C152 Transplanting Flowers

The Moonfall Sanctuary bordered the Silvermoon Empire. Numerous archdemons and goasts desperately attempted to traverse the massive archway, to no avail. Over time, the various alien souls and goasts resigned themselves to their fate. But today, out of the blue, the bronze monument—now significantly smaller—transformed into a beam of azure arc light and shot directly toward the arch.

All the goasts and archdemons watched in astonishment as the wall, which had long obstructed them, was effortlessly penetrated by the bronze monument! The surface of the monument was etched with inscriptions that shimmered like stars, leaving the onlookers awestruck.

In a flash, the bronze monument vanished from sight. The formidable goasts and devils sensed the enigmatic tablet's path as it made its way deep into the forbidden area, resembling a streak of green arc light.

"That bronze plate..." mused the azure-robed lad at the entrance of the forbidden area, turning to the Wraith Ape beside him. "What could it be? Perhaps one of the top ten most ferocious creatures within?"

The snow-white Wraith Ape, visibly excited, trembled as it watched the bronze monument depart. Grunting heavily, it hoisted a deep red stone pillar and charged toward the arch.

"Crack!" Nine bolts of lightning, like divine chains, lashed out from the depths of the arch. The Wraith Ape was struck, bloodied and howling, as it continued to roar at the arch, as if questioning why it alone was permitted entry.

"Fool!" The azure-robed lad sneered, observing the other alien souls rushing forward.

"Zap! Zap!" The alien souls, deeming themselves powerful, were reduced to smoke upon contact with the arch, struck down by the lightning.

The severe injuries sustained by the Wraith Ape and the other goasts eventually brought a moment of clarity to the remaining creatures. A crescent-shaped pendant floated before the azure-robed lad, and a wraith emerged from within, projecting a thought, "Why could that bronze plate pass through the wall?"

The lad cast a cold glance at the pendant, replying, "You're unaware of its origins?"

"I am a Moonfiend from the extraterrestrial realms; its origins are beyond my knowledge," retorted the Moonfiend concealed within the pendant, snorting dismissively. "My kin who once roamed the forbidden area have all perished. Relying on them is futile now."

The azure-robed lad's face was grim as he spoke, "The breach of the barrier by the bronze plate is a sign. I fear the Soulforge Matrix is on the verge of failure."

At his words, excitement surged among the alien souls and goasts.

All were eagerly anticipating the moment the wall of the forbidden area would fail.

...

Deep within the forbidden area, the ancient White Walker let his true soul leave his body to demonstrate his earnestness.

He prostrated himself before the yet unseen sinner of the Boulderdawn Sect, devoid of any sense of shame.

Yu Yuan was utterly stunned.

"White Walker, we welcome your emergence!"

"I have brought this coffin lid here to break the seal, to aid in your return to the light of day."

"The young man, Yu Yuan, is a sword-bearer recognized by the sword spirit. His power is meager, and his connection with the Soulforge Matrix is weak; he poses no threat."

"The young lady I have captured can serve as a temporary vessel for you until a more suitable body is found."

"Hantian and Indigo Wraith are both sealed within the inner world, unable to escape. Upon your awakening, you can choose to either assimilate or destroy them with your Soul Power, as you wish."

"My lord, ever since learning of your whereabouts and your great deeds, White Walker has longed to follow you."

"I hope that upon your return, White Walker may find a place in your service."

"..."

The Terra Fiend White Walker swore his allegiance.

To her, Yu Yuan, Lin Zhuyun, and even Hantian and Indigo Wraith were mere stepping stones, sacrificed to curry favor with the sinner of Boulderdawn. White Walker had cast aside all concern for his reputation.

Yet, whether the one within the bronze coffin had even awakened was still unknown.

"Lord White Walker, are you truly so fearful?"

As Yu Yuan spoke, the sword light branded on his arms burned unbearably.

White Walker remained silent, not sparing him a glance, his focus entirely on the bronze coffin.

"I'll give it a try!"

Unable to restrain himself any longer, Yu Yuan directed both arms toward the bronze coffin below, his intent aligning with the sword spirit.

"Rumble!"

Thunder and lightning, thick as waterfalls, cascaded from the surging clouds above.

The pitch-black night sky was suddenly as bright as day!

Yu Yuan had lost his hearing, and his eyes stung with a faint pain.

The aura from the hundred fearsome bolts of lightning seemed intent on obliterating everything in their path!

It was as if the creatures of this world had provoked the wrath of an ancient deity wielding the thunder, bringing down a divine punishment to annihilate every trace of life below.

Not even ants and locusts were spared.

Yu Yuan, the catalyst of this chaos, felt utterly insignificant under such celestial might.

From deep within the earth, beams of sword light burst forth as if a Grand Sword Immortal from a bygone era had summoned them from the mysterious depths of the Otherworld.

Each beam of sword light bore the mark of an ancient sword spell, a seemingly lost truth of swordsmanship.

Heaven's thunder and earth's sword truths struck in unison.

"Whoosh!"

The bronze monument at Yu Yuan's feet trembled, shaking off the remaining chains and vines binding it into ash and luminescence.

The monument, like a colossal shield wielded by a demon, hovered over the bronze coffin, shielding it from the relentless barrage of lightning.

"Aooo!"

Inside the monument, the Stormcrowned Emperor and the Sky Fiend Indigo Wraith howled in frenzy.

Yu Yuan was astounded to see that the terrifying lightning from the heavens vanished into the face of the monument in an instant, disappearing into its inner realm.

Within this little world, the Stormcrowned Emperor and the Sky Fiend Indigo Wraith watched as the bolts of lightning transformed into thunderous dragons, forced to withstand the onslaught with their formidable Soul Power.

"Channeling the lightning into the coffin for Hantian and Indigo Wraith to dissipate?"

Yu Yuan was taken aback, never having imagined that the unborn one could employ such a tactic to redirect the forbidden area's most fearsome strikes onto Hantian and Indigo Wraith.

Both Hantian and Indigo Wraith were among the top ten formidable beings of the forbidden area, locked in an age-old struggle.

The two individuals trapped within the confines of the coffin lid, unable to emerge, inadvertently shielded the one below from disaster.

Yu Yuan turned his attention to the sword lights that were bursting forth from deep underground.

"Swoosh!"

The ghostly white figure of the Terra Fiend, known as the White Walker, appeared to be yanked forcibly into Zhao Jian's body. Before the figure could fully integrate with Zhao Jian, a stream of green light burst forth from the open coffin.

This stream of green light, shimmering with crystalline inscriptions and clusters of alien souls, surged forth. In a flash, it penetrated Zhao Jian's forehead and stormed into his mud pellet.

Zhao Jian, or the White Walker, let out a stifled groan as his face contorted in agony. Bizarre inscriptions, reminiscent of ancient tattoos, emerged from beneath his skin, becoming increasingly distinct.

Zhao Jian's visage turned malevolent and grim, with mysterious inscriptions flitting about like flies within his silver-white pupils.

"White Walker, I thank you for this boon!"

Inhabiting Zhao Jian's form, the White Walker and the Terra Fiend soared downwards, heading for the area beneath the bronze coffin.

A peculiar aura emanated from the White Walker, as if the entity within the bronze coffin had transferred its essence onto the White Walker through a crafty exchange.

"Puff! Puff! Puff!"

In a moment, a barrage of fierce, ancient sword lights impaled Zhao Jian. His fleshly body held out for mere seconds before exploding into a cloud of blood mist.

Within the mist, the spectral white figure of the Terra Fiend was ensnared by a green light. A relentless onslaught of sword lights pursued the figure, seeking the White Walker's true soul.

The green light stream hauled the White Walker from the depths of the earth, ascending towards the bronze coffin suspended in midair. The lethal sword lights pursued without mercy.

The light that signified the White Walker's true soul was utterly beyond control, entirely engulfed by the green light, deprived of any autonomy.

Hantian, White Walker, and Indigo Wraith—three formidable beings of the forbidden area—were led by the nose, powerless to resist.

Simultaneously, Yu Yuan perceived a lucid thought transmitted by the sword spirit. He cast his gaze into the distance.

As revealed by the sword spirit, even with the lid now attached, the bronze coffin remained incomplete.

The reason the bronze coffin had not fully awakened was because it was missing a crucial piece!

Another piece of the bronze monument, shrunk down millions of times, hovered at the entrance of the forbidden area, having devoured Van Le's own bronze monument!

It seemed that only when this fragment joined with the others could he truly awaken from his deep slumber.

"Shatter that fragment!"

The will of the sword spirit became crystal clear, incessantly communicating with Yu Yuan.

The sword spirit was adamant that he must, at any cost, obliterate the smallest piece of the bronze monument—the coffin lid—into smithereens!

​