C671 Goddess' Wings

Ann Ziqing lay in a crimson pool, her lifeblood seeping from the shattered remains of her purple divine armor. The contemporary goddess of the Blood God Cult and a member of the Ann family had barely managed to gasp "Young Master, save me" before succumbing to unconsciousness. The blood that flowed from her was thick, with an odd, rich fragrance, and as she lay there, it seemed to come alive, enveloping her delicate form protectively.

A dim, bloody glow emanated from the viscous, fragrant blood, shielding her from petty intruders even in her vulnerable state. The divine armor, crafted from an unknown material, had splintered into finger-sized purple crystals, each containing a tiny droplet of deep purple blood. It was as if the entire suit of armor had been forged from these glistening droplets, melded with a hundred refined metals by a master Refiner.

Fine bloodstains marred Ann Ziqing's slender wrists and neck. Yet, as she lay there, shrouded in the bloody light, Yu Yuan was astonished to discover that her superficial wounds were quietly healing, mended by the mystical blood, the secret arts of the Blood God Cult, and the properties of the purple armor.

However, the true peril lay not in her physical injuries, but in the grievous harm to her soul. A thumb-sized drop of blood covered the spiritual aperture on her forehead, not the dark purple of her armor, but a vibrant scarlet. It radiated an overwhelmingly potent energy, within which a faint soul shadow could be seen – Ann Ziqing's Yin God.

Severely damaged, the Yin God was temporarily encased within the scarlet droplet, unable to retreat into her dantian and merge with her Heavenly Soul and primary soul. The Yin God, sheltered within the blood, quivered feebly, as if it would disperse into nothingness without the blood's protection.

Ann Ziqing, newly initiated into the Soul Wandering Stage, had not yet solidified her mastery when she hastened to the Crimson Desert. What adversary she encountered on her journey remains unknown. Despite the protection of her purple divine armor and the presence of Han Ling, she had still sustained a devastating blow.

Despite being on the brink of disaster, this girl, Ann Ziqing, mustered her indomitable will to seek out the Little Cloud Sect and, in doing so, found herself.

How did she manage to find me?

Yu Yuan gazed at Ann Ziqing, who was prostrate on the ground, his mind swirling with one question after another.

"Lau Ying!"

Eventually, Yu Yuan realized his mistake. He had altered his appearance and adopted the name "Chen Xi," but Lau Ying's presence had been a constant. Ann Ziqing, who had parted ways with him outside the city, could have utilized the Blood God Cult's resources. With the Chen family's influence, they likely tracked his whereabouts through Lau Ying's movements in Luan Bird City.

But what compelled Ann Ziqing, despite her grievous injuries, to seek him out so determinedly?

Yu Yuan stroked his chin, a touch of melancholy in his expression. He recalled that on Blood God Island, this girl had clearly intended to use the blood pools and wells to bewitch him, to draw him into her web of deceit.

Back then, Ann Ziqing's intentions were far from benign.

His lingering fondness for the Blood God Cult stemmed from discovering the spiritual consciousness left by Yu Ying beneath the Yu family's estate, learning that his lineage descended from the Evil King, Yu Xi.

Yu Xi, the Evil King, was once a close friend and the sect master of the Blood God Cult.

The Blood God Cult had experts who aided in the layout of the Yu family's underground space. This implied that the sect master was well aware that the Yu family of Darkmoon City were the progeny of his old friend, hence the protection they received.

Ann Ziqing was dispatched to the Yu family under the guise of a maid, likely on Ann Wen's orders.

It's possible that Ann Ziqing herself was unaware of the clandestine ties between the An and Yu families, which would explain her hostile schemes against him on Blood God Island.

"Chen Xi..."

Xie Binn's hushed call drifted in from outside the courtyard.

Ann Ziqing had concealed her presence and slipped into his room unnoticed by others. However, Xie Binn, whose Heavenly Soul had recently coalesced once more, quickly sensed the disturbance. Concerned for his well-being, he decided to investigate.

"Old Xie, no need for concern. A friend has unexpectedly dropped by," Yu Yuan responded in a hushed tone.

"It's a relief that you're okay," Xie Binn whispered from outside, his voice hushed and focused like a beam, "I'm meditating in my room. If you need anything, just give me a soft call. I'll hear you."

"Understood," Yu Yuan replied.

Without another word, Xie Binn vanished into the night, silent as a shadow.

Yet Yu Yuan was aware that this once-celebrated figure of the Little Clouds Sect was lurking nearby, ready to rush to his aid at a moment's notice.

Armed with the Ice Thunder Mark and back in the Soul Wandering Stage, Xie Binn was a formidable force, not easily matched by the average person.

His true strength, amplified by the Ice Thunder Mark, far exceeded his current level, thanks to his experience battling Yang Gods and even more powerful beings from foreign realms.

This confidence underpinned Xie Binn's lack of urgency to return to the Little Clouds Sect on the Heavenly Source Continent, as he awaited the arrival of Qi Jinghai from the Thunder Sect.

"Hmm?"

Yu Yuan's attention sharpened as he focused on the spot between Ann Ziqing's eyebrows. Upon closer inspection, he noticed minute strands of crimson lightning within the drop of bright red blood.

The minuscule crimson lightning, blending seamlessly with the color of the blood, could easily be mistaken as part of it.

Yu Yuan realized something was amiss because the crimson lightning was subtly advancing within the blood, inching toward the center.

At the heart of it all was Ann Ziqing's Yin God.

After observing for a moment longer, Yu Yuan was certain that the crimson lightning carried the essence of soul annihilation. It must have been left by the assailant who had inflicted such severe injuries on Ann Ziqing, nearly costing her life.

From this, he deduced that Ann Ziqing's released Yin God must have detected the peril and attempted to retreat to her Niwan acupoint.

Realizing the pursuing crimson lightning was too swift, and fearing it might follow her Yin God into her Consciousness Little World, potentially killing both her Heavenly Soul and main soul, she extracted a drop of peculiar scarlet blood to provide a temporary refuge for her Yin God.

Crimson lightning trailed her Yin God, seeping stubbornly into the drop of scarlet blood.

Within the blood, the lightning continued its relentless advance, inching closer to her Yin God. Once the crimson lightning penetrated the heart of the blood droplet, striking her Yin God, it would likely mean its obliteration.

After destroying her Yin God, the crimson lightning might even break free from the blood and invade her Consciousness Little World, threatening to extinguish both her Heavenly Soul and primary soul.

"She's seeking my help?"

Yu Yuan's brows furrowed as he unconsciously rubbed his hands, feeling a headache coming on at the sight of the scarlet droplet on Ann Ziqing's forehead.

To save or not to save her, that was the question. And figuring out how to save her was yet another dilemma.

With a quiet sigh, he reached out to the Artifact Soul of the Evil Cauldron, seeking its counsel.

After listening to his account and grasping the details, the Artifact Soul proposed a plan that seemed viable. He would call forth the Life Altar from his Qi and blood microcosm to melt down the scarlet blood on Ann Ziqing's forehead.

As the blood was refined, the Evil Cauldron would envelop it, exposing the infiltrating crimson lightning. Either the power of the Cauldron or the fierce sword energy within the scabbard would then need to eradicate the crimson lightning.

Only through such means could he ensure that Ann Ziqing's Yin God would successfully detach from the blood.

Yet, executing this plan within the Dao House of the Small Thunder Sky Sect was out of the question. The array of banners there only served to block soul thoughts and sound, not the kind of spectacle this ritual would create.

Unleashing the Evil Cauldron and the Life Altar would undoubtedly cause an uproar. The Dao House couldn't conceal such an event, drawing the attention of many prying eyes.

Those pursuing Ann Ziqing could easily trace the disturbance back to its source. Not only would Ann Ziqing be in danger, but Yu Yuan and Xie Binn could also be implicated.

Whoever had driven Ann Ziqing to this desperate corner and dared to target the current Goddess of the Blood God Cult must wield immense power. Even Xie Binn might not be a match for them now, and who knew how many were involved?

"I've got it. To rescue Ann Ziqing, I need to stealthily transfer her to the Blue Sky Shrine. It's the only place in this city that's safe, where I can act freely without restraint." Yu Yuan quickly formulated a plan. He was also aware that the Blue Sky Shrine, along with the entirety of Luan Bird City, was likely connected to the underground city by a network of formations.

Once he secured a cultivation chamber within the Blue Sky Shrine, he could proceed with his plans undisturbed.

"I'll have Xie Bin take care of the arrangements."

With his mind made up, Yu Yuan wasted no time and summoned his associate, "Old Xie?"

"Present," Xie Bin responded at once.

"I need you for a task," Yu Yuan beckoned.

As the words left his mouth, Xie Bin materialized in the room as if by magic, standing amidst the fluttering banners. He cast a brief look at Ann Ziqing, then inquired softly, "Is she from the Blood God Cult?"

"The current Divine Maiden, Ann Ziqing," Yu Yuan confirmed.

A flicker of surprise crossed Xie Bin's face, his eyes sparking with lightning as he focused on the drop of scarlet blood on Ann Ziqing's forehead. Upon closer inspection, he discerned the subtle strands of crimson lightning concealed within.

Recognizing the significance of the lightning, Xie Bin's figure shook with a start, and he gasped in astonishment.

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