C1821 Han Qi

Han Qi stood atop the shimmering peak of the diminutive mountain, his smile radiating as he nodded in acknowledgment to Yu Yuan and Tan Junshan. His demeanor was the epitome of composure, betraying no fear or unease—even in the presence of Yu Yuan, who had even Han Miaoyuan stepping aside, and Tan Junshan, who watched the Sword Prison with predatory intent. This alone raised many questions.

Despite being from the Ebon Star, Han Qi had earned the Sword Sect's approval. Following in Nie Qingtian's footsteps, he had become the guardian of the new Sword Prison on the extraterrestrial plane. Clearly, Han Qi was far from the simple character he claimed to be.

Yet, to Yu Yuan and Tan Junshan, Han Qi appeared to be of an unremarkable realm, showing no signs of exceptional ability. He was merely in the early stages of Spirit Walk...

"Spirit Walk, and merely at the outset. How are you able to wander the extraterrestrial?" Tan Junshan's gaze was as piercing as a cold moon. After scrutinizing Han Qi intently, his bewilderment only deepened. "Your surname is Han. Could it be... you're a descendant of Han?"

"To some extent, you could say there's a connection," Han Qi replied with a dry chuckle. He gestured dismissively to Loong Tianxiao, signaling that his presence was no longer required. With that, Loong Tianxiao quickly withdrew to the base of the mountain.

In a dazzling display, Han Qi's body suddenly shone with the same luster as the mountain beneath him. Yu Yuan observed something extraordinary at that moment: as Han Qi's body illuminated, a rich Yin Qi filled his little world of vitality, with specks of silver light beginning to materialize. It was the Shadow Moon Essence!

However, Han Qi's physical form, still in the early stages of Spirit Walk, emitted a barely perceptible scent of flesh and blood, giving off an eerie, spectral aura. Even the radiant mountain seemed to Yu Yuan as foreboding as the Shadow Mountain in the Land of Terror, a place thick with Yin Qi and ideally suited for nurturing ghosts and spirits.

What's more, deep within Han Qi's Mindscape, there was an absence of the Lunar Spirit. His real body contained a dominant soul and a heaven soul that had yet to evolve into a Solar Spirit, but the Lunar Spirit was conspicuously missing, as if it belonged to something beyond.

Han Qi was unmistakably in the Star River, a far cry from the vast expanse of the Everlands, and certainly not the Land of Terror.

Spirit Walk cultivators, let alone those at the Divine Level of the Solar Spirit, would seldom dare to traverse the extraterrestrial realms in their true form.

Han Qi was not only a Spirit Walk cultivator in the extraterrestrial, but his Lunar Spirit also appeared to be in a state of Spirit Walk.

For a Spirit Walk Realm cultivator's Lunar Spirit to roam the cosmos seemed tantamount to seeking one's own demise.

"Old Han and Youyu ventured together into the Wraithlands. I'm the reason he could pinpoint the Wraithlands' location and navigate there accurately," Han Qi said with a light chuckle, explaining, "Naturally, we initially learned of the Wraithlands' coordinates and direction through Dhoreus."

Upon hearing this, Yu Yuan and Tan Junshan looked visibly shaken.

"Years ago, when Dhoreus reached the pinnacle of the Ghost King Realm, he realized the Everlands had not yet developed the conditions to forge a God of Ghosts. After consulting the Root of the Lunar Meridian, he set off for the extraterrestrial Star River."

"Dhoreus had his sights set on the Wraithlands, aiming to ascend to the God of Ghosts through it."

"He indeed located the Wraithlands, but tragically, Nie Qingtian cut him down before he could enter. At that time, Nie Qingtian was still devoted to Han, and he relayed all the information he had gleaned from Dhoreus to him."

"My own cultivation journey diverged from the practices of the Ebon Star. As you know, Han gained the most after the Bloodbrawlers vanished. Their Soul Refining Technique included specialized methods for honing the Lunar Spirit and forbidden arts for creating Voodoo Shades."

"My practice emphasized refining the Lunar Spirit, using it to pursue necromancy while still among the living. My real body was more than sufficient for the Spirit Walk. The Solar Spirit, the Dominant Soul, and this physical form were of little consequence to me."

"Not long after my breakthrough into the Spirit Walk, Han arranged for my Lunar Spirit to be dispatched to the Wraithlands."

"I had already begun my training in the Wraithlands before Han Qi and Youyu. There, my real body and Lunar Spirit were in a state of permanent separation. Until my Lunar Spirit returned from the Wraithlands, my real body in the Everlands remained oblivious to the extent of its cultivation."

"I only recently discovered that my Lunar Spirit... Hehe," Han Qi said with a wry smile, choosing not to delve deeper into that subject. Instead, he steered the conversation in a new direction. "As for the newly established Sword Prison, do you think Lin Daoke will let me stand guard? After all, I brought this Shadow Mountain from the Wraithlands. It's only fitting that I guard the Sword Prison that was forged from the Shadow Mountain I extracted."

Han Qi seemed to have come to a realization. From the moment he made his role as the guardian of the Sword Prison known, it became difficult for him to conceal his remarkable abilities. "That's pretty much it."

While he was speaking, the Sword Prison, crafted from Shadow Mountain, suddenly veered away from Yu Yuan and headed towards the battleground where Lin Daoke and Soul-Capturing were engaged in combat. "I'm quite interested in learning a thing or two from Soul-Capturing myself."

"Youyu and I have tread similar paths. Oh, and by the way, forging the Path into Shadow doesn't depend on the essence of the Everlands."

With a whoosh, the Sword Prison, heavy with Yin Qi, began to move away from Yu Yuan and Tan Junshan, yet Han Qi kept his gaze fixed on them. "A God of Ghosts! Could it be that we're in the presence of another God of Ghosts?" Tan Junshan exclaimed in astonishment.

"Dhoreus once aspired to achieve something but fell short. It seems Han Qi might have succeeded where he did not. He didn't rely on the Everlands or pass through the Root of the Lunar Meridian; he went straight to the Wraithlands, the birthplace of the Lunar Meridian. Maybe it's the enigma of the Wraithlands that allowed him to ascend to a God of Ghosts," Yu Yuan mused, looking at the Sword Prison that had once been Shadow Mountain. "If I'm not mistaken, his Lunar Spirit is currently within that mountain!"

"He and Youyu, one in the Everlands and the other in the extraterrestrial Wraithlands, have both attained the status of God of Ghosts. It's uncertain who came first or who is the stronger of the two." Tan Junshan, who had initially intended to storm the prison, was overawed by the enigmatic Han Qi and refrained from taking action.

"Haha!" Han Qi's laughter echoed from afar as he proclaimed, "Oh, and another thing. With just a thought, I can consume the Lunar Spirits of those imprisoned within the Sword Prison or transform them into ghosts. So, what will you two do? Unless you want Duan Yisheng and Zhongli Dapan to be reduced to ghosts, I'd suggest you both take a moment to cool down."

The Sword Prison soared through the cosmos, and atop the peak of Shadow Mountain, Han Qi did not neglect to caution his companions.

"What's your take on this?"

Tan Junshan inhaled deeply, aware that they were in the Annihilation Nebula. Besides the Soul-Capturing God-King, there were also Taishi, Tianqi, and Taixu, three other God-Kings. Knowing that Duan Yisheng was unharmed, he maintained his composure.

"Han Qi's abrupt arrival in the Annihilation Nebula, especially with the unique Sword Prison in tow, is a clear indication that he's targeting Soul-Capturing."

Tan Junshan's eyes fixed on a distant crescent moon, as if through it, he could discern the whereabouts of Soul-Capturing and Lin Daoke. "Soul-Capturing won't be defeated by this, will she?"

Yu Yuan also saw the bigger picture, surmising that Han Qi's presence might be at the behest of Han Miaoyuan to stir up trouble in the Annihilation Nebula.

If Soul-Capturing were to lose, the hard-earned prestige of the Boulderdawn would suffer a significant blow.

Numerous extraterrestrial powerhouses, both overtly and covertly, were focused on this confrontation. Soul-Capturing, who could match Lin Daoke blow for blow, was currently riding a wave of momentum, commanding the respect of countless Otherkin.

Should she fall due to Han Qi's intervention, it would deal a crushing blow to both Soul-Capturing and the Boulderdawn.

"Oh, and one more thing. Han accompanied Youyu into the Wraithlands, deliberately making it difficult for Youyu to leave with ease. In doing so, he's afforded me an opportunity."

"The remnants of the Lunar Meridian, sealed beneath the Land of Terror, will be smelted by me."

"The cycle of life and death for all beings in the Everlands will now be under my control, a task Han once aspired to accomplish. I owe a debt of gratitude to Soul-Capturing for removing various hindrances, enabling a smooth transition of power."

Han Qi said, still smiling.

"Don't get ahead of yourself."

The Dragon Slaying Stage teleported once more, blocking the path of the Sword Prison. Seated on the luminescent surface, he addressed Han Qi, a potential God of Ghosts, "Let's put Soul-Capturing aside for a moment. Would you indulge me by demonstrating the esoteric and mystical powers of the Lunar Spirit you've cultivated in the Wraithlands?"

Whoosh!

Yu Yuan's Lunar Spirit emerged from his brow and hovered above his head. He waved at Han Qi as if to greet him and said, "My Lunar Spirit is here. Care to try and see if you can devour it, transforming it into a ghost?"

"The Wraithbinding technique of the God-King Taiyin is truly unique."

The Sword Prison beneath Han Qi came to a halt. He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the Lunar Spirit that had separated from Yu Yuan's body. "Most cultivators at the Unbound Stage wouldn't dare to let their Lunar Spirit linger in the depths of space without the protection of a wall. Your Lunar Spirit... it's a substantial nourishment for me."

Suddenly, a powerful suction erupted from the Sword Prison!

This bizarre force was so strong that even Tan Junshan, who was further away, couldn't resist it. His Lunar Spirit was pulled out uncontrollably and vanished into the Sword Prison in an instant.

"You managed to last a bit longer, but... who told you to leave your body?"

With Han Qi's taunting voice echoing, Yu Yuan's Lunar Spirit was also drawn into the Sword Prison.

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