C801 Let Dhoreus Come in Person!

A white robe hovered gracefully in the air.

Behind this figure, eight ancient ghosts with towering phantoms had not yet shown their true forms or disclosed their identities.

Yet the mere presence they exuded was enough to compel the assembled ghosts to bow and pay their respects with utmost reverence.

Many fierce spectres resisted pledging loyalty to Razses and the current Ghost King because they had long ago sworn fealty to other masters.

These masters had ventured with the overlord of the Land of Terror into the extraterrestrial realms and had not yet returned.

In the depths of their hearts, they still saw themselves as the loyal followers of those absent lords.

Now, as their once formidable leaders, who had cared for them in their vulnerable youth, returned from the distant Star River of the extraterrestrial, their excitement was palpable.

"Lord!"

"My Lord!"

Numerous haughty ghosts converged around the eight ancient ghosts, declaring their fealty.

Aboard the Cloud Cruiser, Jin Xiaolie, the Golden Fiend, and Ma Jianjiang of the Skyreach Consortium, having been assaulted by the eight ancient ghosts, swiftly regained their composure after the initial shock and rage.

They recognized that these eight were beyond their ability to confront.

At that moment, Jin Xiaolie and the Golden Fiend came to the sobering realization that their survival was due to the assailants' restraint.

Had the eight truly exerted their full might, every member of the Skyreach Consortium who had ventured into the Land of Terror would have perished.

Not even the Golden Fiend would have been spared.

"You were attacked by the Skyreach Consortium because you engaged in trade with the ghosts of the Land of Terror without our consent," the Pale Reaper said as he and Yu Yuan exchanged a nod. With a swift motion, he appeared before the Cloud Cruiser. "I speak on behalf of His Highness Dhoreus!"

"Dhoreus!"

"His Highness Dhoreus!"

Ghosts scattered in every direction erupted into a cacophony of shrill cries at the pale-robed ghost's declaration.

Jin Xiaolie's expression darkened as he asked, "Wasn't Dhoreus long gone?"

The Pale Reaper gently shook his head, "His Highness Dhoreus is the true sovereign of this realm! The Skyreach Consortium must seek His Highness Dhoreus's approval to conduct business in the Land of Terror. The deaths among your ranks serve as a modest reprimand from His Highness Dhoreus for your ignorance of the rules." His words carried an air of supreme confidence.

Even though the Skyreach Consortium had a strong foundation in the Everlands, they still required Dhoreus's approval and the cooperation of the ghosts to conduct business in the Land of Terror.

The issue was that Dhoreus had never revealed himself.

"On behalf of His Highness Dhoreus, your Consortium may directly communicate with me from now on," the Pale Reaper declared with pride, addressing all the ghosts present as well as the palace crafted from a Mark of the Celestials. "The same goes for you."

Chu Yao's expression cooled slightly.

The Lunar Spirits from Euwrea began to buzz with discussion following the Pale Reaper's announcement.

The topic of their conversation was Dhoreus. Could it be that he was still among the living?

Cao Jiaze from Ebon Star, his face betraying little emotion, exchanged a glance with the Pale Reaper and pondered for a moment before speaking. "Once Dhoreus makes his appearance and successfully ascends to a God of Ghosts in the Land of Terror, I will, on behalf of Ebon Star, pay him my respects and engage in serious talks."

He paused, then added, "Until he shows himself, nothing is certain."

"How is Jiang Xingwen of Abyssal Dawn faring now?" Yu Yuan interjected suddenly.

Jiang Xingwen was Su Yan's mentor, and Yu Yuan had had some interactions with her in the Land of Terror. He was eager to know if she was alive or dead now that Dhoreus was no longer hiding.

"Yu, you seem overly concerned," the Pale Reaper said with a light chuckle, gesturing towards the dark cloud. "Perhaps you should be more concerned about White Bone, who is trapped there."

"White Bone? He doesn't concern me," Yu Yuan replied.

"If that's the case, perhaps you should be more concerned about yourself," the Pale Reaper suggested, waving his hand gently.

Behind him, an ancient ghost resembling a rotund hedgehog silently shrank its massive phantom. Its malevolent eyes glanced at Yu Yuan and commanded, "Extinguish his soul!"

The two Spectre ghosts flanking him lunged at Yu Yuan.

"They seem intent on killing you while White Bone is incapacitated," Yuan Lianyao realized immediately. "With you gone, Dhoreus would have no more worries."

Before emerging from underground, Yu Yuan had confided in her about a secret pact he had formed with the Root of the Lunar Meridian.

He was poised to assist the Root of the Lunar Meridian in eliminating Dhoreus, the Ghost King. The Root of the Lunar Meridian would aid him in the successful refinement of the Lunar Spirit. With each execution of the Spiritrend, an additional surge of power would be bestowed upon him, converging within the sword spell.

"It's clear that Dhoreus fears the sword spell, which could stir the powers within the River of Souls," Yu Yuan acknowledged with a slight nod, signaling his understanding. Observing the two titleless Spectres advancing towards him, he remarked, "If I can't handle these two Spectres, I might as well not linger here."

"Yu Yuan!"

Once again, the focus of both the living and the ghostly entities of the world shifted back to Yu Yuan. Having just stepped into the Lunar Spirit Realm and not yet demonstrated his true capabilities, Yu Yuan's reputation was known to many through hearsay alone.

Was Yu Yuan as formidable as the rumors suggested?

Whoosh!

Something plummeted from the overcast sky. A dazzling array of rainbow light burst forth from a flower basket, transforming into beams that struck the two Spectres charging at Yu Yuan, piercing their phantoms. In a flash, the two Spectres were reduced to wisps, their essences scattering, preparing to coalesce once more.

Hovering before the Crucible of Evil was a small flower basket, radiating with luminescence.

"Ghost King Rahu!"

As the flower basket materialized from nowhere, onlookers raised their eyes to the heavens, spotting a diminutive figure amidst the clouds. The basket, perpetually carried by Rahu, symbolized her presence.

"Rahu!"

The Pale Reaper gazed up with a frosty demeanor at the powerhouse who had consistently outranked him for over a century.

"Defeated by my hand, you've sought refuge with Dhoreus, thinking it would elevate you to Ghost King?" Rahu's voice, laced with condescension, addressed the Pale Reaper from her lofty position in the clouds. "Before you even think of challenging Yu Yuan, you'll have to contend with me."

Discarding the flower basket, which had just dismantled the phantoms of the two Spectres, was not an act orchestrated by White Bone. Ever since she came to view Yu Yuan as Hong Qi's hand-chosen disciple, she had resolved to escort him through the Land of Terror, ensuring his safe departure.

The pivotal reason she agreed to assist White Bone and forged an alliance was largely due to Yu Yuan's stance in the matter.

She regarded Yu Yuan as her junior brother and would not stand for any ghost exploiting their strength to harm him.

"Why did you save Yu Yuan, Ghost King Rahu?"

"What's her connection to Yu Yuan? Who exactly was Rahu in a past life?"

A flurry of questions arose, prompting hushed discussions among the crowd.

They felt a twinge of disappointment.

They had hoped to gauge Yu Yuan's combat prowess in the Land of Terror through the assault of the two Spectres, to strategize for future encounters. But Rahu's unexpected intervention thwarted their plans.

Yu Yuan's lips curled into a smile as he gazed at the flower basket radiating with sharp Soul Power. He looked up at Rahu and gently shook his head, signaling that such measures were unnecessary.

A voice echoed in his heart: "Conserve your energy for the confrontation with Dhoreus."

"Her appearance can clarify many uncertainties," whispered Yuan Lianyao, her eyes sparkling. "Your decision to hold back is prudent. By remaining inactive, neither the Pale Reaper nor the eight ancient ghosts can ascertain your true capabilities. Dhoreus, through their eyes, is monitoring your every move."

"Dhoreus is likely lurking in the shadows, watching you intently, waiting for you to reveal a weakness."

After casting the flower basket from the sky, Rahu, the Ghost King, descended with composure and came to a halt beside the Crucible of Evil.

She stretched out her hand, reclaiming the basket, and cast a glance at the Pale Reaper and the eight ancient ghosts, declaring, "If you wish to kill Yu Yuan, Dhoreus must come in person!"

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