Chapter 1346: Trapped in a Grand Array
Yun Yao’s attitude was remarkably casual. Logically, an Emissary of Death, when facing two Guardians, would never dare to be so informal, for even a single rank higher holds crushing authority. Moreover, the Underworld Office’s hierarchy comprised only a few distinct levels, meaning that each ascent in rank represented a considerable leap in status.
An Emissary of Death, standing before a Guardian, was effectively no different from a Night Watcher standing before an Emissary of Death. Therefore, under normal circumstances, an Emissary of Death would always mind their words and actions when encountering a Guardian, regardless of whether they were their direct superior.
However, Yun Yao paid absolutely no heed to this. Not only did she display no trace of restraint when facing both Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing, two Guardians, simultaneously, but she also presented her congratulatory gift to Yang Haoran with extreme nonchalance. It was less like an Emissary of Death interacting with a Guardian and more akin to the natural camaraderie between close friends.
Yang Haoran, for his part, didn't mind Yun Yao’s casual demeanor; in fact, he wouldn't even think to take it to heart. This wasn't because it was his and Xu Meijing's joyous wedding day and he wished to avoid contention with Yun Yao. Rather, he simply had no intention of being particular with Yun Yao, even if it weren't his and Xu Meijing's momentous wedding day. The reason was simple: in his heart, he had already come to regard Yun Yao as a friend, and he had never been one to nitpick or complicate interactions between friends.
Yang Haoran offered his thanks while accepting the congratulatory gift Yun Yao extended to him. After exchanging a few more polite pleasantries, he watched Yun Yao make her way into the living room.
No sooner had Yun Yao left than Yang Haoran heard Xu Meijing's cold huff.
"Hmph, her arrival seems to have quite excited you."
Xu Meijing's face was clouded, her tone exceedingly unfriendly. Yang Haoran, hearing her words, offered a wry smile before hastily beginning to explain.
Yang Haoran denied it flatly, but Xu Meijing's face was etched with disbelief.
"Heh, I was right next to you, quietly watching the two of you flirt. You even started to stammer. And you say you weren't excited?"
Xu Meijing gave a cold laugh before speaking, her words causing Yang Haoran's mouth to twitch involuntarily a few times.
"She and I were just having a normal conversation, and only for a few sentences at that. There was no flirting whatsoever; I'm not taking the blame for that. As for why I stammered when I faced her, it wasn't because I was excited. It was out of awkwardness and a guilty conscience, because this time, for our wedding, I didn't even invite her."
At this point, the helplessness on Yang Haoran's face intensified, joined by a touch of shame.
"Although I haven't had much contact with her, she's still a friend, no matter how you look at it. The last time I became a Guardian, she even specially sent a congratulatory gift. But for this grand occasion, our wedding, I didn't invite her, and yet she still came on her own. Do you think I could help but feel awkward and guilty?"
After listening to Yang Haoran's explanation, Xu Meijing let out a cold laugh, then asked.
"Heh, if there's nothing between you two, why didn't you invite her?"
Yang Haoran shook his head with a wry smile, then replied.
"Last time, when she sent a congratulatory gift, you were already very displeased. I didn't want you to misunderstand, so I didn't invite her. I just didn't expect her to come anyway."
In truth, Yang Haoran had initially considered inviting Yun Yao to his wedding, but the thought that Xu Meijing might develop some misunderstanding from it made him feel too ashamed to send her an invitation. What left him speechless, however, was that even after going to such lengths, he still managed to overturn Xu Meijing's jar of vinegar.
His explanation at this moment was neither a complaint nor an outlet for his displeasure. He simply wanted to clarify the situation, lest Xu Meijing continue to misunderstand.
As for Xu Meijing, she hadn't originally known Yun Yao. Back when Yun Yao had sent a congratulatory gift to Yang Haoran, Xu Meijing had investigated her, which was why she could recognize Yun Yao at a glance today.
"Oh? So, it seems I should thank you for being so incredibly considerate of me."
Xu Meijing's words dripped with sarcasm. Yang Haoran could tell that Xu Meijing didn't seem to believe his explanation, but he had no intention of continuing to explain. He knew that the more he explained, the more complicated things would become. Thus, he decisively chose to change the subject.
"Heh heh, it's time for the wedding ceremony to begin. We can't keep lingering here; it wouldn't be good to make the guests wait too long."
Yang Haoran smiled as he reminded her, though his smile still appeared somewhat forced.
Xu Meijing gave a cold snort and, without a word, turned and walked towards the living room. Yang Haoran knew that Xu Meijing's jealousy hadn't yet dissipated, so he didn't dwell on her attitude. He smiled wryly, then quickly followed after Xu Meijing.
Luo Yao had still not appeared, which indeed left Yang Haoran feeling very puzzled. However, he wouldn't delay his and Xu Meijing's wedding for this reason. After all, to him, the proper proceeding of his wedding with Xu Meijing was far more important than continuing to wait for Luo Yao.
As Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing entered the living room, in a dark realm, a lone figure was manipulating three Soul Armaments, continuously assaulting the restriction barrier within. This person was none other than Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing's direct superior, the Jingling Great Emperor Luo Yao.
From the current situation, it was clear why Luo Yao hadn't attended Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing's wedding on time: he was trapped in this dark realm.
At this moment, Luo Yao's face was grim, his expression exceedingly unsightly. Dense Yin Qi surged from his body, boiling upwards like the fury in his heart. As time ticked by, his rage intensified with increasing ferocity.
Originally, he had planned to attend Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing's wedding today. After all, these two were not only Guardians under his command but also Guardians he had personally promoted. Yang Haoran, in particular, was deeply valued by him, so he absolutely had to attend this wedding.
Yet, he had never imagined that before he even reached Yang Haoran's Guardian District, he would be lured to this place and trapped within this grand array.
The grand array not only projected an exceedingly sturdy restriction barrier, but it also possessed powerful offensive capabilities. These attacks were immensely destructive, posing a significant threat even to him, which was why he dared not be careless in the slightest.
He had been trapped within this grand array for a full hour. Throughout that hour, he had fended off all the array's offensive techniques and had even seized opportunities to attack the restriction barrier it emitted, for if he could successfully break through the restriction barrier, he would be able to escape this dark realm.
During this process, he had sustained no significant injuries thanks to his formidable strength, but the Spirit Power within his body had been considerably depleted. He was not stingy with his Spirit Power; if he could break through the grand array in the shortest possible time, then expending some Spirit Power would be well worth it. The problem, however, was that his Spirit Power had been consumed, yet the grand array remained unbroken. Facing such an outcome, how could his expression possibly be pleasant?
As for why he didn't tear through space to escape this grand array, he had not only considered this idea but had also attempted it, though it had proven futile. Despite his power, he was actually unable to tear space within this grand array.
Such a situation typically implied only two possibilities. The first was that the grand array had reinforced the space here, and his abilities were insufficient to tear through the solidified space.
The other possibility was that this grand array possessed some special, approved ability, specifically targeting spatial transmission. Thus, while inside this grand array, one could not tear space to teleport—at least, he could not achieve it.
Which possibility was the truth didn't matter to Luo Yao. What mattered was that he truly could not leave this place by tearing through space. This outcome infuriated and vexed him, which was precisely why he had decided to use brute force to resolve the problem, forcibly breaking through the grand array here.
Yet, he had already spent an hour here and still hadn't succeeded. The intensity of the rage in his heart was easily imaginable.
At this moment, under the fierce assault of his three Soul Armaments, the restriction barrier unleashed by the grand array merely trembled violently. Not a single crack appeared, nor was there any sign of it shattering.
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