C712 The Repayment of Kindness

As the evil spirits converged, the dormant power of the cauldron soul began to stir, and its long-forgotten memories started to awaken bit by bit.

Yu Yuan could distinctly sense the cauldron soul coming to life in Horror Land. It was as if its wisdom had been unlocked, sharpening its thoughts.

Heeding the cauldron soul's insights on Horror Land, Yu Yuan realized his knowledge of this realm was quite scant.

Horror Land was far more enigmatic and wondrous than he had ever imagined.

Beneath the earth's surface lay the origin of the Yin Vein!

The Yin Vein, stretching across the Boundless Great World, was intimately linked to the demise of all beings!

Upon death, the souls of mortals and fallen cultivators would dissolve into the cosmos, eventually merging with the mysterious Yin Vein. This would bolster the source of the Yin Vein below, allowing a surge of potent Yin Qi to emanate and enrich the so-called Dark Mountains with its dense presence.

The myriad of spirits and phantoms lurking in Horror Land would be empowered by the abundance of Yin Qi.

Even the most formidable of these entities, severing countless lost souls, would find their combat prowess and spiritual essence magnified amidst the intense Yin Qi of Horror Land.

Pursuing this line of thought, Yu Yuan was convinced that the paramount spirits of Horror Land must be reveling in the tumult of the Boundless World.

Guided by the dark cauldron, he followed the Heavenly Ghost named Liu Linzhi into a cave, descending along a steep stone path deep into the mountain's belly.

Liu Linzhi's armor clanged against the cave walls as they moved. His shoulder bore round armor, and his chest and waist were etched with a blood-red array resembling a rose, casting a striking crimson glow in the shadowy tunnel.

Liu Linzhi, with his finely chiseled features, spoke with a tinge of sorrow, "I commissioned the masters of the Artifact Sect to forge this treasure armor specifically for me, using my Spiritual Spell and body measurements. I named it 'Bloody Rose' because the woman I loved adored roses before I joined the Blood God Cult for my training."

"An elder of the Blood God Cult recognized my potential and took me under his wing to delve into the sect's esoteric teachings."

"By the time I returned home, triumphant in my cultivation, she had already wed another and started a family."

Liu Linzhi's voice was heavy with emotion as he spoke, his words punctuated by ceaseless sighs. "Once you step onto the path of cultivation, you must sever ties with your past. Unless your loved ones can join you on this journey, you'll soon face the agony of an eternal separation."

"I remember upon my second return to my homeland, the woman I cherished had long since passed away."

"..."

The Heavenly Ghost, once a practitioner of the Blood God Cult's secret arts, had failed to advance to the Soul Wandering Stage and was compelled to switch to the path of soul and spirit cultivation. He brought Yu Yuan to his usual place of practice.

He continued, "Humans who cultivate as spirits and ghosts are driven to it out of desperation. They have no other choice. If they had a physical body, if they could be reborn, nobody would willingly become a ghost in the Horror Land."

"Spirits and ghosts can no longer savor the world's luxuries. Delicacies, fine wines, and the company of beautiful people are now beyond their reach."

"Even at the pinnacle of the path of spirits and ghosts, even as a Ghost King, one cannot wander the Boundless Land freely like the great cultivators of the outside world. There are too many limitations. Alas, this is why so many spirits and ghosts become bitter and resentful towards the outsiders who come here to hone their skills."

"They envy them, yet they can't move about as freely. They come and go as they please, so these spirits and ghosts desperately try to make them stay."

"..."

It seemed like an age since he'd had a proper conversation, and seizing this chance, the Heavenly Ghost from the Blood God Cult eagerly shared a myriad of minor details with Yu Yuan.

Yu Yuan listened without interruption, absorbing the stories that were not of his own interest or knowledge but rather the personal history of another.

Standing within the Evil Cauldron, Yu Yuan surveyed Liu Linzhi's cavernous abode at the base of Dark Mountain. It was a vast underground palace, carved out to span an area as large as ten acres, furnished with rough-hewn stone tables and chairs. The rocky ceiling above shimmered with what appeared to be reflections of water.

Upon closer inspection, Yu Yuan realized that these "water reflections" were actually formidable spirits and ghosts, loyal followers of Liu Linzhi. These spectral beings descended from the heights of Dark Mountain to dwell in the dome of Liu Linzhi's palace, drawing in the dense Yin Qi from below to fortify themselves.

"Oh, right, we don't have any of that harsh, cold wind from the outside world here."

After speaking at length, Liu Linzhi suddenly recalled Yu Yuan's unique situation and said, "You're free to step out of the cauldron and roam this palace. Your cultivation level may not be very high, but Dark Mountain has its advantages. Simply sitting on the ground, you can absorb the Yin Qi with your soul to refine your Earth Soul."

"Really?"

Yu Yuan felt a stir of interest. He extended his hand, passing it through the deep, dark light screen emitted by the Evil Cauldron, and gently placed it outside.

True to Liu Linzhi's words, no biting cold wind swept in to gnaw at his flesh and blood.

"This place is sealed off; the outside cold can't penetrate here." Liu Linzhi's face broke into an amused smile as he continued, "Don't be so astonished. As my guest, you won't encounter any trouble. Oh, and I've got a collection of spiritual materials 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. The rock wall was carved with large cubbies, filled with wooden chests, iron boxes, and jars, some of which faintly glowed with an inner light.

"Some trial challengers brought their possessions here, but before they could refine their Yin Gods, they were slain by the spirits of this place. Over the past century, I've defeated six peers, amassing quite the trove. These items would fetch a handsome sum outside of Horror Land, but here, they're worthless!"

The glow from Liu Linzhi's armor dimmed as he stood before the wall's cubbies, indicating that the life force from the blood-colored jade pendant, which had been powering the armor, was now waning with time.

He turned and beckoned to Yu Yuan, "Come take a look. If anything catches your eye, feel free to take it. It's of no use to me anymore; you might as well make something of it."

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

Yu Yuan's eyes shone with anticipation as he surveyed the array of wooden chests, iron boxes, jars, and artifacts above the cubbies.

The artifacts radiated a greenish spiritual luster, among them an exquisite dagger with a flame motif on its handle that seemed to flicker as if the flames were truly alight.

"This object is the possession of a practitioner from the Primordial Yang Sect."

Liu Linzhi's eyes followed the direction of the gaze and landed on the dagger, prompting him to explain, "It belonged to a distinguished cultivator at the Soul Wandering Stage from the Primordial Yang Sect, a blade well-suited for a Yin God wandering the Horror Land. As for which peak of the sect he hailed from, I'm not certain, as I acquired this piece through another Heavenly Ghost."

"And its rank? It's just shy of Heaven Level, making it the pinnacle of Earth Level."

"Ah, yes, and should you practice the Flame Spiritual Spell, this item would be quite fitting for members of either the Primordial Yang Sect or the Red Devil Sect. However, it's unsuitable for those of the Cold Yin Sect, given the flow of cold energy within them."

Yu Yuan's mind immediately went to Yuan Lianyao.

But as the thought of Lianyao crossed his mind, he was struck by the harsh reality that he was now a traitor to the Boundless Land, unwelcome among the various factions.

He couldn't openly visit Darkmoon or Spider City in his current state.

Even with this item in hand, he would have to rely on someone else to deliver it to Yuan Lianyao.

Approaching her directly, given his status, would only bring her trouble.

"Sigh."

His mood heavy with these thoughts, Yu Yuan passed through the darkened light screen of the cauldron's mouth and entered the palace, approaching Liu Linzhi. "If it's not too much trouble, could you show me what's inside the wooden and iron boxes?" he asked nonchalantly.

"Absolutely! By all means!" Liu Linzhi, the Heavenly Ghost, beamed with excitement as he saw Yu Yuan emerge from the Evil Cauldron, his eyes flashing with a blood-red light.

A copper box, like a treasure presented, floated towards Liu Linzhi's armored chest.

A hand formed from the bloody light gently touched the lid of the ancient bronze box and nudged it open.

"Heh!" Liu Linzhi chuckled darkly.

A sudden, overwhelming sense of dread washed over Yu Yuan the moment that chuckle echoed; he reached out to the cauldron soul for guidance. But before he could take further action, the sealed palace beneath the earth cracked open, revealing hundreds of holes in the rock walls.

The howling of the cold wind pierced the air of the palace.

Whoosh!

The wind, laden with innumerable tiny soul spirits, rushed at Yu Yuan, threatening to strip the flesh from his bones.

Boom!

As the biting wind enveloped him, the beast skin gifted by Chen Liangquan and brought to the Crimson Desert by an Earth Demon burst forth with an astonishing demonic glow. The skin's enigmatic runes pulsed to life under the surge of demonic energy.

A colossal barrier of demonic energy materialized from thin air, encasing Yu Yuan completely.

Crackle and pop!

The harsh wind wailed, striking the barrier and sending sparks scattering in all directions.

Within, Yu Yuan stood unyielding, untouched by the frigid gales.

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

Yu Yuan's face was etched with severity. As the initial blast of the merciless wind was repelled, the Evil Cauldron he had summoned floated before him.

With a slight elevation, he descended into the cauldron, and the beast skin's wild demonic energy swiftly withdrew.

"Come forth!"

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

The Ice Concubine, with her upper body human and lower half scorpion, emerged alongside.

A fellow member of the Blood God Cult, she had been confined in the Outer Sword Prison before Yu Yuan refined her into a second Evil Demon.

The two Evil Demons, in harmony with the cauldron soul, burst forth and lunged directly at Liu Linzhi.

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