C662 Friends!

In a secluded underground space, Zu Ann, adorned with a feathered crown and bearing an ancient visage, was enveloped in a seven-colored divine glow. Around him swirled Evil Creatures, Heavenly Demons, and Demonic Beasts—none of whom were to be trifled with. Yet, in his presence, they became as docile as domesticated cats, displaying a level of obedience that defied belief.

In the palm of his hand, Zu Ann appeared to hold a diminutive mirror. Abruptly, he ceased speaking, and his penetrating gaze, capable of seizing one's soul, fixated on the Fallen Star Eyes. As the prismatic crystals, edged with growing fissures, vanished, so did all the Earth Demons and Evil Creatures, leaving only the intensity of Zu Ann's stare.

His eyes, in a silent and distant observation, settled upon Lau Ying, who coughed up another mouthful of blood. In that instant, she realized that Zu Ann, concealed deep within the earth, had pinpointed her with precision. It seemed he could dispatch a soul-shattering thought through the crystal with just a flicker of intention.

"Who is this person?" Lau Ying's thoughts were in turmoil.

But then, a profound doubt surged within her. The figure of Zu Ann, revealed by the moonstone prismatic crystal, wasn't gazing at her. He wasn't looking at the owner of the Fallen Star Eyes, nor the one who had uncovered and exposed him.

His attention was fixed on Yu Yuan.

Lau Ying turned to see Yu Yuan wearing a rueful smile. He sighed, bowed deeply, and with a gesture of respect, spoke in a voice laden with complexity, "I never imagined we would meet again under such circumstances."

No one was more aware of the dread his former friend inspired. Zu Ann had long presided over Rosy Island as merely a Yin God, while his radiant Yang God resided at the pinnacle of the Boundless Land, the Ascension Peak.

The Ascension Peak was also the site of Zu Ann's breakthrough to the Unrestrained Stage. Now in the late period of that stage, he was on the cusp of condensing his Primordial Spirit.

Having merged with the Dao at Ascension Peak, he observed the mortal realm through the Skywatch Mirror, overseeing the vast expanse like a deity. His true form, it was rumored, had long stood guard over the Outland Star River, protecting a critical region from the incursion of alien races.

Zu Ann was a figure of great importance to the three major upper sects, the Demon Palace, and the Demon Palace, someone they relied upon in many realms.

Legend had it that with the Skywatch Mirror in hand, Zu Ann, stationed at the pinnacle of the Boundless Land, could use the mirror to uncover and pinpoint the hidden evils of the world—the Earth Demons, lurking dangers, and other anomalies.

Should he sense a threat to the Boundless Land, he didn't need to consult with the five great supreme forces; he had the authority to eradicate it on his own.

The five great supreme sects placed immense trust in him. The people he eliminated, even if they were from the three major upper sects, the Demon Palace, or the Demon Palace, would not be questioned extensively by the five great forces.

And now, such a man was deep beneath the Crimson Desert!

Surrounding him were the very beings he was meant to destroy: Earth Demons, Evil Creatures, Heavenly Demons, and other foreign entities that his true form should have barred from entering...

What could this mean?

Had Zu Ann turned his back on the three upper sects, the Devil Palace, and the Demon Palace to ally with the Divine Soul Sect?

Deep within the earth, it seemed that Zu Ann was indeed in his true form.

"That girl..." Zu Ann murmured, his lips moving as he peered into the cracked moonstone prism, his faint voice emanating from within.

A cold dread gripped Lau Ying's heart. As soon as Zu Ann spoke, she realized her fate was in his hands, beyond her control.

She sensed that one wrong answer to Yu Yuan could lead the ancient-faced, feather-crowned man to obliterate her soul.

Yu Yuan extended his hand, suddenly encircling her delicate waist.

Lau Ying's body tensed, unaccustomed to such treatment from a man. Her exquisite face betrayed her discomfort, and her heart fluttered with an odd sensation.

Yet, despite the turmoil in her heart lake, she found herself without the will to resist.

Her cheeks flushed, her gaze grew hazy, and the tender feelings that had begun to bloom within her were quietly amplified by Yu Yuan's gesture.

Holding her close, Yu Yuan could distinctly feel her initial tension and stiffness melting away, as she surrendered to his intimate embrace.

Cradling the beauty in his arms, Yu Yuan inhaled the intoxicating fragrance and beamed. "Her name is Lau Ying, of the Silver Moon Sect! Senior Zu, with your ability to perceive the entire cosmos, if you would but glance my way, you'd recognize the nature of our connection."

"The lass who accompanied you down from Rosy Island last time isn't this one," Zu Ann huffed. "You're too busy chasing after women to focus on your medicinal practice. How can you live up to your master's expectations?"

Hong Qi, the Medicine God of his past life, was a dear friend to Zu Ann, which was the only reason he'd been entrusted with the red copper key.

To Zu Ann, Yu Yuan was a junior worth his attention—one of the very few he actually cared about. Yet, he couldn't help but feel this young man was too distracted, flitting between Yuan Lianyao and Lau Ying, to truly dedicate himself to his cultivation.

"Senior Zu," Yu Yuan implored with a bow, his hands clasped in respect. "I beg for your leniency. You know I wouldn't dare fabricate tales. And I will ensure she behaves."

"Best you leave the Crimson Desert soon, and steer clear of the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area to avoid disaster," Zu Ann warned with a cold snort.

"Senior Zu, about that... Taoist Yeyin from the Spirit Void Sect is also lurking underground. Could you do me the favor of ensuring his demise?" Yu Yuan shamelessly entreated.

"Understood. And tell her to stop prying into matters that don't concern her," Zu Ann directed his final words to Lau Ying.

With that, the Moonstone Prisma crumbled, and Lau Ying slumped into Yu Yuan, nearly collapsing from fear.

Through the "Fallen Star Eyes," she had glimpsed Zu Ann's formidable presence, but his identity, the man with the majestic feathered crown, remained a mystery to her. All she knew was that without Yu Yuan's protective embrace, she would not have survived.

"Now, take this Soul Accumulating Pill and compose yourself. No more snooping around," Yu Yuan instructed as he handed her the pill and settled her on a stone platform, then added, "His name is Zu Ann."

"Zu Ann!" Lau Ying's complexion turned ashen. "The same Zu Ann from Ascension Peak?"

He nodded gently in confirmation.

"How do you know him? Are you aware that Zu Ann, the Ancestor of Ascension Peak, holds a status in the Boundless Land far surpassing my master and even the head of the lower sect?" Clearly, Lau Ying had learned of this enigmatic figure from her master and understood the dread that Zu Ann, unbound by any sect, commanded.

"How we met isn't important right now. What's crucial is that you don't tell anyone about what you've just witnessed," Yu Yuan instructed, pausing briefly before adding, "That includes your master!"

"I get it, I'll do as you say, okay?" Lau Ying's bright eyes shimmered with a hint of grievance.

"There's a good girl, just listen," Yu Yuan said soothingly, patting her head. "Take the pellet and stimulate its effects. I know using your blood essence to see him has taken a toll on you. Don't put it off."

"Holding the Skywatch Mirror, his power to traverse the heavens and earth surpasses even the Fallen Star Eyes. It's no wonder I nearly perished using my Fallen Star Eyes to observe him." Lau Ying shuddered at the memory of Zu Ann from Ascension Peak, whom she had daringly sought to reveal.

For such a formidable figure to be in the Crimson Desert, surrounded by a horde of evil spirits and demons, was unsettling.

"Him? He could very well be the orchestrator of the demons' retaliation. The Earth Demon who shattered Taoist Yeyin's protective soul enchantments might also be under his command," Lau Ying declared with intensity.

Yu Yuan gave a slight nod. "It's unlikely that Taoist Yeyin will survive."

"And Zu Ann, would he truly consent to slay the eighth master of the Spirit Void Sect just on your word?" Lau Ying exclaimed, her voice laced with astonishment.

"He will."

Yu Yuan's voice carried unwavering confidence.

Zu Ann had been his closest ally in a past life; he understood Zu Ann's temperament well.

Without a shadow of a doubt, he believed Zu Ann would eliminate the eighth master of the Spirit Void Sect, Yuan Lianyao, and his so-called eighth master, all at his behest.

What troubled him now was why Zu Ann had come to the Crimson Desert.

Why were Earth Demons, evil spirits, and otherworldly entities so obedient to Zu Ann's commands?

Had Zu Ann, who had long guarded a strategic point in the Outland Star River, opened it himself, allowing an influx of strange beings?

If that were true, Zu Ann would be in direct opposition to the five supreme sects. Given the current state of affairs, Zu Ann would be branded a traitor of the Boundless Land.

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