Chapter 69: Shattered to Pieces

Yan Red Knight watched, uncertain whether the “Heavenly Net Veil of Shadowless Threads” truly possessed the power of invisibility. Driven by curiosity, he quickly darted seven or eight paces away from She Meier, positioning himself to observe from the side.

She Meier, fully aware of his intentions, merely pursed her lips in silence, remaining where she stood, quietly awaiting the outcome.

From his vantage, Yan Red Knight saw the “Heavenly Net Veil of Shadowless Threads” drift gently down, and in an instant, She Meier vanished from sight. Not only that, but the veil itself disappeared without a trace as well.

“Ah?” Yan Red Knight exclaimed in astonishment. “This ‘Heavenly Net Veil of Shadowless Threads’ is a marvelous treasure—its effect is immediate! She Meier, I can’t see you at all. Can you see me?”

A triumphant giggle sounded. “Of course I can see you, handsome! Well, what do you think? Isn’t my master’s ‘Heavenly Net Veil of Shadowless Threads’ formidable?”

“Incredible, truly remarkable…” Yan Red Knight began to praise, but She Meier cut him off.

“Then what are you dawdling for? Hurry and get inside the veil!”

“All right!” Yan Red Knight agreed, taking a few steps forward, but then stopped, a little embarrassed. “She Meier, where are you? I can’t see the veil at all… How do I get in?”

“Oh, you’re hopeless!” She Meier laughed brightly. “Yan Red Knight, do you see my hand?”

As she spoke, Yan Red Knight suddenly noticed a slender, fair hand appear out of thin air two steps before him. He replied, “I see it!”

“Good, take my hand,” She Meier instructed.

Yan Red Knight reached out and grasped her hand. She Meier pulled him in, and as he followed her steps, he entered the “Heavenly Net Veil of Shadowless Threads.” Instantly, he saw She Meier’s radiant smile and the round enclosure of the veil itself. Delighted and amazed, he exclaimed, “She Meier, this ‘Heavenly Net Veil of Shadowless Threads’ is truly a wondrous treasure! Outside, I couldn’t see either of you or the veil, but in here, I can see everything perfectly clearly!”

“Naturally. Otherwise, how could it be called a magic treasure?” She Meier replied with pride. “From now on, this ‘Heavenly Net Veil of Shadowless Threads’ will follow us wherever we go: if we walk, it walks; if we stop, it stops… But there’s one thing you must remember: never stick your hands or feet outside. If you carelessly swing out a hand or take a step beyond the veil, anyone outside will spot your hand or foot—and then our cover will be blown.”

“I understand,” Yan Red Knight replied, though inwardly he scoffed, “She Meier, aren’t you being a bit too cautious? Out here in the wilderness, aside from you and me, there’s not another soul in sight. This is just being overly—”

Before Yan Red Knight could finish his thought, suddenly the sound of wind whipping through fabric swept over their heads.

Startled, Yan Red Knight quickly looked up and saw a black shadow shooting across the sky like an arrow, heading straight for Deadly Valley. He was about to speak, but She Meier quickly gestured for silence and mouthed, “This is going to be interesting! Yan Red Knight, let’s go…”

Yan Red Knight dared not make a sound, and with a nod, he and She Meier made their way toward Deadly Valley.

The distance from where they stood to the entrance of Deadly Valley was about three miles. Barely half a mile along, Yan Red Knight was gripped by unease: the ground around them was overgrown with wild grass, beneath which lay scattered skeletons and bones—some half-hidden, some glaringly exposed to the sun. Among them were broken fragments of magical artifacts and tattered, filthy scraps of clothing.

She Meier, however, seemed utterly unfazed by the gruesome sight, her expression calm and indifferent.

Seeing this, Yan Red Knight, not wishing to be ridiculed by her, adopted a façade of nonchalance, striding forward with deliberate composure.

But as the two of them walked side by side, Yan Red Knight’s calm began to waver. When they were still a mile from the valley entrance, one after another, five figures swept overhead, heading straight for the entrance.

Almost immediately, the five landed beside a massive boulder inscribed with the words “Deadly Valley.” They appeared to be companions, for after landing, they gathered together, facing the valley entrance and talking animatedly. One of them, a cultivator in black robes, casually picked up a stone and threw it toward the barrier ahead. The stone struck the barrier’s protective shield and bounced back.

Clearly, this black-robed cultivator was testing the barrier.

Upon seeing the stone rebound, the group quickly determined the shield’s boundaries and began discussing their next move. As their powerful voices rang out—each word resounding like thunder—their repressed spiritual power radiated like a glowing brazier, so intense it left Yan Red Knight and She Meier breathless, forcing them to stop in their tracks.

She Meier glanced at Yan Red Knight and mouthed, “Those five are planning to break through the barrier by force and enter Deadly Valley. Let’s stay here and watch how it unfolds.”

“Agreed,” Yan Red Knight mouthed back. “She Meier, these are no ordinary figures. Apart from the white-robed one, who’s at the Hollow Void stage, the three in blue robes are all at the Great Ascension stage, and the black-robed one is in the midst of the Tribulation stage…”

He had barely finished when the black-robed cultivator suddenly intoned in a deep voice:

“Someone is watching us…”

“Yes!” the white-robed cultivator replied at once. “Uncle, I sense it too!”

The three in blue robes all barked out sharply, “Who is spying on us?”

As they spoke, their razor-sharp gazes swung as one toward Yan Red Knight and She Meier.

At once, both Yan Red Knight and She Meier froze, holding their breath. Moments passed, but the five found nothing. They must have assumed the watcher had retreated, and so withdrew their attention, resuming their discussion.

Yan Red Knight and She Meier both breathed a silent sigh of relief, no longer daring to communicate even in whispers. They stood quietly within the “Heavenly Net Veil of Shadowless Threads,” hardly daring to breathe, keeping their eyes fixed on the five cultivators.

Then, the black-robed cultivator spoke: “It’s settled, then. Everyone follow my command. Face the spot where I threw the stone, focus your spiritual energy—when I count to three, strike the barrier with all your might! Ready? One, two, three!”

As he finished, the five all shouted, unleashing their full power in a furious assault upon the barrier’s shield. There was an earth-shattering boom as their combined strength crashed against the barrier. Yet, the barrier remained unbroken; their energy was instantly reflected back at them, erupting with the force of a volcano.

Having attacked with full force, convinced they would break the barrier and rush into Deadly Valley, they were entirely unprepared for such an outcome. The backlash struck them before they could react.

It was utter annihilation.

With a single, agonized cry, all five cultivators were obliterated, their bodies shattered in an instant.