“Sometimes, danger is like this—impossible to discern at a glance.”
Hearing her sister’s words, Yan Qi, who had been keeping a close watch on the movements in Ninghang City below to prevent any unexpected incidents, responded with a nod.
“Yeah, some dangers just can’t be seen on the surface.”
Yan Yu agreed with Yan Qi’s words, nodding in affirmation.
The two hovered in the air for about half an hour. Through her sister’s communication with the Anomaly Affairs Bureau, Yan Qi confirmed that the residents near the black barrier she had previously marked had all been evacuated.
Knowing it was time to act without restraint and deal with the Flesh Blossoms, Yan Qi turned to Yan Yu beside her.
“Alright, Yan Yu, the Anomaly Bureau has cleared the area below. Now it’s our turn.”
“Got it.”
With that, the two stopped lingering in the air and flew toward the nearest black barrier.
Using her skill, Truth-Seeking Eyes, Yan Qi pinpointed the exact location of the black barrier. Aware that Yan Yu couldn’t enter it the same way she could, Yan Qi stretched out her hand.
“Here it is. Yan Yu, take my hand.”
Without hesitation, Yan Yu grasped Yan Qi’s outstretched hand. Seeing her sister comply, Yan Qi led her into the black barrier created by the Flesh Blossom.
The moment they stepped inside, the airborne abyssal creatures spawned by the Flesh Blossom immediately detected them. Soon, a swarm of flying abyssal beasts launched a relentless assault.
“Looks like our luck isn’t great.”
Surrounded by a dense horde of attacking abyssal creatures, Yan Qi couldn’t help but grumble to Yan Yu. Then, without delay, she drew the Spirit Sword—the signature weapon of the Daoist Empress—and charged into battle.
Not one to fall behind, Yan Yu swiftly summoned the Bloodthirsty Sword, the weapon of the Bloodthirsty Empress, and cleaved through the abyssal beasts in the opposite direction.
With their formidable strength as three-star superhumans, both Yan Qi and Yan Yu were practically unstoppable in this black barrier teeming with one-star abyssal creatures. In no time, the attacking monsters were utterly annihilated.
After wiping out the flying abyssal beasts on her side, a triumphant grin spread across Yan Qi’s face. Remembering her sister, she called out,
“Yan Yu, I’m done here. How about you?”
Hearing Yan Qi’s voice, Yan Yu, who had just finished off the last of her targets with a skill, turned and replied,
“All clear on my end too.”
Satisfied with the answer and glancing at the Bloodthirsty Sword in Yan Yu’s hand, Yan Qi nodded.
“Since you’re done, let’s move forward and find the Flesh Blossom.”
“Okay.”
With the initial hurdle cleared, the rest was straightforward. Before long, Yan Qi and Yan Yu located the Flesh Blossom. Without hesitation, they raised their weapons and struck.
Just as expected, the Flesh Blossom inside the black barrier—much like the one they’d encountered at the tunnel entrance the night before—spawned several two-star abyssal creatures Yan Qi had never seen before.
“Of course they’d all pull the same trick.”
Muttering in mild annoyance, Yan Qi sighed at the two-star abyssal beasts blocking their path. Then, gripping her weapon, she fought side by side with Yan Yu once more.
A few minutes later, as the last two-star abyssal creature fell, Yan Qi—who had fought from start to finish—finally allowed herself a faint smile.
“Finally, it’s over. Now, for the next step—”
Her gaze locked onto the Flesh Blossom in the distance. With a flick of her fingers, Samadhi Trueflame ignited. She pursed her lips and gently blew the azure flames toward the monstrous flower.
Soon, the Flesh Blossom—which had been luring humans to use as fertilizer—let out agonized shrieks as it was consumed by the ghostly fire.
“Is it really over?”
Watching the same blue flames from the previous night engulf the Flesh Blossom, Yan Yu turned to Yan Qi uncertainly.
“It’s done. That thing is dead for good. Let’s head to the next black barrier.”
“Mm.”
Grabbing Yan Qi’s hand, the two quickly returned to the real world from the black barrier.
Though the Flesh Blossom was destroyed, they could have waited for the black barrier to dissipate and naturally eject them. But with Ninghang City in crisis—twenty-four Flesh Blossoms on the verge of blooming around the city—Yan Qi couldn’t afford to wait. She hurriedly pulled Yan Yu back to reality.
“Tell the Anomaly Bureau we’ve taken care of one Flesh Blossom. They shouldn’t waste manpower here—they might be needed elsewhere.”
“Understood, Boss.”
Yan Yu quickly pulled out her phone and relayed the situation to her contacts in the bureau.
“Boss, it’s done.”
“Good work. Keep your eyes on me—don’t wander off.”
“Got it.”
Without further delay, the two took off toward the next black barrier.
“Wait—Dao Yan, look over there. Is that… a person?”
“A person? There really is someone! But didn’t the Anomaly Bureau say they evacuated everyone? How could someone still be here?”