Chapter 445 - 308: Gathering (Part 2)
Beneath the restaurant, Evil Spirits gathered, their roars unending, yet the figure remained perfectly still.
"Golden Fire! It really is our sect’s Golden Fire!"
Seeing this, Chen Zhanyun exclaimed in a hushed whisper. Beside him, a strange light flickered in He Xijun’s eyes.
There was no doubt it was the Gold and Fire Technique passed down by the Red Heart Sect, but the figure seemed utterly unfamiliar to her. He didn’t match any of the experts she knew in the sect who had mastered Golden Fire.
"What is he doing? Is he trying to attract the Evil Spirits’ attention to wipe them all out in one go?"
Chen Zhanyun couldn’t help but ask.
"No, there’s no need to be so conspicuous just to clear out Evil Spirits. Even the sect’s experts try to conserve as much Primordial Qi as possible inside the Realm. I think he’s doing this for us to see. He wants to get our attention and gather all the nearby survivors."
"Let’s go! There’s no time to lose. We’ll sneak over to the vicinity of Feihong Pavilion immediately. There’s bound to be a clue left behind."
He Xijun said in a low voice, then immediately stood up from the rooftop and stealthily made her way toward the restaurant.
It wasn’t just the two of them. At that very moment, all along Baohe Street, at least three other pairs of eyes were drawn to the figure standing atop the restaurant, wreathed in golden flames. They quickly grasped his intentions and began moving swiftly toward the restaurant as well.
「Meanwhile, at Number 12, Ding Block, Baohe Street.」
This was a residence with two courtyards. Zhuang Li and Qi Ziliang stood inside, looking up at the distant figure on the restaurant.
"Is this really okay?"
A hint of worry appeared in Qi Ziliang’s eyes.
"Don’t worry, these Evil Spirits can’t threaten him. Go on, stick to the plan. If there’s danger, remember to signal us immediately."
Zhuang Li said, pulling her gaze back to Qi Ziliang.
"Alright. You be careful too."
Qi Ziliang nodded. He then activated the Earth Escape Technique, and the light enveloping him grew dimmer. His entire aura and presence faded to a minimum. Then, with a light tap of his foot, he deftly departed the courtyard.
According to their plan, Zhao Xuanqi would act as a conspicuous beacon to draw attention, while Qi Ziliang patrolled the surroundings, watched for danger, and guided survivors unfamiliar with the city to the rendezvous point. Zhuang Li, meanwhile, was responsible for waiting at the rendezvous point to receive them.
Meanwhile, more and more Evil Spirits gathered before Zhao Xuanqi, who stood on the rooftop. He had even disturbed the special Evil Spirit that guarded this city block.
It was a towering monster that looked as if it were stitched together from various body parts. Nearly five meters tall, it had over a dozen gaping mouths grafted onto its body, from which intestine-like appendages extended, thrashing about constantly.
Seeing this, Zhao Xuanqi leaped off the restaurant and bolted into the distance. As he ran, he glanced back at the tide of Evil Spirits in hot pursuit, a slight smile touching his lips.
’No one else is around. Perfect time to harvest a wave of Merit Points.’
...
...
A short while later, He Xijun and Chen Zhanyun were approaching Feihong Pavilion. Although the figure wreathed in Golden Fire had vanished, they quickly discovered clues left around the restaurant.
Carved on the walls of the surrounding streets were several characters.
Number 12, Ding Block, Baohe Street.
’A meeting point?’
He Xijun and Chen Zhanyun exchanged a glance. Both were disciples of the Red Heart Sect and had been active in Guming County recently, so they were quite familiar with the city’s layout.
Without much hesitation, they turned and hurried toward Number 12, Ding Block, Baohe Street.
With most of the Evil Spirits in the area drawn away by Zhao Xuanqi, the two proceeded with caution and soon arrived at Number 12, Ding Block, Baohe Street.
"Please, come into the courtyard for a chat."
A clear, crisp woman’s voice, like the ringing of a silver bell, sounded in their ears. It was the Secret Transmission technique.
Hearing the voice of a living person, the two no longer hesitated and leaped into the residence.
A woman in a white dress stood in the courtyard, watching them with a smile.
Chen Zhanyun didn’t know who she was, only that she had a slender figure and delicate features. Her smile was so pleasant it felt like a spring breeze.
Although the Five Sects of Heqing shared the same renown, they were located in different regions. The Heqing Dao territory was vast, so ordinary disciples didn’t have many opportunities to interact.
He Xijun, however, was different. Though younger than Chen Zhanyun, her talent and background had earned her the favor of the sect elders. They often took her with them on their travels through Heqing Dao, so she was more familiar with the younger generation of the Five Sects, especially the disciples at the Blood Strengthening realm. As a result, she recognized the person before them at a glance.
"Zhuang Li of Miaoyin Hall?!"
He Xijun spoke in a low voice. There weren’t many exceptionally talented female disciples among the Five Sects. As a woman herself, she naturally paid more attention to them, and besides, Zhuang Li was extraordinary in her own right.
By her calculations, this person was a year younger than her, yet after just one year of formal cultivation, she was already at the pinnacle of the Blood Strengthening disciples in Miaoyin Hall. She was practically a favored prodigy within the Hall.
"You’re... He Xijun of the Red Heart Sect?"
Zhuang Li’s expression shifted as she seemed to recall He Xijun’s identity.
"What are you doing here?"
He Xijun asked, taking a deep breath.
They had been investigating the whole way without encountering any other living people, so they had no idea that others from different regions had also been pulled into this Ghost City.
Hearing this, Zhuang Li understood at once that the two of them had also just entered this Realm for the first time. She promptly gave them a brief summary of the information she had.