The Ascension of Contracted Spirits

Chapter 1089 - 422: Mu Yi Accepts a Disciple

Ye Hanjun’s words were like knives, piercing the Corpse Dragon Queen’s heart with no more effort than blowing away dust.

Shimei, Shilan, and Shili, upon hearing his introduction, were successively stunned.

"The Hanba Clan of the Solar Abyss... still stands?"

"The Supreme Ancestor ’Goddess Ba’ of the Hanba Clan... still undying?"

"And our clan, has it formed a bond with them... guardianship generation after generation?"

The two currently strongest and oldest Guardians of the Corpse Dragon Queen’s clan exchanged glances, and suddenly, blood streamed down their faces.

Tears of dragon blood fell from their eyes, each drop as if scalded red by a branding iron, searingly hot and startlingly brilliant.

"Shi Jue... truly worthy of the old Clan Leader’s trust!"

"Those young clansmen who once offered their Divine Bloodline to her, if any wandering spirits linger, must be laughing with joy!"

Shili slowly closed her eyes, forcibly holding back the blood welling in her sockets.

After several deep breaths, she managed to hold the treasure box containing the Ancestor’s plasma and scales and barely calm herself down.

Then, with a solemn and serious demeanor, she performed the "Six-Armed Heart-Clutching Ceremony" towards Ye Hanjun.

This was the Corpse Dragon Queen’s clan’s most solemn ritual, typically only used within the clan when lower-ranking members pay their respects to higher-ranking ones.

"Please accept this queen’s bow."

"Shi Jue bore the hopes of our clan and spared no effort. After all, it is our duty to merge our blood with the water."

"To think you would bring our legacy’s spark into the hands of our clan, this friendship is etched deeply in the hearts of the Corpse Dragon Queen’s clan, from top to bottom!"

"That’s putting it too strongly."

Ye Hanjun responded with a light, carefree laugh:

"Not only have I become friends with Shi Jue, but we also unquestionably have an alliance."

"How are you all faring in the West Sea now? If there are any troubles, you can discuss them with me, and I will offer what little help I can."

"Clan Leader... perhaps this is our chance."

Shimei suddenly fixed her gaze on Shili, her eyes shaking with a strong plea.

Shilan hesitated for a moment, then her gaze also firmed, growling in a hoarse and rough voice:

"Clan Leader, with the plasma, we can ensure our legacy continues!"

"But the plight of our clan is right before us, without resolving this urgent crisis, we cannot eliminate the risk of extinction!"

"Having said that..."

Shili opened her mouth and finally sighed lightly:

"Ye, you do not know everything."

"Our clan managed to survive the Near Ancient Era thanks to the great support and trust of Lord Hei Xuanwu."

"However, the Lord’s current situation is not at all optimistic."

"Queen Jueying, under Venerable Tianjing, suspects that He has entered His twilight years, and the signs of chaos have begun to spread from the West Sea to the other three seas..."

"Possibly in His twilight years?" Ye Hanjun exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes," Shili said gravely:

"Hei Xuanwu, inheritor of the will of the First Xuanwu from the Ancient Cosmos, has protected the West Sea and sheltered countless sea creatures."

"He has lived this long thanks to the special nature of the immortal bloodline and the Power of Faith from all living beings, which has sustained His longevity."

"But this is not infinite; with the advent of the First Epoch of the Newborn Era, ’fatigue’ could subtly be seen upon Him."

"In the Second Epoch of the New Era, He has completely lain dormant, and all signs are showing that He... is unlikely to survive this epoch."

Shili spoke, showing a look of concern, continuously deliberating:

"For the time being, we do not know whether He will use the [Divine Continuation Skill], like the First Xuanwu did, to sacrifice Himself in advance, forcibly catalyze the emergence of the Third Generation Xuanwu God, inherit His will, and once again take over as the ruler of the West Sea."

"However... whether He does this or not, the demise of the old master and the succession of the new one, the interim is often a critical moment when countless sea creatures reshuffle."

"Our clan just happens to be at a declining juncture, take one step back, and we completely lose our divinity."

"Hence, although we are of the Guardian God clans of the West Sea, our deterrence is far less than before. I don’t know how many other clans look at us as prey, ready to take our place at the first opportunity..."

Shili spoke as an equal, sharing information with Ye Hanjun.

Ye Hanjun frowned, listening silently, feeling an inward sigh.

Lord Hei Xuanwu’s lifespan was coming to an end...

Reflecting upon it, it made sense, for He had lived for perhaps too long. Unlike Goddess Ba, who had been in a long slumber, always active, how could He maintain an eternal life fire.

The West Sea—far more fraught with crisis than he had imagined!

Even the four great Guardian Divinities under Hei Xuanwu’s feet—Xuanwu Holy Turtle, Queen Jueying, Sky Blue Whale, Corpse Dragon Queen—likely held their own ambitions, unable to unite as one.

"What do you plan to do?"

Ye Hanjun asked directly.

He could take part in the decision-making, but he didn’t yet have the strength to influence this matter and had to be exceedingly cautious.

"We don’t plan on muddying the waters."

"The original plan was to move out of the West Sea and not engage in the subsequent strife once we reached the 3000th year of the Second Epoch of the New Era if Hei Xuanwu remained absent, for the future of our clan."

"After that, no matter who the new ruler of the West Sea is, we neither submit nor draw near. We only wish to avoid all conflicts."

Shili stroked the box in her arms, her eyes showing affection, her tone suddenly complex:

"But now, the situation has changed."

"With this ancestral legacy spark, our choices seem to have increased slightly."

"I am considering, whether to assimilate this legacy quickly myself, to reach the level of Supreme Holy Completion as soon as possible, ready to face the coming warfare."

"Or to continue on this wretched survival path. To keep the legacy alive for survival, to go to a place unknown to others, to accumulate time, to nurture offspring..."