C735 Heartbroken!
"What mischief are you concocting now?"
Perched on a vibrant red lotus throne just outside Dark Mountain, Yuan Lianyao's Yin God sat with an air of vigilance, her gaze fixed intently on Ann Ziqing.
"Hmph, Ann, I'm well aware of your reputation and your formidable strength. There's a deep-seated grudge between you and Yu Yuan, isn't there? Why do you persist in antagonizing him?"
Having learned of Ann Ziqing's origins, Yuan Lianyao was curious to see if there was any way to dissolve the animosity between her and Yu Yuan.
Unaware of the full story, Yuan Lianyao still believed the conflict stemmed from an incident in Darkmoon City where Yu Yuan had thwarted Ann Ziqing's plans, leading to a Blood God Cult disciple's failure to form a Yin God, and thus, the birth of their vendetta.
"Why would you suggest such a thing, City Lord?" Ann Ziqing's face was the picture of wronged innocence as she bowed her head, tears brimming in her eyes, and fiddled with the hem of her purple divine armor. "I've served the young master faithfully since childhood, always wishing for his well-being. City Lord, could it be that you've been swayed by slander about me and are now harboring a misunderstanding?"
After Jiang Xingwen and her entourage departed and the Roam Ship vanished, only two women remained on Dark Mountain, along with a spectral white fox.
The moment Yu Yuan and the Ghost of the White Bone entered the cave, the two women's relationship turned sharply adversarial, charged with tension.
Yuan Lianyao, even in her Yin God form, radiated an otherworldly beauty. Her cultivation of the enigmatic Magma Devil Spell cast a mesmerizing allure, even affecting the spirits around her.
Seated upon her throne, she resembled a deity of flame, her natural authority magnified when displeased.
Her affinity for the Red Devil Sect's Devil Spell was undeniable, and her exceptional talent had not gone unnoticed. Faang Yao and Zhou Cangmin had recognized her potential, lavishing her with abundant resources from the sect.
The journey to Horror Land, for instance, was orchestrated to prepare her for ascension to the Soul Wandering Stage.
Yet, as she considered Ann Ziqing and recalled Faang Yao and Zhou Cangmin's assessments of the woman, Yuan Lianyao couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding.
Faang Yao and Zhou Cangmin had informed her that Ann Ziqing was none other than the current leader of the Blood God Cult, Ann Wen, a daughter born through the cult's secret methods and the expenditure of vast quantities of blood essence.
In the vast expanse of the Boundless Land, those with profound cultivation faced natural limitations when it came to bearing offspring. Yet, the Blood God Cult, a faction renowned for its mastery of blood essence, could overcome this hurdle. With the Giant Beast Amber and their closely guarded secrets, they were prepared to pay any price to conceive a child. This is how Ann Ziqing came into the world.
Outside the cult, rumors swirled. Some whispered that Ann Ziqing was the granddaughter or great-granddaughter of Ann Wen, while others speculated that she was handpicked by the Blood God Cult from the Profound Sky Continent. The most outlandish claim was that Ann Wen had brought her back from the Outland Star River. Ann Ziqing's sudden emergence in Darkmoon City only fueled the mystery, as no one had previously heard of or seen her, leaving her origins and identity shrouded in secrecy.
Ann Wen never disclosed his connection to Ann Ziqing. Upon her return to the Blood God Cult, he summoned the sect's elders for the ancient Bloodsoaked Ceremony, declaring that should she survive, Ann Ziqing was destined to be the next Sect Master. Outsiders remained in the dark about the ceremony's proceedings, but without exception, the attending elders acknowledged Ann Ziqing as the divine successor.
This process differed from the competitive Demonic Seed Echelon of the Devil Palace and the Red Devil Sect. There, several candidates vied for supremacy, with their ranks constantly shifting until the foremost Demonic Seed emerged as the new leader. In contrast, following the Bloodsoaked Ceremony, the Blood God Cult unanimously recognized Ann Ziqing as the heir apparent, with no challengers in sight.
The Blood God Cult's influence had surged in recent years, especially after Ann Jieshan's return and the reformation of their practices, propelling them to the upper echelons of the Quietus Continent's northern region—surpassing the likes of the Filthy Spirit Sect, Fiend Sect, and Voodoo Cult.
Thus, Faang Yao and Zhou Cangmin took a particular interest in the Blood God Cult, meticulously unraveling the truth behind the rumors. They confirmed that Ann Ziqing was indeed the biological daughter of Ann Wen. Yet, the identity of Ann Ziqing's mother remained a mystery, even to the elders within the Blood God Cult who had accepted her.
"Lord of the City, the relationship between the young master and myself isn't as straightforward as you might imagine," Ann Ziqing said with a smile, giving a subtle signal to the white fox behind her.
The white fox bowed gracefully and then drifted away, leaving the two women alone.
"What are you trying to say?" Yuan Lianyao asked, her brow furrowed in concern.
"I would never harm him. Even if I've done things he dislikes, my intentions have always been for his benefit," Ann Ziqing explained as she maneuvered the purple divine armor and descended at the base of Dark Mountain. "Back on Blood God Island, if he had entered the blood pool and joined our Divine Sect, his powers could have surpassed his current level."
"Moreover, he wouldn't be branded a traitor by the entire Boundless Land, nor would he be targeted by various powers."
"I truly have his best interests at heart. I'm not plotting to harm or kill him," Ann Ziqing earnestly assured.
"What are you two discussing?"
The Evil Cauldron emerged from within Dark Mountain, with Yu Yuan standing inside, eyeing the women with astonishment. "Ann Ziqing, what brings you all the way here from the depths of Horror Land?"
"Is it for this?"
Yu Yuan retrieved a blood-colored token from the Mustard Seed Bracelet and flicked it with his finger. The token zipped through the air like a streak of blood-colored lightning toward Ann Ziqing.
As it neared the purple divine armor, the token burst into a blinding crimson glow, slowing its approach before leisurely making its way to Ann Ziqing. It nestled into the folds of her armor as if it were meant to be kept close.
"I didn't come for this token," Ann Ziqing sighed deeply. "I'm aware the young master has his reservations about me, but my concern for you is genuine. Outside Luan Bird City, I was merely jesting with the young master; I never intended any real harm, did I?"
Yu Yuan's expression remained icy. "You took the Ice Thunder Mark!"
"The Ice Thunder Mark from the Little Clouds Sect is of great importance to me, and it's not yours to begin with. What's the harm in taking it?" Ann Ziqing showed no remorse. "Furthermore, once this affair is concluded, I plan to return the mark to its rightful owner, Xie Binn. In his hands, the mark would inevitably be seized by the Thunder Sect. It might as well be safeguarded by me for the time being." Her words were spoken with bold conviction.
Yu Yuan remained skeptical, shaking his head as he spoke, "You gave me this token back in the Ember Waters, and I'm returning it to you now. As for the Mustard Seed Bracelet, I still have a use for it. Once I'm back in the outside world, I'll acquire a Universe Ring. If we cross paths again, I'll make sure to return the bracelet to you."
"Are you trying to sever ties with me, Young Master?" Ann Ziqing asked, visibly taken aback.
Despite being branded a traitor by the Boundless Land, Ann hadn't distanced herself from Yu Yuan. Instead, she was prepared to break off their connection completely, but Yu Yuan's resolute expression left her feeling uneasy.
"We never really had any ties to begin with," Yu Yuan replied icily.
Ann Ziqing fell into a heavy silence, her gaze fixed on Yu Yuan as her expression shifted unpredictably. After a long pause, she gave a slight nod, turned, and left without another word. The white fox quietly reappeared, trailing behind her.
"That white fox is a close confidant of the Initial Spirit Ghost King. With her presence, there should be no unexpected incidents," the Ghost of White Bone emerged from within Dark Mountain and informed Yu Yuan and Yuan Lianyao. "Head to my Dark Mountain."
"And this place?" Yuan Lianyao inquired.
"I came here to embolden Granny Ash, to dare her to confront us," the Ghost Bone Wraith explained. "Now that Granny Ash is dead, there's no reason to linger."
"Understood," Yuan Lianyao responded, choosing not to press further.
From within the Evil Cauldron, Yu Yuan watched Ann Ziqing's retreating figure, a peculiar emotion stirring within him. "Did I do something wrong?" he wondered.
He shook his head vigorously, casting aside the odd sensation.
"The priestess from the Blood God Cult agreed to join forces with me to ambush Granny Ash because you were here," the Ghost Bone Wraith interjected. "She communicated with me through Dark Mountain, insisting on your safety. She even threatened that if I harmed you, the Ice Thunder Mark would strike at Dark Mountain, where I practice my cultivation."
"I'm not privy to your situation, but she was genuinely concerned for you before she arrived."
Following their conversation in the subterranean chamber, the ghost and the human reached a tacit understanding, marking a significant development in their relationship. This prompted the Ghost Bone Wraith to become more forthcoming.
Beside them, Yuan Lianyao sensed that the Ghost Bone Wraith, who had formed an alliance with the Red Devil Sect, appeared to hold Yu Yuan in higher regard after their emergence.
