Pausing, he examined the loose earth closely and soon spotted a corner of brown fabric peeking out from beneath the rose roots.
His expression darkened.
Moving his foot aside, he used his scabbard to brush away some of the loose soil, revealing more of the brown fabric.
-All disciples of the Poison Sect wore such brown short jackets.
Recalling Zhang Qing’s mention of two Poison Sect disciples who had been “killed by thieves” earlier that day, he understood what had happened.
After restoring the disturbed soil, Mu Congyun glanced at the unnaturally vibrant roses and suppressed his aura even further, proceeding with extreme caution toward the main house.
No lights were on inside, but faint rustling sounds could be heard, like the whisper of leaves brushing against each other.
But how could there be the sound of rustling leaves indoors?
Mu Congyun stealthily climbed onto the roof and cast a Water Mirror spell.
The scene reflected in the circular mirror made him hold his breath-the interior of the house was no longer recognizable, overrun with wild rose vines.
Thick stems covered in thorns stretched inward from all sides, converging to protect a pure white cocoon at the center.
And the black-and-red butterflies Mu Congyun had been unable to find outside were now densely perched upon the rose branches.
Their wings spread at identical angles, fluttering in perfect unison.
Meanwhile, the white cocoon at the center-no larger than a human palm-bulged outward intermittently in sync with the butterflies’ wingbeats, as though something inside was gathering strength to break free.
Mu Congyun watched intently, but suddenly, he felt a gaze piercing through the Water Mirror, locking onto him.
Startled, fearing his presence had been detected, he traced the source of the gaze and, through the gaps in the tangled vines, spotted a pair of eyes.
The eyes blinked repeatedly, as if trying to convey some message.
After studying them for a long moment, Mu Congyun recognized the person from the visible clothing and the single pair of eyes—it was Baili Zhen.
Had he not been completely controlled by Madam Liu?
Mu Congyun’s heart was filled with shock and doubt as he turned his gaze back to the cocoon.
In just a few short breaths, the creature inside had already torn a gap in it.
It was a crimson butterfly.
Its dark red body had emerged from the cocoon, and half of its wings, covered in eerie patterns, had struggled free.
The other half remained trapped inside, writhing incessantly, ready to break free at any moment.
The black-and-red butterflies that had been resting on the vines suddenly took flight, circling the cocoon in a frenzy.
Fine red powder scattered from their wings, falling onto the cocoon until the white silk was nearly dyed red.
The redder the cocoon became, the fainter the dark patterns on the butterflies’ wings grew.
When the wings turned completely black, the butterflies stiffened and plummeted to the ground.
In stark contrast, the crimson butterfly struggling to emerge thrashed with increasing intensity, almost fully breaking free—
Witnessing this sacrificial spectacle, Mu Congyun felt a deep sense of crisis.
There was no sign of Madam Liu in the room, and only this single emerging butterfly remained.
Its identity was unmistakable.
Baili Zhen, still pinned under layers of rose vines, continued to call for help.
Meanwhile, the crimson butterfly was on the verge of breaking free.
Mu Congyun hesitated no longer.
He burst into the room, tossing a Blazing Talisman toward Baili Zhen with one hand while slashing his sword with the other.
A mighty surge of sword energy aimed directly at the crimson butterfly—
The fierce energy rippled outward, causing the red roses in Canglan Courtyard to bow and flatten.
At the same time, Shen Qi used the Locked Red Tower, transforming his tainted energy into countless threads that burrowed deep underground, tracing the source of the Corrosive Mist.
To his surprise, the trail led back to the Red Rose Courtyard.
Seeing the crimson roses crawling over the courtyard walls, Shen Qi curled his lips into a smile.
“Bold indeed, hiding right here.”
The dormant rose vines seemed to sense the danger.
Their roots twisted violently underground, causing the earth to undulate and crack.
Tiles and soil flew in all directions.
Shen Qi hovered mid-air, pressing a hand to his left ribcage before slowly drawing out a stark white, jagged bone sword.
Forged from bone-this was the Dragon Bone Sword.
Gripping the hilt with both hands, Shen Qi located the “eye” and drove the Dragon Bone Sword inch by inch into the ground.
The threatened rose vines erupted in violent growth, their thorny tendrils lashing out at Shen Qi.
Unfazed, Shen Qi steadied the sword with his left hand while his right hand flashed with the dark glow of the Locked Red Tower.
Countless threads of tainted energy wove into a massive net, ensnaring the frenzied vines.
The roses fought like cornered beasts, their hidden roots bursting through the earth, scattering bones amidst the flying debris.
Thick, near-black Corrosive Mist surged like a tide, rising from the depths—
But before it could spread, the Dragon Bone Sword absorbed it, funneling it endlessly into Shen Qi’s body.
His skin split under the violent mist, blood streaming down, yet Shen Qi let out a sigh of near-pleasure.
Watching the roses falter and observing the battle in Canglan Courtyard through Hong Feng’s eyes, he finally dredged a name from his distant past: “So it’s the Phantom of Ten Thousand Forms.”
In his previous life, when the Ten Directions Barrier shattered and the Western Region’s nine provinces fell one after another, as the great sects crumbled, a city of roses in Shu Province rose unexpectedly-the Phantom of Ten Thousand Forms.
The city of roses relied on its sky-obscuring crimson blooms to fend off the Corrosive Mist, offering refuge to many displaced cultivators and commoners.
These lost souls thought they’d finally found sanctuary, unaware that the entire rose city was a monster birthed from the Corrosive Mist
Sea. The so-called safe haven was nothing but an enormous hunting trap.
They harbored humans just as humans reared livestock.
By the time they realized Rose City was merely a colossal snare, it was already too late.
It’s said that among tens of thousands of refugees in the city, only a few dozen managed to escape.
These fortunate survivors came to call Rose City the “Myriad Metamorphosis Phantoms.”
The Myriad Metamorphosis Phantoms didn’t refer solely to the crimson roses, but to the symbiotic relationship between the roses and their companion butterflies.
The roses and butterflies coexisted interdependently.
The butterflies excelled at illusions and parasitism, luring prey to serve as nutrients.
Meanwhile, the lush rose foliage provided nourishment for young butterflies and sheltered the swarm.
“So it began this early.”
Shen Qi muttered to himself: “The Western Region’s downfall predates even my estimations.”
Glancing at the withered rose vines on the ground, he scoffed mockingly: “At least we’ve eliminated a threat for the Western Region now.”
The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Had he not desperately needed the tainted essence to enhance his power, he might have let these Myriad Metamorphosis Phantoms be.
An enemy’s enemy might not be a friend, but needn’t be exterminated either.
“Pity. You were simply unlucky.”
*
Shen Qi clicked his tongue.
With the main body of the crimson roses restrained, the battle at Canglan Courtyard shifted.
Forced to defend against ambushing rose vines while simultaneously battling scarlet butterflies, Mu Congyun found himself hard-pressed on both fronts, reduced to evasive maneuvers to wear down his opponents.
But as time passed, he noticed the rose vines gradually weakening, their support becoming increasingly feeble.
The scarlet butterflies noticed this too.
Realizing their rose counterpart might be compromised, they resolved to end the battle swiftly.
Fluttering crimson wings shimmered with shifting patterns as countless black-red butterflies swarmed in from outside, coalescing around their leader into a human form-none other than Madam Liu.
Mu Congyun’s suspicions confirmed, he fought while retreating toward Baili Zhen’s position, severing the last restraints with one sword stroke.
Freed at last, Baili Zhen immediately drew his transverse flute and played.
“Treacherous woman, your time has come.”
“Defeated cur dares boast?”
Madam Liu snapped, unfurling enormous butterfly wings behind her.
The hypnotic patterns swirling across their crimson surface dazzled the eyes.
“Don’t look the witch specializes in illusions!”
Baili Zhen warned mid-attack, charging forward first.
Mu Congyun closed his eyes, listening intently as he coordinated sword strikes with Baili Zhen’s assault.
Deprived of reinforcements and caught in their pincer attack, Madam Liu soon sustained injuries.
Just as the duo prepared to finish her off, Madam Liu suddenly hurled a coin-sized mechanical bird toward Mu Congyun.
“Messenger Goose?”
Mu Congyun caught the automaton midair.
Before reaching Poison Gate, he’d secretly dispatched the Messenger Goose to deliver word to Xiao Guanyin as precaution. Though he’d
received no reply from “Messenger Goose,” he never imagined Madam Liu had intercepted it.
The device contained but one brief message: “Calamity at Blazing Flame Sect. Come swiftly.”
It was Xiao Guanyin’s voice.
Madam Liu covered her lips with a light laugh: “If you delay any longer, neither the little Guanyin nor the Lihuo Sect will be saved.”
Mu Congyun gritted his teeth and quickly made a decision, turning to Baili Zhen: “The Lihuo Sect is crucial to the stability of the Ten Directions Barrier. We cannot afford to lose it.”
Yet Baili Zhen only scoffed: “Go if you must. Today, I will kill this treacherous woman.”
Before the words even faded, he launched another attack.
Madam Liu was not skilled in direct attacks, but her repertoire of sinister techniques was endless.
For a time, neither could gain the upper hand.
Seeing that Baili Zhen showed no concern for the safety of the Li Huo Sect, Mu Congyun hesitated no longer.
Crushing the bronze bell in his hand, he summoned his sword and rushed toward the sect.
Noticing his departure, Madam Liu glanced at the withering rose vines on the ground and retreated toward the Crimson Rose Courtyard.
“If you dare, follow me,” she taunted.
Baili Zhen, consumed by murderous intent, pursued her relentlessly.
The two raced toward the Crimson Rose Courtyard, one after the other.
Fearing something had happened to the roses, Madam Liu hastened to the courtyard in desperate urgency.
But just as she neared it, she froze in terror-within the courtyard, the massive coiled form of a dragon loomed, its vicious claws trampling the withered rose vines as it continuously absorbed the Corrosive Mist.
Hearing the disturbance, the dragon’s fearsome head slowly turned, its golden vertical pupils locking onto Madam Liu and Baili Zhen, who arrived moments later.
A sinister voice rumbled: “You. Seek. Death.”