C776 The Soul Separating Ghost King!

Beyond the misty silver halo, five vast and indistinct soul shadows were silently converging, their myriad soul threads weaving together. The ethereal visages of the five Ghost Kings sharpened into clarity.

Jiang Xingwen watched with a grave expression as Yu Yuan, heedless of her counsel, broke through an opening.

The Evil Cauldron was the first to enter, followed by Yuan Lianyao's Yin God, and then the monkey-shaped ghost vanished into the void.

With a whoosh, the Ghost King of Cold Abyss, perched upon a massive tombstone, began to materialize. Shrouded in an icy aura, the Cold Abyss Ghost King gazed at the hazy silver halo with an icy glare, his voice chilling to the bone, "I can sense the terrifying presence of the slumbering one."

Jiang Xingwen's face paled, "The slumbering one—who might that be?"

The recently ascended Luohou Ghost King materialized with her slender figure, a flower basket in hand, her demeanor tranquil yet troubled. "I seek your wisdom," she implored.

In Horror Land, Ghost Kings wielded numerous divine powers, capable of casting a soul projection and meticulously assembling their thoughts to create a soul, albeit weaker than their true form, to inhabit various extraordinary realms.

Every ghost that ascended to Ghost King status could unlock such esoteric secret arts. At this moment, the five great Ghost Kings—Initial Spirit, Qianjie, Cold Abyss, Black Staff, and Luohou—had all employed these arcane techniques to dispatch a soul.

Luohou, a neophyte in her Ghost King reign of less than a century, knew little of the sealed secrets of Horror Land. Yet, as Yu Yuan piloted the Evil Cauldron into the fissure, she too sensed a disquieting aura.

Prompted by curiosity, and feeling the stirrings of Black Staff, Cold Abyss, and Qianjie, she too ventured forth with the Ghost King's arts to uncover the truth.

"Ages ago, a formidable being emerged in Horror Land, almost concurrently with the Mingdu Ghost King," the Cold Abyss Ghost King said, his expression a mix of emotions.

"Mingdu Ghost King!" Jiang Xingwen's face contorted with shock.

As the new guardian of the Soul Crossing River, she was well aware of the Soul Artifact's deep connection to the Yin Meridian's origin. It had been spirited away from Horror Land by the Mingdu Ghost King, who had then surged through the Outland Star River.

The Mingdu Ghost King reigned supreme over Horror Land in a bygone era, a figure of power and ferocity surpassing even the six great Ghost Kings of today.

"The one who ascended to Ghost King status after Mingdu should have been his most formidable adversary," mused the Cold Abyss Ghost King, his icy gaze fixed on a narrow fissure. "Yet, shortly after his rise, he opted for reincarnation, embarking anew on the path of cultivation as a human."

"What?" exclaimed the Luohou Ghost King, astounded.

"As you are aware, becoming a Ghost King grants one the opportunity for reincarnation," continued the Cold Abyss Ghost King, his voice tinged with a hint of melancholy. "To be reborn is to start afresh, with a new body and life. But such a journey is not for the faint-hearted among Ghost Kings."

"Reincarnation brings a multitude of unknowns and uncertainties."

"Once human, poor innate talent could mean never setting foot on the path of cultivation. And for those who do, amidst the perilous and arduous journey, how many can persevere to the end, reaching the ultimate shore?"

"Without attaining the Primordial Spirit, if one only reaches the Unrestrained Stage, what advantage does that hold over us?"

These reflections hung heavily in the air as the Cold Abyss Ghost King sighed.

Black Staff, Qianjie, and the newly ascended Luohou Ghost King all remained silent, contemplating the profound implications of his words.

Jiang Xingwen gave a slight nod in agreement, "Indeed, that is the case."

"The one who became a Ghost King and then chose immediate reincarnation did not do so out of fear of Mingdu," the Cold Abyss Ghost King declared, his voice now laced with awe. "I've heard from those who once served under him that he was well aware that in the era of Horror Land, a Ghost King represented the pinnacle. Neither Mingdu nor he could ever hope to ascend further in that time, lacking the conditions to break through to the realm of the Ghost God."

"With determination, he chose to be reborn as a human, to strive for the exalted Primordial Spirit Stage in human form."

"After his reincarnation, his soul departed, leaving behind a body tempered by the Essence of Yin Sunflower. With the soul's passing, the whereabouts of that body, sealed away, remain a mystery."

"That body of his is shrouded in endless mysteries. Many spirits have scoured it in the past, yet its whereabouts remained unknown."

Cold Abyss paused, his gaze fixed on the stone crevice.

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

The Cold Abyss Ghost King gave a slight nod, "My question is, since the white bone was discovered and we know his body is sealed within, why didn't we open it before and allow the white bone's spirit to merge and refine that body?"

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

"The white bone appears to have come to obliterate Horror Land. Should it fuse with the body, the white bone's chilling flames would ignite. Our fear is that the blaze will rage uncontrollably," the Cold Abyss Ghost King explained, his voice laced with alarm, "The flames emanating from the white bone could reduce Horror Land to cinders!"

...

The Yin Qi within this miniature world was as boundless as the ocean, its intensity enough to send shivers down one's spine.

The harsh, biting winds of the outside world were absent here.

Yu Yuan emerged from the Evil Cauldron, and as he materialized in this tiny realm, a rich and concentrated Yin Qi flowed into his Niwan acupoints, penetrating his Consciousness Little World.

In an instant, he felt an unparalleled ease, as if immersed in the universe's most soul-nourishing hot spring.

His Earth Soul, in particular, guzzled the potent Yin Qi, and his entire soul seemed to be undergoing a subtle transformation.

"Hmm?"

Yuan Lianyao, following into the small world, noticed Yu Yuan stepping out of the Evil Cauldron and her face shifted. She was about to caution him when she caught sight of the tall, striking man, "Who is this individual?"

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

With each breath, the man exuded a gentle aura, stirring the Yin Qi of this small world into a tumultuous flow. His slightest movement, even the faintest breath, seemed to command the very essence of this unique space.

Swoosh swoosh!

Yuan Lianyao's Yin God was suddenly permeated by the thick, refined Yin Qi. Her elegant and seductive soul shadow quivered, and she exclaimed in astonishment, "This place, it's aiding in the tempering of my Yin God!"

The supremely pure Yin Qi of this small enclave appeared capable of nurturing all manner of souls!

Whoosh!

Seizing the chance, the monkey-shaped ghost darted in. It popped its head up and exclaimed in astonishment, "A Ghost King!"

Following its outcry, the subordinate of the white skeleton was suddenly overcome with excitement. "My soul, it feels like it's... it's..."

A vast expanse of Yin Qi, like a silver-gray film, quietly enveloped it.

Yu Yuan turned to look, his eyes sparking with amazement, "You appear to be advancing to a Heavenly Ghost!"

The monkey-shaped ghost, initially just a ghost spirit, had, upon entering this small world, embarked on an evolutionary journey towards transformation into a Heavenly Ghost!

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

"Definitely a Ghost King!" the monkey-shaped ghost insisted, pointing at the long-dry riverbed, "This is the Styx! Only a Ghost King is entitled to such a river of the underworld! Upon becoming a Ghost King and connecting to the Yin Meridian source, one receives its boon, creating a Styx that flows to one's domain!"

Yu Yuan gave it another look and nodded in agreement, "Though dried up, it certainly seems to be a Styx."

"It's dried up because the Ghost King has died," the monkey-shaped ghost clamored. "No, wait, not dead! His soul is gone, but his body hasn't decayed! And look, there are streams connecting to eighteen places, with the essence of Yin Sunflower!"

The ghost's soul shook fiercely, "The White Bone Lord's domain includes eighteen mountains and rivers, all cultivating Yin Sunflower Essence! Could it be because of this soulless Ghost King's body? Heavens, his body is saturated with Yin Sunflower Essence! He must have drawn the essence from the Dark Mountain into his flesh."

"Or is it possible that the essence of the Yin Sunflower in those Dark Mountains actually originated from within him?!"

Overwhelmed by this little world, the ghost under the White Bone Lord began to babble incoherently.

Yet, from his jumbled speech, Yu Yuan and Yuan Lianyao gleaned much valuable information.

"Master!"

The soulful voice of Yu Yiyi thundered in his mind, "That ghost has used this chance to ascend to a Heavenly Ghost, while your woman is condensing a Yin God, transitioning towards the Soul Wandering Stage. Master, you've reached the late Penetrating Stage. The dense, refined Yin Qi and Yin Sunflower Essence in this little world are the perfect catalysts for the metamorphosis of your Yin God!"

"What?" Yu Yuan was momentarily taken aback.

"Right here, you have the opportunity to refine the Earth Soul into a Yin God!" Yu Yiyi emphasized deliberately, reminding him, "You can initiate the breakthrough from the Penetrating Stage to the Yin God Stage immediately!"

Yu Yuan felt as if he had been hit by a bolt of lightning. "Right now?"

"Yes, now is the perfect moment!"

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