C776 The Ghost King of the Soul!

Outside the hazy silver halo, the five vast and indistinct phantoms of the Ghost Kings, with thousands of strands of remnant souls quietly converging within, gradually sharpened into clarity.

Jiang Xingwen's face was etched with concern as she watched Yu Yuan ignore her warnings and break through an opening.

The Crucible of Evil was the first to enter, followed by Yuan Lianyao's Lunar Spirit, and then the ghost in the guise of a Fox Monkey vanished in succession.

With a whoosh, the imposing phantom of Thoaos, perched atop a massive tombstone, began to materialize.

Thoaos, emanating an icy, ghostly chill, gazed intently at the silver light, his voice as cold as the grave, "I can smell the terrifying scent of the sleeper."

Jiang Xingwen's complexion paled slightly, "Who is this sleeper?"

The newly risen Rahu, the Ghost King, materialized with an elegant figure, her remnant soul swirling into form. Clutching a flower basket and with a serene demeanor, she asked with a furrowed brow, "Please, clarify this for us."

In the Land of Terror, Ghost Kings possess a wealth of arcane abilities. They can project a soul shadow and slowly coalesce their thoughts, creating a soul that, while weaker than their original form, can be placed in many unique locales.

Every Spectre that ascends to Ghost King status gains the insight to unlock such profound arcana. At this moment, Razses, Taruer, Wintermaw, Black Staff, and Rahu, the five great Ghost Kings, had all utilized theurgy to send forth their soul shadows.

Rahu, having achieved the rank of Ghost King not long ago, had little knowledge of the ancient secrets of the Land of Terror. Yet, as Yu Yuan piloted the Crucible of Evil towards the crevice, she instinctively sensed a disquieting aura.

Feeling the movements of Razses, Black Staff, Wintermaw, and Taruer, her curiosity piqued, she too employed the methods of a Ghost King to investigate.

"Ages ago, a formidable being appeared in the Land of Terror, almost concurrently with Dhoreus," Thoaos said, his expression complex.

"Dhoreus, the Ghost King!" Jiang Xingwen's expression shifted dramatically.

As the new guardian of the River of Souls, she was well aware of the Horcrux's significance, intimately linked to the Root of the Lunar Meridian. It had been taken from the Land of Terror by Dhoreus and propelled towards the extraterrestrial Star River.

The Ghost King Dhoreus of Wintermaw was the supreme ruler of the Land of Terror in a bygone era.

Dhoreus was far more formidable and ferocious than the current Six Great Ghost Kings.

"The one who ascended to Ghost King status after Dhoreus should have been his most formidable adversary," Thoaos reflected, his gaze fixed on the crevice with icy intensity. "Yet, shortly after his rise, he opted for reincarnation to begin his cultivation anew."

"What?" exclaimed Rahu, the Ghost King, in astonishment.

"As you all know, becoming a Ghost King grants one the opportunity for reincarnation," Thoaos continued, letting out a soft sigh. "Reincarnation means starting over. Despite gaining a new life and a corporeal body, not every Ghost King is brave enough to embark on this journey."

"Rebirth as a human comes with a multitude of unknowns and uncertainties."

"If one's innate talent for cultivation is lacking after becoming human, they might never set foot on the path of cultivation. And even for those who do, on this perilous and arduous journey, how many can endure to the end, reaching the ultimate shore?"

"If I fail to become a primordial spirit, what advantage do I have over any of you in the Unbound Realm?"

Thoaos mused with a sense of wistfulness.

Razses, Black Staff, Taruer, and the newly ascended Rahu Ghost King all remained silent, contemplating the profound implications of his words.

Jiang Xingwen nodded in agreement, "Indeed."

"That individual, upon becoming a Ghost King, didn't choose reincarnation out of fear of Dhoreus," Thoaos explained with a tone of deep respect. "From what I've heard from his former followers, he was well aware that in the era of the Land of Terror, the pinnacle had been reached. Neither Dhoreus nor he could ever hope to advance further, lacking the environment needed to break through to the God of Ghosts level."

"He resolutely decided to be reborn as a human, to challenge the highest realm of the primordial spirit in human form."

"After his reincarnation, his soul departed, and his body, forged from the Shadow Moon Essence, became an enigma. With the soul's dissipation, its resting place remains a mystery."

"His soulless body holds countless wonders. Many ghosts have searched for it, yet its whereabouts remain a mystery."

Wintermaw paused, gazing into the crevice.

Jiang Xingwen realized instantly, "Is his soulless body in there?"

Thoaos, the Ghost King, gave a slight nod, "What puzzles me is why White Bone, having found it and knowing that his body is sealed inside, has never attempted to open it. Why hasn't he merged White Bone's soul with it to refine the body?"

"What are you afraid of?" Jiang Xingwen pressed on.

"White Bone seems intent on destroying the Land of Terror. If White Bone merges with the body, the pale flames he carries would ignite. We fear the fire could become uncontrollable," Thoaos explained, his voice tinged with alarm, "The flames emanating from White Bone's body could reduce the Land of Terror to ashes!"

...

The Yin Qi in the little world was as vast as the ocean, its abundance electrifying.

The harsh cold winds of the outside world were absent here.

As Yu Yuan emerged from the Crucible of Evil into this small world, a rich and thick Yin Qi flowed through his mud pellet acupoint, permeating his Mindscape.

Suddenly, he felt an immense comfort in his soul, as if he were bathing in the most nourishing hot spring the universe could offer.

His earthly soul, in particular, was saturated with the thick Yin Qi, and it seemed as though his entire soul was undergoing a subtle transformation.

"Hmm?"

Yuan Lianyao, who followed him in, saw Yu Yuan step out of the Crucible of Evil and her face changed. She was about to caution him when she caught sight of the tall, handsome man, "Who... Who is this person?"

The tall man lay quietly on a dry riverbed, breathing evenly, yet devoid of any soulful presence.

The man exuded a gentle, feminine aura, and with each breath, the Yin Qi of the little world roiled. His slightest movements, even his gentle breathing, seemed to command the unique space.

Swoosh swoosh!

Yuan Lianyao's Lunar Spirit was suddenly penetrated by the thick, refined Yin Qi. Her elegant and seductive phantom shuddered and she exclaimed without thinking, "This place, it's aiding in the refinement of my Lunar Spirit!"

The exceedingly pure Yin Qi in this small space appeared to nourish all souls!

Whoosh!

The Fox Monkey ghost seized the opportunity to slip in. As soon as it emerged, it exclaimed in astonishment, "A Ghost King!"

Following its exclamation, White Bone's subordinate became visibly agitated, "My soul, it feels like, it feels like..."

A vast expanse of Yin Qi enveloped it like a silver-gray film, silently shrouding the figure.

Yu Yuan turned his head and his eyes sparkled with intrigue, "You appear to be advancing to a Celestial Shade!"

The Fox Monkey, originally a mere ghost spirit, had, upon entering this little world, embarked on a path of evolution and transformation into a powerful Celestial Shade.

Yuan Lianyao also noticed the transformation. After her initial shock, she asked, "Is he a Ghost King?"

"Definitely a Ghost King!" The Fox Monkey insisted, pointing to the long-dried riverbed, "This is the River Styx! Only a Ghost King is entitled to possess such a River Styx. By becoming a Ghost King and connecting with the Root of the Lunar Meridian, one receives the Root's boon, creating a River Styx that flows through one's domain!"

Yu Yuan gave it another look and nodded, "Though it's dried up, it indeed resembles the River Styx."

"It's dried up because this Ghost King has perished," the Fox Monkey ghost clamored. "No, wait, not perished! His soul has departed, yet his body remains uncorrupted! Look, there are streams connecting to eighteen locations, and they contain Shadow Moon Essence!"

The ghost's spirit trembled with excitement, "Lord White Bone's domain encompasses eighteen mountains and rivers, all nurturing Shadow Moon Essence! Could it be due to this soulless Ghost King's corpse? Incredible, his body is saturated with Shadow Moon Essence! He must have drawn the Shadow Moon Essence from within Shadow Mountain into his corporeal body."

"Or perhaps, the Shadow Moon Essence found within those mountains originally emanated from his body?"

Overwhelmed by the revelations of this little world, the subordinate of White Bone became incoherent with awe.

Yet, through his jumbled words, Yu Yuan and Yuan Lianyao gleaned a wealth of valuable information.

"Master!"

Yu Yiyi's remnant soul resounded in his mind, "That ghost has seized the chance to evolve into a Celestial Shade. Your woman is in the process of refining her Lunar Spirit and is on the verge of transitioning into the Spirit Walk realm. Master, you've reached the late stages of Subtlety. The dense and refined Yin Qi of this little world, along with the Shadow Moon Essence, are the perfect catalysts for your transformation into a Lunar Spirit!"

"What?" Yu Yuan was momentarily taken aback.

"Here, you can transform your earthly soul into a Lunar Spirit!" Yu Yiyi emphasized each word, as if to remind him, "The breakthrough from Subtlety to Lunar Spirit can commence immediately!"

The revelation hit Yu Yuan like a bolt of lightning. "Right now?"

"Now is the ideal moment!"

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