C303 Planning

The white mist shrouding the mid-lake island seemed to evaporate under the fierce sun, slowly fading away.

Perched above with her Fallen Star Eyes, Liu Ying gazed intently, only to spot Yu Yuan standing solitary among the herbs on the island, waving cheerfully at her.

Liu Ying was dumbfounded for quite some time.

Once again, she employed the Fallen Star Eyes to meticulously survey the area. She found nothing on the mid-lake island or within the lake itself, nor did she sense anyone else's presence.

After a moment's hesitation, Liu Ying cautiously descended from the sky.

"How did you get here?"

As soon as she touched down, Liu Ying cut to the chase, "The place I left you was among those from the Abyssal Dawn, and I know you're acquainted with Su Yan."

The journey from her drop-off point to the mid-lake island was not a short one.

She could instantly travel with the Fallen Star Eyes, but Yu Yuan lacked such an artifact. How had he managed to arrive so quickly?

"Don't worry about how I got here."

Yu Yuan replied with an easy smile, "This mid-lake island is my private domain. There will soon be a grand banquet here, and since I regard you highly, I've invited you to join us ahead of time."

"A banquet?" Liu Ying mused, pulling out a Hellfire Persimmon seemingly from thin air. With a flick of her wrist, she drew water from the lake.

She moistened a cloth with the water, wiped her hands, and continued to eat.

With her mouth full, she asked indistinctly, "Yu Yuan, did you really cultivate these Phaseblossoms? And that petite girl, where is she? I've seen her from the sky with the Fallen Star Eyes."

Yu Yuan chuckled, "You recognize the Phaseblossoms, but are you aware of their extraordinary properties? And what about the mantra practiced by the commander of the Blackfang Legion, do you know it?"

"The Ancient Echoes of the Void is a forbidden technique. I'm curious if you're privy to the secrets of the Phaseblossoms and the Ancient Echoes of the Void."

"I only know that Phaseblossoms are used in potion-making," Liu Ying replied, "Regarding the commander, I'm aware she's a castaway from the Forgeroses. Beyond that, I'm clueless."

Upon hearing this, Yu Yuan relaxed. Then, he and Liu Ying engaged in sporadic, casual conversation.

"Wei Feng has been taken by Wei Wujiang," Liu Ying announced abruptly.

Yu Yuan was startled. "Are my people alright?"

With the Fallen Star Eyes at his disposal, Liu Ying could still survey the land and observe many events while conversing with Zhou Cangmin and the others.

"Don't worry, everyone has been released," Liu Ying reported what she had witnessed.

Realizing that Yan Qiling was absent, Wei Wujiang returned with the Golden Ship and located Qin Yun and the others, demanding that Wei Feng be handed over.

Even without the Python Queen, Xu Zixi, the Golden Ship still carried other formidable Lunar Spirit experts.

Knowing he was outmatched, and with Yu Yuan gone, Wei Feng seemed to have come to a realization or received some assurance, and thus, she willingly boarded the Golden Ship.

After listening to Liu Ying, Yu Yuan pondered for a moment and realized that Wei Feng was no longer desperate to end her life. It was either the Blackfang Legion's assurance or she had covertly tuned into Shen Feiqing's thoughts.

Wei Feng understood that the upcoming events could allow her to safely navigate this predicament, so she ceased to resist.

Wei Wujiang simply wanted a living Wei Feng. With Wei Feng compliant and Qin Yun and Yan Yu not fiercely intervening, there was peace between the two parties.

Half an hour later.

One by one, soldiers of towering stature, mounted on Blackfang Beasts and clad in heavy artifact soul armor, wielding spears and halberds, trampled through the tall shrubs to encircle the lakeside.

Leading them was a man as robust as a bear, exuding an intense, bloodthirsty aura.

His eyes, visible through the holes in his mask, calmly surveyed the lake.

Yu Yuan's spirit quivered, and he managed a strained smile.

Liu Ying, too, furrowed her brow. She and Yu Yuan paused their conversation and turned to regard the bear-like warrior and the Blackfang Beast, as if bracing themselves for what might come.

Unexpectedly, the Blackfang Legion soldiers scattered along the lakeshore remained motionless.

The bear-like man raised his hand, signaling a command.

All the Blackfang Legion soldiers dismounted their beasts, opened their chests, and fed chunks of bloody meat to the Blackfang Beasts.

The Blackfang Legion warriors sat cross-legged on the ground, their presence formidable, as they silently absorbed energy from soulstones.

"They?" Liu Ying exclaimed in surprise.

"Just ignore them," Yu Yuan replied, his expression unchanged. "We'll continue to wait. It won't be long before more people arrive. I'm curious to see just how many oddities will gather around this mid-lake island."

He then sat down in front of Liu Ying and began cultivating with the Dragonfire Gem in hand.

Liu Ying's connection to the Fallen Star Eyes remained constant. She could summon them at any moment to soar into the heavens if she chose to leave. Yet, intrigued by Yu Yuan's mention of a feast, she decided to stay on the mid-lake island to see what would unfold.

Yu Yuan, cultivating with the Dragonfire Gem, occasionally caught Liu Ying's gaze, her interest piqued by the gem.

At noon, Qin Yun, Yan Yu, and Ning Ji approached with a sense of defeat. Wei Feng was not with them.

Upon arriving at the lake, Qin Yun, who had been summoned by Yu Yuan, saw the Blackfang Legion soldiers and cautiously avoided them. With a wry smile, he reported, "The person you asked us to watch over slipped through our fingers."

From across the water, Ning Ji announced, "The Golden Ship has made its return."

Yan Yu, observing Liu Ying on the island, was brimming with questions, puzzled about why Yu Yuan was with the girl from the Golden Ship.

"I understand, it's all right," Yu Yuan reassured them with a nod. "There's no need to come to the island; just stay by the lake."

Yan Yu and Ning Ji both had numerous questions they wanted to ask.

"We'll discuss it later," Yu Yuan added.

Qin Yun, faced with the imposing soldiers of the Blackfang Legion, chose to sit in silence by the lake and meditate.

Yan Yu and Ning Ji, though filled with curiosity and concerns, also decided to wait.

As evening approached, Su Xiangtian, Su Yan, and Yang Yinquan from the Abyssal Dawn found their way to the area.

Upon his arrival, Yang Yinquan observed the Blackfang Legion soldiers and then Qin Yun and Yan Yu, sensing a web of mysteries. "How did we end up here?"

Su Xiangtian, with a furrowed brow, pondered silently.

Seeing Yu Yuan, Su Yan's face lit up with delight. "So you came here after we parted ways? Oh, and those herbs, and..."

She noticed Liu Ying standing next to Yu Yuan.

Yu Yuan was seated calmly among the Phaseblossoms, while Liu Ying, cherished by the Starmoon Sect as a precious gem, stood by his side nonchalantly eating a Hellfire Persimmon, clearly bored.

At Liu Ying's feet lay a pile of persimmon peels.

The sky was ablaze with the glow of the setting sun, casting a brilliant red light over Yu Yuan and Liu Ying. The sight was so intense that it made Su Yan squint and feel an inexplicable discomfort.

"Boom!"

A thunderous roar erupted from the distant battlefield.

In an instant, a figure clad in shattered armor streaked towards them as fast as arc light.

Yu Yuan, still seated, let a smile creep across his lips. "Right on time."

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