Translator: CinderTL
Xu Sanyan didn't stop her, merely watched her intently.
As her robes slipped off, they revealed a crimson undergarment beneath. Her long, smooth legs were fully exposed in the night air.
Zuoqiu Zhen, with one hand behind her back, untied the undergarment's sash. The last layer of concealment fell away, revealing her flawless, petite body.
She met Xu Sanyan's gaze calmly, saying nothing and making no further movements.
"What are you doing?" Xu Sanyan feigned confusion.
"Hurry up, I'm in a hurry," Zuoqiu Zhen said coldly.
Xu Sanyan stared unblinkingly. "Look at you, what kind of person do you think I am?"
"Hmm?" Zuoqiu Zhen's anger flared. Playing this game?
"What do you really want? Don't push me too far. If it comes to it, we'll both go down in flames!"
Zuoqiu Zhen's cheek twitched, clearly on the verge of exploding.
"I didn't tell you to strip," Xu Sanyan protested, sounding genuinely wronged. When did I ever say I wanted her to take off her clothes?
"What do you want!"
Xu Sanyan licked his lips. If not for her formidable skills, he might have been tempted to try something. But after considering the risks, he decided against it.
He wasn't lacking in women and saw no need to take such a risk.
With a flick of his wrist, he released the banner. Zuoqiu Zhen snatched it, cast him a cold glance, and turned to leave.
"Not a bad ass," Xu Sanyan remarked appreciatively before flying out of the Mist Sea in the opposite direction.
At that moment, Venerable He Yu was wandering alone through the Mist Sea. Even with his void harmony realm cultivation level, he dared not venture too deep.
After searching for three days without finding a single trace of Xu Sanyan, he grew discouraged. Could Xu Sanyan have died there?
Several days earlier, a sudden surge of waves and swirling mist had erupted from the depths of the Mist Sea, as if a fierce battle were raging. The overwhelming power had sent him fleeing in terror.
Getting caught in such a conflict would surely spell disaster.
Unbeknownst to Venerable He Yu, he had been only a step away from Xu Sanyan at that very moment.
At that time, Xu Sanyan was swimming inside a monster's stomach pouch.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the mist ahead. Venerable He Yu peered closer, his heart sinking with disappointment—it was Long-Browed Daoist from the Praying Dao Sect.
The Mist Sea was vast, making their encounter a matter of fate. Yet neither man welcomed this fate, as they had clashed during their previous encounter in the secret realm.
"Hmph."
Both men snorted coldly as they passed each other without a word.
Inside Mist City, Luo Qingwei sat blankly in the courtyard, gazing at the sky, lost in thought.
Fang Qingge stood silently behind her, sighing inwardly. Since Luo Changtian's death, she had changed, losing her former vivacity and becoming withdrawn, her heart heavy with unspoken burdens.
He, too, felt deep sorrow, not only for Luo Changtian but also for Junior Sister Yu, Junior Sister Zhao, and all the junior brothers and sisters who had perished in the secret realm.
Yet it was Luo Changtian and the two junior sisters who weighed most heavily on his heart.
Junior Sister Yu had fallen in the final battle, beheaded by a ghost soldier. Junior Sister Zhao, meanwhile, had vanished without a trace, leaving no word of her fate.
Sometimes, he wondered if they shouldn't have come at all. The expedition to the secret realm had yielded meager gains, shattered his confidence after his defeat by Xu Sanyan, and ultimately cost so many lives.
A terrible loss...
Knock, knock, knock~
A knock echoed through the courtyard. Luo Qingwei remained motionless, but Fang Qingge shook his head. "Is that Junior Sister Lu? Come in."
Creak—
The wooden door creaked open, revealing Lu Wang's younger sister, Lu Wanzhe.
"Senior Brother Fang, Senior Sister Luo," Lu Wanzhe greeted, noticing the solemn atmosphere in the courtyard. She abandoned her usual haughty demeanor and bowed respectfully.
"What brings you here, Junior Sister?" Fang Qingge asked, his tone implying, If it's nothing important, please leave. He had no interest in flirting at the moment.
Lu Wanzhe clearly understood his meaning. Her expression faltered briefly before she regained her composure, turned, and carefully closed the wooden door behind her. "I've uncovered a secret and came to inform you, Senior Brother."
"A secret?"
Fang Qingge shook his head inwardly. What secret could a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator possibly uncover? Still, he didn't want to dismiss her good intentions outright, so he casually asked, "What secret?"
Lu Wanzhe glanced instinctively at Luo Qingwei, then realized her behavior was inappropriate and quickly corrected herself. "News of what happened in the secret realm has already spread. The Qian Kingdom has dispatched agents to the Chaotic Cloud Mountains to search for Xu Sanyan."
Fang Qingge sighed helplessly. "The secret realm Xu Sanyan possesses is of immense importance. It's only natural that others would covet it."
Although the Imperial Family of Qian Kingdom didn't send representatives to the Hundred Saints Secret Realm this time, they remained a formidable power, rivaling the Five Great Sects and even surpassing them in certain aspects. It was no surprise they had learned of these developments.
Lu Wanzhe's eyes darted around before she slowly spoke, "I heard Princess Zheyun is coming too."
"Hmm?"
Fang Qingge paused, turning to look at her. "What do you mean, Junior Sister?" He had no connection to Princess Zheyun.
"My brother is going to the Chaotic Cloud Mountains, and I'm going too. Are you coming?"
Fang Qingge frowned. "What are you going there for? The Chaotic Cloud Mountains aren't exactly a playground."
The Chaotic Cloud Mountains' reputation for danger far surpassed even that of Three Mountains City.
While Three Mountains City was a melting pot of various factions, the Wei Clan's presence at least maintained a semblance of order. The Chaotic Cloud Mountains, however, were different.
Located on the border of the Qian Kingdom, the mountains bordered the territories of the Harmonious Mountain Praying Dao Sect and the Zuoqiu Clan of Huai Lake. Despite being called the Chaotic Cloud Mountains, they weren't just a single peak but a vast mountain range.
Their expansive reach effectively separated the three major powers—the Qian Kingdom, the Praying Dao Sect, and the Zuoqiu Clan—by a significant distance.
The Chaotic Cloud Mountains were teeming with sects and clans of all sizes, the vast majority of which were demonic cultivators. Chaos reigned supreme, a melting pot of every kind of fiend and rogue.
With her mere Foundation Establishment cultivation level, Lu Wanzhe would be dead before she even knew what hit her. Even Fang Qingge, despite his higher cultivation, wouldn't dare venture there lightly.
Lu Wanzhe pouted, her face flushed with defiance. "If Princess Zheyun can go, why can't I? Besides, I won't be alone—my brother is coming too."
Fang Qingge's frown deepened. Lu Wang's Dao Seeking Mid Stage cultivation might seem impressive, but the demonic cultivators of the Chaotic Cloud Mountains wielded insidious techniques, making them impossible to guard against. A single misstep would mean certain death.
These demonic cultivators cared nothing for the Lu Clan's status. They would kill their victims, vanish into the mountains, and leave even the Five Great Sects powerless to pursue them.
The Chaotic Cloud Mountains were a forbidden zone for righteous path cultivators.
In truth, the mountains weren't entirely beyond eradication. Years ago, the Heaven's Will Demon Subduing Temple, in alliance with the Praying Dao Sect, Source Worship Sect, and the Qian Kingdom, had attempted a decisive strike. But the moment their operation began, they discovered the Chaotic Cloud Mountains were untouchable.
Once the attack began, the demonic cultivators within the Chaotic Cloud Mountains scattered in all directions. A portion of them fled into the Qian Kingdom, where they slaughtered indiscriminately and committed countless atrocities.
This led to widespread chaos along the Qian Kingdom's borders, resulting in countless civilian casualties and the annihilation of numerous smaller sects.
The four major powers immediately halted their assault, realizing that the demonic cultivators needed a place to survive. If pushed to the brink, their desperate actions would leave no one unscathed.
Thus, a tacit agreement was reached: the Chaotic Cloud Mountains became the demonic cultivators' territory, and no further attempts were made to eradicate them.
(End of the Chapter)
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