C301 Shen Feiqing
The night had faded away.
The radiant sun was gradually ascending into the sky.
As the sky brightened completely, the Fallen Star Eyes that stood out in the night grew increasingly elusive, nearly impossible to spot with the naked eye.
Approaching the Fallen Star Eyes, Yu Yuan on the mid-lake island could no longer discern them clearly.
The Lakeheart Mirror, manifested by Yu Zhu's power on the tranquil lake surface, shifted scenes with a gesture from Zhou Cangmin, revealing an entirely different location.
It was a battlefield relic.
Amidst the withered yellow terrain lay broken walls and enormous skeletal remains, interspersed with jagged rare stones.
Yu Yuan's brows quivered at the sight, and he silently communicated with Yu Zhu through their remnant souls.
He inquired about the peculiarities of this place.
"The Forgotten Ruins were named by Feiqing's master," the High Oracle explained, unfazed by the proximity of the Fallen Star Eyes, "It's called a ruin because Feiqing's master discovered numerous signs of ancient battles. I've explored it myself and believe that, long ago, there was a majestic city akin to Asvetaesi deep within the Forgotten Ruins."
"Yet, there's no mention of this place in the annals of either the Sunblessed Empire or the Silvermoon Empire."
"Currently, the cultivators within the Forgotten Ruins are hiding even deeper, and no significant powers or organizations have emerged from within."
"This area..."
He gestured towards the Lakeheart Mirror, which displayed the battlefield ruins, "I stumbled upon this remarkable place. Those giant skeletons are clearly not human."
"Archdemon remains," Yu Yuan acknowledged.
"Exactly, the bones of archdemons," Zhou Cangmin confirmed, "Such immense skeletons of evilkind suggest that the evilkind involved in the battle were far from ordinary. Before humans rose to dominate the Everlands, the Nagas and evilkind reigned supreme across Aetherius."
"In the depths of the Forgotten Ruins, where the archdemon skeletons lie, it's highly probable that..."
He left his sentence hanging.
After a moment of contemplation, Yu Yuan added, "Are you suggesting that the Mysterious Realm within the Forgotten Ruins is connected to the evilkind? If so, this Mysterious Realm must be incredibly ancient."
"It's mere speculation," the High Oracle said with a smile.
In that moment, Yu Zhu's remnant soul communicated her thoughts.
Yu Yuan caught on immediately and informed Zhou Cangmin, "She's already scouted that area. There's definitely something odd about it."
Zhou Cangmin and Xu Zixi's eyes sparkled with interest.
As the Fallen Star Eyes descended to a lower altitude, it grew large enough to be visible to the naked eye, imposing an immense pressure on onlookers.
"You shouldn't reveal yourself," Zhou Cangmin said with a furrowed brow to Xu Zixi. "If that Starmoon Sect girl doesn't take a hint and insists on poking her nose where it doesn't belong, I'll have to bring her back down to earth."
Yu Yuan suddenly felt a wave of discomfort.
He was quite fond of Liu Ying, and they had enjoyed their conversation during the event of the Fallen Star Eyes.
Had it not been for Wang Jinlin of the Ethereal Void Sect dropping by, he and Liu Ying might have engaged in a more profound discussion, possibly reaching an understanding even before Zhou Cangmin and Xu Zixi could.
Liu Ying was aware that he had both Yu Zhu and Yan Qiling at his disposal.
But now...
The High Oracle of the Crimson Sun Empire, representing the Ruby Hand, and Xu Zixi, with her seven pythons, were in complete accord.
Liu Ying belonged to the Starmoon Sect.
She, along with the Ethereal Void Sect, Thunder Sect, Winter's Bite, and Abyssal Dawn Sect, were all part of the seven subordinate sects of the Heavenly Source, united against a common foe.
With the Land of Quiescence on one side and Euwrea on the other, the two continents were natural adversaries, even without open warfare.
The addition of the Mysterious Realm only complicated matters further.
...
Above the Fallen Star Eyes.
Liu Ying's eyes shone brightly as she cast a spell, merging with the energy-rich aerolite beneath her feet.
Her gaze, now one with the Fallen Star Eyes, surveyed the mid-lake island below, taking in every detail within a several-mile radius.
She had already spotted Liu Wei, Lei Xiao, Su Yan, and the newcomers from the Abyssal Dawn.
There were also cultivators she hadn't met before, but she could make educated guesses about their identities and backgrounds.
The mid-lake island was shrouded in a thick white fog, obscuring it from view even when she used the Fallen Star Eyes. It seemed as though the divine force of the Forgotten Ruins was being deliberately manipulated, clouding the heavens.
Since acquiring the Fallen Star Eyes, she had seldom come across such a phenomenon. It was clear to her that either a formidable cultivator was manipulating their own little world to isolate the mid-lake island, or there was an artifact on par with the Fallen Star Eyes cloaking the solitary isle.
In either case, she dared not make any hasty moves. Without a clear view of the island's wonders, she refrained from using the Fallen Star Eyes to descend, fearing she might not be able to make a swift escape.
"After speaking with Wang Jinlin for a while, that fellow from Asvetaesi just vanished," she murmured to herself. "I can't see him, and the only place that remains hidden from view is this mid-lake island. And yet, the Phaseblossom here is somehow connected to him!"
"He has to be there!"
...
The mid-lake island was enveloped in white mist. The lush branches, woven with fine golden patterns in the damp soil, seemed to pull the sunlight toward the island. The Phaseblossom, encircled by these golden patterns, appeared to defy the mist, greedily absorbing the light.
Yu Yuan, still plagued by a headache, caught a glimpse of the Phaseblossom and was struck as if by a bolt of lightning.
"Forgeroses, Ancient Echoes of the Void, Phaseblossom, Shen Feiqing..." Thoughts raced through his mind in rapid succession.
He inhaled sharply and fixed the High Oracle with a steely gaze. "Senior, are you aware of the origins of these herbs?"
Zhou Cangmin looked at him in surprise. "I don't know everything. My expertise lies in the arts of zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, not in the cultivation of plants."
Xu Zixi was equally perplexed. "What's gotten into you?"
Both could see that Yu Yuan was deeply troubled, his mood far from light.
"These herbs are known as Phaseblossom," Yu Yuan declared.
"Phaseblossom?" Zhou Cangmin pondered for a moment. "I've heard of it, but I've never actually seen it. Why does it share such an odd name with the mantra practiced by Feiqing?"
"Yes!" Xu Zixi exclaimed in surprise, "Could there be a connection between the Phaseblossom and the Ancient Echoes of the Void?"
"The commander of the Blackfang Legion has traversed thousands of miles, through the Forgotten Ruins, coming from the depths..." Yu Yuan observed their genuine reactions and couldn't help but offer a bitter smile, "She must have detected the presence of the Phaseblossom when she was channeling her vitality and executing the Ancient Echoes of the Void."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Cangmin's eyes widened in realization. "Are you suggesting that she appeared near Thylethlume because of a mid-lake island that harbors Phaseblossom?"
"That's my suspicion," Yu Yuan confirmed with a nod.
"Impossible!" Xu Zixi's face was a picture of incredulity. "This spiritual grass merely shares a name with the spell she practices. Would she really risk everything, bringing what's left of the Blackfang Legion, just for these unripe herbs?"
"You underestimate the significance of the Phaseblossom to her," Yu Yuan explained.
"How significant?" Xu Zixi inquired gravely.
"The major flaw of the Ancient Echoes of the Void is its unsuitability for prolonged combat. At a critical threshold, a devastating backlash occurs, leaving her grievously wounded in an instant," Yu Yuan clarified, his thoughts crystallizing. "The presence of the Phaseblossom could prevent her from suffering such backlash."
"Moreover, if I were to destroy all my herbs, she could still manage to elevate her combat prowess even further!"
"In my view, you're both overly concerned about trivialities. The real threat is likely the Silverfrost Dragon, the one besieged by the Thunder Sect and Winter's Bite."
"She has meticulously chosen this realm as her battlefield and she's waiting."
Yu Yuan articulated each word deliberately, unveiling an extraordinary hypothesis.
Zhou Cangmin, who had some knowledge of pills but was ignorant of the hidden properties of herbs, was left speechless.
"What is she waiting for?" Xu Zixi pressed.
"She's waiting for the prolonged battle, for the moment when the Ancient Echoes of the Void unleashes its fearsome backlash!" Yu Yuan, despite his frustration, couldn't help but express his admiration. "The Phaseblossom can assist her in harnessing that backlash, enabling a significant surge in her combat strength in a brief span of time!"
Zhou Cangmin was taken aback. "Is that really possible?"
"In theory, yes," Yu Yuan confirmed with a nod. "But once the backlash depletes, her situation will be far more dire than just severe injuries. She could end up in an eternal slumber, without any strength left to retaliate, or worse, her body could burst, leaving only her soul intact."
As he reflected on his words, Yu Yuan was struck with another realization and marveled, "Such a formidable commander of the Blackfang Legion. She has indeed secured an escape route for herself."
"The Mysterious Realm!"
Zhou Cangmin and Xu Zixi exclaimed together.
By harnessing the backlash and the Phaseblossom, they could swiftly deal a crippling blow or even slay the Silverfrost Dragon. The Thunder Sect, Winter's Bite, and all the Observers in the vicinity would then seek refuge in the Mysterious Realm, vanishing from sight.
Years, perhaps decades later, upon awakening, they would emerge from the Mysterious Realm at the height of their power or even stronger than before.
This was the cunning strategy of Shen Feiqing, the commander of the Blackfang Legion!
