Chapter 151: The Black Crown
–Storm Realm, Gray Citadel
Shadows loomed, mountains surrounded.
The Gray Citadel, the second-ranked power in the Wind Realm, held a similar status to the Cold Court in the Sea Region.
It was said that the Shadow Emperor of the Gray Citadel had been severely injured while fighting the legendary Water Element and had gone into seclusion upon returning, cutting off all contact with the outside world.
Within a dark and gloomy palace, the meditating, blue-haired girl radiated a chilling aura, freezing the entire palace.
Spirit Masters could inherit the auras of their spirit beasts. Now, with the Ice Soul Cold Star in its true form, along with the Frost Snow Woman and the Tyrant Demon Seed, Gong Lianyue’s spirit energy was terrifyingly powerful, even rivaling that of a Nether Traverse Stage Spirit Master.
Of course, this was just in terms of aura. In a real fight, she would still lose…!
Usually, during hostage exchanges, the other side would send a single representative. But Gong Lianyue, the “kidnapper,” had brazenly entered the enemy’s headquarters.
After the Overlord’s birthday celebration, no one in the Wind Realm dared to touch her. No one could withstand the wrath of a legendary being.
The exchange of the Swallow God was scheduled for three days from now.
“Phew~~~”
The blue-haired girl opened her teardrop eyes, exhaling a frosty mist.
With two new Saint-rank spirit beasts, deciphering the encrypted information in her soul core had become incredibly difficult, taking her two hours to translate it into human language.
[High-rank Dead Sea Stage: Nine-Colored Cloud Dream Flower] (Seven-Star Titan Moonquake Fox, Autumn Water Hundred Flower Fox Princess, Bloodbath Fox Sovereign, Weaver of the Sun, Blood Garden Phoenix Stage)
[Bloodline Talent: Cultivation Amplification]
[Spirit Beast Battle Techniques: Deep Sea – Possessing the Divine – O]
[High-rank Dead Sea Stage: Iron Jade Ice Scorpion]
[Bloodline Talent: Five-Leaf Clover]
[Spirit Beast Battle Techniques: Jade Shatter – Nether Stone – O]
[Saint-rank Dead Sea Stage: ??Frost Snow Woman??]
[Bloodline Talents: Ice Coffin, Sacred Relic]
[Spirit Beast Battle Techniques: Soul Embroidery – Frozen Domain – ∞]
[Saint-rank Dead Sea Stage: ?Ice Soul Cold Star?]
[Bloodline Talent: Sea Soul]
[Spirit Beast Battle Techniques: Death Tribulation – Ice Emperor City – ∞]
[Saint-rank Dead Sea Stage: ?Tyrant Demon Seed?]
[Bloodline Talent: Closed Moon]
[Spirit Beast Battle Techniques: Enhanced Leap – Moon Collapse – Hundred Refinements – War Mantle – ∞]
Examining the information, Gong Lianyue noticed that the Tyrant Demon Seed was already fully evolved!
Having once been a Sun and Moon Realm spirit beast, it had already completed its cultivation, reaching a peak unattainable by ordinary Saint-ranks.
Its ability to create an army of grotesque rabbit clones was its battle technique [Hundred Refinements], which allowed it to divide its spirit energy and create new life, essentially weaker versions of itself.
Both [Enhanced Leap] and [Moon Collapse] were self-buffing, active techniques, while the function of [War Mantle] was still inaccessible to Gong Lianyue, seemingly requiring Samsara Stage spirit energy to activate.
However, having spent some time in the Wind Realm, she had heard stories about the Tyrant Demon Seed from a hundred years ago.
It usually appeared as a grotesque, twisted monster, but during intense battles, it would don a moon-like armor.
That armor… must be the War Mantle!
And the key to the Tyrant Demon Seed’s incredible physical strength was its talent [Closed Moon], which allowed it to convert its spirit energy into physical strength.
Essentially, sacrificing mana for attack power. Of course, it couldn’t convert all of it at once, or it would become completely drained, unable to sustain a prolonged battle.
As for the Ice Soul Cold Star, the function of its talent, [Sea Soul], was still unknown, likely similar to the Tyrant Demon Seed’s War Mantle, inaccessible due to her insufficient spirit energy level.
And [Ice Emperor City] was that massive, twisting cube, a guaranteed kill against any target, preventing death until the cube dissipated.
[Death Tribulation], both offensive and defensive, was primarily used for defense.
But if the Ice Soul Cold Star used Death Tribulation offensively, it would be like… hitting someone with a shield…
However, as long as the Ice Soul Cold Star remained within Death Tribulation’s range, it was invincible.
The two new Saint-rank spirit beasts, one an elemental offensive type, the other a biological combat type, had significantly increased Gong Lianyue’s combat power!
While Gong Lianyue cultivated, a soft, white rabbit with floppy ears slept peacefully on the bed, while a small pink fox rolled and tumbled playfully on top of it.
The rabbit lay motionless, unresponsive. After all, the little fox was essentially a flower, light as a feather.
The Tyrant Demon Seed and the Nine-Colored Cloud Dream Flower seemed to be getting along…
In contrast, the Ice Soul Cold Star and the Frost Snow Woman, as water and ice-type spirit beasts, disliked the chaotic spirit energy of the Wind Realm and rarely ventured out.
Although seemingly asleep, the Tyrant Demon Seed had been tasked by its master with scouting the surroundings.
Because Gong Lianyue was about to do something very important!
She focused her consciousness on the storage space within the stone bracelet. The Swallow God and the black crown were stored in separate compartments, like two separate rooms, unable to interact.
With a whoosh, the black crown left behind by the Water Element appeared, landing in the girl’s hand.
The crown’s intricate design seemed more like a naturally occurring artifact than something crafted.
Its dark, shimmering surface was etched with swirling water patterns, flowing and shifting, a masterpiece of craftsmanship.
The black crown, left behind by the legendary Water Element, radiated a chilling aura…
Gong Lianyue, suppressing her unease, placed the crown on her head. It gave her the appearance of a noble empress, the spirit energy flowing around her body distorting strangely.
Swish, swish—
Instantly, both the little fox and the rabbit were forcibly recalled and sealed within her spirit space.
At the same time, Gong Lianyue could no longer sense the flow of spirit energy around her, as if she had lost her senses, entering a strange state.
She knew she hadn’t actually lost her senses. Her soul core was simply blocking the wind-attribute spirit energy.
Within her spirit space, the Nine-Colored Cloud Dream Flower and the Tyrant Demon Seed were inaccessible, their connection seemingly severed.
However, she could still summon the Iron Jade Ice Scorpion, the Frost Snow Woman, and the Ice Soul Cold Star.
Their only common trait… they were all related to the water attribute…
Wait…
Unable to absorb non-water-attribute spirit energy, unable to contract with non-water-type spirit beasts… Gong Lianyue recognized this state.
The world seemed empty, only the sound of dripping water reaching her ears.
This was… the Holy Water Body!!!
Chapter 152: The Holy Water Body
As if sinking into the endless depths of the ocean, only the sensation of falling and the sound of flowing water remained, all other senses fading.
The connection to the physical world blurred, while her spiritual awareness sharpened, the two diverging, like paths branching in opposite directions.
The spirit energy flowing within her became purer, holier, denser…
Whoosh~~~~
The next second, ripples spread outwards, and the girl, wearing the black crown, opened her eyes, her pupils swirling with water.
The Holy Water Body. It sounded like a flawed constitution, burdened by its limitations, restricted to the water element, practically useless.
But focusing solely on a single element allowed for complete mastery. Her mind and spirit, having sunk into the depths of the sea, had reached an incredible, wondrous state.
Her body, her will, her core, her mind, her blood, her spirit energy—all transformed into a sacred temple of water.
Such a transcendent state, a realm beyond the reach of ordinary human Spirit Masters.
This was… the Holy Water Body…!!!
“Ah-bah, ah-bah, ah-bah, ah-bah, ah-bah”
Gong Lianyue was completely immersed in this wondrous sensation. Thirty minutes passed unnoticed, until the clock on the back of her iris beeped, jolting her awake. She quickly removed the black crown.
The moment the crown was removed, the strange sensations vanished, and she returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.
After a long silence, Gong Lianyue exhaled deeply, a lingering sense of awe.
She hadn’t expected wearing the black crown to transform her into a Holy Water Body, the legendary water-type constitution, the ultimate dream of every water-attribute Spirit Master.
Only those who understood the Holy Water Body truly feared it.
With the Holy Water Body, one’s spiritual state reached a transcendent level, their cultivation speed skyrocketing. There was even a recorded case of someone reaching the Nether Traverse Stage in just three years!
Wearing the black crown, she became a Holy Water Body.
Removing it, she returned to normal.
She hadn’t expected the Water Element to leave behind such a valuable treasure…
Storing the black crown back in the stone bracelet, Gong Lianyue adjusted her appearance and hair, preparing for the upcoming Soul Prison Trial.
The alarm on the back of her iris was something she had set, a one-minute warning.
Although she had been informed that Spirit Masters wouldn’t participate in this trial, that it was a test of the spirit beasts’ independent judgment and actions, years of participating in the Soul Prison Trial had made these preparations a habit.
[Soul Prison Trial, Session 219]
[Soul Prison Trial, Fourth Level: Tower of Heaven]
Swish, swish, swish, swish!
Within the Soul Prison Trial, inside a massive tower that pierced the clouds, thousands of spirit beast auras suddenly appeared.
From all corners of the spirit world, countless spirit beasts had been forcibly summoned.
Mid-ranks as common as dogs, high-ranks everywhere, even a few Saint-ranks!
The fire-type overlord, the Desolate Fire Netherworld Rakshasa, its scorching aura creating a hundred-meter radius of empty space, all other creatures fearing incineration.
The ghost-type Hundred-Eyed Ghost Bride, grotesque purple eyeballs constantly sprouting from its spectral robes, a sanity-blasting sight.
The thousand-meter-long Abyssal Bloodbone Jiao, and the Libra Fighting Swallow, its body radiating a violent battle lust.
Before these powerful Saint-rank overlords, most other spirit beasts kept their distance, afraid to approach.
Hidden among them, the Frost Snow Woman, her beautiful face pale and cold, her shroud-like robe radiating a chilling aura, stood silently in a corner, like an unmelting block of ice.
The Iron Jade Ice Scorpion and the small Ice Spirit stood on either side of her, a clear display of loyalty to the Saint-rank Frost Snow Woman, a water-type team.
A small, adorable fox perched on the scorpion’s head, looking around in confusion.
1, 2, 3, 4…
It could still count to single digits. Weren’t they missing a rabbit?
Where had the rabbit gone? The little fox scanned the area.
Suddenly, instead of the Tyrant Demon Seed, it saw two figures it dreaded.
A pink flower and a green vine, swaying helplessly amidst the massive spirit beasts, a pitiful sight.
The Seven-Foot Sword Princess Flower and the Misty Heart Lotus!
The little fox quickly ducked its head, concealing its aura, afraid to be seen.
It hadn’t expected to encounter them here. How unlucky!
The fourth level of the Soul Prison Trial didn’t require the Spirit Master’s participation. It was a test of the spirit beasts’ independent judgment and actions.
Based on the usual time dilation, Gong Lianyue had expected her spirit beasts to return in the blink of an eye.
However, a second later, the world around her shifted, the Gray Citadel palace vanishing.
Her consciousness transported, the blue-haired, teardrop-eyed girl stood in a vast, empty, white space, looking around in confusion.
“Strange, is this the Soul Prison Trial? I thought Spirit Masters weren’t supposed to participate.”
Only her spirit beasts should have been sent in. Why was she here?
As Gong Lianyue explored the empty space, she sensed something strange about her soul core.
Except for the Tyrant Demon Seed, all her other spirit beasts were inaccessible, their connection severed. Only the Tyrant Demon Seed could be summoned!
Just then, a cold, female voice echoed in her mind.
[Detected high-aptitude, combat-type spirit beast meeting requirements.]
[Detected Spirit Master age below 50.]
[Detected Saint-rank spirit beast: Tyrant Demon Seed.]
[Evaluation complete. Requirements met.]
[Welcome to the Waterfall Lake Wonderland. By completing the trials within, your spirit beast will undergo a significant evolution.]
Unlike the mechanical voice of the Soul Prison Trial, this female voice, although cold, had a seductive quality.
The woman who recorded this message must have been incredibly beautiful…
Wait, the Waterfall Lake Wonderland!!!
Wasn’t that the legendary Jade Concubine of the Waterfall Lake’s spirit realm? Gong Lianyue was stunned.
Her Water Element had just been suspected of being the Jade Concubine, and now she had been summoned to the Waterfall Lake Wonderland.
It must be because of the Tyrant Demon Seed’s powerful combat talent…
Its aura was so unfamiliar, even its own mother wouldn’t recognize it. So, she could rule out the possibility of the Water Element being the Jade Concubine!!!
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