A short silence stretched between them.
The wind brushed lightly against the courtyard stones.
Fang Yuan slowly turned back.
His expression was calm, almost indifferent.
"I'm afraid you're mistaken about me," he said evenly. "I am Fang Yuan. I came here from a lower realm. My current cultivation is at the Nascent Soul Realm."
His gaze met hers without wavering.
"As for the Vile Phantom Sect… I have no clue—"
"Crane Dance — Thousand Feather!"
Her voice cut through the air like a blade.
In an instant, the sky above the courtyard dimmed. Spiritual qi exploded outward in a spiraling surge.
Countless white feathers materialized midair, each one gleaming with razor-sharp intent.
They hovered silently above them, blotting out the light as if a flock of celestial cranes had descended to pass judgment.
The atmosphere turned suffocating.
Without hesitation, Fang Yuan's hand flashed to his side.
