C514 Celestial Siphon

"Your man is on the brink of death."

Yuan Lianyao whipped her head around at Zhang Miao's words.

Behind her, Yu Yuan's head hung low, his chin resting on her shoulder. In the depths of his eyes swirled a bewitched gaze, filled with an array of enchanting visions.

"Celestial Siphon!"

Yuan Lianyao recognized the danger immediately, her expression shifting dramatically.

She might not have joined the Nightbane Sect, but she had made it a point to research their notorious practices. She was well-versed in many of the sect's infamous arcane techniques.

The Celestial Siphon was a particularly nefarious mystique propagated by the Nightbane Sect. It involved the women of the sect casting an enchantment that transformed remnant souls into 'celestial women', who were then sent through the eyes into an opponent's mind, sowing confusion in their thoughts and will.

Once the 'celestial women' infiltrated the body, they would silently harvest the host's vitality, essence, and life essence.

This arcane technique was not your typical energy-gathering method; it couldn't be used to enhance one's cultivation or to bolster one's realm and strength.

The power gained from the Celestial Siphon was only for temporary use in combat.

After the fight, the power harnessed from the Celestial Siphon would either be depleted or naturally dissipate.

But for the spellcaster of insufficient realm, they would quickly be drained of all power. At best, they would be left gasping for life; at worst, they would die violently.

Zhang Miao had been softly speaking to her while covertly using the Celestial Siphon to amass Yu Yuan's power and essence.

She planned to use the power harvested from Yu Yuan, after his demise, to launch an assault on Yuan Lianyao with the harvested vitality essence.

The Nightbane Sect's arcane methods bore a resemblance to the Terra Fiend Clan of the Everlands, known for their ability to bewilder the hearts of men.

The vitality taken from Yu Yuan could transform into his very likeness, attacking her with ferocity and potentially causing her mind to shatter under the strain.

Such a malevolent strategy was designed to assault both the body and the spirit, striking from two fronts simultaneously.

"Yu Yuan!"

Yuan Lianyao, sensing that the situation was dire, suddenly expelled a lotus flower from her mouth.

This lotus, a condensation of vitality essence imbued with Soul Voice, surged directly toward Yu Yuan's Mindscape.

Zhang Miao chuckled softly, "Yuanyuan, it's futile. Your man is too weak. His cultivation is merely at Veil Breaking, and he hasn't even formed his spiritual sense, much less a remnant soul."

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

Utilizing a spell she had acquired years ago, the lotus—infused with vitality, bloodwraith, and remnant soul—darted toward the center of Yu Yuan's brow and vanished in an instant.

Yu Yuan seemed unaffected, unroused from his trance.

Deep within his eyes, celestial maidens continued their beguiling dance, tempting him further into their thrall.

The Flame Deity's light revealed many strands of mist quietly emanating from Yu Yuan's corporeal body, seemingly merging with the celestial maidens, being drawn together and absorbed.

Yuan Lianyao awaited Zhang Miao's emergence, for the moment Yu Yuan perished, the lotus would escape from his gaze.

"You're not wrong; we of the Nightbane Sect do prefer to lurk in the shadows," Zhang Miao responded, her voice gentle yet chilling. "Sister, be patient. His end is near, and you'll follow. I will employ the Nightbane Sect's mystique to have him be your undoing."

"There's no need to rush, nor any reason to fear," she added.

Zhang Miao's laughter tinkled like delicate bells.

With a rustle, the red lotus swayed amidst the fluttering maple leaves.

Centered around the blazing red lotus, the sea area was instantly engulfed in flames.

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

Yuan Lianyao, frantic, sought to locate Zhang Miao swiftly. She recklessly unleashed the fire, hoping it would force Zhang Miao to reveal herself.

She began to sense something amiss with Yu Yuan, whom she carried on her back; his aura felt strangely off.

Had Yu Yuan been in his normal state, unaffected by the internal corrosion of the Crucible of Evil, she was confident that his resilience and tactics would withstand the onslaught of the Celestial Siphon.

But now, she harbored grave concerns that Yu Yuan might not endure.

At this moment, Yu Yuan's middle elixir field, the Profound Gate, was under relentless assault from the violent energy unleashed by the Crucible of Evil.

Yu Yuan's internal organs were slowly starting to rupture.

Despite the pain, he stoically refrained from vomiting blood.

Yuan Lianyao was acutely aware of his suffering, recognizing that his willpower and psychic force teetered on the brink of collapse.

Thus, when Zhang Miao's Celestial Siphon spell caused his mind to lose control, Yuan Lianyao wasn't the least bit surprised by his susceptibility.

Her only wish was to rouse Yu Yuan quickly, hoping he wouldn't fall under its influence again.

"Sister, you were correct. Our Nightbane Sect's foundation is shaky. I may never reach the Unbound Realm or attain the ultimate primordial spirit in my lifetime. It's something I've never even considered," Zhang Miao said with a smile, "But I can ascend to the Solar Spirit much faster."

"I will condense the Solar Spirit sooner than many, allowing me to soar beyond this world. You must be aware that one of our own from the Nightbane Sect was exiled to the Star River in the extraterrestrial realms."

"What you don't know is that if I can condense the Solar Spirit early enough and encounter her out there, I have a chance to achieve the Unbound Realm."

With a chilling shift in her voice, Zhang Miao added, "Once I reach the Unbound Realm and escape the shackles of the Everlands, finding liberation in the vast expanse of the Star River will be my reality!"

"That will be enough!"

Yuan Lianyao was about to counter when she suddenly felt a shiver run through her body.

She keenly sensed an odd disturbance emanating from Yu Yuan's chest.

Yu Yuan, with his jaw resting on her shoulder, twitched his lips into an eerie grin.

Yuan Lianyao found herself smiling unexpectedly.

As she smiled, she gazed into the shadowy depths of the sea, shaking her head and saying, "Sister, I owe you my thanks. Your timely intervention was like a lifeline in the snow. The Nightbane Sect's goodwill has been well received."

In the shadows, Zhang Miao was utterly bewildered.

With a whoosh, ethereal figures, the Heavenly Ladies, began to emerge gracefully from the depths of Yu Yuan's eyes.

One, in particular, was shrouded in black, as if tainted with lethal poison, exuding a pungent odor.

One of the Celestial Maidens, her garments in tatters, radiated a triad of light—brown, gold, and green—after her body had been shattered. It seemed as though she had been a forced amalgamation of three powerful forces, and the ensuing conflict had led to her current dire state.

Another Celestial Maiden appeared to have been engulfed by a maelstrom of chaotic spiritual remnants, wailing madly as she plunged into the deep waters that Yuan Lianyao had indicated.

There was also a Celestial Maiden who seemed to be pieced together from refined iron; her limbs emitted a cracking sound as she soared through the air.

A host of bizarre Celestial Maidens departed from the depths of Yu Yuan's gaze, each moving in odd ways, more like demons and ghosts than enchanting beauties.

Boom!

The Celestial Maiden, aglow with an otherworldly light, burst apart mid-flight, scattering the remnant soul and vitality essence that had been entrusted to her by Zhang Miao.

From the shadows, a pained and muffled grunt was heard.

The remaining three Celestial Maidens turned on their master and made for the deep sea, joining forces to hunt down their master.

Zhang Miao emerged abruptly, her expression transforming into one of shock as she glared at Yu Yuan and exclaimed, "You!"

Yu Yuan, reclining on Yuan Lianyao, had a lively glint in his eyes, devoid of any previous bewilderment.

He nodded and, with a smile, thanked Zhang Miao.

The trio of Celestial Maidens had turned against Zhang Miao using the filth, poison, and chaotic spiritual remnants that had spilled from Yu Yuan's body. These were the same elements that had been eroding Yu Yuan's organs, emanating from the Crucible of Evil, which he had managed to partially transfer out.

The Celestial Maidens, born from the Celestial Siphon, absorbed this tumult, diluting Zhang Miao's mark and influence. In the instant they left Yu Yuan's sight, they recoiled against Zhang Miao.

"Let's go!" Yu Yuan commanded. "The battle beneath the sea will draw attention. Those three Celestial Maidens won't be able to kill her; they'll only inflict some injuries."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Lianyao, who had been poised to seize the chance to finish off Zhang Miao, did not hesitate.

"If you survive, I'll ensure that one day you'll become my obedient maidservant!" Yuan Lianyao huffed coldly. "The kind of maidservant who can do nothing but heed my commands and comply without question!"

Maple leaves and lotuses swirled, converging swiftly around her.

With Yu Yuan on her back, Yuan Lianyao paid no mind to Zhang Miao and pressed on towards the Celestial Isle.

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