Chapter 2123: He Lingchuan's Most Needed Gift

Dong Rui only brought He Yue alone here, smiling and pointing forward, silently saying two words:

Go.

But he didn't leave; this play between brothers, he couldn't wait to see.

The Nine Abysses Great Emperor in full battle armor was gazing blankly at the pond water; He Yue approached, and only then did he turn around.

The lanterns were sparse, illuminating this man's sword-browed handsome eyes, his outline unchanged, still his elder brother.

But he stood with hands behind his back, and by this secluded pond he seemed like the overlooking aspect of the Golden Throne Hall, making He Yue feel unfamiliar again.

That skin was still his brother's, but inside it seemed like a different person had taken over, causing him to both respect and fear.

He Lingchuan also looked at him.

After five years apart, seeing him again, He Yue had grown taller, nearly catching up to himself.

His features had shed their former youthful immaturity, becoming more three-dimensional, more like He Chunhua.

In a foreign land ten thousand li away, these two brothers silently gazed at each other for three or five breaths, both overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

Dong Rui stood to the side, looking at one then the other, not daring to breathe loudly.

The ghost ape extended a hand to offer him a peanut; he took it, but did not crack it.

He Yue steadied himself, took three large steps forward, and bowed deeply:

"Envoy of Shen State, He Yue, pays respects to the Nine Abysses Great Emperor!"

He remembered his father king's words: no matter how his emotions fluctuated, when facing the Nine Abysses Great Emperor he must perform full rites.

He Lingchuan also did not stop him, waiting until his hands hung down to the ground before smiling and saying: "No need for rites."

After He Yue completed his rites, he took out a document from his bosom, holding it aloft with both hands:

"I, bearing the command of my sovereign, present this gift contract to the Great Emperor, hoping our two nations may now become friendly states, exchanging what each lacks."

He was still too excited, his hands slightly trembling.

He Lingchuan looked at his hands for two seconds before taking the document and unfolding it to examine.

This is a congratulatory memorial; the Shen King congratulates the Nine Abysses Great Emperor on becoming the Lord of Flashing Gold, the words sincere and rites complete, usable as a template for diplomatic correspondence.

The entire text makes no mention of individuals.

Because He Yue must cross the ocean, the gift he brought is very simple, only a jade ring.

Moreover, its quality is merely average, with flaws and spots.

Even Dong Rui beside him felt this gift was too shabby.

Does the Shen King truly have sincerity in seeking friendship?

He Lingchuan also looked at the jade ring in the brocade box: "What is this?"

Something seemed to flash inside the jade ring.

Was it a living thing?

"Father... my king said, this is the treasure the Great Emperor most needs; you will know once you pick it up."

Frankly, He Yue also didn't understand. But when He Chunhua entrusted the brocade box, he did so solemnly, and said that once He Lingchuan received it, he would surely feel the sincerity of Shen State.

"What I most need?" He Lingchuan raised an eyebrow, then casually picked up the jade ring.

Now he is highly skilled and bold, with yuan energy protecting him, so he fundamentally fears nothing He Chunhua might do to the jade ring.

As soon as he touched the jade ring, it gave a light flick in his hand, and simultaneously a faint throbbing transmitted to He Lingchuan's mind.

He felt somewhat moved; He Chunhua's message was correct, he seemed to know what this thing was.

He Lingchuan raised the jade ring above his eyes, and this thing suddenly lunged toward his Yintang, with great force!

Dong Rui beside him jumped in fright, unable to help exclaiming: "Hey!"

Did He Chunhua intend to use this thing to secretly scheme against his own son?

But He Lingchuan raised his hand to stop him from making a move, while pulling the jade ring away.

Still needing to use some strength, his body seemed to have magnetism, firmly attracting this piece of jade ring.

Immediately afterward, several pairs of eyes saw a faint green light emerge from his forehead, flowing along his cheeks, neck, arms, fingertips, and finally continuously into the jade ring!

Under everyone's gaze, the green light wandered like a small snake inside the jade ring, never ceasing, finally head to tail joining, slowly solidifying into a complex green mark, lustrous green light flashing without cease.

"Is this the Heavenly Demon script?" The symbols resembled Heavenly Demon script, but Dong Rui did not recognize its meaning; it should be a special symbol.

"Yes, this is the solid character of the Heavenly Demon word 'Naluo,' meaning 'fate.'" He Lingchuan looked at the jade ring in his palm, feeling myriad emotions, "It is the mark from very long ago, when the Naluo heavenly seed was planted in my sea of consciousness!"

He squeezed hard, and the jade ring shattered.

The Naluo heavenly mark, of course, also shattered together with the jade ring.

When he again opened his palm, powder flowed from between his fingers, with no trace of light remaining.

The last bond gone, he was free!

From this moment on, his fate was finally completely and entirely in his own hands!

He Lingchuan closed his eyes and looked inward; indeed, his sea of consciousness was spotless and clean, the Naluo heavenly mark's existence completely erased, without a trace.

His sea of consciousness also followed with surging waves and terrifying billows.

Previously, the Naluo heavenly mark was embedded in the bottom of his sea of consciousness, to some extent suppressing the growth of thoughts. Otherwise, someone like He Lingchuan, whose body and mind have rolled in the red dust for who knows how many turns, should have a spirit and soul far stronger than now.

This once the obstruction was gone, the long-suppressed divine thoughts suddenly surged!

The ground suddenly trembled slightly; He Yue lowered his head and discovered the small pebbles beside his feet suddenly spinning and rushing toward his elder brother.

Dong Rui immediately sensed something wrong. In his perception, the surrounding air suddenly became heavy and solemn, He Lingchuan seeming to have become the eye of a storm gathering power.

Standing here was no longer safe.

"Retreat!" He grabbed He Yue with one hand and flashed back over five zhang outside.

At the same time, he took out a bright and shiny bronze bell, holding it high before his body.

Also just as they retreated, a whirlwind suddenly arose beside the pond.

The wind mixed with countless black smoke and mist, spreading outward in circles with the whirlwind, each expansion increasing the range by more than ten zhang.

In an instant, the black mist nearly enveloped the entire Holy Spring Valley.

Strangely, the soldiers did not panic; they merely set down their tasks, straightened their waists, and looked around.

The black mist moved among them, casting the place as if it were a ghostly realm of the human world.

Several strands of black smoke drew near, and He Yue saw clearly that they were actually howling ghostly apparitions—ferocious and wicked, as if bearing deep grudges against him.

But at that moment, the wind rang the bell in Dong Rui's hand.

"Ding ling ling ling——"

The bell's sound was clear, pleasant, and calming to the heart, and miraculously spread throughout the entire Holy Spring Valley.

Just after the bell rang eighteen times in succession, the black smoke enveloping the place gathered again, from few to many, finally coiling into the shape of a giant dragon!

It circled above the camp for three full rounds, unhurried, then leapt into the sky and vanished.

The mist cleared, the moon appeared, and once again illuminated the world.

No one knew what had happened, but ahead came He Lingchuan's voice, calm:

"Come in."

Only then did Dong Rui put away his bell, and he and He Yue walked back to the spring's edge.

This bell was the Soul-Capturing Bell given to him by Fu Liushan, also called the Spirit-Alerting Bell; originally it could draw away lonely souls and wild ghosts, but after being specially refined by Elder Liu Qingdao with added ingredients, it also gained the power to collect and calm the mind and repel evil influences.

He Yue entered and saw his elder brother still standing in the same spot, having not moved at all, merely taking off his Xuanjin battle armor and changing into ordinary clothes.