Chapter 298 - A Deal With The Vengeful Spirit
Back in the Capital.
Having finished with the array"s modification, Leon began to tackle the next set of problems that follows.
If he wanted to use Teleportation Array and make the return trip after he was done on the other side, he would have to make sure that there was sufficient energy.
As it stands, he could not afford to wait until the two gathering formations collect the required amount for both trips. Sacrificing the vengeful spirit also seemed like a waste.
Although he could not trust the vengeful spirit, it was not like he did not have any methods to guarantee his safety.
Considering he would not be able to bring others to the other side to help him look for the missing people due to the dark miasma, the vengeful spirit might prove useful in this regard if he can subdue it.
Leon had taken a few Heavenly Crystals, or rather Transcendent Crystals from treasury just in case. The Transcendent Crystals on him definitely had enough supplementary energy for the array.
However, he was still worried about another matter.
The demonic energy contained within the Demon Cores came from different demons, making them violent and unstable. As such, continuous usage would cause wear and tear in the formations and array regardless of his modification.
Although a spatial collapse was no longer possible thanks to his modification, it would still be troublesome if the Teleportation Array suddenly breaks down while he was on the other side.
Yes, it would only be troublesome at best. With Leon"s current knowledge, he could recreate another Teleportation Array to send himself back.
But the problem with this was, it would require some uncommon materials and effort to set up the array, something he could not afford to waste his time finding in uncharted territory where safety and danger would be separated by a thin thread.
As such, it was better if he could swap demonic energy out for another more ideal source of energy, something like spirit energy, which was generally used for everything back in the Divine Realm.
Leon briefly paused at this thought.
It had been several days since he left the Gra.s.sland Region. Considering the capabilities of the World Tree, spirit energy would have reached a certain level of density and spread out to other regions by now.
To verify this guess, Leon exited Lost Isle Alley straight from the hollow center, flying to the top of the triple building and landed softly on the st.u.r.dy frames of branches holding the structure together.
Eyes closed and sense extended outwards, Leon begun to feel spirit energy level in the surrounding atmosphere.
A few moments later, he reopened his eyes with a sigh. The spirit energy level had risen a few degrees and was no longer as scarce as previously.
However, the amount of spirit energy in the Capital was a far cry to what he needed to keep the Teleportation Array up and running.
"It seems I will need to make a quick trip to the World Tree." Leon mused to himself.
This was just right. He needed to check up on the others back there anyway. Also, news of the frontlines reaches the Gra.s.sland Region faster than it would reach the Capital.
He could also get a clearer picture of the current war situation.
"But before that, there"s something else I need to settle first."
Leon stopped by the edge of the building and peered back down into the darkness of Lost Isle Alley, like he was looking at the well below directly. This was just an illusion. He could not actually see through that cover of darkness.
Although he could alter the formation"s functions to disperse the darkness, the faint miasma would harm the citizens living in the nearby area if they were to unknowingly inhale it.
Furthermore, the darkness makes a good cover from prying eyes. With that in mind, it was better to leave the darkness alone, for now.
Leon stepped forward into the empty air, and his body slowly descended back down to Lost Isle Alley. He made his way directly to the center well after his feet touched the ground.
Leaning forward, Leon stared straight down the dark well and said, "Yo, I"m back again. You awake down there?"
The vengeful spirit shackled at the bottom of the well opened her eyes. The proximity of Leon"s voice made her rather excited.
"It"s you again? Why did you come back? Are you going to help out this time?"
"Well, I could. But why would I do that? Didn"t you threaten to kill if you were able to get out last time?"
"W-When did I say that? How come I cannot recall saying such a thing happening? I don"t think there is any enmity between us that would warrant your death. Besides, isn"t it too much to threaten the person that might be able to help me?"
The vengeful spirit appeared shocked at Leon"s accusation. At the same time, Leon had his brows furrowed as he surely felt there was a problem with this vengeful spirit"s head—No, mind.
"In any case, that was what you said last time."
Leon shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.
The vengeful spirit wracked her memory, but she still failed to recall such a thing as a section of her memory was blank. She fell silent, feeling both wronged and depressed.
"Well, it"s not impossible for me to help you. However, I have a few conditions you must accept for that to happen."
The vengeful spirit"s eyes lit up, and without hesitation, she said, "I will accept those conditions!"
"You will? Even when I have yet to tell you what those conditions are?"
"It doesn"t matter. I have been trapped down here for so long. I will do anything if it means I can leave this place instead of just waiting to die." The vengeful spirit said determinedly.
Leon was intrigued and asks, "Even if it means limiting your freedom?"
"This… what are your conditions?" The vengeful spirit asked with embarra.s.sment.
"The first condition is you are not allowed to indiscriminately harm humans without a justifiable reason. The second condition is you need to accompany me on a trip and help me save some people. The last condition is you need to open your spiritual sea and allow me to leave a blood imprint on your soul core."
"I can agree to the first two, but what do you mean by the third condition?" The vengeful spirit asked warily.
The soul core was the most vulnerable part of her existence. If Leon damaged her soul core, it would greatly hurt her if it did not kill her outright.
"I do not trust you, so I need some guarantee. This would allow me to destroy your soul core with a single thought if you were to even have the intention of betraying me." Leon said coldly.
Blood Imprint was the most common method of enslaving people. It was commonly used everywhere in the Divine Realm, except his late father"s Divine Kingdom, the kingdom of medicine.
His father had looked down on such a technique because it can make a person do their every bidding, but it will not earn their loyalty.
However, if his late father, the Divine Medicine King, had used the Blood Imprint on his subordinates, how would they have had the chance to betray them?!
The vengeful spirit was silent for a short while before it voiced its agreement.
"Alright."
"Are you sure? There"s no going back after this." Leon tried to sound out the vengeful spirit in case it was playing tricks on him. Perhaps he was overly cautious, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
"I am sure! Hurry up and get it over and done with! I want to get out already!" The vengeful spirit urged him with gritted teeth.
"Alright."
Leon smiled and drifted down the well. He waved his hand and used Divine Will to part away the darkness gathered at the bottom of the well.
Although he did not need to wave his hand to use Divine Will, he found that it was less taxing on his mental energy this way.
Leon made sure he did not touch the formation at the bottom of the well as he did not want to be ensnared by its shackling chains like the vengeful spirit.
A Peak Tier 4 formation like this one was able to trap almost every Seeking Insight level Transcendents and below.
"Open your spiritual sea," Leon said expressionlessly after producing some light on the tip of his finger.
The vengeful spirit complied soundlessly without complaint as a rift to her soul core opened on her forehead.
Leon bit his thumb and produced some blood essence before allowing it to float in front of himself as he made some hand seals and separated a part of his divine sense and added it to the drop of blood essence.
After this was done, he sent the drop of blood essence into the vengeful spirit"s sea of consciousness and imprinted it on her soul core.
"It"s done."
The vengeful spirit was quite nervous, but after hearing Leon"s words and sensing nothing wrong with her soul core, she was relieved. Her mood quickly improved as she excitedly said, "Help me now."
"I will."