Chapter 141: The Soulbound Coin
Chapter 141: The Soulbound Coin
"They're back."
"They're finally here!" Inside the main hall, several people were enjoying tea and snacks when they spotted the two returning figures.
In the lush and verdant backyard, on a path paved with green stone slabs, a man and a woman walked one after the other, their footsteps slow and steady.
Lily showed no change in her demeanor, maintaining a detached expression as she lightly tapped the ground with her bamboo cane, searching for direction.
Behind her, Lu Ran's face was much more somber.
The others noticed his serious expression, feeling a bit concerned, wondering what had happened.
After all, the bamboo mansion was filled with a chilling breeze, and an eerie atmosphere permeated the place.
"Lily." Hao Tian approached her and, in a caring gesture, picked up the end of her bamboo cane, guiding the girl into the main hall.
Lu Ran couldn't help but notice such a thoughtful act.
Hao Tian was indeed a good brother.
Even for Dong Ting believers, it was unlikely they would be this attentive, even towards their girlfriends.
Only a blood relation could make Hao Tian 'lower' himself in this way.
At this thought, Lu Ran felt a connection with Hao Tian.
He recalled the time when he had trained with his sister Yuan Xi's squad. He had been extremely cautious around her teammates, who would fight alongside his sister, sharing life and death experiences.
He was afraid that any misstep on his part might disrupt the harmony within his sister's squad.
"Sorry for the poor hospitality." Lily's empty gaze fell upon the group.
"It's fine."
"The osmanthus cake is delicious~" The others quickly agreed.
It wasn't just politeness; for a group that ate bamboo shoots daily, the cake was indeed a delightful treat.
"Lu Ran, what's that?" Deng Yutang had been paying close attention to Lu Ran.
He noticed that Lu Ran's wrist now bore an additional piece of jewelry—a thin red string with an ancient-looking round coin with a square hole.
"This?" Lu Ran shook his wrist. "The Lord of Forget Spring felt a connection with me and gave me this copper coin."
"Let me see~" Chang Ying stepped forward, taking Lu Ran's wrist in her hand, and examined it closely.
The others clicked their tongues in amazement, secretly marveling at Lu Ran's good fortune.
Hao Tian's expression changed, and he looked at his sister in disbelief. "A soulbound coin?"
Lily remained expressionless, merely humming in acknowledgment.
"A soulbound coin?" Chang Ying was puzzled.
Deng Yutang speculated, "If it's a gift from a deity, it must be extraordinary."
"Exactly!" Hao Tian's heart raced as he looked at the others, who didn't seem to understand the value of the coin. "This is a divine artifact!"
"What?"
"A divine artifact?" The others finally realized the terrifying value of the copper coin.
Lily silently turned and walked towards the bamboo stairs, apparently heading upstairs to rest.
"Lily, this..." Hao Tian hesitated.
"We have no right to question the decision of the Lord of Forget Spring." Lily spoke calmly as she ascended the stairs.
She was clearly not a good host, leaving her guests behind to go upstairs on her own.
However, the others were not surprised by the cold behavior of the believers of the Lord of Forget Spring.
"I never thought I'd see a divine artifact in my lifetime!" Chang Ying was thrilled, leaning over to examine the copper coin closely.
Indeed, on both sides of the square hole, the words 'Soulbound' were inscribed.
"This is just a fragment of a divine artifact, and its power might not be as terrifying as you imagine." Lu Ran explained.
"What can it do?" Chang Ying asked.
Before Lu Ran could answer, Hao Tian interjected, "The soulbound coin can absorb the souls of both humans and demons, turning them to its use!"
Upon hearing this, the others were secretly shocked.
They were all high school students, mere underlings in the Stream Realm, and had a limited understanding of the high-level concept of 'souls'.
Their knowledge was limited to the special demonic techniques of the Soulshattering Demon and the Dark Lantern, which could torment the souls of the deceased.
"Too much talk." Lily's faint voice came from the bamboo stairs.
Hao Tian: "..."
Lu Ran spoke up, "It's just a fragment of a divine artifact, and its power might not be as terrifying as you imagine."
Deng Yutang stepped forward, "Can it absorb souls?"
"Yes." Lu Ran nodded.
"Can it turn them to its use?"
"Yes." Lu Ran nodded again.
Deng Yutang's expression was quite colorful, and his voice rose in excitement, "Isn't that powerful?"
Lu Ran: "..."
"Amazing!" Chang Ying exclaimed excitedly, "My captain has a divine artifact, haha!"
Lu Ran sighed, "It can only absorb the souls of the deceased. It can't extract the souls of the living from their bodies.
It turns them to its use, but more accurately, it refines the souls to nourish the coin itself.
As the owner, I can only enjoy a slight spiritual nourishment."
Lu Ran spoke from experience, having seen and known much, and even possessing a Demon Sculpture Garden.
However, to the others, Lu Ran's words were incomprehensible!
With such a terrifying function, what more could they ask for from this copper coin?
"Lu Ran, you have big ambitions. Do you want to extract the souls of the living?" Hao Tian looked at Lu Ran, unsure how to react to this ungrateful person.
Hmm... I really want to hit someone!
Hao Tian often came to take care of his sister, but in these past few years, he had only entered the Hall of Rebirth once.
Every time he came to pay respects, Hao Tian would do so outside the hall's door.
Occasionally, the hall's door would be open, and Hao Tian would be fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of the beautiful crimson rain threads within.
However, on Lu Ran's first visit, he had taken a copper coin from the deity?
Lu Ran suddenly spoke, "Lily said that I should cultivate this copper coin, and it might unlock even more advanced uses."
(End of Chapter)Perhaps, this copper coin can command the imprisoned wraith within to fight for me."
Everyone: "..."
Lu Ran's words were not unfounded, as Lily had just said this.
However, such advanced usage is difficult to achieve with just a fragment; it requires a complete artifact.
This is also why Lily wanted Lu Ran to cultivate the copper coin.
To be honest, when Lu Ran heard that the artifact, the Soulbound Coin, had this effect, he was overjoyed!
Whether or not this copper coin could allow Lu Ran to control wraiths in battle was no longer important.
What mattered was that one day in the future, when Lu Ran could summon and control demons, this copper coin would be the perfect cover!
Lily explained it clearly:
The Soulbound Coin commands wraiths to fight, not in the form of souls.
In most cases, souls cannot affect the normal world.
Lu Ran had seen many wraiths on the battlefield, both human and demonic, who were unwilling to leave after death.
In their wraith forms, they still sought to fight, but to no avail, as their attacks had no effect due to their ethereal nature.
The Soulbound Coin,
Consumes its own Qi, using the imprisoned wraith within as a foundation and reconstructing its body.
Hmm. It's like reincarnation?
However, this reincarnation is very brief.
Speaking of which, the current Lu Ran is still quite cautious and doesn't seek to openly command demons.
He just wanted to have a backup plan.
Just in case someone discovers that he is associating with demons one day,
At least he will have a reasonable explanation.
"Oh my, this is incredible," Chang Ying whispered, then suddenly asked, "Now, is there a wraith in this copper coin?"
Lu Ran: "We'll have one after we go out and kill a Bamboo Demon."
As he spoke, Lu Ran turned to Hao Tian and patted him heavily on the shoulder: "Brother Hao, thanks to your introduction!
Without you, I wouldn't have gotten this opportunity or met Lord Forget Spring."
Hao Tian felt very uncomfortable.
It wasn't that he wanted the copper coin himself, but from Hao Tian's perspective, all the resources of the Fountain of Forgetting Sect belonged to his sister.
Yet, a bandit emerged and Lord Forget Spring showed such favor to Lu Ran, bestowing such a generous gift.
Fortunately, Lu Ran was already a believer, so it was like a flower with an owner.
Even so, Hao Tian was still a little worried that Lu Ran might switch to Lord Forget Spring's sect, taking away his sister's assets.
"How should I thank you. Oh yes!" Lu Ran said immediately, "I almost forgot the reason you brought us here.
I'll go and persuade my sister to eat meat right now."
"No! Don't bother!" Hao Tian hurriedly said.
"Hmm?" Lu Ran was a little confused, "Why not again?"
"Er." Hao Tian was at a loss for words.
Of course, he didn't dare to say directly, "You guys should leave now and stop hanging around Lord Forget Spring."
After all, if Lord Forget Spring favored Lu Ran, but Hao Tian chased them away in private, it would be like he was tired of them.
"How about this." Lu Ran thought for a moment and said, "We've disturbed you for a long time, and I also want to go back and study the copper coin.
Our squad will return to the nearest Bamboo Village to rest.
In the coming days, I'll pack more food and bring it to your sister, so she can eat on time and properly. I'll also try to persuade her."
Hao Tian remained silent, feeling very conflicted. After much deliberation, he still nodded.
Even with many thoughts, for this older brother, his sister's physical and mental health always came first.
"Let's go," Lu Ran called out to everyone and headed out of the main hall.
After entering the front courtyard for a short while, Lu Ran suddenly remembered something and turned back, looking up at the open window on the second floor.
He shouted loudly: "Hey, you there, eat that duck wing!"
Hao Tian slightly opened his mouth, watching Lu Ran's outrageous behavior.
No!
How dare you?
"Did you hear me?" Lu Ran shouted again under Hao Tian's astonished gaze, "If you don't eat it, I'll take it!"
Others naturally assumed that Lu Ran was talking about eating the duck wing.
But Lily knew what Lu Ran was referring to! With Lord Forget Spring's attitude towards Lu Ran, if he asked, he might really get another string of copper coins.
Lily's heart began to bleed again.
Finally, a faint response came from the second-floor window: "Hmm."
Lu Ran smiled in satisfaction and nodded to Hao Tian, indicating, "It's settled!"
Hao Tian: ???
"We're leaving first, and you don't need to see us off. See you later," Lu Ran called out to everyone and quickly left.
Hao Tian stood in place for a long time before turning to look at the second-floor window.
He was very dissatisfied and couldn't help but say, "Lily! I've been so considerate towards you, but you don't even listen to me.
This Lu Ran has only met you once, and you listen to him and eat?"
From the window, a cold voice replied: "Oh, then I won't eat it."
"No, no, no!" Hao Tian exclaimed, "Please eat, eat more..."
End of Chapter.
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