The Birth of the Last Divine Dragon Emperor

4. The Soul Crystal of the Ghost King

"What do you mean by the Moon Palace? I've lived in Cenayang Village since I was a child. There's no way I could be from the place you're talking about, right?"

Cai Lin paused momentarily before explaining. The Moon Palace was an incredibly mysterious place, known only to a select few.

"But your abilities are still too weak right now. I can't reveal its location yet... When the time comes, I will personally take you to the Moon Palace."

Yuan Bei nodded in understanding and continued his journey. Before he knew it, he had arrived at the gates of Shang City just as the sky turned dark.

Quickly entering the city, Yuan Bei headed straight for a tower known as the Tower of Information. Suddenly, a servant stopped him.

"Sir, is there something I can assist you with?"

"Could I request some minor information?"

The servant nodded. "It depends on the complexity of the information you require, but naturally, we charge an appropriate price for our services."

Yuan Bei clenched his fists tightly. He had no money and turned to leave.

"Sir? Are you not interested in purchasing information from us?"

"Miss, I don't have a single coin to my name. It seems I'll need to find some gold coins before I can buy any information..."

"Wait! As it happens, we are in need of additional cultivators to ensure Miss Ling Ying's safety. If you don't mind, perhaps you could register with us for now. Not only will you earn a handsome amount of money, but we’ll also provide the information you need free of charge."

Yuan Bei paused, considering the offer, but Cai Lin's voice rang in his mind.

"Be careful, Bei. Not all offers lead to good outcomes. Before agreeing, ask where you need to escort the girl."

Nodding slightly, Yuan Bei looked at the servant with newfound interest.

"Miss, where exactly would I need to escort Miss Ling Ying?"

"The Enchanted Forest. Miss Ling Ying intends to hunt a fourth-rank demon beast."

Realizing that the destination aligned with his own goals, Yuan Bei immediately decided to accept the job.

"I'm in."

The servant nodded and handed him a small iron plate engraved with an image of a tower in the center.

"Drip your blood onto this plate. It will register you as a worker for the Tower of Information."

Following the instructions, Yuan Bei bit his finger until a drop of blood fell onto the plate. Instantly, it emitted a golden light.

"Channel your spiritual consciousness into the plate, and you'll see how many contribution points you've earned."

Understanding the servant's words, Yuan Bei did as instructed. The servant continued, "Come back tonight to meet me. You'll be departing then."

Leaving the Tower of Information, Yuan Bei wandered aimlessly through the city with an empty stomach and no money to fill it, waiting for nightfall.

As he walked, Cai Lin, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke in his mind.

"Bei, there seems to be a hidden secret in that old house ahead of you."

"A secret? Do you mean a resource or an artifact?"

"I can't be certain, but I have a strong instinct for sensing artifacts, resources, or even traces of Heavenly Flame."

Hearing this, Yuan Bei, feeling a glimmer of hope, entered the old house in front of him.

As soon as he stepped inside, a strong gust of wind accompanied by an eerie ghostly aura made Yuan Bei’s hair stand on end.

"What is this aura? Why do I feel so unnerved?"

"It's ghostly aura."

"G-ghostly aura?"

"Indeed. Unlike killing intent, which stems from a strong desire to kill, ghostly aura arises from overwhelming fear."

Walking deeper into the old house, Yuan Bei stopped in front of a dusty bookshelf. Amid the cluttered books stood a solitary glass cup.

He tried to pick it up, but the cup seemed firmly rooted to the wooden shelf.

"It doesn't seem unusual..." After exploring and finding nothing that matched Cai Lin's instincts, Yuan Bei prepared to leave the old house. But Cai Lin suddenly gave him a command.

"Destroy the cup you just touched. There’s a hidden room behind the bookshelf!"

Crack!

With a powerful punch, Yuan Bei shattered the glass embedded in the shelf. Instantly, the bookshelf slid to the side, revealing a pitch-dark room. Yuan Bei quickly summoned his Dragon Heart Flame, illuminating the space with a warm glow.

What he saw next left him stunned.

"T-that’s the Soul Crystal of the Ghost King!" Cai Lin's excited voice echoed in his mind as she recognized the familiar crystal sphere resting before them.

"What’s so special about it? Isn’t this just an ordinary crystal..." As Yuan Bei touched it, his eyes suddenly widened, and his soul seemed to be drawn into another dimension.

"Where am I? Why does everything look blurry? And why can’t I contact Cai Lin anymore?" he muttered in confusion. Suddenly, the pitch-dark surroundings transformed into a dazzling brightness.

Swuuuuush!

The aura Yuan Bei had sensed when he first entered the ancient residence now felt even more intense. Then, out of nowhere, a mysterious, skinless man clad in a veil appeared before Yuan Bei, startling him.

"Wh-who are you!" Yuan Bei shouted.

Summoning a sword forged from flames, Yuan Bei noticed the veiled figure raise an eyebrow in apparent amusement.