*The title of this chapter is ‘Ni Hong’, which is the name of the Fourth Disciple. It also means ‘Neon’ and ‘Secondary Rainbow’.
The four stand in silence. Only the bronze mirror above Yin Chen’s head is emitting soft white light. Endless darkness surrounds them. The relic before them is like a massively eerie grave panning out before them. No one knows what is hiding within it.
[West of Aslan Empire – Surrounding waters of Rennes]
When Shen Yin regains her consciousness, the first thing she feels is the wet coldness of being submerged in seawater. She shivers before realizing that she cannot feel the numbing pain of the winter ocean.
She opens her eyes to see that she is currently sitting in the shadow waters along the coast. She is leaning against a black rock that is diffusing the fishy scent of the ocean. The half-naked man is reaching into the ocean with his eyes closed in search of something as he supports himself on one knee.
Shen Yin only realizes a couple of moments later what he carried her into the ocean in order to make the formation of arrays easier. Shen Yin looks down at the circle of brightness underneath the surface of the water. It surrounds her entirely and flickers as if it is breathing. Looking up, she sees the man’s body covered in golden soul’s return circuit as he passes soul powers into the magical array continuously. Countless strong surges of soul powers envelop his body. The countless cuts on her arms and legs are healing at a rapid pace. Even the two fist-sized holes that cut cleanly through her abdomen have pink flesh reemerging. What is even stranger is that, be it the fatal wound on her abdomen or the thin but dense cuts on her limbs, all the pain from her injuries seem to have disappeared. The light from this man’s array engulfs her entirely, separating her from pain.
“Who are you?” Shen Yin asks the man who has his eyes closed in concentration.
When he hears Shen Yin’s voice, his eyes opens suddenly and he stands up slowly. With the aid of the gleam from the rotating array, Shen Yin manages to see his face clearly for the first time.
A pair of large, warm and dark eyes sits on his face, making him resemble the tamest animal. He radiates a blank look that is innocent yet primal at the same time, as if he is the purest child looking in concentration at the unknown world. His hair is as bright and red as fire. They are pushed up to reveal his clear yet distinct features. His nose bridge is high and this allows him to give off an intimidating masculinity, yet his thick yet soft brows and lashes, making him seem gentle, tones this down. His lips are open slightly, as if wanting to communicate his thoughts, but he maintains the same posture in fear that he may scare someone.
Only a young angel can have a face so gentle and pure.
Yet under this face, he has a tall and toned muscular body. He is almost entirely bare save for the short armour wrapped around his waist. His tanned skin is filled with different mysterious tattooed patterns from his neck to feet. Even on his face. There are still remnants of the thick blood and flesh of Shan Guihe has just killed on his chest and hands. The aggressive masculinity radiates overwhelmingly from his entire being. His chest is firm and broad, his limbs are long and strong. It is as if his entire body harbors a lightning like power.
These contradicting traits all fuse together conflictingly yet consistently onto one person. A person with qualities of both an angel and a devil.
“Who are you?” Shen Yin asks again softly.
He opens his mouth carefully, a mumbled sound emits from his throat, “Ni……Hong……”
“Ni Hong?” Shen Yin repeats.
He nods forcefully. A child-like yet handsome smile appears instantaneously on his face. Shen Yin can tell that such a perfect and untainted expression should not exist in this evil and strange world. It is as if he is excited solely because Shen Yin said his name right. There is nothing hidden underneath his smile, his white teeth and his hearty voice.
He stands suddenly and turns to dive into the ocean. Before Shen Yin has the time to react, he emerges with a few sea urchins in his hands and a struggling fish between his teeth. Water droplets cascade down his sculpted body like gems. He resembles Poseidon.
He dashes to Shen Yin and kneels down. After tossing the fish before her, he breaks apart the sharp shell of the sea urchins with his bare hands before holding them up before Shen Yin. A look of nervous anticipation gleams in his dark and warm eyes.
His hands has been lanced by the sea urchin and his blood drips into the ocean. Shen Yin frowns before saying: “Your hand……”
A wide smile forms on Ni Hong’s face as he shakes his head as if it doesn’t hurt at all. The sea urchins are still held before Shen Yin as he looks at her in anticipation.
Shen Yin feels touched, as if a warm spring has passed through her heart. Reaching out a thin and pale hand, she retrieves the sea urchins from Ni Hong’s lean yet strong hands. She lowers her head for a bite. It tastes deliciously fresh.
Ni Hong smiles happily. On his face is the smile of excitement and satisfaction.
After eating, Shen Yin wants to get back on shore. The temperature of the ocean in winter really isn’t bearable and she could barely withstand it when she was injured. Now that all the soul powers in her body has been channeled to healing, she can no longer hold against the low temperatures.
Just as she pushes herself up to her feel, she feels a sharp pain in her abdomen. “Of course I haven’t recovered completely……” Shen Yin thinks as she falls back into the water. She lifts her head whens he senses a warm but forceful aura standing before her. Ni Hong reaches down to carry Shen Yin out from the water. Carrying her onto the shore with one arm, he grabs at the air with the other and within split second, a few walls of ice rise from the ground and surrounds the wall of a cliff. A small house of ice is created. He carries Shen Yin in and sets her down before crouching beside her with a questioning and passionate gaze.
“Yes, this is much better. There’s no wind now.” Shen Yin tells him.
He laughs happily. The tenderness on his face is completely separated from the murderous air radiating from his body.
As if suddenly remembering something, he lifts an eyebrow and turns to leave the ice room. A short while later, he crawls back in. This time, he holds the pelt he has just ripped off of a snow leopard. There is still warm air rising from the blood on the fur. He taps at the pelt lightly with a finger and the sticky blood all freeze in an instant. With a forceful shake, countless red shards of ice fall onto the ground, leaving behind a dry and clean pelt. He moves beside Shen Yin and hands it to her before gesturing for her to cover herself with it. Shen Yin wraps it around herself before turning to look at Ni Hong. On his face is a prideful and pure expression, as if a youth showing off his treasure. Shen Yin giggles. “Thank you.”
Ni Hong squats before Shen Yin and gazes at her intently with his burning gaze. He then sits down with his long legs spread out. Lifting Shen Yin, he puts her between his legs and embraces her against his bare chest.
“You……what are you doing?” Shen Yin flushes immediately.
Yet it is as if he hears nothing, Ni Hong rests his head gently on Shen Yin’s shoulder. With his eyes closed, his thick lashes cause him to resemble a child in deep slumber. He moves all of the soul powers in his body, resulting in the flowing of gold across his body. Shen Yin feels the warmth and breath of early summer surrounding her layer by layer.
She moves her head to the side slightly and eyes Ni Hong who has his eyes closed while embracing her. “Can you not speak?”
Ni Hong lifts his head and purses his lips slightly. His warm and wet eyes are open and his gaze is a mixture of blankness and sadness. He nods slowly at her before putting his head back onto her shoulder.
The burning soul powers radiating continuously from his bare chest and inject themselves into Shen Yin’s body.
Healing flesh. New skin.
The blizzard howls on outside the house of ice.
[West of Aslan Empire – Relic of Youtuer]
Yin Chen stares at the tall stone door before him. Nobody knows when this came to existence. The carvings on it are retro and aged, revealing the markings of passing time. As if tens of thousands of years has flowed past on the surface.
The two large stone doors dozens of meters tall are shut tightly.
“We enter from here?” Qi Ling asks as he stares at the stone door that is as grand as a palace. It is obvious that this is the first time he is seeing the door to the relic since he entered through the chess piece the last time he was within the relic of the ancient city.
Qi La moves gracefully towards the door. Reaching a pale yet thin had from his dark battle robe made of feathers, he caresses the rough surface of the stone door gently as if caressing the dew on a leaf in the early rays of the morning. Countless golden silk threads flow from his fingertips and spread along the intricate carvings on the stone. The large door moves slowly, causing a loud ruckus in the silent and empty underground path.
Surprise fills Yin Chen’s heart. He is surprised every single time he sees Qi La use his powers. It is not because of the seemingly boundless soul powers that fill his body, but that when he employs them, it is as if carving an artwork, he will not use any more or any less. Every single thread and strand of soul powers is used on point. Not the slightest bit wasted or used to show off. This is the reason why he was known as one of the most terrifying Noble Lords among the lords. This means that even he only has the slightest bit of soul powers left in his body, he can do tremendous damage with that remaining bit.
The stone doors open inwards. The dusty smell of the ancient city hits their senses when the large and hollow Relic of Youtuer appears before them.
“This……this is impossible……” The colour rushes from Qi La and Yin Chen’s face instantly. It is as if they are facing the purgatory on earth.
Qi Ling moves over and looks into the dim city. He is cannot understand why similar looks of terror washed over Qi La and Yin Chen’s features. “This is the same as when we came before. So dark you can see nothing. Then again, Yin Chen, it was pretty weird then too. Last time……” As he speaks, he sees Yin Chen’s face darken even further and he pauses. He takes a step back to stand beside Youhua before asking her softly: “Do you know what’s wrong with them? Are they possessed?”
Tianshu Youhua’s face is even paler than the other two. She bites her purple lips before replying, “Do you still remember the little girl we met here last time?”
“Of course I do. Her name is Lijier. I was confused because she already died before in our little town. Just thinking about it gives me the creeps. Who knows if she’s a man or ghost……”
“No matter if she’s a man, ghost, monster or a dead soul,” Tianshu Youhua attempts to suppress the fear in her voice, “Now, they are all gone. In this entire relic, there is not a single departed soul left. There is no trace of soul powers at all. I cannot feel any……”
Qi Ling suddenly feels chills running down his spine, as if a spirit has blown cold air against his neck.
The four stand in silence.
Only the bronze mirror above Yin Chen’s head is emitting soft white light.
Endless darkness surrounds them. The relic before them is like a massively eerie grave panning out before them. No one knows what is hiding within it.
This twisted and horrifying atmosphere creeps Qi Ling out.
After a long period of time, Yin Chen turns to ask Qi La slowly and steadily, “On the territory of Aslan, who can Instant Kill the tens of thousands of departed souls that once were here in such a short period of time?”
Qi La stares into the boundless darkness and silence of the relic. His vision is like the surging dark ocean. “Not a single person can do this.”
“How wide of an area can you detect?” Yin Chen inquires.
“Not very big, yet it is definitely not small. I do not sense any trace of soul powers within what I can detect.” Qi La replies. “Gelanshi and you have identical soul’s return circuits. Can you sense if he is inside?”
“I am unable to do that.” Yin Chen’s face is blank. “The soul’s return circuit in my body now is an entirely new one. The one from Gilgamesh is sealed deep in my body. I am unable to use it.”
Qi La turns and looks at him with a hint of surprise. Almost immediately, calmness returns to his face, as if his emotions never wavered.
“Since it’s like this, let’s not barge in. Who knows what will happen in there.” Qi La turns and lifts his head to stare at the pitch-black upper part of the place, “We need a person who can sense an area large enough. It’s a good thing that I know exactly where she is.”
After saying that, Qi La puts his hand lightly onto the stone door on his left. Golden smoke surges from his palms to envelop the surface of the door. Instantly, a new chess piece is created. “Come, this chess piece will bring us to her.”
[West of Aslan Empire – Surrounding waters of Rennes]
When Shen Yin awakens, the sun is already hanging high in the sky. The pelt of the snow leopard is still wrapped around her yet Ni Hong has disappeared. She touches the wound on her abdomen and realizes that it has healed completely. She attempts to move the soul powers in her body and realizes that it has healed completely as well. It feels even more abundant than before she was injured.
She crawls out of the small house of ice. Facing the glaring sunshine, she sees the tanned Ni Hong standing in the sun. His pure and vacant face seems naively primal in the clear rays of the sun. A woman is currently snuggled against his lean torso. A seductive and alluring woman. Her long and toned legs, her full chest and snow-white skin seems even more feminine and tempting in contrast to the tanned skin of Ni Hong.
“Who are you?” Shen Yin questions cautiously.
“Oh me, my name is Thalia. Have you heard of it before?” The beautiful woman lifts a hand to cover her mouth as she giggles. Her voice is like that of bells being blown in every direction by the wind from the ocean. Her dress is also flowing with the wind, revealing her body faintly, drawing one in.
“The Lord to the Fourth Degree, Thalia……?” Shen Yin’s face pales.
“Yes, that’s me.” Thalia points a finger at her nose and grins charmingly. She then points her thin fingers with nails painted red to Ni Hong, “This is my Disciple, Ni Hong.”
“He is your disciple?” Surprise fills Shen Yin. As the Second Disciple herself, her soul powers are already horrifyingly strong. Although she puts away post of them in a battle normally and no one knows how strong she actually is, she is still clear of her own strength. However, what she senses on Ni Hong’s body is no less powerful than her own. It can be said to be even more powerful. How can a person with such a surging amount of soul powers only be a mere Fourth Disciple?
“You must be thinking that Ni Hong is so powerful so why is he only a mere Fourth Lord, am I right?” A blizzard is happening within Thalia’s eyes. She looks blankly at Shen Yin, as if trying to pull her into the chaos in her eyes.
Shen Yin’s heart drops.
“That is because Ni Hong isn’t actually my disciple. He is a Corroder of this generation.” The blizzard is getting stronger in her eyes. Her smile seems strange and dark. “Ai yah, I forgot to tell you. You are too. Ni Hong and you are the two Corroders of this generation.”
“I do not understand your words……” Shen Yin replies coldly.
“Oh yeah. That’s because you don’t know what sort of monster you are. Technically, neither you nor Ni Hong is human. Ai yah.” As if saying something she shouldn’t have, Thalia giggles bashfully, “Actually, I’m not human either. We can all be considered to be monsters created. It’s just that my generation knew of this fact since young. From your generation onwards, Corroders no longer have a memory. And hence the task of telling you the truth falls on the shoulders of us Corroders of the previous generation.”
Shen Yin stares at Thalia. She faintly understands that the secret she has been searching for will be revealed very soon.
“Your Lord Nether and I are the Corroders of the previous generation. Basically Corroders are similar to a disciple being bestowed a seal. In their face, it’s when the return circuit of the lord and the disciple are identical. For us Corroders, we are the experiments with soul’s return circuits planted in each. There are hundreds of Corroders in each generation, and these infants will grow up. Some die when they were conceived because their soul’s return circuits are not whole. Others die early because their soul’s return circuits are much too perverse and dark. These Corroders will also fight among themselves and kill each other. Usually only two or three will remain alive. These three are usually the strongest among them all. The soul’s return circuits in our bodies are brand new and have never been seen on the territory of Aslan yet. And so, our powers and gifts differ from previous lords. You should know the mission we were born to do now, yes?” Thalia smiles at the pale-faced Shen Yin, as if waiting for an answer.
Shen Yin bites down at her pale lips and says nothing. Despite that, she already has an inkling of what that horrifying answer is.
“Our mission is to kill Noble Lords. What we do is to maintain that the seven Noble Lords will always be the pinnacle of soul powers on this land. If we are able to kill a Noble Lord, this is proof that his soul’s return circuit and soul powers are beneath us. This also means that he can no longer shoulder the task of being a Noble Lord of the Aslan Empire. On the other hand, if we die in their hands, this proves that the newly grown soul’s return circuit is not that powerful after all. It means that we are failed experiments.” Thalia reaches out to caress Ni Hong’s shoulder. “Do you understand now?”
“Which Noble Lord are you and Nether going to kill?” Shen Yin tries to control the tremor in her voice as she asks.
“Oh, us?” Thalia titters, “We kill many, not just one.”
She glances at Ni Hong for a second and then Shen Yin before turning her attention to the ocean. “Nether and I grew up together. From the moment we became sensible, we killed. First we killed the dozens upon dozens of Corroders of our own generation, and then we killed countless high-leveled soul beasts. You should understand your lord, no? He can constantly destroy the Lord’s Seals of soul beasts and soul masters and absorb their soul’s return circuits into his own body to further himself constantly. My precision in detecting soul powers over a vast area is a Lord’s Seal’s detector made just for him.”
Thalia then looks at the angelic face of Ni Hong before continuing, “And the Corroders that survived in this generation are only you and Ni Hong and so Nether and I each took one in as our disciple. Haven’t you ever thought about why your gift is completely different from his?”
“Then did we kill everyone……along the way……in order to survive?” Tears glazed over Shen Yin’s eyes.
“Of course. Back then when Nether and I saw the two of you covered in blood while walking from that hellish cave, it was as if we saw us from many years before. Really liked you guys right then. The two of you were so young. Your thin and weak bodies were bathed in boiling fresh blood and your hair covered in thick stench of the dead. You guys looked so attractive.” Thalia leans her face onto Ni Hong’s bare chest as a twisted smile graces her features, “Also, perhaps this is a fine coincidence, but back in the days, Nether and I worked together to kill Tong Que. Yesterday, the two of you worked together to kill Shan Gui. One’s call can gather the wind and snow; the other can break apart the skies and earth. I can’t help but proclaim that it seems like it’s in the Corroder’s nature to attract each other.”
“When I first got to know Ni Hong, I knew his gift was extraordinary. From the beginning, I realized that his talents in speed, strength, regeneration, soul powers, array, elements and everything else are at the peak of perfection. This is impossible for a Disciple on the lands of Aslan. He has such a perfect gift that he can rival any Noble Lord. However, it was only later did I realize that his real gift is not that, but him being born not able to feel pain, horror and any need of defense. This means that he is a perfect killing machine that knows no pain or fear. When we are battling, it is impossible for us to always be in perfect condition, yet Ni Hong can, as he knows no pain or fear of being injured. No matter when or where, his soul powers usage can be at a hundred perfect, this is a power that can destroy anything. Ni Hong knows not of the complicated principles of the mortal realm. He is a primitive man. He doesn’t know how to speak aside from his own name. He has the instincts of an animal. He will forever be in a child-like state.
“What is the most wonder is that he has the most primitive sexual desires and this allows his soul powers to be even more wild. Because he knows nothing of the things between a man and a woman and so, when his sexual desires are triggered, it will only cause the soul powers within him to become even more unruly and destructive……” As Thalia speaks, she caresses Ni Hong’s body gently, moving from his broad shoulders to his firm muscles all the way down to his flat but tight abdomen……
Shen Yin sees that Ni Hong’s cheeks are becoming more and more red, his breathing more and more rushed. Yet his expression remains vacant and innocent. He stares straight at her with his burning gaze. Shen Yin can feel the surging and explosion of his soul powers within his body becoming as violent as a tidal wave. Her heart hurts.
“Stop!”
Thalia’s hand pauses as she looks at Shen Yin with a faint smile on her face. She continues, “As for you, when I saw you in battle yesterday, I was extremely disappointed. For a Corroder, you are much too weak. So weak that even Shan Gui can attack you. Then I realized that I was mistaken. Shan Gui wasn’t attacking you; you were allowing it to attack.”
Shen Yin closes her mouth. Darkness flashes before her eyes.
Thalia continues, “Later on did I discover that your gift is actually allowing yourself to get hurt when the enemy attacks. You then turn this into your soul power. Whenever a different soul’s return circuit attacks you, it allows your soul’s return circuit to be repaired and perfected and it can only become more and more powerful. As long as your opponent does not kill you immediately, your soul powers will be even better than before when you recover. I can’t help but applaud at this because your gift and Nether’s gift are so different yet they do the same. They are both the most incredible yet the most overwhelmingly compelling gifts……at that moment, I realized the true intention of you coming to this island……you want to find the secret of the Immortal Lord because once you learn the gift of infinite healing, you can allow yourself to withstand any form of powerful attacks without worry. And so, within a short time, you will be the most powerful monster in the territory of Aslan……”
Thalia’s clear yet dark eyes shine with a blade-like gleam. She glares coldly and intently at Shen Yin, “Am I right, Shen Yin?”
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