Chapter 241 — The Wheel of Reincarnation
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 2 of 7
Yet amid that brilliant splendor, the Aeon Bell, as though struck a heavy blow, gave one last faint tremble in midair, then, entirely bereft of any support, dropped limply and struck the jade wheel with a "clack." It rolled a few times and then moved no more.
Ming Li and the Nether King stared blankly at the Aeon Bell lying in the Universe Reincarnation Wheel, their faces ashen.
The disturbances underground had long since subsided, and the Universe Reincarnation Wheel, after its sudden transformation, had returned to its original state, with no more dazzling halo of light. Yet in the soft white glow, the Aeon Bell seemed to have lost all its vitality; no matter how Ming Li tried, it gave no response whatsoever.
The Nether King's face was dark and grim, but the first flush of fury had already vanished from it, replaced by a cold indifference. He watched in silence as Ming Li tried again and again on the slimmest hope, and again and again met with failure. At last he slowly straightened, closed his eyes, and stood there a while. Then, without a word, he quietly turned and left the ice chamber.
The stone door slid slowly shut; across the massive, solid stone ran a great crack, as though it had been torn apart. In the silent chamber, Ming Li at last slowly ceased his futile attempts and sat woodenly beside the stone platform, motionless.
He did not know how much time had passed when he slowly picked up the Aeon Bell lying in the Universe Reincarnation Wheel and gently placed it back into Bi Li's hand. Then, with the utmost care, he folded her hands across her chest as they had been before. Every movement was careful and tender, as though he feared that the slightest force might hurt the sleeping woman before him.
He gazed at Bi Li's face as though bewitched. After a long while, his low, hoarse voice came: "I'm sorry, Bi Li. I failed to save you again…"
After leaving the ice chamber, the Nether King's expression changed drastically; the blank indifference was instantly replaced by a savage fury, and his eyes gleamed with a murderous intent that made one shudder to behold.
He cast a cold glance around him. The passages on every side were scarred and battered, clearly the work of that mysterious power that had erupted moments before. The stone walls, already cracked all over, now looked more fragile than ever, with many new fissures opened and many old ones greatly widened—a sight alarming enough to give one the illusion that the cavern was on the verge of collapse. In the distance, he could dimly see many disciples of the Nether King Sect rushing about, shouts rising and falling on every side; clearly they had been badly frightened.
The Nether King's face darkened with even greater fury. He turned and strode off, his figure vanishing into the depths of the passage in an instant. A short while later, he had arrived at the Blood Pool deep within the cavern.
In the vast space of the Blood Pool, the thick stench of blood still assailed the nose as before, but the once-magnificent crimson radiance that had filled the air had strangely faded considerably. The Nether King frowned, and then caught sight of Mr. Ghost's black figure standing alone upon the platform.
Without a second thought, he strode over and came to a stop behind Mr. Ghost. "What is the meaning of this?" he said coldly. "All was well when I left. Why has the divine power of the Coiling Dragon Cauldron suddenly run so wildly out of control?"
Mr. Ghost's body stirred slightly, but he neither turned nor spoke. The Nether King grew angrier still; with a cold snort, a flicker of murderous intent crossed his face. "I tell you this," he said. "It is very likely that just now, because that power ran amok, my Yao'er's treatment was harmed. You have been standing watch here all along. If you cannot give me a reason, do not blame me for casting aside all restraint!"