The darkness stretched over the land, with a single late star hanging in the sky. A flash of light, and ten figures stumbled out, collapsing into awkward heaps on the ground amidst groans and complaints.
Bai Shuo landed as if her feet were cushioned in cotton, protected by Fan Yue’s embrace, and though her head spun, she managed to keep her balance. Yet, just as Nan Wan turned to look, she quickly pulled Fan Yue down to the ground beside her, exaggeratedly letting out a groan.
She had almost forgotten—Fan Yue was a powerful demon, unaffected by the teleportation’s force!
Nan Wan glanced back at the pair, his brow furrowed slightly. Was it his imagination, or had Bai Shuo just pushed the young man? All the Yun Xiao disciples had struggled with the strain of crossing space with the stone, yet that young man seemed… unaffected.
Bai Shuo, trying to keep things smooth, spoke up, “The Space-Stone is indeed something else! Luckily, Your Excellency warned us to guard our spiritual platforms…” She struggled to her feet, her eyes still glazed as if shaken.
Fan Yue stood behind her, face a little pale. Hidden from view, Bai Shuo squeezed his hand tightly. The young disciple finally understood, shifting his energy subtly to pale his face even more.
Nan Wan’s suspicions faded slightly. He cast a cold gaze over his disciples.
“Get up!”
The disciples scrambled awkwardly to their feet, but just as they began to regain composure, a loud, raspy female voice broke the silence.
“What’s going on? Where is this place?”
They looked down to see a face poking out from a corner—a broad face with large green eyebrows, smeared white and pink makeup, and bright red lips. The disciples inhaled sharply, and even Nan Wan stepped back a few paces.
But Hua Hong’s fierce gaze was fixed only on Bai Shuo. She leaped forward, landing directly in front of Bai Shuo with a roar, “So, you lying Daoist! What did you say to me last night? Think you can trick me and then run away?!”
Bai Shuo urgently signaled to Hua Hong with her eyes, but Hua Hong only glared, “What are you winking at me for? Feeling guilty, huh?”
Bai Shuo fell silent, and Nan Wan’s icy voice came from behind.
“And who are you, that you dare to enter a Yun Xiao formation?”
The Yun Xiao disciples simultaneously drew their swords, pointing them at Hua Hong. Only now did Hua Hong realize her surroundings. She turned, her imposing figure quivering. “Y-you, th-this, w-what’s going on, Daoist?”
“Wait, wait, Your Excellencies! There’s been a misunderstanding!” Bai Shuo hastily broke free from Hua Hong’s grasp, waving her hands. “This is Miss Hua, she means no harm.”
“Miss… Hua?” The Yun Xiao disciples looked at the towering woman in silence.
Nan Wan narrowed his eyes. “Bai Shuo, you know her?”
“Yes, yes, this is Miss Hua, my neighbor in Nan Hai City and a well-known blacksmith in the area.” Bai Shuo quickly explained, “We had a misunderstanding last night, and Miss Hua accidentally stumbled into the Space-Stone’s array while searching for me.”
“Last night? A misunderstanding?” one of the disciples, Ming Xin, muttered, looking back and forth between Bai Shuo and Hua Hong. “Don’t tell me she’s…?”
“No, no, she’s not…”
“Oh, but I am!” Hua Hong cut him off, grabbing Bai Shuo’s hand and throwing her a flirtatious look.
With an iron grip, she held onto Bai Shuo, giving her a meaningful look. Though Hua Hong was straightforward, she wasn’t foolish; she could tell these people were dangerous but showed respect to Bai Shuo, so it was safer to play along.
“Bai Shuo, is this… accurate?” Nan Wan paused, choosing his words carefully. “Is Miss Hua telling the truth?”
“Yes,” Bai Shuo winced, turning her head stiffly. “Your Excellency, Miss Hua means no harm and entered the array by mistake. Might you return her to Nan Hai City?”
“That won’t be possible.” Nan Wan’s voice was grave, his gaze fixed on the distance. “We’re here. The city has been sealed.”
Bai Shuo froze as the disciples gathered their spiritual energy, realizing their power was now restricted to the level of lower-ranked immortals, just slightly stronger than half-immortals.
A cold, dry wind swept through, chilling her. She looked up, seeing the desolate night sky filled with stars above the city walls, where a massive character—“异” (meaning “strange” or “different”)—stood tall and imposing, radiating a sense of abandonment.
So, this was the mysterious city, separated from the rest of the realms by the wilds?
It was much lonelier than she had expected. With so many disciples from the celestial and demon realms gathered here to search for the phoenix wood core, shouldn’t there be more activity? And Yun Xiao was one of the Three Great Mountains of the Celestial Realm—shouldn’t someone have been here to greet them? Instead, the city lay eerily silent, as if long deserted.
“Let’s go.” Nan Wan, though frowning, kept his silence and led them deeper into the city. The Yun Xiao disciples followed closely, with Bai Shuo, Fan Yue, and Hua Hong hurrying to catch up. The city was dark and creepy, so it was best to stick with Nan Wan, get a feel for the situation, and find out where Ah Zhao might be.
Meanwhile, a thousand miles away on Wu Tong Phoenix Island, the moon hung high. The previous midnight, Jin Yao had activated the spirit-sealing array left by Twilight, locking down the foreign city. The heads of various sects and clans had retreated to their lodges, awaiting the outcome three days later. Now, one day had already passed.
In the Phoenix Pavilion, Jin Yao was playing a game of chess with Feng Xian, the Phoenix Clan’s elder.
0 Comments