C210 Death Trap

Billowing clouds of miasma drifted closer from the distance.

Before the miasma fully enveloped the area, the overpowering stench had already begun to permeate the air.

Bai Shenshen, along with everyone else present, felt a heaviness in their chests, making it difficult to breathe smoothly.

The younger herbalists, who had not yet attained Subtlety and had undeveloped spiritual senses, failed to notice anything amiss.

However, for someone like Bai Shenshen from Sacred Hands, or Yu Yuan with his unique heaven soul, the approaching miasma brought an oppressive sensation akin to suffocation.

It was as though some malevolent entity had marked them as prey, or perhaps... as food!

Bai Shenshen felt a chill run down her spine as she stared at the miasma in horror, exclaiming, "Why is the miasma moving?"

She had been monitoring the miasma cloud hovering over the swamp, especially since Zanas and his disciples from Binders of Shadows had been active in that region recently.

Sacred Hands had long declared that area off-limits, forbidding their sect's disciples from entering.

This was because, over the past century, numerous members of Sacred Hands had succumbed to fatal poisoning while collecting or investigating medicinal herbs in that region.

The miasma there was dreadfully acidic, the swamp perilous, and the area teemed with venomous insects.

Since Sacred Hands did not concoct poison pills, the toxic insects and deadly herbs hidden within the swamp held no value for the disciples dedicated to the orthodox path of leechcraft.

Even the most skilled herbalists who ventured into the area spoke of its eerie environment and a peculiar formation that seemed to naturally concentrate toxins.

Thus, the swamp had been designated as one of the forbidden areas within the Serpent Spine Mountains.

Bai Shenshen was well aware of the dangers and oddities of the place, so she kept a wary eye on the activities of the Binders of Shadows, secretly wishing them ill.

She hoped that Zanas and his disciples would meet with misfortune there and subsequently retreat from the Serpent Spine Mountains.

To her astonishment, after Zanas withdrew, the miasma cloud began to drift their way as well.

"Everyone! Make haste to Sacred Hands immediately!"

After her initial shock subsided, Bai Shenshen quickly regained her composure. She gestured to the young herbalists from various empires and warned, "That miasma cloud is laden with deadly toxins! Our Sacred Hands has lost over a dozen people to it in the last hundred years! Your abilities are not yet fully developed, and you are all so young. Don't meet an untimely end here!"

She glanced at Yu Yuan, her eyes urging him to hurry and leave.

"Take care, everyone!"

"Leave quickly!"

The young herbalists from the various empires, none particularly old, could also sense that something was amiss.

Ignoring Zanas' threats, they scattered and fled after speaking with Bai Shenshen.

Zanas grinned and said, "I didn't give you permission to leave, so stay put."

"Whoosh!"

Flags emblazoned with dense runes burst forth from the back of Zanas' neck, hissing as they emerged from his clothing.

There were nine flags in total, each intricately depicting lizards, centipedes, scorpions, serpents, giant pythons with dragon horns, bizarre Alien Bugs, and unknown spirit animals.

The flags rustled in the air, casting a haunting glow in shades of green, blue, and deep purple.

The lights unfurled like a resplendent sea, enveloping everyone beneath.

"Thud! Thud! Thud!"

The young herbalists who attempted to flee mostly collided with the spiritual energy barrier and were bounced back.

Only one, a third-level Spirit Level herbalist with three medicinal herbs inscribed on his chest, managed to escape when a silver cone materialized in his hand.

The object shattered the spiritual energy barrier, allowing him to pass through instantly.

A triumphant smile spread across his face as he prepared to sprint away.

Zanas let out a sly chuckle.

One flag transformed into a spear of purple lightning, piercing straight through the herbalist's back.

The bloodstained flag, having claimed a life, floated gently back to rejoin the other eight.

The young herbalist's lifeless body, blood pouring out, was pulled by some force and levitated towards the drifting miasma cloud.

As the corpse reached the cloud, it seemed to be snatched by something and yanked inside.

"Crunch, crunch!"

The sound of bones being gnawed emanated from the miasma, yet not a single drop of blood fell from the cloud.

Witnessing the herbalist's failed escape, the others, who had been eager to try their own devices, suddenly turned ashen, clutching their tools in indecision.

The swift demise of their peer made a chilling fact clear to them — for Zanas, taking their lives was as easy as flipping his hand.

"What's your name?"

Observing the subdued younger herbalists, Zanas' eyes gleamed with curiosity as he turned to Yu Yuan. "Everyone else is fleeing; why haven't you moved an inch?"

Yu Yuan's reaction was exceedingly out of the ordinary.

As all the young herbalists scattered, planning to evacuate Sacred Hands, Yu Yuan stood firm, showing no inclination to flee.

His eyes were clear, his gaze lively; he clearly wasn't foolish.

Given this, why didn't he run, knowing full well that danger loomed?

Zanas found it odd and couldn't resist taking a few more looks, keeping a watchful eye on him.

"The gap between our realms is vast. Since you've declared no one can leave, escaping is futile," Yu Yuan said calmly under Zanas's scrutiny. "I'm aware that the outcome will be the same, whether I flee or not. I might even end up like that other fellow, dying even quicker. Might as well behave."

At his words, those who were still indecisive lost their spirit and abruptly abandoned the idea of escape.

"Elder of the Binders of Shadows, we bear no ill will towards you. Please, don't harm us."

"Or perhaps you could capture me alive? My family's elder holds me dear. We also breed some rare spirit insects on our family's land that could aid in your cultivation of the Binders of Shadows' spells!"

"Elder, I have a knack for the art of spells too! The Binders of Shadows is the sacred place I've always aspired to train at! Why not test my proficiency in spellcraft to see if I meet your standards and could be taken on as your disciple?"

Those with quick wits, realizing escape was not an option, immediately sought alternative routes, each employing their own methods to plead for mercy.

Zanas chuckled lowly, his eyes mocking as he observed the young herbalists desperately begging for mercy. "To be honest, among you, only the descendant of the King of Wraiths I let go is worth mentioning. Your skills in alchemy and spellcraft might be impressive in Aetherius, but in our Land of Quiescence, they're quite ordinary."

"Don't bother trying so hard. You're not fit to be my hand-chosen disciples, nor to join the Binders of Shadows."

"Moreover, my three hand-chosen disciples were just inadvertently sent into the miasma by me, consumed by that entity. I don't mourn their deaths in the slightest, so why would I care about you?"

With those words, everyone's hope was extinguished, as if they had lost their loved ones.

"You still have the audacity to look?" Zanas gave Yu Yuan another glance. "It's a pity your cultivation level is so low. You don't appear to be a herbalist yet, which suggests limited potential." He shook his head slightly, a sense of regret in his gesture.

"Senior, I sincerely hope you can handle that item properly and not play with fire, risking your own skin in the process." Yu Yuan said with a sardonic smile. Then, he began rummaging through the pouch at his waist and the inner pocket against his chest.

Before setting out for the Moonfall Sanctuary, he had anticipated a visit to the Serpent Spine Mountains and had made some preparations accordingly.

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