C842 Dual Evil!

"White Bone is destined to become the God of Ghosts!"

The news Cao Jiaze delivered set all the gathered cultivators abuzz.

"The victor is the White Bone King?!"

"Inconceivable, absolutely inconceivable! Just a year ago, White Bone was merely the third-ranked Spectre. How did he manage to surpass Black Staff, Wintermaw, and the returned Dhoreus in such a short time, becoming the sole contender for the God of Ghosts title?"

"Tian Zang, the most ancient of the Ghost Kings, with the backing of his faction, couldn't stand against White Bone?"

"Could it be that we've all underestimated White Bone?"

"..."

The debate was fervent.

Those present represented various sects and powers from the Land of Quiescence and the Land of Terror, all of whom were deeply invested in this development, understanding the far-reaching implications of a new God of Ghosts emerging from the Land of Terror.

It could potentially influence the fate of the Everlands in times to come.

Led by the Ebon Star sect, the three upper sects had meticulously planned, sending their most capable, Cao Jiaze, with the Mark of the Celestials and the Blood Altar deep into the fray to covertly broker a deal with Dhoreus, the Ghost King.

This underscored the immense significance the upper sects placed on the Land of Terror.

With Cao Jiaze's undefeated record, how could Dhoreus lose with his backing?

The crowd was in an uproar, bombarding Cao Jiaze with questions.

Cao Jiaze, however, was the picture of patience. He tirelessly recounted his observations and theories to Han Qi, his master, and several seasoned cultivators.

Over at the Ruby Hand sect.

Faang Yao looked on in astonishment, his hand on his chin, as he gazed into the murky clouds. "I know White Bone well, and I never imagined he'd overpower the malevolent spirits to emerge as the prime contender for the God of Ghosts."

His fellow Ruby Hand disciples marveled, praising White Bone's extraordinary fortune.

It was rumored that the sect's rapport with White Bone was thanks to Faang Yao, who had once assisted him, though their bond was not of the deepest, unbreakable kind.

Faang Yao's knowledge of White Bone was somewhat limited. When he was suddenly informed that White Bone had become the sole contender for the title of God of Ghosts in the Land of Terror, Faang Yao was incredulous. He reassured Yuan Lianyao, "Yuanyuan, you can relax. With White Bone as the victor, Yu Yuan is safe. And you, don't venture into the Land of Terror again. Return to the Ruby Hand and strive to reach the Spirit Walk realm without delay."

"I could go to the Land of Terror on your behalf," Hou Tianzhao offered with a hearty laugh. "White Bone and Faang Yao are on good terms, so they'll show some respect to our sect. And Yu Yuan and I share a bond of life and death; he would never harm me."

"If you're set on going, then it's possible," Faang Yao conceded.

He continued to gently advise Yuan Lianyao to avoid rash actions and to focus on enhancing her own power, so she might be reunited with Yu Yuan in the future. Yuan Lianyao was convinced by his counsel.

Elsewhere, on a stone platform jutting out from the side of a remote, grayish-brown mountain, lush trees thrived. Razses, the Ghost King holding the Soul Locking Diagram, sat across from Ann Ziqing of the Divine Cult.

Ann Ziqing, now in her true form, was clad in divine armor that glowed with an intense purple sheen in the sunlight, too dazzling to look at directly.

"It's truly unexpected," Razses mused, having witnessed the events in the Land of Terror through the Soul Locking Diagram. "Even my former master was defeated by Tian Zang, yet it's White Bone who emerged victorious in the end."

Ann Ziqing also observed White Bone exiting the Star River through the Soul Locking Diagram. The moment White Bone appeared, the Heavenly Secrets were obscured, rendering the Soul Locking Diagram incapable of capturing any further images.

This indicated that White Bone's power was so immense that it shrouded the heavens, making it impossible for even Ghost Kings of the same caliber to peer through, despite the aid of extraordinary Horcruxes.

Suddenly, a middle-aged man in a vibrant red robe materialized on the stone platform. His skin was so pale that his veins were distinctly visible. The man was strikingly handsome, adorned with a jade robe, a Blood Jade Cosmos Ring on his finger, and blood snake earrings dangling from his ears.

The man's appearance was striking, with slender eyebrows and phoenix eyes that glinted with a subtle blood-red light.

"White Bone, it was I who first drew your attention," the man said, his voice as pleasant as a spring breeze. "And when Dhoreus made his appearance and extended an invitation to collaborate, I was the one who advised you against it. Without my repeated warnings, you might have rashly heeded Dhoreus and struck at White Bone."

"Father," Ann Ziqing said with an eye roll, "it turns out you were the one holding Razses back."

"Ann, I'm grateful for your insight, but could you explain why you've taken such a particular interest in White Bone?" Razses, the Ghost King, huffed. "You're right; when White Bone first ascended to the rank of Spectre in the Land of Terror, I barely gave him a second thought."

"It was only after your cautioning that I began to take notice and observe him in secret. His actions thereafter revealed that he was indeed extraordinary."

"Later, when we descended into the fissure together, I realized he was Youling. But what of it? A thousand years ago, Youling was merely on par with Prince Dhoreus, without any distinct advantage. I can't fathom why you persistently obstructed me from taking action against White Bone."

Razses was seething internally with frustration.

He and Ann Wen had a long-standing friendship, and he had always held the opinions of the Colddeath sect master in high regard.

This was because he was acutely aware of how fearsome Ann Wen could be when enraged.

When Ann Wen first rose to prominence within the Colddeath centuries ago, he was a figure that struck terror into the hearts of many, and nobody wished to cross him.

Ann Wen, who had occasionally lost control while practicing the Colddeath's extreme mystique and was steeped in bloodshed, had always managed to survive. Step by step, he had ascended to become the current sect master of the Colddeath, at the pinnacle of the Unbound realm and on the verge of breaking through to the primordial spirit realm.

Razses believed that Ann Wen had at least a seventy percent chance of success in reaching the primordial spirit realm.

"I knew from the start that he would emerge as the ultimate victor," Ann Wen said with a carefree smile. "If he isn't up to the task, then neither Dhoreus nor Tian Zang stand a chance."

At these words, both Razses and Ann Ziqing were visibly moved, looking at him with puzzled expressions.

"How could I, Ann Wen, ever lose to the only person I've ever acknowledged?" Ann Wen said with a wide grin, clearly delighted. "Seven hundred years ago, we were known as the Evil Duo. He was even more malevolent than I was, going so far as to kill Zhu Zhenlin and defy the Devil Palace. That's why he ran into trouble shortly after advancing to the primordial spirit."

"Ah!"

Razses and Ann Ziqing were visibly shocked, their exclamations echoing the surprise.

They didn't need Ann Wen to say the name; they knew well enough that the only person he would acknowledge was the Evil King of the Skyblight Cult—Yu Xi.

"Now that everything is settled, there's no point in hiding," Ann Wen said with a nod, confirming their suspicions. "It won't be long before he openly reveals to the world that White Bone is none other than the Evil King, Yu Xi! Even now, Zhu Zhenlin can't touch him, knowing who he really is."

"The Evil King himself!" Razses, the Ghost King, admitted with respect.

Ann Ziqing shot him a fierce look. "You old schemer, always full of tricks and never sharing a word, leaving me to worry unnecessarily every day."

"What are you even worrying about?" Ann Wen asked with a light laugh. "With Razses watching over you in plain sight and an Evil King swiftly rising in the shadows, who could possibly harm you in the Land of Terror? You're not fretting over Yu Yuan, are you? Since I learned of his potential, I've made a point of keeping the Evil King informed about his progress."

"The Evil King never left the Land of Terror; he's been aware of Yu Yuan's exceptional lineage."

"So the moment he set foot in the Land of Terror and the Evil King got wind of it, he would surely find a way to bring Yu Yuan over to his side, to stand together in the same ranks."

"What's there for you to worry about?"

Ann Wen teased, a playful smile on his face.

Ann Ziqing pouted, remaining silent and brooding to herself.

"Speaking of which, how do you feel about the man I chose for you?" Ann Wen asked, raising his eyebrows suggestively.

"Looking at you just irritates me!"

Ann Ziqing huffed and, in an instant, transformed into a purple streak of light, heading straight for the Colddeath.

The news of White Bone's imminent rise spread like wildfire.

The cultivators who had been lingering near the Land of Terror dispersed as the situation resolved, leaving the area as the dust settled.

Conversely, the ghosts that had previously fled, upon realizing that White Bone had emerged victorious and the fate of the Land of Terror was sealed, began to return from all corners, converging once again upon the Land of Terror.

Simultaneously, numerous Terra Fiends, Lunar Spirits, and even Sky Fiends stealthily made their way into the Land of Terror.

They awaited White Bone's emergence, eager to draw near and pledge their allegiance to the sole God of Ghosts.

​