"Are you trying to bargain with me, Venerable One?" Jiang Fenghuo's voice was laced with a cold sneer. "If I were to ask my Master to obliterate you, everything in this interspatial ring would be mine, regardless."
Seeing the remnant soul's expression stiffen, he pressed his advantage. "Besides, I already have a powerful Master guiding my cultivation. Why would I need your tutelage?"
"Without you, I am still destined to become a prodigy of the Righteous Sect."
His words seemed to put the remnant soul into deep thought. After a long silence, it finally spoke, "Hmph, you can't fool me, boy. Your Master isn't here, is he? Otherwise, why hasn't he already acted to destroy a mere remnant soul like myself?"
Jiang Fenghuo didn't deny it. He only needed the soul to believe he had a powerful backer, to make it cautious enough to negotiate on equal terms.
In truth, he was calculating. If he could harness the power of this remnant soul, his situation would improve drastically. After all, even with *The Human Refining Demon Art*, he was still only a cultivator at the Qi Condensation stage. This soul could offer him the same protection it had once granted Lin Zhen.
"Furthermore," the soul added, a hint of confidence returning to its voice, "while your Master is undoubtedly remarkable to have given you such a treasure for protection, that very fact proves he is not by your side."
Jiang Fenghuo remained calm. "What do you want from me? Is it simply to be spared? If so, hand over the ring, and I will let you go."
Of course, Jiang Fenghuo had no intention of relinquishing such an opportunity, but he knew this was the moment to retreat strategically.
"No," the soul said, "I need someone to help me find a new vessel. Without seizing a body, I am doomed to wander as a soul for eternity."
"This is why you are fortunate, unlike that fool Lin Zhen. Had he not been killed, he would never have escaped the fate of having his body seized by me."
Jiang Fenghuo didn't lower his guard just because the soul claimed it wouldn't possess him. This malevolent cultivator's spirit was likely trying to lull him into a false sense of security.
"Very well," Jiang Fenghuo said. "I will help you find a new vessel, and in return, you will aid me. I wish to receive your legacy."
This was Jiang Fenghuo's final offer. If the remnant soul was truly set on possessing someone else, then he would be safe.
The remnant soul nodded. "So be it. Your spiritual roots are too weak and your cultivation base too low. You were never my target for possession to begin with. Now, release me."
Jiang Fenghuo glanced at the flickering golden light cage, which seemed to be on the verge of dissipating. He felt a surge of relief that their negotiations had concluded just in time.
As the golden light faded, Jiang Fenghuo focused his will, guiding the final wisp of Golden Light of Merit into his Sea of Consciousness, a necessary precaution.
The remnant soul was aghast. "What are you doing?! Did we not just strike a bargain?"
Jiang Fenghuo scoffed. "It seems you fear this golden light of mine?"
"You are mistaken," the soul retorted, though its voice lacked conviction. "It's just that being trapped in that cage was... unpleasant."
The remnant soul's gaze was fixed on the Golden Light of Merit. *Damn it all,* it thought, *so he does have more of that light. The treasure that controls it is far too formidable. Unless I can steal it from him without a trace, seizing his body will be impossible.*
Knowing his plan had succeeded, Jiang Fenghuo spoke in a threatening tone. "This golden light appeared on its own because it sensed you still bear ill will toward me. I'm so sorry. Was that too much for you? ."
The soul, left with no options, swiftly withdrew from Jiang Fenghuo's Spiritual Sense. Jiang Fenghuo, in turn, let out a long, slow breath. He was finally safe.
No longer needing to take his own life to avoid possession, he lowered his sword and opened his eyes.
A spectral form materialized before him, completely different from the image he had seen in his Spiritual Sense. No longer an old man, the figure was now a stunningly beautiful and bewitching female cultivator.
Jiang Fenghuo felt a sense of unreality. "Wait, what is this?"
The remnant soul spoke, her voice a sultry melody. "This is my true form. I was just tryingto frighten you before. Had I known you were such an innocent virgin, I would have used this appearance to charm you from the start."
"Enough nonsense, Venerable One," Jiang Fenghuo said, his expression serious and unmoved by her allure. "I don't know if this is your true face, nor do I care to know. I only want to ask one thing: What benefits can you offer me right now?"
The remnant soul rolled her eyes. With a casual wave of her hand, three items floated out from the interspatial ring on Jiang Fenghuo's finger: *The Talisman Cultivator
's Direct Path to the Golden Core*, *The Great Art of Puppet Refining*, and *The Art of Inverting Yin and Yang for Cultivation Harvesting*.
"You may choose any one of these three manuals," the soul said. "The first is most suited for a cultivator with trash-tier spiritual roots like yours. By practicing it, you can ignore your innate talent, for you will cultivate a 'Lifebound Talisman' to serve in place of your foundation."
Jiang Fenghuo listened intently, a flicker of joy in his heart, but he remained silent.
The soul continued, "*The Great Art of Puppet Refining* teaches methods for refining puppets. You can even turn living people into puppets to do your bidding."
"And the third, *The Art of Inverting Yin and Yang for Cultivation Harvesting*," she smiled seductively, tracing a finger teasingly across Jiang Fenghuo's chest, "needs no explanation, does it? It allows you to treat your dual cultivation partner as a Human Cauldron, harvesting her—absorbing her essence to advance your own cultivation."
Jiang Fenghuo nodded, finally speaking. "It sounds like the first can compensate for my weak spiritual roots, the second can aid me in battle, and the third—"
"Will allow me to raise my cultivation base rapidly, and it is the most pleasurable manual of all."
As soon as the words left his lips, the soul asked, "An astute summary. So, have you made your choice?"
Jiang Fenghuo nodded.
"Which manual will you take?" the soul pressed.
Jiang Fenghuo stated, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, "I'll take all of them, of course."
The remnant soul froze for a moment, a flicker of disbelief on her beautiful face, before she burst into laughter. "You are a greedy boy. But I like that. You truly have the potential to be a demonic cultivator!"
"Don't mock me, Venerable One. I am a cultivator of the righteous path," Jiang Fenghuo said, holding out his hand. "Now, please impart these three cultivation methods to me. I've earned them. For I know a cultivator who would be a perfect vessel for you to possess, and I will tell you who she is."
The beautiful soul's demeanor shifted, becoming urgent. "Who?" she demanded.
Jiang Fenghuo smiled. "The person I speak of is named Fang Yan, a Foundation Establishment cultivator. She is a female demonic cultivator from the Joyful Union Sect, and she practices their signature arts."
"Take me to her," the soul commanded, her tone leaving no room for argument.
At this, Jiang Fenghuo's smile faded. "Please do not be so hasty, Venerable One. If I were to seek her out now, I would be crushed by her power. First, you must help me raise my cultivation base quickly."
The soul stomped her foot in frustration. "Damn it! How do I know you're not lying to me? Besides, you have that golden light treasure to protect you, and I will lend my strength. A mere Foundation Establishment cultivator? We can deal with her easily!"
Jiang Fenghuo spoke slowly, not a trace of urgency in his voice. "It would be wise for you to speak less in commands, Venerable One. I am a man who honors his word. What I have told you is the absolute truth. I will help you seize her body—she is my enemy as well, after all. But first, I must ask you to fulfill your end of the bargain."
The remnant soul stared at Jiang Fenghuo, her spiritual pressure bearing down on him, causing his body to tremble slightly. But his gaze remained firm and unwavering. Finally, she withdrew her aura.
Her anger was replaced by a wry smile. "You are a very interesting boy. Once I have secured my new body, perhaps I would be willing to share a bed with you and practice the Joyful Union arts together."
"But before that, I will honor our agreement. I will help you break through to the Late-stage of Qi Condensation—it will take half a month at the most."