Critical: Ages Below Critical Chapter 6.2

Chapter 6: Grand Angel (Part 2)

[West of Aslan Empire – Surrounding waters of Rennes – Grave of the Souls]

After a sharp call from An Chi propelled by Guishan Lianquan, she descends along a flat surface along the rock wall, Qi Ling pats Cang Xue Zhi Ya’s neck and they trail after her. Guishan Lianquan’s figure has disappeared into a humble cave among the rocks and Qi Ling follows her.

When he finally reaches the depths of this hidden cave on the cliff, only then does Qi Ling understand that, the Grave of the Souls is much larger than he initially imagined it to be, the flight just now can be considered long, yet he hasn’t seen the end to the vast valley yet. Guishan Lianquan finds the chain shrouded in a golden glow that is mounted onto the top of the cave, she whispers: “That is it.” And then she leaps up and tugs hard on the chain, pulling it from the rock wall, at the instant when the chain detaches from the cliff, a loud sound echoes through the valley, so loud that the ground beneath their feet seem to tremble, a while later, these all disappeared, leaving behind the soul weapon that seem to be breathing in Guishan Lianquan’s hand – the Resurrection Chain.

Yet at this moment, Qi Ling suddenly seems to remember something, and so he asks: “Lianquan, when I was pushed off the cliff by you just now, I remember you holding onto a large sword, shouldn’t that be your soul weapon? How can you enter this place to retrieve a soul weapon if you already have one?”

Guishan Lianquan looks at Qi Ling. Although it seems as if he’s dim and unknowing on the surface, a person can tell that he’s witty by nature and is able to spot the problem first hand.

She nods, saying: “Your question is quite correct. That large sword is the soul weapon of the Fifth Lord; Guishan Fenghun is my biological brother. We’re not quite sure why, but maybe because we are blood related, two years ago we accidentally discovered that not only can I summon his soul beast, I can also use his soul weapon. You know that although anyone can use a soul weapon if they get their hands on it, but only the owner of it can take it into his or her body and let it regain its strength in the lord’s seal. This applies to soul beasts as well. When soul weapons spend too much time outside the owner’s body, they will lose their powers gradually too. If they can’t return to their owner’s body, then after a long while, the soul weapon will just become an average weapon. My first soul beast ‘Hai Yin’ is actually Fenghun’s, my large sword is also his, at the same time, it’s the dwellings of An Chi that I just rode. I can withdraw Hai Yin into my body with no hindrance; I can also control this large sword and the soul beast in it as my own. Although to myself, I’ve never captured my own soul beast or retrieved my own soul weapon.”

Qi Ling is dumbstruck.

Lianquan glances at him and says: “You need to move back a little bit, I’m going to take this chain into my body now. During this processs, you must not touch me.”

Qi Ling nods as if he understands and retreats a few steps.
 

Guishan Lianquan whips the chain and the large chain coils around in the air like a live snake, suspending as if it has lost its sense of gravity, and then in the next instant, it shoots towards the lord’s seal on Guishan Lianquan’s neck, a chaotic splatter sound ensues as the metal chain over ten meters long gurgles through her flesh and into her body like an active snake, the position on her neck with the lord’s seal is now a gaping hole, blood gus.h.i.+ng from the wound. Lianquan’s entire person kneels to the ground as if in defeat, her pale pale, her irises enlarged like death, raspy groans emit from her slightly opened mouth, that face that had been pa.s.sive and exquisite is now twisted into a grotesque expression. The turbulent air that emerged from the soil messes up her hair and makes her resemble a ghoul. The entire cave is shrouded under a shrill sound that pierces towards one’s temples. Qi Ling retreats in fear and cowers next to the rocks in the cave, staring at the h.e.l.lish scene before him.

Agitated cyclones burst from the surface of the ground; furiously rus.h.i.+ng up, in the center is Guishan Lianquan, her face as pale as death, twisted into a horrifying expression.

And while Qi Ling remains terrified, a sharp and clear yell sounds from the mouth of the cave: “Stop right this instant!”

A shadow cladded in a luxurious long dress dashes into the cave, she stares in surprise at the Resurrection Chain that is currently being pulled into Guishan Lianquan’s body, “Which lowly b.i.t.c.h are you? It was stated very clearly in the white alarm that I am the person who should be getting the Resurrection Chain! What right do you have!” After saying that, the beautiful Tianshu Youhua sticks her hands outwards and two sharp blue icicles fire towards the helpless Guishan Lianquan.

“Don’t touch her!” Qi Ling dashes out and raises his hands to grab the icicles, in an instant, unsure of where the sudden surge of soul powers came from, they pour out of Qi Ling’s hands in torrents and the two icicles shatter. Qi Ling’s surprised as well, turning his head to look at the girl who just entered, he yelps as he sees her face clearly: “My goodness, why is it you?”

After Tianshu Youhua sees Qi Ling, she pauses before her expression morphs into one of seriousness and agitation, ‘You’re Qi Ling right? Yin Chen’s is so worried for you so he followed you in, he’s at the door right now, but he’s hurt, one arm broke, you should quickly go to him!”

Hearing that, the colour drains from Qi Ling’s face as he sprints out, but quickly, he realizes that Yin Chen has no way of entering the Grave of the Souls. “c.r.a.p, I’ve been tricked!” When he turns his head back, he sees Tianshu Youhua lunge towards Guishan Lianquan with a murderous look; her entire body is enveloped by a large cl.u.s.ter of eerie blue water droplets, giving off soul poisonous air and white mist.

Qi Ling’s heart clenches, “Don’t kill her!”

[West of Aslan Empire – Abyss Corridor]

When the black shadow nears the territory of the Abyss Corridor, it descends onto the surface of the ground.

Yin Chen lands after Guishan Fenghun. After landing, he chases after the fast-moving Guishan Fenghun, the two heading towards the depth of the Abyss Corridor in tandem. Suddenly, the black silhouette before him stops, Guishan Fenghun towards and whispers to Yin Chen urgently, “You move ahead, I’ll find you later” and disappears among the shadows of the tall trees, his soul powers disappear after that. It is obvious that he has hidden all of the soul powers in his body. At the same time the soul powers dissipated, a monstrous and uninhibited gush of soul power unfurls towards Yin Chen from the dense fog before him.

Nether’s towering and agile figure stands in front of Yin Chen, looking like a quiet yet evil G.o.d.
 

“Ah……what a coincidence, what are you doing here?” Nether’s emerald eyes stare at Yin Chen’s face as he asks, evil banter can be seen from his expression.

“To pick up my disciple, he’s coming out from the Grave of the Souls.” Yin Chen replies expressionlessly, “What are you doing here?”

“I am the Killing Lord, of course I’m on a mission to kill,” Nether’s face is shrouded in an evil temptation under the dim lighting, he reaches out gently and lifts Yin Chen’s handsome face, his carefree and beast-like eyes nears Yin Chen’s face, “But you don’t have to be afraid, I am not here to kill you. How can I ever bear to do that?”

“Why did you let Ragnarok out? It can’t be that you don’t know what that means to the lords?” Yin Chen lifts his hand to push Nether’s hand aside as he says coldly.

“Ha, hahaha. How interesting……” Nether smiles, his face gloomy, “How did you know that I just caught that thing? I haven’t even told everyone yet. Hahahaha.”

“I don’t need you to tell me, it has your scent on it, the kind that makes me want to hurl when it nears.” Yin Chen laments lightly to Nether’s perverse but handsome face.

“Ha, were you scared of it? Or is it that, even after so long, you still have a psychological shadow towards ‘soul beasts’? Still can’t forget ‘him’?”

The sudden eruption of soul powers agitates the robes on Yin Chen’s body, a chillingly murderous look hands over his face.

“Why are you so agitated,” Nether says lazily, “If I were you, I’ve have given up long ago, I won’t have waited until now. You’ve been searching for so many years, aren’t you tired yet? He’s dead. Even if he’s not, then he’s a monster now……haha, I understand now, no wonder you could never bear to capture your first soul beast again, you’re afraid of turning into a monster like that yourself, am I right? If not, with your perversely strong soul powers and the powers from your first soul beast, how can you still remain the Seventh Lord which is as lowly as an ant?”

Yin Chen raises a finger and points at Nether, the dense concentration of the golden patterns illuminates Nether’s masculine and charismatic face, ‘These are of no concern to you, I do not wish to be in conflict with you, do what you have to do, do not touch upon my business.” After saying that, he paused and laughed coldly, “Also, you can’t.”

The unrestrained expression wipes off Nether’s face, he stares with a complicated gaze at Yin Chen for a prolonged period of face before bending down towards Yin Chen’s ears, with a tender and appealing voice he says: “If someday, I can receive the red alert to kill you, that will be the happiest thing of my life. I will savour the taste of each and every single drop of your fresh blood, my dearest ‘Grand Angel’.”

[West of Aslan Empire – Surrounding waters of Rennes – Grave of the Souls]

In the gloomy cave, everything has quietened down, the fresh blood flowing on the ground, slowly cooling down and congealing in the air.

Guishan Lianquan stands silently at the same place, her face resumes the expression of coolness and n.o.bility, Qi Ling stands beside her and lets out a sigh of relief as he stares at how fast her wound is healing.

Before them, on the ground, lies Tianshu Youhua with blood dropping from the corner of her mouth.

Just as she leaped towards the helpless Guishan Lianquan a few moments before, she underestimated her opponent and had not thought of defending herself, as a result, Guishan Lianquan suddenly releases An Chi from her body, causing her to fly out heavily and land against the rock wall of the cave.

Guishan Lianquan currently has her large sword held against her throat, “You do know that, aside from the Killing Disciple, as a disciple, attempting to kill another disciple is a tremendous crime? Hasn’t your lord taught you that?”

Tianshu Youhua’s eyes glower with enmity and refusal to concede, making her beautiful face look exceptionally distorted, “I will kill whomever I want!”

Guishan Lianquan stares at her, “You are beyond redemption. Just continue like that and there will be the day the Killing Disciple finds you. If you knew what sort of person she is, you won’t be acting so haughty before me.” After saying that, she puts away her large sword and tells Tianshu Youhua: “You said you came in to retrieve the Resurrection Chain as well, I do not know what sort of mistake was make in this process, but it is now my soul weapon and this cannot be changed. We are going to leave now, but before leaving, you better search for a soul weapon for yourself, you should know that if you leave this place, you will not be able to return. As to why there’s been a mistake in the delivery of the white alarm, you better go back and ask your lord.”

With that, Guishan Lianquan turns towards Qi Ling who is situated behind her and says: “Let’s go find a powerful soul weapon for you and then we’ll leave this place.”

Qi Ling looks at the wounded Tianshu Youhua on the ground and feels slightly sorry since she is such a young girl, she must have been pampered and doted on by her parents since young, unlike his lowly life, crawling his way up in life and the basic courtesy he learned for human relations are smooth talk and flattery.

He moves beside and crouches down: “Lianquan isn’t a bad person, there’s a misunderstanding between the two of you. You should quickly find a place with a high concentration of the golden soul mist and heal yourself.”

Tianshu Youhua smirks condescendingly, standing up, her entire body becomes abound with golden patterns, in the next moment, se is shrouded with the power akin to rebirth, no trace of her injury can be seen.

Qi Ling’s eyes widen in surprise.

Guishan Lianquan turns and tells Qi Ling: “You don’t have to be surprised, this is the Talent of the Sixth Lord and disciple.”

Qi Ling asked in puzzlement: “What is a talent?”

“Each and every Lord and disciple has a different soul’s return circuit in their body, aside from them being able to generate the ability of manipulating a large amount of soul powers, the unique pattern will give us unique abilities, this ability is known as the talent. According to my knowledge, the talent of the return circuit of the Sixth Lord is something known as near immortality and the ability to recover. No matter how low the place is of the golden soul mist, their ability to heal and regenerate is at the level where people should fear. I also know that the ‘Lord to the Fourth Degree’, the person responsible for the leading of the delivery of messages from the Tiange is exceedingly accurate perception of soul powers, this perception is vastly different from the ones we have, they can detect your weakness and your advantage from even the most minute flow of your soul powers, they can also sense the chance in soul powers of different people from thousands of miles away, this is equivalent to an ability of foreknowledge that should be feared.”

“So! Freaking! Awesome!” Even Qi Ling’s tongue seems to be twisted, these are all things that Yin Chen hasn’t told him yet, “Then what is the talent of you and your lord?”

Guishan Lianquan smiled and tells the excited Qi Ling: “Haven’t you realized that, your soul beasts that loves attacking people so much and refuses to let anyone approach it, is a lot more calm when faced with me? My talent is the ability to control soul beasts, if we want it to make it seem more powerful, then it’s the control of soul beasts across a large area, which means that I can hypnotise and enchant the soul beasts of an entire territory.”

“……” Qi Ling looks as if his breathing is going to stop, ‘What about me? Do you know the talent of Yin Chen and I? Why do I feel like I have no talent at all?”

“My apologies,” Lianquan shakes her head, “Aside from the first three Lords and their talents being a mystery to everyone, the only person with unknown talents is your Lord, Yin Chen.”
 

Lianquan ushers Qi Ling towards the outside of the cave. Qi Ling turns and looks at the Tianshu Youhua who is recovering all alone on the ground, he feels like it’s against his conscience to leave her there, using the sweet-sounding voice of a youth she tells her: “You should quickly choose a soul weapon and leave this place, I keep thinking that this place is not safe, and you’re a girl who’s alone.” Oh yeah, I have the Sishya fruit, if you need it, I can give it to you……”

A sense of closeness emits from Qi Ling’s appearance in the dim lighting. The handsome youth has his brows slightly furrowed, making him seem like a tame cheetah cub, his gaze projects from his soft and thick black lashes, giving off a warm and caring feeling. Tianshu Youhua suddenly feels a unknown spot in her heart thump.

Just as Qi Ling turns, Tianshu Youhua stands and says: “Hold on……”

Qi Ling turns his head and stares at her with his large and clear eyes.

Tianshu Youhua’s face flushes in the darkness, “Actually I didn’t come in just for the Resurrection Chain, Yin Chen actually begged me to come in and tell you guys……”

Suddenly, as if a blue poppy flower-like glow flashes though the darkness of her mind, an idea pops into her mind, “He told me to tell you two that the chess piece to exit has been tempered with, the sequence changed from left to right, the chess piece that represented death before is the one that leads to the exit of the Abyss Corridor.”

Lianquan hears this and turns as well to gaze blankly at Tianshu Youhua with an overcast expression. Qi Ling looks at Lianquan who is deep in thought and then looks at Tianshu Youhua who looks earnest, he says: “Are you telling the truth? Did Yin Chen really ask you to tell us?”

“Of course, if not why would I come in to search for you or know that you are Yin Chen’s disciple?” Tianshu Youhua’s expression suddenly changes, she smirks coldly, “Also, if you don’t believe me, then that means Yin Chen who had been on his knees begging me did it for nothing.”

After saying that, Tianshu Youhua’s expression is one of arrogance, she even revisits the memory of the mighty Yin Chen who is like the G.o.d of frost, the lowly appearance of him with his knees on the floor begging her, she completely misses the flushed face of Qi Ling and his clenched fists.

“What did you just say?” A never before seen horrifying expression washes over Qi Ling’s face, he moves over and grabs Tianshu Youhua by the collar, “Say that again?”

Tianshu Youhua is stumped by the sudden change in demeanor, as a reflex, she raises her hand and a knife of ice pierces into Qi Ling’s arm, yet as fresh blood flows down along the blade of the knife, Qi Ling stands as if he has no feeling, he only continues staring at her and asking what she had just said.

Tianshu Youhua is angered, her voice full of hatred as she howls: “Isn’t it just your lord? Why are you so agitated over him? He begged me himself, it’s not like I forced him to, why are you being angry at me? If you have to blame anyone then blame how despicable and b.i.t.c.hy he is he, kneeling so easily! And isn’t the person who made him do this you? Who asked you to crash into the Grave of the Souls as if you have no brain, do you think this is a place for play?!”

Qi Ling clenches his teeth, humiliation is turbulent in his chest, and the guilt from disgrace that Yin Chen had to endure is tearing his heart apart. He shoves Tianshu Youhua aside and turns his face away, the rims of his eyes turning red in the darkness. Before his eyes is the image of Yin Chen with his knees to the floor silently, the self-despising emotion transforming into tears and acc.u.mulating in his eyes. He is embarra.s.sed to let Lianquan see it and so he holds it in.

Lianquan turns away understandingly so that he will feel less uncomfortable.

Tianshu Youhua sees Qi Ling’s handsome face being overcast with sadness and feels slightly regretful, and so she braces herself as she says: “Do you believe me or not? If you believe me then follow me.”
 

Walking out of the cave, they are faced with the vast valley again; the densely packed soul weapons twinkle around them. Lianquan looks at Tianshu Youhua and asks: “Can your soul beast fly?”

Tianshu Youhua’s face suddenly reddens.

Lianquan sees her silence and understands, “You don’t have a soul beast yet, right?”

Tianshu Youhua huffs condescendingly, unwilling to reply, her face expression spoiled. “I jumped my way here. This journey can’t faze me.”

“The place we are going now will take an exceedingly long time if you jumped. You won’t make it without a soul beast, come with me.” Being Lianquan,An Chi’s large wings are as if a cloud. And at this moment, Qi Ling’s Cang Xue Zhi Ya also appears in the air with a whistle.

“Who wants to go with you?! I want to go with Qi Ling.” Tianshu Youhua says frostily and climbs up Cang Xue Zhi Ya’s back. Just as her foot steps on its back, she was hurled down with a roar, Cang Xue Zhi Ya looks at her scornfully with a haughty expression, one filled with disgust. Tianshu Youhua lowers her voice and curses it harshly: “You’re just a lowly beast, what do you think you are!”

Qi Ling doesn’t hear her mutters and pats Cang Zue Zhi Ya’s furry head lightly, rubbing its large ears, he tells it tenderly, “You’re a dignified gentleman, if you bully a young girl then that’s losing face, she’s also a disciple, and is our friend. She came in to rescue us.”

Cang Xue Zhi Ya bends its head down obediently despite its expression of unwillingness.

Tianshu Youhua gets up and shoots Cang Xue Zhi Ya a proud glare before stepping on its furry hind leg heavily with her boot decorated with sharp metal as she climbs up.

“It’s actually very tame, just hostile to strangers. Later on you should hold onto me tightly, don’t fall, don’t worry, it will be fine.” Qi Ling turns and says into Tianshu Youhua’s ear.

Tianshu Youhua gazes at the young man before her, his thick and dark brows extend into his sideburns, his irises in his deep-set eyes are as watery and clear as a fawn’s, they are currently looking at her tenderly. She can’t help but wrap her arms around the youth’s waist, through the fabric, the hot blood of the youth touches her hand, his toned muscles are apparent under the fabric, at the same tie, the masculine scent of life drifts from the skin of Qi Ling’s neck.

Tianshu Youhua’s cheeks are like flower petals heated under the rays of the sun, mouthwateringly gorgeous.

[West of Aslan Empire – Abyss Corridor]

The fog is thicker than ever before, in almost a liquid state, it flows through the gloomy green valley. The light cannot pa.s.s through the entire valley, only a small number of sword-like rays pierce through the tall crown of the trees and into the moss-covered soil.

Guishan Fenghun and Yin Chen are currently standing before the pale and frail youth sitting at the foot of the tree.

“I have brought Yin Chen.” Guishan Fenghun tells the pallid youth.

The pale youth opens his eyes slowly, his pure irises full of light, looking like two lakes dampened by the rain. His voice is extremely weak, sounding like the soft gra.s.s being moved by a typhoon.

“Do you know why I have to find him?” The pale youth say softly to Guishan Fenghun, his fair skin looking like intricate china that will shatter upon touching in the green light.

“I do not know.” Guishan Fenghun says politely with his head bowed low, a single knee on the ground.

“Do you know the different between the other lords and the Top Lord?”

“The Top Lord never reveals himself to the public, no one knows who he is, in legends he is said to be the reincarnation of a G.o.d. Hence, we have no contact with him.” Guishan Fenghun continues.

“The difference between the Top Lord and all of you is that, aside from having the unique soul return circuit that is enough for him to conquer the land, he has another part that differs from all of you, that is he has three disciples at the same time, each disciple of his inherited his overwhelming soul’s return circuit that is above all things on this land and his talent that is still unknown to everyone, also, no one knows which disciple will be his heir, until the moment of the death of the Top Lord, or until the moment when he steps down by his own will, no one will know who the next Top Lord will be. His three disciples are all named after angels, they are the ‘Disciple of Ocean’ Uriel, the ‘Disciple of Earth’ Michael and the ‘Disciple of Heaven’ Lucifer.”

After saying that, the pallid youth raises his head and stares directly at Yin Chen with his crystal clear irises, saying: “I’m glad to see you again, the ‘Disciple of Heaven’ of the previous generation, Lucifer Yin Chen.”