Soul Theft

Liu Shuyue opened her mouth, but for a moment she had no idea what to say.

The Three Souls and Seven Po were something everyone was born with. The body nourished them, and they in turn strengthened the body. Under normal circumstances, the two could not be separated. After death, the souls lingered for a time, much as warmth lingered in the body. Eventually, the flesh decayed into the earth, while the souls became a wisp of Spiritual Energy that nourished new life.

Only by forcibly giving an object a soul could such a thing happen. Take the Deity-Summoning Art used by rogue cultivators: they attached a heavenly soul to a little paper figure and sent it to kill. The moment the spell ended, the soul vanished, leaving the paper an empty shell.

Because what they controlled had been a puppet from the start.

Liu Shuyue said nothing because she understood just how serious this could be.

At best, an immortal master of Ning Kingdom had sunk so low as to learn forbidden arts from outside the sect, turning himself into something neither human nor ghost.

At worst...

Liu Shuyue did not dare think any further.

"Why so quiet?" Liu Zhidong's voice returned to its former gentleness. "Are you afraid? After all, we were both born and raised in the sect. We have no idea who our parents are. If anyone could have tampered with our bodies, it would be—"

"Can you be sure?" Liu Shuyue could not help interrupting. "Could you have been so badly injured that you saw it wrong?"

"Heh... Fair enough. That's a grave accusation. Then listen to the rest of my story first."

Liu Zhidong did not seem to mind her doubts and continued.

"I spent two years recovering and another ten traveling through different