Chapter 1053: Possession

Liu Changdie put away the scroll in his hand and dismissed Li Quewan. He hurried to the front of the formation and indeed found a person standing on the vast sea. Their pupils were white and red, they wore white bone armor and blood-colored silk, and a pair of golden wings were folded behind them, utterly silent.

Seeing the figure's weakened aura, Liu Changdie was filled with a sense of loss. He quickly opened the grand formation and called him in. The demon king, with his hands behind his back, walked in dejectedly, shouting in a hoarse voice:

"Mother... I almost died!"

Liu Changdie sighed. As he invited him further in, he pulled out spiritual pills from his sleeve and said:

"Are you feeling any better?"

Fuxun took the jade bottle, tapped it, and the spiritual pills tumbled into his large mouth like candies, much to Liu Changdie's dismay. The demon, however, seemed to taste nothing, smacking his lips and replying with bloodshot eyes:

"What are you sad about? With that great alchemist, how could he be short on elixirs?"

Li Ximing had indeed refined and left him elixirs when he came for the cultivation methods years ago. Yet Liu Changdie was very frugal, shaking his head and sighing:

"The world isn't normal these days. He has many spiritual items and resources. In previous years, even the Sun Dao lineage wasn't as extravagant as him... Moreover... how could I just take his things for free?"

Others might not know, but the Neck Plumes had repeatedly come from Liu Changdie's hands. Even early on, Wall-Sinking Water couldn't be collected in the East Sea, leading to production halts. Liu Changdie, of course, knew how lavish Li Ximing's cultivation was... Even with his own considerable wealth, he felt inferior.

Meanwhile, Fuxun sat down, surveyed the mystical blue-gold grotto, and nodded secretly. He then casually poured tea into a pot and cursed:

"Damn Sheng Bai Dao! Damn Zhaxi Ciwang! Someday, when I attain the Dao and become a great demon king, I'll punch three holes in Sheng Bai Dao's Holy Temple!"

Liu Changdie frowned. He watched as the demon lifted his clothes, revealing three large holes in his jade-like spiritual body. Inside the holes, there was no bone or flesh, but rather something resembling a wealthy magnate's cellar: golden sand cascaded like a waterfall, golden tables and chairs lay scattered, adorned with emerald and red stones the size of fingernails, and one or two lavishly dressed, thumb-sized little demons knelt crying in the golden sand.

Liu Changdie was stunned for a moment, then replied:

"Who did the Great Western Witch Kingdom fall to?!"

Fuxun said mournfully:

"It's definitely lost! Those wretches divided it up. Luckily, I swallowed the Wangjin Xuanyan Pill early and refined the Wangjin Rui Body, gathering these subordinates and leaving. Otherwise, I would be utterly alone today!"

Fuxun's Wangjin Rui Body was infinitely profound. While somewhat similar to the Murong family's expansive form, it was fundamentally very different. Essentially, it was the vastly enormous true body achieved through his divine ability, allowing ten thousand demons to cling to it. The Wangjin Rui Body then transformed this true body, along with the ten thousand demons, into a visible form, concealed beneath his flesh.

Liu Changdie was speechless. He didn't believe Fuxun truly cared much for these "subordinates." Firstly, they were there to run errands, serve him, and help cultivate his spiritual body. Secondly, they were likely just snacks for when his injuries became unstable...

He knew this clearly in his heart, but verbally he asked:

"Senior Qingyan..."

Fuxun was utterly distraught and heartbroken, saying bitterly:

"They captured him!"

"What?!"

Liu Changdie had considered that the two demons might face such a calamity, but he hadn't imagined it would be this severe. He was momentarily terrified, exclaiming:

"Senior Qingyan... how could they have calculated his whereabouts now?! Didn't he possess a wondrous technique that even Situ Huo, after ten years of ambushing, couldn't capture him... How did..."

He suddenly realized that Situ Huo was utterly incomparable to Sheng Bai Dao, and fell silent. Fuxun only said, full of hatred:

"Sheng Bai Dao is not what it once was. That esteemed figure must show signs of recovery, perhaps even possessing a certain degree of power! Only by leveraging his divine power could Qingyan be so easily calculated by them!"

At the mention of that demon on Daxi Plain, a flicker of terror crossed Fuxun's eyes, and he seemed somewhat flustered:

"He and I were ambushed by Sheng Bai Dao; we were no match for them at all. Fortunately, Qingyan still had a scroll of the Subjugation Blue Book. He traded severe injuries for an opportunity, using it to escape from the Sheng Bai Dao Master... But that person holds a Profound Banner. As long as his injuries aren't fully healed, they will always catch up!"

"We both fled in terror, casting spells to ask for your help, but hope was already lost. You spoke of that wondrous technique... it was fine for fending off Situ Huo... but how could it deceive the Sheng Bai Dao Master, who carries the Wind-Horse Profound Banner? Even if Qingyan's wondrous technique allowed him to escape for a thousand li, it couldn't withstand the shaking of that Profound Banner... If I hadn't escaped quickly... I would have been dragged in too!"

Liu Changdie was suddenly filled with both guilt and unease, lowering his gaze and saying:

"It's not that I wouldn't save him... That night, this place was struck by lightning and thunder, and a True Immortal was ambushing nearby, waiting for me for a long time... If I had gone out, I wouldn't have been able to protect myself either..."

The demon king wailed at the table, his tears, like crystals, rolling onto the floor. As a naturally rare species, the Mysterious Gold-Winged Bat's tears scattered fragrant powder wherever they fell, filling the air with an exotic scent. After crying for a while, he shook his head and said:

"How could I not trust you! I've already figured it out. Since they were determined to capture Qingyan, they would be guarding every angle. How could they allow you to rescue him?"

He collapsed, utterly devastated:

"What sorrow!"

Liu Changdie wasn't as familiar with Qingyan as Fuxun was, but they had a good relationship. His heart became incredibly complex for a moment, and a wave of sorrow washed over him. He sighed:

"Even if I saved him, what then? With the Sheng Bai Dao Master personally present, how many moves could I withstand against him..."

But just as the demon in front of him lowered his head, his jade-white cheek suddenly twisted, as if something was violently struggling to break free from beneath. It tore open, revealing a fist-sized, grotesque and terrifying face, its eyes sunken into empty sockets, staring fixedly at Liu Changdie.

Liu Changdie was startled and stepped back, exclaiming:

"What kind of demonic entity are you?!"

His cry, imbued with divine power, only caused the fist-sized face to pause for a moment, its empty eye sockets shifting as if surveying its surroundings. Fuxun's reaction, however, was quicker. His hands suddenly rose and fiercely gripped the face!

The fist-sized, tumor-like face was instantly crushed. Pale golden blood burst from between his fingers, releasing a strange fragrance. Fuxun wiped away the blood, his eyes sinister, and began to cough violently.

Liu Changdie watched with a deep frown, remaining silent for a long time. After coughing for a while, Fuxun knew the other was waiting for an explanation and chuckled apologetically:

"I was struck by the Sheng Bai Dao Master's Lesser Yang technique... My spiritual body likely contains many Yang worms, eagerly waiting to report back to him..."

Seeing Liu Changdie's tension, Fuxun understood and quickly shook his head:

"Don't worry... don't worry. I rushed here during the interval when they were being summoned by the prayer flags. After entering the grand formation, which isolates the Void, I'm much better. No messages can be sent out, so rest assured... *cough* *cough*"

Only then did Liu Changdie feel some relief, though still pained and uneasy. He whispered:

"It's not that I have any ulterior motives... Lu Lai Island is Ximing's territory. Providing me with a place to cultivate is already rare. If anything were to happen, bringing about any calamity... how would I explain it to him?!"

The two looked at each other in silence. Liu Changdie sighed:

"I'll remember your injuries. Sun-aligned spiritual items are hard to find, so I'll think of other ways and contact some high-level cultivators skilled in healing for you... Senior, just stay here and recuperate..."

Fuxun lowered his head, intending to express gratitude, but for a long time, he couldn't speak, simply raising his cup. After an unknown period, he sighed:

"After this battle, Daxi Plain now dominates Boruoduo. There's no going back, and all the demons in Boruoduo will be weeping... I'm also at my wit's end!"

"My household of companions consumes an enormous amount of resources... And I myself seek the Dao. I definitely can't go to the outer seas. Western Sea, Northern Sea—where would I find a place for myself?"

Liu Changdie was silent, shaking his head:

"Where can you even go now... I see you don't even dare to leave the formation!"

Despite his words, he still thought of a retreat for the demon king and asked:

"What about the Dragon race...?"

Fuxun showed a flicker of interest, then hesitated, shaking his head and gritting his teeth:

"My bloodline is peculiar; I'm genuinely afraid a Dragon King might devour me! Coming here, I specifically sought connections and asked around. Otherwise, how would I dare walk in here so brazenly..."

"Even if I take ten thousand steps back... even if I'm not eaten... my future is still uncertain. We demons are not like you humans; if they have no use for me, how would I dare just pledge allegiance freely!"

Liu Changdie sensed he had more to say, so he asked:

"It seems Senior has a plan."

Fuxun sighed and replied:

"To be honest, I'm utterly destitute now. Sheng Bai Dao never tolerated me, but in the past, I kept to myself... bouncing around out of their sight..."

"They always repay grievances with vengeance. My father's friend, who merely offered help, later died tragically at their hands. It's fortunate you didn't come to rescue me; at least I can hide here with you..."

He said somewhat awkwardly:

"Then... then Bailin... he has connections with the Dragon race. I was thinking of using him... to find a powerful backer..."

Only then did Liu Changdie understand, remaining silent for a long time.

*Dragon race... What good are dragons anyway? Li Zhouwei calls himself Bailin, acting as if he's close to dragons, but who doesn't know what schemes those Chi descendants are brewing!*

Liu Changdie knew nothing of the esteemed figures' plans, but he could swear on his life that the Dragon race definitely harbored sinister intentions. Unless absolutely necessary, he truly didn't want to trouble Li Ximing.

*I just hope this doesn't invite major trouble...*

Fuxun's matter was equally important; both were pressing concerns. Liu Changdie remained silent for a long time, then replied:

"I will inquire on your behalf, Senior... Whether it succeeds or not, I cannot make the decision."

He chose a grotto for Fuxun to go into seclusion. After the ordeal just now, the demon king's condition seemed even worse; he stumbled when he walked, and more alarmingly, his mind was somewhat dazed, clearly indicating a shaken foundation.

Liu Changdie silently shook his head and walked out. Taking a step, he noticed Li Quewan rushing through the main hall, her face slightly pale.

Liu Changdie quickly called out to her, sighing:

"Senior arrived suddenly. I will write a letter to Ximing; you don't need to worry."

"I will prepare what he needs for healing. It's just that he still has many subordinates with him, so I'll need you to summon some people to prepare spiritual rice and food for him daily..."

Li Quewan slightly lowered her brows, her expression quickly settling. She respectfully said:

"Yes."

Liu Changdie sighed inwardly:

*A demon king inexplicably added... This might be difficult to explain to Ximing...*

Inside the Hall of White Jade, snow was piled like jade, bathed equally in the radiance of the sun and moon. A pale blue treasured sword was embedded among the bright white jade stones, with a cup of clear tea resting on its hilt, preventing the long sword from jumping no matter how much it vibrated.

*Fuxun...*

On the desk lay a green scroll with faint golden, mystical patterns appearing and disappearing. The man by the desk was not staring at the long sword, but instead gazed distantly beyond the realm, remaining silent.

After Wanling Tian descended, Lu Jiangxian was simultaneously overseeing the situation, drafting the Qiujin technique for Chi Buzhi, and suppressing Li Jiangchun's sword Dao inheritance within her body. He was utterly swamped...

Among these, the most mentally taxing was the Qiujin technique. After all, the method of seeking gold was inherently difficult, and Chi Buzhi's version was unique. The method indeed had feasibility, but there was a world of difference between mere theoretical discussion and actually writing out this Qiujin technique. Its profound mysteries and high difficulty made the nine secret techniques of old, which drew upon the nature of gold, seem like child's play in comparison.

In truth, Li Zhouwei's Qiujin technique was also important and had not yet been started. Lu Jiangxian was confident in his cultivation progress; there was still time. Chi Buzhi, however, was a rare uncommitted piece, her thoughts erratic, and entangled with various forces. Her future trajectory, indirectly influenced by the arrangements of the Dao Embryos, was somewhat difficult to predict.

Therefore, Lu Jiangxian first tackled her Qiujin technique, to prevent Chi Buzhi from being blank-minded and staring at Du Qing when she regained her memories and stood at the forefront of the era, should the situation suddenly change.

It was precisely due to being so distracted that Lu Jiangxian's perception of the East Sea wasn't strong. Fortunately, Li Quewan was sharp and cautious. Seeing a demon king enter the formation, she naturally scanned it with a Celestial Mirror. This scan immediately startled Lu Jiangxian.

*Something's wrong...*

Under the illumination of his divine sense, a bright golden, hair-thin thread hung above Fuxun's head, extending to an unseen, vast and intangible place. And vaguely, another face appeared at the back of his head: sharp teeth, golden lips, a low nose bridge, pure white pupils, and distorted features that shifted and moved erratically across his occiput.

At first glance, Lu Jiangxian knew this entity was not of the Purple Mansion level. His heart shook. Upon a closer look, he detected a hint of the nature of gold... He recalled carefully, and suddenly remembered the monstrous Qi bird from back then!

*Liu Changdie, Liu Changdie, you've invited an ancestor in!*

*A demonic entity of the nature of gold!*

*A creature of devastation, exceedingly rare in the current age!*

Upon closer consideration, this demonic entity had clearly cultivated a wondrous technique, concealing itself extremely well, almost completely cut off from all external information. Even observing the outside world required it to feign a relapse of injuries... This demonstrated its high-level methods... But a demonic entity's nature is cunning, and this doesn't lessen its danger!

Fuxun thought he was injured and still had Yang worms left by the Sheng Bai Dao Master that hadn't been expelled... In reality, it was just the demonic entity occasionally moving its thoughts, wanting to use his body to observe the world!

*Li Quewan being scared pale is perfectly normal... In fact, it's because the ignorant are fearless; she only found it terrifying. If she truly knew what this entity was, let alone her, even Chi Buzhi would be covered in cold sweat standing here... This is a demonic entity... involving Golden Core existence...*

If this demonic entity were to go mad, forget about whether the Purple Mansion Grand Formation could contain it; the entire island would be transformed into a living hell. Sovereign Fire, Prime Fire, Dawn Fire... all sorts of spiritual fires would emerge accompanied by the light of Lesser Yang. The next moment, the true body of the North Sea Dragon King would descend!

Lu Jiangxian frowned and watched for a long time. He noticed Fuxun's expression was normal, yet he didn't dare to look away, watching him crush the Yang worm on his face. His heart trembled, and he muttered inwardly:

*Where is the Underworld? The two Dragon Sovereigns are in the East Sea... and there's not the slightest reaction.*