Legend of the Divine Archer

Another voice rose from the crowd, sharp and insistent, cutting through the uneasy murmurs. "What about the corpses? We can't live with them. We're going to get sick!"

"Yeah! We need to bury the dead!" another agreed, and soon, the crowd's sentiment coalesced into a unanimous demand. The air thickened with tension, the grim reality of their situation pressing down on them.

Purple Pen Meng, standing at the center of attention, raised his hand to calm the growing unrest. "Unfortunately, we cannot have a funeral in the upcoming days," he announced, his voice steady but firm. "The destruction of a Celestial Vein is a serious crime—serious enough that we will not escape the wrath of the kingdom if we do not prove our innocence.

The corpses must be gathered, but any changes must be kept to a minimum to ensure that the investigation can proceed without any suspicion falling on us."

A ripple of discomfort passed through the crowd. "What do we do about the souls of the departed?" someone else called out, their voice tinged with desperation. "How are they going to find peace if we allow their bodies to be exposed and rot?"

As the discussion grew more heated, the crowd began to stir restlessly. Tensions were rising, and it was clear that this fragile calm could shatter at any moment.

Yan Jin, sensing the perfect opportunity, yanked the dazed Wei Xi by the arm. "Get ready," he whispered urgently. "It's now or never."

Just then, a deafening roar echoed through the clearing, drawing all eyes upward. A massive shadow passed over the square, and a collective gasp rose from the crowd as a blood beast—a monstrous, winged creature—hovered above them, its malevolent gaze fixed on the terrified survivors below.

"Oh my god, it's a blood beast! Run!" Yan Jin shouted, his voice laced with feigned panic. The crowd, already on edge, erupted into chaos. People screamed and scattered in every direction, trampling over one another in their desperate bid to escape the looming threat.

Purple Spear Meng's eyes widened in shock. "Why is there a blood beast? We still had a few days before the aura dissipates!" he yelled over the din of the panicked crowd.

Purple Pen Meng, his face twisted in frustration, quickly assessed the situation. "I don't know, unless someone or something is attracting them," he replied, his mind racing as he considered the possibilities. His thoughts immediately turned to the most likely culprit. "Where is Yan Jin? Do you have a visual on him?" he demanded.

"Yan Jin is moving towards the old vein room," a blurry militia member reported, his voice crackling through the communication device.

"And Wei Xi?"

"He's assisting with the evacuation of the survivors, towards the east side" another soldier confirmed.

Purple Pen Meng's eyes narrowed as he pieced together the puzzle. "This is their chance—they're going to try to escape," he muttered, his tone darkening. "I don't believe Wei Xi would leave the corpse of his grandfather behind. Their next stop should be the body. But why the core room? Unless..."

His expression suddenly changed as realization dawned on him. "That bastard still has the stem cell!" he shouted, his voice brimming with urgency. "Get all the guards to encircle the core room, quick! Don't let them escape!"

Excitement and rage surged through him as he barked orders, knowing that the next few moments could determine the fate of Pine City—and his grip on power.

The Meng family moved with a precision that only came from years of meticulous planning and ruthless ambition. As soon as the order was given, their militia sprang into action, mobilizing a force that quickly encircled the underground core room where Yan Jin was suspected to be hiding. The soldiers, clad in the dark armor of the Meng family, moved in formation, their faces grim and determined.

They knew what was at stake—this was more than just a mission; it was a final gambit to secure their hold on Pine City.

The core room itself, once a place of immense power and vitality, was now a shadow of its former self. The devastation wrought by the destruction of the Celestial Vein had left it in ruins, with shattered fragments of the once-glorious core scattered across the floor.

The air was thick with the lingering scent of burnt ozone, and the walls were cracked and blackened, bearing the scars of the cataclysmic battle that had taken place.

As the Meng militia surrounded the entrance to the underground chamber, whispers spread among the surviving citizens who had witnessed the mobilization. Fear and curiosity mingled in the crowd as they watched the soldiers move with military precision. Many were still reeling from the events of the previous day, the tension in the air palpable.

They knew something significant was happening, but the specifics eluded them.

"Why are they surrounding the old core room?" one survivor whispered, his voice tinged with fear.

"Maybe Yan Jin is hiding there," another replied, clutching a small child to their chest. "But why would he? Isn't he the one who saved us?

"Who knows? The Meng family isn't exactly known for being merciful," a third person muttered darkly, casting a wary glance at the soldiers.

Inside the encircled chamber, Purple Spear Meng stood at the forefront, his spear at the ready. His eyes narrowed as he called out, "Yan Jin, come out. We can discuss the item." His voice echoed off the cold, stone walls, but there was no response. The silence was heavy, oppressive.

After a moment of waiting, Purple Pen Meng, ever the strategist, gave a curt nod. "Go in. He's still recovering from the fight; he won't pose much of a challenge."

With that, the militia charged forward, their steps echoing ominously as they descended into the core room. They moved cautiously, weapons drawn, eyes scanning every shadow for signs of movement. But as they swept through the chamber, they found nothing. No signs of a struggle, no trace of Yan Jin—just the shattered remnants of the core.

Once the room was secured, they signaled for Purple Pen Meng to enter. He moved slowly, his eyes taking in the scene, calculating. When he saw the faint glow emanating from the fractured core, his face darkened. The pieces of the core were slowly pulling back together, drawn by the faint pulse of life that now beat within the room.

At the center of this reformation was the stem cell, fusing seamlessly with the remnants of the vein

"The stem cell has fused with the core," Purple Pen Meng said, his voice heavy with resignation. "In a few hours, the vein will be restored. It's over. We lost."

Purple Spear Meng turned to him, incredulous. "What do you mean we lost? Yan Jin is gone, but we still have the core.

"He's probably long gone by now," Purple Pen Meng continued, his tone bitter. "With his schemes, we wouldn't find him even if we tried. I didn't expect to be outplayed by a junior. When you told me he was smart, you didn't mention he had such a manipulative mind. He outplayed us all in the fight for the stem cell and gave it up like it was nothing."

"Should we send a search squad?" Purple Spear Meng asked, frustration clear in his voice.

"It won't matter," Purple Pen Meng replied, shaking his head. "I still don't know how he did it."

"You have a royal-grade Steel Owl bloodline," Purple Spear Meng pressed, his confusion evident. "You were born with superior intelligence, so how did he outwit you?"

"Push me!" Purple Pen Meng snapped, his frustration bubbling over. Then, more quietly, he added, "Wisdom isn't the only metric of cunning. He gave me the respect of an opponent, and I treated him like a junior. That's how he beat me. As for the specifics... I'm not clear yet.

But let's prepare for the arrival of the officials. Yan Jin is no longer our problem."

With that, the Meng family began to withdraw, leaving the core room to its slow regeneration. Outside, the survivors watched as the militia retreated, confusion and unease spreading among them.