CHAPTER 922: CONSPIRACY OF MASKED-MEN

The desert wind howled, carrying grains of sand that stung like needles against exposed skin. Shenlian Yingyue’s black hair fluttered behind her as she stood beside Shenlian Yinzhu, her sharp eyes scanning their surroundings. The tension in the air was palpable, thick enough to choke on.

"Brother, are you sure they weren’t targeting you from the beginning?" she asked, her voice low but firm.

Shenlian Yinzhu shook his head, his expression grim. "No, Yue’er. I was merely in the wrong place at the wrong time. They were already in the middle of something when I stumbled upon them." His fingers flexed slightly, as if recalling the fight. "At first, they just wanted to silence me, but when they recognized my purple flames, their intentions changed. They called for reinforcements immediately."

"What exactly were they doing?" Shenlian Yingyue’s brows furrowed.

"They were drawing something all over the Ember Dune Desert. Countless immortal beings were slaughtered, especially the desert beasts and native creatures. Their blood was used to sketch lines on trees, rocks, and the ground. There was a purpose behind it." Shenlian Yinzhu exhaled sharply.

One month ago, he had been traveling alone through the Ember Dune Desert. He fought numerous immortals and, by some stroke of fortune, obtained many rare treasures. Then, following a mysterious voice that called to him, he was led to a cave hidden behind a waterfall along a cliffside.

Inside, he discovered an ancient cultivation manual and entered seclusion for a full month. Though attackers occasionally came, seeking to steal his fortune, he defeated every one of them. Upon emerging from behind the waterfall, he stumbled upon a Rakshasa-masked man using the blood of slain immortals to draw, painting eerie symbols onto the bark of a towering tree, using blood that shimmered unnaturally under the dim light. Before he could investigate further, they had spotted him.

"Brother, can you take me to see those markings?" Shenlian Yingyue asked. She needed to find out what those masked men were planning. If their actions posed a threat to the realm, she could not let it go unchallenged, not when she still hadn’t rescued her father, and not when these men might hold a clue to her past.

"Of course, Yue’er," he replied.

Soon, the group soared through the sky toward the place Shenlian Yinzhu had described, the cliff waterfall.

[The Waterfall in the Desert]

The sight of the waterfall was surreal, a roaring cascade of icy water plunging into a crystalline pool, surrounded by lush, amber-colored trees. The desert’s heat should have evaporated such a water source long ago; yet here it stood, defying logic.

It was an oddity; how could a waterfall exist in the middle of a desert? Stranger still, the water was icy cold. If such a source existed, the desert wouldn’t remain scorching during the day, and cultivators who bathed in this water could protect their skin from the desert’s punishing heat.

It was important to understand that for cultivators, especially immortals, their bodies were tougher than steel or diamond. Ordinary elements couldn’t harm them. Yet the Ember Dune Desert defied expectations. Its sun held spiritual force, and its weather, though natural, could not be ignored.

After all, no matter how powerful one became, no being could truly defy the laws of nature and the universe, the very forces that had granted them life. To rebel against them was to rebel against existence itself.

The group arrived at a sparse forest within the desert. Trees were rare here, but this grove thrived, its survival sustained by a cold stream that flowed from the nearby waterfall. The leaves and branches were coated in dust and sand, with ochre foliage and trunks the color of amber.

"No wonder life thrives here. The water source, ancient and pure, provide the balance needed for these trees to survive in such a harsh environment." Xiong Zi Ying said, scanning the area.

"The water carries faint spiritual energy. It’s not just any waterfall; it’s a natural treasure." Bing Xue knelt, brushing his fingers against the damp soil.

"Brother Zhu, how did you even find this place?" Zhiyi asked in amazement. He called Shenlian Yinzhu that way because the latter hated being referred to as ’brother-in-law.’

"I don’t know," Yinzhu replied, scanning their surroundings. "I just followed a voice in my head."

The group didn’t let their guard down. Every movement was cautious, every breath prepared for the unexpected.

Shenlian Yingyue and the others gathered around one of the marked trees. On the surface, it appeared ordinary. At a glance, no one would suspect that a formation had been drawn using blood. Even the usual metallic scent of blood was absent.

The Rakshasa-masked men had clearly used a technique to conceal the smell, preventing beasts from being lured by it.

Shenlian Yingyue ignored their murmurs, her focus entirely on the task at hand. She approached the massive tree her brother had mentioned, its bark rough beneath her fingertips. At first glance, nothing seemed amiss, no scent of blood, no visible markings. But when she channeled a sliver of her qi into her eyes, the hidden symbols flared to life, glowing faintly crimson.

"They masked the scent and appearance," she murmured. "This wasn’t just to hide it from beasts. They didn’t want anyone to notice."

"A blood formation, then?" Xiong Zi Ying crossed his arms.

"If they’re drawing formations across the desert, it can’t be for anything good. Blood formations are almost always sacrificial or destructive in nature." Bing Xue’s expression darkened.

"We need to find out what they’re planning. If this is a large-scale array, it could affect everyone in the Ember Dune." Shenlian Yingyue’s jaw tightened.

"They’ve already killed countless immortals and beasts to fuel this. Whatever they’re preparing, it’s big." Shenlian Yinzhu nodded in agreement.

A cold breeze swept through the trees, carrying with it an unsettling whisper. The group exchanged glances; none of them had spoken.

"Formation?" Xiao Li finally spoke, his voice calm but curious. As a flame fox, he usually disliked the heat of the desert and had remained quiet until now, clearly more comfortable in the chill of this oasis.

"It does look like some kind of formation," Xiao Lan agreed, landing softly and circling the marked tree with narrowed eyes cautiously.

"A formation?" Xie Xie tilted his head slightly. With a flick of his hand, hundreds of golden scorpions materialized. "Go. Scout beneath the ground."

The scorpions immediately burrowed into the sand, their movements precise as they avoided the blood-drawn patterns and trees.

The golden scorpions scurried forward and began digging carefully into the ground, skillfully avoiding the trees and blood-marked spots.