Elden Ring, but with Wind Spirit Moon Shadow

Chapter 472 King of Ancestral Spirits
Schiff suddenly felt the fur on its back being pulled a little tight, but it didn't care at all.

Regardless of Lani still sitting on him, Sif looked at the newly summoned Torette and jumped around excitedly.

Torret snorted and nodded at Schiff with a somewhat aloof air, but it did not diminish Schiff's enthusiasm in the slightest.

Bai Shi couldn't help but laugh when he saw that Shiv had once again entangled with Torret.

However, he was also somewhat curious.

For some reason, Schiff has always liked Torret since he was a child, as if they had a natural affinity for each other.

Previously, while in the large cave of the stone coffin, Bai Shi discovered the relics left by an ancient dynasty.

The carvings on those huge stone coffins clearly depict the image of Toretto, the little bull.

Those animal head sculptures are very distinctive, and they clearly look just like Toretto.

However, due to the limited information, Bai Shi did not know whether the carving was of Toret or its kin.

The origins of records related to Toret, which are now located at the border, remain a mystery.

It's unknown whether any information can be found from the excavation of the ancient dynasty's ruins.

Regardless of all that, Torret will always be a reliable partner, and that will never change.

Bai Shi gently patted Torret's neck, signaling it to take a step forward.

With Ranie on his back, Shiv immediately followed, and the group continued to venture deeper into this underground world along the Shivra River.
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There are still many places in this underground world that Bai Shi has not yet explored.

Moreover, there are many opportunities to complete achievements and accumulate Wind Spirit Moon Shadow counts along the way.

For example, the Ancestral King, or the two hero gargoyles behind the ancient dynasty's water-guiding bridge.

For Bai Shi, these were all opportunities that were easy to obtain, and they also fit perfectly with the route of this trip.

Now, Bai Shi needs to go see the Ancestral Spirit King first.

Xia Duo has now prepared for reincarnation in the spirit world, and the two birds have planned the ceremony for her.

Winning the resurrection match in the spirit world and returning to the border region is an extremely difficult task.

If it were a time when the spirit world was fully functional and had normal reincarnation, then opening a back door wouldn't be too troublesome.

However, since death has not yet officially returned to the border area, it has blocked this road.

If one wants to be resurrected before the cycle of reincarnation is brought back to the border, then the power of the ancestral spirits is the most convenient option.

Moreover, after being resurrected through the ritual, it is not just a rebirth.

After being resurrected through this ritual, Xia Duo returns from death and is also able to possess a portion of the power of 'death'.

To give birth to life from death is to gain strength from death.

That god of death, who possessed only power but no consciousness, extended many powers to the concept of 'death' brought to the borderlands, and was of paramount importance.

Although Bai Shi can be all-encompassing, he does not want the spirit world to be too independent.

To completely transform the border region into the ideal world, death must return.

Let the cycle of life and death be reincarnated into the law, returning to the borderlands, so that those souls who cannot be reborn can return.

However, Bai Shi's understanding of the workings and original system of the spirit world is not very deep at present.

Therefore, even if they currently have actual control over the spirit world, it is difficult for them to intervene in it and combine it with the laws they want to promote.

Therefore, Bai Shi also needs Xia Duo as an intermediary to help him master this power.

Schiff is also a unique being capable of becoming an 'ancestral spirit,' from which one can glimpse the power of the natural cycle of life and death.

By then, two of the three death powers will be completely under Bai Shi's control.

Next, all that is needed is to acquire the 'Destined Death' in Maricus's hands, and then the power of death will be gathered in Bai Shi's hands.

Only when the full power of 'death' is fully understood can the population of the borderlands, which has been unable to recover, begin to grow again, and the cycle of life and death be completely balanced.

Soon, as Bai Shi pondered, the location of the Ancestral Spirit King appeared before everyone.
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Amidst the magnificent ruins of an ancient dynasty temple, broken stone pillars lean and intertwine, recounting past glories.

Dim starlight spilled down, casting a cold, silvery glow on the ancient, moss-covered altar.

Even though it was just fake starlight from underground, it briefly brought life.

In the magnificent temple ruins, the ancestral spirits, having abandoned metal and returned to nature, danced a prayerful dance around the altar.

The ancestral spirits walked barefoot on the damp mud, the bones and teeth wrapped around their bodies jingling with each step, weaving a unique rhythm with the distant sound of the Shifra River's undercurrent.

The fur and bones they wore trembled as if they were alive, rising and falling with their ritualistic movements and breathing.

The tall female priestesses, holding the head of the young ancestral spirit, stood prominently in the center of the altar.

As they danced, they swayed the heads of their young ancestral spirits, from which pale blue mist of soul water sprayed out.

Glistening water droplets seeped from between the dry fingers, floating in the air like night dew, refracting a rainbow-colored halo.

The remaining clansmen formed a circle, their arms raised high like withered branches, their feet stomping down heavily with each step, creating a deafening sound, and their bodies gradually glowing with a vibrant, turquoise life force.

Those streams of life gradually converged, flowing from the bodies of the ancestral spirits to the withered skeleton in the center of the altar.

The skeleton was left behind by an extremely large creature, large enough to rival ancient dragons and far exceeding ordinary ancestral spirits.

The abdominal cavity, which should have been filled with internal organs, was empty, and the body was covered only with dried-up muscles, as withered as a mummy.

As for that enormous head, all that remained were bare white bones, with only a pair of huge, dense horns emitting faint glows.

As the ritual progressed, the power emanating from the corpse grew stronger, and tender green shoots began to sprout anew.

The bodies of the ancestral spirits also began to wither in unison, but they showed no intention of stopping the ritual.

Their expressions were filled with fanaticism as they manipulated their bodies into mechanical, repetitive movements.

He stomped his feet stiffly on the ground until his foot bones were almost shattered, each full-force stomp causing his bone bells to vibrate.

Finally, with their prayers and dances, life truly revived in the ruins.

The pupils of the skeletal beast head glowed with eerie green phosphorescence, watching over the leaping ancestral spirits and urging them to exert themselves even more diligently.

Blue-green power coiled around a section of pale bone like vines.

Tender shoots sprouted from the joints, blooming into flower buds at a visible speed, covering the withered bones and transforming into flesh and blood.

—The resurrection of the Ancestral King is breaking the boundary between life and death.

As his body was gradually filled in, and his four hooves supported his enormous form, the Ancestral Spirit King, still resembling a dead body, slowly rose to his feet.

The surrounding ancestral spirits were incredibly fervent; they all stopped what they were doing and knelt down in unison.

The mist that emanated from the head of the young ancestral spirit was drawn by a force, causing the surrounding vegetation to wither instantly, and all of this force converged on the dried-up body of the ancestral spirit king.

The withered body was filled again, and a tremendous vitality coursed through its limbs and bones.

Life springs forth from death, and life springs forth from life.

The vitality of these people condensed with the mist, and finally transformed into a magnificent physical body.

Once the Ancestral King's body was fully restored, the power it had accumulated through countless cycles of death returned to its body.

The Ancestral King raised his heavy head and let out a high-pitched roar. Instantly, the withered vegetation blossomed again, becoming even more lush.

The ancestral spirits who offered their life force also received a reward; their lost power returned, and they became even stronger.

Regardless of their form or whether they possessed intelligence, all beings ceased their movements and prostrated themselves before the King of Ancestral Spirits.

At this moment, even the instinct for survival is frozen, and what is awakened is a certain emotion deeper in our genes—a reverence for nature.

Emerging from death once more, the Ancestral King still stands proudly at the pinnacle of nature.
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Bai Shi and the others stood on a distant high ground, observing the resurrection of the Ancestral Spirit King from afar.

This resurrection was extraordinary, unlike the return of ordinary ancestral spirits. It took the combined power of many lives to finally bring it back.

Everyone silently witnessed the entire process, and were all deeply moved by this unique miracle of life.

Even Bai Shi couldn't help but sigh:
"What an astonishing form of existence."

"Now I finally understand what it means for life to sprout from life."

Melina and Lani both nodded in agreement, marveling at this natural wonder.

Only Schiff, unaware of the reason, let out a confused roar.

Bai Shi glanced at Xi Fu, shook his head, and ignored the little guy.

What Bai Shi saw from this was far more than just these superficial things; he had even thoroughly grasped the strength of the Ancestral Spirit King.

Through countless cycles of reincarnation born from death, the Ancestral King continuously gathers power.

A terrifying power has gathered within it.

At least in terms of sheer scale, this vitality is absolutely terrifying, reaching the level of a true king.

Of course, similar to the Devouring Serpent, the Ancestral King also adopted a strategy of winning by sheer numbers.

Coupled with the inherent disadvantages in his physical structure, his true combat power could not possibly be ranked alongside that of many kings.

Even so, to carve a path out of death and ultimately succeed is an unparalleled feat.

If it were the previous ancestral spirit, Sif could still challenge it and eventually take the identity of 'ancestral spirit' from its hands.

Therefore, the Ancestral King before him was far beyond Sif's ability to challenge.

The prospect of challenging the Ancestral King and winning a fair victory against him remains a distant dream.

With Schiff's current power, he can barely reach the level of demigods.

Although it had previously defeated an ordinary ancestral spirit and gained recognition, it was still far inferior to the King of Ancestral Spirits.

Just then, the Ancestral King, surrounded by a host of living beings, turned his head and looked toward where everyone was.

It sensed the presence of the challenger, which is why it chose to return from the brink of death.

These unique creatures of nature are all closely linked by fate, and they will sense each other whenever they get close.

The Ancestral King looked at Sif with some confusion.

The law of nature is survival of the fittest, and the existence of 'ancestral spirits' will never fear challenges.

However, the challenger's strength... seems to be far weaker than it anticipated.

Logically speaking, even if one wants to challenge it, one should accumulate more power.

Bai Shi smiled slightly. He had brought this guy along specifically after learning that Shif had a connection with the ancestral spirits.

Now that the Ancestral King had been resurrected, Bai Shi immediately had Toret leap through the air and rush outside the altar.

The ancestral spirits around them were immediately surprised to see humans.

Upon seeing Sif, they immediately raised their weapons and spontaneously protected the Ancestral King.

There are also tribal distinctions among the ancestral people.

This tribe is completely isolated from the Believer Forest below and is not the same tribe.

The bewildered Ancestral Spirits immediately tried to intercept them, only to see their Ancestral Spirit King step past them first and gracefully greet them.

The eyes of the Ancestral King were clear and bright, as if they were brimming with the fountain of life.

Gazing at Bai Shi, the Ancestral Spirit King quickly understood something.

It sensed the spiritual aura emanating from Bai Shi and the marks of the Hiffen obelisks.

Without a doubt, he is now the master of the spirit world.

The Ancestral King's gaze shifted between Bai Shi and Xi Fu, and he understood everything.

Clearly, it is this human in front of it who wants to awaken it.

Bai Shi dismounted from Toret's back and stood before the Ancestral Spirit King, speaking calmly:
"The Ancestral King, a beautiful and unique being, is someone I am meeting for the first time."

"I hope you can do me a favor, and I will surely gain your friendship and gratitude in return."

"I hope you can use your power to allow a soul to be reborn from the spirit world and to be reborn on the borderland."

From the two birds, Bai Shi learned that the Ancestral Spirit King possessed such power.

It absorbs the souls of the deceased and uses itself as a medium to give birth to new life.

This is why, even in this underground place unprotected by the Golden Tree, the ancestral spirits are not bound by the cycle of reincarnation under the tree, yet they have been able to multiply to this day.

It arises from death, from death to life, and from life to death.

However, in response to Bai Shi's request, the Ancestral Spirit King raised his head high, and the sharp horns emitted a water-like power.

Clearly, it believes that the challenge that should have been carried out still needs to be launched in response to Bai Shi's words.

The resurrection of the Ancestral King is to continue the ancient oath.

Embrace all challenges that inspire a desire to embark on the ancestral path, not for any other reason.

The path it has taken is different from that of the spirit world; it is not subordinate to it, and only through power can it gain recognition.

Bai Shi raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"That's fine. After all, you are such a unique being that you will not easily bow down."

"Only by completely conquering you will you probably be convinced."

"Since you wish to undertake this challenge that awakened you, then so be it."

My time is limited anyway, and I don't want to waste any more words.

Facing the Ancestral Spirit King, who was full of fighting spirit, Bai Shi simply raised his hand.

The next moment, a surging, boundless destructive power was released from his hands, and the light tore through the darkness of the underground ruins.

All differences in color vanished in an instant, and sound was stripped away from the surroundings, leaving only a destructive white light in the silence that no one could look directly at.

The Ancestral King's wide eyes were instantly filled with horror, as if it were the first time in his life he had ever seen a predator's calf.

The enormous body was instantly engulfed in light, and the newly revived body was torn apart in an instant.

(End of this chapter)