144. Body Snatching

Lingyu wielded her sword aura and pursued the bloodline streak, but unfortunately, it vanished mysteriously in an instant. The life-preserving technique of a Foundation Establishment cultivator was not something a mere Qi Foundation cultivator like herself could unravel. Even if the opponent’s cultivation dropped significantly, it would make no difference.

Without hesitation, Lingyu used a specially crafted sensing jade talisman to notify Tu Qiurong and turned her sword back.

Upon receiving her message, Tu Qiurong hurried back. “Junior Sister Cheng, did you encounter a Nascent Soul demon cultivator?”

Lingyu nodded. “There was a Nascent Soul demon cultivator who attempted to seize the body of a fellow disciple. I nearly fell for it.”

“Body seizure!” Tu Qiurong’s face paled slightly. Body seizure was no ordinary feat. It belonged to the forbidden arts, known only from ancient texts by many cultivators who had never seen it done in reality. Moreover, it demanded extraordinary spiritual power.

After calming herself, Tu Qiurong asked, “What exactly happened? Tell me everything in detail.”

Lingyu recounted the entire encounter with the demon cultivator, including the appearance of the person whose body had been seized.

When she finished, Tu Qiurong pondered briefly, then summoned the others with the sensing jade talisman.

“Senior Sister Tu, is there a problem?” someone asked.

Tu Qiurong replied, “This person was originally a Nascent Soul demon cultivator who seized another’s body. It’s easy to be deceived by them. It’s best to travel in pairs.”

After a while, the team regrouped. Tu Qiurong briefly explained the situation and ordered that at least two people travel together. After this incident, even when meeting fellow disciples, they had to be wary of possible body seizures.

Everyone agreed, though some were skeptical. Under Tu Qiurong’s stern command, they complied.

They split up again. Naturally, Lingyu accompanied Qian Jiale and Fang Xinyan.

“Junior Sister Cheng, are you just extraordinarily lucky or unlucky? To have encountered something like that,” Qian Jiale joked as he led the way.

Lingyu, still pondering the demon’s concealment technique, replied absentmindedly, “I guess I’m just attentive? If not for the spiritual net, I would have missed the subtle fluctuations.”

“You’re just bragging...” he retorted.

In the following days, the three thoroughly searched the surrounding area but found no survivors. However, they did locate two demon cultivators barely alive, whom they promptly dispatched and dismembered.

Demon cultivators possessed far greater vitality than human cultivators. They appeared dead but often clung to a sliver of life. If the battlefield was not carefully cleared, these remnants could be overlooked.

By the third day, they had finished searching their assigned area and were about to return.

Suddenly, Fang Xinyan tugged on Lingyu’s sleeve. “There’s movement.”

“What is it?” Lingyu and Qian Jiale turned around.

“Shh!” Fang Xinyan gestured them to be silent, then pulled out a few talismans from her bosom, handing one to each of them.

Lingyu’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. They were invisibility talismans—rare and difficult to dismantle. She couldn’t fully decipher their runes, much less craft them. These talismans were highly valuable on the market but scarcely available, even if one had the money.

Yet Fang Xinyan showed no hesitation. She slapped one on herself and vanished completely. Not only invisible to the naked eye, but also undetectable by spiritual senses.

Judging by her actions, they knew something was amiss. Lingyu and Qian Jiale exchanged glances and simultaneously applied the talismans.

The three of them stood behind a tree, and for a moment, the space seemed empty.

After some time, Lingyu sensed a faint fluctuation in the spiritual net she had released. It was subtle and might have been mistaken for residual spiritual energy from the battlefield if she weren’t so focused.

But soon the wave grew clearer, approaching their position.

Before long, a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators, led by a Nascent Soul cultivator, flew low overhead.

Their clothes were a chaotic mix—Daoist robes, monk’s garments, Confucian attire—all ragged and torn, stained with blood and dust.

The group passed by, and after a while, the invisibility talismans on Fang Xinyan, Lingyu, and Qian Jiale lost effect and fell to the ground.

“Senior Sister Fang, what’s going on?” Lingyu was puzzled.

“These talismans are expensive,” Qian Jiale murmured with regret. Three invisibility talismans cost as much as a mid-grade spiritual artifact.

“They’re not human,” Fang Xinyan said.

“Not human?” Lingyu and Qian Jiale exchanged a look and said in unison, “Could they be ghosts?”

“What are you thinking?” Fang Xinyan rolled her eyes. “Junior Sister Cheng encountered a fellow disciple recently whose body was seized by a demon cultivator. Have you forgotten?”

The two froze. “You mean...”

Fang Xinyan nodded firmly. “They are all demon cultivators who have seized bodies.”

The notion chilled them. Neither Lingyu nor Qian Jiale had ever truly encountered a body seizure before; they had only heard of it in passing.

“Senior Sister Fang, how do you know this?” Qian Jiale asked skeptically.

“My cultivation focuses on music and dance, which is essentially an attack on the soul. I’m very sensitive to spiritual presences,” Fang Xinyan explained seriously, without a hint of jest. “I don’t know about others, but the souls of demon cultivators differ from those of humans. You can distinguish them with careful sensing.”

Lingyu and Qian Jiale looked at each other, unfamiliar with this idea.

Still, thinking it over, Lingyu chose to believe her—who would casually use three invisibility talismans otherwise?

“Senior Sister Fang, you’re saying the entire group that just passed us are demon cultivators who have seized bodies?”

Fang Xinyan nodded. “I’m certain. That Nascent Soul cultivator even used spiritual sensing on us and waited deliberately.”

Lingyu found it hard to believe. “I only just encountered someone who had been body-seized a few days ago. How could this have become so common so quickly?”

Fang Xinyan smiled wryly. “Junior Sister Cheng, shouldn’t our focus be on their purpose?”

“Sorry, I’m just shocked.” Lingyu thought seriously. “A whole group of body-seized demon cultivators flying towards us... Could they be trying to impersonate cultivators to break open the mountain protection array?”

“The fully powered mountain protection array only allows small teams to pass through. What use would deceiving it be?” Fang Xinyan shook her head. “That’s probably not their main goal.”

“What else could it be?” Qian Jiale, unwilling to think hard, urged, “Senior Sister Fang, just tell us!”

Fang Xinyan sighed. Qian Jiale was a typical sword cultivator—quick to act but slow to think.

“They seized bodies and carefully concealed their demonic aura, disguising themselves as human cultivators. They’re heading to the Bailu Hermitage base... The only thing I can think of is they intend to infiltrate as spies.”

This conclusion—

Lingyu and Qian Jiale exchanged glances and said simultaneously, “We must hurry back!”

Fang Xinyan nodded with relief. Thankfully, they didn’t hesitate on major matters.

The three immediately set off to return. Having spies was a matter that could not be delayed. If secrets were stolen leading to a disastrous defeat, the consequences would be terrible.

Along the way, Lingyu’s unease grew. “Is body seizure really so casual?”

Qian Jiale answered, “Of course not. I’ve never seen body seizure techniques in the Ten Thousand Methods Pavilion. They must be secret.”

“Right,” Fang Xinyan said calmly, “The body seizure techniques are kept in the secret archive, not open to disciples below Foundation Establishment.”

“Why?” Lingyu was curious. “Surely it’s not some special requirement?”

“There are three reasons. First, body seizure requires at least Foundation Establishment cultivation and strong spiritual power. Second, the conditions are harsh—when many cultivators’ bodies are destroyed, their souls perish instantly, leaving no chance for body seizure, making it rare. Third, body seizure steals another’s fate. It is a dark and sinister method. Even demonic cultivators hesitate. Our sect believes that junior disciples lack stable mindsets and rarely cultivate virtue, so it’s more harmful than beneficial for them to practice it.”

Fang Xinyan continued, “To be honest, I have spent years in the secret archive and once read the body seizure manuals. I asked my master about it. She said that unless a Nascent Soul cultivator rebuilds their body, once the body is destroyed, life is gone. Body seizure steals another’s life force, which Heaven and Earth forbids. We cultivators have two swords hanging over us: karma and virtue. Body seizure incurs heavy karmic consequences and greatly diminishes virtue. Even if one reincarnates, it’s best to avoid body seizure.”

Qian Jiale muttered, “These demon cultivators might not know that...”

Fang Xinyan shook her head. “Don’t underestimate demon cultivators. Their forms may be strange, but their intelligence is comparable to ours. I’ve seen books they wrote— their discussions on Daoist methods are no less insightful than human cultivators’.”

“Demon cultivators write books?” Qian Jiale was astonished.

Fang Xinyan rolled her eyes. “Do you remember the book ‘Tales of the Great Wilderness’?”

Qian Jiale nodded. It was a common geography book, read by most Qi Refining disciples.

“That book details the geography and species of the Great Wilderness. Who else but those who live there could write so thoroughly?”

Qian Jiale was shocked. “You’re saying that book was written by demon cultivators?”

“Exactly,” Fang Xinyan said. “Kun Nan Recluse, the author, was actually from the enlightened beast tribe of Kun Nan in the Great Wilderness...”

Lingyu had read the book but never suspected it was authored by demon cultivators.

Realizing this, Lingyu shuddered. Demon cultivators possessed such wisdom—if they deceived the Bailu Hermitage base, the consequences would be unimaginable! ‘Tales of the Great Wilderness’ was so detailed; if the Bailu Hermitage were similarly mapped, it would be utterly terrifying—like standing naked and exposed before demon cultivators!

Moreover, demon cultivators had a natural advantage in espionage. They could seize human bodies without discomfort, as humans were the most suitable form for cultivation and their ultimate goal was transformation. Humans, however, would never choose to seize demon bodies—that would be regression rather than advancement.

“Inform Senior Sister Tu. We must rush back and report this immediately!”

P.S.: For those slow to read, this is a dangerous matter. I’m quite exhausted and posting this early; the wording may be imperfect and will be revised tomorrow.