Chapter 489: Seizing Sun Qiang's Body

The dominant soul is the body's master. If it is expelled and another soul doesn't fill the void in time, the body may fail to awaken and become a corpse.

With two souls originally inhabiting one body, even if one was suppressed, it could still cling to life. Expelling the dominant one would eliminate any chance for the other to recover.

"Teacher Zhang," Pavilion Master Sai said with a grave expression, "the mysteries of the soul are profound; even gods cannot fully grasp them. This soul is currently dominant. If the original soul doesn't revive, it would be tantamount to murder!"

"Indeed, you must think very carefully before acting!" Luo Qin added, also visibly anxious.

Everyone knew the old man had come to their auction house for a transaction. If he were to die here, their establishment would have no way to explain it.

"You're right, I do need to consider this carefully," Zhang Xuan nodded.

They were correct; the soul's intricacies are not as easily managed as the physical body. A botched attempt could, at best, lead to idiocy, but actually causing death would make him undeniably culpable.

"I am conducting this transaction with you, and many people have witnessed it," the old man chuckled, seeing their hesitation. "If anything goes wrong, neither the Appraiser's Guild nor the Auction House will escape responsibility!"

"Here's a suggestion," the old man chuckled, noticing their apprehension. "Let's proceed with the transaction; the soulless golden figure will be yours. However, you must help me eliminate the original soul within this body! It's a transaction either way—with him or with me—so why risk it?"

After all, it was still a transaction, whether with him or the body's original owner. If he tried to expel the current occupant and revive the other, success was uncertain. What if he failed?

"Teacher Zhang..."

Luo Qin quickly looked towards him.

As a businessman, he understood weighing pros and cons. Risking so much to save someone with whom he had no connection simply wasn't worth it.

Everyone already knew this man was possessed by an evil spirit. Regardless of which soul prevailed, as long as he left the premises alive, it would have no negative impact on the auction house.

"What you're saying makes a lot of sense. My goal was the soulless golden figure, and now that I have it, there's certainly no need to invite trouble for myself," Zhang Xuan sighed, then raised an eyebrow and calmly looked over. "However," he said, "didn't you claim I had no alternative? I've just thought of something I'd like to try..."

"Try?"

Luo Qin's face flushed with alarm. He couldn't believe that after such a long discussion, Zhang Xuan still intended to act, and merely to "try."

Was this something to be tried on a whim?

A mistake could be fatal...

"Young Master..."

Jin Conghai, also concerned, couldn't help but glance at his Young Master, hoping he would intervene and dissuade Zhang Xuan.

However, Zhao Feiwu uncharacteristically waved his hand with a grave expression. "Don't try to dissuade him," he said. "This is a Master Teacher's inherent duty and responsibility; he cannot avoid it!"

Master Teachers, who hold such esteemed positions, naturally bear commensurate responsibilities.

Even though this old man's name and background were unknown, and they had no prior connection, his life hung in the balance due to the Witch Soul Master's possession. To witness this and do nothing—where would the moral integrity be?

How could one then be qualified to educate the world and guide students?

As the saying goes, "If your conduct is upright, others will follow without command; if it is not upright, they will not obey even when commanded."

Guiding students involves more than just teaching advanced techniques and helping them become successful adults; it is crucial to instill in them a proper outlook on life.

Otherwise, even if educated, they might become scoundrels, and the true meaning of a Master Teacher would be lost.

"This..."

Jin Conghai froze, clenching his fist.

As a poison master, he was accustomed to achieving his goals by any means. But Zhang Xuan was different: he was a Master Teacher, tasked with guiding the world. If he himself recoiled from difficulty, how could his students ever trust him?

The old man, who had so clearly laid out the pros and cons, hadn't expected Zhang Xuan to still challenge him. His face darkened. "Are you determined to oppose me?" he demanded.

"Oppose you? You're overthinking it," Zhang Xuan replied, shaking his head. "I'm merely expelling you. This body does not belong to you, and you have no right to possess it!"

He shook his head, then with a flick of his wrist, several silver needles materialized in his palm.

"Silver needles? You intend to use those against a soul?"

The old man scoffed, having expected some formidable weapon, only to see him produce needles.

While these might treat true qi or alleviate physical pain, using them on a soul? What a joke!

It would be as useless as trying to shoot mosquitoes with a bow and arrow.

Ignoring the old man's skepticism, Zhang Xuan let a stream of true qi flow. With a flick of his finger, a silver needle transformed into a cold glint and shot straight forward.

"Silver needles have no effect on souls..."

Pavilion Master Sai slapped his forehead upon seeing Zhang Xuan actually use silver needles against the old man.

He had assumed that Zhang Xuan's confidence implied a brilliant solution, but it now seemed he was simply experimenting.

Having read extensively about Witch Soul Masters, he knew certain facts about souls: it was impossible to affect them with such external objects.

It was akin to trying to slice water with a knife or cut wind with a sword. Even if a silver needle struck, it would only affect the physical body, having no impact on an invisible, intangible soul. Worse, it could even obstruct meridian flow and cause physical ailments.

"To perform a soul exorcism, one must first prepare sackcloth, yellow talismans, various ritual tools, and then establish a formation. Silver needles are merely external implements..." Knowing the method was futile, Pavilion Master Sai shook his head and began to explain the proper procedure, intending for Zhang Xuan to follow it. He was only halfway through his explanation when he suddenly choked on his saliva, stopping abruptly and trembling uncontrollably. "This... how is this possible?" he stammered.

He watched as the arrogant old man suddenly turned deathly pale the moment the silver needle entered his body.

Immediately afterward, terror filled the old man's eyes. He tried to flee but collapsed to the ground, convulsing.

Silver needles piercing the body caused the soul to lose control?

How was this possible?

If souls were truly so easy to contend with, Witch Soul Masters wouldn't be so feared, and the Master Teacher Pavilion wouldn't have had to intervene directly in the past.

"Your... your true qi..."

While Pavilion Master Sai and the others were stunned, the old man himself was utterly frantic.

He had just declared silver needles useless, yet this was the immediate result. Intense fear made him shriek continuously.

At that moment, he also understood: it wasn't the silver needles that were terrifying, but Zhang Xuan's true qi!

This true qi possessed the power to expel souls. The moment it touched his spiritual essence, it felt like being drenched in ignited spirits—the pain was excruciating, as if his entire being was tearing apart.

"This is... a top-grade true qi?" The old man's pupils constricted as a thought flashed through his mind.

Legend claimed that top-grade true qi was not only incredibly pure but also possessed the ability to ward off evil and avert misfortune. This was precisely why Witch Soul Masters, despite their formidable and eerie powers, still kept a respectful distance from Master Teachers.

Yet... top-grade true qi was wielded by only a select few within the Master Teacher Pavilion, passed down through the lineage of Confucius and his most direct disciples. How could this man possess it?

Could he be a descendant of Confucius?

If so, that would be truly terrifying!

To have just escaped a gloomy tomb only to encounter such a person... was fate truly this cruel?

"No, I'll surely die if this continues..." The old man's eyes turned bloodshot as he felt more and more silver needles piercing him, each transmitting true qi that threatened to tear him apart.

Top-grade true qi was the bane of Witch Soul Masters. If he allowed it to accumulate, the only outcome would be to be burned alive, with no hope of recovery.

"No, I must find someone else to possess..."

Knowing he wouldn't last much longer, he endured the intense pain and secretly scanned his surroundings.

Remaining in this body would surely mean death. His only option now was to possess another person, then seek an opportunity for revenge.

However, even if the possession succeeded, he couldn't let Zhang Xuan realize it, or another attack would spell his doom.

"Damn it... forcing me to possess another! I'll never forgive you!"

Despite his decision, the old man's heart bled.

Possessing a body was no easy feat; each instance inflicted immense damage on the soul, not only diminishing cultivation but also severely depleting vitality.

For instance, when he possessed this current body, his cultivation had been considerable, reaching the early stage of Transcendent Mortal 3rd Dan. Yet, after a successful possession, he plummeted two entire major ranks, landing at the early stage of Transcendent Mortal 1st Dan.

This meant that even if he succeeded again, his strength would continue to plummet, potentially dropping another two major ranks, from Transcendent Mortal to Grandmaster.

"It has to be one of them..."

With an internal roar, he scanned the room, identifying his target for possession.

The weakest person in the room appeared to be Zhao Feiwu, who hadn't cultivated much. However, Zhao Feiwu possessed numerous treasures, making him difficult even for a Transcendent Mortal 3rd Dan cultivator to kill, let alone a crippled soul like his.

Aside from him, the remaining individuals were Zhao Ya, Sun Qiang, and others.

Their cultivation levels were merely at the Master realm, meaning he could easily subdue them even with a drastically weakened soul.

"This one will do..."

His eyes lit up as his attention landed on a stout man not far away.

This individual had the lowest cultivation among the group, appeared rather dim-witted and oblivious, and seemed to possess the weakest vigilance, making him the easiest target for possession.

"Possess!"

Having pinpointed his target and knowing he had no time to lose, he internally murmured.

His soul instantly transformed into an invisible, intangible wisp of smoke and shot straight towards the stout man nearby.

*Thud!*

The moment the soul departed, the old man's body became rigid and motionless, devoid of any response.

"It's gone..."

Pavilion Master Sai brightened at the sudden change.

The immediate lack of response indicated the absence of a soul. The possessing entity must have been suppressed by Teacher Zhang in some way, unable to endure it any longer, and had fled.

He had assumed the young man's "trial" had little chance of success, never dreaming it would not only succeed but also proceed so smoothly.

"Mmm..."

Moments later, the old man lying motionless on the ground stirred and opened his eyes.

With the possessing soul gone, the original soul was finally free from suppression and regained control of its body.

"Rogue cultivator Luo Zhu thanks Teacher Zhang for saving my life..."

Although he had been suppressed, he had been fully aware of the external events. He knew that if this young man hadn't insisted, he would surely have perished.

The gratitude in his heart was beyond words.

He stood up, about to express his profound gratitude, when he heard a sound nearby.

*Achoo!*

The stout man nearby shivered from a sudden chill, then sneezed.

"Oh no! He's... he's possessing someone!"

Hearing the sneeze, the old man Luo Zhu's pupils constricted as he recalled something, and he couldn't help but shout.

A martial artist's body, tempered by true qi, was virtually immune to illness. Under normal circumstances, they wouldn't sneeze so readily.

When he himself had been possessed, he had felt a sudden chill and sneezed. Now, immediately after the evil spirit had fled his body, the stout man nearby experienced the same. It was obvious the man had been possessed!