Wayfarer

Chapter 856: The Terrifying Han Gucheng

"The Superior?" Han Gucheng's good body furrowed his brows as he stared at the scene before him.

"Aren't you aware of this?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, puzzled.

Han Gucheng's good body shook his head. "My main body wiped away some of my memories, so I'm unaware of the details."

Yu Fuli's expression grew serious. "If I recall correctly, back then, the three Qing Grandmasters sacrificed everything that the Superior owned. The fact that this mountain of ice is located right by the primordial altar is quite intriguing."

"Could the three Qing Grandmasters have had their own plans that they wanted to keep hidden from each other? Perhaps that's the origin of this icy mountain," Xiao Nanfeng suggested.

Yu Fuli pondered the situation briefly. "I doubt it, but the three Qing Grandmasters are ambitious and cunning. I suppose it's not impossible that they left a contingency behind."

"Han Gucheng's main body is studying this mountain of ice. Could this be the first time he's coming across it? And why would Saint Lun Hui refrain from acting himself?" Xiao Nanfeng wondered.

"The Superior's cursed spiritual power isn't something anyone can activate. It requires a specific cultivation technique," Yu Fuli explained.

Xiao Nanfeng's expression shifted. "If I'm not mistaken, Saint Lun Hui once sought out Han Gucheng's son, Han Bing. Both father and son practice the Frozen Heart's Elegy."

Yu Fuli shook his head. "That's not a particularly remarkable technique. Han Gucheng likely also cultivates the Body of Yin. Only someone who has achieved proficiency in this technique can manipulate the Superior's cursed spiritual energy."

"Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng responded in surprise.

Han Gucheng's good body frowned and smiled wryly. "I indeed cultivate the Body of Yin."

Xiao Nanfeng's expression grew grave. He had believed himself to be one of the few who had mastered this technique, only to learn that Han Gucheng had, too.

"The Body of Yin is notoriously difficult to cultivate. Many practitioners are consumed by it, while others undergo drastic personality changes. Han Gucheng, have you noticed any changes in your temperament?" Yu Fuli asked.

He knew that Xiao Nanfeng cultivated the same technique; his words were directed at both of them.

Xiao Nanfeng remained silent, while Han Gucheng smiled faintly. "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I've sensed a slight peculiarity, but it remains within my control."

"What peculiarities might arise?" Xiao Nanfeng inquired.

Han Gucheng frowned. "I'm afraid I can't say. That part of my memory has been erased as well."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded and refrained from asking further questions. The group turned its attention back to the scene in the projection.

Han Gucheng's main body began to infuse energy into the mountain of ice, causing it to emit a blinding white light. The entire realm became as bright as day. With a wave of his hand, Han Gucheng lifted the massive mountain.

In the distance, Saint Lun Hui's eyes lit up with delight. He rose to his feet and exclaimed, "Excellent, Han Gucheng! You haven't disappointed me. Even I can't touch this mountain of ice without it melting and dissipating. You've managed to control it. Well done!"

"Now, let's proceed with the plan," Han Gucheng's main body declared.

"Very well," Saint Lun Hui replied.

Han Gucheng carried the enormous mountain of ice to the primordial altar and took a deep breath. "Primordial altar, hear my plea! I offer all these monsters as collateral and the Superior's cursed spiritual energy as a medium in exchange for the once-sacrificed Superior. I want his cursed effigy and cursed soul, but not his malevolence. I wish to exist in symbiosis with the Superior, to resonate in mind and spirit. Primordial altar, I implore you to grant my request!"

As he said this, he hurled the massive mountain of ice toward the swirling black fog surrounding the primordial altar.

The Enlightenment Grounds all around them surged toward the primordial altar, ejecting countless-purple furred monsters who were driven into the altar's black fog.

The scene mirrored the past sacrifice of countless red-furred lifeforms to the primordial altar.

Xiao Nanfeng frowned. He eyed Han Gucheng's good body. "These are the purple-furred lifeforms into which everyone from the green knoll hidden realm has been transformed, aren't they?"

Han Gucheng's good body sighed. He didn't explain himself; the truth was evident.

He didn't know how they had transformed all the people of the green knoll hidden realm into purple-furred monsters, but almost double the number of purple-furred monsters were sacrificed compared to red-furred ones back then.

For several hours, the purple-furred monsters were continuously sacrificed to the altar, but even after they were all consumed, the vortex of black fog persisted. The offerings had been insufficient.

"It's not enough. No matter how many purple-furred monsters they offer, it won't suffice," Yu Fuli said, shaking his head.

"Why?" Han Gucheng's good body asked anxiously. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Do you think such mundane creatures could summon someone like the Superior, especially when your main body made such specific requests? Only that mountain of ice had any real value."

"These purple-furred monsters are mundane? What would suffice, then? What sacrifice?" Han Gucheng's good body asked.

Yu Fuli turned to Han Gucheng's good body and smiled at him. "You cultivate the heart. Shouldn't you know?"

"Me?" Han Gucheng's good body frowned.

"It looks like your memory of this has been erased as well. How pitiful you are. I hope you can bear what's about to unfold," Yu Fuli murmured.

"What do you mean?" Han Gucheng asked, confused.

"Please enlighten us, Your Majesty," Xiao Nanfeng urged.

Yu Fuli gazed at the primordial altar in the projection. "Han Gucheng's main body just requested resonance in mind and spirit. Do you know just what that entails?"

Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "The primordial altar is founded on equivalent exchange. To obtain something, one must offer something of equal value—so to gain emotional and spiritual resonance with the Superior, he must sacrifice emotional and spiritual connections of his own..."

"Ah, you do understand." Yu Fuli smiled.

"Exchanging emotion for emotion? Han Gucheng must be mad!" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

Han Gucheng's good body turned pale. "Impossible. My main body would never do such a thing!"

In the projection, Han Gucheng's main body stood motionless, tears streaming down his face.

Nearby, his three wives and son, Han Bing, fell to the ground, paralyzed. Their faces were filled with terror.

"Husband, something's very wrong!"

"Husband, save me! I can't move!"

"Husband, run! Don't worry about us. Saint Lun Hui must have tricked us. Escape now!"

"Father, save me..."

Han Gucheng's wives and son all cried out weakly.

Han Gucheng's main body, on the other hand, stood frozen. His feet seemed rooted in place. He didn't dare turn to face his family.

Meanwhile, Saint Lun Hui glanced at Han Gucheng in disbelief, perhaps guessing just what he had done.

In Yu Fuli's study, Han Gucheng's good body collapsed to his knees. "Your Majesty, please save my wife and son. I beg you, save them! I'll do anything, anything you ask!"

Yu Fuli shook his head. "Your two selves have severed their heart connection. I can't locate your main body's position. Besides, this is your own decision."

"No, this can't be! I would never sacrfiice my family! Never!" Han Gucheng's good body wailed.

"Sacrifice is required for gain. If he wants resonance with the Superior, it won't come easily," Yu Fuli concluded.

"No!" Han Gucheng's good body cried in despair, screaming at the projection before him. "Stop! You can't do this! I'll never forgive you!"

Within the scene, Han Gucheng's main body began the final sacrifice with tears streaming down his face. He approached his family.

He lifted Han Bing.

"Father, what are you doing? I'm scared! Father!" Han Bing cried out.

He shut his eyes, which were filled with tears, and hurled his son into the black vortex of the primordial altar.

"No, Father! Don't!" Han Bing cried out.

"That's our son, Bing'er! Husband, what are you doing?!" Gan Qing cried out.

Han Bing was sucked into the primordial altar and vanished from sight.

Close by, Saint Lun Hui watched with wide eyes. He didn't attempt to interrupt the sacrifice, but he was shocked beyond belief. This man was truly ruthless to be sacrificing his own family.

The black fog of the altar continued swirling, still dissatisfied.

"One bond of kinship won't suffice," Yu Fuli murmured, shaking his head.

"No, no! My Bing'er!" Han Gucheng's good body wept and howled in agony.

In the projection, Han Gucheng's main body clutched his chest as if in immense pain. He walked toward one of his wives.

"Husband!" Though weakened, the three women didn't scold him.

His intentions were clear. Their eyes were filled with grief and helplessness, but they were in such pain that they didn't have the words to express themselves.

Han Gucheng grabbed one of them and threw her into the vortex.

"Qing'er!" Han Gucheng's good body screamed in anguish.

Xiao Nanfeng looked at Han Gucheng's good body. There was no way he was faking this; this wasn't a ploy at all.

When he turned back to the scene of Han Gucheng's main body sacrificing his family, his blood ran cold.

"Is Han Gucheng insane? What kind of monster is he? All this for the sake of merging with a cursed effigy? Sacrificing his wives and children? He's completely lost his mind!" Xiao Nanfeng thought, horrified.