C180 He Turned His Back on Him!!

The cultivators from the Silvermoon Empire, with Su Xiangtian at the helm, charged forward, fueled by their rage. The tree monster, seemingly acting on Fides' command, soared into the air before crashing back down with a heavy thud. Upon impact, the tree monster's body expanded once more. In the span of ten breaths, it had reached a towering height of over a hundred meters. Its leafless branches shimmered with a chilling metallic sheen that set one's heart racing.

"Hu! Hu! Hu! Hu!"

Hundreds of alien souls and goasts perched ominously on the branches. Their eerie and fearsome eyes fixed on Su Xiangtian and his companions, warning them not to make any sudden moves while Fides and Yu Yuan were in conversation.

"Su family scion, halt!"

Terra Fiend Fides turned with a radiant smile. "Unless you want that woman to die because of you, I suggest you stop right now."

Su Xiangtian came to an abrupt halt. Fides' words were malicious. To die because of him? If he were to proceed after Fides' threat and Yuan Lianyao were to die, he would be at a loss for words.

"What are you after?" Su Xiangtian demanded, his voice heavy with suspicion.

"Wait here," Fides said with a light chuckle, then turned his gaze to Yu Yuan at the bottom of the pond. "Please, come up for a chat. Otherwise, she's going to suffer." His eyes briefly met Yuan Lianyao's.

Another vicious streak of blood light aimed for Yuan Lianyao's other shoulder.

"Fine, I'm coming up," Yu Yuan conceded.

"No!"

The lord of Asvetaesi, menaced by the blood light shooting from the red lotus, wore a tragically beautiful smile. "Yu Yuan, don't let yourself be manipulated."

Blood from her shoulder dripped steadily downward. The blood, meticulously refined within her veins and the vitality within her middle elixir field, were both under the sinister control of the blood shadow.

The founding elder of the Colddeath, whose life had ended yet persisted in another form, was truly fearsome. She could never have imagined that the blood shadow before her had been covertly lurking in Asvetaesi, a city under her dominion.

Nor could she have known that the blood shadow had once experienced a fleeting moment of lucidity during an anomaly in the forbidden area.

Many years ago, unbeknownst to her, a blood shadow was secretly imprinted in the red lotuses she had brought back from the Moonfall Sanctuary while she was refining them in secret. Ann Ziqing had been searching for that elusive orb of bloody light, but it had once again become dormant, concealing its presence and leaving her empty-handed.

Yet, whenever Ann Ziqing practiced the secret techniques of the Colddeath within the Yu family's walls, she could sense her blood pulsating with fervor. This confirmed her belief that he was indeed there, lurking somewhere in Asvetaesi, just within reach. It was for this reason that Ann Ziqing had concealed her true identity, choosing to live in Asvetaesi and serve as a maid in the Yu family for an extended period.

"I'll be right there," Yu Yuan said, his smile fading to a serene and peaceful expression as he ascended the steps toward the Soulforge Pool. His gaze was fixed solely on Yuan Lianyao, paying no heed to the Terra Fiend Fides or the blood shadow.

The mayor, suspended in midair and dripping with blood, seemed fragile for the first time, a stark contrast to her usual radiant and seductive demeanor. Her eyes, once so expressive, now conveyed a sense of resignation. The facade of the indomitable woman was mercilessly shattered in that moment.

"Don't worry, Sister Mayor, you're going to be alright," Yu Yuan reassured her as he made his way up. His left hand's fingers subtly pointed towards Fides, while the sword light within his arm bone blazed intensely, the sword spirit in sync with his consciousness.

Fides's smile turned uncomfortable. "Yu, I really need to talk to you. There's no need to see me as an enemy," he implored.

"I don't trust the Terra Fiend Clan," Yu Yuan replied icily.

"Have you encountered White Walker?" Fides asked, momentarily taken aback before quickly regaining his composure. "Yu, I'm not like White Walker! You should know that the Terra Fiend Clan is diverse and each member is unique."

"Regardless, that White Walker never spoke a word of truth," Yu Yuan retorted with a snort. "Is it a habit of the Terra Fiend Clan to resort to such tactics? Capturing those close to me to use as leverage? What you're doing now, White Walker has already attempted."

"Where is the White Walker?" Fides inquired with a hint of curiosity.

"You already know the answer to that," Yu Yuan retorted with a hint of sarcasm.

Fides' demeanor grew solemn as he earnestly stated, "We truly have no clue what cataclysm occurred within the forbidden area. Why did the protective seal suddenly fail?"

"I refuse to believe you missed it," Yu Yuan challenged, gesturing toward the heavens. "The sight of that bronze coffin tearing away from the Moonfall Sanctuary and fleeing into the Star River beyond our world—did that elude you?"

"He..."

Speaking of the inhabitant of the bronze coffin, Fides hesitated to use his actual name, opting instead to say, "I caught a glimpse of his departure, but what of the others?"

"The others?" Yu Yuan mused, stroking his chin. "To whom are you referring exactly?"

"What about the other esteemed ones? Besides the White Walker, where are Indigo Wraith and the Stormcrowned Emperor?" Fides mentioned the three, his tone and demeanor reflecting a lesser degree of awe and respect.

Clearly, in his heart, only the forbidden figure of Boulderdawn held the title of the most fearsome.

The blood shadow and the nearby tree monster shared his sentiment.

It seemed they were all intent on challenging the likes of Indigo Wraith, White Walker, and Stormcrowned Emperor.

Yet, when it came to the entity within the bronze coffin, they wouldn't dare entertain the thought of confrontation.

"There's no need for me to inform you about those three," Yu Yuan declared, preparing to exit the Soulforge Pool. He then turned his attention to the blood shadow, saying, "If I'm not mistaken, you were once known as Ann Jieshan. The mystique you used on the mayor's sister—that's the Blood and Shadow Mantra, correct?"

The blood shadow remained impassive.

"Yu, I have no interest in the White Walker or Indigo Wraith, but I am eager to know the current whereabouts of the Stormcrowned Emperor," Fides declared, his handsome face taking on a sinister edge. "A fragment of my soul was consumed by him. I have memories that remain lost, and only by finding him can I become whole."

"Release the captive, and I'll provide the information," Yu Yuan offered with a smile.

"That's not acceptable," Fides countered, shaking his head. "A single piece of information doesn't equate to a life. What I require is far more substantial."

"You're assuming too much," Yu Yuan suddenly said.

"What?" Fides, initially taken aback, seemed to come to a realization. "Oh, even though this woman is quite concerned about you, her life and death don't really matter to you, do they?"

Yuan Lianyao's gaze grew somber upon hearing this, yet she remained silent.

She had long understood that despite Yu Yuan's youth, he was ruthless and decisive.

She wouldn't be surprised if Yu Yuan sacrificed her when it came down to it.

"The reason I say you're assuming too much is because you believe you have everything under control, which is frankly ridiculous," Yu Yuan said, shifting his attention from Fides back to the blood shadow. "Senior Ann Jieshan, I'm not sure how much of your own memories and consciousness remain, but I urge you not to be swayed by the Terra Fiend's trickery. Please, release her."

Fides couldn't help but laugh. "Yu, that's not going to work."

"Ann Ziqing, who has been with my Yu family for many years as a maid, must be your direct descendant. She must have sensed a connection to you through the Blood and Shadow Mantra you practice, recognizing you as her ancestor, the source of her bloodline," Yu Yuan continued, his gaze fixed on the blood shadow. "Ann has never betrayed me. Regardless of her motives, she has served me loyally for years."

"When the upheaval in Asvetaesi City occurred, she was the one who fervently invited me to join Colddeath. Perhaps, one day, I might actually join Colddeath and become a follower."

"In light of her loyalty, I promise to assist you in obtaining what you seek in the forbidden area."

"Release her, heed my command, and I assure you that you'll get what you desire and be able to return to Colddeath!" Yu Yuan's voice rang out with conviction.

Fides let out a mocking laugh. "Stop dreaming."

"Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!"

The threatening beams of sharp blood light around Yuan Lianyao suddenly withdrew.

The mayor of Asvetaesi City, weakened from excessive blood loss, plummeted from the sky.

The red lotus cradled her, delivering her enchanting and elegant form directly before Yu Yuan.

He quickly reached out, securing her waist, and caught her firmly.

"Thank you, Senior!"

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