C574 Mysterious Force!

Silence accompanied their journey.

Tan Yuan took the lead, flanked by Lee Yuchan and three other women of notable beauty.

The Dragon Attendants from the Empire of Dawn and those from Dragon Lake were escorting a small floating carriage behind them.

Half a day later, under the intense midday sun, a drowsy haze settled over the travelers.

Tan Yuan was the first to halt.

Yu Yuan looked up to see a stream meandering ahead like a lively serpent, converging toward the marsh.

Strands of spiritual energy rose from the stream, but before they could disperse, they were seized by an unseen force and violently pulled toward the depths of the Godsblight Marsh.

In this part of the world, the mountains and rivers were modest, and lakes and rivers abounded.

Spiritual energy, which should have been omnipresent, diffusing throughout every corner of this realm, was now being siphoned away the moment it emerged.

As a result, Yu Yuan discovered that this renowned sacred ground for cultivation in Aetherius had become a desolate wasteland, starved of spiritual energy.

It was even more barren than the Forgotten Ruins, which had been covertly drained of spiritual energy by the eyes of the Shura from the Dark Realm for millennia.

"Follow me. The rest of you, hold your positions here."

Tan Yuan turned, offering a slight smile to the occupants of the small floating carriage.

"Sure."

The mysterious woman inside the carriage responded with docile agreement.

Tan Yuan then leapt toward a flowing stream, submerging herself up to her waist in the water, and glanced back at the floating carriage.

The carriage swiftly followed, arriving behind Tan Yuan with a whoosh.

The water in the streams abruptly stilled.

Beneath the surface, a dazzling light burst forth!

All eighteen streams, which had been flowing toward a single point, suddenly froze, their riverbeds ablaze with radiant light.

The spiritual energy and psionic power surged within the motionless waters, vibrant and full of life, reminiscent of blood coursing through human veins.

Yu Yuan squinted, sensing the extraordinary flow of energy, and remarked, "A concealed rune circle."

Clearly, this was an intricate rune circle, meticulously constructed using the eighteen streams.

Until activated, it appeared to be nothing more than ordinary streams winding their way forward, with no hint of the extraordinary hidden beneath.

When Tan Yuan initiated the great formation using a mystique, the hidden crystal jades at the riverbeds of the eighteen streams were suddenly empowered.

With a resounding boom, the world before Yu Yuan was shrouded in thick mist, obscuring the view within.

An eerie sensation of space collapsing and time inverting overwhelmed everyone, causing extreme discomfort.

Tan Yuan, along with the small palanquin, vanished from sight.

Eyes, spiritual sense, and remnant soul could neither perceive nor probe.

At that moment, Yu Yuan's brow quirked, his eyes revealing astonishment.

The sword spirit, deeply concealed within his arm bone, began to stir once more.

The line mysteriously connected to the sword spirit became distinct!

The direction indicated by the sword spirit was precisely where Tan Yuan and the floating palanquin were located, shrouded by the River and Rock Ward.

Lee Yuchan's demeanor was icy as she abruptly addressed Lee Qi, "Come with me, I have something to discuss with you."

Yu Yuan was taken aback.

The three vibrantly dressed women, left behind by Tan Yuan with instructions to hold their position, all turned their gaze to Lee Yuchan.

One of them, an older woman with her hair neatly coiled atop her head, furrowed her brow and began, "Just now..."

"I was merely inquiring about the state of the Empire of Dawn with a junior from the Lee family," Lee Yuchan interjected with a cold huff, "Rest assured, I am aware of my actions and won't stray far. Should you encounter any trouble, call out, and I will return in a flash."

Before the women could respond, Lee Yuchan's hand pressed against Yu Yuan's left shoulder.

In an instant, she whisked Yu Yuan away, soaring above the crowd.

Shortly thereafter, she set Yu Yuan down on a damp stretch of land several miles from Qiao Xu, Faang Chun, and the others, and produced a waxen yellow bead from her robes.

Tossed casually skyward, the bead radiated an odd glow.

The dull yellow light enveloped both her and Yu Yuan, making his head swim with drowsiness, nearly lulling him to sleep.

Yu Yuan quickly realized that the bead she had revealed was capable of shielding one's remnant soul from detection.

Yet, the bead's quality seemed quite average, posing numerous drawbacks and adverse effects for cultivators of lower realms.

Lee Yuchan clearly wanted to share some confidential matters with him, preferring to keep their conversation private. She seemed unconcerned with his level of cultivation or whether he could withstand the pearl's adverse effects on his soul.

"Weren't you in the Sundering Isles? What brings you suddenly to the Godsblight Marsh?" Lee Yuchan's gaze sharpened, her demeanor as formidable as it was during her time in the Silvermoon Empire. "All high-level Fellbeasts and those of the evilkind capable of transformation have been temporarily banished by the Untamed. Visitors from outside are not permitted to exceed the Spirit Walk state or the rank of a seventh-level archdemon."

"In such a situation, are you trying to get yourself killed by charging in here?" Lee Yuchan's voice grew stern, her mannerism far from friendly.

"And what about you? Why are you here?" Yu Yuan countered without answering. "I heard that as soon as you and Lee Yu left Celestial Isle, you were marked. Shen Feiqing intervened, slaying those assailants on the spot before taking you and Lee Yu away. Did Shen Feiqing bring you both to the Godsblight Marsh? What secrets lie within its enigmatic mists? Is Tan Yuan affiliated with the Forgeroses?"

"Moreover, what is the Qiao family from the Empire of Dawn seeking in the Marsh at this juncture? Is the critically wounded Amethyst Dragon here in search of healing?" Yu Yuan, brimming with curiosity, seized the rare opportunity of privacy to press for answers.

"My sister..." began Lee Yuchan.

"The Lunar Spirit of Her Majesty the Silvermoon Queen did not meet her end at the mid-lake island within the Forgotten Ruins." Yu Yuan paused, pondering the possibility that Chen Liangquan and the Silvermoon Queen might also be acquainted with someone shrouded within the mists, akin to Tan Yuan. He candidly disclosed, "There's an individual from the Songbird Empire named Chen Liangquan."

Lee Yuchan's expression shifted subtly. "Tan Yuan has mentioned him to me!"

"Not long ago, Chen Liangquan arrived at the mid-lake island and rescued the queen's Lunar Spirit, aiding in the convergence of her memory sparkle." Yu Yuan's astonishment deepened as he continued, "Chen Liangquan took her away. He, too, is acquainted with Shen Feiqing. They appear to be part of the same enigmatic group."

Yu Yuan gazed toward the site of the River and Rock Ward, "Tan Yuan is likely one of them."

"My sister's Lunar Spirit is still intact!" Lee Yuchan's icy eyes suddenly sparkled. "As long as the Lunar Spirit exists, there's hope! Tan Yuan told me that my sister's real body was merely restrained by Shadow's Keep, not destroyed. She assured me that if I serve them faithfully, they would find a way to rescue my sister from Shadow's Keep!"

"Who are 'they'?" Yu Yuan demanded.

"I don't know, I still don't know," Lee Yuchan admitted, her face etched with apprehension. "Shen Feiqing, my sister, Chen Liangquan, and Tan Yuan seem to have their trust, being part of their circle. I haven't yet proven myself or earned their recognition, so I'm kept in the dark about many things."

"But one thing I'm sure of—they're incredibly powerful and enjoy the protection of the Untamed! From what I've gathered, and the hints in Tan Yuan's words, they don't even fear the Unbound cultivators of the Everlands!"

She paused before adding, "Do you still remember Loong Tianxiao?"

"Of course, I remember!" Yu Yuan exclaimed, startled. "I was the one who freed him in the Moonfall Sanctuary. I even interacted with him in the Serpent Spine Mountains!"

"He's been taken captive as well," Lee Yuchan indicated, pointing back the way they had come. "The Empire of Dawn's flying carriage was sent for him! The Dragon Whisperer aboard intends to use Loong Tianxiao to help the Amethyst Dragon regain its former strength, perhaps even surpassing it."

"Loong Tianxiao, I recall he was with Chen Qingyan, pledging his service to her!" Yu Yuan said in astonishment. "Chen Qingyan is a prodigious talent of the Sword Sect. How could they dare to meddle with Loong Tianxiao, who is under her protection?"

Chen Qingyan is the hand-chosen disciple of a Grand Sword Immortal of the Sword Sect, a Sword Immortal of the Unbound whose might shakes the heavens and the earth. Who would dare provoke Loong Tianxiao?

"Chen Qingyan has been captured as well," Lee Yuchan huffed. "You seem to know quite a few people! Under Loong Tianxiao's protection, Chen Qingyan was advancing her cultivation by hunting Fellbeasts in the Godsblight Marsh. But when the spiritual energy converged in the depths of the marsh, that's when the unexpected occurred."

Chen Qingyan, leveraging her Sword Sect heritage, the Divine Sword, and the presence of Loong Tianxiao, didn't leave in time.

Together, Chen Qingyan and Loong Tianxiao were captured within the shrouded mists. Their temporary safety was thanks to a message from Chen Liangquan and the formidable nature of Chen Qingyan's master.

However, Loong Tianxiao, a traitor from Dragon Lake, is unlikely to escape with his life this time.

She paused, taking a deep breath. "The Untamed of Godsblight Marsh is one of the few forces in the Everlands bold enough to confront the three upper sects, the Devil Palace, and Shadow's Keep! If Chen Qingyan's master could manifest a primordial spirit, she could pose a threat to the Untamed from anywhere outside the marsh."

"Yet within the marsh, even as a Grand Sword Immortal of the Primordial Spirit Realm, she wouldn't be able to touch the Untamed."

"Besides, she hasn't achieved her primordial spirit yet!"

After her remarks, Lee Yuchan fell silent for a while before speaking again, "Godsblight Marsh is treacherous and full of danger. Your level is too low; don't linger here too long. I'll find a way to persuade Tan Yuan to let you leave. Once you're far enough away and unnoticed, return home without delay."

Yu Yuan remained silent, his brow furrowed.

A spectral figure suddenly whooshed from afar, alarming the Crucible of Evil and causing Yu Yuan's face to turn pale.

The figure was initially headed towards the misty waters, but upon a chance glance, he veered off course, making a beeline for Yu Yuan and Lee Yuchan.

"Yan Qiling!"

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