C684 The Situation Was Not Good

Sensing trouble, Yu Yuan made his way to the nearest location from where a piercing whistle echoed.

He was intent on assessing the situation before taking any further action.

In a flash, like a specter, Yu Yuan materialized in a house encircled by the soldiers of the Luan Bird Empire.

"Identify yourself!"

A general clad in heavy armor, mounted on a green steed, at the late Profound Break Stage, with a square jaw and resolute demeanor, bellowed upon Yu Yuan's abrupt arrival.

His hand gripped a long green spear, its sharp tip gleaming with the chill of metal, aimed directly at Yu Yuan's chest.

Yet, Yu Yuan was unfazed, confident that his body, as sturdy as iron, could withstand the spear's thrust without yielding.

His resilience, forged through relentless trials, bolstered his belief that no one of lesser rank could match him in combat.

"I am Yu Yuan, from Darkmoon City of the Devil Moon Empire."

To forestall any misapprehension and avoid unnecessary complications, he promptly disclosed his identity. "I've leased a training chamber at the Blue Sky Shrine. The esteemed Chen Langzhi of the empire's Chen family has previously escorted me into Luan Bird City. I was just leaving the Babel Chamber of Commerce branch when I heard the commotion and came to investigate."

The soldiers, largely unfamiliar with Yu Yuan's reputation, were unaware of his stature.

Military leaders and practitioners from different nations seldom mingled; Yu Yuan's renown had not reached them.

But they knew of Chen Langzhi.

The inquiring general's expression shifted at the mention of Chen Langzhi, and he commanded, "Hold for a moment!"

A crescent-shaped crystal fell from his sleeve, its pure glow standing out against the twilight. The engraved sound transmission array within sparkled like a condensed starry sky.

It was evident he was using this device to communicate with Chen Langzhi of the Chen family.

Yu Yuan wasn't kept waiting long. He soon received a response from Chen Langzhi, prompting the general to respectfully lower his spear and exclaim, "Ah, so you are Young Master Yu!"

"I am unworthy of such a title," Yu Yuan humbly replied.

"There are seven people in this household," he said, gesturing with his free hand for the surrounding soldiers to cease their hostile gaze towards Yu Yuan. Dismounting his horse, he took the lead, guiding Yu Yuan towards the house. "They refused to leave Luan Bird City, choosing to remain indoors."

Upon reaching the door, he gave a nod.

A general stepped forward to open the door, entering first with Yu Yuan following close behind.

Inside the courtyard lay seven bodies, a mix of old and young, all lined up with no signs of life.

The corpses' skin retained a sheen; they weren't shriveled, but their hair was oddly gray and white, giving off an unhealthy, withered appearance.

In the courtyard, an old well occasionally emitted a mist that, upon closer inspection, carried a faint purple hue.

"We found them dead upon arrival," the general said, his brow furrowed and his expression grave. "The cause of death is unclear. There's no evidence of a struggle, nor any wounds on their bodies."

"Yu, Young Master Yu?"

After explaining, the general noticed Yu Yuan's shocked and bewildered expression, as if he had been dealt a heavy blow. "What's the matter?"

Yu Yuan's mouth quivered slightly as he spoke, his eyes fixed on the well's faint purple mist and the seven lifeless forms on the ground.

He paid particular attention to their hair—all uniformly gray and white. It was one thing for the elderly, but the sight of a young man in his twenties and a child barely in his teens with long, gray hair was startling.

"We must burn the bodies to ashes immediately!"

Taking a deep breath, Yu Yuan's voice was strained, his mind racing with alarm. "Trust me, we need to act fast! Any delay could be disastrous!"

"Why?" asked the general, confused.

"Just relay the message to Senior Chen. Tell him it's my request, my directive," Yu Yuan instructed, foregoing an explanation. With urgency, he added, "And if there are similar incidents elsewhere in Luan Bird City, tell them to handle it the same way!"

"To burn the bodies to ashes?" the general clarified.

Yu Yuan nodded emphatically.

"I'll communicate with General Chen!" Though the reason was beyond him, the general could sense Yu Yuan's urgency and felt a foreboding sense of dread. Clutching the crescent-shaped crystal, he went to contact Chen Langzhi.

"Where does this well's water originate from?" Yu Yuan inquired sharply.

Beneath Luan Bird City lay a smaller city, carved out for the Chen family's cultivation practices. Consequently, the depths had long been hollowed out.

The well within the dwelling couldn't possibly tap into groundwater; it had to be channeled from elsewhere.

"All the wells in Luan Bird City draw their water from Cloud Lake," the general replied without hesitation, clearing up Yu Yuan's confusion. "The waterways were laid out beneath the city before its construction. It's common knowledge among the residents."

"Cloud Lake!" Yu Yuan's face paled at the revelation.

"General Chen, I'll heed your instructions," the man declared, gesturing to his subordinate, "Light the fire stones and incinerate their bodies completely!"

"And what of the other locations?" Yu Yuan pressed on.

"General Chen has issued orders to burn the bodies as you've directed," the man pondered before adding, "But at this very moment, similar incidents are unfolding across Luan Bird City. General Chen fears some bodies may not be dealt with promptly."

"If that's true..." Yu Yuan sighed heavily, a tinge of sorrow in his voice, "then Luan Bird City might be on the brink of peril."

"Impossible!" the man retorted with arrogance, "Luan Bird City is the grandest on the Profound Sky Continent, safeguarded by the Ascension Array. Not even the Dark Dust Mist can infiltrate its defenses. I refuse to believe anything could threaten Luan Bird City and strike fear into the heart of our Luan Bird Empire!"

"There is something, you're just unaware of it."

With those parting words, Yu Yuan hurried away, making a beeline for the Dao House of the Clouds Sect.

Throughout his journey, the city echoed with eerie wails, and the thunderous clatter of hooves on the streets set hearts pounding with trepidation.

"How has it come to this? Why is this happening?"

Yu Yuan was plagued by these questions. His heart bore a weight that perhaps no other in Luan Bird City could grasp.

For he recognized the origins of the purple mist – a creation of his own past self. Once, he had wielded that very mist to lay waste to cities, and it was this mist that had cemented his infamy in his later years.

"Hu!"

Lau Ying silently descended at the street corner ahead, steering the Fallen Star Eyes. She had a special sense that would allow her to locate Yu Yuan the moment he left the Blue Sky Shrine.

"Yu Yuan, there's trouble in Luan Bird City!"

As soon as she halted, Lau Ying cried out, "You may not be aware, but many mortals in the city have died under mysterious circumstances. Their bodies show no signs of injury, and their souls are in turmoil. Despite being dead, their souls are still stirring unnaturally, as if on the verge of some eerie transformation!"

"I'm aware. Take me to the Small Clouds Sect!" Yu Yuan commanded.

"Okay!"

With a delicate tug from Lau Ying's jade-like hand, Yu Yuan found himself aboard the Fallen Star Eyes, now resembling a hoverboard in the sky. With her telepathic guidance, the miniaturized Fallen Star Eyes whisked them both away to the Dao House established by the Clouds Sect in Luan Bird City.

Inside the Dao House, Xie Binn sat immovable as a mountain, while Huang Chuan grinned playfully beside him. Qi Jinghai of the Thunder Sect, along with three other visitors clad in the sect's garb, respectfully stood behind him.

The arrival of Yu Yuan and Lau Ying on the Fallen Star Eyes startled everyone in the courtyard. Lee Yu, who had been in front of his dwelling moments earlier, called out, "Yu Yuan!"

"Yu Yuan! Lau Ying!"

Qi Jinghai and the three unexpected guests from the Thunder Sect looked alarmed.

"I'll repeat myself, the Ice Thunder Mark is gone," Xie Binn declared to Qi Jinghai with a tone of cold frustration, "And even if it weren't lost, if I still had it, I would never just hand it over!"

"Senior Xie, since you've mentioned the Ice Thunder Mark is missing, may I inquire about the circumstances?" Qi Jinghai maintained his composure and politeness, "Such a significant relic wouldn't just vanish without a trace. We need to know its current whereabouts so we can attempt to retrieve it ourselves."

Once Yu Yuan landed, he scrutinized the courtyard, noting the absence of a well or the rising of purple mist. He had also observed from his descent that the nearest disturbance was still a considerable distance away.

This indicated that the Little Clouds Sect's Dao House was safe for the time being.

Feeling a bit more at ease, he then turned his attention to Qi Jinghai and the three Thunder Sect cultivators who had come with him.

"Yu Yuan! Evil Cauldron!"

An elder from the Thunder Sect standing behind Qi Jinghai had a shift in his demeanor as he abruptly spoke up, "It's thanks to your assistance that Xie Binn's Heavenly Soul could be recondensed, isn't it?"

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