C754 The Cauldron Spirit Metamorphosed
In the little world within the cauldron, after Yu Yuan's departure, Lee Yuchan's spirited body, her Lunar Spirit, underwent a transformation. The cauldron spirit's spell had cleansed her of any malicious thoughts, leaving her feeling invigorated and her intellect sharpened.
This wasn't her first visit to the cauldron's little world. Yet, each time she gazed upon the stairway etched into the cauldron's wall, the sight of the densely packed Bane never failed to astonish her.
At the lowest level, there were thousands of seats where evil spirits were coalescing into Bane. The second and third levels teemed with a significant number of fierce Bane.
Ascending further, Yuchan observed Bane that bore resemblance to Earth Specters and Ghost Spirits, both in form and aura. They brimmed with violent, murderous, and profoundly evil power that sent shivers through her soul whenever she perceived them.
It became clear to her that the Shadow Curse was ineffective against these Bane. Her reliance on the formidable Shadow Curse offered no leverage over the Bane, and she would be at no advantage in battle against such foes outside of this place. The likelihood of her defeat was high.
Suddenly, a figure with the upper body of a slender woman and the lower half of a scorpion, her skin a ghostly blue, swooped into the cauldron, cradling a snow-white phantom in her arms.
The Frost Queen, though not of complete human form, possessed a unique and alternative beauty. Upon closer inspection, the proportions were impeccable, and even her scorpion half seemed to complement Yuchan's perception of symmetry.
As the Frost Queen descended, a chilling coldness permeated the space, causing the temperature within the cauldron's little world to plummet. Yuchan's soul, her Lunar Spirit, felt the bite of the cold. Observing the Frost Queen again, the chill within her soul intensified.
Within the Frost Queen's grasp, the snow-white phantom revealed a diminutive white bear that appeared to have been subdued. Deep within the phantom, the bear's soul was bound by ice crystals.
The white bear shivered intermittently, baring its teeth in a fearsome yet somehow endearing display.
Yuchan instantly understood that the Frost Queen had subdued the Celestial Shade. Having taken great pains to bring it into the cauldron, it was undoubtedly capable of evil convergence.
During this time, she and Yu Yuan had teamed up in battle, gaining insight into both Yu Yuan and the Crucible of Evil.
Ghosts that couldn't be turned into evil were either refined by her using the Shadow Curse or completely obliterated.
Those with the potential for evil convergence were brought into the cauldron's little world, where they were gradually transformed into various ranks of Bane, thereby enhancing the cauldron's power.
At that moment, with a gentle nudge from the Frost Queen, a white bear, once of the Celestial Shade level, was propelled to the fifth step. Wisps of soul light began to ascend, layer upon layer, infusing into the spirited body of the miniature white bear.
The once roaring white bear fell silent as its soul underwent a fundamental transformation, evolving from a Celestial Shade of the Land of Terror into a Bane.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Here, strands of blood light, skewering powerful ghost spirits like candied hawthorns, plummeted down.
The blood light trapped them, positioning the weaker ghosts suitable for evil convergence on various steps within the cauldron's wall, mostly on the third and fourth levels.
As the new ghosts took their designated places, their minds were instantly filled with a barrage of distracting and malevolent thoughts.
From below, Yuchan could see the elite forces under Wangchuan's command experiencing tremendous upheavals within their souls in the little world inside the cauldron.
Their self-awareness was forcibly erased, and their most negative and extreme evil thoughts were significantly amplified.
The blood lights converged, gradually forming a crimson blood shadow. Alongside the Frost Queen, it took its place at the seventh level, their rightful seat among the gods and demons.
A hint of bitterness tugged at Yuchan's lips.
Having seen the might of the Frost Queen and the Second Bane, she realized that with her current state and cultivation, she stood no chance against them in the Land of Terror, despite her mastery of the Shadow Curse.
Moreover, aside from the Second Bane and the Frost Queen, the cauldron housed thousands of Banes capable of forming magic power arrays.
She now had a clear grasp of the power wielded by Yu Yuan, understanding why he had the audacity to train here with his corporeal body.
"You truly are no longer on the same plane as the Master."
A scornful, mocking voice emerged from nowhere, "Whether in the outside world or the Land of Terror, you remain nothing more than a trivial character."
Lee Yuchan abruptly looked up and demanded, "Who's there?"
Above the Frost Queen and the Second Bane, on the steps leading further up, there appeared a girl clad in grey sackcloth, her form indistinct and shadowy.
Like most spirited bodies, hers was a shade of greyish-black.
The sackcloth served merely as a shroud, creating a blurred and somber silhouette that made it impossible for Yuchan to discern her features or figure clearly.
"I am the essence of the cauldron," the girl said, her voice tinged with a hint of a smile. "After many years, I have finally managed to condense a spirited body using the accumulated energy of the Bane in the Land of Terror."
At the top of the staircase, the girl fidgeted with the hem of her garment, her dissatisfaction evident. "It's still not enough. I dislike these drab, lifeless colors. Nor do I care for sackcloth. I prefer dresses—bright, colorful, beautiful dresses. But for now, I am too weak to change my appearance at will."
She spoke in a disheartened murmur, seemingly unaware of Yuchan's presence below or that her words were not intended for her ears.
"I recall some things. Those villains, they wanted to kill me, to burn me alive. Have I already died once? Who am I now? Am I... still alive?"
The girl spoke neurotically, lost in her own world.
During this time, Yu Yuan had been steering the cauldron, collaborating with Yuchan to ensnare numerous Bane within Wangchuan's domain. They had fortified the cauldron with a potent dose of energy, enabling the cauldron spirit, which previously possessed only consciousness without form, to finally muster enough strength to craft a soul spirit for itself.
Yet, compared to her former self, she was still too feeble. The power drawn by the cauldron and the number of Bane captured were insufficient to allow her the freedom to whimsically reshape her spiritual form.
Her fading memories were gradually resurfacing, occasionally clouding her consciousness as she struggled to reacquaint herself with her own identity.
Her emotions and personality were subtly evolving.
Yuchan's brows knitted together in concern. She had realized that the girl was the cauldron spirit of the Crucible of Evil from the moment she claimed to be the cauldron itself. What Yuchan hadn't anticipated was that the cauldron spirit would manifest in such an unexpected form.
"I will transform back, and I'll look even better than you," she assured.
From the highest tier of the cauldron, she looked down at Lee Yuchan with a critical eye. "You're cold and unattractive, and far too weak. Don't you dare die. If you do, I'll pull you in and forge you into a Bane. You practice the Shadow Curse, making you an ideal candidate. I can offer you a very high-ranking position."
She gestured to the ground below and spoke earnestly to Lee Yuchan, "There were once twelve Banes, each incredibly formidable. They all perished, fighting to protect me, beaten to death in the process."
"Do you have the willingness to protect me?" she inquired, her gaze fixed on the girl.
Lee Yuchan's Lunar Spirit shivered, sensing that at the little girl's whim, she could be instantly transformed into one of the Banes, devoid of spiritual wisdom and individuality.
What good was a high rank if one was merely a puppet?
"I need to leave now," Lee Yuchan declared, her soul chilled, offering no response as she swiftly flew out of the cauldron.
The little girl watched her calmly from within. "Don't spout nonsense to my master, and don't harbor ill will towards him. Otherwise, your end will be terribly grim."
Lee Yuchan's Lunar Spirit, on the verge of exiting the cauldron's little world, was abruptly seized by an unseen, mighty force at the girl's words.
Suddenly, Lee Yuchan was engulfed by a sensation akin to being in a ghastly sea of specters, as if countless malevolent ghosts were gnawing at her every thought and emotion. It was a torment far more horrifying than death itself.
"You're not my master. Without my consent, you cannot simply walk away. I rule this domain. While you may enter freely, you must notify me before leaving and seek my permission. Only with my approval can you depart. Do you understand?" the little girl stated, her voice devoid of emotion.
"Please, may I leave? Is that alright?" Lee Yuchan pleaded.
"Of course," the little girl replied with a smile and a nod.
In the blink of an eye, the formidable Soul Power that had shrouded Lee Yuchan vanished without a trace.
Shortly thereafter, she emerged from the cauldron to find Yu Yuan gazing solemnly into the distance, seemingly awaiting something.
Driven by fear, Yuchan's Lunar Spirit didn't linger within the cauldron but instead passed through the magic shield to the outside.
Yu Yuan looked at her quizzically and said, "Why did you go outside? There are entities out there. The Lunar Spirit is drawing near, and its intentions are unclear. If you're out in the open, you might end up in their crosshairs."
"It's okay, really. I just feel more at ease out here," Lee Yuchan replied, her demeanor betraying her discomfort.
