Divine Soul Duel

Chapter 32: Soul Combat

To cultivate the soul is one thing; if one uses the ability to project the soul to play god, act like a ghost, or engage in petty, underhanded schemes, that is the path of evil and sorcery. To guard one's own heart, focus on strengthening the soul, and roam the heavens and earth—that is the righteous path of the immortals. Everything that just happened was a battle of souls fought through illusory thoughts. Having read books since he was a child, Hong Yi understood this distinction very clearly. He wanted to see exactly what a lowly scholar like him had that was worth Lady Zhao's attention, to the point that she would dispatch the important servants around her.

"I will be careful." The maid nodded and walked lightly into the room. Hong Yi had seen Nanny Zeng's smug, self-satisfied expression clearly. Hearing that they intended to make him suffer nightmares every night to damage his soul, he knew the other party was someone who practiced soul-cultivation techniques. Hong Yi realized at once that Nanny Zeng was performing meditation and soul projection. Although he was a cautious person, these four maids served him daily and harbored malicious intent; if he were not careful, they might truly discover the Amitabha Sutra.

"Hmm?"

"Hmm?"

"Nanny Zeng, you can rest assured. I guarantee that even if he loses a single hair, I will know and report it to you." The maid glanced toward the inner room and said shrewdly. Hong Yi immediately slipped into the room, returned his soul to his body, and lay down, feigning sleep. "Searching my belongings? Fortunately, I read the Martial Classic and burned it, but I must be careful with the Amitabha Sutra. If these petty people find out, the future troubles will be endless." Hong Yi's heart stirred, and he felt a sense of relief.

Of course, every word of this had been transmitted clearly to Hong Yi's ears. Hong Yi had projected his soul, witnessed these events, and now, with a cold sneer in his heart, he drifted away. A surge of uncontrollable anger welled up in Hong Yi's heart. He wanted to see exactly how this Nanny Zeng intended to deal with him. "There are gods three feet above one's head; a scheming and treacherous heart will inevitably be known by ghosts and gods. This saying is not without reason." Although Hong Yi's soul-cultivation was only slightly successful—his soul could roam at night or even during the day—he could have used this ability to commit many illicit acts. Yet, Hong Yi never did so; he only cultivated to strengthen his soul and familiarize himself with the "currents," at most watching Hong Xuejiao practice her boxing, which was a normal affair.

"He is currently sitting on the bed. I don't know if he is asleep or doing something else, but I haven't seen him practicing martial arts." The maid answered Nanny Zeng's question, reporting what she had observed.

The wind blew, and the shadows under the moonlight twisted, crawling on the ground as if struggling to rise! This sensation was so eerie it was enough to terrify anyone.

"Go now. Don't let him discover any clues. This kid is very shrewd and not a simple character. You can tell just by the fact that he secretly made the acquaintance of Princess Zhennan; his schemes are deep." Nanny Zeng waved her hand.

"Hmm, you must closely monitor any of his movements. Any unusual activity must be reported to me, and then I will tell the Lady. Find an opportunity to search his clothes and books to see if there is anything unusual. You are all clever maids; I shouldn't need to explain such matters in detail, should I?"

"You are very sharp to be able to see through his intentions like that. When I report to the Lady later, I will make sure you are well rewarded." Nanny Zeng praised her, her tone turning cold: "I naturally won't let him pass the examinations. Does he even have any literary talent..."

However, since he had heard it now, it served as a warning, and Hong Yi was secretly on guard. Hong Yi knew clearly that his eyes hadn't even opened, so how could he see the moonlight shadows twisting in the room? This had to be an illusion.

"Should I tamper with his food? So he can't participate in the imperial examinations." The maid suggested.

"Perhaps that was just an illusion? It seems someone was peeping at me with a wandering soul? It's a pity I haven't reached the realm of a Xiantian Martial Master; otherwise, my blood energy would be strong enough to see through any wandering soul or yin spirit."

"That is unnecessary. It would easily leave a trail and is too obvious. On the contrary, you must serve him good food and drink at every meal so that no one can find any fault." Nanny Zeng wore an eerie, gloomy expression, opening her mouth to chuckle: "Hehe... I have my own ways. The imperial examination is still a month away. If he suffers nightmares and is haunted by vengeful spirits every night this month, causing his soul great harm, let's see how he manages to take the exam."

"Thank you for the reward, Madam." The maid quickly thanked Lady Zhao, though Lady Zhao was not present; the maid still acted very respectfully: "But looking at that boy's demeanor, he doesn't seem to intend to stay in the Marquis Mansion for long. Next month is the imperial examination; once he passes and becomes a Juren, he will surely move out. What will we do then? I hear he has quite a bit of literary talent, so he must be confident in the exam."

This feeling was one of helplessness and panic.

"Sorceress! You actually dare to come and harm me! Who says that even if I hadn't cultivated the immortal path, my heart is filled with upright energy? I do not commit evil deeds, I am not treacherous or scheming, and I keep the sages in my heart. How could you possibly bewitch me?"

At the same time, as Hong Yi lay feigning sleep, he suddenly heard the sound of wind whistling in his ears, causing the door to rattle as if ghosts were wailing. Simultaneously, moonlight shone through the window, and strips of shadows twisted as if crawling on the ground, struggling to rise!

"He practices martial arts, but I see he has only reached the level of muscles and bones; it is still very superficial. However, this bit of blood energy is useless against soul-bewitchment. But if he continues to practice, year after year, his blood energy will become strong, and I fear I won't be able to suppress him. Very well, let him have nightmares for a month first to shock and injure his soul. It will be done without anyone knowing; if I damage his spirit, what can he do to me?"

Hong Yi understood in his heart that he wanted to open his eyes to see what was happening, but suddenly, he found he could not control his hands or feet, nor could he open his eyes at all.

"This Nanny Zeng was brought over by Lady Zhao as part of her dowry; she is an old servant who has served for many years and holds a significant position. Why would she sneak into my room at night and discuss monitoring me with a maid? Lady Zhao truly harbors ill intent, but what could I possibly have that is worth her monitoring? Let me listen to what they are saying."

The opponent's martial arts were formidable, far above Hong Yi's. Since she intended to harm him, Hong Yi had to be careful. Hong Yi thought to himself that his soul leaving his body could be considered a ghost or spirit. The first time he heard Hong Gui plotting against him, and now the second time he heard the conspiracy between Nanny Zeng and the maid, it was truly a real-life reflection of the saying, "There are gods three feet above one's head."

But this illusion was too realistic, too immersive. If one didn't know the truth or wasn't prepared, it would be impossible to distinguish reality from falsehood. He opened his eyes, and the moonlight shone in, peaceful and quiet. Where were the ghost shadows and the sound of the wind? There was no golden light either.

Just as Hong Yi felt hatred and anger in his heart, Nanny Zeng, who was sitting on the ground performing meditation, seemed to sense something. Her eyes snapped open, and she looked toward his direction.

"Is this the Art of Bewitching the Soul?"

"From today on, your monthly allowance will be increased to ten taels." Nanny Zeng added.

It was as if he were a person trapped in a nightmare; he knew the dream was fake, but he simply couldn't wake up! In the dim moonlight, the old woman's gloomy, eerie smiling face in the corner of the wall made Nanny Zeng look like a demon or a ghost.

About two hours later, the Marquis Mansion quieted down, and the night grew deep and still. Nanny Zeng's head moved, and then her breathing and heartbeat stilled; clearly, her soul had projected out of her body.

The maid saw Nanny Zeng's gloomy face and was startled. Nanny Zeng didn't discover anything; her dark eyes closed again, and she entered a state of meditation. At the same time, Hong Yi heard a shrill, piercing scream from the rockery outside the room, like a wounded wild beast.

The void was filled with brilliant light!

"The void is vast, I sit in the center; a thousand generations are but a snap of the fingers. All things, every kind, are but illusions." Hong Yi was not panicked. He cultivated the Amitabha Sutra and had experienced illusions far more powerful than this. He sneered coldly in his heart and suddenly immersed himself in the state of becoming one with the Amitabha Buddha.

Hong Yi felt his soul leap out, his entire body radiating intense golden light like an exploding sun, instantly evaporating all the ghost shadows in the room.

After the maid went into the room, Nanny Zeng smiled sinisterly, muttered to herself, and walked to a hidden corner behind the rockery to sit down, closing her eyes. Seeing such petty, ghostly people, Hong Yi felt a particular hatred and contempt in his heart.