Chapter 466

Hu Sanmei is in seclusion, but Hu Yulin is still in Jiǔyàn qū; I signaled Li Qingying to quickly contact them, to have Hu Yulin return to Yin Mountain as soon as possible.

"The Soul-Banner cannot be withdrawn for now," Tang Xun said, "the enemy may try to drain all the Spiritual Qi of Wangting Mountain before relocating their position; the Soul-Banner suppresses the life aperture, which can temporarily protect this mountain range."

Wangting Mountain is quite large; if a mountain range like this loses all its Spiritual Qi, it would be a catastrophe for the living beings on the mountain and the surrounding populace.

Yu Nian immediately said, "Aunt Tang, I'll do whatever you say; tell me when to retrieve the Soul-Banner, and I'll go get it then."

Huicheng is Yu Nian's greatest concern; she most hopes nothing goes wrong there.

Tang Xun again inquired about Yu Nian's condition; upon learning she had no serious issues for the time being, she relaxed: "I'm watching over Wangting Mountain; rest assured, I'll inform you immediately of any changes."

After hanging up, Yu Nian began to feel somewhat uneasy; at this moment, she almost wished she could return to Huicheng immediately.

Li Qingying explained the situation of Wangting Mountain to Hu Yulin, but Hu Yulin was not tense: "Rest easy, the deployments inside and out of Yin Mountain are as tight as a drum; they want to seize the mountain? Dream on!"

Nevertheless, having said that, Hu Yulin still went back to Yin Mountain.

Just like that, another day passed.

After lunch on the ninth day, Yu Nian suddenly felt unwell, she could barely catch her breath, and her face took on a deathly pallor.

Our first reaction was to wonder if her body was experiencing rejection.

But more than ten days have passed; if rejection were going to happen, it would have happened already, not wait until now.

Yu Nian shook her head and told us, "It's not a problem with my body itself; it might be related to the Soul-Banner—I feel a continuous force impacting the Soul-Banner."

I quickly called Tang Xun again, but no one answered.

Until after three o'clock, Tang Xun called me back: "Xiao Jiu, something's off—since this afternoon, the withered trees on Wangting Mountain have gradually begun to revive, and an unknown force ripples around the whole mountain; we're investigating."

Yu Nian could wait no longer; she had to return to Huicheng no matter what.

In the end, I had no choice but to drive Yu Nian; she agreed to go take a look, and if nothing was serious she would immediately come back with me.

Unexpectedly, as the car just entered Huicheng's territory, Fang Chuanzong's call came in; I pulled over and answered.

But the voice on the other end was Liu Junyan's.

"Xiao Jiu, I can't return for now," Liu Junyan said, "I just got the first Golden Scale, and the second Golden Scale has given feedback; I must rush over immediately, and I promise to be home before the fifteenth."

I anxiously asked, "Where is the second Golden Scale? Is it far from Jiangcheng?"

"Not far," Liu Junyan said, "Fang Lao's troops will go with me; Xiao Jiu, I have help, so don't worry."

After thinking, I didn't ask further: "Āyàn, stay safe; I'll wait for you to come home."

Liu Junyan gave me a few more reminders then hung up.

I restarted the car, and by the time I saw Tang Xun, the sky was completely dark.

After a quick bite, we went to Wangting Mountain together with Tang Xun.

We had originally planned to go straight to the life aperture; no matter what happened, Yu Nian had to first summon the Soul-Banner back.

But as soon as we reached the back of the mountain, we noticed something was off.

The entire Wangting Mountain was shrouded in a thin layer of mist.

Mist rising from the mountain is nothing unusual, but what surprised us was that the edge of this mist seemed to faintly contain a layer of golden light.

Tang Xun had just noticed it as well: "What's going on? Where does this golden light come from?"

My heart gave a sudden jolt; I immediately looked around, as if trying to confirm something.

Indeed, I was checking… whether Liu Junyan had also come to Wangting Mountain!

That hint of golden light hidden in Wangting Mountain's mist instantly reminded me of the scene where Niuhu Mountain was enveloped by the Merit Light of the Golden Scale.

Liu Junyan also said the second Golden Scale had given feedback… could it really be such a coincidence?

Just then, someone came running up and quietly reported to Tang Xun: "There's movement inside Wangting Mountain; it sounds like people are fighting in Furong Cave."

Tang Xun startled: "Do you know who is fighting whom?"

The messenger shook his head: "Both sides have considerable cultivation; we dare not approach rashly, lest we scare the snake."

"It might be Liu Junyan and her group!" I immediately decided, "Regardless, we have to go check it out!"

Originally, I helped Liu Mu retrieve the inner elixir from Furong Cave.

This Furong Cave surely hides great secrets.

Tang Xun assigned a few people to Yu Nian: "Ah Nian, take your team straight to the life aperture, do your utmost to guard the Soul-Banner, and follow my signal."

Yu Nian immediately responded and left.

Tang Xun and I led our people up Wangting Mountain, step by step approaching Furong Cave.

Soon my guess was confirmed—indeed, it was Liu Junyan and her group who had arrived.

Among those guarding outside Furong Cave, I recognized Fang Chuanzong's subordinates.

They obviously recognized us as well and immediately came forward to meet us.

After some questioning, it turned out indeed: the second Golden Scale rushed into Wangting Mountain riding a strand of Dragon Qi.

As the Dragon Qi entered the mountain, the range that was about to wither came back to life; the dead wood seemed to meet spring, sprouting vitality anew.

When we entered Furong Cave, the fight was already nearing its end.

Intermittent coughing sounds came from within the cave; I frowned—could it be Liu Zhengfeng?

Inside Furong Cave there is a deep pool; Liu Zhengfeng was lying prone at its edge, holding a handkerchief over his mouth as he coughed.

Liu Junyan stood at the pool's edge, with Fang Chuanzong also present.

Hearing the commotion, both turned their heads to look at us at the same time.

Liu Junyan exclaimed in surprise, "Xiao Jiu, how did you end up here?"

I hadn't expected it to be such a coincidence either!

"I'm accompanying my senior sister back to retrieve the Soul-Banner." I glanced at Liu Zhengfeng, then turned my gaze to Liu Junyan and asked, "Have you obtained the Golden Scale?"

Liu Junyan said, "Almost there; the Golden Scale is in the deep pool."

Liu Zhengfeng finally managed to stop coughing, his scrutinizing gaze fixed on me, then he suddenly laughed: "You think you've won? Hah, impossible! The mark etched into your bones, fused into your blood, you can never shake it off! Just wait—no one will have the last laugh!"

His emotions were too agitated; after saying just a few sentences, Liu Zhengfeng coughed even more violently.

Under the Water Surface, patches of bright red actually began to ripple.

It's blood!

It was only then that I realized the part of Liu Zhengfeng hidden underwater was not a human body, but…… a snake tail stripped of skin, dripping with fresh blood……

Where is his skin?

Didn't he just shed his skin? He should have grown new skin by now!

I was about to step forward, but Liu Junyan grabbed me: "Don't get close, it's dangerous, Xiao Jiu—what are you trying to do?"

I reminded him: "Totem."

A fierce palm wind swept past in an instant, Liu Zhengfeng's upper body was flung into the water, his collar torn open, revealing the spot I wanted to see.

There, there was nothing……