Chapter 4: The Second Miss is Alive

Pain.

Zhang Yuge didn’t know how long he had been lying face down on the ground.

He forced himself to get up.

The palm strike from Old Liu Zhong still throbbed faintly in his body.

He glanced around in a daze and realized that he was the only one still standing.

Besides those who had been killed at the beginning, many more emaciated, skin-and-bone corpses lay scattered on the ground.

“Heh heh, awake now?”

Zhang Yuge turned his head and saw the translucent young man greeting him leisurely.

Kneeling nearby with a vacant expression was the beautiful woman Zhong Bailing.

“That girl was so scared she went stupid, and I haven’t even done anything to her yet,”

The man said with a smile.

Zhang Yuge knew that all the deaths here were the work of this man.

He was someone far too dangerous to offend.

“Junior disciple Zhang Yuge pays respects to senior. May I ask your honorable name?”

Zhang Yuge bowed deeply to him.

“Hahaha, you’re quite polite, little kid. By the way, the reason I could awaken was thanks to your blood. This girl is an extremely rare Dinglu Physique. Killing her outright would be such a waste, but unfortunately, I only have a remnant soul left; otherwise, I’d have taken her as a partner for dual cultivation.”

He paused, then said,

“You have done me a favor. This girl will be yours—to serve as your Dinglu for cultivation.”

Zhang Yuge looked troubled.

“Thank you for your kindness, senior, but I am merely a mortal warrior, not a cultivator or immortal. Leaving this Dinglu with me serves no purpose—”

“Simple. Then from now on, you will officially step onto the Xiantu path. Isn’t that feasible?”

“Huh? What… do you mean, senior?”

“I overheard the conversation earlier between that Qi Cultivator and you. You’re just a lowly servant, right? Let me ask you: do you want to be a servant for life, or do you want to shake off this slave status and trample Emperors and Ministers beneath your feet? If you choose the second, I can take you as my disciple. Swear allegiance here and now, and I will help you soar to the heavens.”

Although Zhang Yuge wanted to agree immediately and become his disciple on the spot, this man’s murderous intent was overwhelming.

He probably wasn’t a regular cultivator but some dark sect villain—very different from the cultivation Zhang Yuge imagined.

Moreover, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this man was deliberately trying to lure him into becoming his disciple.

Did that mean Zhang Yuge had some rare talent?

“Master above, please accept your disciple’s kowtow,”

Zhang Yuge said without hesitation.

Hesitation would lead to defeat.

No matter what, it was better than remaining a servant.

After Zhang Yuge kowtowed three times, the man nodded.

“My name is Yunlan Zhenren, Hehuan Sect Master. From now on, you are a disciple of the Hehuan Sect.”

Hehuan Sect?

Zhang Yuge was surprised.

Generally, the Hehuan Sect was known for having mostly female disciples.

“I will spare this girl’s life and let her become your Dinglu to assist your cultivation. First, let me test your Spiritual Root.”

Zhang Yuge looked forward eagerly, hoping he might be born with a Heavenly Spiritual Root, or at least a Double Spiritual Root.

After Yunlan was silent for a long time with no movement, Zhang Yuge couldn’t help but ask,

“Master, have you determined what kind of Spiritual Root your disciple has?”

Yunlan hesitated, then stammered,

“Ahem, you have the Five Spiritual Roots…”

Zhang Yuge froze on the spot, as if petrified.

“Actually, having Five Spiritual Roots doesn’t mean you can’t cultivate, but it is much more difficult than others. With me as your master, you can still succeed in cultivation.”

“But if I’m a False Spiritual Root, then foundational cultivation is basically impossible, right?”

Zhang Yuge asked dejectedly.

This physique did fit the servant’s story perfectly—no problem, just accept it.

“Not necessarily. Oh right, disciple, I am currently just a remnant soul. In the future, I will mostly be dormant inside this ring. As for your daily life and living arrangements, you’ll have to figure it out yourself.”

“Master, I’ve discovered a very thorny problem.”

“What problem?”

“Should I just go back to the Zhang family like this?”

Zhang Yuge said helplessly.

“Almost everyone there is dead except me, and I have to take Zhong Bailing back with me. I feel like going back to the Zhang family will be a near-death experience. Also, although this Miss Zhong is currently disoriented from your intimidation, she’s a Sixth Level of Qi Training cultivator. There’s no way I can defeat her. Once she regains clarity, my life will be in danger.”

“…That is indeed a problem,”

Yunlan murmured, glancing around.

“Just taking the money and running risks being hunted by both families. I won’t always be able to protect you. We also need to find a way to make this girl obey you completely without resistance.”

Suddenly, Yunlan’s eyes lit up.

“I have an idea. Who is that young man wearing splendid clothes?”

“That’s Zhang Qingyao, the Zhang Family Second Young Master. Why?”

Yunlan immediately knocked Zhong Bailing unconscious, then floated above Zhang Qingyao’s corpse in translucent form.

“Zhang Yuge, this Zhang Family Young Master has a heavy Resentful Spirit. How did he die?”

Yunlan asked.

“He was killed by Zhong Bailing. Zhang Qingyao came from Ningzhou to Qingyang City carrying gold, silver, spirit stones, and Magic Artifacts, all for a Marriage Proposal to the Zhong family. But recently, he was stabbed to death by the woman he loved most. That’s why his spirit is restless and filled with resentment.”

“I see. I have an idea,”

Yunlan nodded and asked,

“Zhang Yuge, do you know the concept of ‘Qi Ling’?”

“Qi Ling?”

Zhang Yuge thought for a moment.

“Isn’t that the independent spiritual consciousness born from Magic Artifacts?”

“That’s about right. For example, the swords we often see, when nurtured over a long time, develop an energy core and awaken consciousness. This is what we cultivators call a ‘Qi Ling.’ There is another type, called ‘Qiling Transformation.’ It involves directly ‘transplanting’ the soul consciousness of birds, beasts, or even spirit beasts into a Magic Artifact, aided by appropriate formations, creating a new type of ‘Qi Ling.’ Of course, if beasts can be transplanted, that means human souls can also be transplanted.”

“So, Master, you’re planning to…”

“The Dinglu is a traditional Magic Artifact used by cultivators for refining pills and cultivation. A Dinglu Physique means the owner’s body can accelerate another’s cultivation—essentially a human-shaped Dinglu, a living Magic Artifact. Since it’s a Magic Artifact, it can undergo Qiling Transformation.”

Zhang Yuge’s pupils contracted in shock.

This was insanely bold…

“Master, are you planning to make Zhang Qingyao my Qi Ling?”

“Exactly. Once a Qi Ling recognizes its master, it cannot harm its master’s interests. That way, you can command him freely, with no fear of betrayal.”

“Disciple, watch closely. I will demonstrate now.”

Before Zhang Yuge could respond, Yunlan began.

His hand gently placed over Zhang Qingyao’s face, white smoky lights poured from Zhang Qingyao’s eyes, nose, mouth, and ears, gathering in Yunlan’s palm.

“Thanks to this young master’s heavy resentment, his spirit has lingered long in his body. None of his soul has been lost.”

“Master, what happens if some of the spirit is lost?”

Zhang Yuge asked.

“There would be mental defects or emotional loss, making the Qi Ling dull and sluggish.”

“Master, once Zhang Qingyao’s spirit occupies Zhong Bailing’s body, what happens to the original Zhong Bailing soul?”

“Where else could it go? She’s dead. We only want this girl’s Dinglu Physique; her soul’s existence is irrelevant,”

Yunlan said indifferently.

“That makes sense. Zhong Bailing killed Zhang Qingyao, and now she’s offering her body for him to inhabit—repaying her debt,”

Zhang Yuge nodded.

After Zhang Yuge witnessed Yunlan push Zhang Qingyao’s soul into Zhong Bailing’s body, the Qiling Transformation was complete.

“Master, is it finished?”

“When this girl wakes, you’ll know. Whew… I’m exhausted. The Spiritual Energy I absorbed earlier has mostly been used up. But the matter isn’t over. Zhang Yuge, come here. I will help you take this girl’s place.”

Yunlan beckoned for Zhang Yuge to approach Zhang Qingyao’s corpse.

“Lie down beside him and close your eyes.”

Though confused, Zhang Yuge obeyed, lying down and shutting his eyes.

After a while, Yunlan’s voice came again:

“I’m going to replace your face with the Zhang Family Young Master’s. It will hurt a bit—bear with it.”

“Wha—”

A cold flash of light and a sharp knife cut across Zhang Yuge’s face.

Yunlan began meticulous cutting.

“Ahhhhh…!”

Zhang Yuge cried out in pain, his soul trembling.

Blood gushed from his face, instantly staining it red.

Knife after knife cut into flesh and skin; his body trembled violently, cold sweat soaking his clothes.

Is this “a bit of pain”?

Damn you, Yunlan, you scoundrel!

Seeing Zhang Yuge shaking uncontrollably, Yunlan warned coldly,

“Don’t move anymore or all will be for nothing! Endure hardship to become a superior person.”

Zhang Yuge gasped for breath, suddenly opening his eyes and staring at the darkening sky, clenching his fists tightly.

“Continue. I won’t move!”

Yunlan glanced at his bloodied fingertips and said,

“Once your face is replaced with Zhang Qingyao’s, you can rightfully possess all that is his.”

“Good!”

Zhang Yuge’s eyes shone with excitement.

Yunlan smiled faintly, took up the sharp knife again, and continued cutting carefully.

The gloomy forest was filled with a pungent metallic stench of blood as the crimson liquid soaked into the earth.

Zhang Yuge awoke the next morning.

His face still tingled painfully, the memory of yesterday’s torment vivid.

He rose from the pool of blood, trembling, and slowly touched his face.

What did he look like now?

Had it really changed?

His fingertips brushed over smooth skin, sharp yet faintly numb.

Zhang Yuge pressed his hand to his face and felt perfect, tender skin.

He suddenly stiffened, breathing sharply in delight.

It was done!

Just then, he heard a soft moan and turned to see “Zhong Bailing” awakening.