Chapter 314: Defying Fate (Part 19)

Of course, Yi Tianwen had no idea that within the smoke was also a force known as the Soul Devouring Power.

As soon as the Soul Devouring Power entered Yi Tianwen’s body, he felt an irresistible force.

He quickly sat cross-legged on the ground, circulating his spiritual energy, attempting to expel the evil force from his body.

But at that moment, Shui Miao’s voice echoed inside Yi Tianwen’s mind: “Yi Tianwen, the leader of the Xuan Group, your strength really isn’t all that impressive. Using my family and friends as leverage—how could you think of such a thing? Don’t you know that the person I despise most is someone who threatens my loved ones?”

“Shui… Shui…”

Yi Tianwen tried to call out Shui Miao’s name, but was immediately choked back by a large puff of smoke.

Immediately afterward, the Soul Devouring Power entered Yi Tianwen’s dantian, directly refining his spiritual core, and then, together with his soul, pulled it back into the Holy Yuan Ring.

Yi Tianwen was dead. With this, things became much easier.

Shui Miao didn’t rush to leave. Instead, he sneaked into the central control room, collected Yi Tianwen’s corpse into the Holy Yuan Bracelet, moved out the soldier previously captured into the Holy Yuan Ring, dressed him up, laid him on the floor, and manipulated the yin-yang and five elements to gradually transform him into Yi Tianwen’s appearance.

Not long after, power was restored, and the ventilation system cleared the smoke from the control room.

Due to the smoke, many people were knocked unconscious.

The base fell into chaos.

Shui Miao, disguised as Yi Tianwen, immediately issued orders to release Xiong Ying, Captain Lin, and everyone else, and declared that he himself would go out to speak directly with Shui Miao.

After issuing the orders, Shui Miao claimed he was going to the hospital and left the base accompanied by disciples from the Xuan Group.

Before leaving, Shui Miao secretly transmitted a mental message to Jiang Zhihao and others, instructing them to meet him at the Kunlun Hotel in Golmud City and to take care of his grandfather and the others in the meantime. Inside the hospital room, Shui Miao took the opportunity to move Yi Tianwen’s corpse out and transformed himself into a doctor’s appearance before leaving the hospital for the hotel.

Arriving at the Kunlun Hotel, Shui Miao returned to his room and saw Jiang Zhihao and the others just stepping off the helicopter.

They had originally planned to go on an adventure, but ended up returning halfway, feeling very disappointed and upset. Shui Miao, however, was unfazed. With a thought, he reached out to sense Yi Tianwen’s soul within the Holy Yuan Bracelet… but to his shock, Yi Tianwen’s soul had become extremely powerful, greedily absorbing the Holy Yuan essence within the bracelet.

“Old man, you sure have the appetite to enjoy this!”

Shui Miao was secretly alarmed. Fortunately, he had placed most of his pills inside the Holy Yuan Ring, or else this old man might have devoured them all!

“Haha! Brother Shui, you have so many treasures. My dantian was destroyed, and my yin cultivation scattered, so I couldn’t help but absorb a bit more. Please, dear brother, don’t hold it against me!”

Even in such a perilous situation, Yi Tianwen was still laughing, which greatly surprised Shui Miao. “Wait a second, what exactly is going on? Your physical body was destroyed by me, your dantian was obliterated, and yet you’re still smiling?”

“Oh, you mean that?” Yi Tianwen quickly clasped his hands in apology. “Brother, the truth is, I’m actually a ghost who’s lived over two hundred years. All the Xuan Group disciples know that every ten years I change bodies. What you destroyed was just a substitute body—just the corpse of a dead old man that I possessed. Logically, I should be upset, but thinking that I can now follow you, Brother, I couldn’t help but feel secretly delighted!”

“Wow! Did you grease your mouth or were you a storyteller in your past life?” Yi Tianwen’s response left Shui Miao completely stunned. “Stop fooling around with me. If you’re truly an old ghost, then why did you imprison my grandfather and my friends like Chu Miaoyi?”

“Brother, I’m innocent!”

Yi Tianwen actually knelt down inside the Holy Yuan Bracelet. “Brother, it wasn’t like that at all. Your grandfather and the others have been cultivating inside the base the whole time. I treated them very well. If you don’t believe me, just ask them. If I treated them badly, Brother, you can destroy me without hesitation. Also, I originally just wanted to see how strong you really were. I never had any intention to harm you. And as it turned out, Brother, your magical power is profound and unfathomable, your wisdom boundless—you’re more divine than the gods themselves! So I willingly pledge my allegiance to you as my senior brother. From now on, you are the leader of the Xuan Group, and I will follow your every command!”

“Hmph! Don’t flatter me. I only believe in facts. Now that my grandfather has arrived, if everything checks out, I’ll release you. But if you dare to deceive me by even half a word, I’ll destroy your three souls and seven spirits, condemning you to eternal damnation!”

After saying this, Shui Miao immediately shifted all the Holy Yuan energy into the Holy Yuan Ring with his mind, temporarily leaving Yi Tianwen’s soul within the Holy Yuan Bracelet.

※※※

Shui Miao opened the door to his room and saw Jiang Zhihao, his grandfather Xiong Ying, and a group of elderly men.

Seeing Shui Miao had returned, Jiang Zhihao and the others were surprised.

Xiong Ying, upon seeing Shui Miao, was also quite taken aback. “Son, how… how did you get here?”

“Grandfather, it’s a long story. Please come in and rest first.” Shui Miao quickly stepped forward, helping his grandfather into the room and seating him on the sofa. The other elderly men also entered the room, sitting on the beds and sofas as they pleased.

After some conversation, Shui Miao learned that everything was exactly as Yi Tianwen had said. Xiong Ying and the others had willingly stayed behind to cultivate because the base was rich in spiritual energy. Yi Tianwen had treated them very well, providing food and shelter, often discussing Daoist techniques with them, and becoming good friends.

Hearing everyone speak so highly of Yi Tianwen, Shui Miao was shocked. In the end, it turned out he had been needlessly causing trouble all along!

So, Shui Miao quickly allocated some pills to Yi Tianwen as compensation and released him from the Holy Yuan Bracelet.

Yi Tianwen was extremely grateful and immediately went to the hospital to repossess a new body and revive himself.

That noon, Yi Tianwen hosted a banquet at the Kunlun Hotel with a large group of Xuan Group members.

After the meal, everyone chatted and discussed Daoist techniques, creating a lively atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Shui Miao and Yi Tianwen sat in a quiet room, sipping tea and chatting.

Yi Tianwen flattered Shui Miao with a beaming smile: “Brother, you are truly a prodigy, a rare talent across generations!”

“Haha, stop flattering me. I admit I acted rashly this time. I apologize.” Shui Miao’s apology was merely a respectful bow. “Also, I don’t like ranking people by strength. It feels strange to me. We are both cultivators. I prefer things straightforward and direct. If you respect me, how about I call you ‘Big Brother’?”

“No, no! That would be too much! You’re so powerful, I’d gladly call you Master!”

Yi Tianwen looked at Shui Miao with genuine sincerity, speaking from the heart.

“It’s settled then.” Shui Miao preferred taking action decisively and disliked dragging things out. He waved his hand and said directly: “Big Brother Yi, I don’t want too many people to know about today’s events. The fewer people involved, the better. How about this—I’ll join the Xuan Group, you take good care of my grandfather and the others, I’ll provide you with some pills, and when I go to the Rakshasa Realm and acquire treasures, I’ll definitely share some with you. How does that sound?”

“Great! I promise to take care of your grandfather as if he were my own father. And I’ll go announce right away that you are now the Deputy Leader of the Xuan Group. In truth, I’ll follow your lead anyway. Haha…”

Yi Tianwen was clever and articulate.

Shui Miao was quite satisfied with Yi Tianwen’s response.

After finishing their conversation, Shui Miao picked up his teacup and began sipping his tea leisurely.

Yi Tianwen, however, looked restless, scratching his head and ears, clearly wanting to say something but hesitating.

Noticing Yi Tianwen’s unease, Shui Miao gently placed his teacup down and smiled slightly. “Big Brother, if you have something to say, just say it. I’m a straightforward person. If I can help, I will. If not, I’ll just say no clearly.”

“Haha, I do have a small issue…” Yi Tianwen smiled awkwardly. “It’s like this—I have a descendant living here in Golmud City. For some unknown reason, his fortune has always been extremely poor, and his family has never been prosperous. What surprised me most was that my only descendant now actually prefers men. So I was wondering if I could ask my brother to help me somehow—perhaps find a way to change my descendant’s fate.”

“Change fate!?”

Shui Miao frowned slightly. “Big Brother, you now have power and influence, with many capable individuals under you. In such a situation, how come you still can’t change his fate?”

“Ahh!”

Yi Tianwen sighed deeply. “I’ve tried many times. We’ve thought of every method possible, but nothing worked. I even went to the underworld especially to consult an expert. The expert said that my family’s heavenly fate has reached its end. Unless a powerful immortal can reverse fate and change destiny, my family’s lineage will be completely severed!”

“But how can that be done?”

Shui Miao was at a loss. Fate was something intangible and invisible!

Yi Tianwen’s eyes flickered, and he quickly lowered his voice. “Brother, I’ve heard of a method to reverse fate, but it requires the help of a powerful cultivator. My descendant’s earthly destiny is complete, only lacking the heavenly aspect. If you, Brother, are willing to help me, everything will be fine!”

“Just tell me directly—what exactly needs to be done?” Shui Miao was also eager to learn more about fate.

Yi Tianwen lowered his voice again, leaning close to Shui Miao’s ear and whispering: “Go to the Immortal Realm and carve my descendant’s birth details into the Heavenly Fate Stone.”

“The Heavenly Fate Stone? What is that? Where can I find it?” Shui Miao blinked in confusion.

Yi Tianwen glanced around nervously and whispered mysteriously: “In the backyard of the Southern Dipper Immortal Elder.”

Shui Miao was stunned. Did he hear that right? The Southern Dipper Immortal Elder! That was a legendary deity!