Chapter 50: That Detestable Mara-Struck!!!

Xianzhou Luofu, Cloudford.

"Strange... why isn't anyone here?"

After leaving the teahouse, Fu Xuan took on her role as a proper tour guide, showing Lumina around the various wonders and scenic spots of Xianzhou Luofu.

Their exploration continued until nightfall, when they paused at Cloudford.

Fu Xuan muttered, gazing at the empty docks.

"What's wrong?" Lumina asked, feigning ignorance.

"N-nothing," Fu Xuan replied, shaking her head to clear her thoughts. "I haven't received any notifications, so there shouldn't be any problems..."

Still, better to be cautious, she thought, deciding to remain vigilant.

Fu Xuan glanced at the darkening sky and said to Lumina, "This is Cloudford, Xianzhou Luofu's main trading port. Goods from all over the universe are transported through here."

"We can discuss the details tomorrow. It's getting late, so let's call it a day."

"Okay," Lumina nodded without hesitation.

"Let's head back the way we came," Fu Xuan said, a growing unease settling in her heart as she surveyed the deserted dock.

Hiss... Haaah...

Just as they were about to leave, a hoarse, raspy cry echoed through the air.

Fu Xuan froze, her expression instantly turning grim. As a native of Xianzhou Luofu, she would never forget that distinctive sound.

She pressed a finger to her lips, signaling Lumina to be silent, then moved forward soundlessly toward the cry's origin. Lumina followed closely behind, matching Fu Xuan's stealth.

They skirted past towering stacks of shipping containers, the hoarse cry growing steadily louder, the distance between them shrinking with each step.

Finally, they ducked behind a container, peering cautiously around the corner toward the sound's source.

"Just as I suspected," Fu Xuan murmured, her grave expression tinged with confusion.

Why would this thing be here? Where's the Cloud Knights?

Something was wrong. The unnatural silence of Cloudford suggested that the Cloud Knights stationed there might have met with disaster.

Realizing this, Fu Xuan quickly withdrew her head, pulled out her phone, and sent a series of messages to Jing Yuan, informing him of the situation at Cloudford.

When only one appears in plain sight, it's not because there's only one. It's because the hidden ranks are already teeming with them...

If Fu Xuan's suspicions were correct, this crisis could be far more serious than they had initially imagined.

"What is that thing?" Lumina asked, feigning ignorance as she stared at the creature.

Though clad in Cloud Knight armor, countless golden tendrils sprouted from every orifice, giving it a disturbingly grotesque appearance.

"It's a Mara-Struck," Fu Xuan replied tersely. After sending the message, she cautiously peeked out again, her gaze fixed on the creature.

Lumina nodded silently, then extended her mental senses. She discovered that the Stellaron had indeed entered Luofu, but it remained dormant.

The mere aura emanating from the Ambrosial Arbor, combined with its power of Abundance, had already driven many into the clutches of Mara.

Ting-a-ling... Ting-a-ling...

A piercing ring suddenly shattered the serene silence.

Lumina glanced over and saw Fu Xuan's phone vibrating. Without a second thought, she knew it was a message from Jing Yuan.

Fu Xuan: ...

"Run!"

Seeing the situation, Fu Xuan didn't even bother to check the message. She quickly turned off her phone, grabbed Lumina's hand, and pulled her into a sprint.

If it were just one Mara-Struck creature, Fu Xuan wouldn't have panicked. But the environment in Cloudford was far too eerie. She wasn't foolish enough to charge blindly into the unknown with Lumina in tow.

Lumina: o(* ̄▽ ̄*)ブ

Looking at the reassuring Fu Xuan and feeling the warmth of her hand, Lumina felt her happiness levels fully replenished for the next few days.

Hiss... hah!!!

Though Fu Xuan had reacted swiftly, the Mara-Struck monster moved even faster. With a ferocious roar, it charged toward them.

"Hmph!" Sensing the Mara-Struck creature closing in, Fu Xuan knew that fleeing wasn't the best option. She stopped, released Lumina's small hand, and let out a cold snort.

As the warmth vanished from her hand, Lumina's expression turned terrifying. Her gaze fixed coldly on the Mara-Struck, her eyes burning with such hatred that she seemed determined to obliterate its very soul.

The Mara-Struck: ???

Even in its corrupted state, the Mara-Struck's soul felt a flicker of primal fear under that intense gaze, causing it to freeze in place, utterly dumbfounded.

Seizing the opportunity, Fu Xuan didn't waste time wondering why the creature had stopped. She raised her sword fingers, a faint light emanating from their tips, and gently tapped its weak point.

A burst of pink light erupted from within the Mara-Struck, instantly annihilating it.

As the creature's presence dissipated, Fu Xuan remained vigilant, her expression growing even more wary.

The commotion had been immense. Perhaps... Fu Xuan and Lumina were already surrounded.

Thump... thump... thump...

Just as Fu Xuan had feared, countless heavy footsteps echoed through Cloudford, shattering its tranquil atmosphere with a cacophony of noise.

Hah... hah... hah...

Fu Xuan's expression darkened as she surveyed their surroundings. There was no doubt now—they were completely encircled.

"Lumina, you... you're capable of holding your own in a fight, right?" Back-to-back with Lumina, feeling the power radiating from her, Fu Xuan asked gravely.

Lumina smiled in response. With a gentle wave of her hand, a jade-green staff materialized in her grip.

Gazing at the nearly hundred Mara-Struck creatures closing in, she murmured softly, "Not many, but enough."

"Hah... hah..."

Barely a moment had passed, but Fu Xuan, surveying the chaotic scene around her, took deep, steadying breaths.

Though no weakling, Fu Xuan was ultimately just a diviner. The relentless onslaught of nearly a hundred Mara-Struck had drained her reserves, leaving her both physically and mentally exhausted.

Quickly regulating her breathing, she waited until a sliver of strength returned before pulling out her phone. She relayed the full extent of the situation to Jing Yuan.

Nearly a hundred Mara-Struck... This can't be all of them...

Noticing Fu Xuan's weary state, Lumina stepped behind her and gently placed a palm on her back. A soft green glow emanated from her hand, soothing Fu Xuan's fatigue.

"Thank you," Fu Xuan murmured gratefully as her body returned to normal.

Taking another deep breath, she tucked away her phone and declared:

"Let's get out of here," Fu Xuan said, quickening her pace.

"Mm," Lumina nodded and followed behind.

They hadn't gone far when a powerful, aggressively invasive force suddenly erupted, only to vanish just as abruptly. Though fleeting, both of them sensed it.

"What... what was that?" Fu Xuan's small face was filled with shock as she tried to make sense of the lingering energy.

Even though it had lasted only a moment, the intensely invasive aura had left its mark on her.

Lumina remained impassive. She glanced briefly in the direction the aura had originated from before turning away, unconcerned.

The Stellaron... it flared.