C231 Provocation

Outside Gloomhollow, Chen Qingyan, adorned with a green veil, clutched her Snakeskin Scabbard. Her eyes, clear and bright, remained fixed on the valley below.

Time slipped by swiftly.

Since Yu Yuan had ventured into Gloomhollow, Qingyan found herself unable to sense or track his movements. The Shadowflame Blight Array and the dense miasma clouds had obscured her vision and thwarted her spiritual sense.

She was left with no choice but to wait.

"Asvetaesi, Yu Yuan..." She harbored many unresolved questions, prompting her to stay rather than depart hastily, in hopes of finding answers.

Only Yu Yuan's safe return could provide her with the clarity she sought.

"Hmm?" Qingyan turned abruptly, her eyebrows arching in puzzlement.

She sensed a multitude of people converging on their location rapidly, seemingly aware that something was amiss with Gloomhollow. Among them was Liu Zaihe, who had narrowly escaped death by poisoning.

Shortly thereafter, a middle-aged man, resplendent in an opulent silver robe and a feathered crest, came into view.

The newcomer, astride a snow-white crane, bore the countenance of a celestial being.

"Uncle Shi," Qingyan greeted, her eyes alight with joy and surprise. "What brings you here in person?"

The man was none other than Shi Yuxuan, the current leader of the Sacred Hands, a practitioner in the late period of the Lunar Spirit realm, and a heavenly herbalist.

"Upon hearing of the disturbance at Gloomhollow, I made haste to come," Shi Yuxuan declared, his face etched with concern. Without delay, he cast forth a furnace.

Before Qingyan's watchful eyes, the furnace swelled in the breeze, its surface adorned with clusters of purple clouds that radiated dazzling light. In mere moments, the furnace transformed into a towering mountain of fire, buoyed by the billowing clouds, burning intensely.

Hovering over Gloomhollow, the furnace loomed above the thick, impenetrable miasma.

Then, as if on cue, a shower of fiery meteors cascaded from the heavens.

Determined to unravel the mysteries of the Shadowflame Blight Array, Shi Yuxuan, the esteemed sect master of the Sacred Hands, wasted no time in attempting to penetrate the veil of the unknown.

After him, a steady stream of people continued to pour in. Among them were cultivators from the Sacred Hands, as well as numerous seniors from various empires, accompanying their younger kin to the herbalist examination. There were also strangers whose faces Chen Qingyan did not recognize; she speculated that they might have come from Euwrea or the Land of Quiescence.

The news of the upheaval in Gloomhollow had likely spread far and wide, becoming common knowledge. In the crowd, Liu Zaihe, a scion of the King of Wraiths, appeared as if he were recovering from a grave illness, weakly trailing behind someone. When Chen Qingyan's gaze fell upon him, Liu Zaihe's face was etched with bitterness, and he let out a soft sigh. The entire Hu family had perished, and he was not without blame.

Yu Yuan had warned him and even kindly advised him, but his presence led the Hu family to disregard the warning, succumbing to his influence and insisting on venturing into Gloomhollow. Consequently, the Hu family members and their counselor perished there, and those who fled later succumbed to the poison. Liu Zaihe, having relied on other means, was fortunate to survive. How could he not harbor a sense of guilt?

"Hu! Hu! Hu!"

Deep within Gloomhollow, the vibrant miasma clouds moved as if sentient, silently neutralizing the fiery shower from the furnace. Shi Yuxuan's expression was stern as he continued to exert his power, his brow furrowed in concentration. The movement of the miasma clouds upwards allowed Chen Qingyan, with her exceptional abilities, to catch glimpses of the valley's interior. This was due to the second layer of the Shadowflame Blight Array, where the dense miasma thinned out due to its flow.

Chen Qingyan's practice of her spell was extraordinary, and with a unique item in her possession, she was able to discern some details. She first sought Yu Yuan in the valley and then noticed a figure in the deepest part of Gloomhollow. The figure seemed familiar yet was somewhat indistinct, sitting in a cave, swinging its legs casually, as if engaged in conversation. "The person speaking with him seems to be..."

Chen Qingyan's eyes narrowed to a slit, revealing the fine sword lights within, dazzling and lightning-fast as they burst forth. "Mei Qiurong of Ebon Star! Why would that petty woman show up in Gloomhollow? And what was Yu Yuan saying to her?"

She, too, was a cultivator on the Euwrea Continent, renowned as the most prominent disciple of the Sword Sect. She had encountered Mei Qiurong on several occasions at prestigious gatherings.

Upon recognizing Mei Qiurong, Qingyan grew increasingly curious about the reasons behind the palpable tension between Yu Yuan and Mei Qiurong in Gloomhollow.

...

Within the valley.

The miasma clouds churned unnaturally, and the multicolored, deadly mist at the valley's edge soared into the sky.

A rain of fire had already descended, unbeknownst to the valley's inhabitants.

All they witnessed was the miasma clouds stirring for a moment before a chilling, eerie will targeted Mei Qiurong.

Mei Qiurong's mind was in turmoil.

"Crack!"

Bolts of stark white lightning seemed to slice through the miasma clouds.

Before Mei Qiurong could react, a seven-to-eight-meter-long bone, as translucent as white jade, thrust toward her like a razor-sharp blade.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Simultaneously, from the thick miasma clouds, three broad streams—one green, one black, one purple—stretched directly towards Mei Qiurong.

"Lend me your strength!"

Mei Qiurong looked to the sky and cried out, calling upon the three from the Thunder Temple and the cultivators who had earlier pledged their allegiance to join her in battle.

She had not anticipated that the entity hidden within the miasma cloud would inexplicably shift its focus.

Ignoring those of lesser power, it targeted her first for elimination.

This defied her previous understanding!

"Loong Tianxiao!"

After issuing her command, Mei Qiurong suddenly remembered another ally. She turned and called out, "It's changed its mind—we're all targets now. We must unite! I know you have some skills, and you can hold it off for a while..."

"Sorry, I'm afraid I can't assist you," Loong Tianxiao said with a sly grin, standing at a distance. "You've got it wrong. Its primary and only target is you! I don't sense any hostility towards me at the moment, so I'll hold back and watch for now."

"You're digging your own grave," Yu Yuan taunted at the mouth of the cave. "Ladies and gentlemen, if you're eager to die, feel free to join her. Otherwise, it might be wise to wait. She's quite formidable and should keep you thoroughly entertained."

"Take a look."

Yu Yuan gestured toward the valley with a vague wave. "It seems the Sacred Hands have arrived. A little patience might just save your lives if you wait a bit longer."

It was an unabashed attempt to sow discord.

Those cultivators who had been obsequiously ingratiating themselves with Mei Qiurong just moments before now found themselves hesitating at Yu Yuan's words.

Who would choose death if there was a chance to live?

Mei Qiurong, hailing from the prestigious Ebon Star of Euwrea, commanded respect; no one dared cross her.

But what if death was imminent?

As they wavered, Mei Qiurong, the target of the attack, had already unleashed the Ebon Star's arcane technique—the Arcane God Shadow Technique—casting multiple shadows that darted around the valley.

Each shadow bore the essence of Mei Qiurong's flesh and spirit, making it nearly impossible to discern which one was truly her.

Even the figure shrouded in the toxic miasma couldn't immediately identify the real Mei Qiurong when she deployed her mystique.

Its strategy was straightforward.

Ignoring the three rivers, it sent several streams of poisonous smog from the valley and the sky, targeting every Mei Qiurong without discrimination.

There was no need to distinguish between real and fake; each one was marked for death.

"Yu Yuan!"

Suddenly, three of the Mei Qiurong figures shifted direction and converged on the cave entrance, targeting the nonchalant Yu Yuan.

Loong Tianxiao's face fell, and after a brief hesitation, he dove towards the depths of the valley.

Mei Qiurong's initial attack had been too casual, nowhere near her full potential.

Loong Tianxiao knew that a prepared Mei Qiurong, intent on Yu Yuan's demise, had an arsenal of techniques at her disposal.

He feared Yu Yuan wouldn't be able to withstand her assault.

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