C798 A Showdown of Beauty

Inside the Cloud Cruiser, Shen Yan from the Sword Sect, tasked with guarding Chen Qingyan, wore a troubled expression. Throughout their journey, he had repeatedly cautioned Qingyan to stay rational and keep her distance if she encountered Yu Yuan. She had agreed, promising to avoid stirring up any trouble.

Yet, upon meeting Yu Yuan, Qingyan had caused an uproar, insisting on entering the Crucible of Evil, as if her earlier promises were completely forgotten. Shen Yan realized that Qingyan hadn't taken his warnings to heart; she had merely given lip service without grasping the gravity of the situation.

The reputation of Boulderdawn had been obscured by the Five Great Forces for many years, leaving many in the dark about its existence. A newcomer like Qingyan had never even heard of Boulderdawn, unaware of the sect's profound legacy and formidable strength.

Only those who had forged a Solar Spirit and traversed the extraterrestrial Star River were privy to Boulderdawn's history. Now, this fearsome sect, which had vanished from the Star River for some time, was openly reaching into the Everlands.

The Moonfall Sanctuary, Godsblight Marsh, and Songbird Empire, among other remarkable locales, were thrown into disarray by Boulderdawn's resurgence. Many smaller, ancient sects and forces were rumored to have already made clandestine contact with Boulderdawn. Powerful individuals like the Untamed and Zu Ann were aligning with the sect, some covertly, others openly.

It was clear that the turmoil in the Everlands would only intensify. Shen Yan doubted that even the three upper sects, along with the Devil Palace and Shadow's Keep, could repel the returnees of Boulderdawn. What loomed ahead was a relentless, grueling battle to the death.

Given that Yu Yuan was allied with Zu Ann and implicated with Boulderdawn, it was clear that Qingyan's continued association with him was ill-advised. "This girl has no idea what Boulderdawn signifies," Shen Yan thought, as a headache began to set in. Whoosh!

Chen Qingyan's Lunar Spirit slipped into the Crucible of Evil, passing through the magic shield.

Simultaneously, a shimmering purple shadow gracefully floated into the crucible as well.

A figure in white and a purple phantom settled on either side of Yu Yuan.

The Crucible of Evil, once only occupied by Yuan Lianyao, now hosted two additional beautiful women, drawing all eyes to Yu Yuan and the crucible.

"This lucky fellow is truly blessed!"

In the majestic palace, a cultivator from the Ethereal Void Sect gazed down at the Crucible of Evil and the three enchanting silhouettes within, murmuring his admiration.

Many onlookers nodded in agreement, their expressions filled with envy.

Yuan Lianyao of the Ruby Hand, known as the "blazing red lotus," had stirred up much gossip in the Shadowlight Empire due to her stunning beauty.

Her alluring charm and captivating smile had caught the attention of the Nightbane Sect's experts early on, a testament to her exceptional allure.

Having been nurtured by Faang Yao of the Ruby Hand since her arrival in the Land of Quiescence, her fame had spread far and wide.

Ann Ziqing of the Colddeath Sect had become another young woman regarded as a miracle by all.

She was not only incredibly beautiful but also known for her brutal and merciless methods!

Since her departure from Asvetaesi and return to the Land of Quiescence, the deeds she had accomplished sent shivers down the spines of many seasoned cultivators.

Chen Qingyan, on the other hand, was the Chen family's most distinguished member after the Songbird Queen and Chen Liangquan.

From the moment of her birth, she had captivated countless gazes, with many young talents whispering her name in their dreams.

"Hello, Brother Yu, and Yuanyuan, it's a pleasure to meet you. I've long admired your renown," Chen Qingyan said as she entered the crucible, greeting Yu Yuan and Yuan Lianyao with a warm smile. "Brother Yu, I apologize for my master's unfriendly behavior toward you in the Godsblight Marsh. I understand that you ventured into the Sword Prison on my account."

Ann Ziqing's mouth twisted into a sardonic smile as she interjected, "That's debatable."

"What would you know, Ann Ziqing?" Chen Qingyan shot her a contemptuous look and huffed, "Don't assume you're so impressive just because you've attained the Spirit Walk state. You ought to realize that despite the Colddeath Sect's spells allowing for rapid advancement, they come with their fair share of thorny issues down the line."

"The forging of the Solar Spirit is a significant milestone. I might not be able to break through to the next realm as quickly as you."

Chen Qingyan's lips curled into a proud smile as she spoke, "The Sword Sect is built on a solid foundation and possesses the strongest killing power."

Ann Ziqing responded with a smile, "Basically, we're around the same age, and I'm currently at a higher realm than you. Whether we're here or out in the wider world, I'm confident I would win in a fight against you. As for the future, who can say? Who knows if you'll be killed along the way?"

"Kill me? You think the Colddeath Sect would dare?" Chen Qingyan scoffed.

"Do you honestly believe that the Colddeath Sect fears the Sword Sect?" Ann Ziqing stood her ground, facing off against Chen Qingyan with Yu Yuan and Yuan Lianyao between them, "Use your head and think about the vast changes that will come to the Everlands. It's quite possible that the Colddeath Sect will rise to become a top sect like the Devil Palace or Shadow's Keep in the Land of Quiescence."

"And it's not out of the question for your Sword Sect to be reduced to a lower sect in Euwrea."

"After all, you started as a lower sect before advancing to an upper one."

"In this world, nothing is certain. If your master falls in the upcoming battles, your future won't be so smooth."

Ann Ziqing's words were laced with scorn.

Chen Qingyan shot back, "You might also perish from Qi deviation while refining the Solar Spirit. With all the evil deeds your Colddeath Sect has committed, you could very well be wiped out."

The two women, who had never met face to face, were the most brilliant cultivators of their time.

One was born into the Chen family of the Songbird Empire and was selected by the Grand Sword Immortal Ji Ningshuang to join the Sword Sect, causing a resonance of ten thousand swords upon her entry.

The other emerged like a comet a few years ago, capturing everyone's attention and being designated as the next leader of the Colddeath Sect.

Ann Ziqing's ascent into the Spirit Walk realm outpaced Zhou Cangmin, making her a legend among her peers.

Though these two prodigious women had not been cultivating for long and had never met before, upon entering the Crucible of Evil, they became fierce rivals, engaging in verbal combat as if they were lifelong enemies.

Yu Yuan found himself caught in the middle, without even a chance to get a word in.

He leisurely wiped the sweat from his body, looking bewildered at the two women who were at odds, thinking to himself, Have these two lost their minds?

As he pondered, an idea struck him, and the Crucible of Evil began its slow ascent into the sky.

Before long, the cauldron and the floating palace that Cao Jiaze was controlling had leveled out.

From this vantage point in the sky, he could clearly see the vast black cloud dozens of miles away.

The battle within the cloud, involving White Bone, the Black Staff, and Taruer, had already erupted.

Yet, neither the people outside nor the ghostly spirits could peer through the black cloud to discern the details of the three Ghost Kings' clash, nor could they sense it with their remnant souls.

He decided to selectively tune out the squabbling between Ann Ziqing and Chen Qingyan, feeling somewhat reassured as the pill in his stomach began to release its beneficial powers to his vitality and spiritual energy.

Surviving the calamity thunder was no small feat...

The repeated sword swings and Moonfall Strikes had drained a great deal of his vitality and spiritual energy.

However, his remnant soul was fully replenished, protected by the Root of the Lunar Meridian and infused with pure Yin Qi before he had left the little world.

His mental state was unaffected; it was his corporeal body that felt the exhaustion.

"I need some time to replenish my vitality and spiritual energy before I can confront Dhoreus."

He glanced around and noticed Jiang Xingwen's absence.

To him, Jiang Xingwen represented Dhoreus, and he was confident that with Dhoreus's power, there would be a way to persuade Jiang Xingwen to join forces with Su Yan's master.

"Would you two please be quiet!"

Suddenly, Yuan Lianyao from the Ruby Hand couldn't stand it any longer and burst out in a loud roar.

Snapped out of his reverie by her outburst, Yu Yuan looked at the two quarreling girls with a headache and said, "Didn't you come here to talk to me? If not, then leave. Don't just hang around here. Besides, being around me for too long isn't good for either of you."

"What's the big deal about joining forces with the demons?" Ann Ziqing said with a sweet smile. "I'm not afraid of what people will say or think. Besides, both the reputation of our Colddeath and my own are already less than stellar."

As she spoke, she glanced at Chen Qingyan with a hint of scorn. "And you?"

"I was the first to enter. Do you really think I'm scared? Do you believe my master would be concerned about this?" Chen Qingyan retorted with a sneer. After a brief pause, she continued, "Yu, the Thoaos actually has ties to our Sword Sect."

"At last, we're talking about something substantial," Yu Yuan exhaled with relief.

"..."