Am I the old man who's always by my apprentices' side?

Chapter 385 Possession (Please vote with monthly tickets~~~~)

While the entire White Stone Immortal Sect was working hard to find Sun Ping, Sun Ping himself gradually settled down in Tianning City.

During this time, he did try to find the place he came from, to see if there was any way to go back, but no matter how hard he looked, he couldn't find it. It was as if the place had been set up with some kind of formation, always like a maze where he could wander around and just couldn't find his way in.

Therefore, Sun Ping specifically consulted the city lord of Tianning City about some secrets of formations, intending to study them in order to see if he could find a way to break the formations so that he could return home.

Of course, he was also constantly inquiring about the shadowy figure.

Regardless, the shadowy figure, who appeared to be an evil cultivator, broke in because of him, and given the average Qi Refining stage cultivator in the Blue Night Realm, he was certainly no match for him.

I must take responsibility for this.

With this in mind, Sun Ping settled down temporarily in Tianning City.

During the day, besides learning the language of the Blue Night Realm, he studied the basic array texts he had borrowed from the City Lord of Tianning. Otherwise, he would wander the streets and alleys, keeping an eye out for any unusual events in the city, or asking passing cultivators if they had seen any strangely shaped black shadows or "outsiders" who knew nothing about the Blue Night Realm.

After all, both the shadowy figure and he had entered the Blue Night Realm from the White Stone Realm, so they probably didn't know much about the Blue Night Realm either.

For the first few days, nothing was found. The shadowy figure seemed to have completely blended into the world, without causing the slightest ripple.

Sun Ping even began to suspect that the thing might have left again.

However, he dared not be careless. He studied the formation with extra care every day, thinking that he should break the formation as soon as possible and return to the White Stone Immortal Sect so that he could report the matter to the sect leader.

Fortunately, although the city lord of Tianning City only provided some basic classics, they opened a new door for him.

Furthermore, because the script of the Blue Night Realm is very similar to that of the White Stone Realm, the secret manuals of the Blue Night Realm are more accessible and detailed than those in the sect's library, making them easier to study.

It must be because the sect leader's realm is too high and his cultivation is too deep, so the secret manuals he uses are also quite advanced!
Just as Sun Ping was about to search Tianning City thoroughly and was preparing to take his leave to explore other cities, the city lord of Tianning City suddenly told him some news—

The Nascent Soul Ancestor of the Blue Night Realm has suddenly stopped showing up recently, and even announced that he will go into seclusion to cultivate!

Normally, it's quite normal for cultivators to go into seclusion for cultivation, but it was very unusual for that Nascent Soul ancestor to do so.

First, the ancestor, whose title is True Man Mingfeng, also known as Ancestor Mingfeng, was left behind after the sealing of the Blue Night Realm. It is said that he was originally a disciple of a major sect in the upper realm, and he voluntarily stayed in the Blue Night Realm to ensure the sealing and to appease the people.

It is precisely because of this that the spiritual energy in the Blue Night Realm is too thin. Ancestor Mingfeng also shoulders the heavy responsibility of guarding the seal of the Blue Night Realm. Therefore, he never goes into seclusion to cultivate. Instead, he lives in the Tranquil Courtyard near the seal. From there, he can overlook the entire Tianning City and observe the seal outside Tianning City in real time.

Therefore, the fact that Ancestor Mingfeng went into seclusion was quite unusual.

This news immediately alerted Sun Ping.

He had a gut feeling that this matter might be related to the shadowy figure, so he specifically consulted Ling Quan and asked if he could visit Ancestor Mingfeng.

“Logically speaking, cultivators who go into seclusion for cultivation are not completely oblivious to the outside world. As a Foundation Establishment cultivator like you, who comes from the legendary White Stone Realm, it is certainly no problem for us to inform you.”

But after saying that, Ling Quan sighed and shook his head, saying, "But I don't know what Ancestor Mingfeng was thinking. During this seclusion, he completely ignored external affairs!"

"To be honest, fellow Daoist, I have reported your matter several times, but it has all gone unanswered. I'm afraid even the Ancestor himself hasn't seen it!"

Things have gotten a bit tricky at this point.

If possible, Sun Ping would certainly wait until Ancestor Mingfeng emerges from seclusion before meeting him.

But meeting with Ancestor Mingfeng was never Sun Ping's goal; he suspected that there was something wrong with this Nascent Soul Ancestor himself!

Can't wait any longer!
Sun Ping made up his mind and decided to go to Jingxin Villa alone to investigate.

He did not tell Alana and Lord Lingquan where he was going, only saying that he was going to take a walk in the mountains, so as not to worry them or cause them to follow him into danger.

Alana and Ling Quan had no suspicions. After all, Sun Ping often went into the mountains to search for the "entrance" he had come from, and Ling Quan had always gone with him to investigate. The conclusion was that the formation was a concealment formation. Although the method of setting it up was extremely crude, it was so powerful that only a cultivator at least at the Core Formation stage could break it. Ling Quan himself was powerless to help...

This is also why Sun Ping decided to study formations on his own, and it is also his excuse for infiltrating the Tranquil Hermitage to find out more—to study formations in the mountains.

……

It was night, the moon was dark and the wind was high.

Holding the Xuansong Hanfeng sword, Sun Ping silently slipped into the Tranquil Hermitage.

The courtyard was not equipped with any protective formations, probably because the title of the world's number one Nascent Soul Ancestor was too prestigious, and no one would be foolish enough to break in. Therefore, there were only a few Qi Refining stage servants on duty.

Avoiding the notice of these Qi Refining stage cultivators was not difficult for Sun Ping.

Now his five senses are far beyond what they used to be. With just a few leaps, Sun Ping easily reached the bottom of the window sill of the main house.

However, the Nascent Soul stage cultivator was much stronger than Sun Ping had imagined. Even though he was extremely careful, the moment he touched the window, a loud shout still came from inside the room—

"who!?"

The shout was like a thunderclap, making Sun Ping's eardrums ring.

But he remained resolute and did not panic. Instead, he suddenly pushed open the window and jumped into the house.

It wasn't because he enjoyed being an uninvited guest, but because he sensed a strange yet familiar aura of yin and ghostly energy through the crack in the window, almost identical to the aura of the shadowy figure he had encountered in the White Stone Ice Sea!
Upon entering the room, one sees an elderly man with white hair and a withered face sitting on a futon. This man is none other than the only Nascent Soul Ancestor in the Blue Night Realm—Ancestor Mingfeng.

However, the current state of Ancestor Mingfeng was extremely strange. His spiritual energy was chaotic, his face alternated between pale and bluish, and black energy, like small snakes, writhed and coiled around his body. Even more alarming, above his head, a twisted black shadow was constantly trying to erode downwards and connect with the old man's crown!
"Seize the body!"

Sun Ping had learned the theory of immortality quite well, and with such a standard body-snatching scene, he instantly understood what the scene before him meant.

The dark figure was indeed here, and was plotting to possess this Nascent Soul ancestor!

"...It's you again! Don't ruin my plans!"

The dark figure let out a sharp roar, clearly both surprised and furious at Sun Ping's arrival.

He was currently at a critical moment in the fierce battle of souls with Ancestor Mingfeng, and could not afford to be distracted by anything else, much less unleash the power of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

The reason he wanted to seize this Nascent Soul stage body was to gain Nascent Soul stage cultivation for free. If it weren't for the fact that this so-called Ancestor Mingfeng had a heavy inner demon, he probably wouldn't have had any chance of winning!

Unexpectedly, at this crucial moment, this kid actually came looking for him! That's right, although Ancestor Mingfeng himself was being possessed and was even at a disadvantage, Sun Ping's arrival gave him a breather, and he was able to open his eyes with difficulty at this moment.

Upon seeing Sun Ping, a hint of clarity and anxiety flashed in the eyes of Ancestor Mingfeng. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he was suppressed by the black energy and could only give Sun Ping a look urging him to leave quickly.

Leave? How can we just leave like that!
Sun Ping had already made up his mind.

If this evil cultivator successfully seizes the body of the Nascent Soul, the entire Blue Night Realm, and possibly even the White Stone Realm through the Realm Gate, will face a catastrophic catastrophe!
The mistakes you make are even harder to make up for!

"You evil spirit! Don't even think about succeeding!"

Sun Ping shouted sharply without hesitation. Immediately, Xuan Song Han Feng was drawn from its sheath. The icy blue sword light carried a chilling coldness and slashed straight at the twisted black shadow that was drilling into the body of Ancestor Ming Feng!

"court death!"

Enraged, Tang Mingming had no choice but to divert some of his power, condensing a wisp of black mist to meet the sword light.

"Bam—"

The sword energy collided with the black mist, and the energy exploded in an instant, shattering doors and windows, cracking walls, and even causing the roof to make a sound as if it were collapsing. It was unclear how long it could hold out.

The servants and attendants outside all fell to the ground, many of them bleeding from all seven orifices and unconscious from the impact of the force.

Sun Ping, who had managed to exchange a blow with the shadowy figure, felt his blood surging and his internal organs trembling uncomfortably.

Although he didn't know what level of cultivation the dark figure possessed, it was certainly not low, and he was probably no match for it!

Sun Ping hesitated for a moment.

He could take advantage of the moment when the shadowy figure possessed Ancestor Mingfeng to escape and then try to return to the White Stone Immortal Sect for help. With the sect leader's abilities, dealing with such a scoundrel should be no problem.

However, this would put Ancestor Mingfeng in danger.

Even if Ancestor Mingfeng had been successfully possessed during the time he was gone, the entire Blue Night Realm would probably be in trouble!
More importantly, he had no idea what the shadowy figure's purpose was. What if the other party wanted to destroy the White Stone Immortal Sect, or even the entire White Stone Realm?

Perhaps this thing is the sect leader's enemy, seeking revenge?

In a split second, many thoughts raced through Sun Ping's mind, but his hand, which should have hesitated, didn't even tremble.

Then, without retreating an inch, he changed his sword stance and attacked again.

He knew perfectly well that this was the best time to stop the other party. Once it was completely integrated, everything would be unknown!
Xuan Song Han Feng truly lived up to its reputation as a Heavenly Rank Spiritual Sword. Its icy sword energy had a natural restraint on the soul. In addition, the shadowy figure seemed to be using most of its energy to suppress the counterattack of Ancestor Ming Feng, and was actually entangled by Sun Ping, unable to quickly take him down.

In an instant, sword light flashed and black mist churned inside the room. Sun Ping pushed his spiritual power to its limit, unleashing a continuous barrage of sword techniques and spells. In the end, when his spiritual power was exhausted, he had completely turned to a reckless fighting style.

New wounds kept appearing on his body, and blood stained his robes, but his eyes remained sharp as ever. He clung tightly to the dark figure, not giving him any chance to breathe, so as to indirectly help Ancestor Mingfeng suppress the opponent and cause him to fail in his possession attempt.

A hint of gratitude and reluctance flashed in Ancestor Mingfeng's eyes. He tried his best to mobilize the remaining power of his divine soul to fiercely compete with Tang Mingming inside, and also restrained most of his power.

However, an absolute gap in strength cannot be bridged by willpower alone.

After a prolonged battle, Sun Ping's spiritual energy was greatly depleted, and his movements gradually became sluggish.

"Humph! A mantis trying to stop a chariot!"

Tang Mingming seized an opening, and the dark shadow suddenly condensed into a giant claw, viciously grabbing at Sun Ping—

If that claw strikes firmly, Sun Ping will surely die!

Sun Ping's old strength was exhausted, and new strength had not yet been generated. Seeing that he could not dodge, a resolute glint flashed in his eyes. Just as he was about to use all his strength to activate the Xuan Song Han Feng to buy one last chance for Ancestor Ming Feng, he suddenly heard two very familiar accents in his ears—

"careful!"

"Fellow Daoist Sun!"

At the critical moment, a dazzling sword light, like a startled swan from the heavens, pierced through the night and shot straight towards the Tranquil Courtyard!
The sword light, like a shooting star, blocked the giant claw, buying Sun Ping time to survive.

The first to arrive was a pigeon, the messenger (paper puppet) most favored by the White Stone Immortal Sect. It flapped its wings and circled outside the dilapidated house, seemingly hesitating where to land so as not to become the last bit of weight that would collapse the entire house.

Immediately afterward, two figures, one tall and one short, arrived in a hurry. Sun Ping rolled on the spot, widening the distance between himself and Ancestor Mingfeng, and finally had time to turn his head and look over.

They were two cultivators whom they did not know, but who clearly knew each other.

"We are from the Taiyue Sword Sect. We have been entrusted by Sect Leader Zhang to come here specifically to find Fellow Daoist Sun!"

Seeing the urgency of the situation, Zhuang Wansong explained the situation in a few words, then drew his sword and stood beside the disheveled Sun Ping, confronting Elder Mingfeng.

Li Zhi arrived shortly after, but he did not carry a weapon. Instead, he blew a whistle, and the sword light that had blocked the giant claw returned to his side, though its radiance appeared somewhat dim.

"This is... a sword pellet!?"

Sun Ping stared in shock at the golden, sword-like phantom hovering beside Li Zhi, and blurted out:

"You're Li Zhi, the one from the Taiyue Sword Sect with the innate sword physique!?"

"Hehe, fellow Daoist Sun, it's great!"

Seeing that Sun Ping had actually heard of him, Li Zhi couldn't help but grin. But just as he was about to say something, the dark figure attacked again—

Several sharp, cone-shaped short swords formed from black mist pierced towards the three of them at an extremely fast speed, leaving Sun Ping with almost no time to react.

However, Li Zhi and Zhuang Wansong reacted quickly. One used his sword to block the fastest few black mist short swords, while the other controlled the sword pellet. The sword shadow accompanied by spiritual light darted through the air like lightning, and in an instant, he shattered all the remaining black mist short swords.

However, the golden sword shadow seemed to have dimmed considerably.

Seeing that the attacking force was the black shadow hovering above the old man's head, Zhuang Wansong was unsure whether to take action. In the midst of his busy schedule, he asked, "Fellow Daoist Sun, what exactly is going on?"

(End of this chapter)