The skull jade pendant transformed into Hu Yao, a woman whose appearance and cultivation were identical to Gong Shulan—both at the early Foundation Establishment realm.

“Chen Tang, didn’t you say you wanted Shulan to serve you?”

Hu Yao, now fully materialized, stood unclothed, her fair skin glowing with a strange, eerie radiance. She let out a playful, sultry laugh, her delicate curves trembling, an enchanting sight capable of stirring one’s bloodlust.

Chen Tang’s face darkened. He glanced warily at Gong Shulan, his expression turning grim. “Is this the Puppet Technique of the Ghost Puppet Sect?”

The Ghost Puppet Sect, while not among the Five Great Devil Sects, was still a notorious demonic faction in the Grand Cang Cultivation World.

Their Puppet Techniques were a variant of the puppet arts, refining living cultivators into humanoid puppets using ghostly arcane methods. These puppets were indistinguishable from real people, making them extremely difficult to detect.

The current Hu Yao bore all the hallmarks of such a ghost puppet.

“Puppet Technique?”

Hiding near the cliff, Wei Tu’s eyes narrowed as his gaze toward Gong Shulan turned murderous.

Hu Yao had once been his ally. Back in his Qi Refinement days, she had helped him on multiple occasions.

For instance, when Ying Bing plotted against him, it was Hu Yao who had warned him, allowing him to be prepared in advance.

And now—she had become a puppet?

“You’re quite knowledgeable.”

Hu Yao licked her lips, her body shrouded in Gong Shulan’s spiritual aura, as she charged at Chen Tang.

As she soared through the air, green ghostly flames erupted around her. The black longblade in Chen Tang’s hand, once brimming with spiritual essence, let out a miserable cry, its spiritual energy rapidly diminishing, causing it to slow in midair.

Seeing this, Chen Tang’s expression changed drastically. He quickly flicked his sleeve, tossing several black orbs at Hu Yao.

These black orbs were Thunderfire Pearls, purchased at an immense cost. They were crafted by artifact refiners, using collected heavenly lightning to specifically counter demonic cultivators.

It was precisely these Thunderfire Pearls that gave Chen Tang the confidence to stand his ground even after witnessing Ren Yifeng’s gruesome death.

The moment the Thunderfire Pearls made contact with Hu Yao, they detonated instantly.

A blinding explosion erupted—

Flames surged, lightning crackled.

The green ghost flames surrounding Hu Yao diminished, her once flawless skin now marred with severe burns.

Some wounds were deep enough to expose bone, making her appear grievously injured.

“Gong Shulan, let’s see how you fight me now!”

Chen Tang sneered, summoning another longsword, slashing toward Hu Yao.

Gong Shulan had only been in Foundation Establishment for a few years—he refused to believe she had any more tricks up her sleeve.

However—

The next moment, what happened completely shattered his expectations.

Despite her severe injuries, Hu Yao’s pale flesh rapidly regenerated, the burn marks vanishing.

Once again, her body was enveloped in green ghost flames, looking completely unharmed as if the Thunderfire Pearls had done nothing at all.

As Chen Tang’s longsword slashed down, Hu Yao casually raised her hand.

With just a flick, the green ghost flames melted half the blade on contact.

“Impossible?!”

Chen Tang panicked.

He frantically glanced at Hu Yao, then at Gong Shulan, his mind racing.

Gritting his teeth, he abandoned the treasure, deciding to flee at once.

No treasure was worth his life.

However—

The moment Chen Tang took his first step to escape, Hu Yao shot forward like an arrow, her speed unnaturally fast.

Their figures clashed midair—

Chen Tang’s face contorted in terror.

He immediately activated a Grade-2 talisman, forming a defensive shield around him.

But—

The green ghost flames surged, shattering the protective barrier instantly.

Then—

Bone spikes erupted from Hu Yao’s body, piercing straight into Chen Tang’s chest.

Moments later, Chen Tang’s corpse crumpled lifelessly onto the cliffside, his body now nothing more than a dried husk.

—

“What should we do now?”

Hiding in the shadows, Kou Hongying sent a sound transmission to Wei Tu.

Even she was unsure how to approach Gong Shulan.

After all, two mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators had been slaughtered effortlessly by her puppet.

And she and Wei Tu were only at the early Foundation Establishment realm.

If they miscalculated, they might share the same fate as Ren Yifeng and Chen Tang.

“Those Thunderfire Pearls weren’t ineffective,” Wei Tu responded grimly. “But Gong Shulan absorbed all of Hu Yao’s wounds onto herself…”

His Fragrant Silk Nose technique allowed him to perceive the thick scent of blood beneath Gong Shulan’s robes.

That meant—

Whenever Hu Yao was injured, the damage was transferred to Gong Shulan instead.

“So, what you’re saying is… she’s actually at her limit?”

Kou Hongying’s eyes lit up.

She had been hesitant to engage, but if Gong Shulan was truly weakened, then the Gong Clan’s treasure was within their grasp.

“We can’t be sure.”

Wei Tu shook his head.

“Her abilities are too unpredictable. If we act recklessly, we might end up just like Ren Yifeng and Chen Tang.”

“Gong Shulan is no ordinary early Foundation Establishment cultivator.”

His voice was solemn.

“Then should we abandon this?”

Kou Hongying hesitated.

The Gong Clan’s secret treasure was too tempting. Simply walking away felt like a tremendous waste.

“No.”

Wei Tu’s gaze sharpened.

“We don’t know if she’s at her limit yet. But we need to wait for the right moment—an opportunity to strike and kill her in one blow.”

He didn’t believe Gong Shulan could maintain Hu Yao’s form indefinitely.

No matter how strong she was, her spiritual energy was finite.

Every second she sustained her puppet, her own reserves dwindled.

“Hongying, go to Yiquan Mountain Market and see if you can rent a formation array. We’ll use it to trap and kill Gong Shulan.”

Wei Tu’s voice was cold and decisive.

Renting a formation array was expensive, but for a treasure of this magnitude, money wasn’t a concern.

“Understood, Wei Shu.”

Kou Hongying nodded, preparing to sneak away from the cliff and head for Yiquan Mountain Market.

As Kou Hongying made her move, Gong Shulan’s gaze immediately shifted toward their hiding place.

“Fairy Kou?” Gong Shulan narrowed her eyes, a faint smirk appearing on her lips. “A Foundation Establishment cultivator from Mirror Water Pavilion, resorting to sneaky tricks? Doesn’t that tarnish the reputation of your sect?”

Seeing that she had been exposed, Kou Hongying no longer bothered to conceal herself. She stepped out into the open, flashing her sect’s command token at Gong Shulan.

“Gong Daoyou, don’t make a mistake. If you try to attack me, I can summon a Golden Core True Lord from my sect. Even with your puppet, do you really think you can escape?”

At the sight of the sect command token, Gong Shulan’s expression immediately became wary. She recalled Hu Yao’s puppet to her side, refraining from launching an attack.

After a moment of silence, she furrowed her brows and said, “You’ve been eavesdropping for so long, yet you didn’t immediately crush the token. I assume it’s not because you’re here to uphold justice but because you have your own designs on the Gong Clan’s treasure…”

“Unfortunately, as you can see, I don’t have the Gong Clan’s treasure. What I do have… is only this puppet.”

“How about this—let me go, and I will repay your kindness in the future.”

The emergency rescue tokens issued by the three great immortal sects could not be used lightly. However, if the purpose was to eliminate a demonic cultivator, that was another matter.

If Kou Hongying crushed the token to call for reinforcements, not only would she not be punished, but she would even receive a reward.

Because of this, Gong Shulan’s attitude remained soft—even though she was facing a mere early Foundation Establishment cultivator, she chose not to be aggressive.

“No need for future favors.” Kou Hongying refused outright. She glanced at the storage bags on the dried corpses of Ren Yifeng and Chen Tang, chuckling. “Those two had quite the fortune on them. Gong Daoyou, perhaps you could spare those?”

If she couldn’t take the Gong Clan’s treasure, then settling for the spoils of war was a good alternative.

Two mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators—their collected resources would surely be worth a fortune.

“You’re being too greedy!”

Gong Shulan’s face turned cold. She moved to control Hu Yao, preparing to strike.

After all, taking down Ren Yifeng and Chen Tang had cost her greatly.

If she simply handed over their storage bags, then this battle would have been a complete loss for her.

Of course, Gong Shulan had no intention of actually fighting Kou Hongying here. They were too close to Yiquan Mountain Market—she wasn’t foolish enough to take that risk.

Her intent was simply to threaten Kou Hongying into backing off.

Giving up one storage bag was acceptable.

But—

“What if I join in as well?”

A calm voice echoed from the nearby cliffside.

Wei Tu.

Hearing his name, Gong Shulan’s expression changed slightly.

A second-tier Talisman Master.

An immortal sect disciple from Mirror Water Pavilion.

These two together—while not as powerful as Ren Yifeng and Chen Tang, posed a greater threat.

After all, she was no longer at her peak.

More importantly, Wei Tu and Kou Hongying had seen her entire battle—they understood her methods.

“Gong Daoyou.”

“Or should I say… Hu Daoyou?”

Wei Tu stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Gong Shulan, his brows furrowed slightly.

The Puppet Technique of the Ghost Puppet Sect was not something he was too familiar with, but judging from Chen Tang’s reaction, it was clear that even he hadn’t known about Gong Shulan’s ability to transfer injuries to herself.

This suggested one of two possibilities:

1. Gong Shulan’s puppet technique was far superior to the commonly known Ghost Puppet Sect arts.

2. There was another reason behind her abilities.

And the fact that her puppet was Hu Yao—a cultivator he was once acquainted with—raised even more questions.

Hu Yao had always been cautious, never one to leave Danqiu Mountain recklessly.

She certainly wouldn’t allow herself to be captured by Gong Shulan, let alone be turned into a puppet.

Which led Wei Tu to a bold speculation—

Gong Shulan and Hu Yao… were the same person.

During the earlier battle, Gong Shulan’s detached, indifferent demeanor was identical to how he had seen Hu Yao cultivate back in the slums of Danqiu Mountain Market.

Of course, it was just a hypothesis.

But—

“Wei Daoyou, you’re quite perceptive.”

Gong Shulan smiled, her voice shifting—becoming identical to Hu Yao’s.

“I won’t hide it. I am a Ghost Spirit Body—one soul, two bodies. Hu Yao was always my backup vessel.”

Now addressing Wei Tu directly, Gong Shulan seemed almost relieved to find someone to talk to.

She let out a soft sigh, then began recounting her past in Danqiu Mountain.

“Over two hundred years ago, my grandfather—Gong Clan’s Foundation Establishment cultivator—obtained the ‘Blood Ghost Jade.’ Despite being at the end of his potential, he suddenly broke through, shocking the entire Danqiu Mountain.”

As Gong Shulan continued, Wei Tu finally understood—

The skull jade pendant she had spat out earlier was indeed the Gong Clan’s ancestral treasure.

But it was also a deadly weapon.

The Blood Ghost Jade not only created a puppet, but it could also absorb blood essence, enhancing one’s talent and potential.

“However, unless one possesses a Ghost Spirit Body, using the Blood Ghost Jade to enhance their talent comes at a cost—lifespan.”

“Both my grandfather and father died prematurely because of it.”

Gong Shulan smiled bitterly.

Her words carried an obvious message—

She was trying to convince Wei Tu and Kou Hongying to abandon any ideas of seizing the Blood Ghost Jade.

After all, it was a demonic artifact—it wouldn’t suit them.

Of course, Wei Tu did not believe her completely.

Even her claim of being Hu Yao—he remained only half-convinced.

Wei Tu revealed himself right after Kou Hongying, directly stating that Gong Shulan was actually the same person as Hu Yao, someone he had once collaborated with.

This wasn’t just to expose the truth—it was also a strategic move to maximize their own benefits.

Since Kou Hongying had already been discovered, their original plan of trapping Gong Shulan using a formation was immediately rendered useless.

There was simply no time to head to Yiquan Mountain Market and rent a formation to use against her.

Had Kou Hongying remained undiscovered, Wei Tu could have silently tracked Gong Shulan, waiting for Kou Hongying to return with a formation for support.

Now, with that option off the table, they had to adapt.

On the cliffside, Wei Tu and Kou Hongying stood opposite Gong Shulan and her puppet, Hu Yao.

“Your past is tragic, Gong Daoyou, and I sympathize… but these two storage bags—Kou Hongying and I will not let them go so easily.”

Wei Tu’s tone was calm but firm, cutting off any further attempts by Gong Shulan to elicit pity.

Hearing this, Gong Shulan paused for a moment before narrowing her eyes at Wei Tu.

Then she nodded.

“Now that Wei Daoyou and Fairy Kou have joined forces, and with your sect’s command token as a safeguard, I am indeed at a disadvantage. I can hand over these two storage bags…”

“However, I am willing to exchange one of them for another treasure. Would Wei Daoyou be interested?”

Her voice was steady, as though she had already seen through the situation.

From the way Wei Tu held back instead of attacking outright, she had already guessed his mindset—

If Wei Tu had absolute confidence in defeating her, he wouldn’t have hesitated.

Instead of standing there negotiating, he would have already made his move.

“Very well.”

Wei Tu pretended to hesitate, then finally nodded.

He and Kou Hongying didn’t have complete certainty of killing Gong Shulan, so they had no reason to push her into a desperate situation where she had no choice but to fight to the death.

At this, Gong Shulan smiled slightly.

“This is a Ghost Puppet Sect inheritance— a second-tier puppet refinement technique.”

With a wave of her palm, she produced a black jade slip, channeling spiritual power into it before sending it toward Wei Tu.

However—

Wei Tu did not reach out to take it himself.

Instead, he summoned the Wind-Cleaving Eagle, having the spirit beast grasp the jade slip to inspect its contents.

He hadn’t forgotten what happened to Ren Yifeng—how he had accepted the Blood Ghost Jade, only to be instantly killed.

Though the Wind-Cleaving Eagle had limited spiritual awareness and couldn’t examine the entire jade slip, even a fragment of the recorded information was enough for Wei Tu to confirm that it was a genuine inheritance.

“A second-tier puppet inheritance is valuable, but I don’t have the time to cultivate it.”

Wei Tu raised an eyebrow and looked at Gong Shulan again.

“This is a bone fragment from a third-tier demon beast, ideal for crafting a high-grade puppet. Consider it my gift to Wei Daoyou, as you were quite helpful to me back in Danqiu Mountain.”

With another gesture, Gong Shulan sent forth a pale yellow bone, which emitted a faint oppressive aura, indicating its extraordinary nature.

Her attitude was entirely composed—she showed no resentment toward Wei Tu’s opportunistic behavior.

Seeing this, Wei Tu nodded slightly, signaling his agreement.

Then, he commanded the Wind-Cleaving Eagle to grab Chen Tang’s storage bag, while Gong Shulan turned and left, retreating into the distance.

Once she was far enough away, Wei Tu turned to Kou Hongying.

She immediately understood.

Without hesitation, she crushed the sect command token in her hand.

Weeds must be uprooted completely.

Wei Tu didn’t know for sure if Gong Shulan was truly Hu Yao, but even if she was, he couldn’t allow her to live.

If she was really Hu Yao, then all the past events—the assassination attempt by Ying Bing, the feud with Geng Wen, the enmity with Ren Yifeng—

All of these could have been orchestrated by her.

A few breaths later, from the direction of Yiquan Mountain Market, a pale blue streak of light shot through the sky.

It was far faster than any Foundation Establishment cultivator, appearing like a shooting star as it streaked toward the cliffside where Wei Tu and Kou Hongying stood.

The light came to a sudden stop, revealing a stunning female cultivator with phoenix-shaped hairpins and elegant, slanted brows.

“Senior Gong.”

Kou Hongying immediately bowed respectfully, offering a formal greeting.

Gong True Person swept her gaze across Kou Hongying, then lingered on Wei Tu for a brief moment.

Finally, she spoke.

“Hongying, why did you crush your sect’s emergency token?”

From the moment she sensed the command token being used, she had assumed that a disciple was in grave danger, so she had rushed here as quickly as possible.

Yet, when she arrived, she found that Kou Hongying was completely unharmed.

“Senior, I discovered a cultivator suspected of being from the Ghost Puppet Sect. She killed two Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators from Danqiu Mountain…”

Kou Hongying kept her explanation concise and to the point.

As soon as she finished speaking, Gong True Person immediately flew off in the direction where Gong Shulan had fled.

For the righteous sects, demonic cultivators were sworn enemies.

Even if Gong Shulan hadn’t just killed Ren Yifeng and Chen Tang, Gong True Person wouldn’t have let her go.

Hunting down demonic cultivators was one of the three great sects’ responsibilities.

Wei Tu and Kou Hongying watched Gong True Person disappear into the distance, then waited on the cliffside for news.

Half a day later, Gong True Person returned.

She carried a lifeless female corpse, shaking her head.

“This was merely a puppet from the Ghost Puppet Sect. She used it to deceive you two.”

“By the time I tracked her, her aura had already disappeared into Demon Wolf Mountain.”

“Whether she is dead or alive remains uncertain.”

“My guess is that she intends to cross Demon Wolf Mountain and flee toward the Five Great Demonic Sects.”

“But I have memorized her aura. If she ever tries to leave Demon Wolf Mountain, the three great sects will not let her escape.”

Seeing the look of unease on Kou Hongying’s face, Gong True Person gave a reassuring smile.

The three great sects had been blocking the demonic path for many years.

If the Five Great Demonic Sects had been able to launch an invasion, they would have done so already.

The natural dangers of Demon Wolf Mountain were one reason, but another major factor was the three sects’ relentless watchfulness.

For Gong Shulan to return to Zheng Kingdom, it would not be easy.

Furthermore—entering Demon Wolf Mountain was already a death sentence.

Even Gong True Person herself wouldn’t recklessly venture too deep—for Gong Shulan, this was a desperate gamble to stay alive.

Her chances of survival were slim.

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