C171 The Butcher Cut the Bull!

"Eh?"

Duan Guanlan exclaimed softly, his lips curling into a delighted smile as though he had stumbled upon an uncharted land.

The "Cursemark" affixed to his forehead shimmered, its patterns weaving through the air before him, conjuring the hallowed grounds of the Ruby Hand sect!

Rivers of flame meandered below, the sky ablaze, and grand palaces stood tall.

Fire-attribute Spirit Birds twirled amidst the crimson clouds, while deep in the fiery streams, red turtles and alien beasts spewed flames.

"Yu Yuan!"

Lee Yuchan's face turned as she sharply called out, "Duan Guanlan! What are you up to?"

At that instant, Yu Yuan, who had been examining the sword scar on the wall, appeared entranced, the gleam in his eyes slowly draining away.

He remained motionless, his gaze fixed intently on Duan Guanlan.

More precisely, on the Cursemark at the center of Duan Guanlan's brow.

"There's no need for concern."

Duan Guanlan beamed, bowing respectfully to Lee Yuchan. "General Lee, I urge you to stay calm. I overheard your conversation with Yu Yuan quite clearly."

"Yu Yuan may not be the one to forge ties between the Silvermoon Empire and the Ruby Hand."

"But the Duan family can!"

Had he not eavesdropped on Lee Yuchan and Yu Yuan's exchange, Duan Guanlan would never have been so bold. It was the knowledge that both Lee Yuchan and the Empress of the Silvermoon Empire were keen to connect with the Ruby Hand that spurred his impromptu decision.

"What are you implying?" Lee Yuchan demanded icily.

"The Ruby Hand and the Sunlit Order are archenemies," Duan Guanlan continued with a serene composure, "Yet, the Duan family is aligned with the Ruby Hand! I assure you, if you stand aside, the Duan family can facilitate a meeting between Lord Faang Yao of the Ruby Hand and your sister, the Empress of the Silvermoon Empire."

"The goals of the Duan family align with those of the Silvermoon Empire; thus, an alliance between us is indeed possible."

"As for those Crimson Sun Empire cultivators who met their end earlier, they deserved their fate."

Yu Yuan possesses a unique mark within him! That mark is covertly in sync with the restrictions of this world! I intend to employ the Cursemark to take that mark from him!"

"I ask that you refrain from intervening, General Lee!"

Duan Guanlan presented the advantages and revealed his plan.

Lee Yuchan, poised to strike, was suddenly taken aback by his words.

Hovering above, Qin Yun from the Midnightshields gazed at the bewildered Yu Yuan, unsure of how to proceed.

Perched atop the crimson big bell, Duan Tianxi, embodying the Flame Deity's Lunar Spirit, fixed a warning gaze on him and spoke, "Mr. Qin, if my senses are correct, it appears you're being restrained by Yu Yuan, aren't you?"

Qin Yun offered a wry smile and nodded in agreement.

"Rest assured. Guanlan will use the Cursemark to extract that unique mark from the young man's body," Duan Tianxi said with a light laugh. "Furthermore, he may share some history with the Ruby Hand. We won't be merciless. He will survive. We intend to clarify the nature of his sect's relationship with the Ruby Hand."

"Mr. Qin, once I obtain those marks, I will provide you with a full account," Duan Guanlan assured.

If this realm is indeed shielded by an immense and ancient array as the state preceptor surmised...

The mark detected by Duan Guanlan through the Cursemark is the key to mastering this grand formation!

Duan Guanlan's ambition mirrors Qin Yun's past desires.

He aims to take control of this vast array himself!

Regardless of Yu Yuan's ties to the Ruby Hand, Duan Guanlan is prepared to gamble in pursuit of such stakes.

He might either silence everyone to prevent any investigation or keep Yu Yuan alive to learn the truth.

He is resolute in acquiring that distinctive mark for himself!

"Ruby Hand, does your family truly wield such influence over the Duan family?" Lee Yuchan asked, her expression a mix of doubt and complexity. "Your family has its roots in the Crimson Sun Empire; how have you managed to maintain your position for so long?"

"In time, when we're all in the same boat, I shall disclose the full story," Duan Guanlan replied with a grin.

Lee Yuchan kept her silence.

Protected by the Cursemark, she was powerless to defeat Duan Guanlan using her unique Spirit Magic.

The ancient Moonfiend had been in this situation before, and she was acutely aware of the consequences.

High above, Duan Tianxi was vigilant not only against Qin Yun but also against her.

In such a predicament, her chances of rescuing Yu Yuan were slim at best.

To complicate matters, she was dealing with the Ruby Hand!

They had even promised to facilitate a meeting between Lord Faang Yao of the Ruby Hand and representatives from the Silvermoon Empire after the fact.

What was she to do?

"Oh Yu Yuan, it's not that I'm unwilling to lend a hand, it's just that..." Lee Yuchan sighed internally, maintaining her silence, careful not to make any hasty moves.

Duan Guanlan's smile grew more radiant as he reassured her, "Rest assured, General Lee. The Duan family will ensure that the Ruby Hand and the Silvermoon Empire continue to enjoy a harmonious friendship. You've also heard about Yuan Qiufang from Asvetaesi; he's one of us at the Ruby Hand."

Lee Yuchan felt a pang of guilt for failing Yu Yuan and remained noncommittal to his assurances.

"Cursemark!"

A tumult of thoughts surged and fizzled in Yu Yuan's mind. His ever-advancing heaven soul had become an unwitting conduit for the Cursemark, forcibly linking him to a fiery realm of runes.

It was as if his heaven soul had plummeted into the domain of the Cursemark, manifesting within the hallowed grounds of the Ruby Hand's sect.

It was a hauntingly familiar scene—the fiery sky, the serpentine rivers of flame, the towering structures, and the myriad of Flame Spirit Birds and alien beasts—all reminiscent of his previous visits to the sect's sacred land.

Upon the heaven soul's entry, the Cursemark's runes transformed into a fiery sanctuary, seemingly conspiring to exert pressure upon him.

The burning heavens descended, and the rivers of flame lashed out at his heaven soul like fiery whips.

Simultaneously, his mortal soul and earthly soul detected a pulling force from the Cursemark, infiltrating the sword light within his arm bone.

Now, his heaven soul resided within the inner world of the Cursemark.

The spirit within the sword light, confused, believed it was still responding to its own kind, especially since the will and essence of his heaven soul were deliberately amplified at the heart of the Cursemark.

A sliver of sword light was unexpectedly drawn out!

Nine streaks of sword light burst forth from his arm bone.

Duan Guanlan, Lee Yuchan, Qin Yun, and Duan Tianxi all witnessed it with crystal clarity.

They watched the nine distinctive lights emanate from Yu Yuan's elbow, darting towards Duan Guanlan, illuminating the unmistakably vivid world of fire and revealing a shadow meandering within.

That shadow was none other than Yu Yuan's heaven soul!

Overjoyed, Duan Guanlan exclaimed, "Success!"

Duan Tianxi was equally thrilled, musing to himself that regardless of Yu Yuan's sect affiliation or his ties to the Ruby Hand, control over this domain's prohibitions must fall into the Ruby Hand's grasp.

He held Duan Guanlan in high regard, considering this younger member of the Duan family to be truly exceptional.

"Swish!"

The nine peculiar lights seamlessly entered the fiery realm manifested by the Cursemark's glyph.

Yu Yuan's heaven soul, now a shadow, subtly aligned itself alongside the nine lights.

Arranged in a straight line, the nine lights coalesced into an ethereal blade of light.

Yu Yuan's heaven soul, within the same fiery realm birthed from the Cursemark, grasped the hilt of the light-forged blade.

At the moment the heaven soul wielded the sword, a thought thundered through the fiery domain.

"Duan Guanlan, you've made a grave mistake by luring my heaven soul into this fiery world shaped by the Cursemark!"

With a single slash, the sword light cleaved through the fundamental core of the world's glyphs!

The sword light, with unerring precision, severed the concealed network that sustained the burning heavens.

Another slash, and the grand crimson palace, along with its massive supporting columns, silently fractured.

The fiery rivers, like lashes from a flame whip, dispersed into numerous streams under the delicate sword light.

The fiery domain abruptly crumbled.

Blood began to ooze from beneath the Cursemark on Duan Guanlan's forehead.

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