C685 Another Type of Toxic Smog

Qi Jinghai of the Thunder Sect had an epiphany in an instant, thanks to a remark from the elder!

His gaze returned to Yu Yuan, and he recalled how Yu Yuan had wielded the Evil Cauldron to assist Xie Binn in extracting the Yang God Fragment from the Ice Thunder Mark, pulverizing it within the cauldron, and allowing the Heavenly Soul to coalesce once more.

"Our sect master speculated that there are few techniques or artifacts in the world capable of reassembling the Heavenly Soul. The Evil Cauldron is precisely such an artifact," the elder said, his eyes shifting from Xie Binn to Yu Yuan. "It's quite unexpected that someone as young as you, with such a modest level of cultivation, could truly harness the Evil Cauldron to achieve this feat."

At these words, Lau Ying gasped in astonishment, her hand flying to her mouth.

She hadn't anticipated that Yu Yuan's presence was the catalyst for Xie Binn, a once-celebrated prodigy of the Clouds Sect, to reclaim the scattered remnants of the Heavenly Soul from his shattered Yang God and reintegrate them.

Reflecting on this, she understood why Xie Binn's demeanor towards Yu Yuan was so amicable; the man's conjectures were indeed accurate.

"Indeed."

Yu Yuan, realizing his secret was out, dropped the pretense. "Regardless of your intentions, the Ice Thunder Mark doesn't belong to the Thunder Sect. It's hardly appropriate to seize it forcibly, is it?"

Xie Binn remained tight-lipped about why the Ice Thunder Mark had been taken by Ann Ziqing of the Blood God Cult.

Yu Yuan didn't press the issue, eager to avoid wasting more time. "Elder Xie, you'd best gather your disciples and head for the Blue Sky Shrine immediately!"

"Ah!"

Once again, eerie wails echoed through the streets outside.

"What's happening?"

Qi Jinghai had already noticed the alarming cries and sensed that something was amiss. He turned to inquire of another Thunder Sect elder standing behind him.

"It's merely some commoners meeting unexplained deaths," the elder, with his deep cultivation, had already dispatched his Yin God to scout the shadows. "The city guards of the Luan Bird Empire are handling it. We needn't concern ourselves with such petty affairs."

To these cultivators, the deaths of countless Luan Bird Empire mortals were inconsequential.

As long as they weren't practitioners like themselves, they believed that Luan Bird City would remain unscathed.

"Why head to the Blue Sky Shrine?" Xie Binn was puzzled. "All the training rooms there are booked. There's nothing we can do if we go now."

"I have a room that you can use," Yu Yuan offered.

"For what reason?" pressed Xie Binn.

"Soon, Luan Bird City may face unforeseen dangers. I want you and your newly recruited disciples to stay out of it," Yu Yuan urged with genuine concern.

"That's alarmist talk!" an elder from the Thunder Sect scoffed.

Qi Jinghai merely furrowed his brow, unconcerned. "Senior Xie, it's actually fortuitous that you're going to the Blue Sky Shrine. Our Thunder Sect elders are there, and along with others, they'll help us convince you. The Ice Thunder Mark isn't something we're trying to seize by force; it's crucial for the battle beyond our skies!"

His implication was clear: possessing the Ice Thunder Mark could tip the scales in a cosmic battle, giving the Boundless Land an edge.

"Fine! I'm curious to see who dares to pressure me into surrendering the Ice Thunder Mark!" Xie Binn declared, incensed.

"Lau Ying, I need a favor. Please assist Senior Xie and the others in reaching the Blue Sky Shrine as quickly as possible," Yu Yuan requested earnestly.

"No trouble at all. I'll look for you once they're settled," Lau Ying responded cheerfully.

In Luan Bird City, the encircling Dark Ember Mist meant that the five supreme sects, including the Luan Bird Empire, forbade private combat. Yu Yuan was aware that Qi Jinghai and his group were merely there to exert pressure on Xie Binn and wouldn't dare to engage in a direct confrontation.

Preoccupied with other matters, Yu Yuan gave Lee Yu a parting glance before releasing the Evil Cauldron.

He stepped onto the Evil Cauldron, making it hover and swiftly depart from the Dao House of the Clouds Sect.

"Cloud Lake!"

With the thought rippling through his mind, the Evil Cauldron bore him swiftly toward the shimmering Cloud Lake within the vast city.

The headquarters of the Babel Chamber of Commerce, the Dao Houses of the lower sects, and those of the Red Devil Sect, Filthy Spirit Sect, and Fiend Sect all encircled Cloud Lake, each occupying a distinct position.

"Hu!"

The Evil Cauldron came to a halt above the streets of the seven lower sects near the lake. Perched high above, Yu Yuan surveyed the area and noticed a large household near the Cloud Water Sect, from which wails of distress emanated.

Soldiers of the Luan Bird Empire were already there, burning bodies as he had instructed. Over a dozen corpses crackled in the flames, ignited by fire crystals on the pyre.

Yet, from three of the burning bodies, with eyes closed, faint purple smoke wafted from their ears and nostrils, a shade denser than the mist rising from the well.

Around the corpses stood soldiers of the Luan Bird Empire and cultivators from the grieving family, all oblivious to the purple smoke they were inhaling through their mouths and noses.

"It might be unstoppable now."

Yu Yuan's heart sank as he saw soldiers, with cultivation levels no higher than the Yellow Court Stage and Spirit Accumulating Stage, breathe in the pale purple smoke. It was likely too late for them.

Peering through the Evil Cauldron, he scanned the area and spotted another group of city guards who had inhaled the smoke earlier. Clutching their faces, they convulsed and slowly collapsed to the ground.

"Yu Yuan!"

Across the lake, Ma Jianjiang, a deacon from the Babel Chamber of Commerce branch, had noticed the hovering Evil Cauldron and approached with the grace of a celestial being.

Curiosity stirred among many at the Dao House of the seven lower sects as they too caught sight of the Evil Cauldron.

Those remaining at the Dao House were not the sect's key figures.

Many had never met Yu Yuan, though they were familiar with tales of the Evil Cauldron. Among them was Zhao Jingzhi from the Cold Yin Sect.

"Weren't you supposed to return to the Blue Sky Shrine?" Ma Jianjiang crossed the lake and inquired of Yu Yuan with a hint of curiosity.

Yu Yuan scrutinized the lake with intent, noting the absence of any purple tinge on the water's surface. This led him to conclude that whoever had released the substance must be intimately acquainted with its properties.

"Is it you?"

Yu Yuan's thoughts raced to Zu Ann before he could even respond to Ma Jianjiang. As his closest friend in a past life, Zu Ann was privy to the concoction's refining formula.

Ji Ningshuang was so dedicated to her sword training that she didn't bother to learn the method for refining a certain item, especially since it involved the arts of concocting medicine and poison, which held little interest for her.

The only other person privy to the formula, aside from Zu Ann, was his senior brother, Zhong Chichen.

This formula was a forbidden concoction, securely locked away in the most hidden vaults of the Medicine God Sect. Only the reigning sect master was granted access to peruse it.

With his disappearance, Zhong Chichen stepped into the role of sect master, naturally inheriting the privilege to view the formula.

Across the entire world, he could confidently assert that the only ones who knew the formula were his senior brother, Zhong Chichen, and his dear friend from a past life, Zu Ann.

Since his senior brother was a constant presence at the Medicine God Sect and hadn't been seen near Luan Bird City, it couldn't have been him.

That left only Zu Ann.

"Manager Ma, could you please spread the word to all parties involved? Inform them that the Soul Igniting Nether Fog has emerged within Luan Bird City and they should prepare accordingly," Yu Yuan requested with a sigh.

He harbored suspicions that Chen Langzhi of the Chen family might be colluding with Zu Ann, so he couldn't afford to rely solely on the Chen family.

The Soul Igniting Nether Fog was his own creation, and he was acutely aware of its horrific toxicity.

"Soul Igniting Nether Fog?" Ma Jianjiang looked puzzled, shaking his head. "I've never heard of such a thing. Even if I were to tell others, it's doubtful they'd believe me."

"Just release the information. The right people will understand the severity of the fog," Yu Yuan said, gesturing respectfully. "Do me this favor."

"Soul Igniting Nether Fog! Young man, are you claiming that this fog is the source of the turmoil in Luan Bird City?" An elderly woman emerged from the Dao House of the seven lower sects, visibly shaking with fear. "Are you certain it's the Soul Igniting Nether Fog?"

Yu Yuan nodded firmly. "There's no mistake about it!"

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