C668 All Things Listen to Advice

Ann Ziqing stood unarmored, her head held high, her gaze locked onto the Fallen Star Eyes.

Bathed in sunlight, her skin shimmered with a crystalline luster.

As the reigning Goddess of the Blood God Cult, her sudden appearance went undetected by Lau Ying through the Fallen Star Eyes, prompting a surge of vigilance within him.

With a resounding boom, the silver meteor hanging midair burst into light, its stellar arrays whirring to life under Lau Ying's mental command.

The divine radiance from beneath the Fallen Star Eyes enveloped Ann Ziqing, casting her in a celestial glow.

Above her, Ann Ziqing's soul flickered, seemingly ready to depart her physical form and soar across vast distances.

The star energy array within the Fallen Star Eyes subtly revealed the activity within Ann Ziqing's sea of consciousness.

"How dare you!"

A thunderous roar echoed from ten miles away, the voice of Han Ling from the Blood God Cult.

The sound triggered Yu Yuan's memories of his time with Yuan Lianyao on the Crack Archipelago, where they were lured to Blood God Island by Ann Ziqing. There, they witnessed the Origin Blood Array's transformation and the blood wells erupting with a potent essence.

It was Han Ling who had sought to end Yu Yuan's life, only to be thwarted by Ann Ziqing.

She then guided him to the heart of Blood God Island, where the dense lifeblood within the pools and wells beckoned him to leap in.

Ann Ziqing had discerned the nascent Life Altar within his blood, urging him to seize the chance to ascend to the Profound Break Stage.

Sensing danger, Yu Yuan fought against the Life Altar's allure, the bloodthirsty craving of the pools and wells, and fled Blood God Island in a desperate escape.

In the days that followed, he was haunted by the ordeal.

The memory of that moment convinced him that a single misstep, a plunge into the blood pool, would have meant the end of Yu Yuan as he knew him.

"Soul Wandering Stage!"

Lau Ying inhaled sharply, witnessing the true realm of Ann Ziqing's soul under the Fallen Star Eyes' illumination. The revelation of her ascent to the Soul Wandering Stage left him with a sense of defeat.

It was through Yu Yuan that she came to know of Ann Ziqing. Intrigued, she delved deeper into Ann Ziqing's background.

The revered goddess of the Blood God Cult, destined to be the future sect leader!

Despite their similar ages, Ann Ziqing had recently advanced to the Soul Wandering Stage, a feat that left Lau Ying feeling the sting of underachievement for the first time. She questioned whether she had squandered her own gifts.

Even Chen Qingyan, whose talents were acknowledged to surpass hers, had only just begun to refine his Yin God, much like herself.

How had Ann Ziqing managed to ascend to the Soul Wandering Stage?

"Soul Wandering Stage!"

Yu Yuan, too, was taken aback by her sudden outburst.

He gazed intently at Ann Ziqing, employing the Soul Forging Technique's special ability with his "Insightful Eye." He discerned the exceptional refinement of Ann Ziqing's Consciousness Little World by the Yin God, which seemed to enable her to traverse the Boundless Land with ease.

The Yin God's ability to soar freely across the Boundless Land was the hallmark of the Soul Wandering Stage.

Since their departure from Blood God Island, this goddess of the Blood God Cult had broken through her limits and attained the Soul Wandering Stage!

Such youthful achievers in the Soul Wandering Stage were exceedingly rare in the annals of the Boundless Land!

"Don't be too astonished," Ann Ziqing said with a charming smile, gesturing for the Fallen Star Eyes to lower so they could converse more intimately.

Lau Ying considered that with her martial uncle Tan Junshan stationed near the Crimson Desert, should any misfortune befall her, the Fallen Star Eyes would surely alert him at once.

Unless the current sect master of the Blood God Cult intervened, no one could harm her under Tan Junshan's vigilant eye.

With Tan Junshan's support, she confidently commanded the Artifact Soul, causing the Fallen Star Eyes to descend.

"Our Blood God Cult's cultivation pace is unparalleled in the Boundless Land, as you well know," Ann Ziqing explained openly to them. "Pursuing our unique blood secret arts inevitably invites future complications. Moreover, the likelihood of glimpsing the ultimate truths of the Great Dao and achieving the Primordial Spirit is quite remote with such esoteric and extreme spiritual spells."

Upon hearing her words, Lau Ying's heart eased a bit, and she replied, "That's right."

"It's been quite some time since our parting on Blood God Island." Yu Yuan flashed a guarded smile. He was on high alert around this former maid, fearing another one of her schemes. One misstep, and he could descend into darkness, becoming a bloodthirsty demon at the mercy of the Blood God Cult.

"I'm here because Lin Yue summoned me to assist in the Crimson Desert," Ann Ziqing said with composure. "As you've heard, I've brought others with me. When I glimpsed you through the Fallen Star Eyes, I simply wanted to greet you."

"Just a greeting?" Yu Yuan narrowed his eyes.

Ann Ziqing's inscrutable gaze occasionally lingered on Yu Yuan's dantian's Profound Gate, betraying a persistent curiosity about the secrets of his inner Qi and blood. "Yes, just a greeting. Young Master, I extend a heartfelt invitation for you to reconsider joining the Blood God Cult."

Her face was earnest as she continued, "I am convinced that our Blood God Cult's Spiritual Spells and secret arts are the most effective for elevating your realm!"

Her eyes remained intently fixed on Yu Yuan's enigmatic core as she emphasized her last point.

In that instant, Yu Yuan was absolutely certain that this priestess of the Blood God Cult was aware of the "Life Altar" crafted from "Giant Beast Amber"!

"At present, I have no intention of aligning with any factions," Yu Yuan declined.

"Ungrateful!" Han Ling of the Blood God Cult barked from a distance, "Our Goddess has extended an invitation to you repeatedly, and yet you have the audacity to refuse time and again! You're spurning a generous offer!"

"Silence!" Ann Ziqing chided.

With a sullen expression, Han Ling clamped his mouth shut.

"If I may ask, what level have you reached in your cultivation?" Yu Yuan inquired abruptly.

"The late stage of the Soul Wandering Stage," Ann Ziqing answered.

"And are you the strongest among your group?" Yu Yuan probed further.

After a moment's thought, Ann Ziqing responded, "Indeed, I am the highest in realm. Why do you ask?"

"Just a word of caution," Yu Yuan said with a hint of a smirk. "The strength of your Blood God Cult may not suffice in the current climate of the Crimson Desert. Once you find Lin Yue and your fellow disciples, it would be wise to make a swift exit. Lingering there could prove perilous."

Ann Ziqing's expression shifted subtly. "Young Master, what exactly are you aware of?"

"Nothing at all."

Yu Yuan flashed a sly grin. "Considering you once gifted me the Mustard Seed Bracelet in the Ember Waters and entrusted me with a jade plate, I'll offer you a piece of advice. Whether you heed it or not is up to you."

"Lau Ying, we're heading back to Luan Bird City."

With those words, an already restless Lau Ying spurred the Fallen Star Eyes into flight, soaring towards Luan Bird City.

"Young Master! Please, wait a moment!"

Ann Ziqing's calls from below went deliberately ignored, as if unheard.

A while after the Fallen Star Eyes had departed, a burst of golden light emerged from deep underground.

The source of the light was the Golden Carriage. Chen Langzhi of the Chen family emerged with a congenial smile and gestured respectfully to Ann Ziqing. "Miss Ann, the Chen family and the Blood God Cult have enjoyed many years of mutually satisfying collaboration. With that in mind, I strongly advise against venturing into the Crimson Desert at this juncture."

Whoosh!

Han Ling of the Blood God Cult arrived in a flash of light, coming to a smooth halt.

"The young master says so, and now you...?"

With a heavy heart, Ann Ziqing murmured to herself before addressing Chen Langzhi, "What's really happening in the Crimson Desert? Is the situation that dire?"

"Tell Lin Yue from your sect to get out while he can," Chen Langzhi replied, sidestepping her question. "While you still can reach him with your sect's secret arts, send a message immediately. Wait any longer, and you won't be able to get even a whisper through."

At these words, Han Ling, who had hurried over, visibly paled.

He could dismiss Yu Yuan's warning due to Yu Yuan's lower cultivation level and lack of a formidable background. But Chen Langzhi from the Chen family was a different story; Han Ling knew the significance of his words.

"Miss?" Han Ling pressed, urgency in his voice.

"It's wise to heed good advice," Chen Langzhi added.

Taking a deep breath, Ann Ziqing gazed towards the Crimson Desert with a mix of emotions and nodded in agreement. "I've got it. I'll contact Lin Yue right away and tell him to lead his followers out as quickly as possible."

"Elder Han, head to the outskirts of the Crimson Desert to rendezvous with Lin Yue and the team. I'm off to Luan Bird City—I need to find our young master!"

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