After I stopped trying, a rich woman trained me into a demon emperor.

But he dared not linger any longer.

This is when he is at his weakest.

If you're not careful, that old bald monk will successfully possess your body.

If that kid were to slash me again,

"Zhou Ran, I'll remember this debt!"

Lingxu Daoist glared at Zhou Ran with resentment.

Then, he suddenly slapped his chest and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Blood Escape!

He transformed into a streak of crimson light, crashed through the rock wall, and fled downstream into the dark river.

The underground cave finally quieted down.

All that remained were the rolling pebbles and the rushing sound of the underground river.

"Zhou Ran!"

Lin Qingxue rushed towards the riverbank without regard for anything else.

Splash!

A pale hand gripped a rock on the shore.

Zhou Ran was soaking wet and climbed ashore in a very disheveled state.

Zhou Ran plopped down on the wet rock, panting heavily.

He felt like all the bones in his body were about to fall apart.

Especially after forcibly bearing the soul power of that old demon Ye Futian, his meridians felt like they were being pulled back and forth by countless blunt knives.

Zhou Ran introspected on himself.

Within his dantian, the demonic pill vanished without a trace.

The sea of ​​consciousness was completely empty.

"Master?"

Old Deng?

No one answered.

After searching carefully, he finally found a dark shadow.

Ye Futian's soul has shrunk by more than 90% at this moment.

It turned into a small, dull black ball, hovering in the corner.

Zhou Ran grinned.

"This is what they mean by seeking fortune in danger."

You made the right bet!

This old man really values ​​his life more than I do.

In order to preserve his physical body, he indeed drained all the spiritual energy he had accumulated over the past few days.

The night sky is now in a deep slumber.

Let alone possession, they probably couldn't even transmit their thoughts through divine sense.

"The fact that Old Deng spared no effort in teaching me shows that he was not afraid of his skills being passed on to outsiders."

"In his plan, my body was probably already his to possess."

Zhou Ran let out a long sigh of relief, feeling a sense of unprecedented ease in both body and mind.

"Once this old man wakes up, I'll pretend to offer him some treasures to nourish his soul, and trick him into revealing the cultivation path after reaching the Golden Core stage."

By the time he has the ability to possess another body, I'll probably have reached the late Foundation Establishment stage myself.

Zhou Ran got up and stretched his muscles.

Although I was in excruciating pain and had several broken bones, it didn't matter.

As long as this body remains under my control, everything is fine.

"Cough cough..."

A weak cough could be heard from a distance.

The old Taoist priest Zhang Xuansu who was slapped into the rock wall by Lingxu Taoist.

With the help of several disciples, he was struggling to move this way.

The old Celestial Master's hair was disheveled, and his purple Taoist robe, which represented the majesty of Longhu Mountain, was now a beggar's outfit, full of tears and mud.

"Young friend..."

Zhang Xuansu pushed away his disciple's hand and bowed deeply to Zhou Ran.

"I, Zhang Xuansu, on behalf of the entire Longhu Mountain community, thank you for saving my life, young friend."

Zhou Ran did not dodge and accepted the bow calmly.

If he hadn't risked his life just now, those old Taoist priests would have become Lingxu Taoist's food long ago.

"You're too kind, Master."

Zhou Ran waved his hand, took out a bottle of mineral water from his storage ring, took a sip, and spoke casually.

"I'm not doing this to save you. It's just that that old monster is blocking my way and wants my life."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xuansu was not angry at all; on the contrary, his admiration deepened.

In his view, although this young man practiced demonic arts, he acted with integrity and uprightness.

Unlike those so-called righteous hypocrites who spout benevolence and morality but are actually full of wicked and immoral thoughts.

"Regardless of our initial intentions, it turned out that my young friend saved us."

Zhang Xuansu was a man of refined tastes. He took out a small white jade bottle that he kept close to his body from his robes.

"This is my secret recipe from Longhu Mountain, the 'Nine-Turn Rejuvenation Pill'."

Although the name is a bit exaggerated, it has miraculous effects on internal injuries.

Zhou Ran didn't stand on ceremony and took it, pouring out one.

The pill was entirely red and emitted a refreshing medicinal fragrance.

Throw it directly into your mouth, chew it like a candy, and swallow it.

A warm current flowed through my limbs and bones, bringing indescribable comfort.

"nice one."

Zhou Ran's eyes lit up.

"If you don't mind, young friend, you are welcome to visit my Celestial Master's Mansion on Longhu Mountain after this matter is settled."

Zhang Xuansu then extended an invitation.

"I still have a few ounces of Enlightenment Tea hidden away, which I can use to sit down and discuss the Dao with you, young friend."

Zhou Ran's heart stirred.

He was completely clueless about the current cultivation system on Earth.

Although that old demon Ye Futian was knowledgeable, those were all ancient almanacs from hundreds of thousands of years ago.

They're not even from the same plane.

The old Taoist priest in front of me is actually the Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain, a top Taoist sect in the world.

Judging from his aura, his cultivation level had already surpassed the so-called terrestrial immortal realm.

It seems that there are indeed experts on this earth.

Forming a good relationship with him and exploring the true nature of the cultivation world today would be entirely beneficial.

After a moment's thought, Zhou Ran laughed heartily.

"Then I will accept the invitation without hesitation and will certainly come to visit you at that time."

Zhou Ran smiled and agreed.

Zhou Ran smiled and agreed, and the slight barrier between them caused by their different cultivation methods dissipated imperceptibly.

He patted the rock beside him, gesturing for Zhang Xuansu to sit down, and asked seemingly casually:

"Old Celestial Master, that Lingxu demon Taoist just now, judging from his tone, seemed to be related to something called the 'Wuji Sect'?"

What kind of sect is this Wuji Sect?

Upon hearing the words "Wuji Sect," Zhang Xuansu's originally amiable expression darkened.

"A bunch of heartless beasts."

Zhang Xuansu snorted coldly and spoke slowly.

"This sect is not a native Chinese sect, but a heretical sect that returned from overseas a hundred years ago."

Its founder is said to have been a sorcerer from over a hundred years ago, who specialized in the evil arts of harvesting life essence from corpses and stealing souls to prolong life.

"In this degenerate age, spiritual energy is depleted. We, the orthodox Taoist sects, emphasize following the natural order and adapting to the times, cultivating our minds in seclusion."

Our orthodox Taoist school emphasizes following the natural order and cultivating a pure and desireless mind.

"But the Wuji Sect is different; they take a shortcut."

"What shortcut?"

Zhou Ran pressed for an answer.

"plunder."

Zhang Xuansu uttered two words, his voice chilling.

"Plunder the life force of others, plunder the spiritual energy of the earth's veins, and even plunder the souls of the living!"

In their eyes, all living beings are medicinal herbs.

Over the past few decades, their shadow has been behind many missing persons cases across the country.

Zhou Ran narrowed his eyes, his fingers stroking the hilt of his Zanpakuto.

When he was still a fitness instructor, he heard many stories about wealthy and powerful families from his wealthy members.

At the time, I just thought it was bragging and something to have fun, but now I realize...

Looking back now, the Wuji Sect was probably involved in those rumors.

"Since they're acting so arrogantly, aren't you righteous sects going to do anything about it?"

Zhou Ran sighed softly, with a hint of sarcasm.

Zhang Xuansu gave a wry smile and shook his head.

"It's difficult."

The Wuji Sect acts in secrecy, and...

They are too deeply intertwined with the top wealthy families in the secular world.

"Money and power pave the way, and evil arts provide protection."

This is a massive web of vested interests, one that even Longhu Mountain wouldn't dare to easily tear apart.

Zhou Ran nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly.

In this world, money can make the devil turn the millstone, and it can also make the millstone turn the devil.

He thought for a moment, then suddenly changed the subject, asking casually.

"By the way, Celestial Master. Was that Lingxu Daoist just now possessed by the remnant soul of the ancient monk?"

"Exactly."

Zhang Xuansu nodded.

"This kind of possession..."

Zhou Ran asked casually, his gaze seemingly falling on the churning underground river.

In reality, he was keeping a close eye on Zhang Xuansu's expression out of the corner of his eye.

"If the person being possessed isn't completely dead, is there any way to completely expel the foreign soul?"

"Or perhaps..."

"Directly, annihilate the possessor's soul?"