Chapter 329: Intense Crisis

"Play if you will, but you must not damage the furnishings in the guest room," Yuan Yao warned them.

They immediately complied.

Yuan Yao stopped bothering them and instead continued to study the Spirit-Pattern Puppet Technique with full concentration.

The spirit-pattern totems in the Spirit-Pattern Puppet Technique are also divided into low, middle, and high tiers.

Low‑tier spirit patterns can bind the actions of the target.

Middle‑tier spirit patterns allow simple manipulations of the target.

High‑tier spirit patterns enable complex manipulations of the target.

Following the method described in the book, Yuan Yao began practicing drawing the spirit‑pattern totems.

During that time, the three little ones were quite rowdy.

Yuan Yao would occasionally spare them a bit of attention, but after seeing they caused no damage, she let them be.

About an hour later, the door was knocked.

The visitor turned out to be her own Eldest Senior Brother.

"Would you like a meal?" Song Yan asked softly.

"Eldest Senior Brother, I'm not hungry," Yuan Yao shook her head.

Song Yan said, "It's snowing heavily outside; rest well tonight. If you wish to go out, just call me."

Yuan Yao nodded with a smile, "Understood, Eldest Senior Brother."

After seeing Eldest Senior Brother off, Yuan Yao closed the door.

She moved to the window, a thin chill slithering over her skin like a poisonous snake; she reached out and slowly pushed the window open, letting wind and snow pour in through the gap. She didn't close it right away, but instead gazed down at the street through the opening.

The street was brightly lit.

People still braved the wind and snow on the street, coming and going, while pure white flakes drifted onto them like willow catkins.

The scene was stunning, a sight she had never seen in the Ninth Province.

She suddenly recalled the person she had seen earlier that day.

Why had he come here?

Could it also be for the treasure hidden in the Heaven Snow Mountain Range?

This time, he came not as "Xie Zixu" but under the name "Xie Yan"...

Yuan Yao pressed her lips together.

As she was about to close the window, a figure appeared on the street: a youth holding an umbrella, wearing a ghost‑mask, clad in a thin white robe. He slowly lifted his head and stared at her location.

Yuan Yao, expressionless, shut the window outright.

Blocking his view.

Yuan Yao turned her back, took a deep breath, sat down again, and resumed practicing the Spirit‑Pattern Puppet Technique.

She had intended to push his image from her mind, yet the 250 System's voice insisted on speaking now: 【Target person Xie Yan, Awakening Value -29.】

Yuan Yao's brow twitched.

【Please, Host, complete the conquest task promptly.】 The 250 System, sensing Yuan Yao lacked any intent to conquer a target, issued the reminder.

Yuan Yao: "……"

In recent days she had indeed been slacking, never actively completing a conquest of any target.

Yuan Yao suddenly thought of Lu Xiangxiang and Xu Yan Zhi, and a strong sense of crisis surged within her.

Only by conquering one hundred million targets could she personally resolve the male and female protagonists.

She now conceived a method to finish the conquest quickly.

She decided to employ Nightmare Technique on the targets, sending them into Nightmare Space for self‑reflection and awakening.

With that thought, she began executing the conquest plan.

She sat cross‑legged on the bed, closed her eyes, and began gathering spiritual energy, carefully spreading it outward beyond the guest room.

She avoided Hua Chengyan and the other two as much as possible.

The other guests in the inn were soon, without awareness, invaded by Yuan Yao into their seas of consciousness, and they quickly felt drowsy.

Before long, they fell into a deep sleep.

Their consciousnesses were drawn into their own Nightmare Space.

The nightmare reflected the secrets hidden deep within their hearts.

So this was also the best way for them to self‑reflect.

Meanwhile, Hua Chengyan in the guest room seemed to sense something, raising an eyebrow slightly.

After one night.

250 System: 【Target persons Shen Feiwen, Li Wu, Liang Yueling, Feng Jianer, Awakening Value reached 50. Congratulations, Host, you have earned a four‑day lifespan reward.】

When the four awoke in their respective rooms, they found the dream from last night unusually vivid, still fresh in mind, and they furrowed their brows, recalling past events.

Their thoughts, like a lake brushed by spring breezes, suddenly cleared.

Shen Feiwen knew he could not risk entering the peril‑filled Heaven Snow Mountain Range for that illusory treasure, so he resolutely chose to check out, turned, and left Snow City.

Li Wu wept bitterly, also checked out, and prepared to head home to mourn his father, whom he had angered to death.

Liang Yueling realized she could not chase Feng Jianer into the dragon‑pond, tiger‑cave like Heaven Snow Mountain Range; she suddenly felt the sky within her was better suited for becoming a formation master who would awe the Eighth Continent. After waving farewell to Feng Jianer, she hurried out of Snow City, setting out on the path back to her sect.

Feng Jianer, at the moment Liang Yueling left, suddenly awoke to realize she was more precious to him than any unattainable treasure. Thus, he followed her footsteps and left Snow City.

In the inn's main hall, Hua Chengyan watched the four depart one by one, deep in thought.

Hua Chengyan withdrew his gaze and asked the Grand Elder beside him, "How much longer until they arrive?"

The Grand Elder whispered, "If nothing goes wrong, they will reach Snow City before evening arrives."

Hua Chengyan gave a slight nod.

At that moment, a party arrived outside the inn, led by a youth dressed in a bind‑waist black robe, with a string of crystal‑clear blue tassels hanging from each ear, and his short, choppy hair slightly covering his eyebrows.

His gaze instantly fell on Hua Chengyan, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, and he said, "Yo, Young Master Hua is also here, what a coincidence."

Hua Chengyan's expression remained unchanged, and he gave a slight smile while nodding toward him.

"Young Master Nie."

The short‑haired youth was Nie Bai; he turned his head toward the inn's manager and asked, "Are there any rooms left?"

The manager, hearing this, hurriedly replied, "Sorry, sir, our inn is fully booked."

Nie Bai, hearing this, lifted the corner of his mouth and, in a dandy manner, looked at Hua Chengyan.

"Young Master Hua, you really are wealthy and generous, having booked the entire inn."

Hua Chengyan smiled without replying.

Finding it uninteresting, Nie Bai led the Nie family party away from the inn and went to the nearby inn to reserve a room.

The Elder frowned and said, "Young Master, Nie Bai's purpose this time is certainly to obtain the treasure in the Snowy Mountains. I fear …"

"Fear what?"

"I fear he has already guessed that we have obtained the Treasure Map."

Hua Chengyan knew that Nie Bai was a reckless scoundrel; he realized that next, he would surely lead the Nie family party to cling to the Flower Sect like a leech.

He lowered his lashes, picked up the teacup, and took a light sip.