C876 Untraceable

In the domain of the Midnightshields, the Fallen Star Eyes shimmered under the bright moonlight, its curves elegant, emitting a soft and cool radiance. A figure above it gazed downward, reminiscent of a lunar deity.

Adjacent to the Fallen Star Eyes, a smaller palace constructed of numerous exquisite jades floated serenely.

Tong Laoqian, clad in opulent attire, waved his plump, ring-laden hand toward Yang Chuhe and several Midnightshields cultivators, demanding, "Where are they?"

"I don't know," Yang Chuhe replied, shaking his head.

Tong Laoqian, a freelance cultivator, possessed the late-stage Spirit Walk cultivation. The lofty Jade Tower, radiating the noble aura of ancient dynasties, made even him feel a sense of oppression.

Although Tong Laoqian's realm was marginally higher, Yang Chuhe wasn't intimidated by him within the bounds of the Crimson Sun Empire.

Yet, with a reverent glance at the Fallen Star Eyes, Yang Chuhe couldn't help but feel a twinge of bitterness.

The Starmoon Sect was one of the seven great lower sects, wasn't it? As the heir apparent to the Starmoon Sect's leadership, why would you associate with a rogue cultivator like Tong Laoqian? And what is your connection to Yu Yuan?

Internally grumbling, Yang Chuhe couldn't help but cast a puzzled look at Liu Xu.

Liu Xu stepped forward, ignoring Tong Laoqian and instead, with a gaze full of longing, he proclaimed, "Yu Yuan and Qin Yun had an altercation with my master by the Nemo River half a month ago. Since then, they've vanished without a trace."

"If you doubt my word, feel free to scour the Crimson Sun Empire for any sign of them."

As he spoke, many Midnightshields cultivators instinctively cradled their heads in frustration.

They thought to themselves, Your Highness, surely there's no need to be so accommodating as to allow a search within the empire's territory, just to win favor with Liu Ying and the Starmoon Sect. Have you forgotten the backing of the Sunlit Order?

"We've already looked for them," they murmured. "We've come to you because our search turned up nothing."

From the dazzling Fallen Star Eyes suspended in midair, Liu Ying's voice, tinged with worry yet melodious and pleasing, floated down. "Never mind, I'll keep looking."

"Miss Liu, please, do whatever you feel is necessary," Liu Xu said with a goofy chuckle. "If you get tired, feel free to rest in that city over there."

Without a word, Liu Ying directed the Fallen Star Eyes and soared higher into the sky.

Simultaneously, Yan Qiling stood beneath the two-faced Evil Statue within the Moonfall Sanctuary. Using arcane techniques, he witnessed everything unfolding within the Midnightshields.

Liu Ying, through the Fallen Star Eyes, could cast her gaze upon the Moonfall Sanctuary. In turn, the Evil Statue could employ the Fallen Star Eyes to observe her surroundings.

"Vanished without a trace for half a month, Liu Ying has scoured the entire Crimson Sun Empire with the Fallen Star Eyes and found nothing," Yan Qiling mused, stroking his chin with a somber expression. "In a month's time, an unprecedented grand event involving the entire Star River will commence, and the key player, that young man, has suddenly gone missing..."

He had also been monitoring the Crimson Sun Empire through covert channels. The feedback from several individuals covertly within the empire confirmed Liu Ying's findings—Yu Yuan and Qin Yun had disappeared without a trace.

"Best to make a report," he decided.

Yan Qiling concentrated, and strands of remnant soul emerged from his forehead, coalescing into a small black flower that settled on the compassionate side of the Evil Statue.

The black flower blossomed eerily on the statue's face, and a remnant soul pierced through the wall of the starry sky, reaching out into the extraterrestrial void.

After a while, the black flower spoke in a human voice, "Understood. There's no need to worry about him."

The moment the voice faded, the sinister black flower ignited, engulfed in flames of the same hue, and the flower was reduced to ashes, leaving no trace behind.

Yan Qiling breathed a sigh of relief and was about to seek out a few extraterrestrial guests to iron out some details when a secret pulse in his left temple began to beat insistently.

"Jin Rourou has awakened."

Instantly, he knew that Yu Yuan's mother had successfully completed the integration of her soul and body at the Sacred Hands.

Under the black night sky, Yu Yuan gripped the sword sheath as if it were a true Spirit Sword, his gaze sharp and icy as he peered into the desolate expanse ahead. "Qu Jing, is that you?"

"Qu Jing?!" Qin Yun's face turned pale with shock.

Qu Jing, of the Ethereal Void Sect, was undoubtedly the next in line to be sect master. The last time Qin Yun had heard news of him in Gavanas, he was deeply shaken to learn that Qu Jing had advanced to the late period of the Lunar Spirit state.

It wasn't long ago that Qu Jing, in Afnetalos, had only been at the early period of the Lunar Spirit state. Qin Yun had been astounded then by the rapidity of Qu Jing's breakthroughs.

The teleportation circle in Gavanas, constructed by the Ethereal Void Sect and often overseen by Chong Xiao, was frequented by many of the sect's cultivators. Consequently, a fair amount of information about the Ethereal Void Sect had been divulged.

Qin Yun had come to understand that there had been a confrontation between Qu Jing and Yu Yuan, and it appeared that Qu Jing's Spectral Umbrella had sustained some damage.

What was the situation now? Had Qu Jing really conjured up this peculiar little world?

"The Qi Yunhong we've encountered three times likely suffered an accident. It's probable that his Illusion Orb fell into Qu Jing's possession and, combined with the Spectral Umbrella, facilitated a significant advancement in Qu Jing's realm and strength," Yu Yuan articulated his speculation with clarity. "Of course, Qu Jing alone couldn't have taken the Spectral Umbrella from Qi Yunhong."

"The Chong Xiao we encountered was Qu Jing's accomplice. It's possible that other Sages were also collaborating with Chong Xiao, applying pressure to Qi Yunhong."

After his soliloquy, Yu Yuan bellowed, "Stop skulking around. If your Ethereal Void Sect has acted and dragged me into this, then there's no need to continue hiding."

Silence enveloped the world; no one responded.

At that moment, Qin Yun came to a realization. This world felt familiar, yet unlike the Crimson Sun Empire, which was hot throughout the year, it wasn't supposed to be eerily silent.

At midnight, there should be the sound of insects chirping and the buzz of mosquitoes and flies.

Instead, as it stood, within dozens of miles, his remnant soul detected not a single sign of life.

Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!

Out of nowhere, streaks of scarlet lightning tore through the pitch-black night sky, transforming the heavens and earth into a sinister, dark red realm.

This scarlet lightning, the harbinger of soul annihilation, cascaded slowly from the sky, one bolt after another.

"Soulsear Bolt!"

Yu Yuan's brow furrowed as he instantly recognized the lightning above as the work of Qi Yunhong, who had been cast out by the Thunder Sect.

He had learned from Xie Bin that some cultivators within the Thunder Sect had managed to refine the Soulsear Bolt from an unusual lightning pool in the extraterrestrial Star River. These cultivators had since parted ways with the Thunder Sect to establish their own faction.

Yan Qiling had hinted that those deemed sinners by the Thunder Sect, desperately sought for elimination, had dealings with the Boulderdawn.

Qi Yunhong, having gained the patronage of these individuals, had previously demonstrated the power of the Soulsear Bolt...

Previously, on the outskirts of Afnetalos, Ann Ziqing had stripped away Qi Yunhong's Soulsear Bolt and integrated it into the Glacial Storm Seal, significantly enhancing its might.

Now, the presence of numerous Soulsear Bolts indicated that the Thunder Sect's extraterrestrial powerhouses had once again bestowed the Soulsear Bolt upon Qi Yunhong.

Regrettably, Qi Yunhong had failed to safeguard the Soulsear Bolts and suffered their backlash instead.

The thick swarm of Soulsear Bolts descended to the same altitude as the Crucible of Evil, where one could faintly discern a figure shining brilliantly like a crystal.

The figure was draped in Soulsear Bolts, yet his vitality was so diminished it seemed he struggled to even twitch a finger.

"Yu Yuan..."

Qi Yunhong, ensnared by his own Soulsear Bolts, had lost all traces of madness from his face. It appeared the torment had left him with nothing but a desire for death. "Why are you here?"

"Is he the one you spoke of?" Qin Yun called out sharply.

"Yes, it's him," Yu Yuan confirmed with a nod. "This time, he's different from the previous three encounters. He seems... tangible, as if he's a freshly condensed Solar Spirit Body."

"Qi Yunhong, how did you come to such a state?" Yu Yuan called out loudly.

"Ethereal Void Sect," Qi Yunhong said, his grin contorted with pain. "I was ambushed by the Ethereal Void Sect while I was condensing my Solar Spirit. Qu Jing, Chong Xiao, and Tianjing seized the opportunity right when my Solar Spirit had just formed. That was my most vulnerable moment. I couldn't stand against them, and as a result, I ended up in this sorry state, and my Illusion Orb was stolen."

Wrapped in the Soulsear Bolt, Qi Yunhong hurtled toward the Crucible of Evil for the fourth time.

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