Chapter 2116: Yin Luo

Duang Bo knew that when Qing Jun left, he had given the young lady some things and instructed her on certain matters. He had even said that this palace was forged and built by Qing Jun for the young lady.

The Projection Stone was clearly something Qing Jun had left behind.

"Young lady, may this old man take a look?" Duang Bo inquired.

The little girl immediately handed him the Projection Stone. Duang Bo focused his mind and, indeed, saw the image of a young man within. Comparing it to what he saw now, he found it incredible: "It really is him!"

"But... he shouldn't be here. His Starry Sky is still there! Could it be someone who just looks similar?" The little girl seemed uncertain.

Duang Bo pondered for a moment before asking, "Young lady, what did Qing Jun instruct you to do back then?"

The little girl replied, "Nothing much, just that if the Gate of Star Abyss opened, I should find this person as quickly as possible and protect his life."

That was why Qing Jun had left her the Projection Stone. After all, she had never met the person, and without the stone, how could she find him?

"I see!" Duang Bo understood. "Then this old man will go and bring him here. Whether it's him or not, the young lady will know by asking him directly."

"Very well!" The little girl nodded. In any case, these "lost ones" would eventually be apprehended. If he was indeed the person Qing Jun had mentioned, he would be properly settled. If not, Duang Bo could deal with him.

At this point, Lu Ye and the others had already escaped the chaotic battlefield. The entire process had been unexpectedly smooth!

"Fellow Daoist Lu, something's not right. Have you noticed that these Star Abyss cultivators don't seem keen on engaging us?" Chen Wulei's voice transmitted to him.

Apart from a few initial skirmishes, their subsequent journey encountered surprisingly few obstacles.

"They haven't even sent out strong cultivators to deal with us!" Lu Ye had certainly noticed it too. While it felt somewhat amiss, it was undoubtedly a good thing for their group.

Moreover, there was no time to ponder too much at this moment.

The turbulent void was right before them. Once they reached it, they might be able to return to the Starry Sky!

However, just as they were less than a hundred feet from their destination, a figure abruptly appeared in front, blocking their path.

It was an old man with white hair, his hands tucked into his sleeves, his gaze lowered. Yet, he possessed an indescribable presence.

"Everyone, be careful!" Lu Ye keenly sensed that this old man was not to be trifled with, but at this point, they had to fight regardless.

As he spoke, he struck first, and the others followed suit. This burst of power was unleashed without holding back. Lu Ye was confident that even if an Eight-Path cultivator stood before them, caught off guard like this, they would not fare well; they would likely be severely injured if not killed.

However, facing these numerous attacks, the old man remained perfectly still, allowing the assaults to land on him as if they were a gentle breeze. Not only was he unharmed, but his clothes didn't even wrinkle.

The entire group was dumbfounded!

This guy... definitely surpassed the Ninth Path!

A terrifying thought flashed through Lu Ye's mind, and he roared, "Run!"

No one was foolish. Realizing the opponent's strength, everyone knew this was an unmatchable formidable being. Almost simultaneously with Lu Ye's command, the eleven individuals scattered and fled in different directions.

Lu Ye, in particular, activated his Blood Escape Technique.

However, just as he started to move, a figure flashed before him. Immediately after, he felt his protective spiritual power shatter, as if something heavy had slammed into him, sending him flying backward.

He hastily regained his footing, only to find that all eleven of them had returned to their original positions.

Everyone felt their qi and blood churning, their faces pale, yet there were no signs of injury. This undoubtedly meant the opponent had shown mercy; otherwise, with his methods, he could have killed all eleven of them instantly.

Their eyes met, filled with dread and horror.

"You may try to run if you wish, but this old man will not hold back next time."

Lu Ye composed himself, cupped his fists, and asked, "How should we address you, esteemed sir? What instructions do you have for us?"

Since the opponent had not killed them, there was still hope. Although Lu Ye didn't know why the old man was doing this, he likely had his own objectives.

Moreover, the opponent was clearly willing to communicate, which was a good sign for their group.

The old man glanced at him and said faintly, "You may call me Duang Bo!"

"Duang Bo!" Lu Ye immediately addressed him respectfully. When under someone else's power, one must bow one's head.

Duang Bo nodded and beckoned, "All of you, follow me."

With that, he turned and walked away first.

Lu Ye stood rooted, his expression shifting before he ultimately sighed and gestured for everyone to follow.

Duang Bo's strength was unfathomable. At this point, it was best not to make any rash moves and to be cooperative.

Following Duang Bo, Lu Ye noticed he was heading towards the palace shrouded in hazy light, and his heart couldn't help but feel uneasy again.

It now seemed that the reason Duang Bo hadn't killed them was likely because he had received instructions from the palace's master. He was currently taking them to meet that master.

If Duang Bo was already so powerful, how strong must the palace master be?

What was their purpose?

As Lu Ye pondered, Duang Bo had already led them to the front of the palace.

The group looked up and saw a plaque above the main hall, bearing the two characters "Qing Palace," written in a script that resembled two intertwining dragons.

As they were observing, a black shadow suddenly darted out from within the hall, followed by a delicate cry from Narcissus.

Lu Ye was startled and immediately gripped his Immovable Mountain Blade. However, at the same moment, Duang Bo's gaze darted over, sharp as lightning!

Sensing this, Lu Ye slowly withdrew his hand and focused his gaze, discovering that Narcissus was holding a little girl dressed in black with two ponytails, seemingly having appeared there unnoticed.

The little girl was buried in Narcissus's embrace, breathing greedily while squirming around, causing Narcissus's clothes to ripple.

Narcissus's expression was as frail as if she had been violated, yet under Duang Bo's deterrence, she dared not move, looking pitifully towards Lu Ye.

Lu Ye slowly shook his head, unable to help.

"So fragrant!" The little girl suddenly jumped out of Narcissus's embrace, and as she spoke, she burrowed into Su Wan's arms nearby.

Su Wan, who had been watching the spectacle, unexpectedly became a victim herself. Perhaps tickled by the little girl's squirming, she giggled and couldn't help but twist her body a few times.

"This one is also fragrant..." The little girl then jumped into Zi Ji's embrace nearby, causing the veins on Zi Ji's forehead to nearly pop out.

She sniffed each person in turn, until finally it was Lu Ye's turn.

Lu Ye closed his eyes, out of sight, out of mind.

Suddenly, he felt something wet on his chest. He couldn't help but frown and look, seeing the little girl staring at him with watery eyes, saliva streaming down from the corners of her mouth like a waterfall: "You smell the most fragrant!"

Her eyes were as black as ink, and at that moment, they revealed an expression of intense craving.

Lu Ye felt his blood run cold, inexplicably experiencing a sense of extreme danger.

"Young lady!" Duang Bo also noticed something amiss and quickly stepped forward, pulling the little girl away from Lu Ye's embrace. He whispered in her ear, "Qing Jun!"

As if struck by lightning, the little girl's expression sobered. Her eyes, almost consumed by instinct, finally regained some rationality. She then quickly wiped the saliva from the corner of her mouth: "That was truly impolite."

Lu Ye composed himself, vaguely realizing that this little girl was not entirely normal. She appeared human, but she absolutely could not be. The aura emanating from her felt more like that of a Star Beast to Lu Ye.

However, he had never heard of Star Beasts being able to take human form, let alone possess such intelligence.

Cupping his fists, he asked, "May I ask for the young lady's name? Why have you brought us here, and what instructions do you have for us?"

"Me?" The little girl paused, then hugged her tattered cloth doll and giggled, "My name is Yin Luo!"

"Miss Yin Luo." Lu Ye nodded.

"As for why I brought you here..." Yin Luo looked at Lu Ye, her small finger touching her red lips, "What's your name?"

Lu Ye pondered for a moment, about to give a false name to deceive her, when Duang Bo's voice quietly echoed, "Answer truthfully whatever the young lady asks."

The thought he had just formed instantly vanished, and he honestly replied, "My name is Lu Ye."

Yin Luo's eyes lit up upon hearing this: "Is the place you come from a realm called Kyushu?"

Lu Ye froze on the spot: "Miss Yin Luo, where did you hear about Kyushu?"

The name Kyushu might be known to many in the Starry Sky, but this was the Star Abyss. How could Kyushu's reputation have spread here?

He couldn't quite figure out how Yin Luo knew about Kyushu.

"It really is you?" Yin Luo's face showed surprise. She had thought he merely looked similar, but it turned out he was truly the person Qing Jun had told her to look out for. "But why are you here? Isn't your Starry Sky still intact?"

Lu Ye had a belly full of unanswered questions and was tempted to ask another, but seeing Duang Bo's gaze fixed on him from behind Yin Luo, he could only answer honestly: "Miss Yin Luo, do you know about the Ghost Carriage? We were brought here by the Ghost Carriage."

"The Ghost Carriage, ah..." Yin Luo showed a look of realization. "No wonder then; only it can bring people through the Star Abyss without anyone noticing."

As she spoke, she suddenly looked up towards the depths of the chaotic battlefield, and anger surfaced on her small face: "Wait for me, I'll be right back!"

With that, her tiny figure suddenly vanished.

Moments later, extremely vast ripples of conflict suddenly emanated from the depths of the chaotic battlefield.

Feeling these aftershocks, Lu Ye was secretly alarmed. Although he didn't know Yin Luo's current cultivation level, it was definitely far beyond his own and that of his companions.

A short while later, the aftershocks dissipated. The fighting between the Star Abyss cultivators on both sides of the conflict had not yet ceased, but Yin Luo had already returned. Her dark dress was spotless, and her expression was somewhat pouting as she said, "Duang Bo, he's so annoying. He's clearly not a match, but he keeps bothering me every now and then. Is there any way to just beat him to death?"

Duang Bo shook his head: "Although your strength surpasses his, defeating him is easy, but killing him is difficult. Even with this old man's help, it wouldn't be possible. That's why he acts so brazenly."

"I'll kill him sooner or later!" Yin Luo gnashed her teeth.