There was a deep dark cave somewhere in the world. Dim candlelight illuminated its interior, revealing a black pool from which inky smoke rose into the air. Occasionally, a ferocious face surfaced on the liquid, letting out ear-piercing wails.
Beside the black pool sat an old man in robes emblazoned with a blood-red eye. The eye would occasionally s.h.i.+ft around as though it was a living creature, a strange sight to behold. The old man was none other than the Spirit Eye Other King.
His eyes were currently focused on the black pool, and a strange and unpredictable l.u.s.ter shone in his eyes. He waved his hand lightly, and a huge figure slowly walked out of the darkness.
The candlelight made it just bright enough to see that the figure was twisted and grotesque, leaking boundless amounts of corruption from its body. It was an Other.
However, the Other's body was full of black steel needles covered in a mysterious substance. They seemed to have turned the Other into a puppet under the control of the Spirit Eye Other King.
He flicked his finger, and the Other began to plod forward, entering the black pool and sinking into its depths.
It seemed to have drowned inside.
At the same time, the Spirit Eye Other King took out quite a few pills and he tossed them into the liquid.
More and more Others made their way into the black pool and vanished. The calm liquid suddenly began to erupt with numerous bubbles.
After a while later, the Spirit Eye Other King's raised a single eye. A slender figure began to rise from the surface.
The black liquid flowed over her body, covering her skin.
Then the liquid began to recede, transforming into robes that covered her elegant body.
The woman then opened up her eyes.
Her eyes were pitch-black and radiated a sense of pressure. Gradually, the pressure lightened as her eyes regained a sense of clarity.
She stood up from the black pool and coolly glanced at the Spirit Eye Other King.
It was Li Lingjing! The Spirit Eye Other King was focused intently on her before he suddenly said, "You're quite daring. You actually took the initiative to consume the All-Beings Devil King's strand of will. That was even crazier than what Others would dare to do."
"Really?" Li Lingjing casually replied as she stretched her hand out, pulling the Aquamarine Bamboo Python Staff from the depths of the pool.
The Spirit Eye Other King continued indifferently, "The All-Beings Devil King sent a message to me, that I had to hand you over. Otherwise, he would make you experience true excruciating pain."
"What was your reply?" Li Lingjing seemed completely unfazed by this.
The Spirit Eye Other King continued to stare at her, and a horrifying smile crept up on his decrepit and ancient face, "I naturally rejected his offer! You are my most perfect creation. Devouring a strand of the All-Beings Devil King's will demonstrates how perfect you are! This level of craziness has proven my success! My creation, the Soul Eater True Devil, managed to fuse a human with an Other and formed a new being with unlimited potential!"
The Spirit Eye Other King's expression had turned into one full of zealous fervor. "It's a pity that you were the only Variant that has been able to grow successfully until now. Thus, how could I hand you over to the All-Beings Devil King? The Origin Reversion Inst.i.tute does not fear them."
With a mysterious and ma.s.sive organization like the Origin Reversion Inst.i.tute behind him, the Spirit Eye Other King did not fear the All-Beings Devil King at all.
Li Lingjing's expression remained collected throughout as she listened to the Spirit Eye Other King's rant about how he had created a new species.
"You seem to have lost quite a few members of the Murderous Ghost Horde," Li Lingjing said.
The Spirit Eye Other King smiled. "They were just trash that I created on the side. Even a strand of your hair is not worth all of them. If you don't like them, you can get rid of them whenever you please."
"Uninterested," Li Lingjing replied indifferently.
The Spirit Eye Other King didn't seem to mind. He continued, "You should take some time to recuperate. The strand of will from the All-Beings Devil King is not so easily digested, so I will have to give you a hand. However, the good thing is that the All-Beings Devil King had a crown severed by w.a.n.g Xuanjin, meaning it has no energy or time to retrieve this strand of will. If you take advantage of this opportunity, you can completely devour it and walk a different path to power. At that point, I will bring you to see the true Origin Reversion Inst.i.tute. There, you can attain true strength."
The Spirit Eye Other King's voice echoed throughout the cave. Then he turned illusory and vanished.
Li Lingjing’s eyes lowered slightly when he was gone. The black pool she was in surged and completely engulfed her body.
As her vision gradually faded into black, the last thing on her mind was Li Luo's face.
Now that she thought about it, he was fine, right?
......
Heavenly Origin Ancient College
When they returned to the college, Li Luo did not leave immediately. Instead, he brought Jiang Qing'e to Mentor Chi Chan's small abode.
He had not gotten everything he needed.
Lu Ming, Jing Taixu, and the rest had concluded their cultivation two months earlier and had returned home with their mentors.
During their short stay, Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e had become the topic of conversation throughout the entirety of the Heavenly Origin Ancient College. After all, the results of the mobilization mission had been spread throughout the students while they were cultivating.
Thus, the originally remote and quiet abode had turned into a location where countless students would often stop by. On the surface, they would say that they were trying their luck, hoping to catch a glimpse of the extraordinary Li Luo. In truth, everyone knew that this was nothing more than an excuse. Who they really wanted to see was the s.h.i.+ning pearl of the Hallowed Coruscation Ancient College.
In fact, there was one individual who had managed to chance upon her and was completely smitten by her. He bluntly spread the fact that her demeanor and appearance were superior to even Jiang Wanyu and Li Hongyou! This caused even more students to attempt to catch a glimpse of the beauty.
Alas, Jiang Qing'e rarely showed herself, choosing to seclude herself within the abode, away from the prying eyes of others. This resulted in many sighs from the people squatting around.
At this moment, Li Luo was currently entertaining Jiang Wanyu, Zong Sha, Li Hongyou, Feng Lingyuan, and those he was familiar with.
His relations.h.i.+p with them had deepened due to the mission.
"Hongyou, did you say you were planning to leave with Li Luo?" Feng Lingyuan was a little surprised when she heard of Li Hongyou's plans.
Li Hongyou nodded but did not explain further.
"That brat Li Luo... He's truly taken away the gem of our college!" Feng Lingyuan complained.
Li Hongyou had received a significant reward after the mission as well. Currently, her Heavenly Resonance Diagram was ninety thousand feet wide. Of course, her firepower wasn't the key thing. It was her resonance's effect, which was of great strategic importance in any battle.
"If you’re interested, you can also enter the Dragon's Fang Guardians, Sister Lingyuan. You're exactly the type of person we’re looking for." Li Luo grinned as he extended his invitation. Additionally, Feng Lingyuan was just a step away from entering the Duke Stage;she could do so as soon as she found a suitable Foundational Spirit Treasure.
Feng Lingyuan shook her head. "I still have other things to do. Once I settle a few things, I'll look for you at the Dragon's Fang Lineage. I hope you will not forget our friends.h.i.+p when that happens."
Li Luo nodded and changed topics, not planning to push the subject.
Whilst Li Luo spoke, Jiang Qing'e sat by his side and occasionally picked up the teapot to pour tea for the others. When the rest saw this, they felt flattered but hurriedly stopped her and thanked her profusely.
Jiang Qing'e was now a Duke, so the pa.s.sive energy undulations coming from her were mighty. Even though she was merely sitting quietly, everyone except Li Luo could feel the pressure.
It was then that Li Luo noticed that there were spatial fluctuations in the courtyard, and Lan Lingzi appeared before them.
His eyes lit up in excitement.
Was he about to receive the things he wanted?