"Feng Yuan, are you okay?"
When it was ti to gather, Qi Chen couldn’t help but ask as he saw Feng Yuan appearing with Xiao Ji and the others. Shaking his head with a smile, Feng Yuan replied,
"It’s nothing, so things that were previously unclear are now more or less understood."
Without elaborating, Feng Yuan stopped speaking. Qi Chen didn’t press further, though he was sowhat curious about Feng Yuan’s past. He knew that probing such matters forcibly would only make Feng Yuan uncomfortable.
Rembering sothing, Feng Yuan looked around and asked with so confusion,
"Have you finished investigating this Youquan Temple stronghold?"
Although Feng Yuan did not initially understand the situation here, to the Apostles of the Yellow Springs who have always lived here, these things were no big deal. In casual conversations, Feng Yuan also learned the true nature of this ruin from them.
Due to the unique nature of the man-made Netherworld Spring, although it has the sa effects, through special ans, one can artificially use part of the energy that overflows from the man-made Netherworld Spring.
Don’t look down on this energy in modern tis, it’s not much, and even in those outrageous ancient ruins, it’s not that significant. But it’s important to know that ancient people didn’t have as diverse thods for using and utilizing energy and Spirit Beasts’ abilities as today.
This energy was more than enough for the Youquan Temple’s force to decide to use it to power the defensive facilities of an underground fortress. Moreover, taking advantage of the geographical location, they could quickly support several important nearby locations.
Of course, that’s important from the perspective of the Youquan Temple’s force. After all, things related to Ghost Series Spirit Beasts are not only rare in the real world, but also useless to ordinary people. Sotis, they can even be a huge hassle.
But because the Apostle of the Yellow Springs had never left the Netherworld Spring, it only knew the rough location and not the exact coordinates of several important places.
However, this was irrelevant to Feng Yuan. He had just co to have a look and relax. Although a lot happened, at least he had got so grasp on the people involved.
Just as Qi Chen was about to speak, the team leader started calling the students. Seeing this, everyone could only temporarily set aside their desire to communicate. Soon, the teachers in charge of each class finished counting the number of people, and after confirming that there were no issues, the team leader began to speak.
Hiding in the crowd, Feng Yuan listened to the words with a yawn. These formal speeches seed very boring to Feng Yuan. Of course, there was also the requirent from the teacher for each group to submit a discovery report.
No one had any objections to this since they were originally here for a practical relic excavation exercise. Although the Apostle of the Yellow Springs didn’t act because of Feng Yuan, the Ghost Series Spirit Beasts roaming around still caused them a lot of trouble.
Moreover, because of the presence of the man-made Netherworld Spring, there were nurous chanisms here. Even though they weren’t very lethal for various reasons, they did manage to dampen the overconfidence of the students.
In the last academy action, due to the nature of the ruins, the chanisms were not complicated, which caused so students to beco complacent. Especially when they started cracking the chanisms in the school’s back mountains, they felt that the much-hyped ancient ruins were nothing extraordinary.
However, this ti, just the shallow layers of the station ruins served as a rude awakening. Except for so students, most were left in a disheveled state.
Of course, they also gained a lot. Although it was tornting and troubleso, the experience and lessons learned were real and tangible.
Soon, it was Qi Chen’s turn to report their findings. Hesitating a bit, Qi Chen looked at Feng Yuan and asked,
"Should we talk about that Spirit Beast?"
"Why not?"
Feng Yuan looked at Qi Chen, sowhat perplexed by what he ant, though he naturally guessed which Spirit Beast Qi Chen was referring to.
Besides the Apostle of the Yellow Springs, who else could it be? On their way, they only encountered the Apostle of the Yellow Springs. As for the Spirit Beasts Qi Chen and the others encountered later, they had nothing to do with him.
The excavation team leader had been particularly interested in Feng Yuan’s group right from the start since they were the only ones who went missing midway. Moreover, Feng Yuan led the charge to break through the blockade initially, making the leader believe that Feng Yuan surely knew important information about the ruins.
With a smile, he approached and said to Feng Yuan,
"Sorry to bother, but could you describe your experience after entering the ruins? After all, your group was untraceable for a while. I am curious to know if there are areas we haven’t yet explored."
"Don’t worry, we’re not looking to steal credits. As per the rules, those who provide useful information during evaluations..."
Seeing the serious yet tense look on the other’s face, Feng Yuan waved his hand with a laugh and said,
"It’s no big deal, plus, I need your help to register it."
"It?"
Qi Chen and Dou Yanlan exchanged glances, feeling inexplicably uneasy.
The sudden appearance of the Apostle of the Yellow Springs from behind Feng Yuan startled everyone present. Its unique aura was enough to make even Qi Chen and Dou Yanlan feel a sense of dread despite facing the Apostle of the Yellow Springs again.
Seeing everyone’s reaction, the Apostle of the Yellow Springs showed an expression of sorrow.
Feng Yuan shook his head at it with a smile and said,
"It’s not your fault, never mind. Let’s first elaborate on what we encountered below. As for it, the situation is sowhat complex and cannot be treated like a regular Wild Spirit Beast."
Once Feng Yuan finished recounting their experiences below, Qi Chen leaned over to Feng Yuan’s ear while the leader was organizing the information and whispered,
"Feng Yuan, what’s going on? Why does the Apostle of the Yellow Springs feel... unusual?"
Turning to glance at the tense Apostle of the Yellow Springs, Feng Yuan spread his hands and said,
"Because after leaving protection, its sins manifested."
"Sins?"
Qi Chen looked at Feng Yuan in confusion, and even the leader who was recording the information couldn’t help but look up. Feng Yuan turned and extended his hand trying to comfort the Apostle of the Yellow Springs with a gentle pat. Unfortunately, since it was in a Spiritual Body state without additional energy attached, Feng Yuan’s hand went right through the smoke that made up its body.
Agunas looked at Feng Yuan with a complex expression. Revealing the truth could bring him trouble. However, it could also clarify the Apostle of the Yellow Springs’ status, as it was rely a victim.
Frowning, Qi Chen said,
"It should have never left there, right?"
"But that sin won’t disappear because, regardless, it was a beneficiary."
Sighing, Feng Yuan closed his eyes and said with his hands on his hips. Before Qi Chen could further inquire, Feng Yuan explained,
"Actually, the Apostle of the Yellow Springs has been here long before this station ruin existed. In other words, from the start, it was guarding the man-made Netherworld Spring."
"Have you ever considered a harsh question: given the lifespan of a Spirit Beast, how did it live so long? After all, that dates back to an era almost touching the Mythical Era."
Shuddering at the sudden thought of a possibility, Qi Chen blanched as Feng Yuan smiled slightly and said,
"In fact, it’s all the handiwork of those people. They mastered a ritual to absorb lifespan and used it to seize their enemies’ lives and souls to prolong their own life."
"Although the Apostle of the Yellow Springs hadn’t personally done this, it surely enjoyed this bloodstained longevity as well."
"Don’t ask if there are any limitations to this, for I can tell you there are none. But, the ethical order of humans and Divine Beasts themselves provides punishnt for abusers."
"Of course, the most important punishnt is from one’s conscience. Even if they are just enemies, who can really act so recklessly?"
Feng Yuan wasn’t afraid to reveal this matter potentially causing chaos, since although rare, this approach had always existed.
However, as Feng Yuan ntioned, indiscriminate slaughter of innocents leads to a prolonged life that can’t withstand the Divine Beasts’ retributions and the rejection from human civilization.
With a shrug, Feng Yuan said,
"As for why you feel fear upon seeing it now, it’s because those lives, transford into its lifespan, entangle it. Originally, confined within the Netherworld Spring range, it could suppress it with the Spring’s power. But since it opted to leave, it has to bear the corresponding consequences."
"Even if this isn’t what it originally intended."
After conveying the ssage to Feng Yuan, the Apostle of the Yellow Springs was already free. Having been unable to leave the Netherworld Spring since its birth, naturally, it didn’t want to remain there.
Even though staying there would avoid affliction from these sins, how is that different from imprisonnt?
Qi Chen sighed softly, looking at the Apostle of the Yellow Springs with sympathy. He never expected such a situation...
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