The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 125: The Soul Perished Because Of An Egg!

The Soul Perished Because Of An Egg! . . .

Cha-Eun Xiao's countenance remained impassive as he responded to Gu Jin-Long's bewildered inquiries. His voice held a touch of derision as he explained, "Heh, heh. I don't require a compelling reason to end your existence, Gu Jin-Long. Your current state is that of a disembodied soul, forever severed from your physical vessel. You won't be returning to the Qing-Yun Realm in this form. Your only recourse is to seek out a recently deceased body, one that has been lifeless for no more than four hours, in order to attempt possession. Your success in this endeavor will largely depend on your luck, as finding a suitable vessel is far from guaranteed."

He continued with a sardonic grin, "Even if you do find a potential host, there's a significant likelihood that it won't be conducive to your cultivation."

Cha-Eun Xiao's tone turned more ominous as he outlined his plans. "Naturally, you can attempt to flee from my grasp and search for a host. I'm aware that I lack the means to physically restrain you. However, rest assured, I possess a multitude of methods to ensure your ultimate demise. I will coordinate with government authorities to conduct a nationwide search. Any unusual instances of the deceased returning to life will be reported to me, and I will personally intervene. I will persist in my efforts until I've guaranteed your eradication from the realm of the living. Even if you succeed in finding a new host and return to life, you will remain nothing more than an inconsequential insect to me—easily crushed with the flick of a finger."

With a piercing gaze, Cha-Eun Xiao declared, "You won't escape your fate."

In response, Gu Jin-Long protested vehemently, "Why? Why do you possess such extensive knowledge of soul transitions and possession? Tell me, I merely seek to understand why you harbor such an unwavering desire to end my existence. There is no rational cause for my death. I can only be of benefit to you and pose no threat. Why? Furthermore, who do you believe you are to assume that government officials will heed your commands?"

Then, before Gu Jin-Long's terrified gaze, Cha-Eun Xiao's visage began to morph and contort. In a matter of moments, a striking young man materialized before him. With an air of nonchalance, Cha-Eun Xiao disclosed, "I am the young lord of the House of The General, the sole son of the Northern General himself. Tell me, why would you doubt my ability to influence the government?"

Gu Jin-Long's expression was one of pure horror, as the implications of this revelation began to dawn on him. He realized the gravity of the situation and uttered, "The young lord of the House of The General?"

[It stands to reason that the young lord of the House of The General would wield considerable control over the capital's military forces.]

A profound chill descended upon Gu Jin-Long. He understood the dire predicament he now faced.

With a cold smile, Cha-Eun Xiao disclosed his true identity. "My name is Cha-Eun Xiao. I wonder... does that name hold any significance for you?"

Gu Jin-Long was utterly astounded, his soul quivering and his once recognizable face contorted beyond recognition. Panic coursed through him as he stammered, "Cha Eun Xiao! You are Cha Eun Xiao?! You actually are?"

Cha-Eun Xiao tilted his head slightly and offered a sinister smile. "Surprised, are you? It appears that the name Cha Eun Xiao resonates deeply with you."

Fear gripped Gu Jin-Long's countenance as he recoiled from the realization. It was as if he had encountered a name synonymous with historical demons, and he could barely contain his terror. Stammering, he managed to utter, "You, you, you..."

At that moment, the dreadful truth became apparent to him. The two words 'Cha Eun Xiao' were nothing short of a living nightmare, deeply etched into his psyche.

Each time Gu Jin-Long contemplated that name, an icy shiver would trace its way down his spine. The mere utterance of "Cha Eun Xiao" sent chills through his entire being, transporting him back to that fateful day when the Xiao Monarch single-handedly took on the three formidable factions. It was a battle etched in history, a cataclysmic clash that cast a pall of darkness across the world.

The Cha Monarch, armed with nothing but a solitary sword, had waged a relentless war, his victims numbering enough to form a mountain of corpses. The world had plunged into an abyss of despair as countless elite cultivators from the three factions, all far more skilled and powerful than Gu Jin-Long, had met their gruesome end at the hands of the Cha Monarch. The anguished cries of those on the brink of death had seared themselves into Gu Jin-Long's heart, haunting his every waking moment.

In their desperate pursuit of vengeance, the superior cultivators from the three factions had relentlessly hunted Cha Eun Xiao, embarking on a merciless 30-thousand-mile-long chase. Their relentless determination to see the Cha Monarch's demise knew no bounds, and they forged a gruesome path paved with the lifeless bodies of countless elite cultivators. Ultimately, they succeeded in extinguishing the demon that was the Cha Monarch, erasing both his life and soul from existence.

Yet the repercussions of that cataclysmic battle had reverberated far and wide. The three factions, weakened by their grueling encounter with the Cha Monarch, had no choice but to unite in the aftermath. The memory of that day still sent shivers down the spines of those who recalled it, even invading their dreams and inducing night sweats. Even the most reclusive and senior cultivators within the three factions lamented their absence from the battle, for their sects had been grievously weakened, regressing to a state reminiscent of a bygone era.

Now, in this harrowing moment, Gu Jin-Long found himself confronted with the name that had long been his deepest terror: Cha Eun Xiao.

The utterance of Cha Eun Xiao's chilling voice, coupled with the sight of his youthful countenance, induced an eerie sense of déjà vu in Gu Jin-Long. It was as though the Cha Monarch himself sneered at him from beyond the grave. The last time Gu Jin-Long had witnessed that mocking grin was when he had launched a fatal assault on the Cha Monarch, who was on the brink of exhaustion. In that dire moment, as Gu Jin-Long retreated, the Cha Monarch had uttered these haunting words, "Gu Jin-Long, one day, you will know how the smile of the Cha Monarch looks."

Those words had transformed into an enduring nightmare that had haunted Gu Jin-Long throughout his life. After confirming the Cha Monarch's death, he had begun to regain some semblance of composure, convinced that a deceased man posed no threat to him. Little did he expect that, today, he would once again be confronted with the name he feared above all else.

"Are you... You... Are you..." Gu Jin-Long's voice trembled, his gaze fixated on Cha Eun Xiao with a mixture of dread and disbelief.

"What are you muttering about?" Cha Eun Xiao's tone remained dispassionate. "Are you genuinely this shocked? Have you forgotten my words? I promised to show you the Cha Monarch's smile. Remember?"

With those words, Gu Jin-Long erupted in a fit of screams and panicked shouts.

"Ahhh!" he cried, his terror palpable. "It's you! It truly is you! You... You... You are alive... You are actually alive..."

Cha Eun Xiao sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "Not before all of you perish, I'm afraid. I have no intention of dying before the lot of you."

Gu Jin-Long, gripped by a paralyzing fear, bolted from the cave in a desperate frenzy. He now understood the indomitable figure standing before him—the legend of a generation, the Cha Monarch himself. Gu Jin-Long's will to fight had been utterly extinguished, replaced by a singular focus on survival.

In the throes of terror, he had even forgotten that Cha Eun Xiao lacked the capacity to annihilate a soul at this juncture. Cha Eun Xiao watched as Gu Jin-Long's soul fled, making no effort to impede his escape. He knew that his power to act would only become relevant once Gu Jin-Long found a suitable vessel to inhabit, at which point he would enact his plan to permanently eradicate his adversary.

However, an unexpected turn of events unfolded within the ice-covered cave, sending shockwaves through the moment.

Gu Jin-Long's soul emitted an ear-piercing scream that reverberated with sheer desperation. As he struggled to make his escape from the cave, an immense force of attraction abruptly seized him. In that very instant, Cha-Eun Xiao found himself equally astounded, not due to the blood-curdling scream, but because of an astonishing development concerning the egg he had employed to strike Gu Jin-Long. The egg, once stained with blood, was inexplicably transforming before his eyes, regaining its pristine clarity and a mysterious, luminous aura.

What was even more astonishing was that the egg seemed to possess a newfound independence, levitating in mid-air as it emanated an immensely potent pulling force. This force, distinct from the Cosmic Hades' previous influence, targeted souls, like that of Gu Jin-Long, rendering him powerless to resist.

Gu Jin-Long struggled frantically, his terrified screams echoing throughout the cave, yet he was inexorably drawn closer to the floating egg. As the ivory, peculiar egg bathed him in a faint white radiance, his visage contorted into an expression of sheer dread and desperation. His impassioned pleas filled the air, a pitiful entreaty for salvation.

"Help... Please release me... I beg of you... Lord Monarch... Lord Monarch, I beseech you... Aid me... I shall pledge my eternal servitude to you, in this life and those to come... Spare me... I beg you... Ahhhh..."

"I solemnly swear, with the very essence of my soul... Lord Monarch..."

Gu Jin-Long's beseeching continued relentlessly, each word a testament to his desperation, though Cha-Eun Xiao remained oblivious to the words uttered. Even if he had been aware, he would not have entertained the idea of acquiring a servant such as Gu Jin-Long. Instead, he observed the unfolding spectacle with an increasingly bewildered expression.

Bathed in the dim white radiance, Gu Jin-Long's soul underwent a gradual and grotesque transformation. His form dissolved into the white mist, each feature—body, limbs, and countenance—succumbing to the relentless process of liquefaction. Over time, his fervent pleas grew fainter until they ultimately ceased altogether.

In the cave's atmosphere, only the dim mist lingered, bearing witness to the enigmatic transition of Gu Jin-Long's soul into pure energy. Cha-Eun Xiao, grasping the nature of the occurrence, could not help but draw a deep breath in astonishment.

"So this peculiar egg possesses such ruthless and malevolent power," he mused with a shiver of trepidation.

After a brief interlude, the egg quivered once more. A sudden gust of wind swept through the cave, causing the energy formed from Gu Jin-Long's melted soul to swirl around the egg. Within mere seconds, the energy vanished without a trace, marking the complete absorption of a superior cultivator's soul, a member of the Grade of Daoyuan, by the egg. Not a vestige remained.

Cha-Eun Xiao felt a chilling sensation creep down his spine, his fear mounting as he contemplated the astonishing cruelty and malevolence exhibited by the egg.

In a matter of minutes, Gu Jin-Long had vanished entirely from the world, even his soul utterly erased.

The egg slowly descended to the floor, its shaking subsiding. The radiant glow surrounding it dimmed until it finally ceased. The mysterious patterns etched onto its surface grew sharper and more distinct.

Cha-Eun Xiao stood in stunned disbelief, his gaze locked onto the egg as he muttered incredulously, "What manner of monstrosity are you?"

"I cannot comprehend... Gu Jin-Long met his demise at the hands of an egg... His soul was entirely melted and absorbed by this egg..."