C724 Long Time No See!

White Bone reigned as the king of this region.

When White Bone requested Yu Yuan to accompany him, Jiang Xingwen and the rest of the Skyreach Consortium were taken aback.

"Me? Where to?" Yu Yuan inquired, puzzled.

"You'll find out once you're there."

White Bone turned and strode away, his crystalline white skeletal form gleaming with a bright luster. "Since you are Yu Yuan, there's someone who would like to meet you."

Yu Yuan's expression shifted subtly as he replied, "Very well!"

The Crucible of Evil levitated and promptly followed White Bone.

Jiang Xingwen, Lin Yue, Ma Jianjiang, and the others stood there, somewhat at a loss.

"Master?"

The Celestial Shade, taking the form of a purple-black skeleton, stood behind Jiang Xingwen and spoke, "White Bone is incredibly powerful. Among the many Spectres here, White Bone's combat prowess ranks in the top three. White Bone possesses the potential to ascend to the status of a Ghost King."

Not every Spectre could progress and metamorphose into a Ghost King.

Much like numerous Unbound cultivators who, regardless of their efforts, find it impossible to take the next step.

Becoming a Ghost King, akin to the primordial spirit, demands considerable innate talent and potential.

In the Land of Terror, there are over a dozen soul spirits bearing the title of Spectre.

Yet, only a select few have the potential to rise as a Ghost King in the future.

White Bone is among these few.

"I'm familiar with the name White Bone," Jiang Xingwen acknowledged with a slight nod, squinting as she watched the Crucible of Evil depart. She smiled and said, "Senior Lin, let's resume our transaction."

Her gaze shifted to the moored Cloud Cruiser.

Lin Yue, having sustained minor injuries from the Second Bane's attack, huffed, "I'm going to revise the agreed-upon price!"

Jiang Xingwen's lack of support for him and Faang Yingzi irked Lin Yue, who was intent on unilaterally breaking the original deal.

"Deacon Ma, correct?"

Jiang Xingwen's eyes settled on Ma Jianjiang as she smiled, "The Skyreach Consortium ventured to the Land of Terror to turn a profit, didn't they? The cargo on the Cloud Cruiser has set prices, right?"

"Yes, that's right," Ma Jianjiang responded, his words tinged with uncertainty.

"Let's stick to the original price," Jiang Xingwen said, raising her hand gently to transmit a remnant soul.

Almost a thousand ghosts surged forth in an instant, encircling the Cloud Cruiser.

"Jiang Xingwen, what are you trying to do?" Lin Yue exclaimed in alarm.

"Forceful sales," Jiang Xingwen replied with a smile.

...

The Crucible of Evil hovered in the void. Yu Yuan watched as White Bone departed from Jiang Xingwen's location and subtly altered his course, veering increasingly off track.

He was not heading deep into the Land of Terror.

Yu Yuan kept a watchful eye on the situation, remaining cautious.

The cauldron spirit informed him that after their departure, the female Lunar Spirit from Abyssal Dawn had coerced Lin Yue and Faang Yingzi of the Skyreach Consortium into selling various unique herbs that nourish the soul at bargain prices—regardless of Lin Yue's willingness.

"That Su Yan's master is quite the character," Yu Yuan mused.

White Bone strode swiftly, with the Crucible of Evil floating leisurely behind him.

As they journeyed, they passed Shadow Mountains inhabited by ghosts and spirits, with Celestial Shade-level masters in residence.

Yet, these ghosts evidently recognized White Bone. As he passed by the Shadow Mountains, the lesser ones immediately withdrew, not daring to emerge.

A few Celestial Shades materialized from the Shadow Mountains and bowed to White Bone from a distance.

White Bone paid them no heed.

Eventually, White Bone led Yu Yuan to a Shadow Mountain even smaller than Liu Linzhi's, gesturing for Yu Yuan to follow him inside.

Yu Yuan hesitated for a moment.

"There are no other Shadow Mountains in the vicinity, nor any ghosts," White Bone explained. "Now, it's much more convenient to speak freely. The former mayor of Asvetaesi from the Ruby Hand is cultivating within this Shadow Mountain."

Yu Yuan's eyes brightened. "Is that so?"

"I've heard her mention you. I'm aware of your current predicament and your unique status," White Bone said, his green eyes shining with intelligence. "To avoid causing her any trouble, I prefer not to say too much in front of the consortium members."

The wisdom and sentience of Spectre-level ghosts were by no means inferior to any higher-order beings.

The White Bone Specter was surprisingly considerate of Yuan Lianyao's situation, ensuring that their secret contact remained hidden to avoid any repercussions from the Ruby Hand, Devil Palace, and Shadow's Keep.

"I'll go in now!"

Shadow Mountain's interior was a network of narrow stone pathways leading to a modest stone chamber underground.

Yuan Lianyao, having arrived in her Lunar Spirit form, shifted her appearance continuously. At times she became a fiercely burning red lotus, at others a tumultuous spout of molten lava.

Eventually, she reverted to her stunningly beautiful primordial soul form.

Cultivators at the Lunar Spirit level often can't stray far from their physical bodies for long, as they are vulnerable to numerous dangers that could dissipate their Lunar Spirits.

But the Land of Terror was an exception.

This unique location, naturally hospitable to souls and specters, allowed even the weakest Lunar Spirit cultivators to roam freely.

The environment here posed no threat to the Lunar Spirit.

The only concerns for a Lunar Spirit in this place were the native ghosts and spirits of the Land of Terror, as well as those that had intruded from the outside.

"Yu Yuan!"

Upon seeing the Crucible of Evil trailing behind the White Bone, Yuan Lianyao, in her true Lunar Spirit form, couldn't hide her excitement. "What brings you to the Land of Terror?"

"Yuanyuan."

Yu Yuan emerged from the Crucible of Evil, greeting Yuan Lianyao with a beaming smile in the airless stone chamber, "I stumbled upon a dagger that I think would suit you perfectly."

He retrieved the dagger, a prize from Liu Linzhi, from his Bracelet of Holding and tossed it to Yuan Lianyao.

"You rascal."

Yuan Lianyao, still in her Lunar Spirit form, rolled her eyes and chided, "I'm here for cultivation. This dagger clearly requires vitality and spiritual energy to wield. How am I supposed to use it like this?"

"Sorry, that slipped my mind. But you'll be able to use it once we're out of here," Yu Yuan said, slapping his forehead.

In the Land of Terror, for an item to be wielded by a ghost, it must be capable of channeling Soul Power. Even if not a true Horcrux, its internal rune circles should accommodate Soul Power and be capable of activation through it.

Many artifacts are not designed this way; the rune circles etched within them serve merely as conduits for spiritual energy and vitality to circulate.

This dagger was such an artifact.

"Thank you, White Bone," Yuan Lianyao expressed her gratitude.

"Carry on with your conversation. His arrival went unnoticed, so there won't be any trouble." With those words, White Bone departed from the stone chamber.

"Yuanyuan, it's been a while," Yu Yuan murmured.

Whoosh!

Yuan Lianyao, in her Lunar Spirit form, drifted before him and extended her hand to rest it in Yu Yuan's palm.

Yu Yuan felt a coolness in his palm, yet there was no sensation of touching something solid.

She was, after all, in her ghostly form.

"The one who secretly struck against you in Gavanas was Yingye of the Ethereal Void Sect," Yu Yuan said, feeling the coolness of her Lunar Spirit. "And again in the Scarlet Dunes, Yingye made another attempt on me. Well, I've had Yingye taken care of by Zu Ann."

"Zu Ann," Yuan Lianyao's face took on a tinge of sorrow. "Have you truly allied yourself with Zu Ann and the extraterrestrial demons?"

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