C748 A Miserable Defeat

Rahu stood like an iridescent deity beneath the distant heavens, immovable.

The White Bone Giant, encircled by stars, cast a peculiar arc light capable of cleansing all impurities from the world, hammering down time and again, steadfast as a mountain.

Whoosh!

Rivers of rainbow light surged against White Bone's towering form like an upward cascade.

The soul fused with the glassy mountain, transforming into the figure of the Rahu Ghost King, with a body akin to a Solar Spirit, its soul concealed within, impervious to the arc light's corrosive purification.

White Bone possessed a tangible form, and so did she. In direct confrontation, she was not only unyielding but also emerged victorious.

Yu Yuan focused his thoughts and activated his Third Eye, observing intently before letting out a deep sigh. "You're right," he murmured, "White Bone is likely no match for him."

"White Bone's path of cultivation lies in fearless combat. He has no other choice."

While Jiang Xingwen spoke, specks of green light twinkled within the River of Souls at her waist, and a spark of wisdom ignited in her gaze. "The artifact soul of the River of Souls has revealed to me that White Bone's journey to Ghost King status is forged through battle."

"Before becoming a Spectre, he challenged Celestial Shades of his own rank, using their demise to lay the groundwork for his ascent."

"White Bone cannot retreat. If he does, his chance to become a Ghost King will slip away."

"Thus, fully aware that he is outmatched and facing certain death, he must fight. If he were to yield, to turn and walk away, his path to becoming a Ghost King would be severed."

"Alas, it's such a shame."

From a distance, Jiang Xingwen, in silent communion with the artifact soul of the River of Souls, understood White Bone's predicament and anticipated the outcome.

"White Bone has long known that Rahu refined the Shadow Mountain. His request for your aid was merely to create a vulnerability in Rahu's form. The fragments that fell were part of Rahu's body, leaving him incomplete, with a slight imperfection."

"His plan was to exploit that flaw, to defeat Rahu and thereby fulfill his own destiny."

However, he hadn't anticipated that Rahu would ascend to the throne of the Ghost King. Even with its imperfections, the form of the Ghost King was beyond White Bone's capacity to challenge.

Jiang Xingwen disclosed the harsh reality.

Yu Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly, and he let out a bitter smile. "Just as I thought."

Rahu, the Ghost King, radiated with the splendor of a seven-colored deity as he seized the stark white skeleton and yanked.

Crack!

White Bone's arms were violently snapped off and detached from the skeletal form.

In mere moments, the iridescent glow transformed into long arcs of Divine Thunder, binding White Bone and rendering him immobile.

"You sought your own end; you can't blame me for that."

Rahu huffed dismissively, his godlike stature exerting force once more.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Following the arms, White Bone's legs and head were successively torn asunder.

As the severed limbs and skull plummeted to the earth, they shrank instantly.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

In short order, White Bone was vivisected by the mighty Rahu, reduced to gleaming white bones that formed a heap upon the ground.

The bones remained as lustrous as jade, with the eerie flow of a remnant soul coursing through them.

Yet, to Yu Yuan, the small mound of bones appeared tragically forlorn.

Silver-white stones cascaded down, encircling the modest pile like a tombstone, entombing the infamous White Bone Spectre of the Land of Terror.

The Rahu Ghost King, entrenched in the earth, bore an indistinct visage, veiled by the iridescent light that obscured any true glimpse of his face.

"And now for the two of you."

From several kilometers away, the enigmatic Rahu Ghost King cast his gaze in their direction.

"Yu Yuan, best of luck to you. I'm taking my leave first!"

Sensing danger, Jiang Xingwen acted swiftly. The 'River of Souls' she had readied flared to life with a burst of ethereal green light.

She was enveloped by a verdant glow and vanished in the blink of an eye.

With the River of Souls at her disposal, Jiang Xingwen could teleport across the Land of Terror, eluding even Rahu. She departed with decisive ease.

Rahu beckoned: "Visitor from Boulderdawn, please, come forth for a word."

Beneath the Crucible of Evil, the diminutive Shadow Mountain suddenly shimmered with iridescent light. In that fleeting moment, a connection formed between the mountain and Rahu's resplendent form.

"Oh no!"

Yu Yuan sensed trouble brewing and upon looking down, he saw the Crucible of Evil entwined by streaks of rainbow arc light, binding it as if it were White Bone himself.

An irresistible force emerged, and the dark cauldron was drawn by the vibrant lights, moving obediently towards Rahu.

"I can't break free. Even if the Bane is depleted, it would be futile."

The cauldron spirit tested the situation briefly before surrendering, advising Yu Yuan to cease his fruitless efforts. "Her soul has merged with the iridescent treasure of Shadow Mountain, vastly increasing her power, leaving virtually no vulnerabilities. Master, there's no point in using the sword spell anymore. It's ineffective."

"Alright," Yu Yuan responded, his expression grim.

White Bone's challenge to Rahu had ended in defeat. As an accomplice, Yu Yuan followed Rahu's soul into the treasure mountain, and now that his soul had found a new body, he was powerless against Rahu.

Whoosh!

In a short time, the dark cauldron, now enveloped in rainbow arc light, was presented before the Ghost King, Rahu.

A radiant glow swept past Rahu's divine form, her features shifting too rapidly to discern.

Soon after, the frail Rahu that Yu Yuan had first encountered reappeared, cradling a flower basket.

The iridescent Shadow Mountain, slightly diminished, still stood tall behind her.

The soul and the exquisitely tempered body were once again separated.

It seemed that only by doing so could she maximize the preservation of her power.

"White Bone, I'm sticking to my principles. I won't kill you; I'll let you live," she declared.

Approaching the small mound of bones, she inverted the flower basket over it, saying, "I'll leave your spirit as a trophy of my victory, to become yet another phantom among the many Spectres."

A pale shadow was drawn from the pile of bones into the basket.

Rahu glanced at the basket's bottom, now marked by the white shadow, and nodded in satisfaction. "White Bone, don't feel humiliated. If I hadn't become the Ghost King, if I didn't possess this extraordinary form, your Sacred Writ of the Skeleton's flames and radiance would have overwhelmed my soul."

She still had the inclination to console the White Bone Spectre. "As I said before, it's unfortunate you're a step too late."

Rahu shook her head.

With a rip!

The iridescent arc light that had been entwined around the Crucible of Evil instantly transferred into the flower basket in her hand, and Yu Yuan was promptly liberated.

Yu Yuan inside the cauldron refrained from any hasty actions. Frowning, he gestured towards the small mound of bones. "What price must I pay to exchange for him?"

"He will no longer become a Ghost King," Rahu suddenly declared, out of the blue.

Yu Yuan was taken aback.

"If he can't become a Ghost King, he's merely a Spectre, hardly worthy of Boulderdawn's attention," Rahu said with a light smile, gesturing to herself with an open hand. "I am the newly risen Ghost King. I also harbor the ambition to challenge for the title of God of Ghosts! Moreover, I hold your sect in high esteem. If you are indeed seeking a spokesperson, I, Rahu, am eminently suitable."

She volunteered herself for the role.

Yu Yuan paused, then slowly grasped the implications of her words.

"I believe I've demonstrated my capabilities," Rahu said casually. "Given that you practice Boulderdawn's Spirit Magic, there must be a mentor supporting you. I'm convinced that a Boulderdawn master is observing me through your gaze right now."

A peculiar smile crept across Yu Yuan's lips.

He realized that Ghost King Rahu had misunderstood. His use of the Soul Forging through Enlightenment technique to develop the Third Eye was intended to enhance his perception of souls, to clearly see the flow of remnant soul within Rahu, and to discern the source of power in her unique physique, enabling him to make accurate judgments.

The Third Eye was indeed unusual, and Rahu must have noticed it, leading her to other conclusions.

"I, Rahu, aspire to be the voice of Boulderdawn in the Land of Terror!"

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