C694 Seven Days

Whoosh!

Like a shadowy specter gliding through the Ashen Shadowmist, it approached Yu Yuan and silently morphed into a humanoid form.

A vicious, murderous aura emanated from the Terra Fiend, causing the nearby extraterrestrial alien souls and devils to scatter in retreat.

Yu Yuan, perched within the dark cauldron, could still feel the Crucible of Evil relentlessly drawing in malevolent energy.

"You..."

The faceless Terra Fiend, measuring his words, spoke in human tongue, "You, why have you left the city?"

Yu Yuan narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the creature before him, and finally asked, "Do you serve Chen Liangquan of the Chen family, or... are you loyal to Zu Ann?"

This was the crux of his uncertainty.

The Terra Fiend had claimed that the beast skin was a token from Chen Liangquan himself.

Previously, it had referred to Chen Liangquan as its master.

Yet, deep within the Scarlet Dunes, after locating Sage Yingye's hiding place, the Terra Fiend communicated with Zu Ann through the Fallen Star Eyes. Zu Ann had swiftly acted, assassinating Yingye.

Subsequently, the Terra Fiend lingered near Afnetalos in the Scarlet Dunes.

Now, as the formidable Terra Fiend made its presence known, other malevolent entities and Otherkin instinctively gave it a wide berth.

It seemed that the Terra Fiend was acquainted with both Chen Liangquan of the Chen family and Zu Ann of the Scarlet Dunes, obediently following their commands.

Given this, what exactly was the relationship between Chen Liangquan and Zu Ann?

"The master I serve is Chen Liangquan," the Terra Fiend said after a pause. "However, in this matter, I am following the orders of Master Zu Ann. My master and Master Zu Ann are allies, albeit from different factions. I am not authorized to meddle in Zu Ann's schemes."

"Allies, yet from different factions!" Yu Yuan's mind reeled.

Flashes of President Lyi, Zhongli Dapan, Tan Yuan, Shen Feiqing, and the Silvermoon Queen alongside Chen Liangquan flickered through his thoughts. He suddenly realized that President Lyi, whom he had assumed to be the head of this clandestine organization, might not be its true leader after all.

President Lyi may simply be one member of this faction.

Chen Liangquan and the Silvermoon Queen could be allies, while President Lyi represents another side.

Zu Ann stands for yet another faction.

Currently, Zu Ann is orchestrating some scheme in the Scarlet Dunes, but his exact purpose remains a mystery.

Chen Liangquan isn't the one calling the shots this time around. Publicly, he's a member of the Chen family and may be compelled to stand by, unable to intervene in Zu Ann's plans.

The Terra Fiend is one of the forces summoned by Zu Ann, obeying him for the time being.

Once this affair concludes, the Terra Fiend will resume its service to Chen Liangquan.

"Master Zu Ann will clear a path for you, allowing you to distance yourself from Afnetalos," the Terra Fiend relayed Zu Ann's intentions. "The Master wishes for you not to return to Afnetalos but to head back to the Forgotten Ruins as soon as possible. The Master sent me to lead you to the Chen family's teleportation circle."

"Has that rune circle been seized by you? Is it still operational?" Yu Yuan inquired.

"It can be reactivated for you," the Terra Fiend responded.

Yu Yuan reflected for a moment before replying, "I'd like to stay a bit longer."

"Seven days. Lord Zu Ann has granted you a seven-day period," the Terra Fiend, in human form, nodded gently. "In seven days, I will come for you again. If you choose not to leave by then, the Master will wash his hands of you, leaving you to fend for yourself."

"I must see Zu Ann!"

"The Master is currently unavailable."

With those final words, the Terra Fiend that had swept in dispersed into the wind, its form dissipating.

Countless tendrils of demonic light and electricity burst forth in every direction.

Yu Yuan, with a furrowed brow, stood deep within the Ashen Shadowmist, contemplating. He knew that with Zu Ann's theurgy, his location could be pinpointed accurately. Yet, Zu Ann chose not to reveal himself, leaving Yu Yuan to ponder his reasons.

"Seven days should be plenty!" the cauldron spirit exclaimed with glee upon receiving the Terra Fiend's assurance. It quickly pressed Yu Yuan, "Master, since we're safe from the alien souls and specters outside the city for the next seven days, let's seize this chance! We should wander around the outskirts as much as possible, absorbing and consuming the malevolent aura!"

"We'll have to make do with this for now," Yu Yuan said with a sense of resignation.

Over the next three days, he maneuvered the Crucible of Evil, drifting to the west, north, and east of Afnetalos. He harvested the lingering malevolent energy from the bodies of deceased cultivators, fallen Otherkin, and vanquished archdemons, infusing it into the Crucible of Evil.

Throughout this process, despite his senses being greatly impaired, Yu Yuan maintained communication with the artifact soul, keeping track of their movements. They were constantly shadowed by extraterrestrial Sky Fiends, Otherkin, and vicious archdemons.

It seemed that the covetous alien souls had been warned and were kept at bay by Zu Ann; they did not dare to attack.

Yu Yuan, amidst a myriad of fierce entities, continued to amass the sinister aura within the Crucible of Evil.

Occasionally, he was gripped by anxiety, fearing that the specters lurking deep within the Ashen Shadowmist would lose control of their malevolent desires and, ignoring any counsel, would attack him in a frenzy. Thankfully, his fears remained unrealized.

A mournful howl pierced the air on the fourth day at noon. The sound sent shivers down Yu Yuan's spine.

At that moment, peering into the Crucible of Evil with his mind's eye, he observed nearly a thousand clusters of gray energy within the little world. He understood that these clusters were coalescing into "evil spirits," and many could swiftly transform into "Bane," significantly enhancing the cauldron's rank and potency.

"Steer clear for now, don't interfere!" advised the cauldron spirit, which had been nourished by the evil aura. Sensing the archdemon's howl from the southern part of the city, it quickly added, "Master, let's avoid the south for the time being and wait a while longer. The energy and presence of Ditdite and the cultivators who perished there won't dissipate quickly within the Ashen Shadowmist."

"They've given us seven days; we still have time," it continued. The cauldron spirit had detected something amiss and did not wish for Yu Yuan to blindly rush into danger, potentially sacrificing his life in vain.

"I understand," Yu Yuan said, nodding slightly. He had intended to head south, but instead found himself adrift in the desolate western outskirts, gathering the lingering malevolence to empower the Crucible of Evil.

In the dead of night on the fourth day, he observed lightning strikes and heard thunder from the south, while the radiance of enchanted artifacts pierced the Ashen Shadowmist with dazzling brilliance.

The earth-shattering roars of the archdemon and the soaring trails of the Sky Fiend filled the air, their spiritual lights weaving together in a dance of power, their echoes reaching him in waves.

"Master, as long as we remain within the Ashen Shadowmist, our senses and remnant souls will be obscured, making it unnecessary for you to reveal yourself hastily. Even if others were to approach, they would not be able to locate you," the cauldron spirit cautioned. "Let's stay put in this region and avoid drawing the attention of others. It seems likely that there are outsiders coming to reinforce Afnetalos, clashing with the Sky Fiend, archdemon, and Terra Fiend."

"That's my assumption as well," Yu Yuan agreed with a nod.

As the influx of malevolent energy ceased, he hesitated briefly before attempting to practice Wraithbinding within the Crucible of Evil. With a single focused thought, he activated the Spirit Magic, and his entire being was suddenly jolted.

​