Chapter 221 Lifting a rock only to drop it on one's own foot
Xian Jin immediately cooperated with his master, forming a hand seal and uttering a clear shout. A visible pale blue light screen rose from his hands, enveloping Xian Ling and isolating him from the increasingly intense malevolent energy and chilling coldness of the outside world.
Shen Lun stood at the corner of his altar, not moving immediately, his gaze deep, seemingly observing the movements of Qiu Chi and Princess Yan Ya. After a moment, he slowly raised his hands, seemingly to stabilize the corner of the altar, but in reality, it was more like to construct some kind of defense to protect himself, while secretly gathering strength to prepare for possible changes.
Qiu Chi, on the other hand, was completely different. Behind his black and gold-patterned mask, he let out low laughter like an owl. His withered hands suddenly opened, and he muttered something, the meaning of which was unknown.
However, after a while, the bloody and malevolent aura emanating from the mountain of corpses, combined with the violently flickering blue flames within the cauldron, caused the surrounding temperature to begin to drop eerily.
Others might not have noticed, but Mu Xi was very sensitive and kept shivering.
In the dark void, the three-year-old Xuan Nu cried out, "Oh no! He's stirring up the resentment of the mountain of corpses and catalyzing the malevolent fire. Won't this make the backlash even more intense?"
Mu Xi instantly realized that this evil sorcerer was not suppressing the altar at all, but rather adding fuel to the fire.
Princess Yan Ya clearly sensed the immense chilling and malevolent aura. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly, and without further hesitation, she gently stroked the strings of the Phoenix Cry Zither with her slender hand.
"Zheng—"
A clear and melodious zither note suddenly rang out, like the cry of a phoenix from the heavens, piercing the oppressive night sky.
The notes flowing from her fingertips seemed to transform into ripples of pale gold, spreading out with a righteous, peaceful, and cleansing power.
However, Qiu Chi's evil magic was clearly more domineering.
The eyes beneath the black mask with gold runes gleamed with a dark light, and the voice that emanated from it suddenly became sharp and piercing.
Upon seeing this, Shen Lun's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He pressed his hands down sharply and uttered a low shout.
No one else could tell anything.
Only Mu Xi, in the dark void, the white-robed immortal coldly said: "This evil sorcerer is not simple. I'm afraid even if the princess and the marquis join forces, they won't be able to deal with him."
Sure enough, Princess Yan Ya's face gradually paled, her fingers on the zither quickened, and the music became urgent and high-pitched, carrying a hint of barely perceptible strain.
On the other side, Xian Ling in the altar had already sensed something was wrong, but as the chief priest, she was firmly held in the center and unable to move.
Mu Xi observed from the sidelines, unable to see clearly with the naked eye, but there were two personalities explaining it.
Suddenly, the three-year-old Xuan Nu cried out, "Oh no! That Marquis might not be able to hold on..."
The white-robed fairy persona quickly turned around again: "He was already weak, but the princess, the princess will have to hold on a little longer, her zither is really good."
The three-year-old Xuan Nu forcefully turned away: "All you ever think about is that zither..."
Before he could finish speaking, the evil sorcerer suddenly let out a strange laugh from under his black and gold talisman mask, and his hands suddenly lashed out into the void.
“Uh…” Blood trickled from the corner of Shen Lun’s mouth.
"Uncle..." For the first time, Mu Xi was genuinely worried about Shen Lun.
The three-year-old Xuan Nu said in a shrill voice, "Don't worry, although that Marquis's skills are mediocre, he hasn't been using his full strength. He's only three parts offense and seven parts defense. Even if there's a backlash, it won't be much. It's just that..."
Before she could finish speaking, Princess Yan Ya's zither music abruptly stopped with a "zheng—".
Shen Lun's body swayed violently, and he stumbled and fell off the edge of the high altar.
"Lord Marquis..." Before Mu Xi and Mu Xun could react, Liu Yang, who was closest, spread his wings like a roc and flew up to catch Shen Lun as he fell.
Shen Lun was pale and weak.
A corner of the altar was missing, causing the Imperial Preceptor Xian Ling to lose his balance and his magic to go out of control, forcing him to stop.
The moment Mu Xi saw Liu Yang's figure, she couldn't control herself and felt a surge of resentment.
He had originally stepped forward to inquire about his uncle Shen Lun, but instead drew a sword from his waist.
"Liu Yang..." With a furious shout, Mu Xi thrust her sword towards Liu Yang's throat.
Liu Yang swiftly threw Shen Lun to the ground, then suddenly spun around, catching Mu Xi's sword blade between two fingers: "Is Your Highness confused? I saved your uncle, why do you object to me drawing my sword?"
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Liu Yang feigned innocence.
Mu Xi's internal meridians had not yet recovered, and the momentum of this sword strike exceeded its power. Before the sword strike could be completed, he had already exhausted his strength.
But with no outlet for his pent-up resentment, just as he was about to launch another powerful attack, a warm, large hand pressed down on his wrist.
Mu Xun's eyes, reflecting the moon on the calm lake, were filled with worry, and he shook his head slightly.
Mu Xi's feverish mind instantly calmed down, and her wrist holding the sword slowly lowered with Mu Xun's force...
But he was unwilling to give up, and his anger reignited when he saw Liu Yang's smug and unrestrained smile.
"You..." Mu Xi was about to raise her hand to attack again.
Suddenly, the voice of Xuan You Shi Zi Mu Sheng came from behind: "Oh dear, cousin Xi, I've heard that you, as a man, are favored by the gods and have even had a 'divine intervention'?"
Mu Xi paused.
Without waiting for a reply, Mu Sheng cupped his hands to King Yu: "Your Majesty, this 'Six Harmonies Grand Ceremony' is a once-in-a-millennium event, and it concerns the foundation of our Mu clan. The four corners of the altar are the foundation for suppressing evil spirits, and none can be missing. When I was in the Northern Region, I heard that Prince Jin Fang possessed extraordinary talents, able to communicate with heaven and earth, and even as a man, he had gained the spirit of 'divine intervention.' Why not ask Prince Jin Fang to occupy one of the corners, to lend the Grand Preceptor a hand, and to stabilize the overall situation, so that the 'Six Harmonies Grand Ceremony' can be completed?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's eyes immediately focused on Mu Xi.
There was surprise, suspicion, scrutiny, and schadenfreude.
Only Mu Xun's eyes showed anxiety: "How can this be? The young master was seriously injured some time ago and has not yet recovered. Moreover, he has never studied witchcraft. How can he shoulder such an important task?"
"Still recovering from serious injuries? Then what happened to your cousin Xi just now...?" Mu Sheng asked knowingly.
Mu Xun casually made up a lie: "It is precisely because the young master is weak and cannot be disturbed by evil spirits. His actions just now were probably caused by unclean activity on General Yingyang's body."
This was the first time Mu Xi had heard Mu Xun make veiled accusations.
But it didn't work on Mu Sheng: "Oh dear, if that's the case, then it really does mean that my cousin Xi has the potential to be a shaman."
Mu Xi was taken aback. Mu Sheng appeared to be upright and honest, but she never expected him to have such a eloquent side.
They want her to go up to the altar?
What exactly are they up to?
While he was still hesitating, King Yu spoke up: "Prince Jin Fang... Prince Xuan You's words are not without reason. The most crucial point is that there is no suitable candidate to be found on Yan Mountain now. If we're talking about shamanic arts, the Imperial Historian's Office or the Grand Preceptor's staff could probably find someone, but you are a descendant of the Mu family, born with royal blood, and incomparably noble. Previously on Qifeng Terrace, I personally witnessed you receiving divine favor and being able to 'invoke the gods,' so you should be even more capable of holding the line."
Is this a case of shooting oneself in the foot?
The first time the "spirit possession" was real, the next two times were definitely fake.
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