C495 Instant Death

Atop the mountain peak, a gaunt man with a deathly pale complexion cracked a sinister smile.

His grin exuded an eerie and bone-chilling aura.

With a resounding boom, Spirit Swords fanned out from behind him like a peacock's tail feathers.

The Spirit Swords glimmered brilliantly, reflecting the harsh sunlight.

Yuan Lianyao's face contorted as red lotuses emerged from her sleeves and waist.

"Lunar Spirit, late period!"

She tensed up, quickly surmising that the man on the mountain peak was a rogue cultivator of a higher realm with more tricks up his sleeve.

With the man's formation in place, she knew she had to approach the situation with utmost caution.

"Be careful!"

Yuan Lianyao, bracing for the formidable adversary, was surrounded by fiercely burning red lotuses. A nascent Flame Deity at her mud pellet acupoint seemed poised to emerge.

The fire runes, shimmering with divine light and imbued with the essence of dark arts, fluttered around the Lunar Spirit like fiery butterflies.

"I am protected by a mystique and mantra blessed by Lord Faang Yao. Even if he's at the peak of the Lunar Spirit realm, he can't defeat me," she said, her voice laced with alarm as she urgently advised, "You must look after yourself. I fear his lethal techniques might be aimed at you!"

Facing a dire threat, the "blazing red lotus" was more concerned for Yu Yuan's safety than her own.

"What does it matter if it's the Ruby Hand?" sneered the man on the mountain peak. "The heavens are vast, and the emperor is far. As a mere rogue cultivator, I don't operate within the Land of Quiescence. What can the Ruby Hand possibly do to me?"

With that, he prepared to wield the numerous Spirit Swords, ready to strike from afar.

Yu Yuan shook his head and scoffed, "It's astounding how many of you are so ignorant. The Skyreach Consortium didn't inform you of Rosy Cloud Island's taboo, so don't go courting death."

The man paused, taken aback.

In a flash, a golden streak of lightning burst forth from within the small hillside.

That golden flash was a fishing line that instantly ensnared the man's neck.

In the moment the line tightened around his throat, the Lunar Spirit, along with the heaven soul and dominant soul he had cultivated, seemed to be bound in an instant, rendered completely immobile.

The golden fishing line tugged steadily down the slope of the hill.

The man let out a series of strange cries as he tried to pull the line from around his neck with his fingers, only to let out a piercing scream as two of his fingers were severed and dropped to the ground.

His gaunt body was dragged by the golden line, slowly descending into the hillside.

Gradually, he vanished over the crest of the small hill.

The odd sobbing and howling sounds grew sporadic within the mountain and quickly ceased.

This cultivator, at the peak of his Lunar Spirit powers, had taken up residence on the fourth level of the Sea Wanderer and had made a name for himself on Rosy Cloud Island. But now, in a mere moment, he seemed to have met his demise.

And so, he became nothing more than a skeleton buried beneath the small hill.

The abrupt turn of events had been too sudden for Yuan Lianyao to grasp. She was still commanding the fire lotuses when she witnessed the man being yanked by the golden fishing line into the hill.

"Is he... dead?"

It took her a moment to recover. As the flames from the fire lotuses died down, she turned to Yu Yuan, bewildered. "Just like that? Why did he die? Who killed him?"

Confusion surged uncontrollably within her, her stunning face etched with shock and bewilderment. "You knew he was going to die!"

Yu Yuan had watched the man ascend the peak with a malevolent look in his eyes and had remarked on his ignorance of danger.

He had even predicted the man's imminent death.

The subsequent anomaly unfolded just as Yu Yuan had described. The man, who had reached the late period of his Lunar Spirit cultivation and had been about to unleash his Spirit Swords to strike them from afar, had inexplicably perished.

"The one who killed him, we just saw him. Have you forgotten already?" Yu Yuan's voice was gentle.

Yuan Lianyao, startled, realized, "The fisherman on the far side of the island?!"

Yu Yuan nodded, confirming, "The golden fishing line is the same one he was using from his boat."

"But he was facing away from us! I couldn't even see that the fishing line was golden!" Yuan Lianyao was frustrated.

Yu Yuan offered a reassuring smile. "Then perhaps my eyesight is a bit sharper."

"You jerk!" Yuan Lianyao shot him a glare.

"Come on, no need to get upset. Let's head over to that small hill," Yu Yuan suggested, taking the lead toward the modest island. "Stick with me. Don't get too carried away with your ability to fly, soaring through the air and landing on the island like a bird."

Yuan Lianyao watched his retreating figure with a belly full of fury. She was certain Yu Yuan knew something, yet he remained tight-lipped the entire time, merely leading her off the island and taking a leisurely stroll on the beach. It was clear Yu Yuan had been scheming from the start!

"Brother, let's go together!" Tong Laoqian appeared out of nowhere, casually waving his fan. Standing at the foot of the small hill, he greeted Yu Yuan with a beaming smile and a nod. "I was just feeling restless and thought I'd climb that hill to enjoy the view."

Yu Yuan returned the smile, gesturing for him to proceed. "Brother, with your level of cultivation, you could be at the summit in a single step. I, on the other hand, am of a lower cultivation and must ascend slowly. There's no need for you to wait for me; please, go on ahead."

"No, no, no," Tong Laoqian's head bobbed like a drum rattle. "Someone just died. I don't want to be next."

Yuan Lianyao's expression soured. "Tong Laoqian, you saw it?"

"I did, I saw a foolhardy soul soaring straight to that small hill." Tong Laoqian gave Yu Yuan a sly grin. "Brother, you're so young, yet you know so many ancient secrets. How did you come to know that one must walk up this hill on foot and not fly?"

"I guessed," Yu Yuan replied.

It was only then that Yuan Lianyao had her sudden epiphany.

She had never even heard of Rosy Cloud Island before, let alone visited the deep sea. Naturally, she was unaware of the perilous rules governing the small hill.

"Brother, I've killed three people for you, out of kindness. Why would you try to harm me?" Tong Laoqian's brow creased with worry. "I truly don't know the history of those sisters, Zhang Manman and Zhang Miao. Offering them to serve you was meant as a kind gesture!"

Yu Yuan chuckled. "Come on! Let's climb the mountain together."

As he spoke, he had already reached Tong Laoqian and, without any hesitation, began ascending the stone steps up the hill.

Yuan Lianyao caught up and confronted Tong Laoqian. "Tong Laoqian, did you ever consider how I would feel when you presented my man with a pair of sisters?"

Tong Laoqian gaped, feeling utterly wronged. "Back then, you hadn't even boarded the ship! And when we were at the Forgotten Ruins, nothing happened!"

"Regardless, I've taken note of your actions," Yuan Lianyao said, her expression turning stern. "I'm aware of the extent of your cultivation, Tong Laoqian. As the mere mayor of Asvetaesi, I might not have the means to deal with you. But rest assured, I will be inviting Lord Faang Yao and the state preceptor to have a word with you in the future."

At her words, Tong Laoqian fell silent.

The myriad of emotions that had played across his face vanished in an instant, leaving behind only a cold demeanor and a flicker of hesitation.

"I'd advise you not to be foolish. The head of the Skyreach Consortium is keeping a close eye on you," Yu Yuan remarked calmly as he ascended the stone steps. "The one from Rosy Cloud Island does as he pleases on his own turf without fear. Do you think you're him, Tong Laoqian?"

"With the combined forces of the Skyreach Consortium and the Ruby Hand, where do you think you could possibly escape to?" Sensing a sliver of murderous intent, he issued a timely warning.

Tong Laoqian burst into laughter. "My friend, what are you implying? I wouldn't dream of causing trouble for Ms. Yuan. I fully intend to mend my ways and hope to earn her forgiveness."

"That would be wise."

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