C663 Rescue

The Crystal Boat soared through the sky at breakneck speed.

A relentless Flood Dragon pursued them, its shimmering silver scales occasionally detaching and transforming into razor-sharp blades that lethally struck down the Spirit Void Sect disciples.

This Flood Dragon was of the Seventh Level, its combat prowess on par with a human cultivator at the Soul Wandering Stage.

Chu Jing had taken his position at the rear of the Crystal Boat, clutching the Spectral Umbrella. Whenever the dragon's silver scales came hurtling towards them, he would swiftly deploy the umbrella, providing a momentary shield for the vessel.

Han Xu, the commander of the Crystal Boat, was merely at the Yin God Stage and stood no chance against a Seventh Level Flood Dragon.

Were it not for the miniature world within the Spectral Umbrella, which the Flood Dragon seemed to dread, fearing its scales might vanish within it never to return, the casualties among the Spirit Void Sect disciples aboard would have been far more devastating.

"Seventh Level Great Demons are a rare sight on the Profound Sky Continent, yet they fixate on us with such intensity," Han Xu mused, his brow furrowed in concern. "What's odd is that despite our distress signals, it seems the disciples from nearby sects are facing similar predicaments, leaving no one free to come to our aid."

Chu Jing, appearing half-asleep as ever, added, "It's not just us in peril. Other sects have reported crises too. Calm Sea has informed me that he and the Thunder Sect's members have ventured in the opposite direction. And it's the Jin Bone Race and our human kin who are pressing hard against them."

Shocked, Han Xu exclaimed, "From where in the Crimson Desert did such an abundance of mixed-blood fiends, Great Demons, and Earth Demons emerge?"

Their intelligence had suggested that the Crimson Desert's "exorcism" mission wouldn't likely involve encounters with overly formidable beings—just a scattering of Fifth and Sixth Level Great Demons, Earth Demons, and Evil Creatures of equivalent strength.

After all, the truly formidable entities were rumored to reside in the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area, Desolate Swamp, Horror Land, and Iridescent Cloud Miasma Sea.

It was for this reason that those who entered the Crimson Desert to "purge the evil" did so without the protection of powerful elders.

Little did they expect that what began as a seemingly straightforward mission would abruptly escalate in difficulty, with Seventh Level Great Demons now emerging to challenge them.

Chu Jing, harboring a sense of doubt, abruptly tuned into the urgent soul message emanating from the Spectral Umbrella's artifact soul.

His face paled slightly. "Master Taoist Yeyin is calling for aid!"

"Where is Taoist Yeyin seeking help?" Han Xu demanded.

"In the Crimson Desert," Chu Jing replied, furrowing his brow as he gazed at the ground beneath them. "More precisely, right below us. He's been marked by some fearsome entity and believes he's facing certain death. He's used the leaf he cultivated with his life essence to reach out through the Spectral Umbrella, hoping to use it."

"We can't allow it!" Han Xu interjected loudly, "If we hand over the Spectral Umbrella, we won't stand a chance against the assault of that malevolent Flood Dragon!"

This was precisely the crux of Chu Jing's hesitation.

With the Spectral Umbrella in their possession, the Seventh Level Evil Flood Dragon had been kept at bay, allowing them to make a strategic retreat while engaging in battle.

Without the Spectral Umbrella, Chu Jing doubted his own ability to safely escape the relentless pursuit of the Seventh Level Evil Flood Dragon, not to mention safeguarding his fellow sect members.

Lost in thought, Chu Jing slowly sank to the ground.

"What's happened?" Han Xu inquired, puzzled.

"Junior Master Ying Ye has perished." Chu Jing's voice wavered as he spoke, visibly shaken by the news despite his usually stoic demeanor. "In the brief moment of my hesitation, right after he had established a connection with the Spectral Umbrella's artifact soul, he was suddenly gone."

"Ah!" Han Xu, older and more advanced in cultivation than Chu Jing, lost his composure, letting out an anguished cry. He clutched at his hair, his face a mask of panic and distress. "Who could have killed him? Taoist Yeyin was a master of stealth and evasion, even at the Soul Wandering Stage!"

"Even a Yang God cultivator or an Eighth Level Great Demon would find it challenging to take him down, let alone one of his own level!"

The news of Taoist Yeyin's death sent a wave of shock through the disciples aboard the Crystal Boat.

"Yu Yuan from Darkmoon City mentioned that Junior Master Ying Ye was in the Crimson Desert, yet I received no such information," Chu Jing, the soon-to-be leader of the Spirit Void Sect, regained his composure swiftly. "Yu Yuan also claimed to have had an encounter with him, suggesting that Yu Yuan was likely the reason he ventured into the Crimson Desert."

"At least, it should be one of his objectives."

Chu Jing paused to reflect before continuing, "Given his exceptional ability to evade capture, the fact that he met his end underground, with all three souls extinguished, indicates that his assailant possesses a level of cultivation and power far surpassing his own. Only someone with the ability to utterly overpower him could have dispatched him so effortlessly."

Having just taken his seat, Chu Jing abruptly rose and issued a decisive command, "Evacuate the Crimson Desert! We've lost control of the situation here!"

...

Fallen Star Eyes.

Lau Ying, having ingested a Soul Accumulating Pill, took a moment to recuperate and feel her spiritual sense coalesce. After some time, she reopened her eyes.

She caught sight of Yu Yuan gazing into the distance, bathed in the evening's rosy light.

"What's on your mind?"

Staring at his silhouette, Lau Ying found herself momentarily entranced and couldn't resist inquiring.

For reasons unknown, ever since Yu Yuan had embraced her, openly affirming their closeness to Zu Ann, she felt an increased intimacy with him.

Her heart brimmed with happiness and anticipation.

Perhaps that was why just the sight of Yu Yuan's figure brought her such joy.

"How are you feeling?" Yu Yuan asked, turning around with a smile that shone in the twilight.

His radiant grin bestowed upon him an almost bewitching allure, sending ripples through Lau Ying's heart, leaving her flustered and reluctant to meet his gaze.

"I'm alright, no major issues," Lau Ying replied, her gaze dropping slightly.

"Find Zhao Yafu, Zhan Tianxiang, and Kong Banbi for me," Yu Yuan requested straightforwardly, pausing to consider his next words. "And reach out to Lin Yue and Hou Tianzhao. I need to let them know to leave the Crimson Desert as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Lau Ying snapped back to reality, the unsettling image of Zu Ann's underground ordeal flashing through her mind. "Understood!"

Her initial action wasn't to seek out Zhan Tianxiang or Zhao Yafu for Yu Yuan, but instead to connect with an elder of the Silver Moon Sect through a secret method.

A particle of thought descended onto a prismatic moonstone, causing the Fallen Star Eyes beneath her to suddenly blaze with light, the star energy within its arrays pulsing as it transmitted her message.

Then, she maneuvered the Fallen Star Eyes, setting off in search of Zhan Tianxiang and Zhao Yafu while remaining attuned to their presence.

As dusk fell, the perils of the Crimson Desert multiplied tenfold.

Yu Yuan, aboard the Fallen Star Eyes, could occasionally hear the harrowing screams of those on the brink of death piercing the night's calm.

"The minor sects from the Heavenly Source and Quietus Continents have suffered heavy casualties; they're under attack."

"That dragon is in pursuit of the Crystal Boat, and it seems Qu Yi is struggling to fend it off."

"The Golden Bone Race mixed with humans has targeted Qi Jinghai and the others from the Thunder Sect, relentlessly hunting them down, intent on ensuring the Thunder Sect's members are entombed within the Crimson Desert."

"And there's more..."

Through an artifact that enabled telepathic communication, Lau Ying relayed the scenes she witnessed to Yu Yuan, painting a stark picture of the dire situation unfolding in the Crimson Desert.

Yu Yuan nodded thoughtfully as he listened.

Half an hour later, the Fallen Star Eyes descended near Kong Banbi of the Sword Sect, where Yu Yuan observed Kong Banbi and a group of disciples arrayed in a formidable sword formation.

Inside the formation, the sword light streaked through the air like bolts of lightning, the dense sword intent within bristling with power.

A dozen Spiritual Swords encircled a large man covered in golden fur, his physique as solid as granite, clearly indicating he was no ordinary man—likely a hybrid or even a purebred member of the Galaxy Alien Race.

The towering figure, engulfed by the sword formation, was bathed in a shower of golden sparks, laughing heartily without a hint of concern, swatting at the swords as if they were mere flies.

The Spiritual Swords he swatted at bent almost instantly, and the disciples managing the formation let out muffled groans, collapsing to the ground to swallow pills for recovery.

"This is no hybrid; he's a genuine member of the Galaxy Alien Race!"

Lau Ying, perched atop the Fallen Star Eyes, peered down at the conflict below. She began to speak, "Zu..." but quickly caught herself, realizing the impropriety, and fell silent.

With a meaningful glance and subtle lip movements, she signaled to Yu Yuan, conveying that Zu Ann was stationed at the Outer Star River, vigilantly guarding against this very alien race's intrusion into the Boundless Land.

The subtle twitch at the corner of her mouth gave Yu Yuan the clarity he needed. He nodded, acknowledging the unspoken plan, and said, "He's waiting, waiting for someone to turn the tables and strike back at the Sword Sect."

"Fallen Star Eyes! Lau Ying!"

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