Chapter 37: This Person’s Ambition Is Boundless

When Mu Baiyun and Ji Yao arrived, Master Suwen was already seated at the front of the hall. Mu Baiyun apologized to Master Suwen and went straight to the back, leaving Ji Yao standing alone beneath the Hall of Justice.

Ji Yao hadn’t expected that, after leaving the Hall of Justice just yesterday, she would return again at the same time today. Although she hadn’t come as a suspect this time, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her ties to this hall were destined to deepen.

Was she, perhaps, the sort of person around whom events naturally gathered?

How mortifying! Ji Yao reflected on the string of strange happenings that had befallen her since the beginning; it seemed she had finally understood the truth. Yet this truth was one that brought only sorrow.

Such luckless fate! When others crossed worlds or were reborn, they found endless opportunities and treasures. For her, it was nothing but unsolvable mysteries, vexing artifacts and people, and even when she stumbled upon a divine weapon, it was only to worship it like an ancestor.

She couldn’t afford to dwell on it—the more she thought, the more despondent she became. Bowing her head to steel her spirit, Ji Yao summoned her courage.

“Outer disciple Ji Yao greets Master Suwen. Might I ask what has happened to Senior Brother Chen Shaohua?”

Master Suwen looked at Ji Yao with a hint of gratification. “He has long since been subjected to a soul-capturing spell. Today, it seems the one behind it made their move.”

Since the incident began, this young girl had only taken the initiative to inquire about the general outline; all her other answers had been sparing, making it clear she wished to avoid involvement. Her conduct was too cautious, and lacked sharpness. Now, seeing her take the initiative, it was a sign of progress—at least she had thought it through.

Mo Daoyan spoke up, “Later, let Baiyun take you to see him. You might find a new perspective.”

Ji Yao thanked Master Suwen and stepped aside, waiting for Mu Baiyun.

After seeing Chen Shaohua’s condition, Ji Yao understood why the perpetrator hadn’t acted sooner. In truth, Chen Shaohua was already the hidden puppet of the enemy.

At present, Chen Shaohua was imprisoned by a sealing array that suppressed his magic. The occasional flicker of blackness in his eyes revealed that his soul was being devoured by a small stream of demonic energy. Because the demonic aura was weak, it allowed him to linger in this half-alive state.

When his soul was fully consumed, he would become a mindless puppet, entirely under the enemy’s control.

Moreover, though the demonic aura was slight, it was fiercely domineering. If forced out by external power, it would immediately explode the host’s body with ten times its normal strength. Even a Foundation or Core Formation cultivator, caught unawares, would be gravely injured if not killed.

Higher level cultivators had to be wary of the demonic aura seizing the opportunity to invade their own bodies, turning them into the next puppet host.

It was, after all, a demon capable of deceiving even late-stage cultivators. No high-level cultivator would willingly take such a risk.

The only solution was to use a special heaven-and-earth fire to burn away both the host and the demonic aura, until all was reduced to ash and scattered.

The reason they hadn’t done so yet was because Chen Shaohua might be the only clue; if he were destroyed, the mastermind would act even more recklessly, or retreat deeper into hiding.

So, the array was used to confine him, preventing the demonic aura from further consuming his soul.

Without Chen Shaohua, even with the evidence of the beast hide, it might be impossible to identify its original owner.

After seeing Chen Shaohua, Ji Yao continued to reflect.

From the methods displayed, it was clear all of this was far beyond the capabilities of a mere Qi Refining cultivator—especially the demonic aura, which no such cultivator could control.

Thinking of her own situation, Ji Yao shuddered. Could it be a case of body possession?

In fact, Ji Yao’s current predicament was a form of possession. Though the previous soul was dead, she merely borrowed the body to revive; yet borrowing a body was also a form of occupation—the difference from possession was merely whether the original soul was alive or dead.

Considering her own circumstances, if Situ Jing had wished to seize this body, Ji Yao would have had no means to resist.

Whether Situ Jing despised the body’s spiritual root, or relied on her divine artifact for confidence, it made no difference to Ji Yao, who now considered herself in the murderer’s position, imagining a powerful enemy like Situ Jing.

If such a formidable demonic cultivator had possessed the murderer, everything would be easily explained. Despite the murderer’s low cultivation, it would be effortless to kill Qi Refining disciples like them—crushing ants.

But that was not the case. Instead, a series of elaborate schemes had been set in motion, suggesting the possession had failed, or the demonic cultivator was uninterested in the host’s body.

Without possession, many methods could not be fully employed. The powerful demonic cultivator must coexist with the murderer, as a soul without a host or vessel cannot exist independently in the world.

Such a soul, if it does not reincarnate or cultivate the path of ghosts, will gradually dissipate, returning to the world’s spiritual energy.

Take Situ Jing, for instance. Though she had a divine artifact, without reincarnation, merely relying on the artifact for sustenance would not allow her soul to linger in the natural world for long.

Thus, after she left Ji Yao’s body, she remained in the space within the Sumeru ring, allowing her to come and go, exercising her powers occasionally.

Because the Sumeru space forms its own world—though it has form, it lacks the principles of the Dao. The space’s Dao is incomplete; cultivating within it allows advancement in minor realms, but not great leaps. There is no tribulation, no phenomenon, no recognition by heaven and earth, so great advancement is impossible. Situ Jing’s soul, dwelling inside, is freed from many natural constraints, and is far more at ease.

Humans are born and grow within heaven and earth, drawing all they require from it. If, after death, they do not reincarnate or pursue another path, they naturally return what they have taken to the world.

Thinking it through, Ji Yao broke out in a cold sweat, even causing Mu Baiyun beside her to glance over.

This little girl had been absent-minded ever since seeing Chen Shaohua, and now she was sweating—if she were frightened, Mu Baiyun would not believe it, for Ji Yao had shown no strong reaction in front of Chen Shaohua.

Clearly, she must have realized something.

What had Ji Yao realized?

She had thought that this powerful demonic cultivator was willing to reside within a Qi Refining disciple’s body, plotting everything for them. It seemed reckless, heedless of consequences, and risked exposing the murderer’s true identity—yet it suggested a deeper purpose.

From the enemy’s perspective, if the demonic cultivator wished to exist in the world for longer, they would not remain in one host, but would surely seek a body with excellent spiritual roots and perhaps power.

If Chen Shaohua were exposed in this way, the first to investigate would surely be Master Suwen, head of the Hall of Justice. Should Master Suwen, eager to pursue clues, risk himself to force out the demonic aura, the enemy would have their chance.

Imagine: if the head of the Hall of Justice from one of the most powerful sects in the Realm of Micao were to become a puppet host for the demonic cultivator, what would become of the world then?