C492 Flea on the Ground
Early morning found Yu Yuan and Yuan Lianyao side by side as they disembarked from the Sea Wanderer onto Rosy Cloud Island. Yu Yuan couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle at the hostile stares that followed him.
The island was abuzz with conversations ranging from hushed whispers to boisterous debates. The topic of discussion was invariably his good fortune in being favored by Yuan Lianyao and welcomed into her inner circle.
Yuan Lianyao, who had been personally escorted by Faang Yao of the Ruby Hand and assured safe passage to the Sundering Isles by the Skyreach Consortium, had unknowingly become the center of attention. A woman of her stunning beauty and renowned reputation was bound to stir the imagination.
It's often the case that those who can't have what they desire grow bitter with envy. The cultivators who lusted after her and wished to claim her for themselves were now projecting their frustrations onto Yu Yuan.
"Being with you really does draw ire," Yu Yuan said with a light laugh, standing serenely on Rosy Cloud Island.
He observed that cultivators from the lower to upper floors were disembarking in succession. The higher the dwelling, the fewer the number of people coming down. For these cultivators, a single cycle of meditative breathing could last half a month or more. They preferred not to squander time wandering about, choosing instead to remain in their quarters for quiet cultivation.
Among them, Tong Laoqian, akin to a wealthy landlord, was the first from the fourth floor to step onto Rosy Cloud Island. He found respite under the cool shade of a coconut tree, fanning himself with a banana leaf while scanning his surroundings.
Zhang Manman and Zhang Miao, the sister duo, had also left the ship and were now standing close to Tong Laoqian. Zhang Manman chattered away to him, but Tong Laoqian merely laughed it off, evidently uninterested in engaging with her.
As Yu Yuan and Yuan Lianyao made their way off the ship, the sisters caught wind of their presence and looked over from a distance, having heard someone mention their names. Yu Yuan caught Zhang Miao's eye from several meters away.
"Activate the Third Eye!"
With a focused intention, he covertly executed the mystique of Soul Forging through Enlightenment. His eyes took on a profound and enigmatic quality as he fixed his gaze on the Spirit Walker, a practitioner of the Nightbane's arcane arts.
The Third Eye opened, and Yu Yuan's heart became as clear as a mirror, allowing him to perceive the subtlest details.
His expression subtly shifted.
Through the Third Eye, Zhang Miao was transformed, no longer appearing as she once did!
Her upper elixir field's mud pellet acupoint had unmistakably opened!
This indicated that Zhang Miao had already attained the Subtlety realm, or perhaps even the Lunar Spirit level!
In contrast, her sister Zhang Manman had turbid vitality and delicate meridians. The middle elixir field of this "Spirit Walker" harbored an incredibly abundant surge of vitality! Her bones and muscles were exceptionally well-tempered, and her organs resembled flood dragons and serpents coiled within, all comprised of meticulously refined vitality, intricately intertwined.
Upon closer inspection, he noticed the vitality spread out like a spider's web.
A single line ran from her neck to the brow acupoint.
"One line connects the lower, middle, and upper elixir field acupoints, indicating a solid foundation in cultivation. The mud pellet acupoints are shrouded in mist, obscuring the truth." After pondering for a moment, Yu Yuan deactivated the Third Eye as if nothing had occurred. He turned to Yuan Lianyao with a smile and suggested, "We should be on our way."
Yuan Lianyao's assessment was spot on. Zhang Manman and Zhang Miao were indeed practicing the Nightbane's mystique.
Zhang Miao, as a Spirit Walker, had a robust foundation in her cultivation. By exploiting her sister's sacrifice, she could empower herself, and in time, she would use her sister's tragic demise to refine her own Solar Spirit.
With this realization, Yu Yuan regarded Zhang Miao with revulsion.
Such a cultivator, deeply concealed and lurking in the shadows, was not worth his attention.
He purposefully steered clear of Tong Laoqian and the sisters Zhang Manman and Zhang Miao, leading Yuan Lianyao toward another part of Rosy Cloud Island.
"How peculiar..."
Zhang Miao stood gracefully behind her sister, her face a picture of bashfulness, yet her heart was tumultuous.
The way Yu Yuan had looked at her just now made her feel deeply uncomfortable for the first time...
His gaze stripped her bare, as if she stood naked under his scrutiny, with all her hidden secrets laid bare for him to see.
"With his level of understanding, he shouldn't be able to discern much. Even with the fire lotus, it's unlikely he could grasp its essence or uncover my true identity." Zhang Miao mused silently.
"Before nightfall, the Sea Wanderer will set sail once more. Those who have not boarded by then will receive no assistance from the Skyreach Consortium!" At that moment, Jiang Yurong stood on the ship's deck, declaring the rules.
As she spoke, many Skyreach Consortium members descended onto Rosy Cloud Island like a flock of birds, following a specific path into the heart of the island.
Yu Yuan walked along the shoreline, his feet pressing into the fine white sand, his movements seemingly without purpose.
Yuan Lianyao, lifting the hem of her dress, revealed her jade-like calves as she playfully kicked up water, following closely behind him.
The mayor of Asvetaesi had disembarked with no particular aim in mind; he simply wanted to get some fresh air.
Behind Yu Yuan, she suddenly kicked up a string of pearl-like droplets with her pale, jade-like feet, dousing him in the process.
Yu Yuan turned around to find her giggling with pride, a rare display of her carefree and cheerful nature.
From afar, solitary cultivators on the ship and those who had already disembarked watched her youthful antics and laughter, feeling ripples of emotion and stealing glances her way.
They all secretly envied Yu Yuan, wondering what this newcomer, who had boarded the ship midway, had done to charm such a flirtatious fire lotus.
With a whoosh, a gaunt, pale-skinned middle-aged man flew directly toward the island's center.
The man's demeanor was haughty; he didn't bother disembarking in stages but took to the air immediately upon appearing.
Like a pale ghostly bolt of lightning, he vanished from sight just as the others took notice, plunging into a secluded area deep within Rosy Cloud Island.
"He's a formidable figure," Yu Yuan remarked quietly, withdrawing his gaze. "He must be on the same level as Tong Laoqian."
"Don't worry about him," Yuan Lianyao said, unconcerned about the man's identity or his level of power. "The Skyreach Consortium has given its word; I should be safe here on Rosy Cloud Island."
"Mm, sticking with you, I can steer clear of a lot of trouble," he said, casually touching the Bracelet of Holding on his wrist. "Otherwise, this little trinket alone could spell doom for me."
After disembarking, we reached Rosy Cloud Island, where the Skyreach Consortium turned a blind eye to the skirmishes and conflicts.
Without Yuan Lianyao at his side, Yu Yuan, who was at the Veil Breaking Realm, would quickly become a target upon setting foot on Rosy Cloud Island. Others would set their sights on him, eager to snatch his Bracelet of Holding and perhaps even take his life.
"Are you just wandering around the island?" Yuan Lianyao inquired with curiosity.
"Something like that." Yu Yuan replied nonchalantly as he ambled along the sandy beach, his gaze flitting from one sight to another, seemingly in search of something, yet also appearing to merely take in the view.
Yuan Lianyao was in high spirits, strolling beside him under the blazing sun, the sea breeze lifting her spirits and bringing a sense of tranquility.
The pair continued along the coast, gradually distancing themselves from the Sea Wanderer.
Yet, Yu Yuan was aware that the Skyreach Consortium's overseers were likely aboard the Sea Wanderer, surely possessing the means to monitor Yuan Lianyao's every move.
"Really now..." Yuan Lianyao sighed softly, stepping away from the sea, her bare feet pristine against the sand.
She furrowed her brows, her gaze fixed on a massive rock formation along the shore. "Are they looking for trouble?"
From behind the jagged rare stones, three figures emerged, grinning broadly.
One of them, eyeing Yuan Lianyao with a mix of admiration and greed, said cheekily, "We wouldn't dare provoke the Ruby Hand, nor would we cross you, Ms. Yuan, especially after the Skyreach Consortium's assurances."
Yuan Lianyao huffed, "Then why skulk around here?"
"We wouldn't dare touch you, but that doesn't mean we can't deal with him."
The man laughed heartily, pointing at Yu Yuan. "A distant relative of the fallen Lee family still has the audacity to flaunt the Bracelet of Holding in public. Isn't that just asking for trouble? On the ship, we abide by the Skyreach Consortium's rules and keep our hands to ourselves. But here on Rosy Cloud Island? Well, he's fair game."
