The Trap Springs
The poisoned fog of Black Veil Hollow began to recede as the Phoenix Cage burned brighter, purifying remnants of corrupted spirit Qi. Lian Rou, panting lightly, kept her whip coiled around her arm, ever watchful.
"Mission complete," Wen Qingxue murmured, wiping sweat from her brow. "But this was just one of their claws."
Lin Yue narrowed his eyes. "They're not just retaliating. They're planning."
As if to confirm it, the ring on his finger—etched with the Phoenix Sigil—flared with crimson flame.
Guild System Notification
Alert: Suspicious fluctuations detected in Cradle Grove Sector
Possible infiltration via identity swap.
Counter-intel operation suggested.
Suggestion: Dispatch tracking squad or activate [Phoenix Eye Protocol].
"Cradle Grove," Lin Yue said aloud. "Let's move—now."
Upgraded Status System Activated
All active members of the guild and known enemy factions now had upgraded real-time status updates, with tiers, unique traits, and guild links.
[STATUS – Lin Yue]
Cultivation Tier: Mid Spirit Core Realm (Phoenix Bloodline awakened)
Core Trait: Nirvana Flame Embers – Regeneration + Fire Devour
Exclusive Skill: Phoenix Pulse Cage – Area Seal & Burn
Guild Effect: +12% stat buff to bonded members during combat
New Feature: [Phoenix Eye Protocol] – Detects spiritual irregularities via bonded rings
[STATUS – Lian Rou]
Cultivation: Low Spirit Core
Weapon: Crimson Coil Whip
Bloodline Level: 2% Phoenix Essence (Transferred)
Special Trait: Spirit Beast Calmer (tames enraged entities)
Guild Effect: Leads scouting teams; synergy with terrain-based commissions
[STATUS – Wen Qingxue]
Cultivation: Low Spirit Core
Element: Ice Qi
Ability: Frost Veil Dome – Barrier skill, absorbs impact
Emotional Trait: Secretly worries she cannot compare to others in the harem
Passive: Spiritual Echo – Replays danger signals to Lin Yue
[STATUS – Enemy: Zhan Long]
Cultivation: Peak Spirit Core
Special Art: Venom Flame Body – Poisons surrounding spiritual energy
Revenge Target: Lin Yue
Command: Ashen Fangs – Orders infiltration & territory sabotage
Side Novella: Ming Yushu — "The Fang Within the Blossom"
Cradle Grove Sector, Three Days Earlier
Ming Yushu—now bearing the face of a red-haired transfer student—stood among new university disciples watching a spirit formation demonstration.
Her beauty turned heads. Her fake credentials passed every scan. She smiled demurely, and no one knew the truth.
Name used: Xu Yan
Cover story: Transfer from Northshore Spiritual Academy
Mission: Locate artifact fragment and report Nirvana Phoenix's interest in the grove
[STATUS – Ming Yushu (Alias: Xu Yan)]
Faction: Ashen Fangs (Phantom Branch)
Cultivation: Spirit Root (High)
Skill: Mirage Bloom – Illusion form and sensory redirection
Trait: Soul Camouflage – Cannot be detected by average arrays
Emotion Tag: Curious about Lin Yue's methods. Envious. Unsettled by harem bond.
That night, Ming Yushu knelt beside a concealed ruin under the old bell tower. Her gloves were soaked with soil and spiritual dye.
"The artifact should be here… unless—"
Flames flickered on her skin. Not from her own Qi—but residual energy from a mark left behind.
A Phoenix Seal. Deliberately set.
He knew someone would come.
Ming Yushu stood, gritting her teeth.
And for the first time… she hesitated.
Why would he leave a trap… but one that wouldn't kill?
Memory Flash:
She had watched Lin Yue's team from afar once. When he shielded his wounded comrade. When he bled to protect her. When he laughed with his strange, chosen harem.
"They follow him not because he is strongest… but because he burns brighter."
And yet, she couldn't betray Zhan Long. Not yet.
But she could delay the report.
Update Skipped. Timer Postponed.
The artifact pulsed beneath the earth.
Back to Main Story:
Lin Yue and the others rushed into the Cradle Grove's eastern gate, greeted by an unnatural silence. The spiritual trees barely hummed. Wen Qingxue shivered. Lian Rou scanned the perimeter.
"Guild Leader," Rou called. "Scent of soul paint. Someone's laid a trail."
"Good," Lin Yue replied. "We'll flush them out."
Then he opened the Commission System, built from his [Phoenix Guild Nexus].
Commission System: Active Nearby Tasks
Zone: Cradle Grove Sector
Tier D – Reclaim Spirit Bloom Field (80 contribution points)
Tier B – Hunt Rogue Cultivator Suspected of Infiltration (300 points)
Tier C – Remove Soul Paint Trail (140 points)
Lin Yue selected Tier B and assigned the mission to himself and his two companions.
Mission Accepted: 3 Phoenix rings synchronized.
Tracking activated.
A small red flame hovered before them, pointing west.
They moved in formation. Lian Rou front, Lin center, Qingxue rear guard.
As they reached a broken totem at the grove's center, a silver bell rang from nowhere.
A mist swirled—and out stepped a girl with long red hair, her expression blank.
"Wait," Lin Yue whispered. "That's not a student."
Ming Yushu—disguised—stood there, weighing her next move.
"Identify yourself," Lian Rou barked.
For a moment, silence.
Then Ming Yushu slowly raised her hands and said—
"I came to observe... not to kill. I haven't reported your presence."
Lin Yue's eyes widened slightly.
"You're from the Ashen Fangs?"
"I was. I may still be. But I haven't made my choice."
That was all it took. The battle didn't begin.
It paused.
And perhaps... a new piece shifted on the board.
To be continue....