C786 Extraterrestrial Ghost Returns to Its Homeland!
In the River of Souls, Dhoreus's soul encountered Jiang Xingwen's Lunar Spirit. With heartfelt emotion, he unlocked the depths of her heart, persuading the Abyssal Dawn elder to relinquish all her ties for him.
Clad in green heavy armor, Dhoreus revealed his human form, exuding a commanding presence with every gesture. Even Jiang Xingwen found her spirit enchanted, unwittingly drawn to his allure.
Dhoreus shared with her a gentle laugh as he recounted his arduous quest in the Land of Terror. He described the perilous trials he faced on his path to becoming a Ghost King and his ascent to power.
He spoke of his grand ambitions and his determination to stand equal with the human primordial spirits. As Jiang Xingwen listened, she found herself increasingly captivated.
Time lost meaning as the River of Souls around Dhoreus suddenly glimmered with silver brilliance. Below the surface, myriad silver strands wove together, forming a wondrous tapestry of the cycle of reincarnation.
Dhoreus's consciousness stirred. Harnessing the mystique of the River of Souls, he gathered messages from the River Styx, far across the distance. In an instant, he grasped the movements of Thoaos and the other Ghost Kings.
Simultaneously, an unusual ripple disturbed his Heart Lake. A smile broke across his face as he mused, "Yu Yuan, you certainly have an interesting story."
"What?" Jiang Xingwen asked, puzzled.
"It's nothing," Dhoreus replied, shaking his head dismissively. "Step outside for a moment. I must prevent Yu Yuan from advancing. If he wishes to successfully refine his Lunar Spirit, he'll have to contend with me first."
"Understood."
Since Dhoreus had opened his heart and pledged his commitment, Su Yan's mentor had aligned with him. For Dhoreus, she would brave any danger, forsake the Abyssal Dawn, and turn her back on the Everlands without a second thought.
His word was her command. His enemies became her targets. As the sole sovereign over the ghosts in the long history of the Land of Terror, Dhoreus wielded not only immense influence over the spectral beings but also held a profound sway over Jiang Xingwen.
Jiang Xingwen's Lunar Spirit obediently withdrew from the River of Souls.
"I require some souls willing to sacrifice themselves to aid my spellcasting."
Dhoreus spoke in a rhythmically odd tone as he hovered above the River of Souls.
In the outside world.
Ghosts from far and wide, driven by an unstoppable urge, converged here, their eyes ablaze with fervor. Without a moment's hesitation, they plunged into the River of Souls.
These ghosts were all of Celestial Shade caliber!
Jiang Xingwen, having just emerged, caught sight of several ghosts with auras as formidable as those of Spectres, which left her mildly astonished.
These ghosts were exceedingly fierce, radiating an aura that was both ancient and profound, with an odd scent of decay. They were the very ones who had ambushed the Skyreach Consortium's Cloud Cruisers, inflicting severe losses. It was only after her intervention that the few survivors were rescued.
Suddenly, these ghosts, more potent than both Imdohr and Wangchuan, emerged from the shadows.
"We pledge our lives in fealty to Lord Dhoreus!"
"For thousands of years, we have sworn to serve His Highness, in life and in death!"
"We celebrate His Highness's emergence!"
Eight formidable ghosts knelt before the River of Souls, suspended in the air, and spoke with devout reverence.
The eight ghosts donned armors of Otherkin design, with the glimmer of countless stars.
Some wielded blades, notorious weapons from the legends of the Land of Terror.
Others shifted forms continuously, now women, now children, resembling powerful Sky Fiends adept at transformation.
These eight ghosts were once under Dhoreus's command, predating even Razses in antiquity. They had followed Dhoreus from the Land of Terror, carving a path of destruction through the Everlands.
Indeed, they had made significant marks in the extraterrestrial Star River.
After Dhoreus was slain by the Moon Slayer cultivator, and the River of Souls returned to the Land of Terror, leaving his remains in the extraterrestrial Star River, many of the ferocious ghosts that had followed him were annihilated.
Only these eight survived, some concealing themselves in the forbidden areas of the Everlands, others in the remote reaches of the Star River.
Amidst the resurgence of strange occurrences in the Land of Terror, the soil was finally ripe for Dhoreus to ascend as a God of Ghosts. Compelled by a singular summons, they all returned to their ancestral grounds through various means—the Land of Terror.
"In white robes, I greet Your Highness Dhoreus. I pledge to serve at Your Highness's side for all my days."
A white robe glided silently from the depths of the earth. Within the hollow garment, a phantom beat its chest in salute to the River of Souls, its eyes brimming with genuine respect and fervent adoration, as if it stood before the supreme deity of this realm.
"Pale Reaper!"
Jiang Xingwen was stunned at the sight, scarcely able to believe her eyes.
The Pale Reaper, who had burst forth from the Embers Sea alongside a Blood Altar, Hei Xun, and several notorious figures of the Evil Path, had reemerged in the Land of Terror!
Facing the River of Souls and Dhoreus, he was like the most zealous disciple of a dark cult!
It was unknown when exactly the Pale Reaper had sworn fealty to Dhoreus.
"Miss Jiang, it is an honor to meet you."
Before departing, the Pale Reaper, ranked above White Bone among the Spectres, gestured towards the eight ancient ghosts and explained to her, "These eight, I discovered on my journey through the Land of Terror and into the extraterrestrial Star River, to convey the will of our Lord Dhoreus."
With that, Jiang Xingwen immediately grasped the full picture.
The ancient ghosts that had abruptly attacked the Skyreach Consortium were, in fact, early followers of Dhoreus.
Having once departed with Dhoreus, they now returned from beyond the stars, drawn back by the altered Yin Qi of the Land of Terror and the summons of Dhoreus, rallying once more behind him, ready for battle.
Whoosh! The sound echoed as numerous ghosts, including Celestial Shades and other spectres, joyously heeded Dhoreus's call to the River of Souls, willingly embracing death to fulfill a certain sacrifice.
The sway of Dhoreus in the Land of Terror was nothing short of astonishing.
The return of the eight ancient ghosts and the Pale Reaper's undisclosed loyalty signified that even without making his presence known, he remained a colossus in this world.
Based on the lineup we have now, Razses, Black Staff, Wintermaw, Taruer, Tian Zang, and Rahu, these so-called Ghost Kings, pale in comparison to Dhoreus.
One has to wonder how many formidable ghosts, like the Pale Reaper, lurk unseen, holding Dhoreus in high regard?
"Dhoreus..."
Jiang Xingwen's gaze returned to the River of Souls, her spirit swelling with emotion. The man within seemed so towering, so radiant.
Within the River of Souls, ghosts and Celestial Shades bravely met their end.
Soul lights of various hues blossomed on the riverbed, transforming into mysterious Soul Runes that bridged the gap to the River Styx, aiding Dhoreus in his spellcasting.
Every ghost, every Celestial Shade, understood their death was for Dhoreus, and he would surely honor their sacrifice.
Legend has it that in the Land of Terror, Dhoreus wields the power to bring ghosts back to life!
In his domain, should he deem a spirit worthy, Dhoreus could expend some of his energy to grant them rebirth.
This promise of a second chance is why countless ghosts and souls vie for Dhoreus's favor.
In battles against other ghostly foes, they do not fear death; they strive to stand out, to catch Dhoreus's eye, to earn resurrection after their demise.
"My will, to shepherd souls across the Styx!"
Deep beneath the earth, in a silver-gray microcosm.
Yu Yuan, having secured the favor of the Root of the Lunar Meridian through a secret pact, began to refine the earthly soul once more. He was immediately flooded with a sea of pure Yin Qi, filling the little world of his Mindscape.
Wisps of spiritual sense coalesced, knitting together into a remnant soul.
The process unfolded with remarkable ease, without the slightest hindrance.
Suddenly, Yu Yuan sensed another presence, a consciousness reaching out across the void, manifesting along the Stygian river where he sat in meditation.
Opening his eyes, he beheld a towering figure in heavy armor within the River Styx of the Underworld, his face set with determination, his entire being radiating an imperious aura that commanded all creatures to submit. "I am Dhoreus."
The man's grin was one of unabashed confidence, "Yu Yuan, your arrival in the Land of Terror, your forging of the Lunar Spirit, it's all to thwart my ascension to God of Ghosts!"
"Dhoreus!" Yu Yuan's mind was greatly shaken.
He attempted to connect with the consciousness at the Root of the Lunar Meridian, only to discover that the very Root he had previously communicated with had vanished without a trace.
"It cannot come at this time."
Seemingly discerning his intent, Dhoreus, the Ghost King, continued with a smile, "You can't do anything to me. This is merely a projection, devoid of any Soul Power."
While speaking, his gaze briefly fell upon the sword sheath Yu Yuan had called forth.
The sword sheath in hand, Yu Yuan had silently summoned the sword spirit, indicating he was aware of Dhoreus's vulnerability and was ready for battle.
"I have come only to tell you that you, Hong Qi, were meant to die." Dhoreus's smile vanished as he spoke deliberately, "Hong Qi, in pursuit of the cultivation path, how many sins did you commit in your later years? The lives lost to the poisons you concocted are countless!"
"You, who for selfish gain descended into the way of demons, were a blight upon the Everlands!"
"Your senior brother, your hand-chosen disciple, the three upper sects, the Devil Palace, and the righteous warriors of Shadow's Keep, they all wished for your death. What's so wrong with that?"
"Because, you were meant to die!"
His words thundered forth, striking Yu Yuan's Mindscape with the force of a lightning bolt, tearing through his little world with Divine Thunder.
"If you wish to ascend to the Lunar Spirit realm, first overcome this heart demon!" Dhoreus scoffed.
The assault on the Lunar Spirit realm is akin to a rebirth through tribulation; a single misstep could lead to eternal damnation, obliterating both body and spirit!
Dhoreus, the Ghost King, performed his magic from afar, his projection's every word becoming a heart demon in Yu Yuan's Mindscape, adding infinite peril to his journey toward becoming a Lunar Spirit.
"You have lived two lifetimes as a human, yet you've only cultivated once. I am eager to see if you possess the strength to conquer this heart demon and successfully solidify your Lunar Spirit!"
