The Eldest Legitimate Son

Once one reaches the realm of Possession, they can attach their soul to various sentient animals, employing methods so varied and unpredictable that they are impossible to guard against. After feeding the horse, Hong Yi felt drowsy and exhausted, his eyelids nearly too heavy to lift. He forced himself to stay alert, returned to his side chamber, calmed his mind, hid his few important belongings, and lay flat to meditate and nourish his soul, soon falling into a deep, profound sleep.

Hong Yi contemplated the heavy needle, wrapped in blood-colored threads, in his hand. After a full half-hour of feeding, Lightning Chaser finally finished chewing; the night was already deep. If one reaches the realm of Object Manipulation, they can use their soul to propel flying swords, needles, or knives to assassinate, killing without leaving a trace. Looking at this Blood Patterned Steel needle, then at the dagger covered in purple runes in his hand, Hong Yi frowned and carefully tucked them into his sleeves.

"Is Young Master Yi awake?" Hong Yi knew his own cultivation was still far from the realm of Object Manipulation; even with the Blood Patterned Steel needle in hand, he could not use it, nor could he test the true power of this legendary immortal steel. "By the way, Consort Yuan is coming to the Marquis Mansion to visit her family today, and she specifically asked to see me? Is this Consort Yuan the same Consort Yuan I met at Qiuyue Temple that day?"

As their eyes met, Hong Yi felt a stinging pain, as if the other's gaze were like the scorching sun. Deep within his heart, Hong Yi vaguely felt that this Consort Yuan, like Bai Ziyue, was a friend he could trust. This horse was clearly a difficult creature to serve.

"The Ox Demon Great Strength Fist is designed for the human body; a horse's muscles and bones are completely different from a human's, so how could it practice this?" Several large incense tables were lit with sandalwood. After eating, Lightning Chaser moved its body gently, as if digesting, while stretching its four hooves, twisting its neck, shifting its hips, moving its abdomen, and snorting—it looked exactly like a master practicing martial arts, loosening its bones and circulating its blood. It was full of vitality.

"These Daoists are from the Wusheng Dao and Zhenkong Dao cults. They actually dared to assassinate a high-ranking official of the Dagan Empire twice. And each time was more powerful than the last, showing immense strength. What exactly are they trying to do?" Quietly packing his things, he climbed over the wall back into the mansion. Patting his clothes, Hong Yi thought to himself, "It's good to practice martial arts. If it were before, I wouldn't have even been able to climb the walls of this Marquis Mansion."

After tidying up, Hong Yi did not rush back to his room but went to the left side of the side chamber to check on the horse. He mixed the prepared eggs and soybeans in a wooden bucket and fed them to Lightning Chaser handful by handful. "I wonder if the target of yesterday's assassination was wiped out?" Hong Yi opened his eyes, exhaled a breath, and thought of yesterday's events. "The guards in the mansion are all experts, and there was no disturbance in the residence, so they must have been wiped out. But I deserve some credit for this; if it weren't for me, if that Daoist had really activated some 'Explosive Flame Talisman Sword' to blow up the house, even if he couldn't kill my father, it would have caused a huge impact and inevitably disrupted Consort Yuan's visit, which would have truly ruined the Marquis Mansion's reputation."

But this is only the most basic foundation of practicing Daoist arts, barely counting as an entry-level. This thought popped into Hong Yi's mind, but he immediately dismissed it. Although Consort Yuan hadn't spoken many words to him, her clean and decisive manner, moving like the wind and appearing and disappearing without a trace—the style of a sword-wielding heroine—had left a deep impression on him. After tidying up, he arrived at the main courtyard.

"I have only just reached the realm of Day Wanderer, and I can only wander out on cloudy days or when the sunlight is weak in the morning and evening. If it were under the scorching sun, that would be absolutely impossible, let alone Object Manipulation. The further one goes in the Past Amitabha Sutra, the harder it is to practice. Today, I accidentally visualized the Rakshasa King and was almost consumed by the backlash of killing intent, risking total destruction."

Once he arrived at the main courtyard, he saw that almost everyone in the Marquis Mansion had gathered. Not only the three wives, four concubines, and various children, but also the prominent maids, servants, stewards, and matrons were all mixed in. Even Hong Xuanji was in the center, his face solemn, performing the most grand welcoming posture, his etiquette impeccable.

"No wonder, no wonder Fire Horses are so powerful; having been trained in the army, they can actually exercise their bodies like humans. But this isn't a profound martial art; it's just general muscle and bone movement. If it were to learn the Ox Demon Great Strength Fist? Or even the Tiger Demon Bone Refining Fist? Or the Spirit Turtle Breathing Technique? How powerful would it become?"

Lightning Chaser seemed to have the habit of eating a late-night snack, looking at Hong Yi and chewing mouthful by mouthful, very delicately—eating even slower than a young lady from a wealthy family. Thinking of this, Hong Yi's heart shook, and he felt a stir of excitement he could barely contain. At the same time, the depths of Hong Yi's soul trembled. This young man was Hong Xuanji's eldest son, Hong Xi, the person who would inherit the marquis title in the future.

Hong Yi had just begun practicing Daoist arts, and although he relied on the Past Amitabha Sutra to reach the realm of Day Wanderer and had learned some visualization techniques to subdue demons and attack the souls of enemies, this was only the beginning.

"Blood Patterned Steel? Does such a thing really exist in the world? I never imagined it. I thought what was recorded in those study notes and Daoist classics was all nonsense. But just this tiny needle... It's a pity my soul hasn't reached the level of Object Manipulation, otherwise I could test how good this Blood Patterned Steel really is, and whether it is truly ten times faster and more flexible than ordinary iron when manipulated by a soul."

The Blood Patterned Steel needle was one thing, but this dagger, the "Explosive Flame Talisman Sword," was said to explode once activated, capable of blowing up a house. Hong Yi had to be extremely careful. "What an imposing aura this Hong Xi has! He is truly worthy of being the commander of the Divine Machine Battalion, one of the five major camps of the Imperial Guard." Hong Yi looked at the young man, who seemed to sense it instantly and cast his gaze over.

He had originally climbed over the wall to check the Daoist's corpse, hoping to find something like the "Explosive Flame Talisman Sword" on him, but he hadn't expected to find the Blood Patterned Steel needle. Waking up, it was already broad daylight. Hong Yi immediately saw a young man standing behind Hong Xuanji with a slender figure, dressed in luxurious brocade, his face like jade, and his demeanor as steady as a mountain.

"Lightning Chaser, oh Lightning Chaser, I'll have to wrong you for now. After a month, when I finish the imperial examinations and move out to establish my own household, I will specifically hire four shrewd grooms to take care of you, ensuring you are served comfortably." This series of actions left Hong Yi stunned.

Hong Yi had once seen Bai Ziyue directly attach his soul to a large Mastiff to frighten away enemies. Facing such methods, people had no countermeasure. Powerful Ghost Immortals could even attach themselves to experts, directly controlling their physical bodies to perform various actions. This was the most terrifying aspect.

To truly enter the hall of Daoist practice, one must reach the realm of Object Manipulation and achieve the Yin Spirit; only then would the vast world of various exquisite Daoist arts truly reveal itself. Upon reaching the stage of Manifestation, one could even use the lead and mercury energy of a Golden Core to directly manifest the soul and temporarily condense a physical form.

Just then, Zi Yu walked in. "Steward Wu sent someone over just now, saying that after you wake up, you should wash up quickly. Then, tidy yourself and hurry to the main courtyard to wait. At noon, Consort Yuan's carriage will arrive." Hong Yi waved his hand. "I know, you may leave."