Chapter 1172 The Search For The Lost Soul II

Adrian decided to visit the Vermillion Bird while he has the chance. The convoy for the merchants heading to the northern region would depart tomorrow which is why he has time. Adrian went to the bottom of the bell tower where the Vermillion Bird resides.

The southern region of the eastern continent has evolved even further due to the influence of the players that helped it grow. Adrian could see that more and more players are flooding the area because they are hungry for contributions. One player even gained the recognition to become the Priestess of the Vermillion Bird.

Adrian did not meet this player because it seems that she is out and solving problems that are arising in the southern region. If he had the chance, then he would like to meet this player priestess as she is quite famous in the forums for her feats of strength.

"It seems that you only visit me one in a while my friend. I would have forgotten about you if you did not visit me now. Do not tell me that you only visited me because you have something that you need from me?" The Vermillion Bird stated with a playful tone.

"If you do not want then I can just return." Adrian replied playfully.

"I was just joking with you. I know that you are busy with your duties as Champion of the Twin Gods. It is such a pity that you cannot be my priest instead. I am also a bit ashamed that I was not able to help you against the battle with the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse as my hands are tied up here in my territory." The Vermillion Bird stated as it felt that its home is also its prison.

The Vermillion Bird also wants to explore the world and see the new things that sprouted but it has people to protect. It cannot exist without the power of the people's faith as it is a core essence of its existence. It does have the power to communicate and see the world through the eyes of its priestess which is why it likes to send her out in the world.

"I know that you are also caught up in the power struggle of the other Divine Beasts. It is a good thing that you seem to have gained a decent relationship with the northern region." Adrian stated.

"That is only the case because that old turtle is not like the ones in the east and the west. The old turtle likes to protect those dear to him and would rather defend than attack which is why he has the best army in terms of defense. Even the others know that they will lose should they attack his territory.

'ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ No(v) e lBin ᴏɴʟʏ.',

It is not just me that has an amiable relationship with the old turtle as the others do as well. It just took some time for me to establish it as I needed to recover my power and appoint a priestess to talk to that old guy." The Vermillion Bird stated.

"It feels as though you know them personally from the way you speak about them." Adrian stated as he could deduce the relationship of the four divine beasts from the Vermillion Bird's speech.

"That would be a story for another time as even you are not fit enough to hear the origin of our stories. Why did you really come to my abode my friend? I know that you like to greet me but that is not all, right?" The Vermillion Bird asked.

"I only did come to greet you as I am killing time before I depart for the north. I am searching for the soul of a rather important being. Any information that you have of the Ten Thousand Sword Mound would be very helpful if you have any." Adrian stated as he knows that the Four Divine Beasts could see what their followers see.

"If it is about the Ten Thousand Sword Mound then even my followers that use the sword have gone there to test their luck. That place is both blessed and cursed in my opinion." The Vermillion Bird stated.

"Blessed and cursed?" Adrian exclaimed in confusion.

"It is blessed because it is a special place that could grant immeasurable strength to sword wielders which are many in the eastern continent. It is cursed because it produces Yakshas which are demons created from malice and resentment.

Even I know that a place like that is a great danger because negative energy tends to swallow its surroundings. To make matters worse, it was the place where the Horseman of Conquest is slain. The swords that appeared there are no doubt the countless pitiful souls that the Horseman of Conquest has slain.

Should the grudges of the Yaksha's solidify then they could evolve to become Greater Yakshas. Once Yakshas evolve into Greater Yakshas, they would be able to wander the world and search for every being that they hold a grudge over. If that is to happen, then a massacre will undoubtedly happen." The Vermillion Bird stated.

"But a fair portion or almost all the ones that the Horseman of Conquest killed were dead for a long time. How could they find those that they have a grudge over if they are also dead?" Adrian asked.

"The eastern continent operates in a different way than those of other continents. In the eastern continent, the weight of one's family is also a burden on the members themselves. They will have to bear the grudges that their ancestors inflict as long as they use their family names." The Vermillion Bird stated.

In the eastern continent, the prestige and honor follow the family names of individuals. Which is why those of high status and honor would never do something that will taint their family name. No one would do it openly, but all secrets will eventually get revealed which is why the young ones are often taught at an early age.

Children from a young age especially the successors are taught how to act so that they will never embarrass their family name. One might say that this is unfair for the child but that is the price they pay for status and wealth. The higher ones are then the more open they are for scrutiny because all eyes are on them.

"Does this mean that most of the notable families in the eastern continent would be massacred if that happened?" Adrian asked.

"Not most. You underestimate the long history of battle in the eastern continent. All notable families will be in the chopping block should that happen because they also carry the sins of their ancestors. One is only able to remove that grudge when they fully denounce their families but no one in the right mind will do that.

A person that has felt comfort ever since they are born will never be able to adapt to the ways of a poor person in a short amount of time. They might be able to survive if they were raised to not rely on the comforts that their family name gives them. But those that were not trained in such shall know how cruel the world can be for those below." The Vermillion Bird stated.

What the Vermillion Bird said is true because even Adrian knows how it is to live in comfort. What kept him grounded is the fact that he was raised to not be spoiled and take things for granted. It might also be the spartan training style that his mother raised him but even he admits that there are some areas he is lacking.

His friends that have been raised with just enough or less than enough before are much better than him in terms of street smarts. Adrian might be trained in some form of combat but is only useful in fights. If he were to suddenly live way below to what he is now, then he knows that he will undoubtedly starving on the side of the road.

He also knows the difficulty of maintaining an image due to his father's business. He had to keep an amiable poker face despite not liking the way people approach him. He had to keep face so that his father would not be embarrassed of him or be told that he was not raised right.

"Do you know if it is really the influence of the death of the Horseman of Conquest for the Ten Thousand Sword Mound to appear?" Adrian asked as he thought it might be the soul of the Horseman of Conquest that created it.

"I know that the east is a spiritual land, but the dead cannot do that easily. Unless they get help from certain powers." The Vermillion Bird stated as it suddenly went silent, and Adrian felt that the air suddenly felt cold.

"Unless what?" Adrian asked.

"Unless they got help from a dark god." The Vermillion Bird stated.