“How about this? We’ll settle it by headcount.” Shu Xin smiled. “For every Spirit-Hosting demonic cultivator at the Flawless Realm, pay me ten thousand high-grade spirit stones. For those at the Grotto-Heaven Realm, three thousand high-grade spirit stones will do. For Nascent Soul cultivators, I only want five hundred high-grade spirit stones. As for anyone below the Nascent Soul stage, one thousand low-grade spirit stones each will be enough. Consider it a discount.”
“If it’s merely a matter of killing them, I can handle it myself,” Xiang Zhu said, unwilling to agree to Shu Xin’s terms so readily.
“Not necessarily.” Shu Xin shook her head. “First, you belong to the Nine Heavens Dao Sect. In many situations, you can’t act openly. If you start killing people without restraint, it won’t be long before you’re expelled from the sect. Second, your disciples’ cultivation is limited. They may be able to deal with Nascent Soul demonic cultivators, but anything beyond that is simply beyond them.”
At a time like this, Shu Xin, as an outsider, was actually freer to act without restrictions.
“There’s no rush. If you can’t make the decision, you can discuss it with your sect master first,” Shu Xin kindly suggested. “However, if you still need my help against cultivators above the Flawless Realm, then I’m afraid I won’t be able to do anything. And if I realize that your sect’s troubles are too difficult to resolve and may endanger my life, I’ll leave on my own.”
Xiang Zhu frowned.
The price Shu Xin had named was unquestionably far above the normal market rate for demonic cultivators.
High-grade spirit stones rarely circulated outside major sects; only great sects kept them in reserve.
By making such demands now, Shu Xin was clearly trying to make a killing.
Even so, Xiang Zhu accepted her proposal.
Though Shu Xin’s demands were little different from taking advantage of a crisis, in a situation like this, a cultivator willing to name a clear price was far more trustworthy than one who claimed to want nothing at all.
“Fine. I agree,” Xiang Zhu said.
“Hmm? You don’t need to consult your sect master first?”
“As an elder of the Nine Heavens Dao Sect, I have that much authority,” Xiang Zhu replied. “But when do you intend to begin? Let me make this clear: if those demonic cultivators discover you, I won’t help you. They’ve operated within the Nine Heavens Dao Sect for so many years that they’ve learned to cover for one another. Even my disciples and I have found it difficult to catch them in the act.”
“That’s you,” Shu Xin said with a smile. “I have my own methods.”
“Oh, right. Where is Xie Xianzhi?” Shu Xin asked. “He is the most outstanding member of your Nine Heavens Dao Sect’s younger generation. His safety should be assured, shouldn’t it?”
Xiang Zhu was silent for a long while before answering. “I hadn’t seen him when I returned. Recently, several Dao sects joined forces to gather their Grotto-Heaven Realm cultivators for training, hoping that one of them might break through to the Flawless Realm and rival you. On his side... I fear the outlook is grim as well.”
More importantly, Xiang Zhu had personally killed one of Xie Xianzhi’s senior martial brothers.
There was no doubt that man had been a Spirit-Hosting demonic cultivator.
How, then, could Xie Xianzhi possibly remain untouched by it all?
Shu Xin’s expression changed slightly.
She let out a soft sigh.
After bidding farewell to Xiang Zhu, Shu Xin soon slipped away without a sound, aided by the Sword Spirit.
【As for the Mirrorbright Divine Water, it would be easy enough for us to concoct.】the Sword Spirit said. 【But we can’t just go around splashing it on anyone we come across, can we? At the very least, we can’t make a move within the Nine Heavens Dao Sect, or Patriarch Yuanzhou will find out.】
“Idiot. You’ve been following me for so long, yet you haven’t learned even a fraction of my wisdom.” Shu Xin clicked his tongue. “We need to strike at their weakness, not use our weakness to contend with their strength. What is the advantage of these spirit-parasite demonic cultivators right now? Their sheer numbers. They’ve practically taken control of over half the Nine Heavens Dao Sect. If I kill too many demonic cultivators, they’ll definitely band together against me. Then it’ll be just one man and one sword—how am I supposed to deal with so many of them?”
【…Stop keeping us in suspense. What exactly are you planning?】
“Jingzhi’s side will probably find a way to bring in outside help. As for me, it would be best if I could make them turn on one another.” Shu Xin stroked his chin. “Patriarch Yuanzhou is willing to cooperate with the spirit-parasite demonic cultivators for no other reason than to prolong his life. He wants to obtain the most complete spirit-parasite technique from Xuan Wu and use it to extend his lifespan. In the end, they’re merely exploiting one another. As long as the foundation of their cooperation changes, their alliance will crumble on its own.”
【And how are you going to do that?】
“Simple.” Shu Xin smiled. “Either make Patriarch Yuanzhou doubt the authenticity of the spirit-parasite technique, or present him with something even more useful than it.”
“Let’s find Jiang Gui first. I’m Xiang Zhu’s honored guest now. Ever since I entered Xiang Zhu’s cave residence, plenty of people have been keeping an eye on me.” Shu Xin sounded faintly excited. “Back in the day, I only ever fooled insignificant cultivators. Now that I have the chance to teach these so-called important figures a proper lesson, I’ve been looking forward to it for a long time.”
【Wait, didn’t you promise Xiang Zhu that you’d kill demonic cultivators in exchange for spirit stones?】The Sword Spirit finally caught on.
What Shu Xin was doing now looked more like an attempt to bring down the entire Nine Heavens Dao Sect. Once Patriarch Yuanzhou met with disaster, the sect’s decline would be all but inevitable.
“Honestly, why is your brain still not working?” Shu Xin replied with perfect justification. “How does that conflict with anything? If Patriarch Yuanzhou believes me and clashes with the demonic cultivators, then any demonic cultivators he kills can count as my kills.”
Those could count as his kills?
The Sword Spirit was stunned by Shu Xin’s shamelessness.
“Besides, if the Nine Heavens Dao Sect really does go under, we’ll have the advantage of being first in line. When Patriarch Yuanzhou is on his last legs, I’ll take the risk and bring you along to finish him off. With his flesh and blood, you should be able to cleanse at least half of yourself, shouldn’t you?” Shu Xin’s words were like the whisper of a devil.
【Yes, yes, yes, yes!】The Sword Spirit was instantly thrilled. 【I’ll listen to you. I’ll listen to you!】
“Hahaha, let’s go. I’ve already worked out the entire plan.” Shu Xin stretched lazily. “People have always been the same, throughout all of history: they fear their brothers doing poorly, but fear even more that their brothers might strike it rich. Wuweizi succeeded in extending his life—how could Patriarch Yuanzhou not be jealous? How could he not want the same for himself?”
With Wuweizi as proof, Patriarch Yuanzhou would have no choice but to believe. Perhaps they could even swindle a few more ancient Earthly Immortals into taking the bait.
Though the Sword Spirit had no idea what kind of mischief Shu Xin was stirring up this time.
But it knew that whenever Shu Xin showed a particular concern for—or interest in—something, all it had to do was cooperate obediently.
As Shu Xin liked to say, there was no one in this world who couldn’t be fooled—only scams that hadn’t yet been tailored specifically to them.
...
Song Ping had been doing perfectly well in the Longevity Dao Sect when Wen Jingzhi suddenly contacted him, instructing him to head to the Nine Heavens Dao Sect and work there under Shu Xin’s command.
Had it been anyone else, they might have harbored doubts about Wen Jingzhi’s decision. But Song Ping knew full well what stood between Wen Jingzhi and Shu Xin. Moreover, he had met Shu Xin before at Mount Busi Manor. Thus, he was extremely cooperative with Wen Jingzhi’s arrangements.
Song Ping casually accepted a bounty mission and left the Longevity Dao Sect.
He was only a minor figure. After Wen Jingshu’s death, the surviving disciples had scattered like birds and beasts.
Song Ping had neither connections nor backing, and his talent was mediocre. Naturally, no one thought much of him, and even his departure drew no attention.
Shu Xin strode openly through the Nine Heavens Dao Sect.
The gazes cast in her direction were filled with scrutiny and admiration.
For every person who envied Shu Xin’s attainment of the Immaculate Realm at such a young age, there was another who secretly feared her.
This was especially true of the demonic cultivators using spirit-possession. Seeing that Shu Xin seemed intent on staying at the Nine Heavens Dao Sect for some time, they hardly dared appear before her.
It would be troublesome if she noticed anything amiss.
This female cultivator was far too legendary. Better to be cautious.
Naturally, some of the elders of the Nine Heavens Dao Sect went to the sect master, hoping to have Shu Xin sent away.
Xiang Zhu had long since reported to the sect master and explained the agreement with Shu Xin in full.
The sect master felt it made sense.
The Nine Heavens Dao Sect was now in such a precarious state that a single move could affect the entire situation. If an outsider like Shu Xin could truly stir the waters into confusion, it might not be a bad thing.
Besides, Shu Xin had a master who had only recently reached the Mahayana stage. The Nine Heavens Dao Sect had to show Xu Guan some respect.
Patriarch Yuanzhou likely had no desire to face off against Xu Guan now, either.
As for the state of their own patriarch, the sect master of the Nine Heavens Dao Sect had swiftly gone from reverence to an indescribably complicated state of mind.
He had no way to openly defy the patriarch, nor did he dare question the patriarch’s decisions.
But he absolutely could not stand by and watch the Nine Heavens Dao Sect be stolen away by demonic cultivators!
Shu Xin went directly to find Jiang Gui.
She had already asked the Sword Spirit to contact Jingzhi. Her actions within the Nine Heavens Dao Sect required the cooperation of Wen Jingzhi’s subordinates.
As a planted operative within the Nine Heavens Dao Sect, Jiang Gui could also provide considerable help for her plan.
Some secret place within the Nine Heavens Dao Sect.
Countless waves of demonic qi swirled through the air. Spiritual qi and demonic qi intertwined, yet some force had forcibly bound them together.
Several Immaculate Realm cultivators already lay on the ground, their eyes tightly shut, unconscious.
“As expected of an Earthly Immortal. In merely a few months, you have cultivated the spirit-possession method to such a level.” A gentle voice rang out.
In the air, what seemed to be a humanoid figure formed of gathered spiritual qi flickered indistinctly, with no solid body.
By contrast, seated at the very center where demonic qi and spiritual qi converged was a youthful-looking man in Daoist robes, his hair and beard entirely white.
The instant he opened his eyes, the Unblemished Realm cultivators lying on the ground opened theirs as well.
They had different bodies and different faces, yet the moment their eyes opened, they seemed to become one and the same person.
“As expected of the Spirit-Transference Art, an ancient inheritance. It truly is formidable.” The Daoist-robed man controlled the bodies on the ground, making them rise and stretch their limbs. “Still, the bodies of Unblemished Realm cultivators are not enough to make me abandon this body of mine.”
“Patriarch Yuanzhou, there is no need to be so impatient,” the voice in the air continued. “You already know who the most suitable candidate is, do you not? For now, you are merely practicing the Spirit-Transference Art in advance.”
Though that was true, when Xuan Wu saw those Unblemished Realm cultivators whose consciousnesses had been completely erased, he could not help but marvel at Patriarch Yuanzhou’s ruthlessness.
Every one of them was Patriarch Yuanzhou’s disciple, and among the foremost pillars of the Nine Heavens Dao Sect.
Yet before Patriarch Yuanzhou’s grand scheme to prolong his life, they were no more than ants.
To cultivate the Spirit-Transference Art to its higher levels, one had to transfer one’s spirit into different cultivators, use their bodies to commit all manner of atrocities, and fully absorb the resentment of the original owners. Only then could one’s cultivation advance.
Patriarch Yuanzhou was no exception.
He had merely taken a shortcut.
He transferred his spirit into the bodies of his own disciples, then controlled those bodies to bring cultivators possessed by parasitic demons into their respective mountain peaks. Before their very eyes, he made those demonic cultivators infest their wives, concubines, children, and disciples, shattering their Dao hearts and thereby rapidly increasing his own cultivation.
And all of this had taken only half a year to a year.
If Shu Xin had been here, he would have discovered that among these possessed Unblemished Realm cultivators was Xie Xianzhi’s master.
For the sake of staying alive, Patriarch Yuanzhou had nearly severed the future of his entire sect!
Even Xuan Wu, who considered himself a cold and heartless demonic cultivator, felt that he still lacked courage when compared to this Earthly Immortal.
But that was precisely why it was good.
Only once Patriarch Yuanzhou completely abandoned his own body and chose to transfer his spirit into another could Xuan Wu seize the opportunity to parasitize Patriarch Yuanzhou’s body.
When that time came, who would win and who would lose was still anyone’s guess.
“Why struggle, Fellow Daoist Jiang?” A cultivator wore a broad smile as he reached out and pinched Jiang Gui’s cheek. “I sincerely invite you to join us. You rose from the outer sect yourself, and it was only because I saw your talent and unwavering original resolve that I wished to guide you.”
The white-clad man, bound in iron chains, turned his head away disdainfully, as though unwilling to say another word.
“Fellow Daoist Jiang may appear loyal and devoted, but in truth, you do not hold anyone in your regard.” The cultivator sighed. “I killed your senior and junior brothers before your very eyes, yet your Dao heart has not wavered in the slightest. For your resolve to be this steadfast is truly rare.”
Jiang Gui clearly possessed no more than three spiritual roots. Who knew what stroke of fortune he had encountered to raise his cultivation all the way to the Nascent Soul Realm? Thus, although he had joined the Nine Heavens Dao Sect only two or three years ago, he had still been exceptionally promoted to an inner disciple and accepted as the disciple of an Immaculate Realm elder. His future was exceedingly bright.
For spirit-parasite demonic cultivators, the most difficult targets to infest were precisely those with unwavering resolve. Yet by the same token, if they could shake such cultivators’ minds, give rise to inner demons, and successfully parasitize them, they could refine them into the finest external avatars.
Likewise, the firmer a cultivator’s will was, the greater the inner demon and resentment produced once that will was shaken—and the greater the boost to a spirit-parasite demonic cultivator’s cultivation.
An ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator would already have lost their composure and become a plaything in the hands of a spirit-parasite demonic cultivator after such a combination of tactics.
But Jiang Gui was clearly an exception.
The demonic cultivator had killed Jiang Gui’s fellow disciples before his very eyes, as well as his friends within the sect, yet Jiang Gui had not wavered in the slightest.
Something was not right.
And yet, the more this was the case, the more intrigued the spirit-parasite demonic cultivator became.
He wanted to know: what method could make Jiang Gui truly waver? And what was it that allowed Jiang Gui to persist so firmly?
“You merely wish to shake my resolve and take advantage of the opportunity to seize my body,” Jiang Gui said, looking at the man before him with an even tone. “Just kill me. Stop wasting your effort on something so pointless.”
What this spirit-parasite demonic cultivator had done to him was not even half as painful as what he had endured in the past.
A man driven by vengeance like him had clawed his way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood. How could he possibly be shaken by such petty methods?
“No rush. I have plenty of time,” the demonic cultivator said smugly. “Everyone has a weakness. You must have one too; I simply haven’t found it yet.”
“Indeed.” A voice sounded from behind the demonic cultivator. “Then what is your weakness? Your cultivation doesn’t seem very high. You have no awareness of defense at all.”
The moment the voice rang out, the demonic cultivator standing before Jiang Gui’s face changed drastically.
But by the time he turned around to look, it was already too late.
His soul was forcibly pulled from his body by an invisible hand and dropped into the palm of a female cultivator.
“You’re Jiang Gui?” Shu Xin asked, a trace of curiosity on her face. “I’m Shu Xin.”
She was not sure whether Wen Jingzhi had mentioned her to Jiang Gui before, or whether she would need to ask Wen Jingzhi for some sort of proof.
The Sword Spirit gave the chains binding Jiang Gui a light tap, and they snapped apart at once.
“Thank you, Senior Shu,” Jiang Gui said, cupping his hands in salute. “Please rest assured, Senior Shu. The Master once said that if Senior Shu ever had need of us, we were to cooperate with her to the fullest extent.”
“So he did mention me. That’s good.” Shu Xin relaxed. “Is this demonic cultivator still of any use to you?”
Shu Xin gave the soul in her hand a vigorous shake.
After being grabbed and shaken by Shu Xin like that, the captive soul felt as though three souls and seven spirits had been scattered from him.
This cultivator was only at the Nascent Soul Realm. Being held in the grasp of an Immaculate Realm cultivator, the pressure he endured was easy enough to imagine.
“Uh, Senior Shu may deal with him as you see fit,” Jiang Gui said with a cupped-fist salute.
Hearing this, the Sword Spirit did not hesitate. It flew from its sheath and absorbed every last scrap of flesh and blood from the demonic cultivator possessed by a spirit.
There was no way to kill all the demonic cultivators in this sect for the time being. Having a little appetizer first to whet its appetite was not bad either.
“Then let’s kill him.” As Shu Xin spoke, he crushed the soul in his hand. “I’ve already asked Jingzhi to summon Song Ping as well. I’m planning to do something major. It may be dangerous—possibly life-threatening—but the rewards will be substantial. Are you willing to take the risk?”
Jiang Gui smiled.
“At Senior Shu’s command.”
Before Song Ping arrived at the Nine Heavens Dao Sect, he knew almost nothing.
He only knew that Shu Xin’s message had been urgent. Thus, Song Ping had no choice but to spend a considerable sum on the fastest flying vessel and rush all the way to the vicinity of the Nine Heavens Dao Sect.
When he arrived outside the sect and was still wondering how to contact Shu Xin, a spirit sword shot toward him with a whoosh, carrying a letter on its blade.
Huh???
Song Ping was deeply startled. He had seen this sword before; it seemed to have delivered letters to his lord in the past as well.
But he had only just arrived and had not even had time to settle down. Senior Shu already knew where he was? Such an ability was simply heaven-defying.
The sword before him swayed slightly, urging Song Ping to take down the letter and read it quickly.
“My apologies, my apologies.” Song Ping hurriedly removed the letter and bowed to the sword. “I must trouble this senior spirit sword.”
The sword’s hilt bobbed, as though telling him that it understood.
Such a sentient sword was truly rare.
Song Ping could not help but marvel. These days, magical treasures and spirit swords capable of developing intelligence were becoming fewer and fewer. This was the first time he had seen one.
Still, Song Ping first opened the letter Shu Xin had sent him to see what it said. He was only at the Core Formation stage—what could he possibly do to help a cultivator in the Flawless Realm?
By the time Song Ping had finished reading, he was feeling rather unwell.
Yet the letter in his hand burst into flames the moment he finished, leaving behind no trace at all.
“Senior Shu has truly given me a difficult task,” Song Ping said with a bitter smile. “I will do my utmost to accomplish what Senior Shu has asked of me.”
If I’d known, I would have stayed at the Longevity Dao Sect, Song Ping could not help thinking.
...
“Shu Xin, what have you been busy with these past few days?” Xiang Zhu could no longer sit still.
After agreeing on a price with Shu Xin, he had assumed Shu Xin would immediately begin killing people in exchange for spirit stones. Xiang Zhu had even gathered the first batch of spirit stones for payment. Yet Shu Xin spent every day wandering around the sect, doing nothing at all. Worse, he had been throwing his weight around everywhere under Xiang Zhu’s name, bullying men and women alike.
“From the moment I entered your residence, I’ve been watched constantly. If I acted rashly, those demonic cultivators would catch me red-handed and accuse me of killing indiscriminately. When that happens, you won’t be able to protect me.” Shu Xin’s reply was coolly sarcastic. “They’re demonic cultivators, not pigs for me to slaughter at will. Do you think they’d just stand there and let me kill them?”
Xiang Zhu’s expression darkened. The reason he had ended up in such a difficult position was that, early on, he had slaughtered the demonic cultivators far too ruthlessly. Yet he had never been able to produce sufficient evidence to justify himself, and rumors about him had spread throughout the sect. If not for the sect leader’s steadfast protection, along with his reputation as an elder sword cultivator, who knew what would have become of him by now.
“But you can’t keep drifting through your days like this,” Xiang Zhu said with a sigh, his tone no longer as forceful as before.
“It’s not as though I’ve been doing nothing.” Shu Xin suddenly grew serious. Looking at Xiang Zhu, he said, “These past few days, I’ve been wandering around your sect for two reasons. First, to familiarize myself with the terrain, so I’ll have a way to escape after I kill the demonic cultivators. Second, to find out just how deeply these demonic cultivators have infiltrated your sect. I never expected the situation to be even worse than I imagined.”
“But there was an unexpected gain.” Shu Xin looked directly into Xiang Zhu’s eyes. “Why does your sect have a spy from the Longevity Dao Sect?”
“That’s a rather rich question coming from someone of the Wen Shen Sect. Isn’t Qin Rushan one of your people as well? Among the great sects of the world, which one doesn’t have a few spies planted by the Longevity Dao Sect?” Xiang Zhu said dismissively.
“But I’ve met that disciple from the Longevity Dao Sect before. He used to serve as Wen Jingshu’s disciple and was highly valued by her. Ah, Wen Jingshu was one of the Nine Sons of Longevity. She was killed some time ago—some say Ning Weixuan did it, while others say it was Situ Jian. But after her death, that old ancestor of the Longevity Dao Sect flew into a furious rage.”
Shu Xin gazed quietly at Xiang Zhu, a trace of jealousy on his face. “I met Wen Jingshu once. Her temperament was mediocre, and her talent could only be called above average. I have no idea what kind of absurd luck she stumbled into. She came from an ordinary mortal background, yet that old ancestor took her as a disciple and directly raised her cultivation to the Immaculate Realm. I struggled and worked myself to the bone for so long before I finally reached the Immaculate Realm.”
“Is that really true?” Xiang Zhu’s thoughts raced. He had never met Wen Jingshu, so naturally he did not know what sort of person she truly was.
But he felt that he had grasped onto something.
