C712 Ungrateful

The cauldron's power was being revived as evil spirits converged, and the cauldron spirit's forgotten memories were gradually awakening.

Yu Yuan could distinctly sense the cauldron spirit becoming more active within the Land of Terror. It was as though its intelligence had been rekindled, making its thoughts sharper.

Heeding the cauldron spirit's descriptions of the Land of Terror, Yu Yuan realized his knowledge of this realm was quite sparse.

The Land of Terror was far more enigmatic and wondrous than he had ever imagined.

Beneath the earth lay the hidden Root of the Lunar Meridian!

The Lunar Meridian extended throughout the Everlands, intricately linked to the demise of all beings!

When mortals or cultivators died, their souls would vanish into the cosmos, eventually feeding into the mysterious Lunar Meridian. This process would cause the Root of the Lunar Meridian beneath the earth to emanate an even mightier Yin Qi, enriching the Shadow Mountains with its dense presence.

The abundance of Yin Qi in the Land of Terror empowered the resident ghosts and spirits.

The most formidable of these entities could cleave the Spectres of a region, and the intense Yin Qi of the Land of Terror would surge their combat prowess, elevating their realms and fortifying their souls.

Yu Yuan surmised that the most powerful souls in the Land of Terror must be rejoicing over the Everlands' tumult.

He was transported by the dark cauldron, following Liu Linzhi, the Celestial Shade, into a cave. They then descended along a straight stone path deep into the mountain's belly.

Liu Linzhi's armor clanked against the cave walls with each contact. Circular shoulder guards and a blood-red array etched into the chest and waist armor, resembling roses, glowed ominously in the dim cavern.

Liu Linzhi, with his finely chiseled features, spoke with a tinge of sorrow, "This treasured armor was crafted for me by the Artifact Sect's masters, tailored to my spell and physique. I named it 'Bloody Rose' because the woman I loved adored roses before I joined Colddeath."

"I was recognized for my cultivation potential and selected by an elder of Colddeath to join the sect and immerse myself in learning their mystique."

"When I returned to my homeland, she had already married and had children," Liu Linzhi lamented, his voice heavy with countless sighs. "Once you embark on the path of cultivation, you must sever ties with your past. Unless your loved ones can join you on this journey, it won't be long before you endure the agony of eternal separation."

"Alas, by the time of my second return, the woman I cherished had passed away many years before."

This cultivator from the Colddeath sect, having failed to ascend to the Spirit Walk realm, was compelled to pursue the path of the Celestial Shade. He eventually brought Yu Yuan to his regular place of cultivation.

"People who cultivate as ghosts do so out of desperation," he continued. "If they had a corporeal body, if they could be reborn, nobody would willingly become a ghost in the Land of Terror."

"Ghosts can no longer savor the world's luxuries—fine food, wine, and the company of beautiful people are all beyond their reach."

"Even if you master the Dao of Souls to become a Ghost King, you can't move about the Everlands with the same freedom as other cultivators. There are too many constraints. That's why many ghosts harbor resentment towards those who come here to temper their Lunar Spirits."

"They envy them, yet they can't come and go as they please, so they desperately try to make them stay."

It seemed he hadn't conversed with anyone in ages, and seizing the opportunity, the Celestial Shade from the Colddeath sect eagerly shared a multitude of trivialities with Yu Yuan.

Yu Yuan listened without interruption, standing within the Crucible of Evil, surveying Liu Linzhi's domain at the base of Shadow Mountain.

It was a vast underground palace, carved out to span about ten acres, furnished with rough-hewn stone tables and chairs. The ceiling of the cavern shimmered as if touched by rippling water.

Upon closer inspection, Yu Yuan realized that these 'ripples' were actually powerful ghosts loyal to Liu Linzhi. These spirits descended from above Shadow Mountain to dwell in the dome of Liu Linzhi's palace, feasting on the dense Yin Qi below to fortify themselves.

"Oh, that's right, there's no biting cold wind from the outside world here."

After speaking at length, Liu Linzhi suddenly remembered Yu Yuan's unique situation and said, "You're free to leave the cauldron and move around this palace. Your level of cultivation may not be very high, but Shadow Mountain has its advantages. Simply sitting on the ground here, you can absorb the Yin Qi with your soul to refine your earthly soul."

"Really?"

Yu Yuan felt intrigued. He extended his hand, reaching through the dark veil of light cast by the Crucible of Evil, and placed it outside.

True to Liu Linzhi's words, there was no harsh wind to chill his flesh and blood.

"This place is sealed off; the outside cold cannot penetrate here," Liu Linzhi said with an amused expression. "There's no need for surprise. As my guest, you won't face any trouble. Oh, and I have a collection of magic items I've gathered over the years that I no longer need."

He walked over to a corner of the palace, his armor clanking with each step.

There, the rock wall was carved with large cubbies, filled with wooden chests, iron boxes, and jars, some of which glowed faintly.

"Some trial-takers brought their possessions here, but sadly, they were slain by the ghosts before they could refine their Lunar Spirit. Over the past century, I've defeated six peers, reaping quite the bounty. But these treasures are worthless in the Land of Terror; they have no value here!"

The crimson light from Liu Linzhi's armor began to fade in front of the carved cubbies.

This change indicated that the vitality from the red jade pendant, which had infused the armor, was slowly depleting over time.

He turned and beckoned to Yu Yuan, "Come take a look. If there's anything you fancy, feel free to take it. It's of no use to me; perhaps you can make something of it."

With a whoosh, the dark cauldron floated Yu Yuan closer to Liu Linzhi.

Yu Yuan's eyes gleamed as he surveyed the wooden chests, iron boxes, jars, and items, each bathed in an emerald glow. Among them was a finely crafted dagger with a handle carved with flames that seemed to flicker and burn.

"This item belongs to a cultivator from the Sunlit Order."

Liu Linzhi's eyes followed the direction of the gaze and landed on the dagger. He quickly explained, "It's the favored blade of a Spirit Walk cultivator from the Sunlit Order, who used it while roaming the Land of Terror. I'm not sure which mountain within the Sunlit Order he hailed from, as I acquired this through another Celestial Shade."

"As for its rank, it's just shy of heavenly grade, making it top-tier among earthly grades."

"Oh, and if you're practicing fire magic, this item would be quite suitable for members of the Sunlit Order or the Ruby Hand. However, it's not for those from Winter's Bite, as the ice energy coursing through them would conflict with this item."

Yu Yuan's thoughts immediately turned to Yuan Lianyao.

But as he considered Yuan Lianyao, he quickly remembered his status as a traitor to the Everlands, unwelcome among the various sects.

He couldn't openly visit Asvetaesi or Gavanas now.

Even if he took this item, he would have to entrust someone else to deliver it to Yuan Lianyao.

With his current identity, a direct meeting with Yuan Lianyao would only bring her trouble.

"Sigh."

With a heavy heart, Yu Yuan stepped through the darkened light screen into the palace and approached Liu Linzhi. "If it's not too much trouble, could you show me what's inside the wooden and metal boxes?" he inquired offhandedly.

"Absolutely! By all means!"

Liu Linzhi, his eyes gleaming with a blood-red excitement upon seeing Yu Yuan emerge from the Crucible of Evil, eagerly presented a copper box that floated towards his armored chest.

A hand formed from a bloody light gently lifted the lid of the ancient bronze box.

"Heh!"

Liu Linzhi chuckled ominously.

A sudden, intense feeling of foreboding struck Yu Yuan as Liu Linzhi's chuckle echoed. He reached out to the cauldron spirit, but before he could take further action, the sealed palace beneath the ground cracked open, revealing hundreds of holes.

The shriek of the cold wind filled the cavern.

Whoosh!

The chilling gust, laden with innumerable tiny soul spirits, swept towards Yu Yuan, threatening to strip the flesh from his bones.

Boom!

As the biting wind encroached, the beast skin crafted by Chen Liangquan, brought from the Scarlet Dunes by a Terra Fiend and gifted to him, unleashed an astonishing halo of demon energy!

Glyphs etched into the skin pulsed to life, stirred by the tumultuous demon energy.

A massive shield of demon energy materialized from thin air, enveloping Yu Yuan completely!

Crackle!

The harsh wind shrieked, battering the shield and sending sparks scattering.

Within, Yu Yuan stood unflinching, unaffected by the icy assault.

"Senior Liu, is this how you repay someone who has just aided you?"

Yu Yuan's face was stern. As the initial blast of the frigid gale was repelled, the Crucible of Evil he had summoned floated to his chest.

He hoisted himself up and descended into the cauldron, the beast skin from Chen Liangquan retracting its demon energy with a surge.

"Come forth!"

At his command, two figures emerged from the miniature realm within the cauldron.

The Frost Queen, her upper body human and her lower half scorpion, glided out.

She too was a product of the Colddeath Sect, confined in the Extraterrestrial Sword Prison before Yu Yuan transformed her into the Second Bane.

The two Baneful beings, their minds linked with the cauldron spirit, burst forth and lunged at Liu Linzhi.

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