CHAPTER 129: CHAPTER 127: IDENTITY EXPOSED

Did Blood Nether die unjustly?

Not unjustly!

To say he died not unjustly isn’t to say he was unlucky to encounter Zhouyang, who possessed the "Qianyang Treasure Body," but rather because even if he had succeeded in possessing Zhouyang, he ultimately couldn’t escape death!

Because Zhouyang appeared here as a trap deliberately set by Cyan Yang Daoist, a precautionary bait!

Cyan Yang Daoist has dealt with demonic cultivators for centuries, and the Profound Sun Immortal Sect, the vanguard against demon dao in the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, possesses incredibly rich experience in demon eradication.

When he decided to pursue Blood Nether, he considered all possible escape methods Blood Nether might use, including "possession escape," which is why he forcibly brought Zhouyang along.

With Zhouyang’s Second-Layer Foundation Establishment cultivation, he was absolutely an excellent choice for Blood Nether to possess.

This cultivation level could not possibly resist a Golden Core Stage cultivator’s possession and wouldn’t be easily overwhelmed like a Qi Cultivation Stage cultivator by the Golden Core Stage cultivator’s powerful divine soul power.

However, Cyan Yang Daoist did not expect that Zhouyang would possess the "Qianyang Treasure Body," a rare special treasure body in the world, resulting in Blood Nether’s possession attempt not only failing but instead being devoured by the "Qianyang True Flame," burning him into ashes.

Therefore, when Cao Wenjin arrived with full vigilance and saw Zhouyang lying unconscious on the ground, he was puzzled.

Was Zhouyang possessed or not?

If he was possessed, Zhouyang’s aura shouldn’t remain unchanged, but if he wasn’t, why was he unconscious?

"Really strange!"

"Never mind, since Fellow Daoist Cyan Yang asked me to check, I’ll take this lad to him for inspection."

Cao Wenjin glanced at the unconscious Zhouyang on the ground, gestured with his hand, and caught Zhouyang, placing him beside his feet before returning to Cyan Yang Daoist.

Cyan Yang Daoist, having suffered internal injuries from Blood Nether’s Golden Core explosion, had already taken a healing spirit pill and was meditating to refine the medicine’s power by the time Cao Wenjin returned, while a single-horned cyan ox had appeared nearby at some point.

Moo!

Upon seeing Cao Wenjin approach, the single-horned cyan ox raised its head and emitted a deep, warning moo.

"Do not be alarmed, Fellow Daoist, I mean no harm!"

Cao Wenjin was startled, quickly retreated a distance, and awkwardly cupped his hand to show no malice.

The single-horned cyan ox gazed at him with eyes as big as copper bells for a while, then nodded and withdrew its hostility.

Seeing this, Cao Wenjin couldn’t help but marvel internally: "Tsk, tsk, tsk, as expected of a figure nearing Nascent Soul Formation, even his ride is a Tier Five Spirit Beast!"

Indeed, the single-horned cyan ox guarding for Cyan Yang Daoist was truly a legitimate Tier Five Demon Beast, an immortal spirit beast with highly developed spiritual wisdom.

Cao Wenjin had once traveled across the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm and witnessed many cultivators using rare birds and exotic beasts as mounts, yet he hadn’t seen many possessing Tier Five Spirit Beasts at the Golden Core Stage.

Especially since, with his knowledge, he couldn’t recognize the origin of Cyan Yang Daoist’s single-horned cyan ox; he vaguely felt it should be quite powerful and wouldn’t be able to handle this Tier Five Spirit Beast without using the "Divine Sand Gourd," a sect treasure.

After waiting for some time, Cyan Yang Daoist hadn’t finished refining the medicine, but Zhouyang woke up first.

Opening his eyes, a flash of terror crossed his gaze, his face full of post-disaster relief.

Seeing this, Cao Wenjin felt a chill in his heart but maintained a calm demeanor, asking quietly, "Little guy, what are you afraid of? Why did you faint just now?"

As he asked, he secretly activated his lifebound spiritual artifact, ready to kill Zhouyang if his answer was wrong!

Zhouyang was unaware of this as he heard Cao Wenjin’s question, taken aback, eyes showing a trace of panic.

He was aware of the possession attempt by Blood Nether.

Even while appearing unconscious earlier, he wasn’t truly unconscious but was absorbing part of Blood Nether’s memories and divine soul power, forced to concentrate his consciousness and assimilate those memories as Blood Nether’s divine soul was refined by "Qianyang True Flame."

Hearing Cao Wenjin bring this up, how could he not be alarmed?

How should he explain?

There’s no way to explain!

Zhouyang had no idea when Cao Wenjin approached him; what if it was during the possession attempt by Blood Nether?

Therefore, after the initial panic, he quickly decided to tell the truth, even if it meant revealing he possessed the "Qianyang Treasure Body," fearing the risk of angering a Golden Core Stage cultivator by lying.

"Ancestor, please understand, I just went through a thrilling battle for possession, and I almost got possessed by the demon’s divine soul!"

With a look of lingering fear, he bowed to Cao Wenjin, and without any concealment, directly spoke about the possession incident.

When Cao Wenjin heard that he openly admitted the matter, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. He had imagined Zhouyang would use various excuses to cover up the incident or be vague about it to muddle through. What he hadn’t expected was that Zhouyang would frankly admit it so straightforwardly.

It’s known that although the Golden Core Stage cultivators can use the "possession" secret technique to possess another’s body for a new cultivation journey, cultivators actually detest such matters, especially high-tier cultivators.

Normally, in cases of "possession," whether it’s the cultivator wielding the possession technique or the cultivator being possessed, they would keep it under wraps, not letting outsiders know easily.

The reasons for this are easy to understand.

Firstly, high-tier cultivators reject others using the "possession" secret technique because they usually have excellent spiritual root talent, and when high-tier cultivators attempt possession, they would naturally choose someone with good spiritual root talent to possess.

This leads to some high-tier cultivators experiencing the threat of possession while young and weak, but luck or protective treasures helped them avoid successful possession.

And due to these experiences, they naturally loathe those who possess others and even specifically hunt down such cultivators.

The second reason is that if the possession is successful, the possessing cultivator wouldn’t publicize it to avoid other high-tier cultivators’ hatred and pursuit.

Conversely, if the possession fails, the possessed cultivator typically wouldn’t dare to speak out about having killed a high-tier cultivator, lest they offend the friends and family of the high-tier cultivator.

Given all these reasons, Cao Wenjin never expected Zhouyang to straightforwardly admit he was involved in a possession incident.

However, as a Golden Core Stage cultivator, after a slight thought, he understood Zhouyang’s reasoning.

Blood Nether is a demonic cultivator, and the Blood Slaughter Demon Sect is close to being annihilated, so if the event of him exterminating Blood Nether’s divine soul spreads, he need not worry about Blood Nether’s friends and family seeking trouble with him.

If this matter spreads, it could even greatly enhance Zhouyang’s reputation and the fame of the Yuquan Zhou Family, bringing significant benefits to him and his clan.

Not to mention, having vanquished the divine soul of a Ninth-Layer Golden Core Demon Cultivator, doesn’t the Yellow Sand Sect owe him a reward? How should they reward him?

"What a cunning lad!"

He cursed inwardly, immediately his face turned cold, and he sneered, "Nearly possessed? How can you prove you haven’t been possessed successfully?"

This was merely said in the heat of the moment, aiming to show Zhouyang the consequences of playing tricks in front of a Golden Core Stage cultivator.

To his surprise, upon hearing these words, Zhouyang didn’t say anything and simply raised his hand to unleash the "Qianyang True Flame" divine technique.

"This flame..."

Sure enough, as soon as he saw the pale golden flame emerge from Zhouyang’s hand, Cao Wenjin’s face changed, and a flash of astonishment crossed his eyes, reacting almost identically to Zhou Minghan earlier.

"Qianyang True Flame" appeared in the Boundless Desert Sea Cultivation Realm last several thousand years ago, even for someone like him, a Golden Core Stage cultivator, had only seen it in ancient records. Seeing it for the first time now, it was understandable for him to hesitate to confirm.

However, just as he was looking at the pale golden flame in Zhouyang’s hand with a face full of doubtful uncertainty, a slightly astonished voice suddenly rang from the side, "This is Qianyang True Flame!"

Hearing Fellow Daoist Qingyang’s tone of certainty, the doubt on Cao Wenjin’s face vanished, leaving only astonishment.

"Qianyang True Flame? Could this lad possess the Qianyang Treasure Body?"

With a look of surprise, he stared at Zhouyang, his eyes brightened with interest, pondering something.

"Given you possess the Qianyang Treasure Body, then Blood Nether indeed could not succeed in possessing you!"

Fellow Daoist Qingyang nodded to Zhouyang, immediately believing Zhouyang’s words.

Then, with a sigh of sentiment, he exclaimed, "This demon has plagued the cultivation realm for years, stained with countless blood, ultimately perishing under the pure and powerful Qianyang True Flame, a demon refining true flame. It’s the Heavenly Dao’s way, giving inexorable retribution!"

Hearing Fellow Daoist Qingyang’s words, Cao Wenjin’s mouth twitched slightly, witnessing this old taoist’s thick-skinned manner.

Clearly, Fellow Daoist Qingyang insisted on bringing Zhouyang here as bait, enticing Blood Nether to possess Zhouyang. Now, in his narrative, Blood Nether’s possession attempt was attributed to fate. His skill in shifting blame was unmatched!

Of course, discerning but not revealing means being a good friend.

Though he knew very well Fellow Daoist Qingyang’s words were an act of shifting blame, Cao Wenjin still wore a face of agreement, taking his lead to praise, "Fellow Daoist Qingyang speaks wisely! Blood Nether committed enough evil deeds, his death is not to be lamented. It’s Heaven using this little fellow’s hand to punish him for his misdeeds, the consequence of his scourge!"

Ah well, from calling him "kid" earlier, now instantly upgraded to "little fellow."

Listening to the words of these two Golden Core Stage cultivators, Zhouyang, though yet to fully comprehend Fellow Daoist Qingyang’s true intention in bringing him here, intuitively sensed their words weren’t trustworthy.

While he didn’t believe their words, he wisely chose not to state his doubts, merely retracting the divine technique and modestly stating, "Junior is overwhelmed, unworthy of such high praise from two seniors!"