C819 Stepping onto the Road of No Return
Seventeen Shadow Mountains of varying heights had emerged from the earth, a testament to the White Bone King's theurgy. Each Shadow Mountain bore the spiritual imprint of White Bone, a mark of his refining hand. Once the Shadow Moon Essence was fully harvested and the mountains crumbled, these imprints retreated back into the depths of the earth. There, the marks coalesced, drawing upon the vast Yin Qi and, with the support of White Bone and the power of the Styx, they resurfaced in the Land of Terror.
The seventeen Shadow Mountains fanned out, encircling the peak where White Bone presided, creating an enigmatic and sinister formation. As the final Shadow Mountain took shape, Yu Yuan was struck by an odd sensation—he could sense the faintest stirrings of souls within the Ossuary. Beyond its borders, no ghost or soul could penetrate its mysteries.
The Shadow Mountains stood like beacons, casting light upon every entity and soul within the Ossuary. Yu Yuan watched the White Bone King with a detached expression, yet his spirit quivered ever so slightly. Who had the Shade King become in the vastness of the Everlands after his reincarnation? What circumstances led to his confinement in the Moonfall Sanctuary, where he was transformed into this peculiar White Bone? How had the White Bone King escaped the sanctuary's seal to return to the Land of Terror, resume his practice of necromancy, and rise to his current formidable state?
To Yu Yuan, the White Bone was shrouded in enigma, obscured by clouds of mystery. He suspected that the secrets harbored by White Bone, a contemporary of Dhoreus and Youling, were perhaps as profound as those of Dhoreus himself. While Dhoreus's history was an open book, White Bone's past remained veiled, his experiences unknown. Moreover, the white flames he wielded could cleanse tainted souls and quell ghosts, yet he had secured unwavering trust from the Root of the Lunar Meridian.
"White Bone..." Yu Yuan murmured the name to himself, stroking his chin as he lapsed into contemplation.
"Congratulations, my Lord!" From a newly formed Shadow Mountain, a Ghost in the guise of a Fox Monkey, located dozens of miles away, bowed in deep reverence toward White Bone's mountain. It had vanished at the moment White Bone acted, only to reemerge now. From his cave midway up the mountain, White Bone glanced at the Fox Monkey Ghost. With a subtle shift of his remnant soul, he swiftly relayed a multitude of commands.
The ghost nodded repeatedly, then, with a respectful bow, quickly withdrew into Shadow Mountain.
"You may choose any of the seventeen Shadow Mountains. Once your Lunar Spirit separates from the body, it will undergo another cleansing," White Bone said as he descended gracefully, coming to a halt before Yu Yuan. "Your Lunar Spirit is newly formed. A bit of refinement will do you good."
Yu Yuan furrowed his brow and expressed his concern, "I'm somewhat apprehensive."
"About Dhoreus's return?" White Bone inquired.
Yu Yuan nodded, elaborating, "Both of us are aware that his body is already on its way back. It won't be long before that extraterrestrial body crashes down here. When Dhoreus's soul reunites with his body, his lost power will be restored, and the desiccated River Styx will be replenished with water."
The thought of Dhoreus's imminent arrival weighed heavily on Yu Yuan.
White Bone remained silent, contemplating the situation.
He understood that the Cosmic Order of the Land of Terror was immutable, unaffected by the whims of the Root of the Lunar Meridian.
Yu Yuan was acutely aware that despite the Root of the Lunar Meridian's wariness of Dhoreus, once Dhoreus's soul departed the River of Souls and fused with his body, the profound understanding of necromancy he had attained would inevitably elevate him back to the stature of a Ghost King.
With Wintermaw and Black Staff gone, the Yin Qi from the Root of the Lunar Meridian was now pure and boundless.
Should Dhoreus regain his former strength, his once-parched River Styx could become broader and more tumultuous than in its heyday.
Then, it would be Dhoreus who would seek them out, intent on their destruction.
As the guardian of the River of Souls, Dhoreus could navigate the Land of Terror with ease. Any target he fixed upon had no chance of escape; they could only brace for a fierce battle.
With a whoosh, Rahu, the Ghost King, returned and immediately reported, "Outside, cultivators from the major sects of the Land of Quiescence have gathered. Among them are several at the Unbound Stage!"
"Yuanyuan, are you alright?" Yu Yuan asked anxiously.
"Faang Yao of the Ruby Hand personally came to her aid. She should be out of danger," Rahu, the Ghost King, said. As she spoke, she keenly sensed that the Ossuary seemed to be shrouded by a mystique of white bones.
She released her remnant soul to confirm her suspicions and discovered that, aside from being able to sense the River Styx that corresponded with her, she was unable to explore her own territory with her soul.
"You've reconstructed the seventeen Shadow Mountains?" Rahu realized.
White Bone, now a Ghost King and the most formidable in the Land of Terror, had integrated a total of eighteen Shadow Mountains into a grand formation. This powerful array could conceal the entire territory, preventing even Ghost Kings of equal standing from spying on the happenings within his domain.
"Just finished," White Bone confirmed with a nod.
"And Dhoreus?" Rahu inquired, surprised.
White Bone nodded again. "Until he regains his full strength and his soul and body are unified, even he won't be able to peer into my territory."
"Smart strategy," Rahu commended, feeling reassured. "Junior brother, are you planning on dealing with Chu Yao next?"
While Yuan Lianyao was present, along with other ghosts, Rahu kept her thoughts to herself. But now, aware that White Bone had obscured the entire territory from external Ghost Kings, she felt free to speak her mind, addressing Yu Yuan as "junior brother."
Yet, in White Bone's green eyes, there was not a flicker of surprise.
It seemed he was already aware from Rahu that Yu Yuan had received the legacy of the previous leader of the Order of Healing, becoming the God of Medicine's successor.
"There's no need for curiosity. I've already made it clear to White Bone. My true name is Luo Yue, and I was once the leader of the Poison Cult," Rahu, the Ghost King, said with a smile. "White Bone has agreed to share all the details and precautions of reincarnation with me once this is settled. After I'm reborn, he will also covertly ensure my safety."
Reborn with her memories intact, she would quickly embark on the path of cultivation. However, in the early stages, she would be quite vulnerable, requiring an abundance of magic items and pills, and she might face numerous challenges.
Having White Bone look after her would greatly ease her burden, and her journey of cultivation upon reincarnation would proceed far more smoothly.
"The primary target is Cao Jiaze; Chu Yao is merely incidental," Yu Yuan remarked as he gazed into the distance. "Truthfully, I harbor no resentment towards that individual from the Ebon Star. He has shown no overt hostility towards me since his arrival. However, I sense that his threat level is second only to Dhoreus. I trust my instincts!"
"He will assist Dhoreus at the pivotal moment," White Bone stated icily.
Rahu was unaware of this and expressed her surprise, "Why would the Ebon Star assist Dhoreus? When he fled the Land of Terror and wandered the extraterrestrial Star River, it was the combined efforts of the three great upper sects that compelled the cultivator to act, leading to Dhoreus's current state."
"I cannot divulge the specifics, but I am certain that he will intervene when we fully engage Dhoreus," Yu Yuan said impassively. "He has yet to act because the time has not yet come."
"The current events, including the deaths of Wintermaw and Black Staff, are within their calculations," White Bone added. "The fact that Taruer survived was unexpected. I suspect Dhoreus would have preferred to see Taruer meet the same fate at my hands."
"Considering Cao Jiaze will inevitably act, we might as well strike first," Yu Yuan declared coldly.
Rahu gave him a penetrating look, "Junior brother, once you take action, there's no turning back. Cao Jiaze, along with the numerous Lunar Spirits in that palace, are all from the Euwrea Continent. By moving against Chu Yao and Cao Jiaze, you're essentially declaring war on the powers that currently govern the Everlands."
Yu Yuan's decision caused her soul to shudder, and she finally understood why her junior brother was so eager to have Yuan Lianyao sent away.
Cao Jiaze stands for the Ebon Star, while the many Lunar Spirits in the palace represent the sects and powers of the Euwrea Continent.
Yu Yuan was determined to act preemptively, to eliminate potential threats before Dhoreus's return, clearly signaling a break with the existing powers.
From that moment on, she was irrevocably on a path of no return, truly becoming what some would call a "traitor."
Even Rahu lacked the courage to openly defy the five supreme forces and the existing powers of the Everlands, leading to constant hesitation and indecision within her heart.
Yet, Yu Yuan decisively made his choice without looking back.
"It's over there. My Crucible of Evil has been trailing them from a distance. That palace, transformed from the Mark of the Celestials, now stands within the domain of Wangchuan," Yu Yuan indicated a direction. "Every Lunar Spirit in that palace, regardless of their sect, should not be spared if they stand in our way of killing Cao Jiaze."
...
Upon a Shadow Mountain stood a grand and resplendent palace.
Cao Jiaze of Ebon Star felt a shiver in his heart, then spoke with a look of distress, "Yu Yuan, why must you force my hand? I've had numerous chances to strike, yet I've always chosen to stand by. But now, why is your resolve to kill me so unwavering?"
Chu Yao couldn't help but chuckle. "Yu Yuan wants to kill you? With what means?"
"He's not alone; he's joined by White Bone and Rahu. They're already on their way," Cao Jiaze said gravely. "After making arrangements for Yuan Lianyao and negotiating with Razses, the Ghost King, and once White Bone has restored his domain, the focus will finally shift to me."
He pondered silently, 'How did Yu Yuan know that I am aiding Dhoreus?'
"White Bone! And Ghost King Rahu?"
The Lunar Spirits within the palace were not intimidated by Yu Yuan, but the mention of White Bone and Rahu joining forces with him struck fear into their hearts.
"There's no escaping now. Make your choice. Will you stand with me or leave swiftly?" Cao Jiaze said, his face etched with resignation, "Why must you press so relentlessly?"
...
