Having obtained the crucial Transposing Kiln and finished looting the corpse, Xia Yu immediately used a Homeward Bone to return to Firelink Shrine.
A Homeward Bone is a white bone fragment already burnt to ash; the brittle bone contains no marrow, only a few faintly flickering sparks.
The fuel that burns at every bonfire consists of the bones of the Undead. Thus, the few remaining burnt bones possess the power of return. Upon use, they can take one directly back to the last bonfire rested at, or to the source of all bonfires—Firelink Shrine.
For even when the Undead turn to bone, they are still drawn to the fire.
"Welcome back, Ashen One."
Just as his ethereal figure began to coalesce from the bonfire, the Fire Keeper approached with small steps and gave a slight bow.
The others in Firelink Shrine also noticed the return of this extraordinary Ashen One. He was out of place among these lifeless souls, brimming with vitality and vigor.
"Yeah, I'm back. I'll teach you a new dance in a bit; watch the video first."
After fully manifesting, Xia Yu spoke while pulling a laptop from behind his waist and handing it to the somewhat flustered Fire Keeper.
This was a Darksign-brand laptop he had asked AI Xia Yu to create. It contained almost every otaku dance he could find. One day, he intended to have the Fire Keeper learn them all and perform them for him.
Holding the laptop in her hands, the Fire Keeper watched as the Ashen One hurried away. She sat back down on the steps with a hint of helplessness and opened the laptop Xia Yu had given her.
The Ashen One had taught her how to use this strange object called a "computer." So, while the Fire Keeper wasn't exactly proficient, she generally knew how to operate it.
As the video labeled "Video" played, the Fire Keeper gradually began to blush. It was another one of those strange dances; the Ashen One really was a peculiar person.
Leaving her, Xia Yu headed up the stairs to find Ludleth. He was one of the Lords of Cinder upon the thrones and the only one who hadn't fled. It just so happened that Ludleth knew the art of Soul Transposition.
"Yo, Cautious Gray Heart Brother."
Hawkwood was sitting on the steps in his usual despondent manner. Hearing this greeting, his face twitched. For some reason, this Ashen One had given him the nickname "Cautious Gray Heart Brother" and always called him that.
But for someone as worthless as him, there was nothing to be done about being given a strange nickname. After all, he was just a half-measure who couldn't even manage to die.
"Hey, you..."
"Shut up!"
Xia Yu cut Hawkwood off immediately. He didn't want to hear this guy spreading negative energy.
Seeing Hawkwood's stiff expression, Xia Yu pulled another laptop from behind his waist and placed it on Hawkwood's lap.
"Here, learn some breakdancing when you've got nothing to do. You're the last member of the breakdance squad; you can't give up! By the way, if you don't know how to use the laptop, go ask the Fire Keeper. Don't expect me to teach you."
With that, he continued up the stairs under Hawkwood's bewildered gaze.
Hawkwood looked silently at the strange object on his lap, his heart involuntarily stirred by Xia Yu's words.
The last member of the breakdance squad? What is breakdancing? But the "last member"... does he know something?
Xia Yu didn't think much of it. After reaching the second floor of the stairs, he jumped down from the high thrones and crossed the vast chamber to reach the only occupied throne.
Ludleth was slightly surprised to see this strange Ashen One coming to find him, but he maintained his dignity as a King and kept his expression firm.
"Ah... thou art the Unkindled Ash, the Seeker of Lords, art thou not? I am Ludleth of Courland. Thou mayst not believe it, but..."
"Shut up!"
Xia Yu had no intention of respecting the elderly or caring for the young. Seeing the small Ludleth preparing for a long speech, his sharp rebuke caused Ludleth to choke on his words.
Seeing that the Ashen One before him wasn't easy to talk to, Ludleth didn't dare to continue speaking.
"I know your story, and I know you're a Lord of Cinder. Fine, help me transpose some souls."
Ludleth looked at the Ashen One, wanting to say "I am a Lord of Cinder, show some respect," but he ultimately chose to remain silent. For the one before him was a Hunter of Lords, a being specifically meant to hunt Lords of Cinder.
Seeing the Transposing Kiln Xia Yu produced, Ludleth took it with nostalgia and stroked its rough surface.
"A Transposing Kiln... though it is quite old, it seems it can still be used. It must have been difficult for you to find, and to know that I possess the art of transposition."
"Heh, transposition is the process of solidifying and extracting the essence of a soul. It is a taboo that once tarnished the name of Courland. However, only those who use it incorrectly call it a taboo..."
After Ludleth rambled for a while, he finally looked up at Xia Yu.
"Honestly, you can listen to an old man talk after all. Why did you have to interrupt me at the start?"
"None of your business!"
Xia Yu glared at Ludleth and reached into himself to pull out the Soul of the Curse-Rotted Greatwood. He wanted to keep Vordt's soul to create Spirit Ashes, but the Curse-Rotted Greatwood's was out of the question—it was disgusting to look at.
"You certainly came prepared."
Ludleth took the powerful soul and placed it inside the Transposing Kiln. Seeing that Xia Yu had no intention of leaving, he didn't speak further.
As Ludleth placed his hands on the Transposing Kiln and began chanting under his breath, a massive surge of soul energy suddenly rose from him.
The previously ordinary Transposing Kiln began to emit the light of transposition. Through a series of maneuvers Xia Yu didn't understand, the essence was extracted from the soul inside the kiln, transforming into a staff.
"Phew, it's been a long time since I transposed a soul. Fortunately, my skills haven't grown rusty."
Ludleth wiped non-existent sweat from his forehead, took an ordinary-looking staff out of the Transposing Kiln, and handed it to Xia Yu.
"This is the weapon transposed from that powerful soul. Well? Do you want to give it a name?"
The transposed staff took the form of a tree branch, swirling with the aura of a curse. Xia Yu took the staff and spoke in a low voice.
"A staff transposed from the Soul of the Curse-Rotted Greatwood. Likely due to the curse, it slightly increases the power of hexes."
"The Curse-Rotted Greatwood was once a spirit tree worshipped by people, but after being thoroughly tainted by curses, even its soul cannot find rest. What a tragic thing."
"Uh..."
Ludleth stared blankly as the Ashen One suddenly spoke such a long passage. He had only asked him to give it a name; why the sudden monologue?
Xia Yu naturally wouldn't explain. He was providing a description for this weapon that hadn't appeared in the game. Although his'Soul-speak' wasn't level ten yet, it was passable.
"Let's call it the Curse-rotted Staff."
Weapons in the Soul World were named in such a blunt and simple way. He decided to give the staff an easy-to-understand name according to the naming conventions of the Soul World.
After putting away the newly acquired Curse-rotted Staff, Xia Yu didn't rush to leave. Instead, he suddenly pulled a bottle of Hengshui Laobaigan from behind his waist and handed it to Ludleth.
"Hengshui Laobaigan—drink it to find your manhood. Once you're drunk, it'll ease the pain of burning a bit. Also, teach me transposition."
Hearing this, Ludleth looked at Xia Yu in astonishment and said tremulously.
"I am a Lord of Cinder. How could I fear the pain of burning? And... are you sure? Soul Transposition is a taboo art."
"Stop acting tough. And I'm very sure, otherwise why would I come looking for you?"
At this answer, the corners of Ludleth's mouth pulled into a strained smile as he took the liquor Xia Yu offered.
Truly, this Ashen One was strange.