The Chonghun Grass grew in narrow crevices, its dark leaves almost blending with the mountain wall.
As Xu Yi approached the location, she sensed a peculiar power permeating the air.
To her surprise, there were no other demonic beasts present around the Chonghun Grass.
By all logic, spiritual objects of the sixth level and above were typically guarded by accompanying spirit beasts.
However, Xu Yi reconsidered and understood.
Yue Hantian had discovered the location of the Chonghun Grass a hundred years ago, likely having dealt with the guarding demonic beasts beforehand.
As for his claim of never entering the ravine, it was undoubtedly a lie.
Xu Yi sighed softly. If there had been an accompanying demonic beast near the Chonghun Grass, it would have been much more advantageous for her.
"Why is Junior Sister Xu sighing?"
Perhaps it was because Xu Yi had seen through Yue Hantian's intentions, but his voice now carried a hint of malevolence.
"I am happy for Senior Brother Yue; he can finally achieve his wish," Xu Yi replied with a straight face.
"Junior Sister Xu speaks truly. Being able to save Zhu'er, Junior Sister Xu has made invaluable contributions. Both Zhu'er and I will be grateful to Junior Sister Xu."
Yue Hantian stared at the Chonghun Grass, his eyes filled with fervor.
"Senior Brother Yue can begin to reshape Zhu'er's soul now."
Xu Yi quietly retreated a few steps, secretly forming a hand seal.
"No hurry," Yue Hantian smiled, turning his head to look at Xu Yi, his voice earnest. "Junior Sister Xu, since you have helped me so much, why not see it through? Lend your physical body to Senior Brother."
Yue Hantian finally revealed his sinister ambition.
Xu Yi feigned terror. "Senior Brother Yue, what nonsense are you speaking! Are you not afraid I will inform the academy!"
"Junior Sister Xu, the Yin energy here is too heavy for communication. Once Zhu'er possesses your body, she will continue to live in it, and no one will know of today's events."
Yue Hantian had meticulously planned every step of today's proceedings in his mind, leaving no opportunity for Xu Yi to call for help.
"Junior Sister Xu, to fulfill my wish and Zhu'er's, you must be inconvenienced. But do not worry, I will find a suitable body for you as well, so you will not be annihilated."
However, that body would not possess spiritual roots and would remain under his control.
At least Xu Yi was still alive, wasn't she?
"So Senior Brother Yue is this kind of person. I truly misjudged you. I will not let you succeed," Xu Yi said with hatred.
Even now, Xu Yi was still playing the role of a naive junior sister who had just discovered the truth.
Yue Hantian scoffed, remaining noncommittal about Xu Yi's words.
Zhu'er, you will soon be reunited with me.
Although Yue Hantian was injured, the difference in cultivation between him and Xu Yi was a major realm. Furthermore, Xu Yi had deliberately held back. After a few exchanges, Xu Yi was captured by Yue Hantian.
"Yue Hantian, what does it matter if you've captured me? As long as my soul doesn't leave my body, you can't take my physical form."
Xu Yi tilted her head back, her expression fearless.
"That is not for you to decide," Yue Hantian snarled, extending his large palm and placing it on Xu Yi's head. "Soul extraction!"
A powerful suction force erupted from his palm, targeting Xu Yi's sea of consciousness.
However, the moment the force approached, it was swallowed by Xu Yi's sea of consciousness, offering no resistance.
Yue Hantian was stunned, then, refusing to believe it, increased his spiritual power output.
Unbeknownst to him, within Xu Yi's sea of consciousness, a crystal-clear, long bell shimmered brilliantly.
Xu Yi snorted inwardly. Upon learning of Yue Hantian's true intentions, she had prepared herself to take risks.
The soul-stabilizing needle, bestowed upon her by the Green Lotus Sect Master, had become one of her crucial trump cards.
With this needle, Yue Hantian would not be able to touch her soul.
Yue Hantian clearly understood that Xu Yi possessed a protective artifact. His expression flickered between green and white.
Xu Yi's body was the perfect vessel he had meticulously chosen. He was naturally unwilling to abandon it now.
But if he couldn't forcefully extract Xu Yi's soul, then even if he could reassemble Zhu'er's soul, Zhu'er wouldn't be able to occupy Xu Yi's body.
Since he couldn't forcefully separate Xu Yi's soul this way, he had to find a way to drive it out of her body.
A sinister glint appeared in Yue Hantian's eyes as his cold gaze fell upon Xu Yi's face. "Xu Yi, I gave you a chance."
Xu Yi's lips curled into a mocking smile, and she inwardly braced herself.
Whether it succeeded or not depended on Yue Hantian's choice this time.
"Fine, fine. You refuse the toast only to be forced to drink,"
Yue Hantian glanced at the Chonghun Grass, closed his eyes, and his soul left his body, unhesitatingly entering Xu Yi's physical form.
He intended to devour Xu Yi's soul himself, thus no longer needing to worry about Xu Yi's soul.
He had cultivated a secret technique related to the soul, making his soul power even stronger than that of typical Integration stage cultivators. Moreover, he possessed a soul-attacking artifact, perfectly countering Xu Yi.
His criteria for judging Xu Yi were whether she could serve as a qualified vessel, not her strength.
In his heart, even if Xu Yi ranked in the top ten of the Kunlun Academy's rankings, it was insignificant.
Coupled with Xu Yi's previously unremarkable performance, it made him feel no sense of caution.
Yue Hantian was too arrogant.
Therefore, when subsequent events did not unfold as he anticipated, he was both shocked and enraged.
After Yue Hantian's soul entered Xu Yi's body, it immediately launched an attack on her sea of consciousness.
His soul power condensed into a triangular cone, fiercely piercing the gray mist surrounding Xu Yi's sea of consciousness.
The sea of consciousness trembled, and a sharp stinging sensation, accompanied by a deafening roar, made Xu Yi involuntarily let out a muffled groan.
Yue Hantian grew more excited and controlled the triangular cone to strike Xu Yi again.
He believed that within three hits, he could break through the defenses surrounding Xu Yi's sea of consciousness.
But Xu Yi proved more resilient than he had imagined.
He thought to himself that he had to get serious.
A golden arrow was squeezed out from his soul; this was the artifact within him capable of harming souls.
With this arrow, Xu Yi's soul had only the fate of annihilation.
The moment this golden arrow appeared, Xu Yi's eyes suddenly emitted a brilliant light.
Now!
She reached behind and took out a black rune she had hidden on her person for a long time, pressing it onto herself without hesitation.
At the same time, she poured all her soul power into the soul-stabilizing needle, retreating her soul under its protection.
Whoosh—
A sharp whistling sound accompanied the swift flight of the golden arrow.
Boom!
The golden arrow pierced through the sea of consciousness and collided with the defense of the soul-stabilizing needle.
Turbulence!
Xu Yi felt a continuous roaring in her head, an unbearable tearing sensation that almost shredded her entire soul.
She coughed up blood and collapsed backward, her half-closed eyes revealing a hint of madness.
Yue Hantian, you're dead!
Meanwhile, inside Xu Yi's body, Yue Hantian, channeling more than half of his soul power to block the residual impact of the attack, felt his heart race.
Centuries of planning were about to be realized.
Just as he eagerly awaited Xu Yi's soul to be destroyed, one by one, black threads had, unbeknownst to him, quietly coiled around his soul.
By the time he discovered them, his soul was already bound by the black threads.
Yue Hantian was greatly alarmed!