C1893 Soul Reincarnation in the Wraithlands
Fernand's demeanor left the ghosts who were loyal to Wagner feeling both surprised and uncertain.
Could it be true that Lord Wagner himself would personally come to meet this individual?
Considering the esteemed status of Lord Wagner as the God of Ghosts in the Wraithlands, it was almost unheard of.
Every ghost, regardless of their strength, approached Lord Wagner as worshippers. Had anyone ever seen him lower himself to meet another?
Who exactly was this Yu Yuan?
The practitioners of necromancy within the Wraithlands typically paid little attention to the outside world. Their knowledge of the Everlands was limited, and their understanding of Yu Yuan was even less.
The news that Wagner would come specifically to meet Yu Yuan had left them thoroughly intimidated.
Subsequently, their gazes towards Yu Yuan shifted to ones filled with caution and reverence.
Fernand, however, was different from the rest. Despite being reduced to a ghost, he remained deeply concerned about Elena.
He would inquire about Elena's well-being from the Shura who died in the outside world and retained their spiritual sense, after they were nurtured and enlightened. This also led him to gain a profound insight into Yu Yuan.
Wagner's keen interest in Yu Yuan was sparked by Fernand's explanations, because of a few significant events.
Yu Yuan had battled the Dark Phoenix in the Dark Star, drawing the attention of the Demon God Reid and the Secular Bird Queen. Moreover, he had forced Han Miaoyuan to flee the Everlands. How could Wagner remain seated after hearing such tales?
The Dark Phoenix, Han Miaoyuan, Reid, and the Secular Bird Queen were all beings of extraordinary stature.
Wagner, being a God of Ghosts, was well-acquainted with these names, even though he seldom ventured from the Wraithlands.
It was the revelation of the Crucible of Evil that confirmed Yu Yuan's arrival for Fernand, prompting him to have Branka and the other Ghost Kings greet him and to inform Wagner of the visit.
"How did you end up practicing necromancy?"
Yu Yuan observed Fernand's murky spirited body and shook his head, remarking offhandedly, "You have no future. From what I see, no matter how hard you try, you'll never become a God of Ghosts in the Wraithlands."
"A God of Ghosts? I can't even become a Ghost King," Fernand lamented, "I was once a platinum Shura. The stronger I was in the outside world, the harder it became to achieve greater heights as a ghost after death."
"I practice necromancy so that I can exist in my current form, with the hope that one day I'll hear good news about Elena from the outside world," Fernand said, his eyes suddenly brimming with expectation. "Elena's lineage has ascended to the ninth level. She's become a platinum Shura, having been forged in the trials of the Dark Realm!"
"After our king's death, and Alonso's as well, she stands a chance of becoming a Golden Shura!"
"I have this premonition that I'll eventually hear from the incoming Shura spirits that my daughter has achieved the status of a Golden Shura out there!"
Fernand's face glowed with fervent longing.
After a brief pause, he lowered his voice and added, "If I abandon necromancy and let myself be carried along the Levi River to the Crucible, all my memories and lingering will would dissolve. I would cease to be myself, and no one could tell in what tribe I might be reborn, nor would I retain any memories."
"I wish to hear of Elena's ascension to Golden Shura before I fade away completely. Then, I would gladly embrace the Crucible."
Holding onto this fixation, he had transformed from a formidable platinum Shura into a ghost with no prospects of further strength, all for the sake of awaiting a message.
"I've heard..."
His voice tightened with anxiety. "The Paladin of Radiance from the Dawnbringers used the Earth-Tethered Cage to imprison her and several other platinum Shura, and even took them to the Ashlands?"
Seeing Yu Yuan, he had eagerly requested the Ghost King to summon him, desperate for news.
When Norant had captured Elena and the others, he had slain numerous Shura warriors, whose souls had informed him of these events upon reaching the Wraithlands.
He was eager to learn of Elena's fate.
"Don't worry. I've dealt with Norant, and Elena has been set free," Yu Yuan said with an unruffled demeanor.
He spoke of disciplining Norant as if it were a trivial matter, reassuring Fernand that Elena was safe in the Ashlands, seeking a star suitable for a Shura, and that he had given his permission.
"Norant!"
"The Paladin of Radiance from the Dawnbringers!"
"That accursed fiend!"
Upon hearing Norant's name, many of the mountain's summit dwellers, now Spectres and Ghost Kings, erupted in curses.
Following the Blood King Sabonis's downfall, Norant had seized the chance to prowl the Astral Domain, slaughtering many of the Shura clan.
Recently, a large influx of Shura souls entered the Wraithlands, most of whom perished at the hands of Norant and his Sunward Legion.
"If I could leave the Wraithlands, I'd certainly teach those Dawnbringers a lesson!" exclaimed the Shura King, who was seething with anger as he rode the Ghost Ship alongside Branka.
"Yu Yuan, thank you," Fernand said, bowing to Yu Yuan in his soul form. "Without your assistance, Elena might have fallen to the Stardust Blade during her time in the Dark Realm."
Ji Ningshuang, upon discovering Elena in the Dark Realm, not only refrained from hostility but also ensured her safe departure, out of respect for Yu Yuan.
"It was the least I could do," Yu Yuan responded with a dismissive wave and a slight furrow of his brow.
Ji Ningshuang, known as the Stardust Blade, was currently forging her new Solar Spirit Body within the Dragon Slaying Stage. She had accompanied him to the Wraithlands, though she had not yet emerged.
"You... can't leave?" Yu Yuan asked, a hint of surprise in his voice, recalling the Shura King's words.
"Except for the God of Ghosts, all other ghosts, regardless of their rank, are unable to leave the Wraithlands," Fernand replied earnestly, sighing. "That vast Thornsnare you saw upon entering only permits entry, not exit, for the souls here."
"Once dead souls pass through the Thornsnare into the Wraithlands, they can't cross back unless they ascend to the God of Ghosts."
"They can't even touch it! Touching the Thornsnare could mean obliteration, even for a Ghost King," Fernand disclosed the harsh reality.
"No wonder I've never heard of any Wraithlands ghosts roaming the celestial Star River. In contrast, our Ghost King from the Everlands can still roam the extraterrestrial realms, much like Dhoreus," Yu Yuan mused, then turned his attention to Shadowfox, Chebus, and the other formidable Banes.
"Those who have not pursued necromancy might find a way to leave the Thornsnare," Fernand added, catching on to Yu Yuan's train of thought and quickly clarifying.
Yu Yuan nodded in understanding, reassured that Kaiya's signal—a caution against the Sky Fiend—was indeed reliable.
If the Sky Fiend were fortunate enough to spot Kaiya's signal, it would be safe as long as it immediately turned back and left through the Thornsnare.
Should it seek its own demise by venturing into the Wraithlands, then it would have no one else to blame.
Subsequently, Yu Yuan engaged in conversation with Fernand atop the mountain. Through Fernand, he sought to learn more about the Wraithlands.
Fernand hadn't been in the Wraithlands for long, and his rank as a ghost wasn't particularly high. Nevertheless, he was privy to more secrets than Caren, thanks to the tutelage of Wagner, the God of Ghosts.
Fernand also revealed that Youyu had recently been besieged by the three mighty Gods of Ghosts, but the tide turned with Kaiya's arrival.
The clash between Han Qi and Kaiya at the Thornsnare had drawn the attention of Matina and sent shockwaves through the ranks of the other Gods.
Upon her arrival, Matina engaged in an unknown discussion with Kaiya, ultimately elevating her to the status of an honored guest, much to Han Qi's chagrin.
Kaiya was now residing within Matina's domain.
Kaiya's emergence also caused the three Gods of Ghosts to cease their pursuit of Youyu, leading to a direct confrontation between Han Qi and Youyu, with Youyu seemingly gaining the upper hand.
Fernand was uncertain of the finer details, suggesting they wait for Wagner's arrival to learn more.
Thus, Yu Yuan waited patiently.
In the meantime, the formidable Bane occasionally preyed upon lower-level ghosts, consuming them to fortify its own spirited body.
Fernand seemed indifferent, as many of the surrounding ghosts appeared disloyal to Wagner, the God of Ghosts.
The fate of those not allied with him was of no concern to Fernand.
Yu Yuan, on the other hand, was adept at multitasking.
While conversing with Fernand, his physical body felt burdensome, yet his dominant soul within the Mindscape experienced a sense of ease.
"Could my dominant soul also benefit from the Wraithlands?" he pondered.
With that thought, his dominant soul, nestled within his spiritual sense, attempted to harvest the pure shadow energy.
Suddenly, a swirling cloud materialized on his forehead.
Whoosh! The rich shadow energy atop the mountain was drawn to his forehead from all around, vanishing into its depths.
The infusion of the cool shadow energy into his Mindscape clarified his thoughts and brought a sense of comfort and tranquility to his dominant soul.
This indicates that every soul spirit can utilize the Wraithlands for cultivation!
Despite the Wraithlands lacking abundant resources, and even the Ghost Kings appearing destitute, the omnipresent shadow energy is the Wraithlands' greatest treasure trove!
Sky Fiends, along with all beings that delight in refining their souls, stand to gain immensely upon entering the Wraithlands!
His dominant soul was on the cusp of another ascension, on the verge of metamorphosing into a primordial spirit.
He had assumed that he would need the Lunar Spirit, the Solar Spirit, and a flesh-and-blood body to repeatedly nurture and steadily supply his dominant soul over time for it to gradually evolve.
Unexpectedly, the unique environment of the Wraithlands made him feel exhilarated as he harvested shadow energy with his dominant soul.
"Are you... engaging in cultivation?"
Fernand, whose demeanor grew increasingly reverent as he conversed with Yu Yuan, couldn't resist asking upon noticing Yu Yuan's peculiar state.
"No worries, let's continue our discussion."
Yu Yuan chuckled and gestured for Fernand not to concern himself. In his mind, there were tiny whirlpools of Soul Power swirling around, much like the ones near Tyria.
Whoosh!
More shadow energy converged from all around, flowing into Yu Yuan's brow like a mighty river.
The surge grew stronger and stronger!
Unlike the Wraithbinding technique he performed with his Lunar Spirit, this time his absorption of shadow energy did not involve any ghosts, thereby causing no harm or disturbance to the surrounding ghosts.
He was simply voraciously gathering the nearby shadow energy, achieving an efficiency that was frighteningly high, far outstripping all the Ghost Kings present.
