C575 Everyone Appeared

Yan Qiling's sudden appearance caught Yu Yuan off guard. As per the Untamed's decree, the Godsblight Marsh forbade the entry of seventh level archdemons under penalty of death. Yet, there was Yan Qiling, who should have been a marked man, brazenly traversing the Marsh unscathed.

Whoosh!

The air shimmered with a faint ripple as Yan Qiling disregarded the dull yellow wall conjured by Lee Yuchan to shield against remnant soul detection, and he strode right through it. To Yan Qiling, a master of space magic, Lee Yuchan's hastily erected barrier was nothing but a laughable attempt.

In the blink of an eye, he appeared before Yu Yuan, exclaiming with delight, "What brings you here?"

Yu Yuan responded with a radiant smile, "I heard about the monumental upheaval in the Godsblight Marsh and had to come see for myself."

Lee Yuchan had encountered Yan Qiling before in both Moonfall Sanctuary and Asvetaesi, so he was no stranger to her. It was Yan Qiling who had intervened to assist Yu Yuan in freeing her and Lee Yu from their captivity at the hands of Van Xuan and others within the Huang family, allowing them to flee the Shadowlight Empire.

She owed Yan Qiling gratitude for his aid, yet her demeanor grew frostier after he descended. She had come to learn that her sister's capture was largely due to Yan Qiling's involvement.

"Why do you insist on wandering into trouble?" Yan Qiling chided with a rueful smile, massaging his forehead. "Your presence in the Marsh likely means this realm is in for another bout of chaos and bloodshed!"

"You're aware of the moniker the Skyreach Consortium has bestowed upon me?" Yu Yuan asked, taken aback.

"The God of Plagues? Of course, I've heard of it," Yan Qiling replied with a hearty laugh.

Lee Yuchan paused, the nickname resonating with her. She mulled over the events that had transpired wherever Yu Yuan had gone and found herself nodding in silent agreement.

Indeed, she thought, the Skyreach Consortium's "God of Plagues" was an apt description.

"Doesn't the Untamed have strict rules? Aren't you afraid of dying for breaking them?" Yu Yuan scrutinized him, sensing that Yan Qiling's presence was increasingly elusive. Though he stood right before him, Yu Yuan couldn't shake the eerie feeling that Yan Qiling existed in a separate realm, as if they were worlds apart.

Yan Qiling's grasp of space magic had evidently advanced significantly.

"I was invited, so I have nothing to fear," Yan Qiling stated with composure. "A woman named Tan Yuan invited me to discuss a significant transaction."

"Tan Yuan!" Lee Yuchan's brow furrowed.

"Aren't you worried it's a trap?" Yu Yuan asked.

Tan Yuan, along with Shen Feiqing, the Silvermoon Queen, and Chen Liangquan, were likely part of the same enigmatic faction.

Back in the Forgotten Ruins, Yan Qiling had teamed up with Zhou Cangmin, the Python Queen, Xu Zixi, Yu Zhu, and others to thwart their schemes. Surely they wouldn't just let that slide.

Could Tan Yuan be plotting a trap within the rune circle of the eighteen meandering rivers?

"A trap?" Yan Qiling chuckled, unconcerned. "In this marsh, no one but the Untamed could hold me."

His confidence was palpable.

"As you know, those skilled in space magic have little to fear from ambushes." Yan Qiling said proudly, gazing into the distance. "Even those a level or two above me couldn't hope to capture or kill me. The Untamed deep within the marsh has no intention of killing me. I'm not concerned about falling into any traps Tan Yuan might set."

A high-pitched whistle suddenly pierced the mist.

Lee Yuchan's face tensed. "I've been summoned."

"By whom?" Yan Qiling inquired, turning to Yu Yuan.

"Tan Yuan's people," Yu Yuan responded.

"Come on, I'll take you there." Upon seeing Yu Yuan, Yan Qiling instinctively wanted to draw him away from Lee Yuchan.

Having shared experiences in the Moonfall Sanctuary, Forgotten Ruins, and Serpent Spine Mountains, their bond was strong and their collaboration seamless.

Yan Qiling might be the one person in the world most privy to Yu Yuan's secrets. He knew of Yu Yuan's selection by the sword spirit of the cultivator known as Moon Slayer. He was aware of Yu Yuan's mastery of Soul Forging through Enlightenment, his ability to connect with the Soulforge Matrix, and his mysterious link to the space beneath the Soulforge Pool.

He had also recently discovered that Yu Yuan had acquired the Crucible of Evil in the Embers Sea.

In Yan Qiling's eyes, Yu Yuan, who currently lacked strength, was destined to become an extraordinary individual. Moreover, Yan Qiling had significant ties to him. Both personally and professionally, he intended to look after Yu Yuan and foster a strong relationship with him.

"My name is Lee Qi, a member of the Lee family," Yu Yuan said hastily. "I'll accompany her to assess the situation. If possible, I'd like you to bring me along to explore the depths of the mist."

Yan Qiling nodded in agreement, "No trouble at all."

A chessboard, its lines of spatial energy intricately woven, materialized out of thin air with a gesture from Yan Qiling. The chessboard, with its black and white squares, spun briefly in the void, and space shifted in an instant. The stars had realigned.

Suddenly, Yu Yuan and Lee Yuchan found themselves back in the exact spot they had left moments before. For Yan Qiling at this moment, short-distance spatial travel was effortless.

"Eh?"

Faang Chun, at Dragon Lake, couldn't suppress his exclamation upon seeing Yu Yuan and Lee Yuchan appear so abruptly. His mouth hung open slightly, caught off guard.

"Greetings, Mr. Yan!"

Tan Yuan, who had previously entered in a hovering sedan, reemerged, seemingly to greet Yan Qiling deliberately.

"I've arrived, let's proceed."

Yan Qiling nodded, his demeanor proud. "I'm acquainted with this Lee Qi. He was of assistance to me during the Moonfall Sanctuary trial." He gestured, bringing Yu Yuan to his side.

Tan Yuan looked surprised. "Mr. Yan, you met him in the Moonfall Sanctuary?"

"Yes," Yan Qiling replied, showing a hint of impatience. "He's coming with me."

At this, Faang Chun, Qiao Xu, and the rest from the Qiao family exchanged puzzled looks. They were unaware of Yan Qiling's reputation, but Tan Yuan's deference indicated he was no ordinary figure. What made such a person take such an interest in this young man from the Lee family?

"This isn't quite according to protocol. I need to seek approval first," Tan Yuan said, her face reflecting her discomfort.

"Go now," Yan Qiling pressed.

"Very well," Tan Yuan acquiesced, then turned to the three vibrantly dressed women, "If the Nightbane representatives arrive, have them wait."

"Nightbane!" Yu Yuan's heart jolted.

Lee Yuchan had seemingly known all along, her eyes turning slightly colder, yet she remained silent.

"Understood," the three women chimed in unison.

Tan Yuan and Yan Qiling offered their apologies before vanishing back into the enveloping white mist.

Some time passed.

A trio emerged slowly from a different direction. Leading them was an elderly woman, her face etched with wrinkles, leaning on a white jade cane.

Flanking her were the sisters, Zhang Manman and Zhang Miao.

Lee Yuchan let out a cold huff.

"Ah!"

From a hundred yards away, Zhang Manman and Zhang Miao gasped upon noticing Yu Yuan.

They were aware of Lee Yuchan's presence. After Shen Feiqing had stepped forward to eliminate those individuals outside Celestial Isle, assisting Lee Yuchan and Lee Yu, the sisters had anticipated they might encounter Lee Yuchan again at Godsblight Marsh.

Thus, seeing Lee Yuchan was not unexpected.

What truly caught them off guard was the presence of Yu Yuan!

"Lee family, Lee Qi, it's a pleasure to see the two sisters once again," Yu Yuan called out with a hearty laugh.

Zhang Manman was about to expose his identity when her thoughts became muddled. Her open mouth slowly closed.

Her sister, Zhang Miao, peeked out and gave Yu Yuan a coy smile.

Her smile was sweet, her gaze teasing.

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