C707 Soul Spirit Paradise
In the desolate expanse of Horror Land, a massive black cauldron hovered in midair.
Yu Yuan found himself inside the cauldron, his hands gripping its rim as he observed a ring of dim demonic light that shrouded the mouth of the cauldron. Ensconced within, his limbs were shielded from the biting cold winds of the outside world.
The origins of Horror Land's frigid gales were a mystery, but their lethal effect on flesh and blood was well-known. Yet, they held no power over inanimate objects or bones.
Surveying the interior of the cauldron, Yu Yuan's gaze fell upon numerous desiccated bones. Heaps of bones betrayed their origins as Demonic Beasts with just a glance. Others were solitary fragments, reminiscent of either human arm bones or perhaps the pelvic bones of Demonic Beasts.
Should an unwitting Demonic Beast blunder into Horror Land in a frenzied dash, it would be swiftly eviscerated by the merciless winds. Its flesh would be shredded and stripped away, leaving nothing but a solitary Demon Bone.
This most enigmatic Yin Absolute Land within the Boundless Land had become a haven for innumerable souls. Earth Demons, like Yan Qiling and Loong Tianxiao, had found strength here. Humans whose physical forms had been obliterated, and Yin Gods clinging to existence, could pursue the path of Soul Spirits and Ghosts, finding new ways to grow in power.
Legends told of the Devaputra Race from foreign realms descending upon the Boundless Land and seeking out Horror Land with fervor. A Devaputra, abandoning its corporeal form, could arrive here in spirit and rapidly amass strength, fortifying its Devil Soul to formidable heights.
In essence, Horror Land was a sanctuary for all ethereal souls devoid of flesh and blood.
"Let's see what happens," Yu Yuan mused after some contemplation. He resolved to test the peculiar cold winds of Horror Land, to determine if his well-tempered physique could endure their chilling caress. With stealth, he extended his left hand through the veil of black demonic light, exposing it to the world beyond the cauldron.
The moment his arm was exposed to the eerie chill of the wind, Yu Yuan grimaced and sharply inhaled the frosty air.
Hiss, hiss!
Suddenly, hundreds of fine bloodstains erupted across the bare skin of his arm!
Blood sprayed in all directions!
It was as though countless razor-sharp knives were slicing through his flesh within the biting wind!
Even his bones emitted sparks.
Widening his eyes, he could see the wind's sharpness mercilessly cutting through skin, tendons, and blood.
Despite his advanced mastery of the Evil Body Refining Skill, he couldn't endure the pain.
Within mere seconds, he violently withdrew his hand and silently retrieved a crimson pellet from the Mustard Seed Bracelet, letting the Qi and blood essence within flood the wound.
The microcosm of Qi and blood roared to life, casting forth streaks of scarlet light.
Yu Yuan narrowed his eyes as he watched the blood light, electric and imbued with the essence of life, pour into his arm's injured section.
The delicate lacerations began to heal visibly fast, as if an unseen deity were stitching them up with invisible thread, aiding in the rapid mending of his flesh.
"There are spirit souls within."
Abruptly, the cauldron soul of the Evil Cauldron sent a telepathic message, "Master, within the frigid gales of Horror Land, countless minuscule spirit souls elude your sight. These souls lack wisdom and awareness, being both illusory and exceedingly small. A gust of wind no larger than a palm could harbor hundreds of such peculiar spirit souls."
"Horror Land is a cradle for these ethereal, diminutive spirit souls."
"All manner of bodiless spirit souls, from the Yin Gods of humans to the Demon Spirits of the demonic races, the Heavenly Demons, Earth Demons, and the Devaputra, can refine these frail souls within Horror Land to bolster their own soul strength. However, be wary of the advanced, more formidable spirit souls."
"Those mighty spirit souls are known as Earth Ghosts, Ghost Spirits, Heavenly Ghosts, and Ghost Kings. These formidable beings fortify themselves with souls from beyond Horror Land. The weak who dare to cause trouble in Horror Land and attract their attention can expect dire consequences."
The cauldron soul could barely contain its excitement when Yu Yuan stepped into the Horror Land. It had refrained from communicating with him earlier due to the presence of others, but now, with Yu Yuan alone and the others gone, the cauldron soul eagerly began to clarify his doubts.
Concerned that Yu Yuan might not understand the dangers of the Horror Land and act recklessly, risking his life, the cauldron soul was cautious in its guidance.
"Tiny spirit souls..." Yu Yuan thought, and with a sudden burst of concentration, he activated the Soul Forging Technique. Using a secret method, he constructed a bridge of consciousness and exclaimed, "Awaken the eyes of wisdom!"
In an instant, he saw the cold winds outside teeming with countless minuscule souls. These souls, glowing like fireflies under the gaze of his enlightened eyes, were as tiny as grains of rice, omnipresent, feeble, and devoid of any intelligent awareness. They seemed to be mere clusters of chaotic thoughts, still growing and evolving.
"Master, it's unwise for flesh-and-blood creatures to wander the Horror Land. Only the mightiest beings, like Zhongli with his exceptional body tempering skills, dare traverse this place. You are still young, Master, and your level has yet to reach such heights. Please, do not act impulsively," the cauldron soul advised.
"As long as you remain within the cauldron, I can ensure your safety. Do not fret overly."
"Furthermore, I sense that... I have visited the Horror Land more than once. My memories of this place are vague, yet profound."
"There must be something here that recognizes me, something with which I've had a friendly rapport... perhaps a formidable soul."
The cauldron soul's thoughts began to scatter, as if it were in the midst of reviving its memories, searching for the remnants of past soul connections.
Yu Yuan listened intently while using his "eyes of wisdom" to survey the external world. After a moment, he redirected his attention downward, peering into the microcosm within the cauldron.
Inside, he observed hundreds of thousands of clusters of evil spirits, forming bizarre arrays, swirling within the cauldron's demonic markings like a vast procession of spectral soldiers.
The gathering of evil spirits outside Luan Bird City had reached a critical mass, seemingly triggering the hidden soul formation within the cauldron.
Both the cauldron soul and Zu Ann had mentioned that the true might of the Evil Cauldron lay in the myriad soul formations, composed of innumerable evil spirits!
In that instant, Yu Yuan experienced a sudden moment of clarity.
The Evil Cauldron's power had surged dramatically due to the influx of evil spirits!
This influx had stirred the cauldron soul, enabling it to reclaim its forgotten memories!
Originally, the cauldron soul was fragmented, a consequence of the cauldron enduring a severe impact.
To restore its former glory, the Evil Cauldron—once deemed an Artifact—needed to amass a sufficient number of evil spirits and refine them. This process was essential for the gradual elevation of the Evil Cauldron's rank.
It aimed to ascend back to its status as a divine artifact.
Throughout this journey, the cauldron soul would grow increasingly robust, capable of reassembling the scattered souls and retrieving the buried memories.
"Take your time. There's no rush in the search for your memories. The Horror Land has stirred something within you, and it's this that will lead to your transformation."
A glimmer of realization shone in Yu Yuan's eyes as he acknowledged the immense benefits that the wave of evil spirits outside Luan Bird City had brought to both the Evil Cauldron and the cauldron soul.
"Heh!"
Near the base of the grey mountain, a ghostly figure emerged, its eyes flickering with a green flame. It eyed the Evil Cauldron and let out a low, eerie chuckle.
