roam freely, just like the current Yu Yiyi," Ann Ziqing said, her tone turning earnest. "At its zenith, it was as formidable as an Evil God in many realms."

With a whoosh, the Nether Cat, having ingested the flame, leaped up the ninth step.

As if breaking through unseen bonds, it reached the tenth step. Then, with a glance at the Ice Concubine, it condensed into a ball of purple light, embarking on the final step of its metamorphosis.

Yu Yuan instantly understood that upon awakening, the Nether Cat would recover its memories, along with its intellect and spirit.

"I've been good to you, haven't I?" Ann Ziqing boasted, a hint of pride in her voice.

"Indeed, you have. So..."

Within the miniature world inside the cauldron, Yu Yuan flashed a radiant smile, showcasing his pearly white teeth. "So, let me show you what a truly flawless Yang God looks like."

"Flawless!"

Ann Ziqing's eyes widened in amazement, but her face quickly took on a grave expression.

From the moment she reunited with Yu Yuan, she sensed something extraordinary.

Unlike Yu Yuan, she couldn't peer into his domain of Qi and blood to see what lay within.

Yet her acute sensitivity to Qi and blood had long since made her aware of the striking resemblance between Yu Yuan's Yang God and her own.

Additionally, Ann Ziqing found herself increasingly drawn to Yu Yuan.

The allure stemmed from her own body, from her restless Yang God, compelling her to instinctively draw nearer to Yu Yuan, to catch a whiff of his scent.

She was intensely curious about the current form of Yu Yuan's Yang God.

A dense, crimson stream of blood burst forth from Yu Yuan's Xuan Gate acupoint, and before her very eyes, it transformed into another Yu Yuan.

His entire form shone like red jade, his flesh luminous, the bones beneath his skin shining with a pure light. Bloodline Crystal Chains, intricate as a network of veins, sprawled across his body.

Ann Ziqing, as if entranced, took steps toward his Yang God.

Her eyes sparkled with rapture, much like an artist beholding the most exquisite piece of art, her face a picture of incredulous wonder, as though she were savoring the sight of a precious gem.

"Hey!"

Yu Yuan called out sharply.

The look in her eyes and her expression unsettled him.

The instant his Yang God emerged from his acupoints, Yu Yuan sensed an invisible equilibrium.

It was as though his Yang God had the power to alter Ann Ziqing's physical makeup, to redirect her bloodline, to delve into her heart and circulate through her blood, and even... to harness Ann Ziqing's vital blood energy for his own purposes.

Yu Yuan was equally astounded.

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