Chapter 1226: Fragrance Fades, Life Perishes

Whoosh!

At the critical moment, Lu Shuyao's soul raced back at lightning speed, finally returning to her body in the courtyard just before the dark hand could reach her!

The figure leaning against the carved railing suddenly stood up, her beautiful eyes still filled with lingering fear.

But to her surprise, the dark hand did not stop its pursuit just because her soul had returned to her body. Instead, it locked onto her physical form directly.

It sped toward her with terrifying speed, extending like endless vines, and all she could see was an infinite darkness!

A murderous aura filled the sky, and black mist billowed everywhere!

As the eerie hand drew closer, Lu Shuyao's pupils dilated, and her face turned pale with fear.

Even though she channeled the power of the Dao and unleashed several profound immortal techniques, the shadow continued to rush toward her from the horizon, its momentum undiminished. With her level of cultivation, she was utterly powerless against it!

Fear began to spread in her eyes as Lu Shuyao felt death approaching.

A sense of despair, one that felt all too familiar, took hold of her newly revived heart.

At the same time, the warmth and emotion she had once cherished also resurfaced in her mind.

In her thoughts, the scene of Yi Feng, disregarding everything, leading her out of the pagoda flashed vividly before her eyes. Every moment of it was something she treasured deeply.

At this very moment.

The situation felt eerily similar.

How she wished that the gentleman could be by her side to protect her, to see him one more time.

But as she watched the shadow speeding toward her from the horizon, she knew this was just a wishful thought. Being saved from peril was a stroke of luck that might only happen once in a lifetime.

The only thing she could do now was to use her last ounce of strength to protect Yi Feng, to repay the kindness he had shown her that day, and to honor his great act of saving the Seventy-Two Islands of the East Sea!

Lu Shuyao bit her red lip lightly and immediately activated the highest level of the Heavenly Soul Technique.

She wanted to convey all the secrets she had just heard to the gentleman!

Because she didn’t know if this powerful demonic being would pose a threat to him.

Even though she knew that forcibly communicating with another's soul after returning to her body violated the laws of life and would inevitably incur the wrath of the heavens, she was willing to pay the price!

As her jade-like hands formed the necessary seals, Lu Shuyao's eyes were filled with unwavering determination. Even as the dark hand blotted out the sky, she did not falter in the slightest!

...

Deep within the Treasure Pavilion.

In an elegant courtyard.

Exquisite dishes were neatly arranged on the table, and several jars of immortal wine exuded a rich aroma.

Lu Xinlan and the others had just returned from the banquet and hurried over to pay their respects to the gentleman. When they learned that he was in the mood for a drink, they happily joined him, chatting and laughing in a relaxed atmosphere.

After many rounds of toasts, Sa Donglai was still in high spirits.

While respectfully pouring wine for the gentleman, he skillfully responded to various questions.

Although he wasn’t as accomplished in cultivation as the other three, he was no pushover either. As one of the earliest followers of the gentleman, Sa Donglai knew his place well. Doing his best was all that mattered, and aside from serving the gentleman, everything else was trivial.

What seemed like a simple drinking session was, in fact, a blessing that others could only dream of.

This wasn’t just about drinking; it was about welcoming good fortune.

As the group chatted and laughed, Yi Feng's mood gradually eased.

Although the Dragon Emperor's apology had once again disrupted his plans, he had made many new friends and freed the female cultivators of the East Sea from their fate. All in all, it was a worthwhile endeavor.

Moreover, he had met three elderly men with considerable cultivation, who would undoubtedly be useful for gathering information in the future. At the very least, he could spar with them, so it wasn’t a complete waste of time.

All things considered, it was acceptable.

Just as Yi Feng raised his cup again.

Suddenly!

An urgent female voice echoed in his mind!

"Mr. Yi, please leave Black Island immediately!"

"The Fourth Holy Maiden, Lu Caiwei, has colluded with demons to destroy your soul and seize your body and cultivation. This is urgent, please believe me!"

Yi Feng was stunned, his body frozen on the stone stool.

The voice had come out of nowhere, yet it felt strangely familiar, as if he had heard it before...

Someone wanted to harm him?!

He immediately scanned his surroundings, but there was no one in sight. The voice seemed to come from nowhere, ethereal and dreamlike, as if it were an illusion.

Sa Donglai and the others noticed Yi Feng's dazed expression and quickly clasped their hands in concern.

"Sir, is something wrong?"

Yi Feng didn’t respond immediately, only shaking his head slowly.

He wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination.

But...

Recalling the sudden voice, it felt all too real. The urgency in the tone and the specific names mentioned made it hard to dismiss as a mere hallucination. It was as if a familiar female cultivator was standing before him, her eyes filled with desperation.

After a few moments of contemplation, Yi Feng finally remembered who the voice belonged to. A sense of foreboding washed over him, and he abruptly stood up, turning to Lu Xinlan.

"Where is Lu Shuyao now?"

Lu Xinlan was taken aback by the sudden question, but seeing the seriousness on Yi Feng's face, she quickly stood up and replied.

"Sir, Lu Shuyao left the banquet some time ago. She should have returned to her residence in the city by now. It’s located at..."

Before she could finish, Yi Feng cut her off with a cold voice.

"Quick! Take me there!"

Hearing the urgency in his tone, the group immediately sobered up from their drunkenness. Lu Xinlan led the way at full speed, escorting Yi Feng as they flew toward the city!

Before long.

Yi Feng landed in an elegant courtyard.

The moonlight draped over the surroundings like a veil, casting a soft glow over the flower beds and carved railings. The serene beauty of the scene resembled a painting, but the familiar face lying beside the railing was lifeless, as if she had simply fallen asleep.

Everyone was stunned.

They couldn’t believe that the young lady who had been drinking with them just moments ago was now gone, her soul departed to the heavens. The cold moonlight and the beauty of the scene etched themselves deeply into everyone’s minds.

Yi Feng's face darkened as he approached Lu Shuyao.

When he held her still-warm body, memories of their past encounters flooded his mind. It was as if she hadn’t truly left, but had merely fallen asleep after drinking too much.

Once.

This young lady of the Lu family had been full of pride, radiant and dazzling. Later, when she was bound by so-called fate, she had become helpless and despondent.

They had shared drinks and laughter, and Yi Feng had even explained the concept of parasites to her.

All of it now felt heavier than ever.

He never expected that someone he knew would die like this, and for his sake no less. Even in her final moments, she had been worried about his safety, using some method to urgently warn him of the danger.

Though they had only crossed paths briefly and couldn’t be considered close friends, seeing someone die because of him left Yi Feng deeply unsettled.

Even if he had the chance to revive her in the future, he had arrived too late!

Regret and guilt welled up in his heart.

As Yi Feng held Lu Shuyao's lifeless body, he replayed her final warning in his mind.

He turned to Lu Xinlan with a cold voice.

"Send a message to Island Master Shi Tianchuan. Bring the Fourth Holy Maiden, Lu Caiwei, to me immediately!"

His stern command left Lu Xinlan and the others in shock, but they didn’t dare to question him. They immediately relayed the order, and the entire Black Island was stirred awake!