C230 Playing Tricks

The cultivators from the Thunder Temple who had arrived with the woman in black listened to her words with clear malice on their faces. Deep within Gloomhollow, they had previously steered clear of the lethal plumes of poisonous smoke. And then there was the Nightstorm. Numerous deep caverns, their destinations unknown, emitted toxic fumes that fed into the Shadowflame Blight Array. Even the second layer's miasma clouds continued to channel deadly potency. Despite their formidable strength, any attempt to probe with their remnant souls or spiritual senses resulted in injury. The smoke corroded both remnant souls and spiritual senses alike.

Yu Yuan had ventured into the valley, skillfully avoiding these perilous holes, only coming to a halt behind a rock wall. At this moment, the woman in black stood inside, directing Yu Yuan to scout ahead... It appeared she had let go of Yu Yuan's previous brashness, yet what she was actually asking of him was tantamount to a death sentence. The fate of those who crossed such a woman was indeed dire. The others inwardly sighed with relief, thankful they had wisely aligned themselves with her.

From afar, Loong Tianxiao, with his human head and dragon body, hovered off the ground, arms folded. He drifted closer, his expression peculiar as he scrutinized Yu Yuan. "What will you do?" Loong Tianxiao pondered silently. Back in the Moonfall Sanctuary, Yu Yuan had earned the recognition of the Soulforge Matrix, wielding its formidable power and commanding the sword's will within the Soulforge Pool's walls. Neither the elders of the Crimson Sun Empire nor the Silvermoon Empire, including Fides and the Terra Fiend, had managed to make Yu Yuan bend to their will.

But this was the Serpent Spine Mountains, bereft of any ancient rune circle like the Soulforge Matrix for him to harness. The woman in black was no ordinary cultivator from minor families like those of the Crimson Sun or Silvermoon Empires—she hailed from the Mysterious Heaven Pavilion!

"May I inquire as to the Guru's esteemed name?" Yu Yuan asked, his demeanor suddenly serene as he bowed to the woman in black.

"Mei Qiurong," she replied, her expression cool. "Why do you ask?"

"So it's Ms. Mei," Yu Yuan acknowledged with a slight nod, though he spoke with evident reluctance. "Guru, even with the Evil Body Refining technique perfected, one isn't immune to all poisons. Asking me to scout ahead into that tunnel is tantamount to sending me to my death."

"How can you be sure without trying?" Mei Qiurong's lips quirked into a slight smile as she countered, "You don't strike me as someone with meager fortune. Why not try entering a cave? Rest assured, if you emerge unscathed and can help us find a way out alive, I'll take you to the Euwrea Continent."

Yu Yuan was taken aback by her offer.

"With your abilities, don't even dream of the three upper sects, but becoming an Outer Sect disciple in one of the seven lower sects? That I can manage," Mei Qiurong stated earnestly. "You should realize that not many in your Silvermoon Empire are selected to become disciples of the seven lower sects."

"Yet, I believe my cultivation talent is sufficient to be a hand-chosen disciple of the three great upper sects," Yu Yuan replied with earnest conviction.

His statement was met with mixed reactions, some finding it amusing, others incredulous.

Mei Qiurong couldn't help but smile. "Young man, where does this confidence come from?"

Loong Tianxiao, Guan Xianyun, Zanas, and the dark adept all wore peculiar expressions.

Then, Yu Yuan began his slow ascent up the cliff face to the one cave that wasn't belching smoke, located midway up the mountain.

Settling at the cave's entrance, he dangled his legs and his demeanor visibly relaxed. It was as if by merely sitting there, he was out of harm's way, beyond the reach of Mei Qiurong's threats.

"I'm genuinely curious," Yu Yuan remarked, his mouth twisting sardonically. "Here in the valley, you're all ensnared by the Serpent's Coils, unable to ascend to the heavens or delve into the earth, left with no option but to await death. How do you still find the time and mood to engage with someone of my lesser cultivation?"

As if in answer to his musings, the miasma above resumed its consumption.

This time, from the thick of the smog, three luminescent bone shards shot out.

For a brief moment, the bone shards separated from the miasma, falling like three streaks of pale, chilling lightning. They pierced through the bodies strewn across the valley floor, lifting them into the heavens.

The chilling sound of its feasting echoed once again.

Not a single corpse remained in the valley.

This signaled the end of one feeding frenzy and the imminent onset of another attack.

Those with lesser strength and weaker defenses were destined to be the first targets in the next onslaught.

"Ah, I see now. You believe you're strong enough that, even if it comes to dying, you'll be in the final wave?" Yu Yuan said, as if a lightbulb had gone off in his head. "I'm guessing there are more from your Ebon Star Sect than just you. You must have already covertly sent word that you're trapped here."

"You're counting on your sect mates to come and dismantle the rune circle."

"And because you're strong, it will save you for last. You're betting that you can hold out until help arrives, confident in your survival."

Having laid out his thoughts, Yu Yuan watched Mei Qiurong with a knowing smile.

Mei Qiurong's face showed a flicker of emotion.

"Then what puzzles me is why you would expose yourself and your Ebon Star affiliation if you could simply wait in safety and likely survive. Why take the risk of drawing attention to yourself here in the depths of the valley?" Yu Yuan inquired, his curiosity piqued.

Mei Qiurong's brow furrowed, but she remained silent.

"Is it that you, or the Ebon Star Sect, are after the fabled magic items of Gloomhollow, or perhaps... the Poison Master who has been imprisoned for years?" Yu Yuan hummed with a hint of accusation. "Or is it that you're after something else?"

He gestured upwards.

Mei Qiurong continued to say nothing, instead scrutinizing him with an intense gaze.

Yu Yuan met her stare unflinchingly.

After a moment, Mei Qiurong shook her head. "You're a clever lad, but it's unfortunate that you practice Evil Body Refining. No matter how much you deny it, it doesn't align with the righteous path. You're intelligent, yet you're disobedient and too clever for your own good."

Her fingers came together, forming a small sword, and she pointed at Yu Yuan.

It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck out of nowhere!

A brilliant beam of light burst forth from her fingertips, aiming straight for Yu Yuan's chest.

In the Soul Awakening Realm, there was no need to shatter the spiritual sense within the mud pellet; a burst heart would suffice to ensure death.

Perched at the mouth of the cave, Yu Yuan dangled his legs carelessly, his eyes slightly narrowed, a smile lingering on his lips.

"Pfft!"

The dazzling beam of light, mere meters from Yu Yuan's chest, abruptly extinguished mid-flight.

From the myriad caverns in the rock wall around Yu Yuan, a barely visible, smiling light seeped out, mysteriously coalescing into a barrier just as it reached him.

Mei Qiurong's casual flick of her finger failed to penetrate the barrier, which dissipated on its own.

"Ms. Mei, you think you'll be the final target," Yu Yuan said with a smile. "You're mistaken. It's no mere object; it possesses intelligence and will adapt accordingly."

No sooner had he spoken than Mei Qiurong's eyes widened in alarm as she gazed skyward.

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