The Ascension of Contracted Spirits

Chapter 567 - 248: Half a Lord of the Abyss_2

"Huff——Huff——"

The light flickered golden and when they opened their eyes again, the wind element surrounding Huazhu seemed to have become stronger.

"Did he advance to the state of perfection in the Life Wheel?"

Ye Ji, who was still standing on the shoulder of the Ancient Gold Ghost, said with interest while overlooking from ten thousand meters above:

"I didn’t expect that the young king could forge a contract with the Witch Clan in such a place."

"Judging by his rank, it seems that the young master has not wasted a single bit of his time in these five years..."

Ye Hanjun didn’t respond to Ye Ji.

He looked at Huazhu with slight approval, and Huazhu, as if sensing it, looked back quietly.

The wound hidden deep inside was exposed under the scorching sun.

Although the scar would never disappear, the color of the scar would gradually fade, until it healed.

Huazhu started to laugh, gone as swiftly as it had arrived yet, in that moment, even the flowers on the ground and clouds in the sky would pale in comparison.

"Let’s go, the next stop... Ghost Lamp Abyss."

"My lovely clansmen and neighbors await. This is going to be a journey to remember..."

...

At the end of the second year and the beginning of the third year of the GuaGua Calendar, Emperor Han, like a dying snowflake, completely disappeared from the sight of the world.

At the same time, the notorious Mercenary Group that Steals Fire and the Shadow Alliance also vanished.

But in the GuaGua Dynasty, his statues remained standing.

Sachets, toys, and amulets bearing GuaGua’s image were scattered all over the streets and lanes.

The dynasty seemed to go on as if nothing had changed, the only exception being that the wild growth of vegetation in the Old Imperial City had suddenly halted.

Despite preserving its original forest-like look, the amazing vitality was no longer as it used to be.

...

"Ye Ji, do you know how Liuying is doing?"

Ye Hanjun asked Ye Ji after enduring days of long-distance teleportation.

Even a Patron of the 7th Order needed several rests to avoid getting lost in the chaos of space.

"Young master, as you have a blood connection with Liuying Lord, how could she possibly be overlooked?"

Ye Ji smiled, while Xu Yan and Shi Shou beside him, also show ambiguous smiles.

"I only have three questions. If you answer them truthfully, I will let you off."

"Feel free to ask, none of this is confidential. Even if this old man didn’t tell you, you would find out sooner or later."

"Good!"

Ye Hanjun nodded vigorously and asked straightaway:

"Is she still alive?"

Ye Ji was startled and can’t help but laugh:

"Young master, if Liuying Lord were dead, how dare I answer your question like this? That would be pointless trouble."

The weight on Ye Hanjun’s heart immediately lightened.

Ignoring the other’s jest, he continued:

"Has she passed the Night Trial?"

"Yes, she has. You don’t have to worry." Ye Ji smiled.

"Good!"

Ye Hanjun pursed his lips, a beam of light seemed to radiate from his eyes.

As the light faded, his brows eased. He asked the third question:

"How is she now?"

"That’s a difficult question to answer in detail."

Ye Ji continued with a smile:

"Liuying Lord’s blood concentration is not as strong as yours. What she has passively awakened is merely a C-rank role. Her passing of the Night Trial is somewhat lucky."

"With such potential, if she were on her own, she would face competition from her family."

"And being associated with you, this competition can only turn more brutal. You should know this well."

"I see."

Ye Hanjun’s face showed no joy or anger, only a sneer.

After a while, he awakened from his thoughts, looked up and asked:

"How long until we reach the Ghost Lamp?"

Ye Ji shrugged his shoulders, pretending to be helpless:

"If it were just the four of us, we could return within ten days."

"If you’re taking a group of people and want to ensure their safety, the return journey would take at least a month."

"Keep an eye on them. I don’t want anything unexpected to happen."

Ye Hanjun cast a cold glance toward Xu Yan before returning to his room to sleep with his eyes closed.

The journey wasn’t easy, which wasn’t unexpected.

But at least for the disciples and Taoists, it was their first time leaving the Giant Frog Marsh, first time touching the Unlimited Foetus, and the first time experiencing long-distance teleportation... all these were invaluable experiences, constantly upgrading their cognition.

"What do you think? Will the young king be able to give our clan a surprise?"

In the dark room, Xu Yan chuckled:

"A witch, a big goose, a little frog... They aren’t regular Fond Spirits, they all have their own uniqueness."

"And his ’Instructor’, seems to have successfully advanced as well..."

"That girl I met a few days ago reminded me of an old legend..."

"All these things, when put together, are indeed eye-opening."

"But... the four years he lost could have allowed his peers to surpass him."

"The opportunities he missed in the past made him ineligible to be the ’Innate Prince’."

"I have a premonition that while his return will certainly stir up trouble, some people... perhaps no longer see him as a threat."

"Xu Yan, I know you have some relations with Ye Shan, you want to join him and get resources from him."

In the darkness, Ye Ji lowered his head.

His entire face was hidden, only his voice became lower and steadier:

"But I advise you, don’t pick sides too early."

"The struggles within the Ye Clan are not something an outsider like you, an elder, could casually get involved in."