Being Able to Transform Meant You Could Do Whatever You Wanted

Inside Elder Liu's room at Heaven-Forging Stronghold, where he was resting and recuperating.

Elder Liu, who was sitting on the bed, suddenly changed his expression. He gripped a black, sharp, and strangely shaped prism, poured all his True Essence into it, and stabbed it fiercely into the neck of Yue Qianlian, who was sitting on the edge of the bed and caught off guard.

With a muffled thud, the prism undoubtedly pierced Yue Qianlian's neck, but it shattered into pieces before the thin skin.

How is that possible?

Elder Liu's eyes widened, and he exclaimed in disbelief.

"Surprise!"

At this moment, Yue Qianlian suddenly reached out and grabbed his face. Feeling an irresistible force on his face, Elder Liu realized, "You are not Yue Qianlian, you are—"

"That's right!"

Yue Qianlian's face slowly twisted and changed, and his hair color turned from black to white, eventually becoming the person that Elder Liu least wanted to see at this moment.

He pointed to his face with his thumb and smiled proudly. (And _book_)

"It's me Bai Qiuran!"

The Fortune Body Forging Technique, when practiced to a high level, allows one to change their physical body at will. Bai Qiuran used this method to temporarily transform herself into Yue Qianlian's appearance in order to test Elder Liu.

Elder Liu's expression changed drastically. He moved as if to use Escape Technique, but Bai Qiuran pressed a palm against his chest before he could.

Elder Liu is still recovering from serious injuries; he should rest and recuperate.

The immense palm force pierced through his body, instantly shattering Elder Liu Nascent Soul within his Purple Mansion. His uncontrolled True Essence surged wildly within his body, causing Elder Liu's face to flush red as he coughed up a mouthful of blood, staining his chest crimson.

"Look at him, he's coughing up blood."

Bai Qiuran smiled gently and reached out to lightly press her hand on Elder Liu's forehead.

"Elder Liu should get some sleep."

As he spoke, his True Qi surged into his body. Elder Liu's physical body, which belonged to the Spirit Severing Stage Cultivators, was completely disrupted internally by Bai Qiuran's True Qi, except for its surface. He lost his life on the spot.

His body convulsed violently, his legs springing up as if springy. Then, a dim light flew out from his Spiritual Platform and headed outside. It was his Nascent Soul, which, without the use of Arts, could only be seen by the naked eye by a man like Bai Qiuran, who had been living on the edge of life and death for a long time, except for extraordinary Immortals.

Even though he saw it, Bai Qiuran didn't care. He just watched leisurely as "Elder Liu's" Nascent Soul escaped right under his nose.

A moment later, Li Jinyao and Tang Ruowei pushed open the door and walked in one after the other, followed by Yue Qianlian, who looked particularly downcast.

"Did you catch them?"

Bai Qiuran asked.

Li Jinyao nodded and took out a small green Soul-Collecting Stone, which was shimmering with a bright light.

This was precisely why Bai Qiuran had asked her and Tang Ruowei to come here in advance to set up the formation. The two girls together set up a complex Formation provided by Xue Ling, which, while having no power over living people, could capture the Souls of Earth Immortal.

"Okay, give it to me."

Bai Qiuran took the stone and then looked at Yue Qianlian, whose face was gloomy.

"Xiao Yuezi, you..."

"I'm alright, Sword Ancestor."

Yue Qianlian smiled bitterly, "Thinking about it carefully, Elder Liu wasn't particularly skilled in combat to begin with. How come he was able to escape the Ancient City, but my elder brother couldn't...? I'm afraid he was accidentally possessed by Earth Immortal during the battle and then ambushed my elder brother from behind."

At this moment Bai Qiuran didn't know what words of comfort to say. Although the person in front of him was already the Sect Master, he had watched him grow up. In his eyes, Yue Qianlian was still that young boy.

"I'm fine, Sword and Book of Questions Ancestor."

Yue Qianlian looked up and stared directly at Bai Qiuran, saying, "This matter is not your responsibility; you don't need to blame yourself. Earth Immortal have always existed in this world. Even if they didn't come this time, they would have come sooner or later. Cultivators are destined to face many hardships throughout their lives. My elder brother and Elder Liu simply had the misfortune of falling on their journey."

Bai Qiuran could only reach out and pat his shoulders, saying, "Hang in there."

"I see."

Yue Qianlian nodded and said, "I'm no longer the brat who used to cause trouble and need you to come out of my way. Even though my elder brother and Elder Liu are no longer here, I will continue to lead Heaven-Forging Stronghold well."

After a pause, he added, "Sword Ancestor, go attend to your important matters. I also need to write the obituary... Sword Ancestor, please do not let any of these Earth Immortal escape."

"I will."

Bai Qiuran nodded and looked at Tang Ruowei and Li Jinyao.

"You all stay here, I'm going to complete the transaction."

After leaving Heaven-Forging Stronghold, Bai Qiuran quickly returned to the Upper Ling Kingdom Ancient Imperial Capital of Shangling Ancient City in Jieting Ancient City, but this time he found that it had completely changed.

The towering pillar of light emanating from the Ancient City has disappeared, replaced by a thousand-foot-tall mountain that grows upside down from the sky, its peak hanging several miles above the ground. Directly below this mountain is the original Ancient City.

Bai Qiuran looked around and found Su Xiangxue and the others at the city gate of the Ancient City. He quickly went over and asked, "What happened here?"

"The Formation was completed during our battle."

Su Xiangxue withdrew her gaze from the sky and replied, "This is probably the purpose of the Earth Immortal; they have awakened what they were meant to awaken."

Elder Xu of the Profound Law Academy looked up at the sky and murmured, "This mountain peak connects to another small world; it's a celestial Cave Abode!"

His face was feverish, as if he couldn't wait to rush in and study it.

"You better hold back! I don't want to hear Qiu Yuxuan nagging anymore if something dangerous happens."

Bai Qiuran reminded him, then added, "Battalion Commander, Dust Zen Master, please keep an eye on him and don't let him charge forward."

Zhang Ruifei and Dust Zen Master nodded. Bai Qiuran came to Huangfu Feng and looked at the body he had placed on the stretcher with him, feeling somewhat saddened.

"I am sorry for your loss."

A moment later, he patted the Supreme Elder of the Heavenly Demon Sect Grand Elder on the shoulder and said, "Xiao Yuezi is already preparing for his funeral. Take his body back to Heaven-Forging Stronghold."

"I will."

Huangfu Feng responded.

"And what about the Souls of that Earth Immortal you killed?"

Bai Qiuran asked.

"In the Spirit-Draining Blade."

Huangfu Feng replied, "I want to take him back and torture him properly using the Soul-Forging Furnace within the Heavenly Demon Sect... What does Sword Ancestor want to do?"

Bai Qiuran briefly mentioned her deal with Xue Ling, then asked, "Can you give me his Souls?"

"Can the Sword Ancestor guarantee that his Souls will suffer torment comparable to that of the Soul-Forging Furnace?"

Huangfu Feng countered with a question.

"Um..."

Bai Qiuran pondered for a moment, then said, "How about learning about Abyssal Hell?"

"Good."

Huangfu Feng nodded in satisfaction, took the Spirit-Draining Blade from his back, and handed it to Bai Qiuran.

"Then I'll trouble Sword Ancestor to make the arrangements."

"I don't need to make arrangements. The Ghost Realm has probably already taken care of the consequences of losing such a struggle."

Bai Qiuran took the Spirit-Draining Blade and then said to Su Xiangxue, "I'll be leaving for a moment."

He carried his knife and walked to a secluded spot far from the Ancient City, then used Imprint Technique to activate the Magic Incantation to Ghost-Summoning.

A gentle breeze stirred the willow branches, and a chilly aura swept over them. Xue Ling's figure appeared silently beside Bai Qiuran.