C679 Trapped
A subtle green glow emanated from the walls of Luan Bird City, illuminating the towering buildings and the cobblestone streets below. The city's Cloud Lake shimmered with light!
All within Luan Bird City who had attained a certain level of mastery felt a stirring in their hearts.
Lau Ying narrowed her eyes.
Without relying on her Fallen Star Eyes, she keenly sensed that the most magnificent city in the Boundless Land was undergoing a quiet transformation.
Yu Yuan looked around, observing the burgeoning green light. He declared, "The protective array of Luan Bird City has been activated."
"That sounds right," Lau Ying agreed with a nod. "My master once mentioned that the city's defensive array is exceptionally powerful. With the Dark Dust Mist now enveloping the skies outside and creeping closer, it's no surprise that the Chen family has been roused to action, triggering the array."
The difference between an array lying dormant and one in operation was night and day.
Luan Bird City, a marvel crafted by the mightiest empire on the Profound Sky Continent, seldom required the protection of its array.
No individual or empire would dare provoke its wrath.
Yet, once activated, the array safeguarding the entire city would consume vast quantities of Spirit Stones and a myriad of precious spiritual materials daily.
Only in dire circumstances would the city's defenses be so readily engaged.
The current activation of the array was a harbinger.
It signaled that Luan Bird City faced a looming threat, necessitating preemptive measures.
This also indicated that both the Chen family and the Luan Bird Empire were under considerable strain, acutely aware of the vulnerability they would face if the Dark Dust Mist were to infiltrate the city.
"Curious, am I reading too much into this?" Yu Yuan pondered, stroking his chin in contemplation.
He had previously suspected that members of the Chen family, like Chen Liangquan, might be clandestinely aligning with Zu Ann and the malevolent entities beyond the city's borders.
Yet, as Chen Langzhi had pointed out, Chen Liangquan had played a significant role in establishing the city's protective array.
If Chen Liangquan truly conspired with Zu Ann and the otherworldly fiends, he wouldn't have set the city's defenses in motion. Instead, he would have allowed the Dark Dust Mist to advance unimpeded, engulfing Luan Bird City in its entirety.
Could it be that Chen Liangquan, as one of the architects of this grand formation, actually lacked control over it?
Aside from Chen Liangquan, who in the Chen family could fully command such a formation?
The Luan Bird Queen?!
This thought sent a shiver through Yu Yuan, his mind increasingly befuddled. It felt as though his heart was shrouded in "Dusk Dust," lost in a thick haze.
"Yu Yuan!"
Zhan Tianxiang from the Demon Palace, having spotted the flickering Fallen Star Eyes above, raced toward him.
"Is everyone okay?"
Yu Yuan gathered his thoughts and beamed. Besides Zhan Tianxiang, Zhao Yafu and three other Demon Palace cultivators were also present—all unharmed.
Despite their weary expressions, the eyes of these young men and women from the Demon Palace sparkled with vitality.
"We're fine. Someone came to our rescue, or else we'd still be trapped in the Dusk Dust," Zhan Tianxiang said with a smile, then turned serious. "Lau Ying, the Demon Palace owes a debt of gratitude to your Silver Moon Sect."
"Was it Martial Uncle Tan?" Lau Ying deduced quickly.
"Yes, Senior Tan Junshan from your Silver Moon Sect rescued us from the clutches of the Great Demons in the Crimson Desert," Zhao Yafu recounted, her face reflecting her recent terror. "Unexpectedly, many Great Demons expelled from the Demon Palace had secretly ventured into the Crimson Desert. We were hunted by them and nearly didn't make it."
"Junior Brother Zhan, Junior Sister Zhao, we should secure a larger cultivation room in the Blue Sky Shrine as soon as possible," suggested a gaunt young man from the Demon Palace, too weary to engage in pleasantries. "In Luan Bird City, this Blue Sky Shrine, a sanctuary for cultivators from all factions, will soon be in high demand."
Zhan Tianxiang agreed, "That's for certain."
"Brother Yu, let's catch up later. We need to rent a cultivation room right away. If we delay, the higher-grade chambers will be snapped up by other sects," Zhao Yafu said with a playful stick of her tongue and a light smile, leading the Demon Palace group toward the nearby Blue Sky Shrine.
Shortly thereafter, Hou Tianzhao and Lin Yue arrived with the disciples of the Red Devil Sect and the Blood God Cult in tow.
"Yu Yuan!"
Upon their arrival, they exchanged nods with Yu Yuan before rushing toward the Blue Sky Shrine.
Hou Tianzhao and Lin Yue wore grave expressions, their faces devoid of any trace of a smile.
The few disciples accompanying them hinted at severe losses.
"Where's Chi Yin? And the disciples of the Filthy Spirit Sect?" Yu Yuan inquired, puzzled by their absence.
He hadn't spotted a single one, hence his curious query.
Hou Tianzhao halted in his tracks, turned, and offhandedly responded, "Chi Yin and the trialists from the Filthy Spirit Sect perished in the Crimson Desert. It's quite common. Weak strength and bad luck are to blame, not others."
Lin Yue from the Blood God Cult, along with their disciples, didn't even glance back.
The demise of Chi Yin and the Filthy Spirit Sect's disciples seemed to leave no impression on him or the Blood God Cult's followers, failing to stir even the slightest ripple in their composure.
The sect disciples of the Quietus Continent adhered to the survival of the fittest ethos.
Death, to them, was nothing out of the ordinary.
It wasn't just Chi Yin they were indifferent to; even the demise of their own from the Red Devil Sect or the Blood God Cult barely registered.
More often than not, their fellow sect members were also their rivals.
The Great Dao was unforgiving and harsh. On this treacherous journey, anyone might meet their end.
Not even the mighty Yang Gods or those at the Unrestrained Stage were exempt, so why would they be?
"What about Kong Banbi?" Yu Yuan called out.
"He seems to be alive, but I'm not certain," replied Hou Tianzhao. "We'll discuss it later. I need to secure a cultivation room at the Blue Sky Shrine first."
Subsequently, Yu Yuan and Lau Ying noticed that beyond these younger members, numerous visitors at the Yin God Stage had also made their way to the Blue Sky Shrine upon entering Luan Bird City.
Many bore grievous wounds, their garments soaked in blood, their spirits diminished.
In haste, they sought out the Chen family, stewards of the shrine, to rent cultivation rooms.
"There are Dao House branches on Cloud Lake Street, and in other street corners and alleys," Yu Yuan remarked, taken aback for a moment.
"The cultivation room in the Blue Sky Shrine offers a safety and comfort that can't be matched," Lau Ying clarified. "It's seamlessly integrated with the defensive formation of Luan Bird City. Inside, you can heal without fear of interruption or attack. Even within the Dao House of one's own sect, many remain uneasy."
"Sometimes, the ones you need to watch are your own," she added.
Lau Ying's gaze grew somber as she stood in silence for a moment. "You've probably noticed too—many from the lesser sects of the Heavenly Source Continent and Quietus Continent haven't made it back."
Yu Yuan gave a slight nod in agreement. "Indeed."
Emerging from the space teleportation array outside Luan Bird City, the first people he saw were not the disciples of the lower sects or those from the Demon Palace, but rather those from the Blood God Cult and the Red Devil Sect.
The majority, over eighty percent, were from these third-rate sects. They had assumed that purging evil in the Crimson Desert would be a simple task, laughing it off without a care.
But in the end, the vast majority never left the Crimson Desert alive.
"For now, put any thoughts of departure aside," Lau Ying advised with a gentle sigh. "They chose wisely. It's best to stay put in the Blue Sky Shrine's cultivation room. The five supreme sects must be aware of the upheaval in Luan Bird City and the encroaching Dusk Dust by now. Once they're able to respond, they'll surely send powerful allies to resolve the situation. The city's grand formation isn't easily breached; it should withstand the onslaught for some time."
"Mm, we'll stay put for now," Yu Yuan concurred.
Over the following days, he dedicated himself to practicing the Ghosting Arts in the cultivation room he had rented within the Blue Sky Shrine, occasionally inquiring about the external state of affairs.
He learned that the surviving young members of the various sects who had ventured deep into the Crimson Desert were gradually returning to Luan Bird City.
Meanwhile, the Dusk Dust continued to spread, slowly blanketing the lands outside the city and creeping towards other cities within the Luan Bird Empire.
Day or night, the outskirts of Luan Bird City were periodically pierced by eerie, blood-curdling howls.
The air was heavy with the desperate cries of cultivators facing their final moments.
It seemed that those who emerged from the Crimson Desert, on their way to Luan Bird City, fell victim to the savage attacks of Earth Demons, Heavenly Demons, and great monsters from foreign realms.
Within the city walls, a palpable fear gripped the hearts of the people, uncertain of when the malevolent spirits and strange demons might lay siege.
The Blue Sky Shrine, erected by the Chen family, had unexpectedly become the focal point for practitioners. Young disciples and the wounded elders of various sects flocked there for refuge.
As dawn broke on another day, Yu Yuan, who had been practicing the Ghosting Arts, came to after a long spell of unconsciousness.
Revived, his spirit was invigorated and his mind crystal clear, prompting him to peer once more into his Consciousness Little World.
"Hmm?"
To his astonishment, the prolonged torment had finally borne fruit; his Earth Soul had successfully disentangled from the entwined Heavenly Soul and the primary soul, thanks to the stripping effect of the Ghosting Arts.
The first step had been accomplished!
