Chapter 208: Yu Zhao as the Catalyst
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Sect Master Ji Yuan had known Sect Leader Chong Yang for years and was well aware of his grievances. He quickly feigned ignorance to sidestep the conversation. “Oh, look! Yu Zhao is making her move.”
Everyone’s attention immediately shifted back to the water mirror.
Inside the stone cavern, Yu Zhao took a deep breath, using her spiritual energy to form a large hand. She clasped the Ice and Fire Ghost Orchid and turned without hesitation to sprint back.
Splash! Splash!
As soon as the orchid was lifted from above the pool, the water began to boil violently without warning. Waves crashed against the rocky edges, and an earth-shaking aura erupted.
“Roar!”
“Roar!”
Two deafening roars echoed through the cavern, and two Drakes, one red and one blue, suddenly shot out of the water. The pool water trickled down their gleaming scales, which emitted a cold, metallic sheen. Both had bulging lumps on their heads, the size of fists—signs that they were close to maturity.
Two Drakes at the peak of the Golden Core stage!
Yu Zhao’s expression shifted. Without hesitation, she activated the talismans she had prepared within the cavern.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of explosions went off behind her. The resulting shockwaves pushed her forward several meters. Instinctively, Yu Zhao shielded the Ice and Fire Ghost Orchid in front of her. As the impact subsided, she tried to store the orchid in her storage space, but to her surprise, it was enveloped in a unique defensive barrier that resisted her attempt.
A flicker of confusion flashed in Yu Zhao’s eyes.
The orchid was too conspicuous. Holding it was like carrying a ticking time bomb. Yet, abandoning the orchid was out of the question after all she had risked to obtain it. With no other choice, she decided to gamble.
Retrieving a bottle of spiritual replenishment pills from her storage, Yu Zhao quickly consumed a handful, circulating her spiritual energy to its limit.
“Roar!”
As Yu Zhao increased her speed, another enraged roar sounded from behind. The two Drakes gave chase, their tails swiping powerfully as they surged into the tunnel. In the blink of an eye, they were barreling down the passage, heading straight for her. Their scales, though slightly dimmed, bore no visible damage. As they moved, the sound of wind and thunder followed them.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The formations Yu Zhao had set up failed to hold them back for long. One by one, they shattered, and she could feel the distance between them rapidly closing.
Legends spoke of the Drakes’ dragon lineage. Both their physical strength and intelligence far surpassed those of ordinary demonic beasts. A Golden Core Drake at its peak could even rival typical Nascent Soul beasts.
Yu Zhao had never fought a Drake before and had thought the tales exaggerated. Now, faced with them, she deeply understood their terrifying power.
If it had been just one Drake, she might have stood a chance of holding her ground. But with two of them, all she could do was flee.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The continuous activation of traps caused the tunnel to begin collapsing. Sharp icicles rained down like a storm, but Yu Zhao remained focused, her gaze fixed ahead as she moved at lightning speed, almost becoming a blur.
Finally, she saw the entrance to the cavern.
Just as she was about to dash out, a streak of red shot toward her like lightning.
“An illusion,” Yu Zhao muttered under her breath. She swayed slightly, conjuring hundreds of afterimages that scattered in all directions.
The red Drake paused briefly before unleashing a long stream of flames toward one of the afterimages on the front right. Realizing she was in trouble, Yu Zhao activated her soul force, forcibly shifting herself forward.
The searing flames grazed her, scorching black marks into her robes.
“This isn’t working. The Drakes can track me through the Ice and Fire Ghost Orchid!” she thought, her heart sinking.
When Yu Zhao was discovered by the Drakes, she immediately realized her plan had gone awry.
In a split second, she glanced at the Ice and Fire Ghost Orchid in her hand. Swiftly, she tore off two petals and flung them backward, propelling herself forward once more.
“Roar!”
A second blue Drake also surged forward and saw the scene of Yu Zhao ripping off the petals. It let out an angry roar.
The red Drake leapt ahead, extending a front claw to lightly tap on one of the petals. Instantly, a transparent barrier of light encapsulated the petal. It then opened its mouth and swallowed the light sphere whole.
Even after consuming one sphere, it was still unsatisfied and shifted its gaze toward the second petal.
The blue Drake, noticing its companion’s intentions, mimicked the process and swallowed the other petal. Satisfied the petals were safely tucked away in their bellies, the two Drakes whipped their long bodies and resumed the chase.
Beyond the mountain.
Yu Zhao frowned deeply. She raced onward, her mind spinning with thoughts on how to shake off the Drakes. While she had used two petals, she still had sixteen petals left in her hand. If she were to use all of them as distractions, the effort she had put into acquiring the flower would become meaningless.
However, doing nothing wasn’t an option. If the Drakes caught up to her, even tossing petals might not save her.
Lost in thought, she arrived at the sky above a forest and faintly sensed some obscure and ominous presences. She paused, a faint smile curling at the corners of her lips.
“Why did Yu Zhao stop?” someone muttered.
“She’s probably preparing to give up,” another replied. “Who would’ve thought there’d be two near-mature Drakes beneath that pool? She’s done her best.”
“True. Making it this far is already an incredible feat.”
In the crowd of sect leaders, no one seemed to have better ideas for handling such a perilous situation. The head of the Mo Xin Institute even felt a secret sense of relief. Thankfully, it was Yu Zhao who had encountered the Ice and Fire Ghost Orchid first. Otherwise, it might have cost Tai Bai Academy one of their disciples.
“You’re all wrong. Yu Zhao stopping clearly shows she has a well-thought-out plan!” Sect Master Ji Yuan declared with confidence.
He refused to believe Yu Zhao would give up so easily. For her to halt at this moment surely meant she had devised an unexpected, clever solution.
“Ji Yuan, aren’t you overestimating her a bit? She’s only nineteen this year,” countered Sect Master Bai Lian, though his tone wasn’t dismissive. On the contrary, he admired Yu Zhao and had even specially tailored the tournament prize, the Heart-Protecting Mirror, to suit her needs. However, he believed Ji Yuan’s excessive expectations, spurred by rivalry with Master Qing Yan, could hinder Yu Zhao’s future growth.
Ji Yuan remained unruffled. “You don’t understand Yu Zhao. Just wait. She’s about to surprise you.”
After a brief pause, Sect Master Wu Sang chuckled softly. “I agree with Ji Yuan. Yu Zhao has always been innovative. Perhaps she’ll bring us a pleasant surprise.”
Wu Sang recalled how Yu Zhao had boldly borrowed his alchemy chamber for artifact crafting, which showcased her distinctive nature.
Following his comment, Valley Master Fei Ye of Hundred Flowers Valley also expressed support for Yu Zhao. Gradually, the other sect leaders adjusted their opinions, their curiosity and anticipation growing.
For once, Master Qing Yan refrained from pouring cold water on the situation. He silently observed the determined woman in the water mirror, his sea of consciousness roiling tumultuously.
That familiar sensation struck again. Over the course of his affliction, he had begun to notice a pattern: whenever Yu Zhao displayed that particular resolute expression, he would be affected.
Yu Zhao felt like a catalyst, one that could easily stir his emotions. It was dangerous.
Master Qing Yan’s gaze flickered, his eyes suddenly cold.