But now, with the suspicious Elder Qi in the picture, following this lead might not only expose the Jiang family’s inside man but also provide indirect confirmation that the demonic beasts were preparing to attack the city.
“Elder Qi is an inside man.” Xu Ziyan was delighted by this unexpected discovery. Here was evidence ready for the taking. Once they caught the elder, surely Jiang Tianxing would have to believe him.
After the brothers returned to the Jiang residence, Xu Ziyan went to speak privately with Jiang Tianxing. Meanwhile, Xu Zirong quietly slipped back into the secret chamber where Jiang Ying was supposedly being ‘imprisoned.’
“What are you doing here?” Jiang Ying’s expression soured when Xu Zirong appeared. Discovering that Xu Ziyan had not accompanied him made him even more wary.
Xu Zirong looked him up and down, a peculiar expression crossing his face. “You’ve lost your primordial yang.”
Jiang Ying’s face instantly turned scarlet. He stammered so badly that he could barely form words. “Y-you… how did you…?”
A dangerous glint flashed in Xu Zirong’s narrowed eyes. He would never admit that he was jealous.
“Hey, what are you trying to do?” Sensing danger instinctively, Jiang Ying took several reflexive steps backward.
“You seem to be in a very good mood.” Xu Zirong strolled over to the table and sat down, showing not the slightest regard for Jiang Ying’s position as the master of the room.
Jiang Ying’s expression changed several times. Just as he was about to erupt, his features suddenly twisted and settled into calm once more. “What do you want?”
Xu Zirong glanced at him and frowned faintly. Then understanding dawned, and he murmured to himself, “Two souls in one body? A Demon-Attracting Dao Body combined with two souls in one body. What an interesting combination.”
The refined Jiang Ying’s calm evaporated the instant he heard the words ‘Demon-Attracting Dao Body.’ He stared at Xu Zirong in near terror. “H-how do you know?” Compared with that secret, the revelation that two souls shared his body would merely cause him some trouble. If his constitution became known, any high-level demonic cultivator might seize his body at any moment!
“Don’t do anything foolish.” Xu Zirong’s expression turned icy as he tapped the tabletop lightly a few times.
Jiang Ying’s face did not change, but the fingers hidden beneath his robe curled ever so slightly.
“Ah!” Jiang Ying cried out. A sharp pain pierced his fingertips, and numbness began spreading from his fingers through his entire body.
Jiang Ying went pale with shock. He had never imagined he could be caught in a trap so silently. He had been on guard against Xu Zirong all along, and the demonic art empowered by his Demon-Attracting Dao Body made him stronger than an ordinary middle Foundation Establishment cultivator. Xu Zirong might be at late Foundation Establishment, but the difference of one stage should never have allowed him to crush Jiang Ying so easily. Unless… the demonic art Xu Zirong practiced was even more advanced than his own Soul-Luring Art.
Seeing this, Xu Zirong smiled coldly. “I warned you not to do anything foolish.”
The refined Jiang Ying regarded him with dark, uncertain eyes, his expression full of suspicion.
Xu Zirong was in no hurry. He unhurriedly smoothed the creases in the hem of his clothes. Then, as though struck by some thought, he vigorously crumpled the fabric he had just straightened, leaving Jiang Ying speechless.
What kind of habit was that? Smoothing out your clothes only to wrinkle them again? Did he really have nothing better to do?
Whatever Xu Zirong’s reason for doing something so pointless, Jiang Ying was paralyzed and unable to move. His thoughts raced as he tried to work out why Xu Zirong had come.
The last time, Xu Zirong had come with his brother to use Jiang Ying to identify suspicious members of the Jiang family. This time he had arrived alone and immediately overwhelmed Jiang Ying with ruthless force. What exactly was he after?
“Can’t figure it out?” The corners of Xu Zirong’s mouth curled upward.
Jiang Ying was hardly pleased. “Just tell me. I know I can’t beat you, but if you wanted to kill me, you’d have done it already. So what do you want me to do?”
Xu Zirong nodded. “I like intelligent people. The demonic art you’re cultivating is the Soul-Luring Art.” His last sentence was a statement, not a question.
Jiang Ying gave a cold laugh. “Didn’t you already know that?”
“Not for very long,” Xu Zirong replied calmly. “You know the Soul-Luring Art you’re cultivating is incomplete, don’t you?”
“I do, but it’s the most complete and advanced demonic art I could find.” Jiang Ying was remarkably forthright. Given his circumstances, obtaining a high-level technique like the Soul-Luring Art had been a stroke of extraordinary luck. How could he afford to complain that it was incomplete?
Those born with the Demon-Attracting Dao Body could not cultivate orthodox methods. But if Jiang Ying practiced only low-level techniques, he would never become strong enough to leave the Jiang family.
To high-level demonic cultivators whose bodies had suffered serious damage, the Demon-Attracting Dao Body was irresistible. Most demonic cultivation techniques harmed the practitioner’s body; possessing that special constitution, however, meant complete immunity to those harmful effects.
Body possession hung above Jiang Ying’s head like a sword. If any high-level demonic cultivator discovered his constitution, he would face almost certain death.
Throughout history, those with Demon-Attracting Dao Bodies who had managed to become formidable demonic cultivators generally followed one of two paths: some had their bodies seized early on; the others chanced upon high-level techniques, went into seclusion somewhere remote, and emerged only after gaining the strength to protect themselves.
Jiang Ying had chosen the second path, which was why he had gone to such extraordinary lengths to obtain a copy of the Soul-Luring Art.
According to the manual, the Soul-Luring Art was an illusory attack directed at an enemy’s soul. At advanced levels, a practitioner could supposedly kill with a single glance. Unfortunately, Jiang Ying’s copy was incomplete and could take him only as far as the Golden Core stage. Even so, reaching Golden Core would give him enough strength to leave the Jiang family and continue looking for the missing second half.
“Would you like the second half of the Soul-Luring Art?” Xu Zirong asked casually, dropping a question that left Jiang Ying reeling.
Jiang Ying tried to jump to his feet, but his body refused to obey. “You have the second half of the Soul-Luring Art?”
“Mm. Not only do I have the rest of the manual, I also know a secret.”
Jiang Ying’s expression shifted. After considering the matter for a long while, he slowly asked, “Tell me. What exactly do you want?”
Xu Zirong smiled faintly. “I want you.”
“Me?” Jiang Ying froze, then turned white as a sheet. “Y-you…”
Xu Zirong raised an eyebrow and sneered disdainfully. “What are you thinking? Do you imagine I’m interested in your body? Take a look in the mirror. Can you compare to even one of my brother’s fingers?”
Jiang Ying went rigid again. Once he realized his misunderstanding, his face flushed crimson. Xu Zirong’s mocking tone made him angry, but the implication of that final remark startled him still more.
Jiang Ying’s expression shifted several times before it transformed into an unrestrained grin. “Ahahaha! You certainly are arrogant, but I suppose you’ve earned the right to be. And… you actually like your own brother! Now that’s interesting.”
His features twisted again, returning to the refined Jiang Ying. Unlike his wicked counterpart, he was not remotely relaxed. He gave a bitter smile. “Now that you’ve told me something like that, does it mean I’m dead if I refuse?”
Xu Zirong’s lips curved. For once, he decided to be playful. “Guess.”
The refined Jiang Ying cursed inwardly. Guess, my ass! Could that threat be any more obvious? You’re forcing me onto your damned ship!
A threat in one hand and a temptation in the other. Xu Zirong certainly knew how to get what he wanted!
Jiang Ying’s face remained expressionless as he weighed his options. Xu Zirong did not press him, merely tapping the tabletop gently with his index finger.
Tap!
Tap!
The taps sounded at regular intervals, crisp and clear as each knuckle struck the table. Yet the refined Jiang Ying grew increasingly restless. His heartbeat quickened without warning, and an inexplicable urge to attack Xu Zirong rose within him.
Smack!
Just as Jiang Ying was about to attack, Xu Zirong suddenly stopped tapping with his fingers and slammed his palm onto the table.
Jiang Ying felt his heart seize. His spiritual power surged uncontrollably, and he spat out a mouthful of dark-red blood.
The room fell deathly silent. Only a faint metallic scent of blood lingered in the cramped space.
Jiang Ying stayed silent for a while. Only after he had steadied his breathing did he raise his head, wipe the blood from his lips, and give Xu Zirong an indescribably complicated look. The numbness had vanished after he coughed up the blood, but his thoughts were in utter turmoil.
“I’ll give you plenty of time to think it over. Just give me your answer before your sister’s wedding.” Xu Zirong rose and brushed imaginary dust from his clothes. “I’ve told you half the secret. Whether you learn the other half depends on your decision.” He smiled without any warmth in his eyes. “Remember, this is an agreement between you and me. If you happen to let it slip…”
He did not explain the consequences. Both of them understood perfectly well that Xu Zirong had the power to make him pay.
Watching the slender figure disappear into the passage, Jiang Ying could no longer suppress it and spat out another mouthful of blood. This time the blood was much brighter than before, although a dull gray tinge remained.
“What’s wrong?” the wicked Jiang Ying asked anxiously. Sharing a single body meant that whatever injured one was felt equally by the other. “Did he do that to us?”
“No.” The refined Jiang Ying’s face was pale. “I suspect there’s something wrong with the copy of the Soul-Luring Art we found.”
“Something wrong? Like what? We went through hell to get that thing!” the wicked Jiang Ying demanded sharply.
The refined Jiang Ying nodded. “But don’t you think we acquired it a little too easily?”
“Too easily?” The wicked Jiang Ying’s gaze sharpened as the two of them recalled what had happened.
Jiang Ying had been only eleven at the time. Because of his Demon-Attracting Dao Body, neither soul could cultivate any of the Jiang family’s methods. Then they had accidentally obtained a treasure map, and the hiding place marked on it had happened to lie close to Wuti City.
Following the directions on the map, the young Jiang Ying, who had no spiritual power at all, had endured countless hardships before finally obtaining that demonic cultivator’s manual: the Soul-Luring Art they were using now.