C827 Tian Zang's Legend
In the Moonfall Sanctuary, Yu Yuan regarded Taruer with a sense of curiosity. As he watched, Taruer's once indistinct features shifted continuously until they settled into an exceptionally pure and beautiful visage. Her face was oval-shaped, with finely arched eyebrows, porcelain skin, and clear eyes that were complemented by a shy, gentle smile.
Yet her body was strikingly voluptuous. Her waist was incredibly slender, her hips perfectly rounded, and her ample, snow-white breasts were prominently displayed. Taruer was the epitome of a curvaceous figure, blending a lovely face, an innocent aura, and a sensual body into an irresistibly attractive whole.
"Kid, I've done my homework on you," she said. She stretched languidly in front of the beehive, deliberately showcasing her figure. Inside the Spawn of Chaos, devoid of any psionic power, she moved with ease, unhampered by any constraints. Her tiny waist accentuated the dramatic curve of her body, making her bust appear even more spectacular.
"The lynchpin of the forbidden area is in tune with your spirit. You received the legacy of swordsmanship from that individual, making you his indirect disciple. It's for this reason that Dhoreus fears you."
"Tian Zang is concealed within the Moonfall Sanctuary for a couple of reasons. One is the influx of Sky Fiends, evil souls, and Terra Fiends, which aids in augmenting his strength."
"Additionally, Tian Zang is searching for a means to counter Dhoreus. He's aware that the one who severely wounded Dhoreus in the past was the guardian of the Moonfall Sanctuary, which is why he remains there."
She maneuvered the beehive closer to Yu Yuan, stopping just a few meters away to fix him with a direct stare.
"Back off!" Luo Yue snapped. "Taruer, remember you're no longer the Queen Bee. Don't try those old tactics on my junior brother."
"Junior brother?" Taruer expressed surprise.
Luo Yue, realizing that Cao Jiaze was aware of her identity, assumed he also knew Yu Yuan was the God of Medicine Hong Qi's protégé. Without reservation, she continued, "This doesn't concern you. Has Tian Zang always been aware that Dhoreus wasn't completely vanquished?"
Taruer's gaze shifted to Cao Jiaze.
"Tian Zang was indeed aware of Dhoreus' existence long before," Cao Jiaze explained. "I was the one who informed Taruer that Tian Zang could potentially be a lurking contender. When Dhoreus awoke, he immediately identified Tian Zang as a threat and instructed me to keep an eye on him."
"Tian Zang is quite enigmatic, having spent many years in the Land of Terror without vying for much," Luo Yue remarked.
"Not competing previously was pointless," Taruer added after a pause. "To my knowledge, Tian Zang predates Dhoreus; he was the Ghost King before Dhoreus came into prominence. A millennium ago, when Dhoreus rose to power and reigned over the Land of Terror, Tian Zang had already discreetly departed."
"He steered clear of Dhoreus at his peak, vanishing for many years."
"It was only several years after Dhoreus' incident in the Extraterrestrial Star River that Tian Zang returned. However, shortly after his return, he vanished once more. Despite being a Ghost King, Tian Zang spent surprisingly little time in the Land of Terror."
Taruer, formerly known as the Queen Bee of Shadow's Keep, was well-versed in the affairs of the Land of Terror.
Having said this, she turned her attention to White Bone, who had remained silent throughout the conversation. "You, Dhoreus, and Tian Zang are from the same era of Ghost Kings; you ought to understand him better than I do."
Yu Yuan and Cao Jiaze instinctively directed their attention to White Bone.
White Bone, momentarily ensnared by the Spawn of Chaos, was adorned in a colorful skeletal form, still being permeated by a mix of toxins and impurities. His normally vibrant and intelligent green eyes appeared somewhat clouded.
Cao Jiaze gestured with his hand.
Instantly, myriad filaments, like ethereal lightning, shot out from White Bone's skull, bringing sudden clarity to his eyes and coalescing his scattered consciousness.
"Lord Youling, would you be so kind as to enlighten us?" Cao Jiaze requested courteously.
"Tian Zang is not of our time," White Bone responded with a detached tone. "His tenure in the Land of Terror is shrouded in mystery. By the time Dhoreus emerged, Tian Zang had already assumed the mantle of Ghost King. As you are aware, he was often absent from the Land of Terror, making it easy for others to overlook him."
"Earlier than five thousand years ago?" Cao Jiaze's complexion shifted subtly.
"When I first ascended to the rank of Ghost King, I searched for some records. All I could infer was that he had been the Ghost King five thousand years ago. Beyond that, his history is a mystery," White Bone stated calmly. "Therefore, he has been alive for at least five thousand years, perhaps even longer."
"Five thousand years!"
Luo Yue, Taruer, and Cao Jiaze exclaimed in disbelief.
They were all privy to the secrets of the Land of Terror and knew that the title of Ghost King was typically passed on over time. A Ghost King reigning for a millennium was already considered rare, but one for five thousand years was unheard of.
According to White Bone, Tian Zang had been around for at least five thousand years. What did that imply?
"No wonder..."
Yu Yuan nodded thoughtfully, realizing why Cao Jiaze had involved Taruer in discussions about Tian Zang.
"Our sect master has a theory," Cao Jiaze said gravely. "He suspects that Tian Zang might have been a formidable member of Boulderdawn who, after death, transformed his Lunar Spirit into a practitioner of necromancy. The fall of Boulderdawn happened ten thousand years ago, which aligns with this timeline."
"So, you support Dhoreus because you believe that only a cultivator from Boulderdawn could stand against Tian Zang?" Luo Yue had an epiphany. "You all think that only by Dhoreus becoming the God of Ghosts can he oppose Tian Zang and keep him hidden?"
"Spot on, as expected of the former leader of the Poison Cult," Cao Jiaze commended with a smile. Turning to White Bone, he added, "Lord Youling, your presence has been quite the surprise. We never imagined you were White Bone, nor did we foresee your emergence as a threat to Dhoreus before Tian Zang."
His gaze then shifted to Yu Yuan. "And I certainly didn't expect you to venture into the Land of Terror with that sword's scabbard."
"Did you bring the Tears of the Azurefiend to aid Dhoreus, aiming to confront Tian Zang as well?" Yu Yuan inquired, intrigued.
"Yes," Cao Jiaze confirmed.
"Is Tian Zang not showing up making you uneasy? Are you concerned he might make a powerful comeback at the last second?" Yu Yuan said with a smirk, his demeanor becoming much more composed.
If the Sect Master of Ebon Star's guess was correct, and Tian Zang truly was a formidable practitioner from Boulderdawn who had switched to practicing necromancy, then Tian Zang was undoubtedly exceptional.
He was aware that White Bone and the Root of the Lunar Meridian were selections made by Dhoreus, one of the five highest sects.
Tian Zang was the chosen God of Ghosts by Boulderdawn.
As for himself, with his peculiar connection to the Soulforge Pool and his practice of Wraithbinding and Soul Forging through Enlightenment, he was confident that Tian Zang, upon arrival, would not see him as a foe.
"I've got a hunch that if we let this kid out and he reconnects with that odd pool, the spatial gateway might reappear, and Tian Zang could very well return directly," said Taruer, the voluptuous Ghost King, squinting and grinning at Yu Yuan. "Cao Jiaze, you've done a good job by securing this kid ahead of time. It's spared us a great deal of trouble."
"If Tian Zang is in the Moonfall Sanctuary and the Soulforge Matrix is activated, it would be incredibly difficult for him to return to the Land of Terror instantly," Cao Jiaze also remarked.
"Tian Zang, Tian Zang..."
In that moment, Yu Yuan didn't respond but instead furrowed his brow in contemplation.
He pondered whether one of the top ten Evil Devils in the Moonfall Sanctuary could be Tian Zang.
