Chapter 71

#He had heard all the sufferings of the world, yet only half-lowered his eyes, silent in his compassion.

The situation in Northern Wasteland continued to worsen, and Que Mountain could no longer accommodate more people.

The Main God Ji finally issued the order—

To seal Que Mountain…

On the day the gates of Que Mountain were completely shut, outside the city gates, all those not permitted entry surged forward. There were sobs, wails, hoarse cries, and people who turned around in despair and walked back toward Northern Wasteland, which had already been devoured by the aura of evil spirits.

In front of the gates, the scene was beyond description, like a living hell.

Yet Main God Ji did not shy away. He stood atop the gates, watching the people struggle and fight for their lives, bearing the curses and spittle of the angry masses.

He did not say a word.

He truly resembled a god or Buddha in a temple, hearing all the world’s suffering, yet only half-closing his eyes, compassion held silently within.

From that moment on, the atmosphere within Que Mountain began to change.

The marketplace was no longer lively, and no one sold food or medicine. In the refugee shelters, the displaced were both grateful for Que Mountain’s protection and lost about what lay ahead.

The soldiers patrolled daily, yet morale remained low.

The only one who seemed unchanged was Xie Zhuo.

There were no more children chasing after him to learn techniques, no elders bringing him clothes and hats, yet he still resolutely did what he needed to do—searching alleyways and corners for signs of Zhu Lian and traces of evil aura.

I drifted beside him day after day. Now that no citizens roamed the streets, I would sometimes wander through the military camp, hoping to find someone compatible, so I could briefly borrow their body and say a few words to Xie Zhuo: “You’ve worked hard. Take care of yourself.”

One day, Xie Zhuo happened to be investigating near the camp, so I floated into the barracks, hoping to find a kindred soul.

And it just so happened—Main God Ji was there too. He seemed to be meeting with several senior immortals in charge of the military. They entered the main tent.

So I floated to a corner of the camp, searching for a suitable young soldier.

And I really did find one.

He was thin and looked like a teenager, probably newly recruited to Que Mountain’s army. The scarf around his neck was still green.

He wasn’t patrolling or training like the others. Instead, he was curled up in a corner, hugging his knees, trembling uncontrollably.

His face was buried in his knees, so I couldn’t see his expression, but I could hear him whispering to himself over and over:

“I’m so scared… I’m so scared… I don’t want to become like those people outside…”

He was young, and in such dire circumstances, it was only natural to be terrified.

I felt a bit of sympathy and tried to draw closer, empathizing with his fear.

I didn’t think that his fear and my sympathy would be enough for our spirits to merge…

But unexpectedly, as I approached him, a powerful force yanked my soul straight into his body!

This had never happened before.

As my spirit merged into his limbs and bones, I suddenly felt my heart tighten, and a familiar sensation crept in!

It wasn’t the usual warmth or weight—it was a cold, damp presence that surged through the body, piercing my soul in an instant!

This was… evil aura!

This boy’s body was already infected with evil aura!

I immediately tried to escape, but found my soul entangled in his meridians!

The evil aura made the whole body twitch and tremble. The boy’s original soul began to scream the moment I entered:

“I’m scared! I don’t want to become like that! I’m scared!”

As his screams echoed, the body stood up against my will.

Through the bloodshot eyes, I saw black evil aura pouring out of the body, tearing through the skin.

“Ah!”

“Stop shouting!”

Inside his body, I yelled at him with my soul’s voice. But he had completely lost control.

He raised his hand and touched his face: “I don’t want this! I don’t want it!”

I tried to calm him: “Just take a breath! Calm down!”

Back in Undying City, I had once been possessed by evil aura. I remembered that Xie Zhuo kept telling me to control my emotions.

So I shouted at the soul now sharing this body with me: “You must control your emotions!”

“I’m scared! I can’t!” he cried. Then he seemed to realize something. “Who are you? Why are you in my head? Are you some evil spirit trying to hurt me? Ahhh!”

This was the first time I’d spoken with a soul while inside their body.

I was a little flustered too, but forced myself to stay calm and instructed him, “I’m trying to save you! The evil aura can be dispelled. Don’t lose your mind—take back control of your body!”

“I’m scared! That’s all I feel—scared!”

He kept repeating the same thing, and it was driving me mad.

I gritted my spirit and thought, since I can’t escape, I’ll merge completely and suppress the evil aura for him!

I let the evil aura drag my soul, letting it flow into every meridian of this body.

Once even my fingertips were filled with that cold, damp feeling, I raised a hand and formed a seal, intending to use Kunlun techniques to gather soul energy from the surroundings and suppress the evil aura within.

But as soon as I started drawing in soul power, pain stabbed through my heart like a blade.

The boy’s voice wailed again in my mind: “It hurts! What are you doing? Are you trying to kill me, you monster?!”

I ignored him and tried again, and the pain only grew sharper.

This body, corrupted by evil aura… could no longer properly channel soul power…

I was completely powerless to dispel the evil aura from this body…

Just when I was falling into despair, a flash of white light appeared before me. A man used two fingers like a sword and gently touched “my” forehead.

In an instant, it felt like a breeze had swept through, washing away all filth.

The boy’s panic and screaming faded, and I, too, felt a moment of clarity.

I seized that instant—without even looking to see who stood before me—and activated Kunlun techniques to drive out the remnants of evil aura still in the body.

When I finished, the body collapsed to the ground, unable to even stand.

“Kunlun techniques?”

I looked up slightly against the light and saw Main God Ji standing before me.

It really was him…

Although I had expelled most of the evil aura, some remnants might still linger in the meridians where my soul had merged. My spirit was now stuck in this body and couldn’t leave on its own.

I tried to speak, but didn’t even have the strength for that. And even if I could, I wouldn’t know what to say.

Why would a low-ranking soldier from Que Mountain know how to use Kunlun immortals’ techniques?

Others might not recognize it—but would Main God Ji not?

“Speak.”

Just one word from him, laced with divine power, shook this already weakened body as if it might fall apart.

I thought, If I don’t squeeze out a few more words, Lord God Ji might really mistake me for a malevolent spirit and cut me down with one strike…

After all, “I” had just released a wisp of black malevolent aura.

I had no choice but to muster all my strength to hold up my head, trembling as I stared at Lord God Ji and said, “I… I can still be saved…”

Please don’t cut me down now!

Just give me a little more time!

Maybe I can force all the malevolent aura out of this body…

Lord God Ji’s gaze was cold as ice. He asked again, “Why do you know Kunlun’s spellcraft?”

Each word he spoke carried divine power, and I felt as if my organs were about to be shattered by it.

I stared at him, unable to respond. Just when I thought I was about to be crushed to death by the growing pressure of Lord God Ji’s divine might, a voice suddenly came from the side.

“He said he can still be saved.”

The moment those words reached my ears, my eyes instantly turned red. I looked over eagerly and locked onto Xie Zhuo, who was standing behind Lord God Ji.

Xie Zhuo tilted his head slightly and looked into my eyes for a moment. Then he turned to Lord God Ji and said, “He doesn’t have much malevolent aura left.”

“I know. He used Kunlun’s spellcraft to remove it,” Lord God Ji replied. “He shouldn’t know Kunlun’s spellcraft.”

Xie Zhuo looked at me, as if to say: Go on, explain.

I immediately said, “I… I once encountered immortals from Kunlun. They taught me.”

Lord God Ji frowned slightly, clearly skeptical.

But Xie Zhuo walked up to me, crouched down, reached out, and took my pulse.

My heart skipped a beat as I looked at Xie Zhuo drawing closer, but I said nothing.

Xie Zhuo withdrew his fingers and turned to Lord God Ji. “If you send spiritual energy into his pulse, you can sense there’s still a bit of malevolent aura left. It’s faint—maybe it really is…”

“Maybe it is!” I quickly cut him off, thinking if this precious fool said another word, Lord God Ji might really chop me up!

“But give me two days. Maybe I can purge the remaining aura from my body completely.”

I propped myself up mentally, my voice hoarse. “It’s strange that I know Kunlun’s spellcraft, I admit—but Kunlun is still an immortal domain, and the Queen Mother of the West is a proper true god. Kunlun’s spellcraft isn’t some demonic sorcery. I really am a soldier from Que Mountain. If I can save myself, then at least… don’t kill someone by mistake… Can you?”

After my desperate explanation, both of them fell silent.

Xie Zhuo seemed to be seriously considering what I said. In the end, he even nodded, as if it made a lot of sense.

I swallowed nervously and glanced up at Lord God Ji.

Lord God Ji had withdrawn his killing intent, but was now squinting slightly at me with a subtle expression, as if scrutinizing me.

I had no idea what that sudden scrutiny meant, so I could only wait quietly for his judgment.

“Since that’s the case,” Lord God Ji finally spoke after a long pause, “I’ll take him back and investigate thoroughly.”

Huh?

Lord God Ji is taking me back?

I immediately looked at Xie Zhuo: No way. I want to go with you.

But Xie Zhuo either didn’t understand my look at all, or pretended not to, and simply nodded to Lord God Ji.

“Take him back and investigate properly. I’ll scout around the outskirts of Que Mountain these two days.”

“Alright,” Lord God Ji said. “The spell left on your necklace lets you freely enter and exit my barrier.”

Xie Zhuo nodded and turned to leave, his voice lingering in the air: “I’ll check his pulse again in two days.”

…What?

They just decided that?

I could only slump to the ground, watching longingly as Xie Zhuo walked away—only to be yanked up from the ground by a hand the next moment.

Lord God Ji was looking at me.

“The Stone Mirror of Que Mountain was just returned to my hall. You can pass through it again.”

Huh?

Passing through the Stone Mirror is fine, but what’s with that again?