C737 Become an Accomplice

Yuan Lianyao found it utterly inconceivable.

Lord Faang of the Red Devil Sect had expended so much effort and resources to elevate the white bone into a ghost, securing its trust. She had been convinced that his ties with the sect were unbreakable.

Moreover, to repay Lord Faang's kindness, the white bone had specifically assisted her, guiding her to refine her soul at Dark Mountain.

But why had the white bone's demeanor changed so abruptly?

The tone of the white bone ghost suggested it was ready to distance itself from the Red Devil Sect and align with Yu Yuan instead.

"Question him once he awakens," came the suggestion.

The white bone's green eyes flickered towards Yu Yuan in the distance. "If he's inclined to share, he'll explain his reasons to you. As for me, I prefer to remain reticent." His manner towards Yuan Lianyao had turned noticeably frosty.

Bewildered, Yuan Lianyao sensed that something was amiss.

And so, half a month slipped by.

One day, Yuan Lianyao was jolted awake by an extraordinary disturbance. Blinking her eyes open, she saw the white bone ghost's skeletal frame, as luminous as jade, ablaze with ghostly white flames.

These flames, emanating from the skeleton, were clearly the burning of a soul flame, casting a spectral yet exquisite glow.

The sinister white fire, when released by the ghost's jade-like bones, paradoxically exuded a sacred purity, as if it had the power to cleanse the world's corruption.

Despite its ghostly form, the white bone seemed like a deity meting out punishment to lost souls, exuding an aura of majesty, light, and divine radiance.

Huuu!

The ghost's eyes snapped open, a gleam of excitement shining within the verdant depths.

With a soft howl, it transmitted a message of the soul.

Moments later, ghosts loyal to it ushered in a group of smaller, newly materialized spirits, corralling them into the expansive stone chamber.

The orchestrator of this task was a ghost with the form of a wise-looking monkey.

"Master," it greeted with a bow.

The monkey-like ghost inquired with an obsequious tone, "Shall we bring more?"

As it spoke, its shifty eyes darted towards Yuan Lianyao and the meditative Yu Yuan.

"Follow his orders," the white bone ghost responded icily.

"Oh, oh, oh," the monkey-like specter nodded repeatedly in agreement.

At that very moment, Yu Yuan, deep in meditation, slowly opened his eyes. His dark, diamond-like gaze was reminiscent of an abyssal pool capable of swallowing any wandering spirit.

"Ghosting Arts!" Yu Yuan silently invoked the incantation, and a startling brilliance burst forth from his third eye.

In an instant, the newly materialized ghosts, in a frenzy, flew towards Yu Yuan and vanished into his forehead.

Yuan Lianyao leapt to her feet, her voice laced with urgency, "Yu Yuan!"

"He's fine!" barked the skeletal specter.

Yu Yuan offered Yuan Lianyao a reassuring smile and said, "Don't worry, I'm truly alright."

Turning to the monkey-shaped ghost, he flashed a wide grin, "Look who's back."

"Lord Yu Yuan, you are magnanimous indeed. When I first laid eyes on you, I was foolishly blind," the monkey-shaped ghost pleaded, bowing incessantly.

"Bring me another group in three days, a tad stronger than these," Yu Yuan instructed.

The monkey-like ghost's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Yes! Absolutely! Your wish is my command!"

With agility, it darted out of the stone chamber, vanishing without a trace.

Yu Yuan once again closed his eyes and resumed the silent practice of the "Ghosting Arts," melting down over a dozen ghosts that had been drawn into his Consciousness Little World, using the remnants of their souls to temper his own.

Yuan Lianyao sought understanding from the White Bone Nether Ghost, only to see its once vibrant green eyes now dimmed.

The White Bone Nether Ghost settled into its own quiet cultivation.

Three days later, the monkey-like ghost returned, leading the White Bone Nether Ghost's entourage with a new batch of slightly stronger spirits in tow.

Yu Yuan absorbed them into the Consciousness Little World, refining them as before.

Then, seven days later, came another wave, and Yu Yuan absorbed them too.

Five days after that, yet another group arrived.

More than half a month passed in this manner.

One day, Yu Yuan's form trembled, his eyes shining brightly in the dim chamber as he stood up and beamed at the White Bone Nether Ghost, "White Bone Lord, I am prepared!"

"Congratulations," the White Bone Lord's eyes sparkled in response.

"White Bone Lord, would you step outside for a moment? I'll join you shortly," Yu Yuan said, still smiling.

White Ghost understood that Yu Yuan needed a private word with Yuan Lianyao, so with a nod, he made his way outside. "I've already assembled my men. They're ready for your breakthrough and can depart at a moment's notice."

"I won't take too long," Yu Yuan assured with a nod.

In an instant, White Bone transformed into a beam of stark white light and vanished from the cave.

"Yu Yuan, what exactly is happening?" Yuan Lianyao, unable to contain her curiosity any longer, bombarded him with questions as soon as White Bone disappeared.

"I've made a promise to help him ascend to the rank of Ghost King. It's as straightforward as that," Yu Yuan explained.

"He mentioned that, but I need the specifics!" Yuan Lianyao demanded, fixing him with a stern gaze. "White Bone Lord is willing to sever ties with the Red Devil Sect for your sake! Yu Yuan, what's really going on? Do you truly have the power to make him a Ghost King in this Horror Land?"

"Do you recall the sword soul I claimed from the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area during our first trial?" Yu Yuan countered with his own question.

"Of course, I remember," Yuan Lianyao replied, nodding. "I also remember how my soul benefited from your presence by the Soul Transformation Pool there. It's why I gained favor with the Red Devil Sect and could grasp their Devil Spells so swiftly—all thanks to that experience."

"White Bone Lord might not recall everything, but he's always been aware that he came to Horror Land from the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area," Yu Yuan revealed, hinting at deeper secrets. "Moreover, he's aware of his connection to the Divine Soul Sect."

"He's linked to the Divine Soul Sect!?" Yuan Lianyao blanched at the revelation.

"Yes, and the decision for him to cut ties with your Red Devil Sect was actually mine," Yu Yuan confessed openly. "It's for your benefit, as well as for the Imperial Advisor and Lord Faang Yao."

"But how... how did you manage to earn his trust?" Yuan Lianyao pressed, her anxiety palpable.

"Let's not dwell on that now. Stay here in Dark Mountain for a bit longer; I'll return shortly," Yu Yuan said with a gentle sigh. "Once we leave Horror Land, you'll need to tell others that the two of us..."

"Hey."

He left his sentence hanging and soared out of the Dark Mountain Cave aboard the Evil Cauldron.

"Yu Yuan! You jerk!" Yuan Lianyao shouted, cursing after him.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

As the Evil Cauldron took flight, the White Bone Nether Ghost gestured, and the entire silver peak shimmered with a pearly glow, as if a mysterious array had been activated.

Beyond the silver Dark Mountain, clusters of over two thousand ghost spirits dotted the sky.

"Wow!"

Yu Yuan was taken aback by the sight of the numerous ghost spirits, realizing that the White Bone Nether Ghost's forces far surpassed those of the Gray Mother Nether Ghost.

A quick assessment told him that these ghost spirits, loyal to the White Bone Nether Ghost, were significantly more formidable than those under the Gray Mother.

The loyalists to the White Bone had been hidden, never revealing themselves during their leader's confinement.

Their absence suggested that the White Bone Nether Ghost had unwavering confidence in his own abilities, not needing the might of his followers to defeat the Gray Mother.

"To the domain of the Cyan Spectre!" commanded the White Bone Specter.

"Kill!"

At his call, the two thousand plus ghost spirits screeched in unison with their Soul Sounds.

Yu Yuan felt the fervor too, his blood simmering with excitement. He was about to be an active participant in the clash of ghostly titans, potentially playing a pivotal role at a decisive moment.

This thought made him appreciate the foresight of his dear friend Zu Ann, who had indeed led him to a place of fortune.

Two days on.

Yu Yuan, maneuvering the Evil Cauldron, followed the White Bone Specter, along with the two thousand ghost spirits, into the Cyan Spectre's realm. They either annihilated the Dark Mountain's denizens on sight or coerced them into pledging allegiance.

Seizing the moment, Yu Yuan harvested six hundred evil spirits with the tacit approval of the White Bone Specter.

A few of these, once refined into Evil Demons as per the cauldron soul's guidance, would rank fourth and fifth in power.

Over the following days, it seemed the word had spread; no more ghost spirits were seen within the Dark Mountain.

Only when Yu Yuan laid eyes on a verdant Dark Mountain did he realize where all those fleeing spirits had gone.

"White Bone Lord! We have no quarrel. Why have you come to my territory to wreak such slaughter?"

A colossal tortoise spirit, akin to a small mountain, perched before the verdant Dark Mountain, its gaze shimmering with intensity. "White Bone, you slew Granny Gray and now you wreak havoc in my domain. What is it you seek?"

"The answer is clear. I aim to be king," the White Bone ghost replied, unguarded. "Cyan, did you and Caiyi face setbacks at the Soul Crossing River in Granny Gray's realm?"

At those words, a flicker of alarm crossed Cyan Spectre's visage. "How... how did you know?"

"You are under my control, and Caiyi is Miss Jiang's," the White Bone ghost stated, his voice breezy. "As I breached your lands, Miss Jiang likely took the opportunity to enter Caiyi's domain. Cyan, consider yourself a mere stepping stone on my path to the throne. Resign yourself to this."

"White Bone! Your insolence knows no bounds!" Cyan Spectre rose slowly, his gaze settling on the host of ghostly spirits and phantoms accompanying White Bone. "I, Cyan, am not so easily provoked!"

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