“Soul-Snatching!”

As the words fell, Gu Han felt as if his soul had been smashed by Murong Yan’s heavy hammer. For a moment, he felt dizzy, and an inexplicable urge to submit to Chu Kuang arose in his heart.

This isn’t good!

His instincts told him if he succumbed here, he would likely die. For the sake of his plan, Gu Han gritted his teeth tightly, clinging to the last sliver of clarity on his spirit platform.

Outside, after seeing the struggle in Gu Han’s eyes grow weaker and weaker, Jiang Xuan’s eyes lit up. “Hmm? Did you succeed?”

Chu Kuang said arrogantly, “Of course! This technique is just a minor trick of soul power usage. It pits the strength of each party’s soul power against the other’s. He’s not even at the Divine Connection realm, how strong could his soul power be? Since his opponent is me, there’s no reason for failure.”

Jiang Xuan smiled so widely he couldn’t close his mouth. “That’s great! I trust you!”

Sure enough, the struggle in Gu Han’s eyes disappeared completely. He became as dull and rigid as a puppet.

Jiang Xuan stared at Gu Han intently. “Let me test it. Kid, what’s your name?”

“Gu Han.”

“Do you know who I am?”

Gu Han nodded mechanically. “I do, you bitch.”

Jiang Xuan stiffened. Someone under the technique’s influence spoke their true thoughts. Clearly, this was exactly the impression he left in Gu Han’s mind.

Chu Kuang ignored him, his expression somewhat grave. “Why does your cultivation improve so quickly? What secrets are you hiding? Can you refine divine power?”

The question reignited the struggle in Gu Han’s dim gaze.

Chu Kuang shook his head. “If you don’t want to say it, forget it.”

The struggle in Gu Han’s eyes receded.

Chu Kuang frowned deeply. “This isn’t good. These questions seem to touch upon his core secrets. His subconscious is resisting answering.”

Jiang Xuan waved his hand. “It’s fine! Once I possess him, I’ll know everything!”

Chu Kuang sighed. “Well, there’s no choice then. That’s the only way.”

Jiang Xuan reminded him again, “Remember to protect him well later.”

“Rest assured!”

Jiang Xuan’s spirits lifted. “Looking back, I have had such ill-fated luck and a rocky cultivation path in this life. Today, I will finally seize the opportunity for a complete turnaround. Hahaha... I’m off!”

A shadowy figure suddenly flew out from between his eyebrows. Protected by Chu Kuang’s soul power, it instantly entered Gu Han.

***

Within Gu Han’s consciousness space, Jiang Xuan’s soul swayed unsteadily.

He nodded repeatedly. “Not bad. This body can match my soul by seventy percent. Not bad at all! But didn’t this kid fall under the Soul-Snatching Technique? Where is he hiding?”

Moving forward, he soon reached the depths of the consciousness space.

Then, he saw a cage. Inside, a black shadow stood with its back to him, hands behind its back.The imposing aura it inadvertently emitted nearly forced Jiang Xuan to his knees.

His heart skipped a beat. Who is this?! This isn’t what I expected...

Right at that moment, the black shadow slowly turned around, waved at him, and gave a friendly greeting. “You’re here?”

Jiang Xuan was stunned, nodding subconsciously. “Ah? I’m here—wait, no! Who are you?!”

The black shadow laughed disdainfully. “A measly ant like you dare ask for my name?”

Jiang Xuan’s heart sank heavily. “N-no... Something’s wrong! This is wrong! It shouldn’t be like this!”

He instinctively tried to escape. Then, a sword light flashed by, piercing straight through him. Jiang Xuan let out a miserable scream, turning several shades more transparent.

The black shadow looked pained. “Kid, be more gentle! We finally got such a fool. Wouldn’t it be a waste to just kill him like that?!”

At the same time, Gu Han appeared before Jiang Xuan. “Sorry, I couldn’t hold back. Because of him, a great opportunity slipped right through my fingers! I almost got contaminated by that so-called divine power too!”

Recalling that, the black shadow grew fearful. “You must be careful! If you get contaminated, even I will be in trouble!”

Jiang Xuan stared at Gu Han with wide eyes. “Didn’t you fall under the Soul-Snatching Technique? How could you—no, your soul power, how is it so strong?”

Forget the Spirit Profound cultivators, he could sense that Gu Han’s soul power far exceeded most Divine Connection realm cultivators!

The black shadow curled his lips. Strong? Isn’t it all because of me? Forget it, forget it, I can’t think about it now. The more I think, the more it hurts!

Gu Han grinned. “You’re about to die. What’s the point of knowing so much?”

The black shadow agreed. “Exactly! Don’t you know the rules? What right does prey have to question the hunter? Shouldn’t you just peacefully await your death?”

Jiang Xuan’s heart sank to the bottom. He stared fixedly at Gu Han. “How dare you trick me?!”

A sword intent instantly stopped right between his eyebrows.

Gu Han said with a smile, “You’re right, I did trick you. What are you going to do about it??”

Jiang Xuan knelt on the ground, kowtowing with remorse.

“Daddy Gu! Ancestor Gu! Please, great men don’t hold grudges against small men, spare me! I really didn’t mean to offend you. It was all Chu Kuang! That bastard planted evil thoughts in my mind! I am innocent!” He suddenly raised his head, showing a sincere expression. “Let me go! I swear that from now on, I will be your loyal dog. Whoever you tell me to bite, I will do it without a word!”

The black shadow was dumbfounded. “What kind of gem is this?”

Having seen it before, Gu Han was unfazed. “It’s not the first. This person has absolutely no shame.”

The black shadow nodded. “Indeed! In all the years I’ve lived, he is the most shameless person I’ve ever seen! Without exception!”

Gu Han waved his hand, withdrawing part of the sword cage’s power. “Enough. As agreed, he’s all yours.”

The black shadow’s eyes lit up, a wisp of his aura spreading out. “Good!”

Jiang Xuan stiffened. Facing the black shadow, he felt like an ant facing an unimaginably gigantic giant. This was suppression on the level of life hierarchy.

He trembled with fear. “No, please! Daddy Gu, I beg of you...”

Gu Han’s expression turned solemn. “Fellow Daoist Jiang, this is the consequence of your actions! Why persist in something so futile? Accepting your fate peacefully might very well be a form of liberation. You should thank me!”

With a final scream, Jiang Xuan was swallowed by the black shadow. His last furious curses lingered faintly.

The black shadow thought for a moment. “Don’t speak like that again in the future.”

“Why?”

“Easily gets you beaten up.”

Gu Han was speechless. It really is asking for a beating!

The black shadow licked his lips, somewhat regretful. “This person’s soul tastes average, nothing special. If you could get me the soul of that Saint realm fella outside, that would be something to chew on!”

Gu Han shook his head. “Him? Forget it. That person is very vigilant. Moreover, he’s a Saint’s reincarnation, with many backup plans...”

The black shadow appeared disdainful. “Nonsense! Saint’s reincarnation? He sure knows how to glorify himself!”

Gu Han was startled. “What? He’s not?”

The black shadow shook his head repeatedly. “Kid, the Dao of reincarnation and rebirth is the most complex and profound matter in the world. I haven’t even fully comprehended it. Him? A measly Saint realm ant? Reincarnation? Is he worthy?”

“Then he—”

The black shadow sneered repeatedly. “It’s just possession! And from what you said, he’s using those lowly, despicable methods!”

Gu Han suddenly understood. “So... he’s not like you?”

The black shadow bristled. “Kid, don’t talk nonsense! Mentioning someone like him in the same sentence as me is nothing short of an insult!”

Gu Han analyzed. “Look, if it’s just possession, he succeeded and you didn’t. That’s the only difference, isn’t it?”

The black shadow laughed in anger. “Do you know who these so-called reincarnated great experts possess?”

“Who?”

The black shadow’s tone was icy. “Infants! Those yet to be born, still in their mother’s womb. I told you before, possession carries great risks. Hence, to minimize risk, some seek countless pregnant women on the verge of giving birth, selecting the infant with the greatest aptitude as their target.

”The infant’s soul is the weakest, its bond with the body not yet stable, making it the best target. Moreover, gestation greatly enhances the compatibility between their soul and the body. This is the so-called truth behind reincarnation and rebirth. A method both sinister and vicious. Even I wouldn’t resort to it—and I’m a demonic cultivator. Otherwise, why do you think I ended up like this?”

Gu Han sighed. “Is that so? Then he truly deserves to die.”

The black shadow licked his lips. “Bring him in! I will help you eat—I mean, kill him!”

Gu Han glanced at him. “No, I have a better idea.”

***

Outside, Chu Kuang stared intently at Gu Han. Despite feeling extremely confident in his methods, he couldn’t help but feel a trace of anxiety. Just then, Gu Han’s expression shifted rapidly, a mix of pain, struggle, and hesitation. Only after a long while did he open his eyes.

Chu Kuang probed, “Are you Fellow Daoist Jiang?”

Gu Han suddenly sighed. “One moment, my life was hanging by a thread, the next, I’m seeking life from death, just like willows shading flowers in brightness, withered trees meeting spring. As the saying goes, the Heavenly Dao is ever-changing, fate is hard to predict. Between sorrow and joy, death and life, lies the great truth of the Dao! I, Jiang Xuan, have achieved enlightenment!"

Chu Kuang’s face lit up with joy. It has to be him! No one else could copy that infuriating tone of voice!

Sure enough, Gu Han cupped his hands. “Today, I can be reborn, and live another life, all thanks to—”

Chu Kuang waved his hand. “Hey! No need to thank me! Speaking of which, we are both reborn individuals. Everything from the past is unimportant. From now on, we can address each other as peers!”

Gu Han became emotional again. “You’re right! The past is like smoke, already scattered by the wind. You and I now are just like—”

Chu Kuang couldn’t bear to listen anymore. He felt that while Jiang Xuan was good in other aspects, his habit of being long-winded was a tad annoying.

“Fellow Daoist, you should know his secrets now, right?” he asked.

Gu Han began to improvise. “Of course! This kid’s fate and opportunities are indeed extraordinary. In his childhood, he accidentally entered an ancient relic site, where he obtained that sword and those sword skills.

“He even consumed a strange fruit, achieving a Poison Immunity Physique. Because of this, he gained the ability to absorb divine power. Although he could only barely refine an extremely small portion, it can still be considered extremely heaven-defying!”

Chu Kuang frowned deeply, feeling somewhat disappointed. Poison Immunity Physique?

As a Saint realm expert, he had heard of too many bizarre and strange physiques and bloodlines, so he didn’t doubt the authenticity of Gu Han’s physique. What he regretted was that this ability couldn’t be replicated.

Gu Han smiled. “Fellow Daoist Chu, if you’re interested, after we get out, I can take you to see that relic site. Perhaps, we can find similar strange fruits!”

Chu Kuang’s eyes lit up. “Yes! Then I’ll leave that to you!”

Gu Han waved his hand nonchalantly. “No worries at all. This is the consequences of helping me—”

Chu Kuang hurriedly interrupted him. “Fellow Daoist, ahem... The anomalies in the secret realm are becoming more severe. Let’s retrieve that divine essence and discuss further after returning.”

Gu Han nodded. “You’re right!”

Divine essence or treasure liquid—they were both things he was determined to obtain.

The two proceeded forward, conversing as they went.

Chu Kuang was somewhat curious. “Fellow Daoist, that day when I sparred with Gu Han, I found his spirit power was even more profound than mine. I wonder how many zhang was his spirit pool?”

Gu Han pretended to be surprised. “Hmm? How about yours?”

Chu Kuang didn’t hide it from him. “Seventy zhang. Of the five hidden acupoints, I found two!”

Gu Han seemed visibly moved. “No wonder! The strange fruit caused this kid’s body to undergo a mutation. He managed to find three, and his spirit pool is a full eighty zhang!”

Chu Kuang fell silent for a moment. “It was fortunate that he died. Otherwise, he would have become a serious threat to me in the future.”

Gu Han sounded somewhat regretful. “What a pity. I can only barely exert seventy percent of this body’s strength!”

Chu Kuang’s lips curved into a meaningful smile. “Seventy percent? That’s already quite a lot!”

Seventy percent was not too much, not too little—just enough for him to suppress.

Gu Han’s urge to kill Chu Kuang had never been stronger. Still, he hesitated when he realized that one blow wouldn’t be enough to kill Chu Kuang, and could even expose himself. Thus, Gu Han forcefully held back. Just wait! This time, I’ll definitely trick you to death!

In just a short while, the two returned to the side of that small pool.

“We’re here.”

With a glance, they were dumbfounded. The shallow layer of divine essence from earlier was completely gone. There was not a single drop left!