Lu Zaiye, who was easily seen through at first glance, suddenly became unfathomable in Shangguan Yuquan's eyes. His probing divine sense fell upon him as if a stone sinking into the sea, without causing even a ripple.
Shangguan Yuquan's eyes flickered, the smile on his face gradually receding. He scrutinized Lu Zaiye with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.
"Who exactly are you?"
Even the top three in the Chuqiao Grand Competition would not possess such formidable strength.
However, Lu Zaiye had no intention of answering him. Although his seal had been removed, he had to deal with Shangguan Yuquan quickly, otherwise, the suppressed lightning power within his body would erupt again.
He cast a faint glance at Shangguan Yuquan, raised his right hand, and sent forth a beam of spiritual light.
This was not the first time Lu Zaiye had used this move, but it gave Shangguan Yuquan a completely different sensation.
Shangguan Yuquan felt as if all his senses were captivated by this beam of light, and his body froze in place, unable to move a single step.
His heart screamed for him to flee, but in the end, he could only watch helplessly as the spiritual light entered his body.
"Ah!!!"
A heart-rending wail erupted, and Shangguan Yuquan's body began to disintegrate inch by inch from his feet upwards.
His expression contorted, and a line of blood tears streamed down his face.
Until his last moment of life, he could not comprehend why the situation had reversed so suddenly.
Lu Zaiye watched Shangguan Yuquan's figure disappear bit by bit before his eyes. His brow twitched slightly, and his sharp gaze swept backward.
In the shadows, Wan Yanxue's breathing hitched, her watery, misty eyes filled with profound astonishment.
She had seen everything that had just transpired.
She had left, but she had returned later.
At the last moment, she had still chosen to come back.
After all, she had received the most orthodox teachings and possessed her own principles and dignity. She could not overcome the moral hurdle, so she had turned back. She had been lurking here, intending to launch a sneak attack when Shangguan Yuquan was distracted.
However, she had not expected to witness a scene that overturned her entire understanding.
Shangguan Yuquan, who had rendered her completely defenseless, had not even lasted a single move against Lu Zaiye, vanishing into thin air. Such immense power!
For some inexplicable reason, her heart felt a surge of excitement, and her cheeks flushed slightly.
But when her meaningful gaze met Lu Zaiye's indifferent one, she trembled as if doused with a basin of cold water, causing her to rapidly calm down.
"I didn't just..."
Her red lips parted slightly as she attempted to explain, but Lu Zaiye was unwilling to give her the opportunity.
Lu Zaiye let out a cold snort, and her eyes dimmed instantly, losing consciousness.
As she fell to the ground, a crystal-clear tear slowly trickled from the corner of her eye.
Lu Zaiye looked in Wan Yanxue's direction, a cold glint flashing in his deep eyes.
He pondered for a moment, then flicked his finger, sending a beam of spiritual light into Wan Yanxue's body. He then paid her no further mind, turning his thoughts to how he should smooth over the situation.
If no one else, Xu Yi alone was quick-witted. Without a perfect reason, Xu Yi would surely become suspicious of him.
However, he considered several explanations, all of which seemed to have loopholes.
Perhaps...
A subtle glint flashed in his eyes, and he slowly closed them, mimicking Xu Yi and the others by lying on the ground.
This way, he would no longer need to rack his brains for an explanation.
With his eyes closed, a faint smile curved Lu Zaiye's lips.
One day later.
Xu Yi slowly regained consciousness. Her eyes still held a trace of confusion. Moments later, she reacted and sprang up from the ground.
Then, she saw the people lying all over the ground.
They weren't dead?
Xu Yi pinched her thigh, disbelievingly, and then grinned with a wince.
But after the smile, her heart was filled with suspicion.
She spread her divine sense. Shangguan Yuquan was long gone. As for Wan Yanxue, who was not far from her, she was inexplicably evading her divine sense's perception.
Within her senses, besides them, there was no one else.
Xu Yi stroked her chin. Shangguan Yuquan had descended into demonic ways; he wouldn't have had a change of heart at the last moment and spared them, but why had he left?
Xu Yi's gaze swept around again, unwilling to give up. She then suddenly spotted a slightly reflective piece of glass not far ahead.
She stepped forward and picked it up. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was a fragment of a mirror.
It was a fragment from that eighth-level magical treasure mirror.
Xu Yi became even more perplexed.
Although they had dealt with the demonic creature that emerged from the mirror earlier, the mirror had not been damaged. Yet now, the mirror was shattered.
What had happened while they were unconscious?
Xu Yi's confusion was destined to remain unresolved for now. A few hours later, the others gradually woke up, their faces also wearing the same bewilderment.
Lu Zaiye's acting was slightly inferior; when he feigned waking up, his expression was blank, but Xu Yi was accustomed to his stoic demeanor and didn't notice anything amiss.
"No matter what happened, I suggest we check the situation at the blood pool first."
After everyone had woken up, Xu Yi voiced her thoughts.
If they wanted to leave this place, they had to go to the blood pool. It would also allow them to ascertain Shangguan Yuquan's whereabouts.
"Let me go."
Xiong Zhuang clenched his fists, his face resolute, guilt lingering in his eyes.
Even now, he believed Wan Yanxue had abandoned them, which made him feel ashamed.
Therefore, he was determined to atone for the disgrace brought by Wan Yanxue.
"No, I'll go. You all wait here for me."
Xu Yi vetoed him immediately.
She understood Xiong Zhuang's feelings, but the situation was special. Only she could see clearly the scene beneath the blood pool, so she had to be the one to go.
"But..."
Xiong Zhuang opened his mouth, wanting to say something anxiously, but under Xu Yi's gaze, he could only let out a sigh of resignation.
He wearily wiped his face and said in a deep voice, "Be careful."
"Mm." Xu Yi nodded at him, holding her breath to set off, but was stopped by Bai Shan.
"Sister Xu, I'll go with you. Two people will have each other's backs."
In the dim light, Xu Yi felt that Bai Shan's fair, round face seemed to have become considerably thinner. Thinking of their experiences during this time, she couldn't help but say tenderly, "No need. You stay here with Feng Qingyang and take care of Bei Xinghan. I'll be back soon."
Bai Shan and Bei Xinghan, who had a fractured arm, exchanged a glance and then simultaneously turned their heads away.
Who wants to take care of him / Who wants him to take care of them!
Xu Yi chuckled again, nodded at Lu Zaiye, and then swiftly disappeared into the darkness.
When Xu Yi reached the blood pool, it was as calm as when they had first arrived.
The only difference was a circular opening above the blood pool.
It was the exit!
Xu Yi's eyes lit up, but she didn't rush forward. Instead, she confirmed that there were no ambushes around before stepping forward, standing in mid-air above the blood pool.
She leaned down to look, and the blood pool remained still.
The uncomfortable feeling that had afflicted her before was also gone.
Only now did she truly believe that Shangguan Yuquan had left this place.