Soul Hooking

Xiang Tian sat in his room, unaware that someone had already set their sights on him.

That was only natural. In this period, Xiang Tian had wiped out the Ding Family, killed Black Abyss, and seized the Buddha Relic—none of those were not earth-shaking events.

Although others did not know about Jade Pool, those three matters alone had already made Xiang Tian the center of attention.

For anyone with ulterior motives, it was easy enough to inquire about the personnel Changning Immortal Academy had sent to debate the Dao. Sure enough, just as they had expected, Xiang Tian was among them.

A thatched courtyard in a corner of the city had long been abandoned. The yard was piled high with wheat straw and firewood, while several monks had gathered at some unknown time inside the house, which had remained locked up all year round.

They wore kasayas. Some held monk's staffs, some carried alms bowls, while others counted their recitations by turning prayer beads. All had their eyes closed, their lips constantly moving in chants.

Dust swirled through the room, yet it could not come anywhere near them. The kasayas on their bodies remained bright and resplendent, dazzlingly colorful.

At last, a somewhat younger monk with thick brows and large eyes could no longer endure it. Opening his eyes, he said, "Abbot, Xiang Tian has already arrived. Why haven't we acted yet? Wu Wei's death must have been his doing!"

Just one month ago, Monk Wu Wei had received word that a Buddha Bone Sarira had appeared and been taken by Xiang Tian. He had gone to track Xiang Tian's trail, only to vanish without a trace afterward.

They began searching along the route, but in the end found only a headless corpse.

Their Dharma lineage had made many enemies from the very beginning. After ninety percent of their lineage had ascended, they could only linger on in miserable existence here, terrified that those who rejected Buddhist teachings would find them and rally everyone to attack them.

After the long passage of years, their branch had only twenty people left at most. And now, Xiang Tian had directly killed one of their True Immortals!

How great an impact was that? It was no different from a corner of the sky collapsing. Even their abbot was merely at the peak of True Immortal, and their entire branch, including him, had only three Golden Immortals in total!

No matter what, they could not swallow this insult!

The monk holding the staff raised a hand before his chest and softly murmured, "Amitabha."

"Once night falls, I will cast a spell to hook out his yin spirit. Acting rashly now would be disadvantageous to us."

The others said no more. Indeed, Qiu Changfeng was at the peak of True Immortal, and his combat strength was among the strongest of his realm. Even if the abbot faced him, he would not have much chance of victory.

Dragon Tiger Temple could be said to be the only remaining Buddhist Dharma lineage in the Nine Heavens. The appearance of the Buddha Bone Sarira was a temptation beyond description to them.

They endured until night finally arrived. Even now, the entire city remained ablaze with lights. Crowds surged through the streets as people strolled the night market, and prosperity flourished everywhere.

Vendors filled the ground, calling out and hawking their wares amid boundless bustle, with hoarse cries of bargaining ringing out from time to time.

Xiang Tian had no intention of joining the excitement. Going out now would bring him no benefit, so he simply washed up and prepared to sleep.

As the night deepened, the bright moon hung high in the sky. The star-speckled night curtain was exceptionally beautiful, while birds called and insects chirped around him.

Inside the thatched hut, the abbot took something from the spatial spirit stone carved into his staff. It was covered by red cloth. He placed it on the table, lit candles and incense, and after everything was ready, lifted the red cloth to reveal an unidentified Buddha statue.

Its appearance was exceedingly strange. It was impossible to say what it was called. It stood on one leg, with the other laid across its knee. Fangs protruded from its mouth, and it had eight arms.

There had been many Buddhas. In that era, many wicked things had impersonated them and preached Dharma in their name. The orthodox lineage would surely recognize it at a glance—these fellows had worshipped the wrong Buddha. One look showed this was no proper thing.

The seals in the abbot's hands shifted, and an eerie red glow rose in the Buddha statue's eyes.

The abbot used his divine sense to form Xiang Tian's likeness. Before long, a faint spectral light flew from atop the statue's head. After entering the city, it drifted toward the inn where Xiang Tian was staying.

Half asleep and half awake, Xiang Tian suddenly shuddered. Then he felt his soul leave his body. His steps were light as though he were treading on cotton, and a single stride carried him several zhang.

Xiang Tian was utterly baffled, unable to understand what was happening. He saw all kinds of people on the street, yet not a single one could discover him. He could not help marveling at the wondrousness of this method.

Still, he was not particularly panicked. He was confident he could handle such a petty trick.

"He's here!"

Inside the thatched hut, the abbot suddenly opened his eyes. With a sweep of his kasaya, he flew outside.

Not long afterward, a fiery-red kasaya wrapped around a pitch-black mass entered the room.

The others instantly grew alert, drawing their weapons and arranging themselves into formation.

Xiang Tian finally understood. He had run into another group of monks!

The abbot looked at Xiang Tian, his face darkening as he sternly demanded, "Speak! Did you kill Wu Wei?"

Xiang Tian shook his head, looking utterly innocent. "You really think too highly of me. What virtue or ability do I possess to kill Holy Monk Wu Wei?"

"However, if you want to avenge him, you can go look for Shi Mu of Jade Pool. I heard he did not participate in this Dao debate either, so it would be the perfect time to pay him a visit."

The faces of the group darkened at once. Pay him a visit? Their opponent was Jade Pool. How were they supposed to visit him? Carry their own heads there?

One of them grew angry and said to the abbot beside him, "Abbot, this brat must not dare admit it. Why waste words on him? I'll cast a spell right now and make him obediently refine a Buddha Relic!"

Xiang Tian sneered. As expected, they were still after that Vajra Sarira. But the thing had already been swallowed by the demon ape chieftain. Even if he told these people, they would not have the guts to retrieve it.

"If you refuse to listen obediently, then I'll first give you a taste of my Karma Fire!"

With that, he held up a Buddhist bowl, and a streak of golden light sucked Xiang Tian into it.

Red flames surged within the bowl, accompanied by crackling sounds.

The monk chuckled sinisterly. He had absolute confidence in the power of his Karma Fire.

"Ah, he's fine!"

But with the young monk's startled cry, everyone was dumbfounded. Xiang Tian was sitting at ease amid the flames within the bowl. Damn it, he was even smiling at them!

This was simply outrageous. Even the one holding the Buddhist bowl began to doubt himself.

"What is going on?"

The group looked at one another, completely at a loss.

Xiang Tian's gaze within the bowl was filled with mockery, as though he were looking at a pack of clowns.

"No, that's impossible. My Dharma artifact is clearly fine. How can this fellow's yin spirit be unharmed?"

The monk began to panic. To a yin spirit, Karma Fire was practically its natural nemesis. There was no way Xiang Tian should have been so comfortable within it.

Seeing them pace in circles in desperation without figuring out the reason, Xiang Tian felt somewhat helpless and could only remind them.

"I say, esteemed masters, take a good look. When did I ever say I was a yin spirit?"

The moment those words fell, their eyes widened. Indeed, after Xiang Tian had been hooked over, they had been too busy celebrating to examine him carefully.

Now that they looked closely, how did Xiang Tian resemble a yin spirit? This was clearly his entire soul!

Damn it, had they seen a ghost? Even the abbot began doubting himself. His spell clearly only hooked yin souls—why had it hooked over something like this?