C681 Hidden Fiancée

Yu Yuan of Asvetaesi had become quite renowned among his peers in the younger generation. Many sect elders had also heard of him due to the release of the Abyssal Leviathan in the Embers Sea and the events surrounding the Crucible of Evil in the Sundering Isles. As a result, when Zhao Yafu, Kong Banbi, and others caught sight of him, they turned their attention his way. Their looks were a mix of skepticism, curiosity, and astonishment, seemingly questioning how a disciple from a minor family without the backing of a powerful sect could rise to prominence.

Zhao Yafu was the first to approach, standing gracefully before him with a sweet smile. "Zhan Tianxiang is in the training room cultivating," she said. "I came out to check on the city's status."

Yu Yuan scanned the area and noticed Kong Banbi from the Sword Sect approaching with a stern look on his face. Hou Tianzhao and Lin Yue, whom he knew well, were not present in the corridor, likely engrossed in their cultivation within the training room, much like Zhan Tianxiang.

From a distance, Qi Jinghai of the Thunder Sect and Qu Jing of the Ethereal Void stood together. Qu Jing seemed to be quietly informing Qi Jinghai about the considerable challenges posed by the young man who had emerged from Asvetaesi.

"Yu Yuan, why are you still in Afnetalos?" Kong Banbi inquired, making his way through the group of Sword Sect disciples and elders, his brow furrowed. "I assumed you hadn't even returned to Afnetalos and had already taken the teleportation circle to the Forgotten Ruins."

With an air of composure, Yu Yuan replied, "I don't often get the chance to visit Afnetalos, so I wanted to experience it firsthand."

Kong Banbi let out a soft sigh. "There's not much to see. Many have perished. Nobody anticipated the surge of Sky Fiend creatures during the 'dispel evil' trial in the Scarlet Dunes. The spewing of the Ashen Shadowmist was an ill omen that unfortunately went overlooked at first."

Kong Banbi shared his lament with Yu Yuan, revealing the untold number of trial-takers who had met their end in the Scarlet Dunes. After exchanging greetings, Zhao Yafu and Kong Banbi engaged Yu Yuan in conversation, making him aware that the cultivators gathered at the Azure Vault had now divided into two distinct factions.

One faction was determined to defend Afnetalos, planning to leverage the city's powerful formation to stand their ground against the Sky Fiend and Otherkin lurking within the Ashen Shadowmist.

The other faction believed that Afnetalos was indefensible. They argued that they should seize the opportunity before the Sky Fiend and Otherkin fully arrived, concentrating their forces to evacuate through the southern gate.

They reasoned that with the unsettling changes in the Land of Terror and the mysterious regions of the extraterrestrial world, coupled with the dire situation there, it was unlikely that the major sects could spare any support.

In the short term, they doubted that the Unbound Realm experts from the various sects could come to Afnetalos's aid.

The faction unwilling to share Afnetalos's fate passionately urged others to unite into a formidable force and make a swift breakout.

Both factions were steadfast in their views, leading to endless debates.

As Kong Banbi and Zhao Yafu conversed, the cultivators from various sects in the training room continued their clamorous disputes.

Yu Yuan, feeling overwhelmed by the noise, decided not to rush back to his training room and instead departed from the Azure Vault.

Kong Banbi chose not to follow, but Zhao Yafu of Shadow's Keep did accompany him, stepping out of the Azure Vault together.

Upon exiting the Azure Vault, it was high noon, but the sky was shrouded in Ashen Shadowmist, revealing only a blurred sun.

The sunlight appeared incapable of piercing through the Ashen Shadowmist, leaving the world beneath it dim.

"Hey, Young Master, what are you still doing here?"

Directly opposite the Azure Vault stood a slightly shorter pavilion. Ann Ziqing sat at the edge of its high platform, her slender legs swinging freely in the air. Catching sight of him, she waved with a look of delighted surprise.

Beneath the subdued green glow, she had shed her earlier disguise, now resembling a celestial being gracing the earth.

Her eyes sparkled like dewdrops on morning leaves, pure and untainted.

Her calf, with an ankle as white as mutton fat jade, was revealed. As she swung her legs, they seemed to trace ethereal white arcs in the air, captivating onlookers.

Scattered around the hall, there were a few sect disciples.

Upon hearing Ann Ziqing's voice, they turned to Yu Yuan with expressions of astonishment.

Among them were disciples from the lower sects of Euwrea, the Skyblight Cult, the Ruby Hand, and even members of the Devil Palace.

Their emergence from the Azure Vault was prompted by the Divine Lady of Colddeath, Ann Ziqing, who often sat opposite the hall, idly swinging her legs in contemplation.

Ann Ziqing, a figure of immense nobility, clad in flawless purple divine armor, captivated them with her striking beauty.

With the return of Ann Jieshan, the Colddeath Sect gradually gained acceptance from Shadow's Keep and the Devil Palace. Ann Ziqing's departure from Asvetaesi marked the beginning of her meteoric rise, drawing the attention of many.

This woman, a blend of beauty and wit, achieved breakthroughs at an astonishing pace and wielded exceptional skills, quickly becoming the most radiant gem of the Land of Quiescence.

Yuan Lianyao of the Ruby Hand, though somewhat known, paled in comparison to Ann Ziqing due to her lesser status.

The sect disciples scattered around the Divine Hall were there out of admiration for Ann Ziqing, watching her from a distance with reverence.

Whether Ann Ziqing was leisurely swinging her legs or simply smiling, every gesture she made was enchanting to them.

Yet for over ten days, Ann Ziqing, who would sometimes emerge from the tower to daydream on the balcony, had not acknowledged anyone. But now, upon Yu Yuan's arrival, she warmly gestured to him with a welcoming smile.

Calling Yu Yuan "Young Master" was unexpected.

Few were privy to Ann Ziqing's history with the Yu family.

The sect disciples could never have imagined that the Divine Lady of Colddeath, now the cynosure of all eyes in the Land of Quiescence, had once humbly served at Yu Yuan's side as a maid.

"Isn't Yu Yuan just a minor young master from Asvetaesi? Why would she address him as 'Young Master'?"

"What virtue or ability does that plague-bringer have to earn the Goddess's favor?"

"I agree, he's not worthy!"

Whispers of speculation and envy emanated from the hall's corners.

Their gazes, filled with jealousy and spite, followed Yu Yuan, all because of Ann Ziqing's endearing address.

At that moment, Yu Yuan simply looked up at Ann Ziqing, shook his head with an air of indifference, and without uttering a single word, turned and walked away.

"That kid's got an attitude!" someone exclaimed.

"Young Master!"

Ann Ziqing called out several times, but to no avail; Yu Yuan did not respond. She let out a wistful sigh and refrained from pursuing him.

As Yu Yuan disappeared into the distance, Ann Ziqing seemed to lose interest. With a swift motion, she vanished into a building that stood significantly shorter than the Azure Vault.

Within the pavilion, Ann Jieshan appeared as a blood shadow within a massive mirror.

"The woman named Lin Zhuyun represents a betrothal between the Lin and Yu families, a symbol of their alliance," Ann Jieshan's blood shadow declared with profound implication from within the mirror. "Lin Zhuyun is the public face, yet in the shadows, Yu Yuan has another, hidden fiancée."

Ann Ziqing paused in front of the mirror, her eyes subtly emitting a bizarre, blood-red gleam that lent her an eerie aura. "Are you referring to me?"

"You've figured it out, haven't you?" Ann Jieshan countered.

After a brief silence, Ann Ziqing nodded slowly. "Since returning from Asvetaesi to the Divine Cult, I've made it a point to investigate. With your insights, it all becomes crystal clear."

"The Lin family has always looked down upon the Yu family, and Lin Zhuyun once scorned Yu Yuan. Little did they know, without Yu Yuan, the Lin family would have perished long ago," Ann Jieshan said with a malicious smile in the mirror. "Yu Yuan's innate talent for cultivation and his exceptional skills—if revealed sooner—would have meant the end of the Lin family and that girl, all without a trace."

"Winter's Bite and Lin Zhuyun's father have their designs on the Yu family and Yu Yuan. The Colddeath Sect has also been plotting against the Lin family."

"How could the Lin family and Lin Zhuyun ever be worthy of the Evil King's descendant?" Ann Jieshan cackled, divulging the secrets.

"The outcome remains the same, with the sole exception being Lin Zhuyun's stroke of luck," Ann Ziqing said, her expression unchanging as her demonic eyes shone even more intensely. "Unlike Lin Zhuyun, I will foster his growth in my own way. I'm eager to watch and see if Yu Yuan will prove himself worthy of me in time."

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