’When people cultivate their Qi Sea and Mana, they open their Acupoints to allow True Qi to circulate. This corpse’s True Qi is flowing without leaking. Its mouth, eyes, ears, and anus—all its orifices—are sealed. It looks like it used some kind of Secret Technique!’

’In ancient times, when eminent monks passed away, they would seal their seven facial orifices along with their anus to prevent external toxins from entering, which could preserve their bodies for a thousand years without decay. This Ancient Corpse is the same. There isn’t a single weak point on its entire body. Its aura swirls within, unable to escape, leaving the corpse perfectly intact.’

’It sealed all of its Essence, Qi, and Spirit inside its body, likely out of fear that someone would perform Refinement on it. Once an active consciousness enters, it will surely suffer the most intense backlash!’

Nie Yun’s eyebrows furrowed as he sank into thought.

’It seems this Demon Saint guessed before his death that future generations might try to refine his corpse into a Puppet. To prevent this from happening, he gathered and sealed all his Essence, Qi, and Spirit just before he completely died. If an outsider’s Spirit were to invade, they would suffer his fierce backlash!’

’Of course, this backlash can only be sustained once. As long as it is completely suppressed, one can successfully perform Refinement on the corpse. If it can’t be suppressed, one will suffer greatly. A light case would result in serious injury; a severe case would mean instant death!’

’Fortune favors the bold. If I take this risk, the chances of rescuing my parents and the others will increase. If I don’t, who knows how long it will take for my Cultivation to reach the Secret Realm!’

Despite his experience from two lifetimes, Nie Yun knew that entering the Heaven-Seizing Creation Secret Realm was incredibly difficult. Even with his current rapid progress, without the right opportunity, there was basically no hope of breaking through.

’If he waited until he broke through to the Secret Realm to rescue his parents and the others, who knew what unexpected disasters might occur in the meantime. It was better to gamble on this. Fortune favors the bold. For his parents and his siblings, he had to take this risk!’

’I’ll risk it!’

Gritting his teeth, Nie Yun pointed his finger, and the Ten-Complete Nine Palace Diagram dispersed with a WHOOSH. Without the Array Map’s suppression, the Demon Saint Ancient Corpse abruptly stood up from the ground. Its aura was towering and heavy, like a mountain, and utterly inviolable.

’Soul, leave my body! Refine the Puppet! Spirit, charge!’

He touched his temples with both index fingers, and a ball of light like a firefly shot out from between his eyebrows, instantly entering the Ancient Corpse’s mind.

The elderly often say that youths with an overabundance of Yang Qi will have three flames appear above their heads. When these flames burn, ghosts and deities alike will shrink back, not daring to approach. In truth, this is merely the external manifestation of one’s Soul Fire.

Everyone has a Soul Fire. Being able to focus the soul to burn at a single point is the best method for exorcising evil and vanquishing demons.

This firefly-like ball of light from Nie Yun was precisely his Soul Fire. If this flame were to be extinguished, his soul would shatter, and he would die completely.

’If this had been his past self, even if Nie Yun had wanted to perform Refinement on this Ancient Corpse, he would never have dared to extract his Soul Fire and send it into the opponent’s body. To do so was to commit fully—it was victory or death, with no path of retreat.’

’The reason he was doing this now was that he had just vanquished his Heart Demon. His soul was now crystal clear, and he knew that in all things, one must advance with courage and vigor. The moment he hesitated, he would only be able to exert seventy percent of his full strength. Something that could have been successful would become a failure! It was better to go all out!’

WHOOSH!

The moment his Soul Fire entered the Ancient Corpse’s body, Nie Yun found himself in a vast, empty space. A Demon with a white Beard and Hair abruptly appeared before him.

"You dare come here without even reaching the Heaven-Seizing Creation Secret Realm? Die!"

The Demon with the white Beard and Hair opened his eyes. His pupils were reddish, and they suddenly shot out an eerie light.

Under the assault of this eerie light, Nie Yun’s entire soul felt as if it were about to be torn apart. His already faint Soul Fire looked like it could be extinguished at any moment.

’Blood Pupil? Crap, this guy actually has the Blood Pupil Talent! No wonder he wasn’t afraid of others performing Refinement on him to turn him into a Puppet...’

Blood Pupil: pupils like blood, capable of releasing Blood Pupil Qi. It was a superior talent adept at Soul Attacks. This Demon Saint wasn’t just a Secret Realm Powerhouse; he also possessed the Blood Pupil Talent. This was completely beyond Nie Yun’s expectations.

For someone with the Blood Pupil Talent, their soul is their strongest asset. Trying to perform Refinement on them to create a Puppet would be difficult!

"It’s good that you know I’m a Blood Pupil Master. Although your own strength hasn’t reached the Secret Realm, I can’t be bothered with that if I want to see the world of the living again. Just obediently let me possess you!"

With a sinister laugh, blood roiled in the Demon’s crimson eyes, and in an instant, a sea of blood formed, completely enveloping Nie Yun.

He had intentionally sealed his Essence, Qi, and Spirit inside his body, waiting for someone to find his corpse and attempt Refinement. Then he would seize the opportunity to possess them and extend his lifespan!

Cultivation is an act against the heavens, subject to the constraints of the world and the limits of one’s lifespan. An Ultimate Venerable Powerhouse can live for several hundred years. Although the lifespan of a Heaven-Seizing Creation Secret Realm Powerhouse increases significantly, it’s difficult for them to exceed a thousand years. This Blood Pupil Demon, just before his time was up, used a Secret Technique to create a Soul Seal in his body. Should someone from a later generation attempt Refinement on his corpse, he would possess them and be reborn in their body!

Rebirth through a borrowed body—a Supreme Secret Technique of the Demon Race, even more profound than possession by a Demon Spirit.

’Absorb the Blood Pupil Qi, form a Blood Pupil Elixir Field, and launch a soul counterattack!’

Realizing the other’s plot, Nie Yun broke out in a cold sweat. With a sudden long cry, his Spirit hastily perceived the opponent’s Blood Pupil Qi, and in the blink of an eye, a Blood Pupil Elixir Field formed within his Qi Sea.

’The only way now to fight the Demon’s possession attempt was to not back down. He had to meet force with force.’

BOOM!

The process of sensing the Blood Pupil Qi and forming the Blood Pupil Elixir Field was completed in an instant. Nie Yun’s eyes immediately turned blood-red, their depths churning as he clashed with the Demon.

"What? You’re a Blood Pupil Master too? You also have the Blood Pupil Talent? That’s impossible! How can a human have a talent of the Demon Race..."

The Demon was startled.

It was no wonder he was shocked. The Blood Pupil Talent was a special talent unique to Demons. He never would have imagined that it would now appear in a human boy!

"Even if you are a Blood Pupil Master, it’s useless! I am a dignified Heaven-Seizing Creation Secret Realm Powerhouse. Don’t tell me I can’t even possess a mere Ultimate Venerable?"

The Demon truly was a supreme powerhouse. He was only shocked for a moment before recovering. With a roar, the red light within his Blood Pupils blazed, and Nie Yun felt himself trapped in a scarlet ocean, completely unable to struggle.

’I can’t die! Blood Pupil Counterattack!’

Feeling his soul being shackled, Nie Yun knew he was in mortal danger. Once he was controlled by the other party, he would absolutely become a Puppet. He didn’t hesitate. With a low growl, his Blood Pupil Elixir Field began to spin frantically, and the red light from his soul also flared brightly.

’I don’t know many Soul Attack methods, and my techniques are extremely few. Right now, I can only use the newly evolved Blood Pupil Elixir Field to fight back.’

"You’re trying to show off your paltry skills before an expert. My research into the ways of a Blood Pupil Master is far deeper than yours! Perish now! Blood Pupil Light!"

The Demon gave a sinister chuckle. An eerie light suddenly flickered from the depths of his profound pupils. The red light produced by Nie Yun’s Blood Pupil Talent was forced back step by step under this light’s illumination, collapsing in defeat.

’This is bad. I’ve only just formed my Blood Pupil Elixir Field. If this goes on, I’m definitely not his match...’

Seeing the red light from his Blood Pupil Talent being devoured by the opponent, Nie Yun grew anxious.

’Although I’m also a Blood Pupil Master now, I’ve possessed this talent for too short a time. To think I could fight against an old monster who has possessed the talent for several hundred years right after obtaining it is simply impossible!’

’Your understanding of the Blood Pupil Elixir Field is indeed stronger than mine, but your research on the soul is inferior to mine! [Soul-Catching Seven-Life Bridge]! Appear!’

After holding on for a while, Nie Yun suddenly let out a long roar, and a long bridge formed from ghostly shadows abruptly appeared in front of his Soul Fire.

This long bridge emanated a ghastly green light. It was ferocious and terrifying, like an entrance to the Underworld.

"What kind of Secret Technique is this..."

Seeing this bridge appear, the Demon was startled, and his expression changed.

"Heh heh, you fell for it. I’m actually a Heaven-Seizing Creation Secret Realm Powerhouse! You want to devour me? Then be devoured by me!" Seeing his panic, Nie Yun knew he had achieved his goal. He roared again, and his originally weak Soul Fire suddenly erupted in brilliant light. A vast and dense aura shot towards the heavens, and the sea of consciousness of the Demon Saint Ancient Corpse seemed on the verge of exploding from being filled with this immense aura.

"What?"

Feeling this aura, the previously composed Demon finally felt fear. This aura was simply too immense, several times stronger than he had been even in his prime.

’Die!’

While the opponent was panicking, Nie Yun’s Soul Fire suddenly charged forward. At the same time, two rays of blood-red light surged forth, alternating between light and dark, like two Radiant Sword Auras, stabbing straight towards the Demon.

RUMBLE!

The light that alternated between bright and dark enveloped the Demon’s soul. Like fire and Cold Ice, the Demon let out a miserable scream as green smoke rose from his body, having endured immense torture.

"You... You’re not at the Heaven-Seizing Creation Secret Realm! Ah, your [Soul-Catching Seven-Life Bridge] is also a fake! I actually fell for a little brat’s trick... I can’t accept this..."

The moment the two Sword Auras pierced his soul, the Demon instantly knew that he had been tricked by the youth before him.

That so-called Soul Attack Secret Technique, the [Soul-Catching Seven-Life Bridge], was just an empty shell, flashy but without substance, possessing no Attack Power whatsoever. And the heaven-shattering aura he had just released was also fake. His actual strength was still that of an Ultimate Venerable, absolutely not a Heaven-Seizing Creation Secret Realm Powerhouse!

But it was too late to realize it now. Pierced by the Sword Auras formed from the Blood Pupil Talent, he felt his soul being burned by flames, alternating between cold and hot, and couldn’t help but let out a blood-curdling scream.

No matter how strong he had been, he was now just a Soul Body barely clinging to existence. How could he, unlike Nie Yun, have the help of a physical body to provide an endless supply of Soul Power!

TZZZZZ!

Amidst miserable cries, the Demon’s remnant soul was finally burned to nothing, turning into a wisp of green smoke.

’I succeeded? I actually succeeded?’

Nie Yun’s face was pale.

’If I had tried to clash head-on with the opponent’s Blood Pupil Master talent just now, I definitely would have been the one to fail. In my moment of desperation, I had suddenly thought of the Soul Dao technique the Seventh Prince had used, the [Soul-Catching Seven-Life Bridge]. Although I didn’t know this Secret Technique myself, I could still imitate the scene from that time. Just that one move had scared the opponent into retreating. Then, I seized the opportunity to use my Spiritual Power to activate the Nameless Technique to intimidate my opponent, and that’s how I managed to succeed in one fell swoop!’

HUFF! Nie Yun let out a breath!

The opponent’s soul had completely dissipated, not leaving a single trace behind. Nie Yun’s Soul Fire returned to his body. He stood up from the ground, his eyes flashing with a brilliant light, his face full of excitement, and his fists clenched involuntarily.

The Demon’s soul had been annihilated, which meant he had successfully performed Refinement on the Ancient Corpse and now possessed the Puppet of a Secret Realm Powerhouse!

PS: We’ve got a new, major recommendation spot—it’s a much bigger deal than our last one! A recommendation this good shows we’re on the up and up. Please keep the votes coming! The growth in monthly tickets today has been pitiful. If we don’t build a strong foundation now while no one else’s tickets are climbing, it’ll be tough to overtake the others once they start to surge!

After all, our subscription numbers are lagging way behind! We’re only at a quarter of what others have!

Finally, I’ll continue to ask for official subscriptions! That’s just how it works with a book. If you support the official release, the book does better, gets better recommendations, and then the results improve even more. If you don’t subscribe, the results get worse and worse, we lose our recommendation spots, and it’s just a downward spiral...

If you’re reading this, it means you’ve been following along. For those who haven’t subscribed to the official release yet, please do so to show your support. Even subscribing to just the first premium Chapter would be a huge help. This book needs your help to succeed. My heartfelt thanks to you all! 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

For my friends who have been consistently subscribing, please consider turning on auto-subscribe. Lao Ya wants to make a push for the 24-hour subscription count. We’ve already broken the 800 mark. Can we keep up the effort and sprint for 1,000? Thank you all so much!!

There will be another Chapter around 7 PM. Don’t forget we’re fighting for a spot on the rankings tonight. We’ve failed so many times, but Lao Ya is still going to make a final push! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)