C672 Soulsear Bolt

"Soulsear Bolt!"

Xie Bin's eyes widened in horror as he stared at the drop of blood, where strands of scarlet lightning danced within. As a prodigious cultivator from the Obsidian Thunder Sect, he was well-regarded in the world. The recognition of the lightning's origin sent a tremor through his soul.

"Soulsear Bolt?"

Yu Yuan looked puzzled, racking his brain only to find no trace of such a thing in his memory, neither from his past life nor his current one.

"Very few are aware of this thing. You're not versed in thunder magic, so naturally, you wouldn't know," Xie Bin said, inhaling deeply, his expression grave. "Yu Yuan, the one who struck her, by all accounts, should not be from the Everlands."

"How so?" Yu Yuan inquired, intrigued.

"There's a faction that originated from the Thunder Sect. They renounced the sect and went on to establish their own in the Extraterrestrial Star River," Xie Bin explained, visibly agitated. "They practice the Thunder Sect's mystique, which, combined with the peculiar lightning from a pool in the Extraterrestrial Star River, results in this form."

He pointed to the drop of blood and continued, "This lightning is known as the Soulsear Bolt, characterized by its scarlet hue."

"In the past, the lightning conjured by the Thunderzenith Sect, and even by our Obsidian Thunder Sect, was either green or white. It was exceedingly rare to see this kind of red. The Soulsear Bolt, this red lightning, is known for being sinister and overwhelmingly malicious."

"Those who practice this thunder magic in the Star River have long been disavowed by the Everlands."

"Whether it's the Thunder Sect, our Obsidian Thunder Sect, or any of the three great upper sects, they would relentlessly pursue them, denying them any quarter."

"They have no right to meddle in the affairs of the Everlands!"

While speaking, Yu Yuan noticed the tiny scarlet bolts making another surge towards the drop of blood.

Ann Ziqing's Lunar Spirit seemed to flicker in the center of the blood, like a flame in the breeze, threatening to extinguish at any moment, as if detecting the destructive Soulsear Bolt. Her breaths grew labored.

Yu Yuan sensed her desperate struggle to awaken from her stupor, as if caught in a nightmarish terror. Despite her frantic efforts, she remained trapped in unconsciousness.

Her Lunar Spirit has been pushed to such extremes by the Soulsear Bolt, it's likely that her heaven soul and dominant soul have also sustained severe damage. Judging by her condition, she won't fully awaken unless the Lunar Spirit issue is resolved," Xie Bin observed thoughtfully. "Shall we head to the Azure Vault?"

"That was my intention!" Yu Yuan exclaimed.

"This young woman managed to find her way here, to you," Xie Bin mused. "She must have learned that I've recondensed my heaven soul and that I possess the Glacial Storm Seal, which is why she sought us out."

"What?" Yu Yuan was taken aback.

"Didn't she come here because she knew that the Glacial Storm Seal I hold can neutralize her Soulsear Bolt?" Xie Bin said with a sense of pride, as if it were the most natural conclusion. "Deep within the Star River, it's well-known that the cornerstone treasure of our Obsidian Thunder Sect can counter the Soulsear Bolt!"

"When Qi Jinghai visited last time, he was relaying an invitation for me to join the Thunder Sect to aid in the condensation of my heaven soul. Wasn't his real interest the Glacial Storm Seal? The three upper sects gave their consent because they're all aware of the immense restraining power my Glacial Storm Seal has over the Soulsear Bolt."

"I suspect that the cultivators from the Thunder Sect have put pressure on the upper sects," Xie Bin speculated.

Yu Yuan was taken aback, not expecting this layer of complexity. It appeared that the Glacial Storm Seal Xie Bin held was indeed capable of restricting the dreaded Soulsear Bolt.

With this revelation from Xie Bin, Yu Yuan began to suspect that Ann Ziqing had specifically sought them out, knowing that the Glacial Storm Seal was in Xie Bin's possession.

"The origin of that drop of blood is unknown to me, and dissolving it could prove difficult," Xie Bin admitted.

"Regardless of whose blood it is or the circumstances surrounding it, I can handle it," Yu Yuan confidently stated, bolstered by the power of the Altar of Rebirth and the abundant vitality within the blood. "If you can deal with those scarlet bolts of lightning, we'll be able to save her."

"What's your relationship with her?" Xie Bin inquired with a hint of curiosity.

"Haven't you already looked into my past? Surely you must know she once served as my personal maidservant in the Yu family at Asvetaesi," Yu Yuan replied, a smile gracing his lips.

"I'm asking about the real relationship!" Xie Bin shot him a stern look. "This girl would've certainly perished if we hadn't rescued her. I've been told you have no ties with Colddeath, and there might even be some bad blood between you. She's the goddess of Colddeath. Saving her could potentially bring other troubles our way."

"We'll cross that bridge when she wakes up," Yu Yuan declared.

His thoughts were preoccupied with the clandestine connection between the Yu family and Colddeath. He suspected that the secret buried beneath the Yu family's estate might also involve the An family.

It was out of respect for the current sect master of Colddeath that he had decided to save Ann Ziqing's life.

"We mustn't delay; let's leave immediately!"

True to his word, Xie Bin swept his sleeve, and countless strands of white Glacial Storm Silk burst forth from the Glacial Storm Seal, weaving into a blanket before Yu Yuan's eyes.

With a mere thought, the Glacial Storm Silk blanket enveloped the unconscious Ann Ziqing. Oddly enough, the protective bloody glow around her, that sticky blood, seemed oblivious to any threat, showing no signs of change.

"She has an innate sense of danger. The blood shielding her is imbued with her spirit," Xie Bin observed, grasping a thicker strand of Glacial Storm Silk and twisting the blanket snugly around Ann Ziqing. "Stay close to me. If we're ambushed along the way, I'll kick up a commotion. That will alert the Chen family, and they'll come to our aid."

He believed that anyone who dared to harm Ann Ziqing, a traitor to the Everlands, should be met with united retribution from all the strongholds upon their appearance in Afnetalos.

"Understood," Yu Yuan nodded in agreement.

Xie Bin took to the skies, bypassing the main gate. As soon as he left the courtyard, he shot towards the Azure Vault like a streak of lightning.

He deliberately moderated his speed, allowing Yu Yuan to keep up with him at a distance.

The streets lay silent in the dead of night, devoid of the usual patrols of city guards.

Their progress was eerily smooth, not a soul in sight.

Yu Yuan, trailing behind Xie Bin, couldn't help but marvel at the stillness. It was hard to believe that the vast city of Afnetalos could be so tranquil, absent even the faintest sound of animals or insects.

"Something's not right."

Out of the blue, a wisp of consciousness from the Crucible of Evil, nestled within his Zigong acupoint, sent a shiver down his spine.

"We should have reached the Azure Vault by now."

It was then that Xie Bin, who had been pulling a blanket with a strand of Glacial Storm Silk, came to an abrupt halt. He stared at the Azure Vault in the distance, seemingly within arm's reach.

Yu Yuan paused as well, casting his gaze upon the Azure Vault. It appeared ethereal, almost as if it were an illusion.

Suddenly, a strong premonition from the cauldron spirit surged through him. "This is bad, we might have already been ensnared in a fabricated little world!"

Taking his time, Xie Bin gently set down the blanket enveloping Ann Ziqing and shook the Glacial Storm Seal from his sleeve, declaring, "I'll shatter this illusion before us first!"

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