C830 The Greatest Wish of the Dhoreus
"Haha!"
The Pale Reaper couldn't help but burst into a sinister laugh upon seeing the three figures ejected from the Spawn of Chaos.
White Bone's once radiant skeletal form was now marred by corrosion, the result of exposure to numerous vile lights and psionic powers. It appeared as though time had mercilessly rusted it away.
Cracks marred the skeletal form, resembling a discarded skeleton in a heap of refuse, devoid of any magical presence.
Luo Yue's once resplendent flower basket had lost all its luster. The once delicate and ornate basket was now in tatters.
Her soul seemed lethargic and disoriented, huddled in a corner of the basket, as if lost in a fog of confusion.
Both White Bone and Luo Yue were inside the Spawn of Chaos, each bearing grave injuries.
Their souls, however, could heal more swiftly because they were Ghost Kings, each with their own River Styx.
Take, for instance, this moment...
As soon as White Bone and Luo Yue emerged, the waters of their respective River Styx began to churn more violently. Despite the distance, they could still draw upon the Yin Qi from the two rivers.
White Bone's once dull eyes began to brighten, casting aside the shadows with emerging light.
Luo Yue's indistinct phantom also rapidly gained definition after their departure.
In the Land of Terror, pervasive Yin Qi aids in the healing of a Ghost King's soul, which can gradually recover by absorbing this energy.
However, White Bone's physical form and Luo Yue's refined flower basket could not be mended by Yin Qi alone.
White Bone's gleaming skeletal form had likely been forged by some external force, possibly in a peculiar realm where he harnessed and refined those pale white flames to strengthen his form.
To restore his skeletal form and purge the impurities within, he would need to depart the Land of Terror.
His strength lay in the ability of his skeletal form to release white flames that purified tainted souls. With its sanctified power and radiance, it struck terror into the hearts of the ghosts dwelling in the Land of Terror.
Now, bereft of his skeletal form, his combat prowess had significantly diminished. Coupled with the severe damage to his soul, how could he stand a chance against Dhoreus?
Similarly, Luo Yue's flower basket was a Divine Weapon she had painstakingly crafted, serving as her formidable Horcrux.
The crafting of the flower basket certainly didn't rely on the Yin Qi from the Land of Terror. She wished for the basket to once again collect the iridescence of the rainbow light, which meant venturing out of the Land of Terror to a place bathed in such brilliance to gather and refine it, drawing it into the basket.
Yu Yuan surmised that Luo Yue's flower basket was probably connected to Zu Ann of Skyreach Peak.
He had witnessed Zu Ann's resplendent Solar Spirit Body there, bathed in a radiant glow, exuding a lively spirit.
It seemed quite likely that Zu Ann, taking a liking to Luo Yue and learning of her quest to uncover the truth about her past life's demise, had decided to aid her. He must have collected the vast rainbow light to assist her in mending the basket.
Now, with the basket severely damaged, she needed to meet with Zu Ann for its restoration.
"You all seem quite feeble at the moment," Cao Jiaze remarked with a smile.
The two Ghost Kings, their souls and skeletal forms, along with their flower baskets, were all in a state of significant disrepair. They appeared to be no match for Dhoreus.
Yu Yuan, however, merely looked exhausted.
In truth, he was unscathed. Both his physical form and soul remained whole, untouched by injury.
Moreover, free from the corruption of psionic power and the intrusion of complex thoughts and malevolent intentions, his mind swiftly cleared. The seven acupoints in his chest, opened by the Shadow Moon Essence, began to voraciously consume the surrounding Yin Qi, channeling it into his Mindscape.
In no time at all, he was revitalized.
Without a word, he retrieved several pills from his Bracelet of Holding, designed to quickly bolster his vitality and spiritual energy, and swallowed them. Then, he urgently called forth the scabbard, keeping his gaze fixed on Dhoreus.
Dhoreus, however, was not looking at him but instead was frowning deeply at White Bone, and spoke in a grave tone, "Youling, are you ready to concede?"
White Bone, with his skeletal form grievously wounded and his soul yet to regain its strength, was no longer on the same level as him.
"I would have never imagined someone as proud as you choosing to ally with the three great upper sects." White Bone's emerald eyes regained their luster and focus. "I faintly recall that your current plight was orchestrated by the upper sects of Euwrea, who commanded that individual to strike against you."
"White Bone, there's no point in stirring up trouble now, is there?" Cao Jiaze said with a smile.
"Youling, whatever you say is of no concern to me," Dhoreus huffed dismissively. "You should be aware that when I first ventured into the Star River, I was seeking the Path into Shadow. Back then, I sought external assistance. Now, the Land of Terror offers a chance to help me ascend on the Path into Shadow, and I certainly won't let this rare opportunity slip by."
With that, White Bone fell silent.
Meanwhile, Yu Yuan was stealthily attempting to connect with the Root of the Lunar Meridian...
The Root of the Lunar Meridian, which could send its will through any Styx, had suddenly gone quiet.
Beneath him flowed a river, raging like the River Styx, yet when Yu Yuan tried to reach out, he could not detect the will of the Root of the Lunar Meridian.
Instead, he picked up traces of sword's will, remnants left by the great cultivator Moon Slayer.
It dawned on him that the River of Souls had merged with the River Styx, drawing upon its power to enhance the River of Souls.
"Soulforge Pool!"
Realizing the Root of the Lunar Meridian was unresponsive, he shifted his focus and attempted to connect with the Moonfall Sanctuary.
At that moment, both White Bone and Luo Yue were weakened, relying on the Yin Qi to replenish their Soul Power, rendering their skeletal form and flower basket ineffective.
He had to think on his feet, stirring up issues to distract Dhoreus and Cao Jiaze from responding.
Across the vast expanse of Endless Space, when he reached out to the Moonfall Sanctuary, he surprisingly sensed the presence of the Soulforge Pool.
Several Ghost Kings instinctively glanced skyward.
Cao Jiaze, astonished, looked up at the dim sky and remarked, "You're truly formidable. To have spent so much time in the Spawn of Chaos and still retain your spiritual wisdom, and then to reconnect with the Moonfall Sanctuary the instant you emerged—that's impressive."
Despite his surprise, he was not intimidated and refrained from taking any action.
In the gloomy heights above, crimson sword light intertwined with dark Soul Power, as if poised to invade this realm.
The transformation of the Land of Terror struck fear into the hearts of the mighty from the Devil Palace, Shadow's Keep, and the Ruby Hand, as well as the many visitors from the continent of Euwrea.
Eyes from all around were fixed on the sky above the Land of Terror. The Pale Reaper's face turned pale with shock as he swiftly turned his gaze toward Dhoreus.
"Now that I've regained the realm of the Ghost King, this sky is not yours to open at will," Dhoreus stated coolly, stretching out his hand to grasp the River of Souls that bathed in the River Styx.
This formidable Horcrux, a symbol of the Land of Terror's power, unfurled behind Dhoreus like a radiant star river.
Within the River of Souls, countless phantoms writhed, forming a dense and intricate array that quelled any anomalies within the Land of Terror.
With a resonant 'ding,' it was as though a string had snapped. Yu Yuan's spiritual link with the Moonfall Sanctuary abruptly severed, and the Soulforge Pool could no longer detect his presence.
In the dimming heavens, a flash of crimson sword light and a wave of dark Soul Power from another realm hesitated for a moment, uncertain of Yu Yuan's whereabouts, before fading away into silence.
"As the Ghost King, its gathering of Yin Qi makes it the ultimate presence in the Land of Terror," Dhoreus declared, a fierce grin spreading across his face. "White Bone, Luo Yue, if you willingly pledge your allegiance to me, I will spare your lives. Taruer has already made a pact with me. Upon my ascension to God of Ghosts, she pledged her loyalty. If you two show the same wisdom, our combined forces will usher in an era of unprecedented prosperity for the Land of Terror!"
"As the God of Ghosts, we will seize this moment to claim our rightful place in the Everlands!"
"The three great upper sects, the Devil Palace, and Shadow's Keep will have to consult us at every turn!"
Dhoreus laid bare his ambitions without reservation.
He sought to reunify the Land of Terror under his rule, wielding the power of the God of Ghosts to proclaim his presence across the Everlands!
The Land of Terror was poised to become a sovereign power, standing shoulder to shoulder with the three great upper sects, the Devil Palace, and Shadow's Keep!
For millennia, this unique realm had served as a haven for souls seeking cultivation: Terra Fiends, great demon souls from other worlds, and the human Lunar Spirits all found a place to wield their power unrestrained.
The Land of Terror, though independent and not yet subsumed by the five great sects, owes its autonomy to its unique environment. The cultivators from both the human race and evilkind can only project their Lunar Spirits into this realm; their combat prowess would be severely diminished otherwise. Yet to the supreme sects beyond its borders, the ghosts of the Land of Terror are nothing more than turtles, too scared to leave the safety of their shells. Should they venture out, they would lose their edge and become easy prey.
Dhoreus, since its inception, has been driven by a grand vision and a solemn vow to alter this status quo. At last, an opportunity to do so has presented itself.
