Liou Yuan’s voice was precise and clear; after finishing, his eyes just quietly watched the young girl before him.
Under Liou Yuan’s gaze, it was obvious that Zhao Feiyue was taken aback after hearing his words.
Her eyes flickered rapidly, as if she rembered sothing, murmuring, "Mr. Liou ans... that scent is the one you warned us about before, the fragrance lingering in the city?"
She recalled that Liou Yuan had asked her and Qiu Ming more than once if they had slled anything strange.
Zhao Feiyue and Qiu Ming’s sense of sll wasn’t as keen as Liou Yuan’s, but they had indeed caught it; still, with so many rotten corpses in the city, they couldn’t make much sense of it.
So they never really paid much attention.
Besides, at that ti, the Star Evil was rampaging through the city, and Zhao Feiyue was focused entirely on exterminating the demons; she was even less likely to care about this matter.
Now, hearing Liou Yuan recite such a story, smart as she was, she imdiately connected the mysterious scent with that recorded in the tale.
Moreover, the story ntioned Jade Sun Pass, whose na matched exactly with Chouhuai City’s forr na, making Liou Yuan’s conjecture all the more credible.
Zhao Feiyue’s expression grew serious as well; it was hard for her to remain calm, and even her voice carried a weight of caution: "Mr. Liou, where did you read this story?"
Liou Yuan leaned in closer, and spoke with a voice only the two of them could hear: "Saw it in the Fifth Peak’s library. I forget which exact book, but as far as I know, there truly is a legend of Qiou Daozi at Five Extres Mountain."
Zhao Feiyue replied softly, "Qiou Daozi is now one of the three Supre Elders."
Liou Yuan froze for a mont, then nodded vigorously, adding, "That makes it all the more certain."
Jade Sun Pass, the strange scent, and Qiou Daozi—these three clues woven together ant the truth was nearly revealed.
The Star Evil that once escaped from Qiou Daozi’s hand was most likely still at Jade Sun Pass, which was now Chouhuai City.
Liou Yuan wasn’t the only one who realized the seriousness of the matter; after thinking deeply, Zhao Feiyue’s face turned pale as well.
Though auspicious stars now hung above, keeping the Star Evil hidden from the world—
Yet that strange scent had begun to spread, proving that the Star Evil who survived Qiou Daozi’s pursuit might awaken at any mont.
Perhaps when the Evil Star rises again, that Star Evil will return to wreak havoc upon the world.
"That’s the Star Evil who escaped even the Supre Elder’s grasp," Liou Yuan was secretly terrified, cold sweat trickling down his back at the realization.
To be a Supre Elder of Five Extres Mountain, Qiou Daozi’s power was surely among the very best.
Even if Qiou Daozi hadn’t reached his current supre cultivation back then, he was already a peerless talent.
The Star Evil that could escape such a figure could never be weak.
"Thankfully, during our ti in Chouhuai City, we haven’t encountered that creature’s awakening," Liou Yuan dared not imagine what would happen if the Star Evil erged.
The Jin Dynasty cultivator and Zhao Zhuoran together might not even be enough for the Star Evil to slaughter.
After all, that’s a Star Evil whose deeds are recorded in the Five Extres Mountain library.
At this mont, Zhao Feiyue could no longer care about others’ gazes; she leaned in and said quietly to Liou Yuan, "Co with !"
With that, she stood up abruptly.
"Alright!" Liou Yuan instantly understood Zhao Feiyue’s intent, nodding vigorously, and stood up as well.
He cupped his hands silently to Miss Lai and the other Five Extres Mountain disciples, following Zhao Feiyue without a word.
Leaving behind the bewildered crowd of disciples from Five Extres Mountain, Qiu Ming couldn’t resist shouting after Liou Yuan, "Where are you two off to!"
"We’ll be back soon!" Zhao Feiyue called back casually.
"You all carry on."
As they spoke, Liou Yuan and Zhao Feiyue’s figures transford into two streaks of flowing light, vanishing from the restaurant.
The Five Extres Mountain disciples hadn’t figured out what happened between them, or why they left so abruptly.
Lv Jifeng’s group, especially the elder cultivator who ntioned Jade Sun Pass, tasted sothing in the air and smiled knowingly at the Five Extres Mountain disciples: "Young folks, who hasn’t been young?"
Miss Lai blinked, then broke into a smile and replied quickly, "Well said."
The other Five Extres Mountain disciples caught on, their faces aglow with understanding.
Only two or three younger disciples showed signs of regret in their eyes.
A girl of exceptional background, looks, and talent—who wouldn’t have thoughts about her? But now, it seed soone else had gotten there first.
Liou Yuan never expected that his actions with Zhao Feiyue would cause such a misunderstanding.
But even realizing it, he had no ti for such concerns; what lay before him now was far more important.
He activated Treading Flowing Waves, following Zhao Feiyue swiftly deeper into the governnt offices.
On the way, Zhao Feiyue, intentionally or not, unleashed her Thunder Acupoint Body Skill to the fullest, her figure nearly subrged in thunder, her speed slightly surpassing Liou Yuan’s.
Along the way, she glanced back at Liou Yuan, her eyes carrying a teasing challenge, perfectly matching her youthful competitiveness.
"Hey!" Liou Yuan caught her intent and grinned broadly.
Yet he had no desire to compete, keeping a steady pace, neither hurried nor slow.
This left Zhao Feiyue bored and forced her to slow down, walking side by side with Liou Yuan.
Before long, guided by Zhao Feiyue, Liou Yuan arrived at a passage leading deep underground within the governnt offices.
Just like in Yanhe City, Chouhuai City’s governnt office had underground chambers; here was the core of the barrier protecting Chouhuai City.
Outside the passage, a barrier shielded the way, its color matching that of Chouhuai City’s defensive array.
Liou Yuan and Zhao Feiyue’s current strength was nowhere near enough to break through it.
Fortunately, Zhao Feiyue produced a Thousand-Mile Ear Jade Scroll to transmit a ssage inside.
Very soon, a gap opened in the barrier.
"Let’s go!" Led by Zhao Feiyue, Liou Yuan followed closely behind her and stepped inside.
The passage ended in a secret chamber about twenty yards in diater; its floor and walls were covered in dense array lines, glowing with crimson radiance.
At the center of the chamber, Liou Yuan saw Five Extres Mountain Protector Zhao Zhuoran standing with an elderly man whose hair was all white.
The two of them held Array Discs, checking various points of the array, likely conducting the last finishing touches.
Once inspection was complete and there were no mistakes, Zhao Zhuoran would lead all his disciples away.
Foundation Establishnt Great Cultivators were exceptionally perceptive; they sensed Liou Yuan and Zhao Feiyue’s approach long before they entered the chamber.
As Liou Yuan walked in with Zhao Feiyue, Zhao Zhuoran’s stern gaze swept toward them.
"Liou Yuan, disciple of Fifth Peak’s Outer Sect, pays respect to Mr. Zhao the Protector! Greetings, honored elder!" Liou Yuan did not dare slack, properly bowing to Zhao Zhuoran and the Jin Dynasty Foundation Establishnt Cultivator.
Zhao Zhuoran nodded, his deep-set eyes glancing at Zhao Feiyue. She hurried forward and whispered a few words in his ear.
Though Zhao Feiyue deliberately lowered her voice, it couldn’t escape the Jin Dynasty elder’s notice.
Upon hearing, the elder’s ruddy face was suddenly filled with astonishnt, but before he could speak—
"Let’s discuss outside." Zhao Zhuoran said lightly, sweeping his broad sleeves and enveloping Zhao Feiyue and Liou Yuan, vanishing from the array’s core.
The Jin Dynasty elder no longer cared for the array and quickly followed along.
In a relatively intact underground chamber—
Zhao Zhuoran and the Jin Dynasty Foundation Establishnt elder sat upon stone stools, listening with solemn faces as Liou Yuan and Zhao Feiyue reported below.
The two took turns explaining all the stories and deductions they’d shared in the restaurant to the two Foundation Establishnt Great Cultivators.
Liou Yuan naturally also recounted the passage he had read in the Five Peak library.
The Jin Dynasty cultivator listened, his brows furrowing even deeper, getting up from his stone stool to pace back and forth a few steps, then turned to Zhao Zhuoran: "Before Chouhuai City was built, this place was indeed called Jade Sun Pass."
Zhao Zhuoran nodded and spoke out what he knew as well: "Qiou Daozi is indeed a Supre Elder of Five Extres Mountain, and that is certain."
"Ti, place, clues, and people all match."
"Thus, the conjecture of these two juniors is likely true."
Liou Yuan’s purpose for coming here with Zhao Feiyue was chiefly to report this major matter upwards.
The rest of how to handle it was not his place to say.
He imdiately fell silent, quietly watching the two Foundation Establishnt Cultivators seated above.
Zhao Zhuoran was a senior from Zhao Feiyue’s family, so she had little reason to worry and earnestly said, "Mr. Liou slled that strange scent on our first day in Chouhuai City."
"It didn’t fade until Weixiu took his turn."
"Which suggests that the Star Evil recorded in ancient texts was awakened during five consecutive turns of evil influences."
"It could revive at any mont; the next evil influence may well be the ti."
"Second Grandpa, Mr. Sun, we must prepare early."
Only then did Liou Yuan realize the Jin Dynasty Foundation Establishnt cultivator was surnad Sun.
Sun grabbed his own hair, almost twisting his head of white hair into a rope, grousing, "How exactly do we prepare? A Star Evil that’s survived hundreds of years isn’t so easy to find."
"The array was just repaired, and now another terrifying Star Evil cos along."
"I shouldn’t have co out this ti—so much troubleso business."
Zhao Zhuoran was much calr; after all, he was just assigned to support the Jin Dynasty, and to put it plainly, the fate of Chouhuai City had little to do with him.
He offered Sun a pragmatic suggestion: "In the current situation, the safest option is to abandon Chouhuai City and evacuate its people."
"Otherwise, once it awakens, there won’t be a single living soul left in the city."
Sun rubbed his brow, helplessly replying, "I can’t make decisions about city evacuation; that’s up to the Prefect of Jiangyang Prefecture."
"If we report it now, it’s still not too late," Zhao Ruoran said calmly.
Sun could only nod in agreent.
Liou Yuan then noticed Sun’s eyes flicker, lips moving as if speaking, but Liou Yuan could not hear a sound.
"It must be divine sense transmission to Mr. Zhao," Liou Yuan understood instantly.
As for their conversation, he couldn’t know; he could only wait patiently.
After a while, Zhao Zhuoran nodded.
Sun looked relieved, politely cupping his hands to Zhao Zhuoran, expressing gratitude: "Thank you, Mr. Zhao. You surely won’t be working for nothing; I will report this honestly, and you won’t lack reward."
"Five Extres Mountain and Jin Dynasty are neighbors—a natural alliance. Mr. Sun, no need for such courtesy."
Even Liou Yuan could tell Zhao Zhuoran’s words were re formalities; whatever reward there was, Zhao Zhuoran would surely take all that was due.
Yet, judging from Sun and Mr. Zhao’s expressions, Liou Yuan could roughly guess what the two had just discussed.
"Simply put, because of the Star Evil, Mr. Sun must have requested Mr. Zhao’s assistance."
So Liou Yuan thought.
Sure enough, soon Liou Yuan heard Zhao Zhuoran’s voice addressed to himself and Zhao Feiyue: "Return to Five Extres Mountain will be delayed for now; Chouhuai City is empty within and needs our support."
"Yes!" Liou Yuan and Zhao Feiyue naturally would not object—they could only nod obediently.
Liou Yuan’s eyes began to swirl with sches again.
"Looks like Mr. Zhao will be stationed at Chouhuai City for a while."
This was not a bad thing for Liou Yuan, but quite the opposite—a great opportunity.
Because his Fixed Star Compass would be fully charged in seven or eight days.
"Maybe I can find the Star Evil’s location! Then, with the Fixed Star Compass..." Liou Yuan’s mind instantly beca lively.
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