Chapter 250: The Peach Blossom Soul

Long Chapter

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The Vixen Spirits carrying the unconscious Alana were indeed heading straight for the Vixen Clan’s forbidden land, the Peach Blossom Immortal Realm.

Marcus, still hidden in his drifting white cloud form, followed them carefully.

For nearly twenty minutes he floated along the winding peach blossom path behind them, maintaining just enough distance to remain unnoticed. Then the path opened onto a breathtaking and unsettling sight.

Ahead of them stretched a vast river of pink liquid flowing through the air itself.

Under the sunlight it shimmered brilliantly, like a crimson current suspended in the sky, rolling and swirling in slow motion. The sight was strangely beautiful, yet the aura surrounding it carried a heavy sense of danger.

This was the infamous Peach Blossom Miasma.

Even Mythic Beasts treated it with caution.

The miasma was so concentrated that it behaved more like liquid than mist. Anyone who entered it would immediately suffer damage, even if they possessed extremely high resistance to poison and status effects. With ninety percent resistance you could survive for a while, but you would still be injured.

The Peach Blossom Immortal Realm lay hidden deep inside that barrier.

Because the miasma was so dense, it was impossible to see anything beyond its flowing pink surface.

Marcus felt his temples begin to ache.

One Eight-Tailed Vixen Spirit was already enough to make him wary. Now there were four of them walking together, each one easily capable of killing him with a single skill. Even though his cloud disguise had worked so far, he moved with extreme caution.

The Vixen Spirits, however, seemed completely unconcerned with their surroundings. None of them bothered to scan the sky, and naturally none of them noticed the faint white cloud drifting quietly nearby.

Still, that didn’t solve Marcus’s biggest problem. He had no way to enter the Peach Blossom Immortal Realm.

If he couldn’t get through the miasma barrier, then rescuing Alana was impossible.

Just as the thought began to sink in and frustration crept over him, the Vixen Spirits reached the edge of the miasma.

Marcus suddenly froze. His heartbeat sped up as a realization struck him.

They were carrying Alana with them. She was human. How were they planning to bring her through the miasma safely?

Hope flared inside him.

He fixed his gaze on the group below, watching every movement.

The Peach Blossom Miasma surrounding the forbidden land was not an ordinary phenomenon. It had formed naturally over more than ten thousand years, created from the accumulated petals, fragrance, fallen leaves, and spiritual essence of countless ancient peach trees growing throughout the Phantom Peach Grove. Nurtured by the grove’s unique energy, the miasma had become a barrier of tremendous power.

Only the Vixen Clan possessed a reliable way to pass through it.

The seductive constitution of the clan allowed an Eight-Tailed Vixen Spirit to circulate a secret technique known as the Jade Seduction Scripture. By activating it, they could release a protective aura that repelled the miasma and allowed them to pass unharmed.

The eight Three-Tailed Vixen Spirits accompanying them had no such ability.

Naturally, neither did Alana.

The four Eight-Tailed Vixen Spirits stepped forward together and formed a loose fan-shaped formation at the front of the group. The red silk ribbons wrapped around their arms began to glow with a brilliant crimson light.

As the light intensified, the Peach Blossom Miasma around them was pushed aside.

The red radiance spread outward like a giant umbrella, carving a hollow space inside the flowing river of pink liquid. Within that temporary pocket of safety, the eight Three-Tailed Vixen Spirits lifted the unconscious Alana and began walking forward.

Marcus’s eyes lit up.

This was it. His one and only chance.

He knew it was reckless. If he made the slightest mistake, the Eight-Tailed Vixen Spirits would detect him instantly and he would die before he could even react. But there was no other option.

While the four spirits concentrated on maintaining the protective barrier, Marcus accelerated.

Just before the Three-Tailed Vixen Spirits fully entered the miasma, his white cloud drifted forward and slipped quietly into the protective space beside them.

He moved slowly and carefully, blending with the mist as the group passed through the Peach Blossom Miasma.

It worked. No one noticed him.

Marcus nearly laughed in relief, though his heart was pounding so violently it felt ready to burst. Flying so close to four Eight-Tailed Vixen Spirits was practically suicide. If he were discovered, death would be the least of his worries. His character’s level would drop straight to zero.

Anyone would be nervous in a situation like this.

Perhaps because they were deep inside Vixen territory, the spirits had grown complacent. Or perhaps holding back the powerful miasma required enough concentration that they couldn’t spare attention for anything else.

Whatever the reason, Marcus successfully slipped through the legendary barrier.

The very same Peach Blossom Miasma that had stopped even a powerhouse like Silas the Wanderer had just allowed him to pass through unnoticed.

If he told anyone later, they probably would not believe it.

Sometimes luck really did decide everything.

The moment they crossed the barrier, the scenery ahead suddenly became bright and clear.

Before the Eight-Tailed Vixen Spirits could notice anything unusual, Marcus quickly guided his cloud form upward, rising nearly fifty meters into the air to observe the area below.

The Peach Blossom Immortal Realm was enormous. Even from that height, he could not see the edge of it.

The name “Immortal Realm” suddenly felt very appropriate.

Enchanting peach trees covered the landscape in every direction. Clear streams wound through soft green meadows, while elegant wooden houses and small ancient style buildings appeared here and there between the trees. A faint peach-colored mist drifted lazily through the air, giving the entire realm a tranquil, dreamlike beauty.

Birds flew freely above the fields, and small animals wandered peacefully through the grass.

The place was overflowing with life.

For a moment Marcus simply stared, then an unpleasant thought struck him. He had managed to get inside, but how was he supposed to get out?

Even if he rescued Alana, how would the two of them escape through the Peach Blossom Miasma while the Vixen Clan chased them?

His head started to hurt again.

’Forget it,’ he decided. ’I’ll deal with that when the time comes.’

For now, one step at a time.

Below him, the Vixen Spirits carried Alana toward the center of the realm.

Nine ancient peach trees stood there in a loose circle. Each trunk was so thick that three grown men linking arms might struggle to wrap around it. Their branches were lush and heavy with blossoms, clearly showing the signs of trees that had stood for several thousand years.

At the center of the nine trees lay a small circular pool about three meters wide.

The pool was filled entirely with pink peach petals, and from its surface rose a thick pink mist that slowly drifted into the surrounding air.

Floating about two meters above the pool was a fist-sized peach blossom formed entirely from swirling pink mist.

The small flower glowed softly as it rotated in place, continuously absorbing the surrounding mist from the realm as well as the petals drifting through the air. Even the Peach Blossom Miasma seemed to be drawn toward it.

Clearly, it was no ordinary object.

Unfortunately Marcus was too far away to use Insight and examine its attributes.

The Vixen Spirits approached the pool and gently laid the unconscious Alana onto a bamboo bed covered with petals. One of the spirits plucked a petal from the pool and waved it beneath her nose.

A moment later, Alana stirred. Her eyelashes fluttered as her clear eyes slowly opened. She looked around at the unfamiliar scenery and the Vixen Spirits standing nearby.

Alana was a very intelligent girl. It took her only a moment to understand what had happened. She had been brought deep into the heart of the Phantom Peach Grove.

Even if her grandfather somehow arrived here, there was no way he could rescue her from the center of the Vixen Clan’s territory. This was a place where outsiders rarely entered and almost never left.

Realizing her fate was likely sealed, Alana said nothing.

Instead, she gazed quietly at the beautiful scenery surrounding her, as if trying to imprint the sight into her memory before the end came. Bound by the red silk ribbons, she could not move.

Marcus watched from above.

’She really is beautiful,’ he thought.

Her sad expression, the helplessness in her eyes, and the refined elegance she carried naturally made her look fragile and delicate. Combined with her already striking appearance, the effect was almost unfair.

’Hey now,’ he thought wryly. ’Do you have any idea I’m here to rescue you? Don’t look so pitiful or I might start thinking you’re doing it on purpose.’

Joking aside, he knew he had to act soon.

If he failed to save her today, his level would still be reset as punishment for failing the quest. Since the result would be the same either way, there was no reason to hesitate.

Below, the Vixen Spirits finished arranging Alana on the bamboo bed. Then they turned toward the misty peach blossom floating above the pool and began chanting strange incantations.

After completing the ritual, they stepped back ten paces and knelt reverently on the ground.

Marcus frowned.

’What are they doing?’

According to what he knew, Alana possessed the Body of a Hundred Flowers. The Vixen Queen supposedly wanted her blood. Yet the Queen had not appeared, and instead these spirits were performing some sort of ritual.

’Was this some kind of sacrifice?’

Before he could figure it out, the misty peach blossom began spinning rapidly.

A brilliant pink light burst from it, illuminating the entire Peach Blossom Immortal Realm. The surrounding mist and drifting petals were sucked toward the spinning flower at astonishing speed.

As it spun faster and faster, the flower began to grow. First it expanded to the size of a bowl, then to the size of a table. Soon it was nearly a meter wide.

At last the giant blossom opened. Standing at its center was a slender, graceful figure.

There was no doubt about it, this was the Vixen Queen.

As her figure slowly emerged from the flower, every Vixen Spirit present lowered their heads deeply. Even the four Eight-Tailed Vixen Spirits remained kneeling, not daring to look directly at her.

Among Half-Beasts, especially within the Vixen Clan, hierarchy was absolute. The Queen’s authority was unquestionable.

Though her form was still partially blurred by the lingering mist, Marcus could already make out the most striking features. Her pointed fox ears, her eight magnificent tails, her breathtaking face, and the seductive curve of her posture gradually became clear.

Marcus inhaled sharply.

“Time to move.”

There was no time to admire the spectacle. While the Eight-Tailed Vixen Spirits remained bowed and the Queen had not yet fully stepped out of the flower, he seized the opportunity.

Marcus urged the Violet Thunderwing Steed downward. The steed dove silently toward the bamboo bed where Alana lay.

This sudden strike was probably his only chance.

None of the kneeling spirits noticed him.

’I’m so good it’s almost embarrassing’, he thought smugly as he reached the ground.

“Alana,” he whispered quickly, landing beside her. “I’m here to get you out of here.”

He immediately drew the Bat Dragon Cloud Sword and sliced through the red silk ribbons binding her.

“My Violet Thunderwing Steed can carry two people,” he added. “Can you ride?”

The system rules were annoying in moments like this. If an NPC did not agree, a player could not simply grab them and run, especially when it involved a female character. Harassment penalties were brutal.

Otherwise Marcus would have already scooped her up and flown away.

“Yes,” Alana answered softly.

For a moment she wondered if she was dreaming. The man standing before her, smiling and reaching out his hand, felt almost unreal.

Without thinking, she reached forward. It was the first time she had ever taken a man’s hand.

“Hold on tight,” Marcus said as he pulled her up onto the steed in front of him.

The moment she settled into place, a faint fragrance drifted toward him.

He blinked in surprise. ’She smells incredible.’

True to her Body of a Hundred Flowers, a delicate floral scent seemed to cling naturally to her, blending with her own subtle fragrance.

It was unexpectedly distracting.

The first step of the rescue had succeeded. Marcus was just about to take off when Alana turned slightly and looked back at him, her expression strangely hesitant.

“What is it?” he asked.

Being pressed so close to a man for the first time made Alana’s heart beat rapidly. The unfamiliar scent of him made her nervous, yet sitting there she also felt an odd sense of safety.

Remembering what she knew about the Peach Blossom Soul, she gathered her courage and spoke.

“That flower is called the Peach Blossom Soul,” she said quickly. “It formed over ten thousand years from the essence and petals of peach blossoms. It’s one of the Vixen Clan’s greatest treasures and one of the most powerful spiritual artifacts in Dreamland. The clan uses it to control the Peach Blossom Miasma.”

She took a breath and continued.

“But the Vixens are naturally seductive creatures. Their bodies lean toward negative energy, so their solar energy is weak. Because of that, the Peach Blossom Soul, which is aligned with lunar power, refuses to recognize them as its master.”

She pointed toward the flower.

“When the Vixen Queen fully steps out, you have to charge in and touch the Peach Blossom Soul. If you do, it should acknowledge you as its master.”

Marcus stared at her.

’Is she serious?’

She was basically asking him to charge straight at the Vixen Queen.

Anyone with common sense could tell that the Queen was the most dangerous monster in the entire clan. She was almost certainly far stronger than the Eight-Tailed Vixen Spirits.

Marcus had been planning to escape immediately. Now Alana was telling him to run toward the biggest threat in the area instead.

But she was the granddaughter of Silas Vance, the Saint Doctor. She clearly knew far more about the Vixen Clan than he did. She would not make such a suggestion without a reason.

If the Peach Blossom Soul accepted him as its master… Maybe he could control the miasma.

That was the only explanation that made sense.

“Giddy up!”

Marcus urged the Violet Thunderwing Steed forward, charging toward the ten-thousand-year-old Peach Blossom Soul.

At the same time he glanced down at Alana.

A soft glow surrounded her body as an elegant robe embroidered with countless flowers appeared over her clothing. The faint fragrance around her grew stronger, making her look even more refined and delicate, like a living blossom.

“Hundred Flowers Bloom,” she whispered.

The robe shimmered, and suddenly a hundred different flowers appeared around her, blooming in midair as they circled her body.

Noticing Marcus watching her, she gave him a small smile that was almost as beautiful as the flowers themselves. Then she raised her translucent green bamboo staff, the Asclepius’ Herbal Staff.

The battle was about to begin.

At that moment, the spinning Peach Blossom Soul finally stopped. From the center of the enormous flower stepped a Vixen Spirit with pointed ears and eight magnificent tails.

She was even more beautiful than the one Marcus had seen earlier in the valley.

This was truly the Vixen Queen.

For a brief moment Marcus felt stunned. She was easily the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He had once thought that Lily and the others were already the peak of beauty, yet the woman before him possessed an allure that surpassed them all.

Her face was breathtaking, her eyes full of seductive charm, and her presence carried an intoxicating aura that was almost impossible to resist.

The Vixen Queen had just stepped out when she noticed Marcus charging directly toward her and the Peach Blossom Soul behind her.

She panicked.

Instinctively she flicked a single peach blossom toward him before leaping backward to create distance.

A damage number appeared above Marcus’s head.

-30.

Marcus blinked.

’No way.’

He had fully expected to die instantly and trigger the effect of his Ring of Resurrection. Instead, the Vixen Queen’s attack had dealt only thirty points of damage.

For a moment he simply stared in disbelief.

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