Within the empty cave, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged on a boulder, deep in thought. After a moment, he waved his hand and two objects were pulled out from his storage ring, landing heavily on the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust. The objects that appeared on the ground were two frozen corpses—bodies familiar to Xiao Yan: Yun Shan and Old Ghost Dì Mó.
Xiao Yan’s gaze slowly swept over the faces of the corpses, their expressions frozen at the moment of death. Finally, he paused on the white-robed figure of Yun Shan. After a long moment, Xiao Yan sighed. Years had passed, and the hatred he once harbored for this man had gradually faded with the dissolution of the Yunlan Clan. Moreover, the tragic end that befell him somewhat atoned for the things he had done to the Xiao family.
Of the two corpses, Yun Shan’s strength was around the level of two or three star Da Battle Sect, while Old Ghost Dì Mó was a seven-star Battle Emperor. If Xiao Yan were to use one of them to create a Heavenly Demon Puppet, the latter would have a higher chance of success. Additionally, he did not want to see Yun Shan’s face following him as a puppet, even though he was just a puppet with Yun Shan’s appearance.
Staring at Yun Shan’s face, Xiao Yan’s mind wandered slightly. In his mind, an elegant and regal figure appeared, faintly visible, her skirt lightly fluttering and outlining her graceful curves. “Yun Yun,” a soft whisper escaped from Xiao Yan’s lips. Remembering the complex look in her eyes when she left, Xiao Yan couldn’t help but clench his fists.
In her eyes, there was sorrow, resignation, and a hint of reluctant parting, along with a faint trace of bitterness. She seemed to still care deeply about why he had been so heartless, crushing all her hopes. This subtle anger made her leave the place where she had lived for many years, seeing it as a place of sadness, difficult to return to.
Tightening his fist, Xiao Yan could not deny that he still harbored a faint affection for the woman who had been his first intimate relationship during his journey outside. Everything that happened in that cave was like a brand, etched forever in his memory.
Their meeting was touching, but the end was tragic. He could not forgive what the Yunlan Clan and Yun Shan had done to the Xiao family. As the head of the Yunlan Clan, she had to stand against him, even though she was the one who ended up injured and defeated—a fate that was predetermined from the start.
A soft sigh echoed in the cave. With a wave of his hand, Xiao Yan returned Yun Shan’s corpse to the storage ring. For some reason, he didn’t want to use his body for the puppet, though he couldn’t explain why. Perhaps, he didn’t want to inflict another blow on the already wounded heart of that scarred woman.
Yun Yun left the Jia Ma Empire and disappeared without a trace. The vastness of the continent made finding one person akin to searching for a needle in a haystack. Yet, Xiao Yan had a feeling they might meet again in the Central Plains, even if this feeling lacked any logical basis. He trusted it, so he returned Yun Shan’s corpse, not wanting any further complications if they were to meet again.
“Teacher, after I rescue you, I will find a stronger body for you,” he silently vowed, his eyes gradually clearing. A sharp glint appeared in his gaze.
With a clench of his hand, green flames emerged. Xiao Yan flicked his fingers, and the flames surrounded Old Ghost Dì Mó’s corpse, melting the ice layer in the intense heat. As the ice melted, the old ghost’s robes turned to ash. The intense heat made the corpse turn red, and as it continued to burn, dark gas wisps emerged and were burned to nothing by the green flames.
This dark gas, a remnant spirit energy, contained faint traces of the soul of the dead. It had to be expelled for the soul and body to merge fully for the Heavenly Demon Puppet. Controlling the fire, Xiao Yan maintained a delicate balance, expelling the gas without destroying the corpse. It took three hours to fully cleanse the corpse.
When the last wisp of dark gas left, Xiao Yan breathed a sigh of relief. He then flicked his fingers, creating two holes in the corpse—one in the chest and one in the forehead. No blood flowed, as it had evaporated during the cleansing process.
The corpse had shrunk significantly, its skin a cold gray, clinging tightly to the dry muscles. Its hands were long and sharp, like daggers. Following the instructions in the bamboo scroll, Xiao Yan placed the reddish core in the chest hole and then pulled out a jade bottle containing a robust soul wave.
“Xiao Yan, how far are you willing to go?” The jade bottle emitted a voice filled with resentment and fury.
“Venerable Iron, don’t worry, I’ll let you out soon,” Xiao Yan responded with a sneer. The jade bottle shattered, revealing a black soul. The soul tried to escape, but Xiao Yan caught it. Ignoring the curses, he increased the flame’s temperature, and the soul’s consciousness faded away in a low hiss.
Xiao Yan tossed the black soul into the corpse’s forehead. As the soulless entity entered, the old ghost’s eyes opened, entirely black.
Not surprised, Xiao Yan retrieved several metallic items from his storage ring. With a nod, he activated the green flames, drawing the metals into the fire. The materials began to melt under the intense heat.
Xiao Yan focused on the dual processes, maintaining a steady temperature to purify the corpse while using high heat to melt the metals. This required masterful control, but Xiao Yan, having mastered the Five Rounds of Departing Fire Technique, handled it with ease.
The melting of the metals took a week, turning into a pool of dark-golden liquid. The metals were ready, but the bodies, souls, and cores needed precise alignment. Patience was key, and Xiao Yan waited quietly on the boulder.
After three more days, Xiao Yan, sitting motionless, suddenly trembled. His eyes snapped open, revealing a flash of joy. The perfect moment had been captured, and he held it firmly.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage