The Ascension of Contracted Spirits

Chapter 722 - 300: Flowers by the Window

The scythe-like Nether moon hung in the sky, its purple moonlight immeasurably brilliant.

Bathed in the purple glow, within Without-Sun City, countless were kneeling in homage.

Many creatures, thronging in the streets and alleys, a dense and silent crowd, could not possibly glimpse the strange spectacle at the city’s heart.

But at this moment, activated by the Sacred Embryo·Bliss Beast, an image of Mr. Ye, Ye Yanhuo, materialized in the mind of every being.

She was so old, and so pitiful.

Clearly a mighty 9th-rank powerhouse, she had faced some calamity and now could only lie flat on the ground, like a withered tree, so fragile that even the slightest touch might shatter her into dust.

"Thud! Thud! Thud!"

"Thud! Thud! Thud!"

"Thud! Thud! Thud!"

Tears trickled silently from the corners of the eyes, as the hushed city of Without-Sun echoed with uniformly precise sounds of prostration.

Ye Yanhuo laughed, fresh blood surged to her throat, but she swallowed it back down.

A black flame ignited at her brow and swiftly engulfed her entire body with raging fire.

Everyone saw how this kindly old woman, feeble and frail, had her withered hair become light and floaty, her wrinkled skin smoothed out, revealing once again a face as delicate and exquisite as porcelain.

So, she too had been young once, had worn flowing dresses and greeted the wind with flair.

She had picked the morning dew, listened to the insects and birds in the forests, overseen rivers and oceans in ceaseless flow, observed the endless rise and fall of a thousand cliffs and ravines... She too had had a vibrant life.

But now, she reached the end of her life, and chose to leave the world she had cherished in this special way.

"Farewell, Elder Ye Yanhuo, may your journey be peaceful!"

"Elder Ye Yanhuo, as eternal as the heavens, as radiant as the moon!"

"We solemnly bid farewell to Elder Ye Yanhuo, we vow to forever honor her great virtue!!"

Amidst deafening shouts, Ye Yanhuo gradually vaporized, transforming into black butterflies fluttering in dance.

"Boom!!"

Twenty-four beams of light surged skyward, the tower stones emitting endless light propped up a semi-transparent Membrane Defense Shield, swiftly enveloping the entire city.

Following that, spatial rifts appeared one after another, and an array of oddly shaped magical artifacts floated above the heads of the crowd.

"Take what you need."

The authoritative voice of Jin Xuanzi resonated, and the clan members around him stood up one by one, reaching out and grabbing through the air.

Ye Hanjun followed suit, and a breath later, a bloodstained robe descended from the heavens into his hands.

This was a unique Secret Technique robe, once immersed in the blood pool of a dark holy beast, refined for over a century.

Its effects were not particularly miraculous, but it could confer a blessing for a brief period, a crude method to deceive the will of the heavens.

In addition, there was also a Holy Blood Amulet and a defensive gem for protection.

Even though the City Protection Array, which protected the entire clan, could block most of the effects of the Clock of the Era, accidents could still occasionally occur.

But with these treasures, the safety coefficient of the Night Family would be greatly enhanced.

"I want a ’Window Flower’."

Whispering softly, a flower as clear as glass, sculpted from crystal, spun as it descended from the sky.

Its glow was too dazzling; members of the clan at a distance immediately noticed something unusual.

Ye Hu, Ye Donghai, Ye Youxing, Ye Yaya... first they were puzzled and uncertain, then became restless and anxious.

"I want a ’Window Flower’..."

"I want a ’Window Flower’..."

Echoing incantations followed, one after another.

Those paying close attention could see that the speakers were either of Young King status or above or they had made significant contributions to the Ye Clan, carrying commendable valor.

If not, even if they shouted themselves hoarse, no glass flowers would fall from the sky.

"What is that, Grandfather?"

In the outermost circle at the city center, where the Ye Clan’s vassals gathered, a little girl sitting in the crook of an old man’s arm saw reflections of the gleaming flowers in her clear eyes and couldn’t help being curious.

"That is the Window Flower, a sacred artifact that can open the City Protection Array."

"It’s only useful when the epoch changes; on ordinary days, it’s of no use at all."

"Weird."

The little girl blinked and said with a puzzled look:

"Why open the array we’ve worked so hard to activate?"

"Because... there are always some Night Family members who believe they can capitalize on the right moment and place, to receive a blessing from the cosmos, rather than punishment."

"They are unwilling to huddle behind barriers and are prepared to take a certain risk, to gamble a little."

"If they win the bet, both they and their Contracted Spirit Fond Spirits can immensely benefit from the bestowed blessings."

"Grandfather!"

A boy of about six or seven sneaked up to the old man’s side and raised his hand eagerly to ask:

"This is the Clock of the Era, if they lose the bet, will they die?"

"It’s highly unlikely."

The old man tickled the boy’s nose, then looked up reverently at the twenty-four tower stones:

"This is the ultimate Formation protecting our clan, supported by twenty-four Holy Saint Embryos and requires the blood and soul of a Ye Clan Saint, its power is immense."

"With the ’Window Flower,’ they can only open a very, very small gap, allowing the obscured fate to regain sensation."

"Should they fail, their bodies are still outfitted with various lifesaving treasures, and killing them outright... is too difficult."