New chapter 13

# Chapter 13 — Crimson Rain

# Sun City — Northern District Rooftops

Rain continued falling long after the creature disappeared.

No one moved immediately.

Several cultivators still stood frozen atop the rooftops while cold wind swept through the city streets below.

Because everyone understood something now.

That thing—

was intelligent.

---

Liu Feng slowly lowered his sword first.

His face no longer carried earlier arrogance.

Only seriousness remained.

“What… was that?”

No one answered.

Even the elders looked uncertain now.

---

Xu Yuan quietly steadied his breathing beside Xia Yu.

The strange resonance inside his chest gradually weakened after the creature vanished.

But the lingering cold sensation remained.

Like something invisible still watched him from far away.

---

Xia Yu calmly observed him.

“You saw something again.”

Xu Yuan glanced sideways.

“…A little.”

“What?”

Xu Yuan stayed silent briefly.

Then answered honestly.

“I don’t know.”

Because he truly didn’t.

The underground ruins.

Black crystals.

Red eyes.

Everything appeared fragmented.

Like broken memories that never belonged to him.

---

Below the rooftops, guards quickly sealed nearby streets while civilians were escorted indoors.

The entire northern district now looked completely locked down.

Spirit lamps illuminated the rain-covered roads while cultivators patrolled every corner cautiously.

---

Lin Hao finally spoke again.

“I think we should all agree something is deeply wrong now.”

Xu Yuan nodded seriously.

“That’s probably the smartest thing you’ve said this week.”

“I’m being serious!”

“So am I.”

---

Several elders eventually gathered atop a nearby building.

Third Elder Xu Jian’s expression remained unusually grim.

“We suspend the city examination.”

Nearby disciples immediately reacted.

The yearly examination getting canceled meant the situation truly worsened beyond expectations.

---

One elder spoke quietly:

“That creature intentionally entered the city.”

Another answered coldly:

“It was testing us.”

Silence spread briefly afterward.

Because everyone knew that possibility made things far worse.

---

Xu Yuan slowly looked toward the distant eastern mountains again.

Rain blurred the horizon heavily tonight.

But faintly—

very faintly—

he thought he could still see red lights deep beyond the forest.

Watching.

---

Then suddenly—

BOOM!

A violent tremor shook the rooftops beneath everyone’s feet.

Several disciples nearly lost balance instantly.

“What now?!”

The ground trembled again briefly before stopping.

Not an explosion.

Something deeper.

Like movement underground.

---

At the same moment—

far beyond Sun City—

inside the eastern forest—

ancient stone formations hidden beneath the mountains slowly illuminated one after another.

Crimson symbols spread across underground walls endlessly.

And within the darkness—

countless red eyes opened completely.

---

Back inside the city—

Xu Yuan suddenly grabbed his chest again.

The resonance returned violently.

Much stronger than before.

Pain shot through his body instantly.

---

“Xu Yuan!”

Xia Yu immediately supported him before he fell.

Silver spiritual energy surged from her hands naturally.

The pain weakened slightly afterward.

But not completely.

---

Xu Yuan’s breathing became unstable briefly.

Then—

for one terrifying moment—

he heard a voice.

Cold.

Ancient.

Echoing directly inside his mind.

> “Found… you…”

BOOM!

The resonance instantly disappeared afterward.

Xu Yuan froze completely.

Rain quietly fell across the rooftops while distant guards continued shouting below.

But his expression no longer looked relaxed anymore.

Because this time—

he knew he hadn’t imagined it.