"I… I can't hold it anymore—it's going to come out!"
"Shut up. Steady yourself. "
"Don't let it escape if you truly wish to grow stronger."
Jiang Fenghuo's voice trembled, breath short and uneven. The tension in his body seemed almost too much to bear. For a fleeting moment, anyone watching might have mistaken the scene for something entirely different—until the air between them thickened with Qi instead of desire.
The remnant soul floated before him, a faint smile curving her lips as she instructed him in the art of compressing his Qi vortex. Her tone danced on the edge of amusement and command, teasing yet absolute.
For a cultivator at the Qi Condensation stage, this process was torment. It felt like forcing his own bones to bend backward—painful, unnatural, yet necessary. The swirling Qi within his Dantian strained violently, desperate to break free.
That vortex was the very foundation of his cultivation realm—the wellspring of his strength. And yet Jiang Fenghuo was trying to shatter it, willingly.
All for the sake of cultivating The Talisman Cultivator's Direct Path to the Golden Core.
If his focus wavered even for a heartbeat, the Qi would rupture his Dantian and destroy him from within.
The remnant soul had promised to keep him alive. But even her assurance sounded faint beside the storm raging inside his body.
Then, she extended a slender, translucent hand, pressing it slowly toward his Dantian. A soft, mischievous lilt crept into her voice.
"There now, my dear disciple. I'm inside your body now~"
"Venerable One, this isn't the time for jokes! Please—act now!" Jiang Fenghuo's voice was a strained whisper forced through clenched teeth.
"Very well, then…"
Before he could brace himself, her hand clenched. A crushing pressure descended through his core, and Jiang Fenghuo felt his Qi vortex implode under that overwhelming force.
All that remained were fragmented currents of Qi, flowing along her spectral hand and arm, feeding back into her soul like liquid light.
"Quickly!" she commanded, her tone turning sharp. "Circulate the cultivation method—guide the Qi through your meridians and form your first talisman within the Dantian: your Lifebound Talisman!"
Jiang Fenghuo's face was drenched in sweat, his features twisted in agony as he obeyed.
The remnant soul's voice cut through the pain, calm yet laced with an urgency that left no room for hesitation.
"Faster! Once you condense this Lifebound Talisman, you'll be free of those frail spiritual roots forever. Fail, and your path ends here—you'll never cultivate again."
He could not answer; his jaw was locked tight. Memories flashed behind his eyes: betrayal at the sect-entrance trials, the sting of humiliation, the hollow ache of weakness.
Because he had been weak, others had trampled him. Because his aptitude was poor, he'd been left with scraps. Because his cultivation was low, he'd been treated as expendable.
The cruelty of this world—I've seen it all. But if I could choose again…
I would still walk this path. I refuse to crawl as a mortal.
Summoning every wisp of Qi within him, he drove it into his Dantian. There, a faint gray outline began to take form—talisman paper born from swirling spiritual energy.
"Yes… that's it. Keep going," she murmured, relief flickering across her ethereal face.
Success was close. And with it, the moment when Jiang Fenghuo would help her seize Fang Yan's body drew nearer.
Her red lips parted slightly. "The talisman paper is complete. Now—repeat after me.Six Paths of True Spirits—by talisman paper, be bound as one.Five Elements of True Qi—flow and gather as rivers into this seal."
"Six Paths of True Spirits—by talisman paper, be bound as one.Five Elements of True Qi—flow and gather as rivers into this seal!"
Jiang Fenghuo echoed.
As his voice faded, the Qi etched glowing characters upon the forming talisman. When the final stroke settled, he opened his eyes.
A talisman floated within his Dantian, pulsing softly. On it were inscribed the words: Six Paths True Spirit Root Talisman.
Around it, Qi condensed again into a vortex—larger, purer, circling the talisman like a planet around its sun.
The remnant soul's eyes glimmered. "It is done."
"Yes," Jiang Fenghuo said, catching his breath. "The impurities in my Dantian have been purged. My foundation feels steadier. My realm hasn't risen, but if I fought my former self now, it would be over in three moves."
She nodded, clearly pleased. "This is why I chose Lin Zhen at first. Understand now? I never intended to seize your body."
Jiang Fenghuo bowed deeply. "My thanks, Venerable One."
Outwardly respectful—yet inside, he felt no gratitude. Her words were bait; he could sense the hunger hidden behind her calm expression.
He had seen that look before—the longing of one who craved a living body.
Of course, she would not take over a weak cultivator right away; doing so would leave her powerless. But Jiang Fenghuo had no doubt: if desperation struck, she would seize him without hesitation.
As he bowed, the remnant soul narrowed her eyes. Cautious little thing… still pretending to be grateful, still wary.
If only he could truly become my disciple, to inherit everything I've left behind… what a pity.
She gazed at him for a long moment. He finally looked up and asked, "Venerable One, what should I do next?"
The remnant soul's expression softened for a heartbeat before turning stern again.
"Though your foundation is solid now, your combat skills are pitiful. You only know crude spells like the Fire Spell and Thunder Spell. Still—there's no rush. We have something more important to attend to."
Jiang Fenghuo blinked. "More important?"
"Ahem—" The soul cleared her throat, adopting a lofty tone. "Indeed. A matter of utmost importance—taking me as your master."
He froze. She wants me to become her disciple?
She knew he already had a master in the Righteous Heart Sect—and had even fabricated a story about a stronger one.
"I'm afraid my master would not agree," he said carefully. "And I don't mean the one from the sect, but… the one who gave me the golden-light treasure. You know her strength well, Venerable One."
"Is that so?" Her eyes narrowed to slits. She waved off his excuse with a flick of her wrist. "You've cultivated my technique—a creation of my own. I've taught you everything without reservation. If you had any integrity, you'd honor me as your master."
Jiang Fenghuo's mouth twitched. Integrity? From a devil cultivator? How ridiculious.
But he immediately bowed, voice steady. "This disciple is willing. It's only right to repay the Venerable One's guidance."
He'd shown too much cunning earlier. Better now to play the obedient fool and let her guard down. That was how one survived in this world—sharp when needed, dull when it served.
The remnant soul smiled faintly. "Then don't call me 'Venerable One' anymore. From now on, call me Master. My name is Yu Qingshuang."
Yu Qingshuang… he repeated silently. A name that meant "clear frost," yet she practiced seductive arts. The irony wasn't lost on him.
"Disciple Jiang Fenghuo pays his respects to Master Yu."
He kowtowed three times, then rose at her gesture.
"Master," he asked, "could you teach me new spells?"
Yu Qingshuang gave him a sidelong glance of disdain. "You've barely taken me as your master and already you're begging for techniques?"
"This disciple wouldn't dare," he said quickly. "I only wish to grow stronger—so I can protect Master and help you find a new body for rebirth."
For an instant, her eyes softened, touched by the sentiment. Then she huffed lightly, tone returning to its usual sharpness. "Hmph. That's better. But I won't be giving you any spells."
Her gaze met his confused one—his expression practically asking, You're my master now; why not teach me?
She explained, "Because strength gained without effort harms your character. In cultivation, one's temperament is paramount."
As the words left her mouth, Yu Qingshuang paused, almost startled by herself. I was going to say his cultivation is too weak and I've forgotten simpler arts… so why did I end up lecturing him about virtue?
I never treated Lin Zhen this way. Perhaps I only ever saw him as a vessel to seize, while this boy… maybe I truly see him as someone who could inherit my mantle.
Jiang Fenghuo nodded respectfully. "Thank you for your guidance, Master. In that case, I have an idea—Lin Zhen still has some sect contribution points left. Combined with mine, we can exchange them for a decent spell manual."
Yu Qingshuang's lips curved in a faint smile. "Very well. Whichever manual you choose, your master will help you appraise it carefully."