C819 Step onto the Path of No Return!

Seventeen Dark Mountains of varying heights erupted from the earth, a testament to the White Bone King's arcane powers.

Each Dark Mountain, previously refined and imprinted with the White Bone King's essence, crumbled after the last of the Yin Sunflower Essence was harvested, sending the imprints back into the depths of the earth.

Beneath the surface, these imprints coalesced into a formidable force of Yin Qi, bolstered by the White Bone and the might of the Nether River, reemerging in the dread realm known as Horror Land.

The seventeen Dark Mountains, now arrayed in a mysterious and sinister formation, encircled the peak where the White Bone King presided.

With the final Dark Mountain erected, Yu Yuan was struck by an odd sensation—as if he could sense the slightest stir of a soul within the White Bone King's domain.

Outside this realm, no ghost or spirit could hope to uncover its secrets.

The Dark Mountains stood like beacons, casting light upon all beings and souls within the White Bone King's territory.

Gazing intently at the White Bone King, Yu Yuan's face remained impassive, yet his spirit quivered ever so slightly.

Who had the former Ghost King Youling become in the vast expanse of the Boundless Land after his rebirth?

What had led to his confinement in the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area, where he was transformed into this enigmatic White Bone?

How had this White Bone shattered the Forbidden Area's seal, returned to Horror Land, and resumed his path on the Ghost Dao to rise as the current Ghost King?

To Yu Yuan, the White Bone was enshrouded in enigma, obscured by clouds of mystery.

He suspected that the secrets harbored by the present Youling, a contemporary of Mingdu, were as profound as those of Mingdu himself.

The tales of Mingdu were clear for all to see.

Yet the White Bone's history remained shrouded in obscurity, and the chilling white flames he wielded, capable of purifying tainted souls and quelling ghosts, had somehow earned the absolute trust of the Yin Meridian's source.

"White Bone..."

Mulling over the name, Yu Yuan stroked his chin, sinking back into contemplation.

"Congratulations, my Lord!"

From a newly formed Dark Mountain, a ghostly creature with the likeness of a monkey prostrated itself in the direction of the White Bone King's mountain, its praise echoing across the expanse.

The creature had vanished at the White Bone King's command, only to reemerge now, as the final piece of the formation took its place.

Skeletons within a mountainside cave constructed the Dark Mountains, and from a distance, the White Bone King glanced at the ghostly creature with a monkey-like appearance. With a subtle shift of its soul's intent, it swiftly transmitted a multitude of commands.

The ghost nodded vigorously, bowed with clasped hands, and then quickly withdrew into the Dark Mountain.

"Choose any of the seventeen Dark Mountains. Once your Yin God separates from your body, it will undergo another purification," the White Bone King said as it drifted down like a flake of white willow catkin, coming to a halt before Yu Yuan. "Your Yin God is newly formed; a bit of refinement will do you good."

Yu Yuan, with a furrowed brow, expressed his concern, "I'm somewhat apprehensive."

"Concerned about the return of Mingdu's body?" inquired the White Bone King.

Yu Yuan nodded, elaborating, "Both of us are aware that his body is en route. It won't be long before that extraterrestrial body descends upon us. Once soul and body reunite, the lost power will be restored. The desiccated Styx, too, will surge with water once more."

The impending arrival of Mingdu's body weighed heavily on Yu Yuan, bringing a palpable sense of pressure.

The White Bone King, too, lapsed into silence over this matter.

He understood that the eternal laws of the Horror Land would not fundamentally shift due to the whims of the Yin Meridian's source.

Yu Yuan was also acutely aware that despite the Yin Meridian's source's wariness of Mingdu, once his soul left the Soul Crossing River and integrated with his body, the profound truths of the Ghost Dao he had grasped would inevitably propel him back to the realm of the Ghost King.

With the demise of Cold Abyss and Black Staff, the source of the Yin Meridian was now pure and boundless.

Should Mingdu regain his zenith, his once-parched Styx could swell to a breadth and ferocity surpassing its former glory.

Then, it would be Mingdu's turn to seek them out for their doom.

Mingdu, master of the Soul Crossing River, could navigate the spaces of Horror Land at will. Any target he set his sights on would have no chance of escape, leaving them no choice but to engage in a desperate battle.

Whoosh!

The Luohou Ghost King had returned. Barely materializing, she announced, "Outside, cultivators from the major sects of the Quietus Continent have assembled. Among them are several of the formidable Unrestrained Stage."

"Is everything okay, Sister Yuan?" Yu Yuan inquired with urgency.

"Faang Yao of the Red Devil Sect has arrived for support; her safety shouldn't be in question," Luohou Ghost King explained, perceptively realizing that the realm within the White Bone King's territory was shrouded by a secret technique.

She extended her soul consciousness to verify her suspicions, only to discover that apart from the Styx that resonated with her, she was unable to probe her own domain with her soul.

"Have you reconstructed all seventeen Dark Mountains?" Luohou asked, coming to an understanding.

The White Bone King, now the most formidable Ghost King in Horror Land, had reforged a total of eighteen Dark Mountains into a grand formation that concealed his entire territory, thwarting even peer Ghost Kings from remotely discerning any activity within.

"They've just been completed," confirmed the White Bone King.

"And Mingdu as well?" Luohou asked, astonished.

The White Bone King nodded once more. "Until he regains his full strength and his soul merges with his body, even he won't be able to perceive what transpires within my lands."

"An impressive strategy," Luohou commended, her tension easing. "Little Junior Brother, do you intend to confront Chu Yao next?"

While Yuan Lianyao was present, and with other specters around, she had kept her thoughts to herself, speaking cautiously.

But now, aware that the White Bone King's concealment extended over the entire territory, rendering it invisible to external Ghost Kings, she felt free to address Yu Yuan as "little junior brother" without reservation.

Yet, not a flicker of surprise showed in the White Bone King's verdant eyes.

It seemed he was already aware that Yu Yuan had received the legacy of the previous Medicine God Sect Master, becoming the Medicine God's successor, and Luohou's own "little junior brother."

"You needn't wonder. I've made it clear to the White Bone King that my true name is Luo Yue, and I was once the leader of the Voodoo Cult," Luohou Ghost King said with a smile. "The White Bone King has agreed to share with me all the details and precautions necessary for reincarnation once this affair concludes. He has also pledged to covertly safeguard my journey once I am reborn."

With the prospect of retaining her memories after reincarnation, she could swiftly embark on the path of cultivation anew.

During her initial cultivation phase, she will be quite vulnerable, requiring a substantial amount of spiritual materials and pellets, and she may face significant challenges.

With the White Bone King's guidance, her journey would be far less strenuous. Her path of reincarnation and cultivation would proceed with much greater ease.

"The primary target is Cao Jiaze; Chu Yao is just incidental."

Yu Yuan gazed into the distance, "Honestly, I bear no animosity toward that member of the Profound Sky Sect. He has shown no overt hostility toward me since his arrival. But... I sense that his threat level is second only to the Mingdu Ghost King. I trust my instincts!"

"Hmm, he will assist Mingdu at the pivotal moment," the White Bone King stated icily.

Luohou, unaware of this, was taken aback, "Why would the Profound Sky Sect aid Mingdu? When Mingdu fled Horror Land and wandered the Outland Star River, it was the upper sects that empowered the Chopping Moon cultivator to strike, resulting in Mingdu's current state."

"I can't divulge the specifics, but I'm certain that when we fully engage Mingdu, he will intervene," Yu Yuan said, his face betraying no emotion. "He hasn't acted yet simply because the time hasn't come."

"The events that have unfolded, including the deaths of Black Staff and Cold Abyss, were anticipated by them," the White Bone King added. "Qianjie's survival was the true surprise. I suspect Mingdu would have preferred to see Qianjie meet the same fate at my hands."

"Given that Cao Jiaze will inevitably act, we might as well strike first," Yu Yuan declared coolly.

Luohou gave him a penetrating look, "Little brother, once you act on this, there's no turning back. Cao Jiaze and the Yin Gods within that palace hail from the Heavenly Source Continent. By moving against Cao Jiaze and Chu Yao, you're effectively declaring war on the powers that still reign over the Boundless Land."

Yu Yuan's decision sent shivers through her soul, and she finally grasped why her junior brother was so eager to have Yuan Lianyao sent away.

Cao Jiaze stands for the Profound Sky Sect, while the Yin Gods in the palace represent the sects' power from the Heavenly Source Continent.

Yu Yuan was determined to strike first, to resolve potential threats before Mingdu's body could return. It was a clear declaration of a break with the existing powers.

From that moment on, she would be irrevocably on a path of no return, branded as a so-called "traitor."

Even Luohou lacked the courage to confront the five supreme forces and the existing powers of the Boundless Land, always hesitating and unable to decide.

But Yu Yuan made her decision without a second thought.

"It's that way," Yu Yuan indicated, "My Evil Cauldron has been tracking them from a distance. That palace, transformed from a Heaven Palace Seal, now stands in the domain of the Loose Primal Ghost. Any Yin God within its walls, regardless of their sect, should not be spared if they hinder our mission to eliminate Cao Jiaze."

...

Perched atop Dark Mountain was a grand and resplendent palace.

Cao Jiaze of the Profound Sky Sect felt a shiver run through him, his face clouded with distress. "Yu Yuan, why push me to this? I've had countless chances to strike you down, yet I've always been a mere spectator. Why is your resolve to kill me now so unyielding?"

Chu Yao couldn't help but snort with laughter. "Yu Yuan, kill you? With what means?"

"He's not alone; he's joined by the White Bone and Luohou Ghost King," Cao Jiaze said gravely. "After ensuring Yuan Lianyao's safety and dealing with the Initial Spirit Ghost King, the White Bone will reestablish its domain's defenses. And now, they've turned their sights on me."

He pondered in silence: How did Yu Yuan find out I'm aiding Mingdu?

"The White Bone and Luohou Ghost King?"

The Yin Gods within the palace were unfazed by Yu Yuan alone, but the news of his alliance with the White Bone and Luohou sent a ripple of fear through them.

"There's no escaping now. Make your choice—stand with me or flee," Cao Jiaze said with a resigned sigh. "Why this relentless pressure?"

...