Above The Sky
Chapter 621 - 621 590 Dead Lord's Power 23

621: Chapter 590 Dead Lord’s Power (2/3) 621: Chapter 590 Dead Lord’s Power (2/3) In the instant Ian responded to the Force of Collective Souls,

a stream of ice-cold, bone-chilling energy that didn’t damage any physical structures poured into his body; instead, it made everything within him colder and more refined as a layer of faint, cold light enveloped him.

Any physical attack would see its power reduced by more than forty percent under this materialized Netherworld Armor, and with every attack he made, he would erode both the soul and body of his targets, draining their life vitality to nourish himself.

Besides, Ian sensed an unprecedented clarity, sharpening his thoughts to an extreme degree.

His control over Essence became even more precise; he could even construct his Essence Layer Shield with an accuracy to the tens of micrometers or dismantle his enemies’ defenses with his attacks.

A tangible but insubstantial pale crown appeared above Ian’s head, the frost flowing out from his soul.

He breathed out slowly, the breath so cold it seemed to kill the wind, casting a deathly stillness over everything.

Even the Frost Butterfly was affected; the Little Fairy in his pouch was suddenly wrapped in frost, as if it had donned a layer of Armored Clothing, bolstered by the power of Lost Souls.

This terrifying power even stimulated Ian’s Spirit Energy, causing all things to display their myriad colors before his eyes.

The entire Subspace Labyrinth was trembling.

And elsewhere in the Subspace Labyrinth—

——In front of a fortress courtyard surrounded by the Phantom Legion,

a white-haired man wielding a sword, commanding the Phantasms in their assault, felt something and lifted his head, his crimson eyes looking in the direction of Ian.

He was clad in armor that radiated an aura of desolate, icy cold; the armor was as red as jade, with the outermost layer shimmering in a ghostly blue luminescence, like it was forged of blood ice, enveloping him.

“Has a new Deceased Monarch emerged?”

He smiled faintly and then shifted his attention back to the miniature garden before him, loudly issuing a command, “Follow me, attack!”

——Outside the Subspace Labyrinth.

In the high skies at the edge of Avak Domain, a young-looking man with eternally furrowed brows and a look of worry watched in the direction of the Central Research Laboratory.

“Not a single element is missing…

they have all been born.

The plan was a success.

You’ve done well, Adalbert…

so there is still a chance to redeem everything.”

Murmuring to himself, the silver-haired man turned to an elderly man with white hair and purple eyes on his side, “Chancellor Moze, you can’t stop me.

Although I can’t kill you, it wouldn’t be hard to have you spend the last few years of your life lying down.”

“That remains to be seen.

I might not be able to defeat you, but making everything you do go against your wishes is something I’m quite good at,” replied the elder with a light chuckle.

“On the contrary, it’s you, Duke of Solin…

how will you face the Emperor’s wrath?”

“He prides himself on having no achievements in his lifetime other than maintaining the territories during the Former Emperor’s reign—your secession might truly provoke an anger he hasn’t felt for many years.”

The silver-haired man, also known as Splitt Solin, scoffed, shaking his head, “This was promised to me by Yinaiga.

If his descendants and heirs cannot earn my approval, then as recompense for killing my father, he allowed me to form my own nation.”

“The King is dead,” the elder stated quietly.

“You know that.”

“Yes, I know,” he replied.

Duke of Solin looked towards Chancellor Moze, and likewise towards the direction of the Imperial Capital.

He gazed long, as if looking at phantasms of a bygone era.

After a moment of silence, he finally said slowly, “That’s why I must fulfill the plan he left behind.”

“No matter the cost.”

Meanwhile, back inside the Subspace Labyrinth,

Ian slowly stood up.

To be honest, this was the first time he felt so good—extremely good.

So good that he had a sense…

of what it meant to achieve Soul and Body Unity, and even what a ‘Heartlight Body’ felt like!

At this moment, Ian felt as if his entire body were filled with ice-cold yet refreshing spring water.

He moved his hands and feet, sensing an overwhelming power longing to burst forth.

The dense Spirit Substance coursed through his flesh and bones, and even his nerves were fully permeated, becoming one with it all.

His Body was no longer just the perishable vessel, obedient to the delayed commands of brain and nerves.

But rather, it achieved Soul and Body Unity, ready to move at the slightest will, capable of even influencing the Natural Spirit Energy around him, and treating nature itself as an extension of his body to control — a transcendent being.

“So this is the Dead Lord’s Power…” Ian whispered to himself, looking at his hands with a touch of emotion.

The power of the Deceased Monarch, plain and simple as the name suggested — it turned the souls of all beings into its power…

but this required a prerequisite, that the souls of these beings “agreed” to it.

— Only if the Force of Collective Souls consents, does the Monarch become a true Monarch.

— If the Collective Souls refuse, the Dead Lord is but a decayed pile of bones.

The power to decide now lay in the hands of the collective souls.

And with the power of collective souls blessing him, aside from not having a Heartlight Body, Ian could almost claim to be at the Third Energy Level — and one of the strong ones at that.

And more so.

Just a bit more.

Just a little more, and he would understand the fundamental difference between the Second Energy Level and the Third Energy Level, and know the secrets of the Heartlight Body.

But it wasn’t a big problem, considering Ian’s talent, this was just a matter of time.

If the power of the Dead Lord lasted a little longer, say an hour or two, he would figure it out — what kind of power would be born from this body filled with the strength of souls.

Moreover, after this experience, Ian understood that the path to the peak of the Second Energy Level had fully opened up to him.

As long as he accumulated enough Spirit Substance to strengthen his soul, even without the Force of Collective Souls, he could easily revisit his current realm.

At the same time, the members of the Huai Guang Rescue Team noticed something unusual about Ian — or rather, the Ghost Valley Knight.

Whether it was team members resting or others on guard, all shifted their gaze to the Ghost Valley Knight, now emitting waves of cold air and enveloped in a layer of semi-transparent Armored Clothing, looking on with confusion and worry.

“Ghost Valley Knight…”

Out of gratitude for the help provided by the Ghost Valley Knight along the way, and trust in the Glorious Sword, they didn’t take up a defensive or combative stance, but a Swordsman stepped forward and asked cautiously, “What has happened to you, sir?”

Ian simply looked at the Swordsman with eyes flickering with a crimson glow, and as the Swordsman stiffened slightly, Ian smiled and replied, “Nothing much.”

He clenched his fist slightly, sensing the surge of icy essence within him, and murmured quietly, “I’ve just gained a power that was beyond the plan, yet within reason.”

“Now, continue to rest while I stand guard.

Once everyone is rejuvenated, we can make our way to the exit.”

After he finished speaking, Ian vanished from their sight, with only the sharpest Archer managing to catch a faint afterimage.

“Captain?”

When Glorious Sword, Redemption Light, Yingguang, and Crimson Blade(Lübeck) arrived, the team looked puzzled towards the Executor of the White Folk’s Sanctuary, who seemed to be familiar with the mysterious and powerful