Chapter 10: Pursuing the Soul and Seizing the Spirit, Enveloped in Eternal Clouds of Confusion
He saw that even in broad daylight, a thick fog pervaded the celestial ruins.
There is no need for melancholy reminders; one will know what to do when the clouds turn to the sea.
He saw the mist coalescing and lingering, the wind and rain swirling around, the lightning flashing suddenly, these beautifully formed divine fossils still appeared quite terrifying
If it were not for these two reasons, he would have had no need to bring Yun Fan Hai to Tian Xu
Ha! It's just being lost!" he thought to himself, "There is nothing serious except death. In such a wild place, the more one fears, the more likely one is to encounter misfortune. We shall not be afraid!
This can be seen from the fact that he, as a mountain bandit, turned his hideout into a charitable hall and has maintained this for ten years without change
From this moment on, Yun Fan Hai finally sees, amidst the rolling clouds and mist in the distance, sporadic flickers of firelight appearing and disappearing.
"It's fine," Yun Fan Hai said, gritting his teeth. "After walking for a while, I have also become familiar with the terrain here. You can rest assured, I grew up in the mountains and fields, so I am very familiar with this kind of terrain. Besides, I won't go far; I will only head to the place where you just eliminated the demon beasts."
Upon witnessing this scene, Yun Fan Hai felt an overwhelming joy in his heart. He quickly calmed his mind and focused his spirit, spreading his arms wide. Following the teachings of Yu Chou Gui, his palms began to intertwine, forming a mysterious and intricate hand seal.
"Don't worry!" Yun Fan Hai waved his hand, turned around, and walked back in the direction he had come from
Because of its realism, it is shocking at first glance; theoretically, the divine beings are mostly handsome and righteous. In any case, if one were to adapt, it should not be so terrifying. However, as a firsthand witness, Yun Fan Hai feels that it is completely not the case
The Celestial Ruins serve as the grave for all demons and gods, is it truly as simple as it appears on the surface? Even for the melancholic return, all knowledge regarding the Celestial Ruins is merely superficial, a drop in the ocean.
As he disappeared from her sight, Yu Chou suddenly felt a twinge of regret
Meanwhile, he began to chant the Hunting Fire Incantation: "Heaven and Earth, the Profound Origin, the Divine and Demonic are One; Expanding through countless eons, verifying your divine powers; Waves rise and dance, clouds and thunder swiftly arise; The essence of chaos gathers, collecting energy and dispersing brilliance; Soul fire stretches for thousands of miles, the spirit follows the smoke's birth; The fire clouds of the red sky, the wind rises without pause; The Nine Luminaries move in harmony, the brilliance is clear and bright; The flow of the gaze is endless, descending upon my soul's shadow; Receiving the heavenly mandate, governing all spirits; Pursuing souls and capturing spirits, subduing the fire essence..."
In the next hour or so, he attempted countless times, only to find that the soul flames were either indifferent or quickly drifted away, resulting in not a single success.
It turns out that statues in the world, no matter how hard they try, can never completely resemble living beings; therefore, people often do not realize that if they were to truly see a statue that looks exactly like a real person, it would actually be a very terrifying thing
Before the pitiful cloud turned into the sea, it was still thinking that it must somehow create a ball of azure soul fire, looking down upon even the green fire, as it resembled ghostly flames too much
Thus, at the moment when the clouds rolled and the sea danced, the sword light radiated in all directions, casting a layer of blue shimmering light upon the surrounding scenery. As the sword light fluctuated, it seemed to summon the azure waves of the East Sea, stirring restlessly in the void
Occasionally, a few mountain spirits would rush out, but they were met with his swing of the Eastern Hua Divine Sword. As the sword light flashed, it cleaved them in two, completely eliminating them.
However, gradually, Yun Fan Hai realized that he had been overly optimistic.
Have I really walked out of the Heavenly Ruins? Impossible! Yun Fan Hai thought to himself, There is only one entrance to this Heavenly Ruins; if I had truly walked out, how could I not know? It is important to note that outside the Heavenly Ruins, not only can one see officials everywhere, but there is also no such thick fog.
However, Yun Fan Hai is not without the ability to resist; along the way, he wielded the Donghua Sword, hacking and slashing indiscriminately. With the unique aura and sharpness of the Donghua Sword, he was able to repel quite a number of low-level demon beasts and magical spirits.
Ah? Upon hearing this, Yun Fan Hai instinctively wanted to say, "Why don't we just go back?" However, at that moment, he glanced around at the silent and motionless divine and demonic fossils amidst the dark clouds, and it seemed as if they were mocking his weakness
In the midst of fierce winds and heavy rain, I occasionally lift my head to look at the tumultuous clouds above the sea, only to discover that this stormy day is unlike any I have experienced before. At this moment, the densely packed dark clouds seem to outline countless terrifying faces of demons and monsters, and the flashes of lightning are nothing but their sinister and inscrutable gazes.
The environment alone is already eerie and terrifying, filled with a strong sense of malevolence. However, as one continues forward, dark beasts constantly leap out from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with a toxic light, launching unexpected and frenzied ambushes.
As we ventured deeper into the Celestial Ruins, the mist gradually began to dissipate. Before we could even feel joy, the dark clouds that had been looming overhead suddenly unleashed torrential raindrops the size of beans, and in an instant, a heavy downpour ensued, accompanied by flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder
As a national treasure passed down from ancient times, this Donghua sword features a dark golden hilt and guard, showcasing a simple yet elegant design. The guard is intricately carved with fierce taotie patterns using delicate knife techniques
They are too much like living beings
"Can you manage on your own?" Yu Chou Gui looked at him.
This scene is also different from his imagination
The images of the demon clan, which originally bore two horns and had a hideous appearance, appeared even more terrifying amidst the bleak winds and bitter rain, shrouded in dark clouds and haze
It is evident that the journey to the celestial ruins, where melancholy converges with the clouds and the sea, is also highly anticipated; otherwise, one could simply go to the black market to find a hunter and casually purchase a low-grade soul fire.
Upon seeing them, Yun Fan Hai understood that he had finally encountered the Soul Fire of the Heavenly Ruins
After walking for a while, still not a trace of the soul fire was seen. At this moment, the previously bold and spirited leader of Feiyun Mountain Village felt deflated.
Haha, since I am lost anyway, I might as well take a big risk and recklessly venture inside according to my whims
The idea of crossing the clouds and the sea is resolute, and there will be no turning back. Although the mist rises thickly around him, he is no longer afraid, raising his head and moving forward.
Do you remember what Manager Yu said, that the deeper one goes into this market, the more dangerous it becomes, but the soul flames that can be obtained are also of a higher grade
In the face of the mirror of mist, the clouds and waves become increasingly hazy
Unexpectedly, that yellow soul fire seemed to have no reaction at all. As it recited to the climax amidst the swirling clouds and raging seas, with a flap of its luminous wings, its round body turned and actually flew away
Looking at the pervasive haze, he thought to himself: "Is this decision wrong? If he dies here, where will I find another substitute so similar to him?"
The blade is as bright as a mirror, showing no signs of rust or dullness despite the thousand years of heritage.
At the beginning, he was unaware of the changes in the clouds and the sea, until he heard the reminder from Yu Chou Gui, only then did he realize that the soul fire before him had long since vanished without a trace
At this moment, Yun Fan Hai finally realized that the Shenwei Mountain Range behind him had already become towering and majestic, while the Tianxu in front of him was even more magnificent and mysterious, unlike any scenery found in the human world
Self-blame, frustration, gloom, despair, a multitude of negative emotions surge forth like the haze before one's eyes, quickly overwhelming the originally open-hearted and forthright youth
It is quite remarkable; I do not know if it is the spirit of the gods and demons in the celestial realm that has been intimidated by his bold and foolish demeanor. As a result, although the journey ahead is winding and convoluted, there are no real dangers from the lurking spirits attacking us.
A cemetery, a graveyard, is never a place that brings joy, even if it is the resting place of ancient and mythical beings.
At the beginning, he was quite patient; however, after failing over a hundred times in the Cloud-Transforming Sea, Yu Chou Gui finally realized a fact he did not wish to mention: having him by the side to protect was fundamentally contrary to the rules of the Soul Fire Hunting in the Heavenly Ruins.
This journey has not been particularly dangerous, but it seems that the soul flames, which were once everywhere, are now nowhere to be seen.
The colors of those flames are mostly warm colors such as red, orange, and yellow
The earlier bravery was merely sustained by a momentary surge of spirit; once that spirit wanes, being alone in the vast and mysterious void, the emotions that once surged like clouds and waves instantly become misaligned
Entering the celestial realm, one sees the clouds rolling over the sea, as if merely a door separates two vastly different worlds.
Moreover, it is evident that the Donghua Sword is not merely sharp. When it is wielded, even if the spiritual power that stirs the clouds and the sea is not very strong, the sword body of the Donghua Sword is activated by the spiritual power, emanating layers of aquamarine brilliance
In the midst of despair, Yun Fan Hai gradually felt that the grayish-white mist before him was shifting and flowing, slowly transforming into a mirror that encompassed all things
What is seen in the dancing rain lines of the current cloud is precisely these extremely lifelike gigantic sculptures
The eerie and terrifying strange clouds, when compared to the faintly visible surroundings at this moment, have already become much more beautiful.
However, after walking for a while longer, he finally realized that something was amiss: he was lost
He instructed Yun Fan Hai to obtain the Soul Fire, primarily for the purpose of self-preservation; acquiring a Soul Fire of red or orange hue would be utterly futile
It seemed like a road back, but when the clouds turned and the sea was truly stepped upon, it suddenly transformed into a completely unrecognizable and unfamiliar path
Due to Yun Fan Hai's frail abilities, originally Yu Chou Gui wanted to take a chance; however, like Yun Fan Hai, he too has now been educated by the harsh realities.
He began to cautiously approach the place where the soul fire appeared
If it were not for the expert Yu Chou Gui escorting me all the way, relying solely on my own abilities, I would likely not need to venture deep into the Heavenly Ruins; just circling around the entrance would suffice to become a delicious meal for the demonic beasts.
At the entrance of the Celestial Ruins, there stands a massive domed stone gate, towering majestically like an eternal giant, silently observing those who approach.
At this moment, the leader of Feiyun Mountain Village, wandering in the mist, remains completely unaware
"Ah, you are indeed a clever person," Yu Chou returned a smile and nodded, saying, "Then take care of yourself."
Upon this realization, he immediately felt regret. He swiftly moved and hurriedly dashed in the direction where Yun Fan Hai had just departed.
However, after a moment of trembling, the rebellious spirit deep within him quickly emerged
The enormous stone gate, commanding attention from the outset, evokes a profound sense of the boundless universe and one's own insignificance as one passes beneath it
The transformation of clouds into the sea is indeed quite rebellious
Seeing this, Yun Fan Hai felt somewhat disappointed, but not discouraged, as this is just the beginning
Previously, they had traveled the entire way on horseback, just like Yu Chou Gui; before entering the Heavenly Ruins Archway, the two of them had already handed over their horses to the accompanying Divine Heroic Guards and entered the Heavenly Ruins on foot.
Unlike other places, Tianxu is much like a person, possessing a strong temperament; to truly obtain the soul fire here, it is essential for the hunter to act alone.
What is going on? Even someone as seasoned as this old hand, who is usually filled with melancholy, is momentarily taken aback and uncertain, quickly filled with regret.
As Yun Fan Hai stated, he grew up in the wilderness; it is precisely for this reason that he clearly understands that in such a mysterious and unpredictable place, being "lost" is fundamentally equivalent to encountering fierce monsters, with both posing similar dangers
Relying on the Donghua Sword, he walked a distance without any danger, but Yun Fan Hai suddenly sensed that something was amiss
As it drew near, the mist dissipated, and the clouds and sea became very clear. This ball of yellow soul fire, though headless and tailless, extended wing-like flames on both sides, fluttering in the mist, maintaining its floating posture in the air
It is uncertain how long we have been walking, as the wind and rain have momentarily ceased
Certainly, the sharpness of the Donghua Divine Sword also plays a significant role
He is extremely serious whether he is making hand seals or reciting incantations
Upon witnessing this scene, Yu Chou Gui was somewhat surprised.
Although it was a path, once he crossed over the clouds and the sea, dark clouds quickly gathered, shrouding him in mist and fog, completely concealing his figure
Gradually, in the mist before his eyes, it seemed that many people he knew were slowly emerging
What does "humans die for wealth, birds die for food" mean? He is that.
After enduring for a while longer and seeing that Yun Fan Hai still had no progress, he apologetically said: "Brother Yun, the Soul Fire of the Heavenly Ruins must be hunted by oneself; if you wish to achieve success today, you can only act alone."
In the pervasive gray mist, Yun Fan Hai became both fearful and dejected
But now the harsh reality is telling him that not to mention the blue and green, even the most basic red soul fire, he has always found it difficult to capture and merge.
At first glance, these statues resemble the stone figures in front of those tombs, but upon closer inspection, a chill runs down one's spine, evoking a sense of dread.
In addition, the one impersonating the powerful God of Light is indeed formidable; even if his combat skills and spells do not match those of the genuine article, at the very least, he should be able to display some spells that are presentable in front of others
Because of his agility and quick reflexes, he was indeed able to swiftly approach a ball of yellow soul fire
It was only when melancholy rushed into that misty haze that I found the scenery before me unchanged, yet the person who had just passed by was nowhere to be found.
Thus, when he realized that he was completely lost, the initial panic subsided, and instead, he raised his neck.
At that moment, the stubbornness deep within him surged forth. What was originally going to be a retreat turned into: "Director Yu, you should have said so earlier, causing me to waste my efforts."
However, doing so is clearly meaningless
In the midst of the heavenly ruins, apart from the extremely steep cliffs and ravines, countless statues also stand tall.
They are remarkably divine; according to the saying of Yu Chou Gui, they should be the remains of lower deities from the ancient battle between gods and demons, which have transformed into fossils or jade over millions of years.
This is indeed very much a matter of luck; if it were not among these monsters, the strongest would merely be a "bloodthirsty feral cat." No matter how grand the ambitions of the sea urchin, it would ultimately have to settle its debts.