C1891 Was It You?

The Frost Queen, her form shimmering with an icy sheen, harnessed the power of the Crucible of Evil to amplify her own devil soul. Moments later, a subtle purple glow emanated from her, seeping into the fissured rocks of Shadow Mountain.

Boom! Pop! Pop!

The twisted vegetation that thrived on Shadow Mountain shattered under her formidable power. In their final moments, the grotesque plants emitted howls of despair, as if they possessed a form of intelligence, a different kind of life.

The Frost Queen paid them no heed. With a casual wave of her hand, she sent forth a swath of ice that gleamed like a blade of light, slicing through the more resilient flora and purging them with her magic power.

In no time, the mountain was cleansed, its rocks gleaming with a silvery sheen. The once-dominant plants of the Wraithlands were reduced to debris and weeds, tumbling into the currents of the Levi River, vanishing in an instant.

Where the menacing vegetation once stood, now bizarre flowers emerged, etched upon the stone faces of the mountain. These were not real blossoms but patterns that exuded a subtle aura, emitting a unique signal.

As a Star-Spawned Terror herself, the Frost Queen, upon ascending to a mighty Bane, had awakened the memories of her past life and was well-versed in the mystique of the Sky Fiend clan.

"Lord Kaiya appears to be highly skilled in the Spirit Magic of the Sky Fiend; she's remarkably familiar with us..." Frost Queen mused, recalling Yu Zhu's words. She knew that the Soul-Capturing God-King was named Kaiya and that after the confrontation in the Annihilation Nebula, Kaiya and Han Qi had journeyed to the Wraithlands together. However, she was unaware that Kaiya was not only a member of the Star-Spawned Terrors but also the offspring of the Demon God Bertain.

"I'll go see what she has left behind."

With Yu Yiyi's consent, the Frost Queen departed from the Crucible of Evil and approached the rock wall adorned with the most extensive array of flowers.

"It looks like the clash between Han Qi and Kaiya began the moment they set foot here," Yu Yuan observed, his gaze sweeping over the fractured landscape of Shadow Mountain. He surmised that both Han Qi and Kaiya had accessed the Wraithlands through the enigmatic patterns of the palace, just as Youyu, Han Miaoyuan, and the others had emerged from the same domain, regardless of their point of entry.

Han Qi and Kaiya certainly didn't waste any time after they arrived in the Wraithlands. During their clash, the spray of magic power and Soul Power left traces on the Shadow Mountains.

The marks Kaiya left behind were imbued with her magic power, transforming into symbols resembling flowers.

These floral symbols, in turn, drew the attention of numerous menacing plants within the Wraithlands, which eagerly took root.

It appeared they were trying to draw nutrients from the symbols to bolster their own growth.

"How are you unaware of the war that took place here?"

Yu Yuan peered down at the bewildered Caren from atop the Crucible of Evil, his brow furrowed. "Han Qi and a formidable outsider had an intense battle here. How could you not know?"

Caren responded without hesitation, "Because I only arrived recently."

Before Yu Yuan could probe further, Caren hastily continued, "I am aware that a disaster occurred in this region before my arrival. All the ghosts that were previously stationed here were impacted; not one escaped."

"They all perished, leaving no survivors, nor any clues."

Caren's tone was grave.

Yu Yiyi expressed her astonishment, "So you're saying... the former ghosts perished due to that disaster? And you, along with the current ghosts, arrived afterward?"

Caren nodded, his voice tinged with unease, "For decades, even centuries, such an event would not recur here. The residual souls that drift in from the outside are mostly feeble and fragmented. The number of living creatures that enter is exceedingly rare. And as for the Sky Fiend... the Wraithlands are devoid of them."

"Hold on."

Yu Yuan cut him off, his gaze sweeping over the Levi River and the surrounding terrain, his senses alert.

Indeed!

Within the Levi River and the nearby Shadow Mountains, there were residual souls from various Otherkin and ghosts practicing necromancy.

Among them were the Starborn, Shura, enchantresses, Stoneborn, Silverscale Tribe, Shadowkin, Wingkind, and Voidweavers...

Yet, there was no sign of a Sky Fiend!

"No Sky Fiend? You're telling me that the most powerful Sky Fiend race from the extraterrestrial Star River doesn't reincarnate into the Wraithlands?" Yu Yuan inquired.

"That's correct."

Caren answered earnestly, "There are certain unique groups whose souls do not journey to the Wraithlands after death. This includes all beings from the Everlands, the Star-Spawned Terrors from the extraterrestrial realms, and the cosmic giant beasts."

In the Wraithlands, we've never encountered such spirits or ghosts.

Caren pondered for a moment before adding, "The Sky Fiend is among the most enigmatic species in existence, and the only known intelligent beings that lack a corporeal body from the start. They appear to follow their own set of laws. Once their devil souls are extinguished, it signifies their death, and they do not return to the Wraithlands."

Yu Yiyi was astounded by his explanation. "The humans of the Everlands, the Sky Fiends, and the cosmic giant beasts are all beings that achieve immortality after reaching the pinnacle of strength. Yet, it's these very beings that cannot transition to the Wraithlands. It's quite peculiar."

Caren murmured, "The Sky Fiends likely have their own cycle of rebirth."

The Frost Queen returned swiftly.

"The message left by Lady Kaiya was specifically for the Sky Fiend race. She... she actually invoked Lord Bertain's authority to warn any Sky Fiend who enters the Wraithlands, regardless of their purpose, to depart immediately."

With a curious expression, the Frost Queen gestured toward the flowers on Shadow Mountain and explained, "The message is consistent: any Sky Fiend that has entered should retrace their steps immediately. She mentioned that the Wraithlands are inhospitable to Sky Fiends. Those who do not seek death should leave without delay."

Gazing at the immense net that seemed capable of ensnaring stars, she continued, "This is the entrance. Lady Kaiya instructed any Sky Fiend who has wandered in to return through this net."

"It wasn't a message meant for you, Master," Yu Yiyi said, her disappointment evident.

"The Wraithlands are unwelcoming to all Sky Fiends; Lady Kaiya's assessment is likely accurate," Yu Yuan affirmed, without a hint of skepticism about the message's veracity. He gave the Frost Queen a sidelong glance and remarked, "Your situation, however, doesn't quite align with being a member of the Sky Fiend."

Suddenly, from the depths of the blood-yellow Levi River, a sharp, grayish-brown sailboat emerged, cutting against the current and rapidly approaching.

The sailboat bore a "ten" symbol, fashioned from crossed bones, seemingly emblematic of a power within the Wraithlands.

Many formidable extraterrestrial ghosts stood erect on the sailboat, resembling a formidable ghostly army of the Wraithlands. Among them were three generals of Ghost King stature, all of whom were the lost souls of the Shura.

As the sailboat made its way against the current, the ghosts in the Levi River instinctively moved aside.

Those ghosts that couldn't avoid the vessel in time clung to the sailboat as if they were iron filings drawn to a magnet, quickly vanishing without a trace.

It was as though the sailboat harnessed them as its driving force.

"It's Lord Wagner's Ghost Ship!"

Caren recoiled in fear and spoke anxiously, "It must be the noise you've made; it's alerted Lord Wagner's forces ahead!"

"Wagner, a God of Ghosts in the Wraithlands."

Yu Yuan chuckled and nodded, saying, "That's good. The Gods of Ghosts in the Wraithlands will know what you don't. Since Kaiya left nothing behind for me to find her, let's have a talk with the local God of Ghosts."

Caren, merely a Spectre, had only a superficial understanding of the Wraithlands and couldn't unveil its deepest secrets.

"Shura..."

The Frost Queen grew concerned when she realized that among the generals on the Ghost Ship were three Ghost Kings from the Shura. "Master, can news from the outside world reach the Wraithlands? Like, would the souls of the Shura inform Wagner about what happened after they arrive here?"

"Yes."

Caren added, "Lord Wagner, I've heard that Blood King Sabonis and Alonso have both died. In fact, the influx of Shura souls in recent years has enraged Wagner. The sheer number of Shura souls indicates that the Shura are faring poorly outside."

"Should we hide?" suggested the Frost Queen.

Sabonis's death and Alonso's demise were somewhat connected to Yu Yuan, and she feared that Wagner might know everything and target Yu Yuan in the Wraithlands.

"Hide?" Caren wasn't foolish. He inferred from the Frost Queen's anxious look that the downfall of the Shura outside might be linked to their present company.

"No need."

Yu Yuan shook his head and glanced at Caren, asking, "After strong Shura like Sabonis and Alonso die, do their souls come to the Wraithlands to regroup?"

"That's unlikely," Caren replied, shaking his head.

"Why?" Yu Yuan inquired with curiosity.

"I'm not entirely sure of the specifics. What I do know is that the higher the bloodline level and the more formidable the warrior, the more completely they perish," Caren mused, speaking earnestly. "Essentially, once the mightiest of warriors from the extraterrestrial realms die, they can't gain strength in the Wraithlands as ghosts."

Whoosh!

The Ghost Ship came to a halt. A Shura Ghost King commander aboard the vessel fixed his icy stare upon Yu Yuan and demanded, "Crucible of Evil, from the Everlands, Yu Yuan! Is that you?"

"Yes."

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