Thanks to Katy for the kofis! Enjoy these bonus chapters!

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Chen San stood at the gate and knocked.

Having learned from the servants that Qin Zhou had returned home, he immediately came to the village.

Qin Zhou rose to open the door.

Chen San’s demeanor was the same as always; he kept his head slightly bowed, appearing very humble.

He carefully sensed the spiritual energy surrounding Qin Zhou. This was clearly… merely a Golden Core cultivator. Moreover, there were no other auras in the courtyard. It seemed he was the only one here.

“Young Master, I heard you were looking for me.”

Qin Zhou nodded.

“Come in.”

With Qin Zhou’s permission, the barrier no longer seemed to block Chen San’s entry.

Chen San stepped inside cautiously. When he looked up and saw the dilapidated scene instantly transform into a magnificent, elegant courtyard, he abruptly bowed his head, afraid that even a hint of his astonishment might be revealed.

He had finally entered.

He had been here before, but having sensed the threat of the barrier, he had not entered.

This village truly held a hidden world within.

There was a main hall and an alchemy chamber—it was clearly the residence of an alchemist.

So those two top-grade elixirs from earlier originated from here…

Qin Zhou closed the door behind him.

“Young Master, why did you summon me…?”

“Is Chen San still alive?” Qin Zhou cut him off and asked directly.

Chen San looked up in conUnion. “Young Master, of course, I’m still alive.”

“Still pretending.” Hiding behind the massive ginkgo tree and concealing his aura, Shisi wrinkled his nose, “That malevolent energy in his soul is already billowing black smoke from the top of his head.”

No wonder the village chief told them to hide.

This man isn’t Chen San at all.

Shen Yun realized through the telepathic transmission that it was Shisi speaking to him, “Senior Shisi, what black smoke?”

Shisi gave him a surprised look, “Can’t you see it?”

“My cultivation is meager; even in the Spirit Mountain Realm, I was merely a Spirit Transformation-stage cultivator…” Shen Yun looked embarrassed. It wasn’t until he arrived in the Zhutian Realm that he realized how terrifyingly high the cultivation levels of the elders were.

As a Spirit Transformation-stage cultivator, he was considered a master of the Way in the Spirit Mountain Realm, but compared to Shisi, he was just a minor cultivator.

Upon hearing this, Shisi nodded. “That’s not surprising. One should be able to tell at the Union Realm. That person, like you, has taken over someone else’s body. It’s just that you’re a bit better than him—you didn’t harm anyone; you merely borrowed a body to revive your soul. But this fellow before us… He’s taken the body of a living person. That’s truly malicious.”

Especially since the body he’s taken over belongs to our young brother Chen San.

These words caused Shen Yun to frown as well.

“You needn’t pretend anymore,” Qin Zhou raised his gaze. “You came here today; you must have your own agenda.”

Chen San lifted his head to meet his gaze, yet there was not a trace of fear in his eyes.

“Young Master says I’m putting on an act, but aren’t you doing the same?” Chen San lifted his eyelids. “What’s Young Master of the Qin family’? Is that who you are?” His words were laced with sarcasm, and as he spoke, his features had lost the honest, earnest look Chen San usually had. As the saying goes, ‘the face reflects the heart,’ and at that moment, a hint of cold cruelty was revealed.

Hearing this, Shen Yun couldn’t help but wonder, “Senior Shisi, what does he mean? Did Senior Qin Zhou also possess someone else’s body…?”

Shisi waved his hand. “The village chief is probably just like you—someone who’s reincarnated in another’s body.”

Shen Yun: “……”

Ah, there are so many people in this world who’ve reincarnated in others’ bodies.

“Why don’t you just state your name? Since we’re both body-possessors, why not work together?” Chen San looked around with a swagger.

‘Chen San’ was certain this place didn’t belong to Qin Zhou.

Having been in Pingcheng for a few days, he’d already gathered the facts. Qin Zhou had only risen so quickly because he had a powerful patron backing him; even the Qin family’s business had improved significantly.

If only he could secure the support of such a patron… that would be ideal.

“You’re really living the good life—you’ve had a patron helping you from the moment you arrived. Unlike me, who was chased here against my will, looking a complete mess. The cultivator I possessed was just a low-level alchemist with no real cultivation to speak of.”

“I finally spotted Chen San’s figure at that so-called Yaoyue Sect. He’s a promising young talent with quite good cultivation aptitude, yet he went and joined that Yaoyue Sect—what a waste of his potential.” ‘Chen San’ shook his head, as if genuinely lamenting Chen San’s fate.

Hiding behind a tree, Shen Yun clenched his fists.

Noticing his unease, Shisi asked in surprise, “Another one of you from the Spirit Mountain Realm?”

“Yes. Senior Shisi, this man is very likely the one I’ve been looking for.”

“Calm down.” Shisi patted him on the shoulder.

Let’s see what the village chief has to say.

Shen Yun had no choice but to hold his tongue. In any case, he wouldn’t let this scoundrel escape today.

Qin Zhou acted as if he hadn’t heard a word, merely asking, “Where is Chen San?”

“Naturally, I killed him. Otherwise, do you think he’s still alive? You’re a strange one. You and I should be allies, yet you’re worried about Chen San himself.” As ‘Chen San’ spoke these words, he grew somewhat wary of Qin Zhou.

This guy—how could he still be as calm as a mountain?

Qin Zhou: “Which sect of the Spirit Mountain Realm do you belong to?”

“Why do you ask?” ‘Chen San’ refused to admit the unease stirring within him. It was strange—though Chen San’s body was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, he himself was not. He possessed the strength of the early Transcendence stage and had many ways to save his own life. What was there to panic about?

Or perhaps Qin Zhou’s backing was the master of this village—that influential figure.

If that were the case, then he had been reckless on this trip. Chen San was already thinking of retreating.

“You killed my disciple. I need to know exactly where you’re from so I can come looking for you later,” Qin Zhou said.

‘Chen San’ was startled and puzzled. “You’re not from my Spirit Mountain Realm?”

Qin Zhou remained silent.

‘Chen San’ had to admit he was getting a little panicked. No matter how wide he stared, he couldn’t figure out Qin Zhou’s true background.

If he wasn’t from the Spirit Mountain Realm, what kind of person would possess a mortal’s body to start cultivation anew? The answer was simple: it was one of those old fools who had cultivated until their lifespan was exhausted but failed to ascend, leaving them no choice but to find a new body to start over.

If Qin Zhou was such an old fool, then he likely wouldn’t be leaving here alive today.

“Chen San isn’t dead…” Finally, ‘Chen San’ had no choice but to admit, “His soul is still in my possession. I can return the soul to you, but… I’ll need something else in exchange.”

He was taking a gamble.

Betting that Qin Zhou wasn’t a true master.

And betting that Qin Zhou wouldn’t dare kill him. After all, this body belonged to Chen San.

Once he’s out of this courtyard, he’ll borrow another corpse to return his soul to—no one will ever be able to find him.

Suddenly, a figure appeared behind Chen San.

A shadow swept over his head, blocking out the light.

“You’ve stolen someone else’s body, and now you want them to trade something for it.” Wen Jue’s voice rang out from behind Chen San, “You people from the Spirit Mountain Realm sure have some nerve.”

Chen San jolted violently.

When had this person gotten behind him…

“It really is a case of the goods not matching the description,” Wen Jue said. Chen San, at this moment, was just like when he and Qin Zhou had encountered Shen Yun at the border last time.

It felt completely out of place.

The conditions for soul possession aren’t exactly harsh—one merely needs to possess soul power two major realms higher than the target’s.

But it’s incredibly difficult to truly hide it from the eyes of a powerful expert.

Just like when Wen Jue first met Qin Zhou: even though Qin Zhou and his original host had died on the same day and shared the same name—such a ‘fateful connection’—Wen Jue still saw at a glance that he wasn’t the ‘Young Master Qin’ himself.

Moreover, the method of soul possession is underhanded; it leaves a mark upon one by the laws of heaven and earth and taints one with karmic debt. Ordinary people would never touch it, and even a high-level cultivator nearing the end of their mortal lifespan would not choose to possess a commoner.

To put it another way, mortals possess little talent for cultivation, and even if possessed, they would only gain a few more years of life.

Yet so many body-snatchers have appeared recently; without a doubt, they are all from the Spirit Mountain Realm.

What sets them apart, however, is that Shen Yun carries a strong aura of merit, which masks most of the discomfort caused by the rejection between soul and body.

As for the person before him, he carried a malevolent aura—utterly unworthy of Chen San’s body.

‘Chen San’ dared not move.

Anyone capable of approaching him from behind without his noticing must possess cultivation at least one major realm higher than his own.

“Chen San is still alive! I’ll return his soul to you as well.” Fearing that Wen Jue behind him might kill him without distinction, Chen San hurriedly said, “Senior, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have come here. I’ve troubled you and Young Master Qin. I’ll leave right away, I’ll leave right away!”

‘Chen San’ felt the urge to retreat and immediately wanted to leave.

He was now certain that he had bitten off more than he could chew on this trip.

“Where do you think you’re going? Now that you’re here, do you really think you can walk away alive?” As the words fell, Wen Jue’s fingertip pressed against his lower back. In the next instant, a burst of spiritual light erupted, piercing straight through Chen San’s dantian.

The dantian is the lifeblood of a cultivator.

Just like that… his life was taken… ‘Chen San’ turned his head, his eyes filled with utter terror.

Then, his body slowly collapsed to the ground.

When the body dies, the soul leaves it.

Two spheres of light drifted slowly out of Chen San’s body—one as bright as starlight, the other shrouded in black mist.

It was now clear which was Chen San and which was the soul-stealer.

Seeing this, the black orb instinctively tried to flee.

Unfortunately, before it could fly even a meter away, a spirit energy sphere appeared out of thin air and encircled it.

No matter how violently it rammed against it, the spirit energy sphere’s barrier remained as solid as ever.

The spirit energy sphere slowly descended, returning to Wen Jue’s hand.

So… that’s it? He killed it? That was way too fast.

Shisi’s heart skipped a beat; he didn’t quite dare to look at Shen Yun.

How was he supposed to explain to Shen Yun that his Senior Lu Yi had acted so decisively and ruthlessly simply because he was a demonic overlord!

Shisi slowly turned his head. “Um… he’s…”

Shen Yun’s eyes were shining brightly—

“Senior Lu Yi, you’re so amazing!” Shen Yun was bursting with excitement. “Senior Shisi, did you see that? That strike just now!” In his imagination, this was exactly how Senior Lu Yi would slay a demon with a single sword strike!

Shisi was speechless.

Shisi rolled his eyes.

“Why are you wasting so much time chatting with him? That soul is already this dark—who knows how many lives it has on its hands. In a case like this, even if we killed the wrong person, it would still be a great achievement.” Wen Jue huffed at Qin Zhou in displeasure.

Qin Zhou said nothing, merely taking Chen San’s soul from his hand.

“Can he go back?” he asked Chen San.

Wen Jue shook his head. “He can’t go back. Look at him—his soul has suffered some damage. His body won’t last long enough for his soul to heal. If we place his soul in the barrier stone to recuperate for a few years, he’ll be fine. As for the body… we should just bury it.”

Qin Zhou’s eyes darkened. “It’s my fault he ended up like this.”

Seeing the gloom in Qin Zhou’s eyes, Wen Jue sighed. “It’s not your fault. Ask the Heavenly Dao if there are any other soul-stealers out there. It would be better to eliminate all these calamities at once.”

“None, except for the ‘Shen Yun’ behind you.”

Wen Jue raised an eyebrow.

“Give me that one too.” Qin Zhou looked at the other black orb in Wen Jue’s hand.

“What do you plan to do with him?”

Qin Zhou lowered his gaze. “Sometimes, when refining new forbidden pills, one always needs a few test subjects.”

Wen Jue: “……”

For some reason, those words reminded him of the Bone-Washing Pill.

This man, once in Qin Zhou’s hands, would likely not fare well.

Holding the two spirit energy spheres, Qin Zhou thought to himself, “Now that I’m refining the Re-shaping Pill, I’ll need to add one more.”

“Senior! Might I have a wisp of this man’s soul?” Shen Yun burst out from behind a tree and said.

Qin Zhou:?

“Seniors, you may not be aware, but this man is likely the very reason I came here. He is the traitor of our sect, Jiang He.” As soon as Shen Yun finished speaking, the black orb within the spiritual energy sphere indeed trembled.

Shen Yun furrowed his brow, his expression finally taking on the air of a true master. “He harmed his fellow disciples and colluded with the Demon Tamer. I need this wisp of his soul to honor the memory of the fallen disciples of our sect. If you are willing to grant me this wisp of his soul, Shen Yun would be eternally grateful.”

Qin Zhou didn’t move, merely saying, “You haven’t even revealed your true name; it’s hard to see your sincerity.”

He knew exactly which NPCs existed within the Spirit Mountain Realm. Since Shen Yun was the head of a sect, there was no way he wouldn’t know his name.

Shen Yun hesitated. “Senior…”

Shisi immediately jumped to his feet. “So you were using a false name! You little rascal!”

Shen Yun looked troubled. “Senior Shisi… I…”

It was his fault for not revealing his real name, but how on earth did this Senior Qin Zhou know?

Qin Zhou showed no intention of explaining. He turned and began flipping through the book Wen Jue had brought him.

Just as he had suspected.

This edition of the *Compendium of Spirit Beasts* from Zhutian Realm seemed much thicker than the one he remembered.

Flipping through the latter pages, he even found numerous ‘?’ symbols on the final pages.

These question marks represented spirit beasts that had yet to be discovered.

And if his hunch was correct, these undiscovered spirit beasts should currently exist within the ‘Spirit Mountain Realm.’

So it’s not just the Spirit Mountain Realm that’s started automatically filling in the world’s timeline—has the Zhutian Realm begun doing so as well…?

Qin Zhou furrowed his brow slightly.

“Xiao Lu, are you feeling unwell?”

【Thank you, Village Chief. I’m fine :)】

“Senior!” Shen Yun stepped forward. “I did indeed withhold some information earlier. In truth, my name is not Shen Yun; it is Shen Yun, and I am the Lord of the Red Cloud Sea in the Spirit Mountain Realm.”

Qin Zhou glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.

The Lord of the Red Cloud Sea.

That was indeed correct.

“Other than that, I have nothing else to hide,” Shen Yun said, raising his hand to swear an oath. “If you seniors do not believe me, I can swear to the heavens.”

Just as Qin Zhou was about to speak, a wave of dense spiritual energy suddenly surged from the back mountain.

The four of them turned around in unison.

What is this……

“The fruit is ripe!” Shisi and Wen Jue exclaimed in unison.

Shen Yun looked completely bewildered.

Qin Zhou turned and walked into the storeroom.

When he came out again, he was holding four small shovels.

Wen Jue and Shisi instinctively took one each.

Qin Zhou handed the remaining shovel to Shen Yun, who was still holding his hand up, ready to take the oath.

Shen Yun was at a loss, glancing at the two seniors beside him, then at the shovel in Qin Zhou’s hand. Huh? What does this mean…

Qin Zhou: “If you harvest a lot of fruit, I’ll give you a strand of that thing’s soul.”

Shen Yun: “You… you’re serious?” But what does ‘harvesting fruit’ mean?

“Mm.”

Shisi patted his shoulder, speaking earnestly yet with a touch of pride, “Younger brother Shen Yun, follow me—I’m really good at digging up fruits.”

Shen Yun gripped the small shovel, which was only half as long as his forearm, without a second thought. “Alright!”

Glancing back, he saw that his senior, Lu Yi, actually had a shovel in his hand too!

Shen Yun didn’t dare speak to Lu Yi, so he could only whisper to Shisi, “Senior Shisi, is Senior Lu Yi coming with us… to harvest fruit too?”

Shisi nodded. “Of course.”

Shen Yun pursed his lips. “You know, if I were to say I’d help him harvest…”

Shisi’s expression turned strange.

“Young man, we’re working here—stop thinking about those baseless notions. Farm work isn’t an excuse for you to get close to your senior! Everyone is equal on the village chief’s land. I won’t allow you to say such things again.” Shisi’s young face grew serious as he said solemnly, “Do you understand?”

Shen Yun: “Yes, yes!”

Though he didn’t know why, he understood!

“What are you two dawdling about?” Wen Jue turned back, raising an eyebrow. “Trying to slack off?”

“No!”

“Coming, coming!”

“Speaking of which, where are the others? Why are they so slow? The fruit is ripe, and they’re still on the way?” Shisi muttered.

Wen Jue replied, “They should be here soon.”