C211 The Crane Stands out among the Flock of Chickens

Zanas found Yu Yuan somewhat peculiar, but that was the extent of his concern.

Whatever hidden meanings lay in Yu Yuan's words, they held little significance for him.

After all, he was aware that Yu Yuan's demise was imminent.

Not just Yu Yuan, but Bai Shenshen and all the young herbalists present were doomed to a tragic fate.

"He's a promising seedling, yet it's a pity he emerged at the wrong time, with only average talent," Zanas mused to himself.

Then, he witnessed the slow descent of the miasma cloud, which inevitably reached them.

"Puchi!"

The spiritual energy wall, created by the nine flags, met the miasma cloud and corroded as though it were being eaten away by powerful acid.

Far from alarmed, Zanas was actually pleased. He chuckled and said, "Take care, everyone."

With those words, he transformed into a streak of light and instantly escaped the confines of the nine flags.

The breach in the spiritual energy wall, made by the miasma, was quickly penetrated by drifting clusters of the substance.

Surprisingly, once inside, the clusters of miasma cloud dispersed in all directions.

A clump of dark green miasma, viscous like a liquid, suddenly clung to a tall young herbalist.

The herbalist, at the Soul Awakening level with seven pill flame insignias on his chest, began to scream in terror, pleading for salvation.

Greenish flames sparked within the miasma, engulfing him in a fierce blaze.

After a few cries for help, he fell silent, his body charred to a crisp.

"Ah!"

Another scream echoed as a girl in a red dress was enveloped by a cluster of blue miasma. She managed a single shriek before abruptly falling silent.

A dense, nauseating stench of blood emanated from the blue miasma, making one's stomach churn.

More miasma clouds poured through the corroded openings, spreading out and seeming to hunt down the life essence of the trapped herbalists from the various empires.

Dozens of young herbalists, of varying ranks and levels, were struck down in succession.

Even Bai Shenshen of Sacred Hands could not avoid her fate. In the center of the flags, she flitted like a wisp of smoke, constantly shifting her position in a desperate attempt to evade the onslaught.

But the miasma clouds continued to seep in, relentlessly filling the space within the nine flags' reach.

By that time, Bai Shenshen would have no place to hide.

"Senior Zanas!" Bai Shenshen cried out sharply, "Even as a cultivator of the Binders of Shadows, rampaging through the Serpent Spine Mountains and the Sacred Hands will not go without consequences!"

"The Order of Healing's overseer is en route to the Serpent Spine Mountains as we speak. Your aggression towards us will not be overlooked by the Order of Healing!"

It was common knowledge that while the Binders of Shadows might not fear the Sacred Hands, they would still need to show due respect to the Order of Healing, revered across the three continents.

Bai Shenshen was also aware that the Binders of Shadows' rise to power was not without the support of the Order of Healing.

"The Order of Healing?"

Zanas let out a cold laugh and said, "My mentor once served the previous leader of the Order of Healing. Our sect's current standing owes much to that very leader of the Order of Healing. You've never been to the Land of Quiescence, so naturally, you're unaware that we've long since severed ties with the current Order of Healing."

His tone conveyed a mix of awe and fear when he spoke of the previous leader of the Order of Healing.

This was because his master held that individual in the highest regard, often saying that despite not pursuing the path of cultivation, their conduct, methods, and innate talent for alchemy were exceptionally remarkable.

Zanas held a deep respect for his master and, influenced by the stories he'd heard, he deeply admired and revered that former sect master.

Inside the flag enclosure, Yu Yuan watched Zanas speak with an odd smile creeping across his lips, thinking to himself, "I never expected him to be that man's disciple. It makes sense now why he would come to the Serpent Spine Mountains in secret after three hundred years. His approach, so cruel and merciless, is a spitting image of his master."

"Indeed, a teacher shapes the kind of disciple they produce."

Reflecting on the individual from the Binders of Shadows from three centuries ago, Yu Yuan felt a pang of nostalgia.

"You..."

Zanas's brow furrowed, his sneer vanishing as he fixed a piercing stare on Yu Yuan, "Why are you unharmed?"

Upon hearing the words, Bai Shenshen was the first to snap to attention. She gazed at Yu Yuan as if he were some sort of creature, incredulously asking, "Exactly, Yu Yuan, how come you're unscathed?"

The rest of the group turned their attention to him, each with a more vivid expression than the last.

The miasma clouds, which had been relentlessly assaulting their peers and Bai Shenshen, conspicuously avoided Yu Yuan. Some clouds, mere meters from him, would inexplicably veer away.

It was as though an invisible Ghoul Glyph hovered above Yu Yuan's head, a spell that the miasma clouds seemed to recognize and respect, giving him a wide berth.

This anomaly left everyone both stunned and baffled.

"I've always been extraordinarily fortunate," Yu Yuan remarked offhandedly.

His claim was met with skepticism.

After a brief hesitation, Bai Shenshen, who had been nimbly dodging the miasma, had a flash of insight and made a beeline for Yu Yuan. In a blink, she was just a meter away from his left shoulder.

A persistent miasma cloud, which had been fixated on her, naturally drifted closer.

Yet, when it came within seven meters of Yu Yuan, the cloud halted abruptly.

It was as if an eye within the miasma cloud was covertly scrutinizing Yu Yuan, assessing and hesitating.

Then, the acidic miasma cloud that had been pursuing Bai Shenshen inexplicably detoured around her, selecting a new target—a different young herbalist.

"Stay close to him!"

Following Bai Shenshen's lead, another astute young person had an epiphany.

He was the second herbalist to throw caution to the wind and rush towards Yu Yuan.

Upon entering a seven to eight-meter radius of Yu Yuan, a dark miasma cloud came to an immediate stop, just like the one before.

Seconds later, this dark miasma cloud also seemed to pick a new target, shifting its focus elsewhere.

One miasma cloud could be a fluke, but two—this could not be dismissed as mere chance.

Suddenly, the realization dawned on the others. The remaining young herbalists, still alive and under the threat of the miasma cloud, began to cry out and desperately moved closer to Yu Yuan.

Before long, six young people, their hearts pounding and breaths ragged with fear, stood huddled around Yu Yuan.

Among the nine flags, a few others attempted to join them but were ensnared by the toxic miasma mid-way. At that moment, they were either lifeless or emitting agonized screams.

The remaining herbalists in the vicinity of Yu Yuan instinctively moved closer to him.

It seemed to be the only way they could find some peace of mind.

Drawn by Zanas, the miasma cloud that had drifted from a distance finally poured in through the eroded opening.

The space at the center of the nine flags was slowly engulfed by the miasma clouds. Yet, the area around Yu Yuan remained eerily clear, forming a small pocket of safety untouched by the miasma.

"Kid?" Zanas sensed something amiss. Squinting his eyes and with a chilling tone, he asked, "Where do you hail from? Are you in possession of any rare treasures? Why haven't those poison clouds enveloped and killed you?"

"I'm not sure," Yu Yuan replied, touching his nose. "Perhaps you should be more concerned with your own situation."

"What?" Zanas was taken aback.

Suddenly, an unexpected transformation began!

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