C1974 Soul Gathering

Mo Baichuan's spirit materialized on the desolate Path of Undead, making its way toward the Wraithlands.

Barring any unforeseen events, this exalted one, recently ascended through the power of Earthfire, would, after some time, traverse the Thornsnare and merge into the Levi River within the Wraithlands.

On the Path of Undead, Mo Baichuan's residual soul was a jumble of fragmented memories, his consciousness shrouded in chaos.

Now a mere ghost with a residual soul, he was overwhelmed by a tumult of unresolved emotions, which smothered the scant spiritual wisdom he had left.

Only by reaching the Wraithlands and entering the Levi River did he stand a slim chance of regaining his spiritual wisdom and recalling past events.

It seemed the stronger the individual, the more challenging it was to reawaken their spiritual wisdom after death.

Without external intervention, Mo Baichuan's spirit was destined to become a rich source of soul energy for the Wraithlands, assimilated into the Crucible of Rebirth.

The likelihood of him awakening as Fernand did was slim to none.

"Baibai."

Yu Yuan, from his distant position in the Wraithlands, whispered softly.

His Demonic Vessel, connected through a unique meridian, instantly linked with the Path of Undead.

A soul, woven from shadow energy, disregarded the layers of space and materialized on the path.

With the arrival of his soul, the scattered memories within Mo Baichuan's spirit coalesced into clarity.

He instantly understood what had transpired.

Mo Baichuan had been deceived by the Dark Phoenix, defying Han Miaoyuan's sealing order to venture alone into a fiery realm, where he encountered two phoenixes.

Thus, Mo Baichuan met his end in battle. After his divine station shattered, it was seized by the fire phoenix of the Wasteland.

The Forge of the Sun, named the Cosmic Crucible by Mo Baichuan, also fell into the fire phoenix's possession, becoming a convenient tool for this visitor from the Otherworld.

Yu Yuan had learned most of the details of Mo Baichuan's final conversation and battle with the Dark Phoenix.

To his astonishment, Yu Yuan discovered that following Mo Baichuan's demise, even his core essence had been captured by the Dark Phoenix, preventing it from reaching the Everlands.

"Why must you cling so tenaciously?" Yu Yuan mused regretfully, pondering how he might awaken Mo Baichuan's spiritual wisdom to have a heartfelt conversation with him.

With a whoosh, a colossal Blood Altar, like a mystical sapphire, soared across the vast expanse of starry space.

It was actually the Tears of the Azurefiend from the Sky Fiend!

Youqian, now a Demon God, marveled at the scorching Astral Domain from above the enigmatic Blood Altar.

"An abundant supply of Soul Power is diffusing throughout this world, soon to become part of the cosmic energy."

The Blood Altar churned, the Soul Altar acting like a magnet for souls, drawing in streams of Soul Power.

"How odd. Such a concentration of Soul Power typically signifies the death of a supremely powerful being. Yet..."

Youqian mused to himself.

The residual souls of formidable beings like the Shura, the Dawnbringers, and the Starborn usually take the Path of Undead, flowing toward the enigmatic Wraithlands.

Only beings such as the Sky Fiend, cosmic giant beasts, alien beasts, and evilkind disperse locally.

When a Most High of the Human Race dies, their residual soul typically returns to the Everlands, along with their essence.

To Youqian's senses, the Soul Power in the Star River didn't appear to originate from a cosmic giant beast or an alien beast.

"Youqian."

Out of nowhere, Yu Yuan's voice echoed from the Path of Undead, imperceptible to him.

Startled, Youqian responded, "Yu Yuan!"

To his astonishment, he saw a ghostly wraith materialize from a cooler area.

The wraith showed only a vague contour, but he recognized it as Yu Yuan.

"A Path of Undead!"

Youqian paused, then quickly grasped the situation. "Are you on a Path of Undead? Is your Demonic Vessel still in the Wraithlands? Who has perished?"

"Mo Baichuan," Yu Yuan replied.

"Ah!"

Youqian exclaimed, "The residual souls of the Human Race's Most High should return to the Everlands with their essence! Oh, could it be because the Root of the Lunar Meridian has vanished?"

As the former Ghost King Tian Zang, one of the nefarious demons of the Moonfall Sanctuary, this Sky Fiend Clan prodigy who often roamed the Everlands was well-versed in various mystical arts.

He was surprisingly knowledgeable about the final destinations of souls after death.

"He was slain by the Dark Phoenix, who also seized his original essence. What entered the Path of the Undead was merely a fragment of his residual soul. When his primordial spirit shattered, the Soul Power dissipated right here in the Star River, drawing you here," Yu Yuan explained.

After hearing Kaiya's account and reflecting on recent events, Yu Yuan understood that beings like Youqian, a Sky Fiend, often sought out areas rich in Soul Power to collect and refine it, thereby augmenting their own strength.

Youqian had ascended to the status of a Demon God, akin to a parched sponge seeking moisture, hence his quest to absorb and refine Soul Power into his devil soul.

This is a common practice for the Star-Spawned Terrors.

"I see."

Youqian appeared to grasp the entire concept after listening.

"It's surprising that the Dark Phoenix now has the power to intercept the essence of the Everlands. The cycle of rebirth for humanity must have undergone changes after returning to the Wraithlands," he remarked, gazing at Yu Yuan's spirited body. "Mo Baichuan is dead. A portion of his residual soul merged with the Wraithlands, while the rest dissipated with his primordial spirit."

"The human primordial spirit, not having returned to the Everlands with its essence, signifies the fall of a great Demon God," Youqian mused with uncertainty.

He stood respectfully at the Blood Altar and bowed to the wraith that Yu Yuan had manifested. "My lord, what can I do for you? Mo Baichuan's primordial spirit has been destroyed, leaving behind no Soul Mark, only a significant amount of Soul Power."

"If you require it..."

Within his Soul Altar, the Soul Power from Mo Baichuan's shattered primordial spirit was quietly accumulating.

"There's no need. Baibai's physical body has been reduced to ashes; he has no corporeal form left. At most, I can restore him to a Lunar Spirit on the Path of the Undead," Yu Yuan replied, shaking his head.

...

In the Wraithlands, a residual soul slipped through the Thornsnare, blending with the confused ghosts as it approached the blood-yellow rivers.

Suddenly, Yu Yuan's Demonic Vessel materialized.

The souls and ghosts perched upon the nearby Shadow Mountain, upon witnessing his sudden appearance, began to prostrate themselves, ceaselessly bowing in reverence.

Ghosts of all ranks had come to a clear realization: Yu Yuan's status in the Wraithlands was extraordinary, even surpassing that of the God of Ghosts, Matina.

Without paying heed to the adulation of the ghosts, his gaze followed Mo Baichuan's residual soul as it joined them in entering the Levi River.

Upon entry, Mo Baichuan's residual soul seemed on the verge of dissolving under the river's forceful currents.

Spirituality, memories, life's journey, and the understanding of Earthfire appeared to be on the brink of complete eradication.

The more formidable the wraith, the more readily it dissolved upon entering the Wraithlands, adhering to the foundational rules of this realm.

Not even a God of Ghosts like Matina could alter these fundamental rules of the Wraithlands, nor could she restore the spirituality of Mo Baichuan's residual soul.

That is, unless it was the work of the Undead Lord.

"Reassemble the memories, and then awaken swiftly."

With Yu Yuan's commanding call, a multitude of grayish-white lights visible even to the ghosts enveloped Mo Baichuan's residual soul.

Memory sparkles and delicate soul threads, which were on the cusp of being eroded by the river, were now tightly interwoven due to the presence of the grayish-white light.

The disordered memories and the dimming soulspark suddenly shone brightly.

Before long, a gray phantom the size of a fist began to coalesce within the Levi River, as if sculpted by the grayish-white light into its former shape.

"Hmm!"

Yu Yuan's brow quirked.

He then noticed Pantley of the Oceanfolk, Harry of the Fire Lizard, and Ferris of the Aberrant Soul, also crossing the Thornsnare towards the Levi River.

The Oceanfolk, Fire Lizard, and Aberrant Soul were all intelligent lifeforms commonly encountered beyond the terrestrial realm, their souls bearing traces of Primal Vitality.

Upon their deaths, their residual souls would naturally follow the Path of Undead, eventually converging in the Wraithlands.

"It looks like there's no need to resort to Mindflay."

Yu Yuan's gaze rested on the residual souls of the trio as they entered the Levi River, and he softly commanded, "Rise!"

The memory sparkles of the three souls burst forth from the Levi River like raindrops, cascading towards Yu Yuan's outstretched hand.

In the Wraithlands, he had no need for intricate spirit magic. With a mere thought, he could effortlessly access the memories of the three individuals.

Instantly.

Their experiences over the years, the method of communicating with the Wasteland's Beast God, and their previous hideout—all of it flooded into the depths of Yu Yuan's soul.

Everything was crystal clear.

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