C241 There Were Seven Mountains in the Yuan Yang!
A shadowy figure emerged quietly between Liu Zaihe's brows, twisting and coalescing into a second Liu Zaihe. This version, born from his forehead, suddenly gained clarity and desperately sought to explain something to Chen Qingyan from a distance.
Chen Qingyan caught a glimpse and immediately recognized that this Liu Zaihe, emerging from between his brows, was the true embodiment of his three souls. "Your purpose has been served," she declared.
With a radiant smile, Liu Zaihe extended his left index finger and pressed it to his forehead. To the onlookers, the gesture seemed inconsequential, but through Chen Qingyan's eyes, the shadow of Liu Zaihe's brow housed a towering Mountain of Flames, a colossal structure not of natural stone but of endless red crystals.
The mountain stood majestic, surrounded by burning clouds that threatened to ignite the soul with a mere glance. Millions of red lightning bolts intertwined around the Mountain of Flames, while three immense suns—real or illusory—floated above its peak, casting their divine glow upon it.
As he pressed down, the atmosphere turned miraculous, and the world seemed to shift. The shadowy Liu Zaihe, who had been eager to explain himself to Chen Qingyan, now closed his eyes in despair upon witnessing such an Otherworld revealed at his fingertips.
"Chi!" The true soul of Liu Zaihe, the dark shadow formed by the three souls of heaven, earth, and man, was penetrated by the psionic power of extreme Yang and burst into flames. Within ten breaths, all traces of his existence were incinerated.
"That feels much better," Liu Zaihe said with a hearty laugh, his face aglow as he casually placed his hands behind his back. Addressing Chen Qingyan with an air of nonchalance, he continued, "Chenchen, the Ebon Star is dealing with traitors, and I've come to Banish Evil. Your visit to the Serpent Spine Mountains is merely for travel, to broaden your knowledge of herbal medicine as your master advised."
"There's no conflict of interest between us. Speaking of your master, he's quite protective of his charges, isn't he? Rest assured, I have no intention of causing you trouble."
"Everything in the valley is yours for the taking, save for the Ebon Star traitors and that girl," he said with a mix of arrogance and nonchalance.
By now, Chen Qingyan had regained her composure and inquired, "Senior, from which mountain of the Sunlit Order do you hail?"
The vision Liu Zaihe conjured with his gesture was unmistakably a fiery representation of Sunlit Mountain. How could Chen Qingyan not recognize it? The person concealed within Liu Zaihe was from the Sunlit Order, an organization on par with their Sword Sect and the Ebon Star. She discerned not only that the individual was a cultivator from the Sunlit Order but also that he was in the Spirit Walk state.
The Lunar Spirit, using the Sunlit Order's mystique, had taken refuge within Liu Zaihe's body, likely without his initial awareness. He might have even attributed his newfound vitality to recent advancements in his cultivation, optimistically anticipating a swift breakthrough.
A formidable Lunar Spirit had stealthily infiltrated Liu Zaihe's body through arcane means, creating such delusions. Until the Lunar Spirit chose to reveal itself, Liu Zaihe would be brimming with unfounded confidence.
Unbeknownst to him, the silent guidance of the Lunar Spirit could manipulate and alter his judgment and actions, leading him to make decisions against his will, mistakenly believing they stemmed from his subconscious or intuition—when in reality, they were the subtle influences of the Lunar Spirit.
The Hu family had been lured to Gloomhollow under false pretenses, resulting in the tragic demise of their counselors. This was surely not Liu Zaihe's intent. He himself was bewildered, unable to grasp the situation.
At the very end, when Liu Zaihe's true phantom materialized on his forehead, he must have come to a sudden realization, understanding the sequence of events and recognizing that he was not responsible for the Hu family's deaths—it was the intruding Lunar Spirit of the Sunlit Order. Regrettably, by then, it was too late for him to defend himself.
Liu Zaihe perished.
"Sunlit Order!"
"To think that someone from the Sunlit Order, one of the three great upper sects of Euwrea, has come to the Serpent Spine Mountains!"
"The Serpent Spine Mountains border the Crimson Sun Empire, and legend has it that the Sunlit Order is the empire's most formidable ally!"
Mei Qiurong of Ebon Star Sect, Chen Qingyan of Sword Sect, and now another formidable figure from the Sunlit Order. What secrets could possibly lie within the Serpent Spine Mountains and Gloomhollow?"
Those who remained alive were in despair, their cries of anguish unceasing.
"Sunlit Order!"
As Yu Yuan watched Liu Zaihe speak with poise and assurance, she inwardly screamed in fury.
The diminutive and frail girl was impaled through the chest by a crimson short spear, suspended high on the rock face, occasionally twitching but unable to free herself from the spear's grip.
Her head drooped, and her hands hung limply, indicating the severity of her wounds.
The crimson short spear relentlessly expelled energy, continuing to ravage her body and inflict pain.
This was done to compound her injuries, preventing her from using her remarkable healing abilities to quickly recover and gain the strength and opportunity to escape.
Despite her ferocity, she could have rapidly healed given her extraordinary talent, if not for the continuous assault.
Had she not been caught off guard and ambushed in a moment of mental disarray and vulnerability, she would not have been so grievously harmed.
"My name is Wu Xiting, hailing from Mensend Hill."
Liu Zaihe, now more imposing in stature due to his surging vitality, responded to Chen Qingyan's inquiry with a chuckle, "Mensend Hill may not be particularly renowned among the seven peaks of the Sunlit Order. Given your brief time on the continent of Euwrea, your master probably hasn't shared much about our hill, so you might not have heard of me."
Chen Qingyan nodded in acknowledgment. "I see, Mr. Wu from Mensend Hill."
The Sunlit Order consists of seven great mountains, with Sunlit Mountain at the forefront.
The Sunlit Order derives its name from this central peak.
Besides Sunlit Mountain, the order includes Churchsor Hill, Haunted Hills, Mount Solarian, Phoenix Ridge, Mensend Hill, and Blackwood Hill.
These seven mountains embody the full might and heritage of the Sunlit Order!
Each mountain has its own distinct lineage and cultivation methods, each with its own wonders and specialties.
Yet, all the other six mountains defer to the leadership of Sunlit Mountain.
Whenever it's time for a new sect master to take the helm, the seven mountains engage in fierce competition. The leader of the victorious mountain ascends to the Sunlit Order, becoming the newly appointed sect master.
Mensend Hill might not be particularly renowned within the Sunlit Order, especially in recent years.
Chen Qingyan's master seldom mentioned Mensend Hill when discussing the Sunlit Order.
Wu Xiting had claimed unfamiliarity with it, and indeed, that was the case.
Nonetheless, Mensend Hill, while not ranking among the top seven mountains of the Sunlit Order, still held a significant presence on the Euwrea Continent.
The cultivators from Mensend Hill stood a cut above those from the seven lower sects of Euwrea.
On the Aetherius Continent, Wu Xiting, hailing from the Sunlit Order's Mensend Hill, was considered an individual of extraordinary honor.
"Let's skip the formalities," Wu Xiting laughed heartily. "Meeting here must be fate! Chenchen, you just observe for now. We'll handle these trifles in the valley first. Afterwards, if there's anything you desire, just let us know. We'll certainly extend your master the courtesy he deserves."
"Yes, Chenchen, you just stand by and watch," Mei Qiurong added with a smile.
In their view, with the two of them working together, and the girl now under control, the situation in the valley would soon be resolved.
Chen Qingyan furrowed her brow in silence.
"Kid!" Wu Xiting flashed a grin, turning his attention back to Yu Yuan in the valley. "I knew there was something off about you when I was in Liu Zaihe's body. How do you know that girl? Heh, we at the Sunlit Order also stumbled upon this by chance. Some of our disciples were once attacked by her while searching for herbs in the Serpent Spine Mountains years ago."
"Back then, she was still bound by a seal beneath the marsh and didn't exhibit anything extraordinary."
"Years later, when another disciple of our Sunlit Order returned to the Serpent Spine Mountains, he discovered her rapid growth and the signs that she was breaking free from the seal. Heh, that caught the attention of someone important, who then shared the news with me."
"I wasn't in any rush. I instructed him to keep observing. After several more years, her astonishing intelligence and the fearsome nature of her poison became apparent, and that's when I decided to act."
He paused, narrowing his eyes with a smile as he looked at Yu Yuan.
I've waited many years to get her out and take her away. How about you? How old are you? When have you ever been to the Serpent Spine Mountains, and how did you come to be connected with her?
Wu Xiting was brimming with curiosity.
Inside Liu Zaihe, he watched in silence as Zanas drew out the toxic miasma.
Through Liu Zaihe's perspective, he observed many things, deepening his confusion.
The concept of reincarnation was exceedingly secretive in the Everlands, leaving barely a trace. Thus, he hadn't considered it.
In Yu Yuan's body, there wasn't another soul that clashed with his vitality, Mindscape, or spirit.
So, Yu Yuan wasn't like him, possessed by a Lunar Spirit.
All these mysteries compounded his confusion, driving him to uncover the truth.
"Mr. Wu, he's my friend," Chen Qingyan interjected.
"Friend?" Wu Xiting chuckled in disbelief. "I've been here since he arrived. You two have just met; where does this profound friendship come from? And how could his origins and family possibly qualify him to be your friend? But alright, Chenchen, my curiosity is harmless. I'll spare his life for you."
"Shall we deal with the others first?" Mei Qiurong proposed.
Wu Xiting glanced at the cave entrance where Yu Yuan stood, aware that Ann Jieshan was concealed beneath the ground.
After a moment's contemplation, he nodded and said, "The Sacred Hands and the Order of Healing share a deep connection. The Order of Healing's emissaries are likely on their way to Gloomhollow. Neither my Sunlit Order nor your Ebon Star wants to provoke the Order of Healing, so let's avoid letting them discover our actions."
At these words, Loong Tianxiao and Guan Xianyun in the valley visibly tensed.
Guan Xianyun from the Binders of Shadows inhaled sharply, his fear of the Shadowflame Blight Array dissipating. He produced three spells, affixing them to his forehead, chest, and lower elixir field, before charging into the valley.
The spells were placed in alignment with the upper, middle, and lower elixir fields, respectively.
He was determined to use the spell talismans to shield his critical points. Even at the risk of his flesh being corroded by the deadly toxin, he was resolved to flee Gloomhollow. He would later devise a method to purge the poison from his system.
Clearly, the decision made by Wu Xiting and Mei Qiurong had tipped him off to their impending actions.
"Brother Guan, I must ask you to halt!"
