C639 The Continent's Chen's

Yu Yuan was taken aback, not expecting the throng of people that greeted him upon his arrival through the teleportation array.

This particular array, located just outside Luan Bird City, was the property of the Chen family from the Profound Sky Continent.

The mere possession of such an array by an empire, let alone a single family, was a testament to the extraordinary status of the Chen family on the continent.

His gaze swept across the area, taking in the diverse array of cultivators from various sects who were dispersed around the array.

The crowd buzzed with excitement when they heard Kong Banbi call out "Yu Yuan."

"Have you heard? He's the one who released the Evil Demon Giant Owl from the Sword Prison in the Outland Star River. Now, a horde of Evil Demons has amassed in the Desolate Swamp, casting covetous eyes on the Boundless Land."

"You're out of the loop. He freed many of the captives in the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area!"

"And don't forget, the Starry Behemoth that broke free from the Ember Waters—it's said that he's the reason it got out."

"Disaster seems to follow him wherever he goes."

"The name 'Poison God' is well earned, indeed!"

Most onlookers harbored ill will toward Yu Yuan, their words tinged with coldness and anger.

To them, Yu Yuan was a figure of great infamy.

Kong Banbi sidled up to him amidst the noisy tumult, feeling apologetic for the trouble his presence had caused Yu Yuan. "I had no idea your reputation had grown so large."

"They're nothing more than flies; I'm not bothered by them," Yu Yuan replied with a nonchalant smile.

He had already taken note of the hundreds of cultivators scattered about. The majority were at the Profound Break Stage or the Penetrating Stage, with only a few at the Yin God Stage.

From their attire, it was clear that most were not from the dominant sects like the Red Devil Sect, the Blood God Cult, or the Fiend Sect.

Instead, these individuals were likely from third-tier sects of the Heavenly Source Continent and the Quietus Continent, such as the Ghoul Glyph Sect.

The leaders of these sects might only possess the power of the Yang God Stage. Perhaps once formidable, these sects had now seen their influence wane.

To Yu Yuan, the practitioners from these sects were merely minor players.

Their opinions of him, whether favorable or not, were of no consequence to Yu Yuan.

His gaze was fixed on the distant, grand cityscape of Luan Bird City!

Visible from tens of miles away, the world-renowned city stood out clearly.

Luan Bird City, dwarfing Darkmoon City by more than tenfold, resembled an ancient, sprawling black beast. Even from a distance, it commanded Yu Yuan's respect.

"Luan Bird City..."

He inhaled deeply, his mind set on a decision.

"Greetings, Miss Yafu, Young Master Zhan."

A towering demon, adorned with tiger stripes on his brow and clad in a yellow robe, was paying his respects to Zhao Yafu and Zhan Tianxiang, flanked by a retinue of Demon Palace disciples.

Clearly of the Sky Tiger lineage, his warmth towards Zhao Yafu was markedly greater than towards others.

"People from all quarters have been dispatched to escort them to the Crimson Desert," whispered Kong Banbi, standing close to Yu Yuan. "Even without the presence of Earth Demons, with malevolent creatures emerging, these sect youths will be tested in various perilous locales. It's through these trials that they'll hone their skills and reveal their potential."

Kong Banbi seemed to assume that Yu Yuan, unaffiliated with any sect and a resident of Darkmoon City, might be unaware of these matters, so he offered an explanation.

He clarified that the sects of the Heavenly Source and Quietus Continents only recognized those with the finest talents and highest levels of cultivation.

Individuals like Lau Ying, Zhao Yafu, Zhan Tianxiang, and Kong Banbi himself, who harbored the potential to ascend to the Yang God Stage and become Unrestrained Stage cultivators, were given preferential treatment.

For the others, failure to demonstrate their worth in these trials meant their deaths would be in vain.

Yu Yuan absorbed Kong Banbi's words while surveying the area, recognizing many who had endured the trials in the Ember Waters seabed.

Though many faces were familiar, their names eluded him; they had once fought side by side.

"Brother Yu, will you join us on the journey to the Crimson Desert? Or perhaps you'd like to experience Luan Bird City?" Zhao Yafu called out, having just finished her conversation with the great demon.

Luan Bird City, crafted by the most renowned figure of the Profound Sky Continent—the Luan Bird Queen—is celebrated throughout the Boundless Land for its grandeur. Many cultivators, whether native to other empires or hailing from the Heavenly Source or Quietus Continents, had never set foot in Luan Bird City. Eager to witness its famed might and the strength of its cultivation forces, they planned to explore the city before venturing into the Crimson Desert.

"I'll make a stop at Luan Bird City first," declared Yu Yuan.

No sooner had he spoken than a smiling elder in green robes approached from the distance. "I am Chen Langzhi, of the Chen family within the Luan Bird Empire. Brother Yu, I shall escort you to Luan Bird City. There's someone there who wishes to meet with you."

"Chen Langzhi!"

His name alone sent a ripple of shock through the crowd. Chen Langzhi, the esteemed cultivator overseeing the Chen family's affairs here, was the Luan Bird Queen's own cousin. A late-stage Soul Wandering cultivator, rumors abounded that he would achieve the Yang God form within a decade. His military exploits under the queen's command had been legendary, leading to victories over the Kingdom of Driliwyr, the Divine Might Empire, and the Kingdom of Rewia.

The wise and valiant Chen Langzhi, the queen's most trusted general, was now personally extending an invitation to Yu Yuan to visit Luan Bird City. What could this mean?

"I intended to visit Luan Bird City, but..." Yu Yuan's heart skipped a beat. Turning to Zhao Yafu and the Demon Palace's Great Demon, he suggested, "Perhaps I should delay my trip to the Crimson Desert and rendezvous with you later?"

The Great Demon appeared uncertain for a moment.

With a chuckle, Chen Langzhi reassured, "In the Luan Bird Empire, within Luan Bird City, he'll be under my watch. Does the Demon Palace have any reservations?"

"Very well," the Great Demon conceded with a nod.

With a flourish, Chen Langzhi summoned a gleaming Golden Carriage and stepped inside. He then beckoned Yu Yuan to join him, saying, "Qingyan has been dear to me since her childhood. My thanks for your assistance in the Great Swamp." He bowed with clasped hands in gratitude.

Upon hearing those words, Yu Yuan felt a wave of relief wash over him as he leapt into the Golden Carriage.

"We'll rendezvous in the Crimson Desert later," Yu Yuan said, his gaze sweeping over Hou Tianzhao, Lin Yue, and the rest before settling on Lau Ying. "We'll see each other again soon."

Lau Ying had something to say, but with the crowd's many eyes on her, she hesitated and chose to remain silent.

Then, amidst a flurry of astonished looks, Chen Langzhi steered the Golden Carriage, carrying Yu Yuan away toward the city famed across the world.

"Qingyan won't join the fight against evil in the Crimson Desert. She's been too impulsive in the Desolate Swamp, so her master has sentenced her to six months of reflection in the Sword Prison," Chen Langzhi volunteered, a hint of affection in his voice. "She was warned to leave the Great Swamp early, yet she ignored the advice." His expression was one of indulgent love, clearly genuine.

"Her master, just outside the Great Swamp, didn't mince words with me," Yu Yuan said with a wry smile, feeling a sense of resignation at the thought of being publicly chastised by Ji Ningshuang and possibly never being able to recover his pride.

"I have to say, I'm impressed you dared to speak to her in that manner," Chen Langzhi chuckled, shaking his head. "The fact that you're still alive is a testament to her regard for you saving Qingyan. Just look into it, and you'll find that in the last century, few have survived her wrath and the piercing of the Starfrost Sword."

Whoosh!

Mid-journey, the Golden Carriage burst into a dazzling golden glow and then, quite unexpectedly, it dove into the earth, vanishing into the underground.

"Aren't we headed to Luan Bird City?"

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