Lord of Bones

Chapter 712 Shadow Villa
"Half a century has passed, and I don't know what the current situation of Wenhe is.

"Let's find a place first to find out if there have been any major events in Wenhe in recent years..."

Thinking about the past and the future in his mind, Li Yuan leaped lightly and sped towards a quaint town among the distant mountains.

The town is nestled in the mountains and beside the water, with winding bluestone roads.

There are wooden buildings scattered on both sides, and smoke rising up, lingering with the mist in the distant mountains.

Li Yuan walked into the town and found a tavern that looked ordinary but had a certain elegance. He chose a seat by the window and sat down.

This was a habit he developed when he was traveling in the Great Xia Dynasty, when his cultivation level was not high.

Outside the window, a clear stream flows by, with wild flowers blooming by the stream.

Occasionally, the sound of birds chirping penetrates the hustle and bustle, making the place even more quiet.

The pub was bustling but orderly.

The diners at each table were whispering or chatting, and the atmosphere was warm and harmonious.

Li Yuan's eyes inadvertently swept across the neighboring table, where several men and women were sitting in a circle. They had extraordinary temperaments and were all Yuanzhe, but their cultivation was not high.

The highest level of cultivation is the Yuandan realm, and most are at the Taxu realm.

Although the dishes on the table were simple, their conversation revealed their extraordinary knowledge and experience as they talked about some major events that had recently occurred in Wenhe.

The cultivation levels of these people were too low for Li Yuan at this moment, so he naturally thought that what they said was mostly hearsay.

Therefore, he did not release his soul power, but instinctively used his hearing to capture their conversation involuntarily.

“I heard that within the Xuanyin Thunder Region, the lightning is as fierce and violent as a dragon.

"Half a century ago, millions of Heavenly Kings and Half-Step Transformation Realm warriors went in, but only tens of thousands were able to come out alive. It's really sad."

A young man in the Void Realm lowered his voice, awe in his eyes.

"Yes, the Xuanyin Thunder Region is extremely dangerous and cannot be easily resisted by human power." Another Yuanzhe spoke up with a somewhat helpless tone, "However, some people also speculate that as the thunder weakens, perhaps more powerful people will emerge one after another."

"That's just a fantasy." An old man who looked older and had reached the Yuandan realm said calmly, "Three days ago, no Yuan practitioners came out of the entrance which was only a million miles away from here. I'm afraid..."

His words stopped abruptly, but the meaning was self-evident.

"A million miles away is not very close to us Yuan Zhe, but it is not far away either. This is easy to verify." Someone questioned, but there was a hint of hesitation in his voice.

"I heard it with my own ears from the elders of the main family. It is absolutely true." The old man insisted.

"By the way, has Li Yuan come out?" someone else asked.

A complex expression flashed across the old man's eyes, and he said, "As for that Li Yuan..."

When Li Yuan's name was mentioned, the tavern suddenly seemed to be quiet for a moment.

"Didn't he already perish in the collapse of the Leiluo Palace?

"It turned into dust along with Emperor Yin Lei's Feather Flame Fan."

Li Yuan listened quietly, his heart was calm, but in his deep eyes, there seemed to be thunder and lightning, reflecting the glory of the past and the indifference of today.

Outside the window, night falls quietly and the town is caressed by a faint moonlight.

Inside the pub, the flickering candlelight illuminated everyone's face.

"Is he really...dead?"

There was some uncertainty in the words of a young Yuanzhe.

"That should be the case..." Another Yuanzhe pondered for a moment and responded in a deep voice.

He gently stroked the wine glass in his hand, as if the cool touch could make him more sober: "After the collapse of the Leirong Palace, no Yuanzhe has set foot in that area, let alone seen Li Yuan."

“But the Tianyun Sect…” a woman interrupted in a soft voice, “They seem to have never given up the search.

"The major passages in and out of the Xuanyin Thunder Region are still under strict surveillance by the Tianyun Sect's guardians."

"Yes, after so many years, everyone has gradually forgotten that name.

"But the persistence of the Tianyun Sect is like an eternal light, illuminating the period that has been sealed away by time..."

The old man was filled with emotion, his eyes penetrating the hustle and bustle of the tavern, as if he could see into the more distant past.

At this moment, a heated discussion suddenly broke out in a corner of the tavern, attracting everyone's attention.

"Have you heard? A big event happened in Wenhe recently!" A Yuanzhe slapped the table excitedly.

"What's the matter? Tell me quickly!" People around came closer.

"The fifth-ranked Thunder Breaking Demonic Eagle among the flying thieves, a sixth-level perfect demonic beast, was seriously injured a few days ago, and even his inner elixir was taken away!"

As the news came out, the whole tavern was in an uproar, and everyone's faces were filled with shock.

"The Thunder-Breaking Demon Eagle? That's a tough guy that can even repel a Half-Step Life Spirit Realm expert!" someone exclaimed.

“Yes, and he was also the former ancestor of the Demon King Sect.

“I became a pirate after I was expelled from the sect for violating sect rules.

"Who can hurt a creature like this to this extent?" someone asked doubtfully.

A Yuan Zhe lowered his voice, his eyes showing excitement: "It is said that the one who injured it was a golden-red giant bird several hundred feet in size, which should be a divine beast.

“The speed and strength are beyond imagination.

“After the fight, the beast disappeared without a trace.

"When the masters from all the major sects rushed over, they left behind only a mess, not even a hair!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the tavern was in an uproar.

Everyone was speculating about the origin and whereabouts of the mythical beast.

And all the major forces that went there dreamed of bringing the divine beast into their sect to increase their strength.

Amid the noise, Li Yuan sat quietly by the window, playing with a wine glass in his hands with a calm look in his eyes.

He was not too interested in the rumors about the divine beasts at the Huawen realm level. After all, with his current strength, such existence was still out of his reach.

But he was surprised by the Tianyun Sect's dedication and persistence in him.

Coming out from the darkness filled with the breath of death in the Xuanyin Thunder Domain, Li Yuan now feels the fresh and free air of the outside world, with an indescribable sense of ease and relief in his heart.

He was going to the Longyang Li family's place of practice.

A precious source of energy is still sealed there.

See if you can break through the bottleneck there and advance to the half-step transformation realm.

In this way, he would have more confidence in reaching Shuiyun Peak of Tianyun Sect.

It is not an easy task to steal treasure from the opponent's lair.

Just as he was about to leave the tavern, a faint sound of conversation passed by his ears like a breeze blowing across the lake, causing him to sit down again and listen calmly.

"The Magical Jade Bamboo of Youying Villa has reached maturity again. "This news has spread throughout Wenhe, causing numerous forces to be excited. "

The low conversation seemed to contain heavy expectations and greed in every word.

"Those guys who don't know their own limits always flock to Shadow Villa like moths to a flame, dreaming of getting a section of the legendary Magical Jade Bamboo."

A Yuanzhe lowered his voice, his eyes showing a gloating look, as if he had foreseen the tragedy to happen.

"That's right, the defense of Shadow Villa is no joke.

“Even a strong person who has reached the half-step transformation realm would be in danger of death if he enters there.

"Not to mention those guys who can't even touch the threshold."

Another Yuan Master shook his head and sighed, his tone showing both awe for Shadow Villa and worry for those adventurers.

An old man slowly spoke: "After all, it's because there is no Huawen realm expert in Youying Villa that these experts feel they have an opportunity to take advantage of.

“But then again, even if there isn’t a strong person in the Huawen realm, it’s not something that ordinary people can afford to offend.”

"There is a more mysterious rumor." A young woman interrupted, "I heard that Shadow Villa is actually the property of Shadow Blade Building, but Shadow Blade Building never admits it."

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"Shadow Blade Tower..." Upon hearing this, the people around showed complicated expressions.

This is a name that strikes fear into the hearts of all the Yuan people in Wenhe.

A female Yuanzhe sighed and said, "A random section of the Magical Jade Bamboo is worth billions of top-grade Yuanshi, which is enough to drive countless Yuanzhe crazy.

“What’s more, Shadow Villa is never sold, which makes its value even higher.

"Who can resist this kind of temptation?"

Li Yuan sat aside, listening to the discussions quietly, but his heart was in turmoil.

Looking through the window of the tavern, he had already made up his mind: "Let's put the trip to Longyang Li's on hold for now.

“We have to go to Shadow Villa and get some Magical Jade Bamboo.

"If that villa is really the property of Shadow Blade House, this trip should be regarded as the assassins sent by Shadow Blade House to attack me back then. I want to get some justice and compensation."

Thinking of this, Li Yuan no longer hesitated. He stood up, his figure as straight as a pine tree. He patted his clothes lightly, put down a piece of Yuanshi, and then strode out of the tavern.

After leaving the town, he took out the Huang Xuanyuan Boat.

Under his control, the Huang Xuanyuan Boat turned into a dazzling stream of light, cutting through the sky and speeding towards a nearby city with a teleportation array.

.........

Shadow Villa is a huge complex of buildings standing between two towering peaks.

The courtyard wall is towering, like an ancient Great Wall, winding and twisting, tightly connecting the two giant peaks to form an indestructible fortress.

The interior of the villa is grand in scale and exquisite in layout.

The streets are spacious and clean, and the buildings on both sides are staggered and well-arranged, with carved beams and painted rafters, magnificent and beautiful, as if it is a giant city that has been carefully carved.

However, the streets were unusually empty, with almost no one to be seen.

Occasionally a gust of wind blows, rolling up a few fallen leaves, making a rustling sound, adding a bit of desolation and weirdness, just like a forgotten ghost town.

Because the villa is located deep in the valley between two huge peaks, it is shrouded in thick fog all year round, making it difficult for sunlight to penetrate.

The thick fog, like a dream, casts a mysterious veil over Shadow Villa, making its true appearance unclear.

Suddenly, a flash of lightning streaked across the sky and landed silently on a path in the valley hundreds of feet away from the villa.

The lightning dissipated, revealing Li Yuan's resolute and stern figure.

He stood on the path, his eyes as sharp as lightning, looking at the villa in front of him that looked like a city.

Li Yuan carefully observed the defensive layout of the villa. On the towering courtyard wall, there was a team of Yuanists who had reached the perfect state of Nirvana patrolling and defending every few dozen feet.

They were dressed in black, with agile bodies and sharp eyes, yet they shuttled between the walls like ghosts, forming an insurmountable line of defense.

Li Yuan did not act rashly, but slowly released his soul power, trying to spy on the villa from above.

However, when his soul power just touched the sky above the villa, he felt a strong sense of crisis.

He quickly gathered his mind and sensed carefully, and discovered that there were more than a dozen exquisite formations set up above the villa.

These large formations are intertwined with each other to form an indestructible protective formation for the village.

Within the array, Yuan Force surged and light flickered, as if countless pairs of eyes were watching in secret.

Any invader who wants to break in from the sky will face a fatal blow from the protective formation and will be blasted into a bloody mist in an instant.

Faced with such tight defense, Li Yuan couldn't help but feel awe-inspiring.

It is not easy to successfully break into Shadow Villa and seize the Phantom Jade Bamboo.

"Tsk tsk, this defense is really airtight. It will take some effort to sneak in." Li Yuan whispered to himself, with a trace of solemnity between his brows.

His eyes lingered on the impenetrable defense of Shadow Villa, looking for a gap that could be broken through.

At this moment, a clear and slightly immature girl's voice suddenly sounded in his heart, like a flower blooming in spring, with a hint of playfulness: "It is indeed a tricky problem."

"You little girl, you finally wake up?" Li Yuan raised a smile.

"I woke up a long time ago, but the aura of the Xuanyin Thunder Region was too oppressive, and the Jade Palace always made me feel like I was still sealed in the dark underground, so I was too lazy to move."

There was some dissatisfaction and helplessness in the girl's voice, but more of it was a desire for freedom.

As soon as the words fell, a brilliant green light suddenly burst out from Li Yuan's body.

In the light, the figure of a girl about half a foot tall gradually solidified.

She was wearing a turquoise dress, her skin was as white as jade, and she had a pair of big, watery eyes that roamed around.

Yuan Yao withdrew her gaze, first winked at Li Yuan playfully, and then hovered beside him.

The next moment, she fixed her gaze on the imposing gate of Shadow Villa for a moment and said, "Follow me."

With a flash of her body, the petite figure rushed towards a small path on the side, and Li Yuan followed closely behind.

On both sides of the path, there are dense woods and tall trees that block out the sun, blocking out the outside sunlight and vision.

As the two went deeper, the path became narrower and narrower, and the trees on both sides became denser and denser, almost completely covering the path.

But Yuan Yao still had no intention of stopping, and her bright eyes seemed to be able to see through the fog ahead.

Li Yuan followed the green figure floating in the air, shuttled through the thick fog outside Shadow Villa, and finally arrived at a remote corner covered by dense vegetation.

Although there are still patrolling guards moving slowly on the courtyard wall here, the surveillance is undoubtedly much weaker than in other areas of the villa.

The guards' steps seemed lazy and mechanical, and they did not notice the arrival of Li Yuan and the other man.

Li Yuan stood under a lush giant tree, looking around sharply, thinking about the best plan of action in his mind.

Although it is not difficult to break through the guards, doing so will undoubtedly alert the strong men in the villa and bring unnecessary trouble.

(End of this chapter)