C514 Tian Mei Diyuan

"Your man is dying," Chung Miao declared, prompting Yuan Lianyao to whip her head around abruptly.

Behind her, Yu Yuan's head hung low, his chin knocking against her shoulder. His eyes were deep pools of enchantment, swirling with myriad visions of celestial allure.

"Heavenly Enchantment!" Yuan Lianyao recognized the danger immediately, her expression shifting dramatically.

Though she had never been a part of the Bright Sect, she had made it a point to learn about their notorious sect, familiarizing herself with their array of bizarre and arcane techniques.

"Heavenly Enchantment" was a notorious and sinister technique propagated by the Bright Sect. It involved the sect's women casting enchantments that transformed subtle soul thoughts into "Heavenly Girls," who would then infiltrate the minds of their targets through eye contact, sowing confusion within their hearts and wills.

Once the "Heavenly Girls" entered the body, they would silently harvest the life force, Qi, blood, and essence of their host.

This secret art wasn't a conventional method for gathering energy; it couldn't be used to enhance one's cultivation level or to benefit one's own realm and strength.

The power gained from "Heavenly Enchantment" was only a temporary boon during combat.

After the battle, any power derived from "Heavenly Enchantment" would either be exhausted or vanish spontaneously.

But for the caster with insufficient spiritual realm, they would swiftly be drained of all power, leaving them barely clinging to life, or worse, they might meet an immediate and violent end!

Chung Miao had been whispering not just in conversation but had been employing "Heavenly Enchantment" to rally Yu Yuan's power and vital energy.

She planned to use the strength harvested from Yu Yuan, after his demise, to strike at Yuan Lianyao.

The Bright Sect's secret arts bore a resemblance to the Earth Demon Clan of the Boundless Land, known for their expertise in beguiling the heart.

The blood and Qi drawn from Yu Yuan could transform into his own fierce visage, attacking her psyche until she could no longer withstand the onslaught and crumbled from within.

Such a malevolent tactic was designed to assault both body and spirit in a dual offensive.

"Yu Yuan!" Recognizing the peril, Yuan Lianyao expelled a lotus flower from her mouth in a sudden act of defiance.

A lotus, condensed from the essence of blood and Qi and carrying a Soul Sound, soared directly toward Yu Yuan's spiritual consciousness.

Chung Miao let out a soft chuckle. "Sister Yuan, it's futile. Your man is far too weak. His cultivation is merely at the Profound Break Stage, and he hasn't even solidified his Spiritual Sense, much less his Soul Thoughts."

"Will you dare to face me in an open battle?" Yuan Lianyao challenged.

The lotus, a creation of the Spiritual Spell she had acquired years ago, shot toward Yu Yuan's forehead and vanished in the blink of an eye.

Yu Yuan, however, seemed unaffected, not stirred from his slumber.

Deep within his gaze, 'Heavenly Ladies' continued their entrancing dance, tempting him.

The Flame Yin God's light was resplendent, revealing countless strands of mist silently emerging from Yu Yuan's body, seemingly blending with the 'Heavenly Ladies' and being drawn together.

Chung Miao was biding her time for her appearance and for Yu Yuan's demise, after which they would escape from his eyes.

"You're not wrong; our Bright Sect does indeed prefer the art of concealment," Chung Miao responded, her tone gentle yet chilling. "But don't fret, Sister. His end is near, and you'll follow. I'll employ the Bright Sect's secret arts to have him be the one to end you."

"There's no need to rush, and no need for fear," she cooed with a girlish laugh.

"Huala!"

Leaves fluttered and red lotuses swayed.

Centered around the Blazing Red Lotus, the surrounding sea was swiftly engulfed in flames.

Infinite firelight burst forth indiscriminately, assaulting the waters in every direction.

Yuan Lianyao was frantic, desperate to locate Chung Miao. She cast the flames wide, heedless of the consequences, hoping to force Chung Miao to reveal herself.

She was beginning to sense something amiss with Yu Yuan's aura. If he were in his normal state, unafflicted by the Evil Cauldron's internal corrosion, she trusted that Yu Yuan's temperament and skills would withstand the Heavenly Succubity's onslaught.

But now, her concern grew; she feared Yu Yuan might not endure.

At this moment, the Evil Cauldron within Yu Yuan's dantian unleashed relentless, violent assaults on the Gate of Opening, threatening to rupture his organs from within.

He was silently enduring the pain, never once spitting blood onto his back.

Yuan Lianyao was acutely aware that he was suffering, his willpower and mental fortitude teetering on the brink of collapse.

Thus, when Chung Miao's "Heavenly Succubus Draining Technique" took hold and his mind lost control, Yuan Lianyao wasn't the least bit surprised.

Her only thought was to awaken Yu Yuan as quickly as possible, hoping he wouldn't fall under its influence again.

"Sister, you're right; our Bright Sect's foundation is shaky. I may never reach the Unrestrained Stage or encounter the Primordial Spirit in my lifetime, something I hadn't even considered," Chung Miao said with a sly grin. "But I can ascend to the Yang God at a relatively swift pace."

"I'll condense the Yang God sooner than many, soaring beyond the skies. You're aware that one of our own was exiled to the Outland Star River."

"What you don't realize is that if I can condense the Yang God soon enough and find her among the stars, the Unrestrained Stage is within reach."

Her voice chilled as she continued, "Once I attain the Unrestrained Stage and escape the shackles of the Boundless Land, I'll find liberation in the vast expanse of the Outland Star River!"

"That will be enough!"

Yuan Lianyao was about to counter when she suddenly shivered.

She instantly sensed an odd stir within Yu Yuan's chest.

His jaw rested on her shoulder, his lips twitched, and a peculiar smile curled at the edges of his mouth.

Yuan Lianyao couldn't help but smile too.

Gazing into the murky depths of the sea, she shook her head and spoke, "Sister, I owe you my thanks. Your timely intervention was like a gift amidst a snowstorm. The goodwill of the Bright Sect has been well received."

Hidden in the shadows, Chung Miao was utterly bewildered.

Whoosh!

One after another, 'Heavenly Ladies' emerged gracefully from the depths of Yu Yuan's pupils.

One was a greenish-black figure, seemingly tainted with lethal poison, exuding a foul odor.

Another, clothed in rags, glowed with brown, gold, and green after her body was shattered. It was as if the three forces had been forcibly merged, leading to this tragic end after their violent collision.

Another Heavenly Lady appeared to be engulfed by a torrent of chaotic soul thoughts. She wailed wildly as she plunged into the deep sea waters that Yuan Lianyao had indicated.

Another Heavenly Lady seemed to be forged from numerous pieces of fine iron, her limbs emitting a crisp 'clack' as she soared through the air.

A host of bizarre Heavenly Ladies departed from the depths of Yu Yuan's gaze, each moving in strange ways, more like demons or ghosts than anything else, devoid of their former seductive allure.

Boom!

A Heavenly Lady, radiating an eerie light, burst apart mid-flight, scattering the soul thoughts and vital essences that Chung Miao had entrusted within her.

From the shadows, a pained, muffled groan was heard.

Three other Heavenly Ladies turned against their master, converging on the deep sea to hunt her down in unison.

Chung Miao emerged abruptly, her expression transforming as she glared at Yu Yuan and exclaimed, "You!"

Yu Yuan, sprawled atop Yuan Lianyao, had eyes alight with clarity, free from any bewilderment.

He nodded and offered Chung Miao a grateful smile, "Thank you."

The trio of Heavenly Ladies had turned the tide against Chung Miao using the very soul thoughts and a mix of impurities and violent soul notions that had seeped from Yu Yuan's being.

The disordered power that had been eroding Yu Yuan's organs was partially redirected by him.

Absorbed by the Heavenly Ladies created by the Evil Cauldron, these forces diluted Chung Miao's mark and sway. In the instant they left Yu Yuan's sight, they recoiled against Chung Miao.

"Let's go!"

Yu Yuan called out, "The underwater battle will draw attention. Those three Heavenly Ladies won't be able to take her life; they'll merely hinder her and inflict some wounds."

Yuan Lianyao, who had been poised to seize the opportunity to strike down Chung Miao, did not waver upon hearing this.

"If you survive, I'll ensure you become my obedient maid one day!" Yuan Lianyao huffed coldly, envisioning a maid who would submit to her every command.

The multitude of maple leaves and lotuses swiftly reconvened at her side.

With Yu Yuan on her back, she paid no mind to Chung Miao and pressed on towards Babel Island.

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