Chapter 595: Hoist by One’s Own Petard

"Hahaha, I am finally about to succeed in this possession!" By now, after such a long advance, Zhan Shang was mere moments from Ye Xuan’s Soul Origin, and a look of wild joy spread across his face.

But at this very moment, the aura of the Devouring Martial Soul in Ye Xuan’s mind suddenly became terrifying.

"Get back." The humanoid phantom of the Devouring Martial Soul threw a heavy punch right at Zhan Shang. BOOM! Black light flared around Zhan Shang as he was sent flying backward in a miserable state.

Zhan Shang was stunned. ’What’s going on? Why has this guy’s power suddenly increased so much?’

At the same time, the aura of the Endless Molten Flame enveloping him intensified in an instant, rapidly consuming the black light around his body.

"Aargh!"

Zhan Shang cried out in agony, his face twisted in terror. The Endless Molten Flame was rapidly consuming his very essence.

"Aargh! Damn it! Damn it all! Why?! I was so close! Why did the power of this Celestial Fire suddenly surge?!"

Unwilling to give up, Zhan Shang tried to press forward, but even the slightest advance left his entire being sizzling from the burns. It was becoming unbearable.

"Damn you, heavens! This is not over between us!"

Zhan Shang roared with grief and indignation. Knowing that possession was now impossible, he hurriedly transformed into a streak of light, trying to escape Ye Xuan’s mind.

Ye Xuan snorted coldly. "Trying to run? Have you asked me first?"

He fiercely activated his Devouring Martial Soul and the Endless Molten Flame. One after another, Soul Seals materialized in his mind, weaving into a vast net to intercept Zhan Shang while frantically trying to refine him.

Zhan Shang’s expression changed drastically. He roared, "Human, you’re not worthy of stopping me! Just you wait! Once I recover some of my strength, I’ll be back to take your body. It is destined to be mine!"

"Demonic Dissolution!"

The black aura on Zhan Shang’s body instantly ignited. With a HISS, it transformed into a streak of black light and shot out of Ye Xuan’s body.

Ye Xuan wanted to intercept him, but was powerless to do so. Zhan Shang’s body seemed to have turned ethereal, impossible to grasp. He could only watch helplessly as he escaped.

WHOOSH!

The moment Zhan Shang burst out of Ye Xuan’s body, he was engulfed by the lightning that filled the sky, making him shriek in pain.

"This is infuriating! Such a perfect body, and I couldn’t take it! No, I have to find a body to possess, and fast. I can’t last much longer under this lightning."

As he howled, Zhan Shang’s gaze swept across the area and finally landed on Qi Cheng. He snarled, "This brat will have to do. Damn it. He’s much worse than the last body, but at least his potential is decent—a lot better than the other two."

Zhan Shang was naturally referring to Elder Tianyi and Su Xiuyi.

Although their cultivation levels were higher than Qi Cheng’s, in Zhan Shang’s eyes, their potential for growth was far inferior to Qi Cheng’s.

Putting his thoughts into action, Zhan Shang transformed into a streak of black light and shot toward the smugly gloating Qi Cheng.

Now, with Zhan Shang’s aura gone, the lightning in the sky seemed to have lost its target and immediately fell silent. Everyone at once saw Ye Xuan floating in midair and the streak of black light hurtling toward Qi Cheng.

"Not good! What is that thing? Tianyi, stop it!" Qi Cheng’s gloating expression instantly froze. He shrieked in alarm, a talisman suddenly appearing in his hand. He threw it at Zhan Shang while roaring at Elder Tianyi.

Elder Tianyi’s expression changed. Qi Cheng’s identity was far from ordinary; he absolutely could not allow him to be possessed by that black light. He hurriedly brandished his Skull Staff.

Innumerable black streams of light formed an eerie cage, trapping Zhan Shang within.

BOOM!

At the same time, Qi Cheng’s talisman activated. A terrifying, oppressive aura spread out, coalescing into a horrifying stream of light that struck Zhan Shang.

Zhan Shang let out another pained howl and roared, "Damn it! These humans deserve to die!"

Suddenly, he noticed the black streams of light cast by Elder Tianyi. He opened his mouth and inhaled, and the black cage of light was instantly sucked into his body. His originally weakened form actually grew more solid, and an expression of pure bliss crossed his face. "Ahh, how comfortable. This energy feels wonderful."

Replenished by the energy, Zhan Shang let out a HISS, broke free from the talisman’s encirclement, and instantly plunged into Qi Cheng’s body.

"Elder Tianyi, look what you’ve done..." Qi Cheng cried out in anguish, his face instantly covered in creeping black lines as his eyes went vacant.

Elder Tianyi grew tense and shouted urgently to Ye Xuan, "Xuan Ye, kid! How did you stop that thing from possessing you? Quick, help!"

Qi Cheng was a genius from Infinite Mountain with an incredibly distinguished status. If he were to perish here, the entire Profound Mystery Sect would be in grave danger.

Ye Xuan scoffed. Having returned to the realm of a Martial King, he was in an excellent mood. He rubbed his nose and said tauntingly, "When I was being possessed by that black light just now, it seems a certain someone didn’t lift a finger to help, did they? Tianyi, you’d better figure this out on your own. This guy is from Infinite Mountain, isn’t he? If he dies, heh heh, your Profound Mystery Sect will be completely finished..."

Ye Xuan’s face was a mask of pure ridicule.

"You..." Elder Tianyi was so enraged he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Just then...

BOOM!

A strange rune suddenly appeared between Qi Cheng’s eyebrows. The moment it materialized, the very heavens and earth began to tremble, and the void shook violently as if unable to bear its might.

A heart-stopping aura permeated the space between heaven and earth. Before everyone’s eyes, a spectral figure suddenly appeared above Qi Cheng’s head.

"Who dares lay a hand on the successor of I, Qi Tuo?"

The figure’s voice boomed like thunder, his every word a decree that made everyone’s ears ring.

"It’s the advent of a Nine Heavens Martial Emperor’s Divine Thought."

Su Xiuyi stared at the figure that had suddenly appeared in the sky and said in shock.

"What? A Nine Heavens Martial Emperor?"

Everyone looked up in terror, their faces etched with shock. A Nine Heavens Martial Emperor—the apex of the Martial Dao. They had only ever heard of such beings in legends; this was the first time any of them had seen one. They could only feel the figure’s profound aura weighing down on them, an oppressive force on their hearts.

Ye Xuan was also surprised. ’This young man in the green robe has quite the background,’ he thought. ’To think Qi Tuo of Infinite Mountain would implant a Divine Thought avatar between his eyebrows.’

A Divine Thought avatar, as it was called, was a wisp of a Nine Heavens Martial Emperor’s will implanted into another’s mind. It was an extremely draining process, one that even Nine Heavens Martial Emperors were reluctant to perform often.

This was because each Divine Thought avatar required the Martial Emperor’s own source blood as a catalyst, and creating one would take a toll on the Martial Emperor himself.

This proved that the young man in the green robe held a very high status within Infinite Mountain.

Once Qi Tuo’s Divine Thought had descended, its focus immediately fell upon Qi Cheng. He was stunned, then roared, "What are you? How dare you possess a disciple of my Infinite Mountain! Get out of him now!"

RUMBLE!

He pointed a finger, and an invisible ripple sank into Qi Cheng’s body. The black lines on Qi Cheng’s face writhed violently, his expression contorting in pain as he was clearly thrown into a struggle.

Elder Tianyi was instantly overjoyed. ’With a Martial Emperor from Infinite Mountain here, Qi Cheng will surely be unharmed.’

However, after flickering for a moment, the black lines on Qi Cheng’s face rapidly vanished. His pupils, however, began to take on a demonic glint.

"Damn it! Infinite Void—Nine-Transformation of the Seven Spirits!"

Qi Tuo’s expression changed. He rapidly performed a series of Seal Skills, gathering a terrifying aura in his hands before blasting it into Qi Cheng’s body.

Perhaps because he had consumed too much energy, Qi Tuo’s Divine Thought avatar immediately dimmed after unleashing this move, looking as if it could collapse at any moment.

Everyone could clearly see the black lines resurface on Qi Cheng’s face. An invisible force was fighting against them, and after a fierce struggle, the black markings were gradually being forced out of his body.

"This is infuriating! I refuse to believe that the mere Divine Thought avatar of a human expert can force me out!"

"Soul-Devouring Oblivion!"

A sinister ripple emanated from Qi Cheng’s body. The black light that was being forced out suddenly flared brightly, and with a WHOOSH, it re-entered Qi Cheng’s body.

VMMMM!

Qi Cheng’s vacant eyes instantly turned incredibly demonic, and a heart-stopping aura radiated from his entire body.

"You... you dared to possess my direct grandson! No matter who you are, if I, Qi Tuo, do not kill you, I am unworthy of being human!"

Qi Tuo’s ethereal body trembled violently and began to dissipate.

"Hmph, just a human Martial Emperor. If I weren’t so weak right now, why would I fear you? Get lost."

The possessed Qi Cheng gave a sinister laugh and suddenly swiped at the rune on his forehead. POP! Having lost its anchor, Qi Tuo’s Divine Thought avatar instantly burst apart and vanished. Faintly, the sound of his furious roar could still be heard.

"Heh heh heh, this body is... passable."

"Qi Cheng" felt himself over, the corner of his mouth twisting into a demonic, satisfied smile.

Elder Tianyi stammered, terrified, "Young Master Qi, you..."

"Qi Cheng" glanced at him. His eyes fell on the Skull Staff in Elder Tianyi’s hand and lit up. "This isn’t bad. I’ll be taking it."

He reached out a hand, and an invisible force enveloped Elder Tianyi. The Skull Staff let out a whine, as if it were alive, and flew out of Elder Tianyi’s grasp on its own, landing in the hand of "Qi Cheng."

"Human, hold on to that body for me. One day, I will come to claim it."

"Qi Cheng" gave Ye Xuan a wicked cackle, then transformed into a streak of light and shot into the sky, vanishing in an instant.

His eerie laughter echoed faintly from the heavens.

This turn of events left everyone utterly dumbfounded.

Afterward, the gazes of the Gale Light Academy and Profound Mystery Sect contingents met once more.

Tang Zhao’s voice trembled. "Elder, what do we do now?"

With Qi Cheng gone, their side was left with only the heavily injured Elder Tianyi. In contrast, Su Xiuyi had preserved most of his strength. In terms of sheer power, Gale Light Academy now held the upper hand over the Profound Mystery Sect.

"What else can we do? Let’s go!"

Elder Tianyi’s face was ashen. With a cold shout, he immediately transformed into a streak of black light and fled.

Qiu Diantian and the others from the Nine Yang Sect were dumbstruck for a moment before they too turned and fled.

"Trying to run? You think you can escape?"

Su Xiuyi and his companions sneered, chasing after them like bolts of lightning.