Possession

Possession

"Not good!"

Xiao Liang's face filled with terror. The instant that discarded shell revived, alarm bells blared in his mind, but it was already too late.

The two balls of phosphorescent fire in the shell's eyes suddenly shot out, merging into a green fireball that lunged straight at Xiao Liang's face. Its speed was simply beyond description.

I can't dodge it. There's absolutely no way to dodge it. I'm finished!

Xiao Liang's eyes nearly split open. He did not even have time to roar. No matter how fiercely he urged his body to move, compared to that green fire, he was as slow as a snail.

"Hmm... Four-Spirit Root aptitude? What a piece of trash. Better leave you as blood food!"

Suddenly, the green fire hesitated for an instant before brushing past Xiao Liang's crown.

Then it drifted toward Qin Long. The entire mass of green flame immediately flickered, as though it had discovered something astonishing.

"Ke ke ke, a Wind Spirit Root. This little girl's aptitude is truly one in ten thousand—eh, and she possesses a special physique: the Mystic Sword Heavenly Note Body. The Nascent Soul is within reach, within reach!!!"

"What tremendous fortune. It seems this Hundred Tribulations Daoist may have to take on a woman's body for once!"

Then the incomparably eerie green fireball traced a swift arc through the air and slowly entered Qin Long through the crown of her head.

Only then did Xiao Liang see clearly that at the center of the green fireball was an utterly shattered Golden Core.

This old ghost was a Golden Core Stage cultivator, and he intended to possess her body!!!

"Help me... Aahhh!"

Qin Long's eyes trembled. She had just raised a hand and looked at Xiao Liang with despair when her entire body stiffened as though struck by lightning. Threads of green flame burst from her seven orifices, creating an utterly horrifying sight!

"Qin Long!!"

Xiao Liang clenched his fists, his expression grim as he watched the scene. His thoughts shifted dozens of times in an instant as he assessed the situation.

Unbelievable. This old ghost actually claimed to be a cultivator from the Ten Thousand Demon Cavern. Could he be some old monster who had barely survived the sect war more than four hundred years ago?

No. Even a Golden Core Stage cultivator could only live five hundred years at most. Unless this person had formed a core within a few decades, the timing simply did not add up.

Then he recalled how the Earthfire Hall, which should have been filled with treasures, had been completely empty.

Xiao Liang instantly became certain that Hundred Tribulations Daoist had arrived later, broken through the hall's formations and defenses, and looted its resources.

Yet for some unknown reason, he had nearly perished, leaving behind his Golden Core as he waited here for an opportunity.

Should I run? That seems to be the only option now. While Hundred Tribulations Daoist is possessing her body, I should leave quickly!

Remembering how the old ghost had said he would keep him as blood food, Xiao Liang was filled with rage, but he could not help feeling a trace of fear at his own weakness.

Just then, sword light burst from Qin Long's entire body. Illusory sword intent rang out, forcing the green flames raging from her seven orifices to shrink back and restoring her consciousness.

"Qin Long, are you all right?"

Xiao Liang was greatly surprised. But seeing the terror still on her face, his heart sank. He knew it could not be so simple.

Sure enough, Qin Long said hurriedly, "I have a special physique and have cultivated a technique that strengthens the spirit. I've only temporarily regained control of my body. If this continues, that old ghost will definitely devour my spirit and take over my body!"

"But I can't help you..."

Xiao Liang shook his head bitterly and unconsciously took two steps back. Qin Long's face was gradually twisting, and the green flames that had been temporarily suppressed were beginning to surge again.

Qin Long stared at Xiao Liang with pleading eyes and said with difficulty, "Don't... don't go. I have... a method that can destroy spirit bodies!"

As she spoke, a jade slip entirely crimson-gold flew out of her storage pouch. A phantom image of a mighty and regal divine bird coiled around it, making it clearly extraordinary.

Xiao Liang took it and looked it over. His body immediately trembled. It seemed Qin Long's inheritance was far from as simple as she had made it sound.

This was actually the true inheritance of Heavenly Sun Mountain—the first volume of the Golden Crow Sun-Refining Divine Art!!

"This true inheritance contains a spell that can draw down Sun True Fire. With your cultivation, you might be able to summon a trace of true fire. Then I'll open my sea of consciousness... Aahhh!!"

Before Qin Long could finish, green flame reignited in her left eye.

At the same time, Hundred Tribulations Daoist's strange and unfathomable voice rang out once more.

"Little devil, do not fall for this little girl's trick. Sun True Fire is a genuine high-level spell. With your Third Level of Qi Refining, you'll only burn yourself. You would do better to protect this ancestor."

"This venerable one is an inner sect elder of the Ten Thousand Demon Cavern. Once I return to the Ten Thousand Demon Cavern, I will surely accept you as a true disciple and impart to you the supreme wondrous arts of the demonic path!"

"Fellow Daoist Ghost Shadow, don't believe him... don't believe him, don't..."

Qin Long had also realized that Xiao Liang had deep ties to this old ghost and was his fellow disciple. Her eyes immediately dimmed, and her pleading voice grew weaker and weaker.

She was completely despairing. She could not think of any reason to persuade the man beside her to help her fight a mysterious and powerful Golden Core Stage cultivator.

"Ancestor, will you really accept me as your personal disciple?"

Sure enough, Xiao Liang tucked the true inheritance jade slip into his clothes, lowered his head, and asked timidly, his voice full of hope.

"Hmph, this ancestor is a Golden Core Stage cultivator who has roamed the world for centuries. I would not deign to deceive a little Qi Refining Stage brat like you!"

"Uh, then what about what you said earlier, about making me blood food?"

"Of course that was a joke. Even a vicious tiger does not eat its cubs. How could this ancestor commit such an act of fellow disciples slaughtering one another? Do not overthink it. Just protect me!"

"Oh, so that's how it is—"

Xiao Liang raised his head expressionlessly. There was not the slightest trace of fawning on his face.

With a thought, Pandora, who stood nearby, suddenly stepped forward, picked up the spirit sword Qin Long had dropped, violently beat her wings, and flew to the ceiling. With unmatched brute force, she swung the sword and unleashed more than a dozen slashes in an instant.

There was no technique involved, only brute force. She did not care in the slightest whether the spirit sword would be damaged.

The Earthfire Hall had no formations protecting its interior, and it had already weathered several centuries. No matter how solid its construction, it could not withstand such devastation.

In the end, the spirit sword shattered into fragments, while rubble from the ceiling scattered everywhere. Like a demolition machine, the Flying Corpse forcefully tore a massive hole through the ceiling!

Boom!

A pillar of sunlight shone down, illuminating the young cultivator who was focusing on forming hand seals.

The full eruption of Xiao Liang's spiritual power instantly knocked loose the hairpin binding his hair. Amid his wildly dancing black-and-white hair, a pair of bright eyes gleamed with mockery.

"You dare toy with this venerable one!"

Hundred Tribulations Daoist's voice was gloomy, yet he was not the least bit panicked, as if victory were already in his grasp.

"How could I possibly trust you? A vicious tiger may not eat its cubs, but an elder of the demonic path is probably a hundred times, a thousand times crueler than a man-eating tiger!"

Xiao Liang sneered. He had not believed a single word of Hundred Tribulations Daoist's promises. He had already secretly read the true inheritance technique within the jade slip in his clothes.

However, he was not feeling well either. Ever since he formed the hand seal to draw down Sun True Fire, the spiritual power throughout his body had gushed out as if a floodgate had opened. In the end, even his blood essence and lifespan were being drained away!

Though faint fire power was gathering within the pillar of sunlight, and the air was gradually growing scorching hot.

At this rate, Xiao Liang would turn into a dried corpse before he could summon Sun True Fire.

"Hmph, you brought this upon yourself. It saves this venerable one the trouble of cleaning house!"

Seeing this, Hundred Tribulations Daoist finally relaxed completely and focused on suppressing Qin Long's spirit within her sea of consciousness.

"Little girl, this ancestor truly underestimated you. At such a young age, your spirit is remarkably tenacious. Sun True Fire is supremely hard and yang. It destroys spirits and spirit bodies as easily as melting ice and snow. Are you trying to perish together with this venerable one?"

"What a pity—you placed your bet on the wrong person. Ke ke ke!"

Within Qin Long's body, the two spiritual powers continuously clashed. Aside from Pandora, no one paid any attention to Xiao Liang's movements.

With the judgment of a Golden Core Stage cultivator like Hundred Tribulations Daoist, there could be no mistake. Xiao Liang could not possibly summon even a trace of Sun True Fire. He would surely be drained to death!

(End of chapter)