C686 The Fog Rose!

In the southwest of Luan Bird City, a delicate purple mist shrouded a lavishly refurbished building. This estate, owned by the Qi family of the Luan Bird Empire, became the site of a tragic event: over twenty mortal cultivators perished, their three souls ignited, producing an even denser purple haze.

The mist spread, engulfing the lower realm cultivators who served them, leading to the deaths of those in the Spirit Accumulating and Yellow Court Stages. As the poison of the mist took effect, even the cultivators of the Profound Break Stage who arrived from nearby regions began to succumb.

At that moment, Chen Langzhi stood before the grand edifice, surveying the scene. He observed the deceased cultivators of the Spirit Accumulating and Yellow Court Stages, noting the purple mist wafting from their nostrils, ears, and sealed eyes. The mist's hue deepened with time.

In his palm, he clutched a crescent-shaped communication crystal, its inner light weaving like a stream, carrying whispers of thought from across the city.

"General," a voice spoke, belonging to a Chen family member, his presence as inconspicuous as a shadow in the corner. Without his utterance, he would have gone unnoticed.

"Fear and death are swiftly overtaking the streets and alleys of Luan Bird City," he said, his tone gentle yet laden with gravity. "That young man, Yu Yuan, instructed us to burn any corpses immediately upon discovery. Alas, we were a step behind... still..."

His words trailed off as Chen Langzhi received an urgent message through the crystal.

Chen Langzhi's face contorted with alarm as he exclaimed, "Soul Igniting Nether Fog!"

"What?" the other inquired, taken aback.

"Damn it! It's the Soul Igniting Nether Fog!" Chen Langzhi's benign expression was now a mask of horror, revealing the ferocity of a hidden deity of destruction. "It's the very fog crafted by the former sect master of the Medicine God Sect—the one used to decimate cities!"

"That deadly purple smoke?" The old servant's voice trembled, his mind racing with the legends of the Medicine God Sect's previous sect master and his city-razing poison.

The exact name of the smog was not widely known due to a blockade on information, leaving him largely in the dark.

"It's the purple smoke known as the Soul Igniting Nether Fog!" Chen Langzhi's teeth clacked together as he spoke. "This malevolent and uniquely potent poison first infected mortals, using their souls as fuel to gradually intensify its toxicity. As mortal souls combust, the smog deepens in color, and its poison grows more potent."

"Next, the enhanced toxic smog, once released from the breath of mortals, afflicts cultivators at the Spirit Accumulating Stage and Yellow Court Stage. Their deaths swiftly amplify the smog's toxicity, rendering it increasingly fearsome. With the contamination of souls from the Profound Break Stage and Penetrating Stage, the poison's ferocity escalates further."

"By then, not even those at the Yin God Stage or Soul Wandering Stage would be spared from the toxic smog!"

"This toxic smog is a poison that escalates in toxicity through the continual combustion of souls!"

Chen Langzhi was deeply shaken, his usual composure shattered as he swore furiously.

"What is the ultimate level of the Soul Igniting Nether Fog?" demanded the Chen family's old servant.

"Unknown!" Chen Langzhi shook his head. "From what I learned back then, before the Soul Igniting Nether Fog could reach its peak, three Unrestrained Stage cultivators from the upper sects arrived at the city. Together, they slaughtered every survivor."

"Reportedly, two Soul Wandering Stage masters were slain on the spot!"

"Those two were also tainted by the Soul Igniting Nether Fog, writhing and howling in agony as the poison fermented within them. The three Unrestrained Stage cultivators, fearing the ignition of their souls would elevate the fog's toxicity to unimaginable heights, acted swiftly. They knew that even Yang God Stage and Unrestrained Stage practitioners might not withstand such power."

With urgency, Chen Langzhi added, "Issue my command: no disciple of the Chen family within the inner city is to come up!"

Clutching the crescent-shaped crystal, he allowed his soul consciousness to permeate the stone, transmitting his directives to the guards and generals throughout Luan Bird City.

In an instant, Luan Bird City was abuzz with activity.

...

At the Blue Sky Shrine, Lau Ying had just used the Fallen Star Eyes to successfully transport Xie Binn and Lee Yu, along with others, to the city. She had notified the Chen family's head and arranged for their accommodation in Yu Yuan's cultivation chamber when suddenly, the corridors of the shrine erupted with commotion.

"The Soul Igniting Nether Fog is spreading through Luan Bird City!"

"What? The Soul Igniting Nether Fog? That can't be! Wasn't the formula for that sealed away by the Medicine God Sect, known only to Zhong Chichen?"

"What exactly is the Soul Igniting Nether Fog? I've never heard of it."

"Three hundred years ago, the deranged sect master of the Medicine God Sect unleashed this toxic smog to obliterate an entire city! It caused such an uproar that the Unrestrained Stage cultivators from the three upper sects intervened. Do you remember hearing about that? Even with three Unrestrained Stage cultivators stepping in, they couldn't prevent the tragedy. That city was decimated, its inhabitants perished, turning it into a city of death."

"That sect master was branded as a heinous fiend across the Quietus Continent. Had it not been for his exceptional skills in alchemy, the five supreme sects would have dealt with him on the spot."

"Soul Igniting Nether Fog! I've heard of it! Oh, my heavens!"

"..."

Thanks to the explanations from some, the horrifying nature of the Soul Igniting Nether Fog quickly became common knowledge.

"Good heavens! It seems we can no longer stay in Luan Bird City! The Dark Ash Dust Mist from the Crimson Desert merely confuses our spiritual sense and soul intent, driving us to madness. But the Soul Igniting Nether Fog? Touch it, and death is certain!"

"Indeed! The Soul Igniting Nether Fog is far more dreadful than the Dark Ash Dust. Its lethality is on another level!"

The crowd was in a frenzy!

Seeing that the group of cultivators who had earlier proposed evacuating Luan Bird City now had their ranks swelled with support due to the emergence of the Soul Igniting Nether Fog, Lau Ying was taken aback.

Subsequently, many cultivators at the Blue Sky Shrine swiftly sprang into action.

One by one, figures departed from the Blue Sky Shrine, flying towards the southern gate of Luan Bird City, undeterred by the Chen family's attempts to stop them or the pleas of others.

"How did things come to this?" Lau Ying was at a loss, her confusion compounded by the horror stories of the Soul Igniting Nether Fog she'd heard from her master. She feared that if the toxic smog spread throughout Luan Bird City, it would spell the end for everyone—mortals and cultivators alike. With a sense of urgency, she left the Blue Sky Shrine to search for Yu Yuan once again.

...

Atop the tallest tower of the Babel Chamber of Commerce branch, Ma Jianjiang was drenched in sweat as he disseminated news of the Soul Igniting Nether Fog to all the major sects, using the Chamber's resources to ensure every cultivator in the city was informed of the unfolding crisis.

The Ascension Array prevented communication with the outside, but within the city's walls, the flow of messages remained uninterrupted. Ma Jianjiang, who had learned of the fog's origins from Yu Yuan and an elder of the Taiyuan Sect, was now even more anxious than Yu Yuan himself.

"We're doomed. With threats from within and without, how can we possibly fight? How can Luan Bird City stand against this?" Ma Jianjiang was overwhelmed with despair. He was hastily reaching out to the Chamber's dispersed members and guest chamberlains, urging them to convene immediately.

The Chamber's leaders and several powerful guest chamberlains, who had been absent since the city's stock of spiritual materials and pellets had sold out, had taken to seclusion elsewhere in the city. Now, they were all being summoned by Ma Jianjiang.

Yu Yuan stood on the rooftop, gazing towards the Blue Sky Shrine. He watched as cultivators, aboard their spiritual artifacts, flew southward. He also observed the Luan Bird Empire's formidable cultivators mercilessly executing those who had inhaled the Soul Igniting Nether Fog. Without exception, anyone contaminated was put to death instantly, their cries echoing through the city.

"Zu Ann, is this because you knew I was here in Luan Bird City? Knowing that I am the inheritor of the Medicine God and familiar with the Soul Igniting Nether Fog, did you release it using your covert methods, intending for me to spread the word?"

Few have heard of this toxic smog, and even fewer have laid eyes on it. Has Zu Ann included me in his calculations too?"

"I'm to reveal the origins of this toxic smog, aren't I? To spread fear throughout the city."

"And as a result, a great number of cultivators are now fleeing the city in desperation?"

In a flash of insight, Yu Yuan realized he had grasped Zu Ann's intentions and deciphered his various arrangements, understanding the endgame he was aiming for.

"..."