C690 The Law of Words

Fung Xiujuan's appearance might not have been particularly striking, but the Lunar Spirit she had refined was nothing short of exceptional. In the realm of Spirit Walk, her illusory Lunar Spirit could be manifested. Adorned in a Divine Garment, her spirit moved with such grace and unpredictability that she seemed like a celestial goddess descending to the earthly realm. Yet, the expression on her Lunar Spirit mirrored her own: icy and brimming with malice.

In a flash, Fung Xiujuan's Lunar Spirit crossed Cloud Lake and materialized in the skies above the Skyreach Consortium's branch office. Chen Langzhi and Jin Xiaolie's faces fell as they simultaneously intervened.

"The Ebon Star Sect should refrain from meddling in the affairs of the Skyreach Consortium!"

Fung Xiujuan's real body, stealthily approaching on an inverted zither, retorted sharply, "Always remember, the Skyreach Consortium is merely a trading organization!"

Her words were far from courteous. Ma Jianjiang, the deacon of the consortium, saw Jin Xiaolie's sudden rage and quickly advised, "Mr. Jin, please restrain yourself! Our consortium's principle is to live and let live. Do not get involved in the conflicts of the sects!"

"Cease your actions!"

Chen Langzhi let out a cold huff, sweeping his sleeve dramatically. A thick, ancient tome suddenly flipped open in mid-air, and in the blink of an eye, hundreds of characters infused with the essence of the Dao fluttered out like butterflies. These characters shone like a constellation of stars, forming an enigmatic array.

Fung Xiujuan's Lunar Spirit, now encircled by the characters, darted left and right but could not break free to penetrate Yu Yuan's acupoint and discern his thoughts.

"In Afnetalos, the Ebon Star Sect must abide by our rules!" Chen Langzhi declared, his tone leaving no room for argument. He then addressed the other sect disciples and elders who had gathered, "As for how Yu Yuan came to know about the 'Soul-Igniting Mist,' whether it was secretly released or not, the Chen family will get to the bottom of it. Your concern is not needed."

"Chen Langzhi, you dare to obstruct me?" Fung Xiujuan seethed with anger. "The Chen family may be the foremost family on the Aetherius Continent, but in the grand scheme of the Everlands, you are insignificant! To think you would dare to hinder the actions of the Ebon Star Sect. Have you forgotten your place?"

The zither at her feet suddenly radiated a divine brilliance. Without a single pluck of its strings, the instrument unleashed piercing beams of rainbow light that surged directly toward Chen Langzhi. "We've shown the Chen family courtesy in the past because this city remained untroubled. But now, with the Scarlet Dunes besieged by demonic creatures and the Soul-Igniting Mist manifesting within the city, the situation has changed!"

"This city is riddled with too many issues, and the time has come for the upper sect to step in!" she declared, as if it were the most natural course of action.

In her view, the esteemed status of Afnetalos and the Chen family hinged on the city's impregnable defenses and the orderly state of the surrounding regions. Should uncontrollable upheavals occur in areas like the Scarlet Dunes, the sects, led by Ebon Star, would have the prerogative to disregard the Chen family's and Afnetalos's rules and directly intervene in their internal affairs.

"The city walls stand unbreached, the Phoenix Skybreak Array remains intact, and the Soul-Igniting Mist has been resolved. The Chen family continues to safeguard Afnetalos!" Chen Langzhi scoffed, and the substantial tome he held plummeted. The lethal rays of light released by Fung Xiujuan struck the book, erupting in a chorus of "Puff! Puff! Puff!" Yet, the tome remained undamaged.

"Do you dare to block my path?"

"And why shouldn't I?"

The two equally matched cultivators exchanged these words before immediately engaging in a magical duel within the city limits.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Their figures danced around the scripture and the trapped Lunar Spirit, their movements intertwining in the void.

Boom! A veil of ethereal green light cascaded from the heavens, enveloping both Chen Langzhi and Fung Xiujuan. This azure screen created a secluded realm, sealing off their energies, allowing them to battle without endangering others or the city of Afnetalos.

Onlookers raised their gazes to the skies above Afnetalos, attuned to the fluctuations of the rune circle. "The Phoenix Skybreak Array has been triggered, naturally enveloping the pair. One can only wonder if the legendary Songbird Queen is present within the city."

"The Chen family dares to confront Ebon Star? Their rules may bind other sects, but how could they presume to command the allegiance of Ebon Star?"

"I can hardly believe that a family from the Aetherius Continent has the audacity to stand up to the Ebon Star Sect!"

As Fung Xiujuan arrived, the cultivators who had been swayed by Qi Jinghai were initially intent on seeking retribution. However, once they witnessed Fung Xiujuan's display of power and saw Chen Langzhi intercept her wrath, they were suddenly struck by a sense of calm.

They lacked both Fung Xiujuan's level of cultivation and the support of the upper sect.

If Chen Langzhi could withstand Fung Xiujuan's fury, what chance did they stand?

Atop the towering building of the Skyreach Consortium, Yu Yuan's expression was somber, his icy gaze sweeping over the clash between Chen Langzhi and Fung Xiujuan to rest on the cultivators floating above the training halls of the seven lower sects.

He noticed Zhao Yafu, Zhan Tianxiang, Kong Banbi, Xie Bin, and Lee Yu from the Shadow's Keep had also come, drawn by the commotion.

They all looked towards him with evident concern.

Zhao Yafu and Zhan Tianxiang were brimming with righteous anger, yet they were silenced by a stern look from a fellow Shadow's Keep cultivator, who forbade them from speaking out.

Kong Banbi, accompanied by another senior from his sect, gave Yu Yuan a rueful smile, signaling that this level of conflict was beyond his place to comment.

Xie Bin's face was etched with worry, his fists clenched so tightly that sparks of electricity danced around them.

Judging by Xie Bin's demeanor, Yu Yuan knew he would leap into action at the first sign of danger, regardless of whether Fung Xiujuan was affiliated with the Ebon Star Sect, to ensure his safety.

"Some people aren't worth the effort to save. If they're gone, they're gone," Yu Yuan murmured to Liu Ying, who stood by his side.

Liu Ying nodded in agreement, softly adding, "Not everyone deserves your rescue."

Jin Xiaolie, with a stern face, reassured Yu Yuan, "There's no need to be overly anxious."

Yu Yuan shook his head, "It's not anxiety. I just think that some people are better off dead."

As if to echo his sentiment, the shimmering waters of Cloud Lake suddenly erupted with a dense purple mist, far more intense than any that had materialized elsewhere in Afnetalos.

The purple mist that emerged from the surface of Cloud Lake seemed almost sentient as it split into strands, rushing toward the cultivators who had come to confront Yu Yuan with accusations.

Fung Xiujuan bore the brunt of the attack!

A wisp of purple mist effortlessly penetrated the green light barrier, deliberately avoiding Chen Langzhi and targeting Fung Xiujuan instead.

More strands of the purple mist, as if guided by unseen eyes, flew toward various individuals.

Kong Banbi, Zhan Tianxiang, Zhao Yafu, Xie Bin, Lee Yu, and the others stood still, none of them targeted by the ominous mist.

"Soul-Igniting Mist!"

"The color is darker, the concentration higher, more terrifying than ever!"

"Good heavens!"

"Chen Langzhi! Didn't you assure us that the Soul-Igniting Mist had been resolved? That Afnetalos was safe?"

The cultivators who had swarmed the area were now fleeing in terror, their eyes wide with horror as they gazed upon the purple mist, as if staring at the most fearsome Evil God.

Informed about the dangers of the Soul-Igniting Mist, they deduced from its hue that contact meant certain death for anyone present.

"It's Yu Yuan!"

"He was the one who said those unworthy of rescue were better off dead! Right after he spoke, the Soul-Igniting Mist erupted! Yu Yuan is the one who released it! His actions caused the Soul-Igniting Mist to spread!"

Hateful and enraged glares shot from the eyes of the escapees, all converging on him.

"Uh..."

Atop the highest platform of the Skyreach Consortium, Yu Yuan watched in astonishment as the Soul-Igniting Mist reappeared, attacking those who had come seeking justice, just as he had suspected.

Not a single wisp of the Soul-Igniting Mist came near him. The purple mist seemed to possess its own wisdom and intent.

Or perhaps, it was being manipulated by someone with a masterful touch.

"Yu Yuan, what's happening here?" Jin Xiaolie approached, his eyes wide with disbelief as he stared unblinkingly at Yu Yuan, then suddenly blurted out, "You... you couldn't possibly be involved with the Soul-Igniting Mist, could you?"

...