Pang Shengwu had only occupied Hong Zhenxiangâs body for a few years and had not yet completely devoured and erased Hong Zhenxiangâs soul and will. However, he suppressed Hong Zhenxiang to the point where he had no autonomy whatsoever. Over time, complete dissipation was just a matter of time.
Now, facing Su Changkong, who is about to take his life, Pang Shengwu knew of the life-and-death friendship between Su Changkong and Hong Zhenxiang, so he deliberately released his suppression of Hong Zhenxiang, allowing Hong Zhenxiangâs soul and will to take over the body in hopes of making Su Changkong hesitate.
If Su Changkong were to make a decisive move, both he and Hong Zhenxiang would die!
Pang Shengwuâs tactic was indeed effective. Su Changkong had believed that Hong Zhenxiang was completely dead, leaving behind nothing but an occupied shell. But now, realizing that Hong Zhenxiangâs soul had not perished, it meant there was still hope for salvation!
In a situation with no hope, Su Changkong would naturally be decisive and ruthless in killing Pang Shengwu, who occupied Hong Zhenxiangâs body. But now that there was a glimmer of hope, Su Changkong felt compelled to try his utmost!
"My Blade Soul can slay enemies at the level of the soul... canât I directly slay Pang Shengwuâs soul?... That way, Hong Zhenxiang would naturally be saved."
While restraining Pang Shengwu with Demon Ape Capturing Space, Su Changkongâs mind raced with thoughts.
In theory, as long as Pang Shengwuâs soul is slain, Hong Zhenxiang could regain control over his body!
"Hehe... Dao Wufeng, my soul is now entangled with Hong Zhenxiangâs. If you use your Blade Soul, you canât avoid harming him!"
Pang Shengwu sneered, as if he knew Su Changkongâs intention. He immediately spoke up to prevent Su Changkong from using his Blade Soul to slay his soul. This was indeed something Pang Shengwu deeply feared.
The Blade Soul, capable of wounding the soul, was fatal for Pang Shengwu who had a damaged soul. Fortunately for him, Hong Zhenxiangâs soul was also present in the Sea of Consciousness of this body. If Su Changkong were to proceed, he could only kill both himself and Hong Zhenxiang together.
"Kill me... let me be liberated..."
Pang Shengwuâs expression twisted, and he struggled to make a sound from his throat. It was âHong Zhenxiangâ who was now controlling the body.
During this time, Hong Zhenxiang had endured torture beyond any normal personâs imagination, forced to merge with a Demon Monsterâs Crystal Core beyond his own limits, suffering agony between life and death. It was only because of his sheer desire to live that a miracle occurred, and he managed to hold on.
It was then that Pang Shengwu, who was selecting a new vessel, valued him as a new host for his soul.
Hong Zhenxiang was absolutely unwilling for his body to become Pang Shengwuâs vessel, struggling and resisting continuously; otherwise, he would have preferred to die and be freed from his ordeal.
Truly unable to live, yet unable to die.
Until now, when Su Changkong appeared and displayed formidable strength, defeating Pang Shengwuâwho then relinquished his suppression, allowing Hong Zhenxiang temporary control over the body.
Hong Zhenxiang knew that Pang Shengwuâs release was solely to save his own life from Su Changkong.
Hong Zhenxiang could only plead with Su Changkong to kill Pang Shengwu so that he could be at peace, free from the worry of his body becoming someone elseâs vessel!
"Shut up!"
But immediately, Pang Shengwu suppressed Hong Zhenxiangâs will again, his face twisted in a ferocious snarl as he struggled.
"Crack crack crack!"
The power of Su Changkongâs Mysterious Turtle True Essence began to deplete, and the âDemon Ape Capturing Spaceâ could not withstand any longer and was about to collapse.
Pang Shengwuâs face contorted, "As long as I can escape... find the Master of the Association... I can..."
Pang Shengwu had endured long, arduous years of cultivation for the pinnacle he yearned to reach, changing from body to body until he was no longer a person but a monster. He refused to fall here!
If he could escape and absorb the full power of the other seven bodies, and truly reach the limit of his current strength, he firmly believed that even if Su Changkong possessed the Divine Seed, he would still be a formidable opponent!
"Sigh!"
Su Changkong sighed, reaching out a hand and pressing it onto Pang Shengwuâs Dantian. The Blade Soul tremored, consuming another droplet of Mysterious Turtle True Essence, blending it into the Blade Qi which surged into Pang Shengwuâs body, rampaging wildly.
"Splurt splurt splurt splurt!"
In the next second, Pang Shengwu screamed in agony, his body as if sliced by countless blades from the inside, with wounds splitting open across his skin, meridians torn apart, and bones shattered.
Pang Shengwuâs large frame spurted blood, rapidly shrinking back to its original size like a deflating balloon.
"Thump!"
And with the meridians and bones torn apart by the power of Su Changkongâs Blade Soul, injuries caused by the Blade Soul were incurable even for an Immortal Body. Pang Shengwu thumped down to the ground, passing out from the traumatic injuries.
Su Changkong did not slay Pang Shengwu; killing him would have meant Hong Zhenxiangâs death as well.
Therefore, Su Changkong decided to first subdue Pang Shengwu and then to find a way to help Hong Zhenxiang regain control of his body!
To Su Changkong, this seemed a daunting task, not easy to accomplish, but he had to try! It was his debt to Hong Zhenxiang!
Although Su Changkong once helped Hong Zhenxiang against two Monster Warriors from the Monster Martial Alliance, the situations were different.
At that time, Su Changkong was confident he could slay the Monster Warriors, which is why he had intervened.
But in the Chi Dragon Hall, Hong Zhenxiang, knowing full well that he could not match Wind Sun Moon, still chose to take action, which is why he ended up in such a state.