C252 It Is like a Father and Daughter

After the blood cloud, which was a manifestation of Ann Jieshan, escaped from the cave, it didn't charge out of the valley. Instead, the blood cloud aimlessly sought out a cave leading deep into the earth and darted inside.

The roiling miasma cloud, upon Yu Yuan's dismissal with a simple "never mind," once again settled into silence. Gloomhollow remained shrouded in thick fog and miasma. Outside, Shi Yuxuan and the cultivators from Sacred Hands and Aetherius were still unable to penetrate the valley's depths.

Anytime someone proposed to force their way into Gloomhollow, Shi Yuxuan would intercept them with a single question: "Do you possess the cultivation of a Solar Spirit?" This question alone was enough to douse their enthusiasm, leaving them instantly subdued as if splashed with cold water.

Recognizing the magnitude of the issue within Gloomhollow, Shi Yuxuan conceded that he couldn't conceal the truth. He revealed that Poison Masters from the annals of Sacred Hands were confined within the valley. He also informed them about the Shadowflame Blight Array, constructed with the assistance of the Order of Healing, which could thwart any cultivator below the rank of Solar Spirit.

He mentioned the Gloomhollow's unpredictable Nightstorm, a perilous wind whose origins were unknown and which blew intermittently. Those aware of the Nightstorm's ferocity spoke of its fearsome nature, instilling even greater dread of Gloomhollow among the people. Consequently, no one gathered outside the valley dared to venture in. They could only wait passively, hoping for a change to occur within the valley.

...

Deep within the cave, in the Dragon Cave, Chen Qingyan gripped the Snakeskin Scabbard as a verdant flame rose from within her, purifying and refining the rapier forged from dragon bone.

Ann Jieshan, along with Wu Xiting and the Mark of the Celestials, had already departed the cave. Yu Yuan had ascertained Ann Jieshan's path and surmised that after his prolonged subterranean movements, he must have located an extremely concealed tunnel—a passage he had originally reserved for his own escape.

With Ann Jieshan gone, Mei Qiurong deceased, and the Mark of the Celestials lost, the Ebon Star faced a devastating blow.

Wu Xiting, harboring deceitful intentions, failed to take the gaunt young girl with him when he left Gloomhollow. Having been pierced by Chen Qingyan's blade, the chilling power continued to wreak havoc within him, allowing the Nightstorm to seep into his Mindscape.

His soul was incomplete, and even the formidable Ebon Star sect struggled to refine Ann Jieshan, who had transformed into a non-human entity.

Yu Yuan, too, found this entity enigmatic.

Yet, he was certain that with Ann Jieshan's protection, Wu Xiting, the rising star heavily favored by the Colddeath sect, would not perish.

They might survive, but not without suffering great losses.

"Hu! Hu! Hu!"

Loong Tianxiao's soul, now diminished to a spirit snake, seemed to regain a spark of life after Ann Jieshan's departure.

He wriggled slightly, eyeing Chen Qingyan with a mix of greed and fear.

Gradually, he expanded a bit in size as the residual force Ann Jieshan had imposed on his soul rapidly weakened with the distance growing between them.

Once Loong Tianxiao regained the ability to speak, his first words were, "Yu Yuan, is that sword in the girl's hand crafted by a frost wyrm?"

Yu Yuan gave him a sidelong glance and huffed, "Didn't I warn you against coming to Gloomhollow?"

Loong Tianxiao paused, nodding forlornly, "You did warn me, but who could have imagined that such formidable creatures would lurk within the modest Gloomhollow? The Ebon Star, the Sunlit Order, the Colddeath – these renowned sects from the Land of Quiescence and Euwrea, why would they concern themselves with Gloomhollow?"

As he spoke, he stole a covert glance at the slender girl.

The girl stood steadfastly by Yu Yuan's side, gazing up at him, her eyes blinking, the green glint within them flickering with curiosity as she studied Yu Yuan, seemingly insatiable in her observation.

"And you, you rascal, what kind of anomaly are you?" Loong Tianxiao grumbled inwardly.

"Loong Tianxiao, Mr. Loong!" Yu Yuan called out sharply.

"Right here!" Loong Tianxiao responded promptly.

"You've sustained serious injuries, and your time in the Serpent Spine Mountains yielded little. If you wish to seek vengeance in the future, I can show you a clear path. Would you be willing to listen?" Yu Yuan proposed earnestly.

"What path are you referring to?" Loong Tianxiao inquired, his demeanor regaining composure and taking on a gravely serious tone.

"Her!" Yu Yuan gestured towards Chen Qingyan.

Loong Tianxiao glanced over, initially bewildered, and asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

"To serve her as your master," Yu Yuan suggested earnestly, his eyes narrowing. "If you can relinquish your former glory and abandon your pride and self-respect, and serve her as a devoted servant, I believe you can reclaim everything you've lost. Mr. Loong, trust me, I have no intention of deceiving you."

"Her?" Loong Tianxiao gazed at Chen Qingyan, momentarily lost in thought. "I would willingly serve her master, but her?"

"You might have been worthy of serving her master in your prime, but are you oblivious to your current plight, Loong Tianxiao?" Yu Yuan said with a sneer. "Your body has been destroyed, leaving only your residual soul clinging to life. How could you possibly serve her master now?"

With those words, Loong Tianxiao bowed his head and let out a bitter sigh. "Indeed, I'm not worthy anymore."

"She is the hand-chosen disciple of that individual," Yu Yuan stated solemnly, taking a deep breath. "Even though she's a direct disciple, their relationship is likely to evolve into one of both mentor and peer."

"What?" exclaimed Loong Tianxiao, taken aback.

"At your age, you've really lost your way," Yu Yuan chided sharply. "You share the blood of the Nagas. Can't you sense the immense strength of the frost wyrm, or recognize the boundless potential within her?"

Loong Tianxiao paused, still puzzled, and replied, "All I know is that the sword was transformed from the frost wyrm."

He believed that it must have been Chen Qingyan's master who had stealthily orchestrated everything, capturing and slaying the frost wyrm lurking in the Frozen Hellscape.

The essence and life force of the frost wyrm had become the Snakeskin Scabbard in Chen Qingyan's possession, with the dragon's bones interred at this site.

But then, why was the corpse of the frost wyrm found in the Dragon Cave?

"Do you really think the frost wyrm is dead?" Yu Yuan probed further.

"Isn't that the case?" Loong Tianxiao asked, a look of surprise crossing his face.

"A sword born from a deceased frost wyrm, and yet a mere swing of it has grievously wounded Wu Xiting?" Yu Yuan scoffed. "Wu Xiting is a rising star, secretly nurtured by the Colddeath sect, with a cultivation level in the middle stage of Spirit Walk! What level is Chen Qingyan at, that she could inflict such damage on a powerhouse with a single stroke?"

Loong Tianxiao was taken aback by the revelation. "So the frost wyrm was never dead, but merely separated from its spirit body?"

Yu Yuan gave a slight nod in confirmation.

"The frost wyrm willingly separated from its spirit body! After her arrival, it transformed into a sword for her use?" Loong Tianxiao pondered, recalling the eerie green flames that spontaneously emerged from Chen Qingyan's body. "Those chilling green flames within her, they must originate from the deepest, most frigid depths of the Frozen Hellscape."

Yu Yuan remained silent.

A light of intense excitement and realization dawned in Loong Tianxiao's eyes, and he burst into hearty laughter.

"You stay here in the Dragon Cave, watching over her," Yu Yuan said, his mouth curving into a wry smile. "Though 'watching over' isn't quite right—it's more like waiting. Her instincts, along with that sword, are her true protectors. You, on the other hand, are far too weak to be considered her guardian."

"And what about you?" Loong Tianxiao asked, puzzled.

"We're leaving," Yu Yuan responded.

"The two of you?" Loong Tianxiao's face registered his astonishment as he glanced at the thin, dark-skinned girl. "Both of you?"

Yu Yuan simply smiled and nodded.

The girl's face was adorned with a faint, sweet smile.

"Yu Yuan, what exactly is going on with you? How should I explain this to Chenchen?" Loong Tianxiao pressed for answers.

"Don't mention any of this. Just say that Ann Jieshan is likely to take Wu Xiting and the Mark of the Celestials to the Land of Quiescence," Yu Yuan instructed before heading out of the cave.

The girl followed him, matching his steps.

Loong Tianxiao watched the enigmatic pair depart from the most fearsome cave in the valley. As their figures faded into the distance, he was left with a strange and complex feeling—the two of them shared a bond akin to that of a father and daughter.

He shook his head, chuckling at the absurdity of his own thoughts.

"That little girl, she's an ancient Mutant, not of human kind. Even if she takes on the form of a human girl, she must have lived for a century, perhaps even longer. How could she and Yu Yuan share a father-daughter bond when she has outlived him by so much?"

Loong Tianxiao's expression was a mix of amusement and disbelief.

...

Seven days later.

The dense miasma cloud that had shrouded Gloomhollow began to dissipate on its own.

As the smoke cleared outside the valley, onlookers could see the colorful miasma seeping into the earth and the rock wall's caverns, its destination unknown.

Beyond the bright yellow barrier of the Shadowflame Blight Array, Shi Yuxuan and the others could not spot any living beings within the valley.

Several hours passed.

Even the Shadowflame Blight Array, which had eluded Shi Yuxuan's control, ceased to function as the miasma and toxic smog no longer sustained it.

Gloomhollow was now completely accessible.

Shi Yuxuan, leading the way, stepped into the valley. He moved like a wraith, darting about the area.

Herbalists and cultivators from Sacred Hands, along with individuals from Aetherius, scoured the valley for any sign of life.

Yet, in the vast Gloomhollow, they found nothing but corpses and skeletal remains devoid of flesh—no survivors.

Mei Qiurong, Chen Qingyan, Yu Yuan, Guan Xianyun, and the others previously seen had all vanished without a trace.

It was unclear whether they had perished, becoming one of the many skeletons on the ground, or had escaped through some hidden passage from Gloomhollow or even the Serpent Spine Mountains.

With a deep breath, Shi Yuxuan flew into a cave and descended into a cell below.

Before long, he emerged back into the valley.

"Sect Master?" someone inquired.

"All the Poison Masters who were imprisoned have been reduced to bones; they're all dead," Shi Yuxuan announced gravely to those gathered. "There's no trace of poison here, nor anywhere else. You're free to search and see if our Sacred Hands might be concealing any malevolent entities."

At his behest, the crowd dispersed, each employing their mystique or spiritual energy to probe the area, allowing the Lunar Spirit to conduct its silent surveillance.

After spending half a day in Gloomhollow, everyone came up empty-handed.

The battle that took place in Gloomhollow remained an unsolvable mystery, vexing all who pondered it.

...