Chronicles of Heaven's Chosen - Chapter 63

Yuan Yao stared at him. “What?”

“Remember to pay me back.” Cang Li patted her shoulder.

“I won’t.” Yuan Yao smiled.

“…No.” Cang Li’s tone was firm. “This is not open to negotiation.”

With that, he rose and looked into the distance.

“We can’t fly directly over the next two cities on our swords. We’ll have to pass through them.”

“Then let’s go,” Yuan Yao said.

They walked onward side by side.

About three hours later, they passed through Yuyang City and arrived at the gates of the second city—Yushan City.

Yushan City was heavily guarded, and a grim, oppressive atmosphere hung over its gates.

Just then, a group dressed in identical clothing approached from nearby.

Yuan Yao and Cang Li instinctively looked over. Every member of the group wore striking yellow-and-white robes. At their head walked a middle-aged man with a rectangular face, stern brows, and tightly pressed lips. Worry seemed to weigh heavily on him.

A group of young disciples followed close behind.

Cang Li immediately recognized the middle-aged man as Feng Degang, an Inner Sect Elder of the Chongxu Sect.

Feng Degang naturally saw Cang Li and Yuan Yao as well. He paused, then swept his gaze around. When he found no other Xiaoyao Sect disciples nearby, surprise flickered through him.

Cang Li lowered his voice and explained to Yuan Yao, “They’re from the Chongxu Sect. The man leading them is Feng Degang, one of their Inner Sect Elders.”

The Chongxu Sect?

Yuan Yao immediately thought of the two men she had forced to awaken in the Wuduan Secret Realm: Zhang Zhengchu and Gongshan Yongyuan.

They, too, belonged to the Chongxu Sect.

As always, System 250 announced the targets among the newcomers and their Awakening Values inside her sea of consciousness.

Feng Degang led the group toward them.

Cang Li and Yuan Yao cupped their hands in greeting.

“Are you also going to Yunming City?” Feng Degang asked.

Cang Li smiled. “Yes.”

Feng Degang frowned. “The Xiaoyao Sect sent only the two of you?”

“No.” Cang Li shook his head, then asked, “Elder Feng, do you know the latest situation in Yunming City?”

Feng Degang glanced at him but made no attempt to hide what he knew.

“Every group that entered Yunming City fell unconscious within a day. Some of the residents who succumbed earliest have already died in their sleep. When they died, their faces were deathly pale, their lips bloodless, and their eyes shut. Yet no one could have imagined what would be found beneath their eyelids. Their eyeballs were gone, leaving only two black, empty sockets.”

Bizarre.

Horrifying.

Feng Degang continued gravely, “Yunming City is now engulfed in black fog. It has severed all contact between the city and the outside world. We must find a way to break this deadlock.”

The moment he finished, someone hurried out from Yushan City.

The man in charge cupped his hands and asked respectfully, “Are you Elder Feng of the Chongxu Sect?”

Feng Degang nodded.

“Elder Feng, please.” The man stepped aside, bent slightly at the waist, and gestured for him to enter.

Feng Degang was about to leave when something occurred to him. He looked at Cang Li and Yuan Yao.

“They are from the Xiaoyao Sect.”

“The Xiaoyao Sect?” The man was startled. Only then did he look properly at the youth and young woman beside them, his gaze carrying a trace of scrutiny.

Both wore white robes and possessed exceptionally striking appearances. They looked no older than fourteen to sixteen.

The youth smiled and cupped his hands. “I am Cang Li of the Xiaoyao Sect, a disciple of Immortal Lord Qianshan.”

At the name Immortal Lord Qianshan, the man’s attitude immediately warmed.

“So you are a distinguished disciple of Immortal Lord Qianshan. Please come in. Representatives of the various sects have already gathered at the City Lord’s Estate to discuss Yunming City.”

Cang Li smiled and nodded. “Very well.”

“And this is…?” The man looked at Yuan Yao and asked tentatively.

“My Little Junior Sister,” Cang Li answered.

The man instantly lost interest in learning more.

Yuan Yao, Cang Li, and the Chongxu Sect group entered Yushan City together.

The city was noticeably quieter than usual.

Several young men in the Chongxu Sect group kept stealing glances at Yuan Yao, their youthful hearts stirring.

【Target Meng Xingwen’s Awakening Value has reached 10.】

【Targets Ke Feihong and Yan Xueyi have reached an Awakening Value of 8.】

【Target Pan Shi’s Awakening Value has reached 7.】

Yuan Yao froze at System 250’s sudden announcements. Frowning slightly, she looked back at the Chongxu Sect disciples.

When she turned, the young men who had been secretly watching her flushed hot. Their gazes darted away in panic.

Yuan Yao faced forward again and asked System 250 within her sea of consciousness, “Why did their Awakening Values rise? I didn’t do anything.”

System 250 replied, 【Whenever a target deviates from the role originally assigned to them, their Awakening Value will increase.】

Yuan Yao considered those words carefully and quickly grasped the key point.

“Were these men originally supposed to be in love with the female lead, Lu Xiangxiang?”

【That is correct, Host,】 System 250 confirmed. It continued, 【Host, you may take advantage of your exceptional beauty to win over the targets.】

Yuan Yao refused without hesitation. “No.”

System 250 fell silent. 【…】

Beyond the vermilion gates of the City Lord’s Estate, a vast courtyard opened before them, filled with disciples from various sects mingling in small groups.

Yuan Yao looked around curiously. Walking beside Cang Li, she asked, “Third Senior Brother, which sect does that group in black fighting clothes belong to?”

“The Severed Affections Sect.” Cang Li glanced over. After a pause, he added, “Every one of them is a sword cultivator.”

The disciples of the Severed Affections Sect also noticed Cang Li and Yuan Yao.

They exchanged glances and recognized him.

“He became the disciple of a great sword cultivator, yet instead of cultivating the sword, he practices with a spear. What a joke,” a young man said with a mocking edge.

“Exactly. What a waste of a spot!”

Yuan Yao poked Cang Li’s shoulder. “Third Senior Brother, are they talking about you?”

“No,” Cang Li replied without expression.

When the Severed Affections Sect disciples saw no reaction from him, they assumed he was too ashamed to respond. Their smugness swelled, and their voices rose even louder.

“Of all the Immortal Lord’s disciples, he’s the weakest! Who knows how someone like him became the Immortal Lord’s disciple?”

“That’s not quite right. Didn’t the Immortal Lord also accept a hopeless female disciple? I hear she spends every day loafing around and stuffing her face. She’s a piece of rotten wood beyond carving…”

Before the speaker could finish, a clear hum rang out.

A black spear materialized from thin air and hurtled toward him with the speed of lightning.

The man’s expression changed. He hastily raised a defense, but the spear shattered it the next instant and drove unstoppably into his shoulder.

An anguished scream tore through the entire courtyard of the City Lord’s Estate.

“Aaaagh!”