C695 Prey on the Sky Fiend
Upon unleashing the Wraithbinding, the earthly soul within his mud pellet acupoint began to resonate with an extraordinary rhythmic pulse. This rhythm appeared to have been stimulated by the unique environment around him. The sensation was markedly distinct from the quiet cultivation of Wraithbinding in the Azure Vault's training room back in Afnetalos. The earthly soul, now separated from the heaven soul and the dominant soul, was moving along a peculiar path, activated by the Wraithbinding within the ethereal spirited body.
Yu Yuan, ever cautious, was aware that he was still enveloped by the Ashen Shadowmist, with Sky Fiends and Otherkin lurking nearby. As a result, he refrained from practicing Soul Forging through Enlightenment with his heaven soul. He was not one to divide his focus. While his earthly soul engaged in Wraithbinding, his heaven soul and dominant soul remained vigilant to any shifts in their surroundings.
Suddenly, a Star-Spawned Terror charged in with a frenzied howl. This Sky Fiend, a pure soul entity, resembled a black and green, savage ape, radiating a wild and fiery intensity. Yu Yuan could tell that this Sky Fiend had abandoned reason, overwhelmed by its primal desires, and was operating purely on instinct.
"Just a lowly fiend," he thought, feeling a sense of ease, yet also a twinge of curiosity.
Yu Yuan had recently delved deep into discussions with Xie Bin at the Obsidian Thunder Sect's training hall within the Azure Vault. He had made a point of learning about the Star-Spawned Terror. Xie Bin, with his Solar Spirit cultivation, had ventured beyond the Star River to battle the Otherkin and Sky Fiends, and his knowledge of the extraterrestrial realms was extensive.
From his past life and through Xie Bin's insights, Yu Yuan had come to understand the peculiar and enigmatic nature of the extraterrestrial Sky Fiends. Unlike most life forms on earth, such as humans, evilkinds, cosmic giant beasts, Shura, and Stoneborn, which are born with a corporeal body, the Sky Fiends are an anomaly. This extraordinary race emerges as clusters of ephemeral souls. To grow and evolve, the Sky Fiend Clan must incessantly prey on the souls of other intelligent beings, assimilating them to fortify themselves.
The Sky Fiend Clan was desperate to invade the Everlands, driven by the hundreds of millions of mortals residing there. The souls of these mortals significantly aided the growth and advancement of lower-level Sky Fiends. A Sky Fiend had to be strong enough to possess a body or refine one for themselves before it could be considered a notable force.
The Sky Fiend Clan's strength was categorized into ten levels. Those below the sixth level, unable to possess or refine bodies, were uniformly referred to as devils. Levels one through five consisted of devils with varying combat strengths, occupying the bottom rung of the clan's hierarchy.
A sixth level Sky Fiend, known as a Demon Guard, had the power to take over the body of a powerful creature or to forge a body using various natural magic items. Their cultivation practices were starkly different from those of humans. At this stage, corresponding to the human Lunar Spirit, a Sky Fiend began to refine its body or select a powerful being for possession. Essentially, a Demon Guard had to painstakingly search for and refine a corporeal form.
Upon reaching the seventh level, a Sky Fiend was titled a Demon General. The eighth level was designated as Demon King, the ninth as Demon God, and the ultimate tenth level was revered as the Great Demon God. Starting from the sixth level, the previously ethereal soul form of a Sky Fiend underwent a profound transformation, acquiring a physical body. Thus, any Sky Fiend with a corporeal form, regardless of its shape, was considered a formidable entity among its kin.
As for the insubstantial Sky Fiend before him, which resembled a menacing little monkey, it was clear that it was a lowly devil. Such a creature wouldn't even register as a concern for Yu Yuan. What puzzled him, however, was why this foolish little devil would seek trouble with him, especially after the Terra Fiend had relayed Zu Ann's assurance that he would be safe outside the city of Afnetalos for seven days.
Utilizing his dominant and heaven souls for thought and observation, Yu Yuan noticed the little devil fixating on him with a gaze filled with greed and frenzy.
Suddenly, Yu Yuan experienced an exceedingly bizarre sensation.
Through the eyes of the little devil, he appeared as the epitome of Gluttony!
The little devil, unable to resist the overwhelming allure emanating from Yu Yuan, blatantly disregarded Zu Ann's commands and warnings, charging towards him.
"What is it about my aura?" Yu Yuan pondered, momentarily puzzled. Then, as if struck by a revelation, he ceased his practice of Wraithbinding, silencing the peculiar melodies that once resonated from his ethereal earthly soul.
Miraculously, the once fervent little devil instantly regained its composure.
The simian-shaped little devil's prior madness and avarice vanished without a trace.
Moreover, it began to exhibit signs of fear, poised to take flight at any moment.
"Wraithbinding!" Yu Yuan realized the cause, smiling wryly as he resumed the subtle application of the extraordinary Spirit Magic.
As his spiritual sense within the earthly soul began to circulate in its unique pattern, Wraithbinding was reactivated.
As expected!
The little devil, which had just settled, was once again consumed by frenzy and greed! Unable to suppress its craving for the delectable, it darted straight for Yu Yuan's brow.
It seemed as though the earthly soul, practicing Wraithbinding within Yu Yuan's Mindscape, was the most succulent delicacy in existence!
In a flash, a soft glow emerged at Yu Yuan's brow, generating a powerful pull!
The little devil, assuming the shape of an ape, met no resistance and was swiftly drawn into Yu Yuan's Mindscape.
A most peculiar transformation ensued!
The little devil, previously overtaken by its ravenous desires, seemed to regain its senses upon entering Yu Yuan's Mindscape, abruptly becoming lucid and desperately seeking escape.
It sought to flee from Yu Yuan's Mindscape!
Upon its arrival, the little devil was struck by a profound sense of dread and despair, as if Yu Yuan's Mindscape had become the most fearsome and deadly realm in all the cosmos!
Conversely, for Yu Yuan, whose earthly soul emitted a distinctive rhythmic vibration, the arrival of the little devil was akin to a ravenous dire beast stumbling upon willing prey.
The earthly soul now harbored an intense yearning for the little devil!
This powerful impulse spurred Yu Yuan's earthly soul into action, swiftly positioning itself before the little devil with a swift "swoosh."
Beneath the trembling gaze of the little devil, Yu Yuan's earthly soul suddenly swelled, enveloping the ape-shaped creature.
As if ice were being scorched by fierce flames, the little devil began to dissolve within the confines of Yu Yuan's earthly soul.
Piercing shrieks echoed through Yu Yuan's Mindscape, a cacophony of "squeak squeak" noises.
But the sounds quickly ceased; the little devil fell silent, motionless.
In time, the little devil evaporated into a wisp of smoke, vanishing within the expanse of Yu Yuan's Mindscape.
All that remained was a scattering of tiny, sparkling motes of light within the ephemeral form of Yu Yuan's earthly soul.
"The Wraithbinding originates from Boulderdawn!" declared the artifact soul within the Crucible of Evil upon which Yu Yuan stood. "My memories are fragmented, yet I hail from Moonfall Sanctuary!"
The cauldron spirit elaborated, "The space tunnel within Moonfall Sanctuary, which leads to extraterrestrial realms, is frequently used to unleash Sky Fiends for the Boulderdawn disciples' training. I dimly recall that every core disciple of Boulderdawn, regardless of the Spirit Magic they practice, can locate a Sky Fiend to harness for their cultivation."
"Some Spirit Magic allows practitioners to track down Sky Fiends, pinpointing their hidden lairs."
"Other techniques operate like a spider weaving its web, lying in wait for an unsuspecting Sky Fiend to stumble in, then ensnaring it within the Mindscape for cultivation purposes."
"The most fearsome, however, is your current practice of Wraithbinding. Once initiated, it lures nearby Sky Fiends like moths to a flame, compelling them to seek their own demise. To the little devil, the rhythmic pulsations of your Wraithbinding made your earthly soul an irresistible delicacy it couldn't resist."
"It lost all sense of reason, likely forgetting even Zu Ann's warnings and entreaties, driven only by the desire to plunge in and consume your earthly soul."
"And you've witnessed the outcome."
"Though Wraithbinding is absent from my remaining memories, the evidence before us allows me to assert with confidence that Wraithbinding is indeed a technique of Boulderdawn, and it is among the most formidable!"
