C710 The Origin of the Token

The Celestial Shade, clad in heavy armor, unleashed a piercing cry, revealing an unexpected delight. The red jade pendant, a gift from Ann Ziqing, sprang forth from Yu Yuan's Bracelet of Holding and embedded itself into his chest armor, instantly invigorating him with a surge of power. The armor, bathed in the blood-red glow, shed its dullness and shone with a bewitching crimson hue, mirroring the fierce light emanating from his eyes.

With a whoosh, the Celestial Shade bellowed into the void, his roars echoing with blood-colored shadows that crushed the ghosts wrapped in purple-black light. Blood shadows burst from the blood-red armor like mighty soul fragments of the Celestial Shade, swiftly reaping souls.

Boom! The armored Celestial Shade descended upon the black-purple summit, engaging in close combat with the massive skeleton transformed by the archdemon. The blood-light, like a tide, seeped into the Skyscourge's body during the fray, snuffing out the purple-black flames that signified its demon soul. The extinguishing of the flames signaled injury to the Skyscourge.

The emblem, pulsating with rich blood essence, granted the Skyscourge from the Colddeath Cult an unending surge of strength, enabling him to utterly dominate the skeletal archdemon. Before long, the demon soul of the Skyscourge retreated weakly into its skeletal form, and in a moment, the purple-black flames were extinguished.

Realizing defeat, the Skyscourge burst apart with a resounding crash, its bones scattering in all directions. The Celestial Shade, now fragmented, made its escape. All the remaining ghosts, save for a few devoted followers, remained motionless in the air, their eyes fixed on the Celestial Shade standing atop the black-purple peak, as if beholding a new king.

The Celestial Shade, eyes ablaze with sanguine fury, let out another fierce screech. Immediately, the ghosts that once served the Skyscourge pledged their loyalty to the new ruler, one after another. In the Land of Terror, it was commonplace for ghosts to select a new master. When one mountain was conquered by another, it was only natural for the victor to inherit the vanquished's domain and followers.

Yu Yuan found himself within the Crucible of Evil, observing a once evenly matched battle that had been swiftly tipped in favor due to the emergence of a red jade pendant. The sudden and decisive outcome left him somewhat astonished.

He couldn't fathom how such a simple red jade pendant could wield such formidable power.

He had always assumed the red jade pendant was nothing more than a token, at best used for sending messages, and nothing more remarkable.

But when the red jade pendant was set into the heavy armor, enhancing its strength considerably, Yu Yuan realized he might not fully grasp the true enigma and wonder of the pendant.

"Master, the heavy armor that the Celestial Shade of the Colddeath is wearing rightfully belongs to him," the cauldron spirit observed thoughtfully before offering an analysis. "The blood-colored patterns on the armor's surface are surely the secret magic circles of the Colddeath. These patterns were concealed before and not visible."

"Moreover, the blood-colored patterns need to be filled with the force of vitality to be activated."

"In the Land of Terror, neither blood nor flesh, nor vitality can last long. If they do, they'll be shredded by the fierce, icy winds, leaving nothing behind."

"After the Celestial Shade's flesh and blood disintegrated, it could no longer gather vitality to trigger the armor's mystical formation. When your red jade pendant appeared, the vitality it contained, inherently of the Colddeath lineage, was introduced into the armor, reviving its original strength."

"The red jade pendant's inherent extraordinariness was what allowed for the swift reversal of the situation," the cauldron spirit elucidated.

Yu Yuan felt no surprise, only a stern expression crossed his face, unable to muster any sense of elation.

Ann Ziqing had mentioned back at the Sundering Isles that the red jade pendant was merely a token. Without using it to communicate, it would be difficult for Ann Ziqing to use the pendant to pinpoint his location.

Yet today's events reignited his suspicions about the young woman who had served him for years, suspecting she harbored ill intentions and had been secretly scheming against him.

"We'll settle this later," he thought to himself.

While he pondered, he noticed the Celestial Shade had already pacified its followers and appointed a trusted ghost general to occupy the summit of a dark purple mountain.

The souls and ghosts that had been hovering outside now entered the two mountain peaks, one after another.

After the Celestial Shade had dispersed all the ghosts, it made its way toward Yu Yuan.

Yu Yuan felt a twinge of apprehension.

"Master, I believe he means no harm," the cauldron spirit communicated.

Yu Yuan then observed the Celestial Shade, clearly a member of the Colddeath Divine Cult, conjuring hands from Soul Power to hold a red jade pendant. With utmost reverence, it presented the pendant that Ann Ziqing had gifted him.

As the Celestial Shade drew near the Crucible of Evil, it cautiously shifted its visage.

Soon, it assumed the form of a wizened, ethereal old man.

Despite being a soul spirit, it manifested eyebrows, cheeks, and other facial features, transforming from a vague shape into the likeness of a human Lunar Spirit out on a journey.

Yu Yuan learned from the cauldron spirit that human Lunar Spirits gradually change after they abandon their corporeal bodies to pursue necromancy, eventually caring little for their original form and taking on the appearance of pure ghosts.

The Celestial Shade had expended considerable effort and Soul Power to recreate its former visage, a gesture likely meant to convey goodwill.

"In life, I was a devotee of the Colddeath Divine Cult, known as Liu Linzhi."

He halted thirty feet from the Crucible of Evil, holding the red token with deep respect. "Before my demise, I had reached the late period of the Lunar Spirit realm. My attempt to ascend to the Spirit Walk realm failed, and my body was destroyed. With no other recourse, I entered the Land of Terror to practice as a ghost."

"It is my regret that I could no longer serve the Colddeath Divine Cult."

"My master once told me that this token is the emblem of the Colddeath's sect master. To my knowledge, only the sect master and those designated as successors are entitled to possess such a token."

"Young man, the spells you practice don't seem to align with those of the Colddeath. May I inquire?"

With these words, he gently pushed the red token forward.

Propelled by his power, the red token drifted toward Yu Yuan.

"It was bestowed upon me by your Divine Cult's goddess," Yu Yuan thought to himself, taken aback by the significant origins of the red jade pendant Ann Ziqing had given him.

"So it was a gift from the goddess herself!"

The scarlet gaze of Liu Linzhi, the Celestial Shade from the Land of Terror, flickered with recognition. "Your connection to our goddess must be quite significant! I've been cultivating in the Land of Terror for over a century, and only recently did I learn from newcomers that our Colddeath Divine Cult has been graced with a goddess."

"The Goddess is to be the next leader of the sect."

"This red jade pendant is no ordinary item. Her giving it to you shows she holds your relationship in high regard!"

Liu Linzhi's deference towards Yu Yuan was evident, particularly because of the red jade pendant.

"Values me?" A peculiar sensation stirred within Yu Yuan.

Ann Ziqing, that girl, had been scheming against me on Acora Island and in Afnetalos. Could that really be considered valuing someone?

Whoosh!

The red token halted before his chest, unable to penetrate the dark demonic light and enter the Crucible of Evil.

Liu Linzhi watched him with anticipation.

Yu Yuan acted with lightning speed, seizing the token that held immense significance to the followers of Colddeath, and secured it back into the Bracelet of Holding. "What's the current state of affairs in the Land of Terror?" he inquired.

Liu Linzhi paused, then asked, "Brother, have you come in your real body?"

Yu Yuan nodded.

"Only a madman or someone with extraordinary confidence would dare to enter the Land of Terror in their corporeal body," Liu Linzhi remarked, gazing once more at the Crucible of Evil. His soul trembled slightly as he exclaimed, "Is this object a Horcrux?"

"You've never heard of the Crucible of Evil?" Yu Yuan questioned.

"The Crucible of Evil!" Liu Linzhi's face, though an illusion within his heavy armor, contorted with emotion, becoming indistinct.

After some time, as his emotions settled, his visage regained clarity. "Brother, this isn't the place for conversation. If it's alright with you, shall we continue at my abode?" He gestured towards the dark brown mountain.

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