C247 Unreasonable!

Chen Qingyan inwardly unleashed a torrent of curses.

Her gaze towards Yu Yuan was one of unmistakable irritation and accusation. "Why? Why must you reveal everything?"

She found Yu Yuan's actions utterly incomprehensible!

Initially, there had been a chance for peaceful coexistence. Wu Xiting, out of respect for their shared history and wary of Mo Baichuan's influence, would have allowed both her and Yu Yuan to remain safe without exposing their identities.

But now...

Yu Yuan's cogent and methodical indictment had transformed Wu Xiting's initial bewilderment and rage into a chilling silence and composure.

He drew in a deep breath and, without uttering another word, turned his attention to the Primal Flame Mirror, observing the incineration of souls within.

"Puchi! Puchi!"

The Primal Flame Mirror, suspended in the heavens, shone ever more intensely as the souls of the mighty were consumed by flame.

The crimson flames that rose from its surface exuded a fearsome aura, causing both Loong Tianxiao and Guan Xianyun to shudder uncontrollably.

They had overheard Yu Yuan's subsequent remarks.

Whether it was Loong Tianxiao or Guan Xianyun, both were instantly convinced of Yu Yuan's assessment, recognizing the high probability of its truth.

If Wu Xiting had no ulterior motives, it would be uncharacteristic of the three great upper sects of Euwrea to act so drastically in Gloomhollow!

He would not have intended to massacre all the cultivators from the various empires of Aetherius!

After all, the numerous sects and noble families of Aetherius had longstanding ties with the upper sects!

Even the Sunlit Order would consider its reputation and avoid extreme measures.

However, if Wu Xiting was originally from the Colddeath Sect or had secretly practiced their arcane spells, then his actions would make sense.

The followers of the Colddeath Sect were known for such deeds!

This was precisely why the Colddeath Sect was shunned across both Euwrea and the Land of Quiescence.

"Bang!"

All of a sudden, clusters of blood clouds stealthily emerged from the Primal Flame Mirror.

The clouds, thick with the acrid scent of blood, surged towards Guan Xianyun and Loong Tianxiao. Within them, fine threads of crimson lightning crackled, accompanied by the faint rumble of thunder.

Employing such tactics, he had seamlessly merged the arcane secrets of Colddeath with the Sunlit Order's spells.

With a thunderous crash, Loong Tianxiao's dragon form, which alternated between shrinking and stretching out, was slammed into the earth by the blood clouds.

Before the eyes of Yu Yuan and Chen Qingyan, dozens of golden scales on Loong Tianxiao's resplendent dragon body burst into oblivion.

In an instant, streams of golden light spilled from the dragon's lacerations.

Loong Tianxiao let out a roar of agony.

His serpentine body rapidly contracted, transforming into a slender golden snake, and in a desperate bid to survive, it darted into an underground cavern.

Wu Xiting, his face a mask of icy detachment, silently gestured towards the cave's entrance.

The golden radiance emanating from Loong Tianxiao's dragon form was shrouded by the blood clouds, as if dissecting his dragon's breath and remnant soul, and swiftly followed into the cavern.

Within the Primal Flame Mirror, a delicate and agile figure, glimmering like gold, silently emerged.

The trajectory of Loong Tianxiao's Dragon Soul through the subterranean cavern was vividly illuminated, leaving no place to hide.

Watching the blood clouds descend into the underground cavern, Wu Xiting appeared at ease, convinced of Loong Tianxiao's certain demise, and turned his gaze back to Guan Xianyun of the Binders of Shadows.

Guan Xianyun managed a wry smile and spoke, "As a fellow member of Colddeath, might you spare my life? The Binders of Shadows is not far from your sect's sacred grounds. Perhaps our paths may cross again in the days to come."

Wu Xiting regarded him, shaking his head without a trace of emotion.

The Primal Flame Mirror remained still.

The bodies of the Aetherius cultivators who had perished by the Primal Flame Mirror suddenly burst apart.

Lifeblood soared from the shattered corpses, drawn and kneaded by an enigmatic force, coalescing into an immense blood orb beneath the mirror in a mesmerizing display.

The orb pulsed with a sinister crimson glow that was unsettling to behold, throbbing as if it were both a blood-drenched sun and a giant, pulsating heart.

"Enough, enough," Guan Xianyun sighed, as the Ghoul Glyphs around him scattered, fluttering away like spectral butterflies.

Thousands of Ghoul Glyphs soared towards the massive blood orb.

Wu Xiting, with a sardonic smile, shook his head once more.

The Ghoul Glyphs hadn't even neared the blood orb before they were perforated by the crimson beams shooting out from within. The rune circles etched into the glyphs shattered in an instant.

Deprived of the rune circles' enhancement, the Ghoul Glyphs ignited, reducing to mere cinders.

The enormous blood orb hovered in the void, materializing above Guan Xianyun's head.

Guan Xianyun stood dumbfounded for a few seconds. Suddenly, a Lunar Spirit burst forth from the crown of his head, seemingly shielded by a bizarre spell, and with inconceivable velocity, it darted away.

In that moment, the thick miasma naturally dissipated, and the Shadowflame Blight Array cunningly parted to create an opening.

With the strange spell's acceleration, Guan Xianyun's Lunar Spirit effortlessly broke free from Gloomhollow and reached the valley's exterior in a single breath.

Inside the deep valley, Chen Qingyan's expression was one of utter astonishment and confusion.

At last, someone had managed to break out of Gloomhollow.

Guan Xianyun of the Binders of Shadows!

"Phew!"

Shi Yuxuan, who had been wandering the valley unable to find entry, along with many cultivators from Sacred Hands and various sects escorting their juniors, watched as a peculiar rune escorted a Lunar Spirit out of Gloomhollow.

Shi Yuxuan exclaimed, "Halt!"

"Senior from the Binders of Shadows, please pause and inform us of the valley's conditions!" another voice called out.

"What has transpired within the valley?"

"Senior!"

Regardless of the persistent inquiries from the cultivators outside the valley, Guan Xianyun's Lunar Spirit, enveloped in the spell, continued its desperate flight.

One individual gazed at Guan Xianyun's Lunar Spirit and furrowed his brow lightly.

This was the same person who had arrived with Liu Zaihe, who now stood quietly behind him.

He observed the Lunar Spirit, then the valley, and after a brief hesitation, his figure vanished on the spot.

Gone in the blink of an eye.

Shi Yuxuan sensed something was amiss and peered at the spot where the man had vanished. "That man looked quite unfamiliar. Who is he? And why was Liu Zaihe standing behind him?"

"Hmm? Where did he go? He was just here a moment ago!" an elder from the Sacred Hands exclaimed.

"He employed some sort of bizarre escape technique and vanished in the blink of an eye," Shi Yuxuan said with a furrowed brow. "Has anyone here seen him before? Does anyone know who he is?"

Everyone shook their heads, indicating they neither recognized him nor knew his origins.

"Liu Zaihe had the Wyrmwhisker Poison Pill on him and had been following him. Yet, when Chenchen acted, taking control of Liu Zaihe and heading towards Gloomhollow, he didn't step in," Shi Yuxuan mused with a hint of doubt. "I had assumed Liu Zaihe was merely coincidentally behind him and unrelated, but now..."

Shi Yuxuan concentrated, trying to sense the man's presence, but found no trace of his vitality or remnant soul.

It was as if the man had vanished into thin air, leaving no sign that he had ever been there.

...

"Elder Wu, someone from the Binders of Shadows has fled. In my view, perhaps we should call it quits?" Qingyan suggested, her expression shifting as she watched Guan Xianyun leave, and the Shadowflame Blight Array seemingly let him pass unchallenged.

"With someone alive, word is bound to get out. As you know, my master is unlike the others in the Sword Sect; she still thrives in the Land of Quiescence," Qingyan hurriedly explained. Her implication was clear: since Guan Xianyun lived and the Lunar Spirit had escaped, there was no need for Wu Xiting to eliminate everyone.

After all, the truth would eventually come to light.

If Wu Xiting was indeed from the Colddeath Sect, once this affair was settled, he could simply retreat to the Land of Quiescence and take refuge with the Colddeath Sect.

As long as he remained hidden, the Sunlit Order was unlikely to confront the Colddeath Sect over Wu Xiting alone.

Her master had, for various reasons, been quite active in the Land of Quiescence in her earlier years, cultivating complex relationships with certain individuals from the Ruby Hand, Colddeath Sect, Devil Palace, and Shadow's Keep.

Qingyan's message to Wu Xiting was that, given the circumstances, it might be wiser to show leniency.

Yet Wu Xiting paid her no heed.

Not even Guan Xianyun's escape from Gloomhollow, facilitated by a peculiar talisman and her assistance, could sway Wu Xiting's resolve.

What truly altered Wu Xiting's demeanor was Yu Yuan at that moment!

Yu Yuan, clutching the crimson short spear, had stealthily reached a cave devoid of swirling smoke while Wu Xiting was preoccupied with attacking Loong Tianxiao and Guan Xianyun. This cave was the very spot where Yu Yuan had once swayed on unsteady legs, conversing with Mei Qiurong.

Moreover, this cave was the origin of the Nightstorm!

Upon entering the cave, Yu Yuan, gripping his short spear, turned and flashed a grin at Wu Xiting.

The smile was chilling and eerie, instilling an intense sense of dread in Wu Xiting.

He couldn't fathom why this peculiar young man always managed to unsettle him, making him feel uncomfortable and sensing an underlying, significant threat.

Especially now!

Yu Yuan's grin sent shivers down his spine. Before he could even react, Yu Yuan, still holding the short spear, vanished into the cave!

In the instant Yu Yuan disappeared, the delicate bond between him and the red short spear abruptly severed!

Wu Xiting's face darkened, his eyes swiftly turning a blood red as he glared at the cave's entrance.

Unknown to others, that short spear was a rare treasure intrinsically linked to his life, more crucial than the Primal Flame Mirror. It was the cornerstone of his survival and the source of his formidable strength!

He had nurtured and tempered the short spear for years using a special mystique and his own vitality. As long as it remained connected to him, he could execute Yu Yuan in a heartbeat when the moment was right.

His composure stemmed from the persistent connection to the short spear. Even after the spear had gravely wounded the slender girl and unleashed a barrage of scarlet lightning against Yu Yuan, leaving it temporarily weakened.

He wasn't worried because he was covertly channeling fresh vitality and fiery energy into the short spear.

The creation of the massive blood orb was also to energize the short spear, setting the stage for an unanticipated strike that would leave Yu Yuan, the spear wielder, dead.

But as Yu Yuan slipped into the cave and out of sight, the subtle link to the short spear was as if cruelly severed.

This shock was far from trivial!

"Yu Yuan!"

Casting aside all else and disregarding the Primal Flame Mirror, Wu Xiting transformed into a blood shadow and hurled himself towards the cave.

"Seriously? With the Nightstorm surging from there, isn't that a death wish? Yu Yuan's decision to enter is clearly a provocation, a bait to lure him in!" Chen Qingyan watched, utterly astonished.

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