Chapter 2322: Ghostmist Valley
The man and woman in the fog wore loose blue robes, their long hair fluttering. Their features were divine and they possessed an aura like an abyss. They were covered in countless glittering blue astrons, almost like their bodies were formed by little stars. The light from the stars formed a grand picture of the cosmos, making the two seem like endless galaxies. It was clear they were cosmic cartographers. As a member of one of the unique races in the cosmos, their astrons were brighter than ordinary cosmic cartographers.
The man and woman both looked very young, but it was the kind of youth that didn’t match their aura and cultivation level. There was something distinct about them. They looked very similar and seemed to be made from the same mold. After the addition of characteristics exclusive to their genders, the man was tall and handsome, while the woman was delicate and gentle, with eyes like the ocean.
"Xuan Hua," the woman softly said. Looking in the direction of the Infinitum Stele, she asked, "Do you really want to take the risk?"
The man named Xuan Hua calmly nodded. "This is once in a lifetime. She’s a great opportunity for us."
"She is able to use the Wonderhaze Suzerain’s divine wonders. That makes her the miracle we’ve been waiting for. We’ll go farther if we can get our hands on her and we might even have an opportunity to return to the Skydome Wondrium...." Xuan Hua couldn’t tear her eyes from the woman’s figure.
"Is that all you want? Are we doing this solely for merit?" The woman bowed her head and smiled to herself.
"You understand me through and through, Gu Zhao." Xuan Hua smiled.
He was Xuan Hua and she was Gu Zhao. They were Etherean Zhaohua. For the divine wonderians, a title was shared by two people. When Tianming had met Etherean Zhaohua in the wondersky realm, he was in the image of the man named Xuan Hua, but he could also switch to Gu Zhao at any time. They lived and died as one.
Laughing softly, Xuan Hua stretched out his hand, looked at his fingers, and said, "If we can get our hands on her, we have to study her while she’s still young. After all, we’re the only ones who are aware that her divine wonders belonged to the Wonderhaze Suzerain…. If all of her mysteries could be transferred to us, then our future lies beyond the Skydome Wondrium. One day, every divine wonderian will lay prostrate at our feet."
Pulling his arm, Gu Zhao leaned on his shoulder. "All of the cosmos, Xuan Hua."
"You’re right." Xuan Hua stretched out his hand and stroked her long hair, staring out at the dark sky above his head. "What an unexpected journey it’s been. We came here to follow up on Li Tianming. Who would’ve imagined that we would find such a shocking secret by his side? Perhaps the little guy doesn’t even know what Weisheng Moran means to us divine wonderians."
"Xuan Hua, I still feel like I’m dreaming," Gu Zhao said.
"Yes. It’s an impossible miracle for the divine wonderians, yet it occurred right before our eyes." Xuan Hua's fingers continued sliding down Gu Zhao's smooth long hair.
"We’ve always been the best in the Skydome Wondrium. There were few among our peers that could rival us, but we couldn’t further our cultivation in the sixth-level nova source world because of our background, our birth. Instead, we were assigned as the etherean of Exaltia…. As the etherean of a fifth-level nova source world, we control a hundred clusters, but for youths like us, that’s just wasting our time. Those who were once far inferior to us will eventually surpass us."
The two looked at each other. Even after many years, the resentment in their hearts was still strong. Generally speaking, only those past their prime would be sent elsewhere to be an etherean. Those like them, still in the growing phase, would cultivate in the heart of Skydome Wondrium. Unresigned to their fate, they chose to act on their own when Weisheng Moran appeared. They even avoided the divine wonderian forces in the Infinitum Mundus.
"The ebons came to us for help. They even cleared the battlefield for us. There won’t be another opportunity if we miss this one." Xuan Hua's smile gradually turned cold.
The targets given to him by the ebons were Lin Xiao and Dongshen Yue. But who could have guessed that their real goal would be Weisheng Moran?
As it happened, Lin Xiao had brought them all with him to personally watch over them. Otherwise, the three of them would be in the Infinitum Swordsea, an area that Etherean Zhaohua had no chance of entering. That provided them a rare opportunity.
"We have two thousand years of cultivation, while Lin Xiao and Dongshen Yue have six thousand each and have already begun deteriorating with age. At their prime, they were probably as strong as we are now. This won’t be difficult,” Gu Zhao said.
"That isn’t the point. What’s important is that the ebons have taken care of everything for us. All we have to do is show up, kill them, take the blame, and leave. They even arranged an exit for us,” Xuan Hua said.
The two exchanged a meaningful look. The words were merely meant to convince themselves to take the risk; after all, it was a grave matter for two divine wonderians to go to Ebonia and kill an important man such as Lin Xiao. But the reward was too tempting, too irresistible if they were to succeed.
"What about Li Tianming? There’s that infinitum-class world. Aside from us, few people know about it." Gu Zhao stared out at the Oldgod Domain.
"When Lin Xiao and Dongshen Yue perish, he’ll have no protection and his own life would become uncertain. We can deal with him when he leaves the Oldgod Domain!" They wanted it all, both the miracle of the divine wonderians and?the fallen infinitum-class world.
"Maybe this infinitum-class world is a gift from the heavens." They knew Tianming’s many secrets, but kept them to themselves, all so those secrets would become theirs.
"So, the last step is for Lin Xiao and Dongshen Yue to leave the Oldgod Domain and present their heads to us," said Gu Zhao.
.
"The ebons have probably already made arrangements for that." Xuan Hua turned and looked into the distance.
In the fog, a shadow dressed in black and red appeared. He was carrying a man whose limbs were mutilated. He had fallen unconscious due to severe injuries. The shadow threw the man in front of Etherean Zhaohua, his voice sounding hoarse and withered as he said, "Our master has chosen the hostage and the location, the Ghostmist Valley which is suitable for your divine wonders. You may set off now."
"Who’s the hostage?" Xuan Hua asked.
"Lin Dan, a member of the second branch that’s very close to Lin Xiao. Lin Xiao has no other relatives, but he’s a loyal person, so Lin Dan is the best candidate. Based on what we know, there’s at least an eighty percent chance that he’ll show up to save Lin Dan,” the shadow coldly said.
"Isn't there someone who can guarantee he’ll appear?" Gu Zhao asked.
"There’s four. Three are by his side, and the other one is in the Oldgod Domain." The shadow replied. There was no other option aside from Lin Dan.
"Fine, he’ll do. Have you dealt with his lifebound beasts?" Xuan Hua asked.
"Yes," said the shadow.
"Alright, tell Chi Hun to prepare what he promised. If this works out, we may cooperate again some time," Xuan Hua said.
"Please lay your worries to rest," the shadow replied.
"Alright."