The red mist rushed into Jiang Xuan, his face turning deathly pale.
He was terrified beyond reason, despair filling his eyes. âNo! This canât be happening! Y-you couldnât possibly have this thing!â
Gu Han was also vomiting blood nonstop, swaying and on the verge of collapse. âDidnât you ask for an opportunity?!â
Crushing the red bead did not leave him unharmed. About a quarter of the mist had seized the chance to enter him, churning his flesh, blood, and bones into a pulp.
Jiang Xuan gnashed his teeth. âYou bastard, you call this an opportunity?!â
Gu Han wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. With great difficulty, he propped up another protective spirit light. âYes. Believe it or not, this is my opportunity. As for whether you can handle it or not, thatâs your problem.â
He felt much better than before. With the erosion of his will blocked, the mist became a great tonic for him. Despite his miserable appearance, his cultivation was continuously rising, and his injuries were recovering at an extreme speed.
Chu Kuang came to Jiang Xuanâs side, his expression grave. âHow are you? Can you still hold on?â
He could see that Jiang Xuan was using nearly all of his cultivation to suppress the divine power.
Jiang Xuan laughed bitterly. âC-canât hold on... itâs overââ
He staggered back several steps. An unnatural flush swept across his face, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. The light in his eyes dimmed.
âCompletely over.â His back suddenly became hunched, his jet-black hair gradually lost its luster, and many wrinkles appeared on his face. âDecades of effort, decades of planning, all ruined!â
With each sentence, his face aged further. In the end, he reverted back to that withered, skinny, decrepit old janitor.
Chu Kuangâs brow furrowed even more tightly. He could sense that Jiang Xuan was physically deteriorating, his foundation completely ruined. The man didnât have many days left to live. Meanwhile, Gu Han was the exact opposite. More than half of his injuries had recovered, and he had also broken through to the third stage of the Spirit Profound realm, already close to the fourth.
Gu Han remarked sarcastically, âOld man, youâre truly useless! You canât even handle this little bit of opportunity. A heaven-sent fortune, completely wasted by you!â
Jiang Xuan trembled with anger. âNonsense! Bullshit opportunity! Nonsense fortune! You tricked me, you dared to trick me...â
Gu Han shook his head. âWrong. In this world, there are a thousand opportunities and ten thousand fortunes, each unique. Just because you canât handle it doesnât make it nonsense. Youâre too narrow-minded and inhumane. It will certainly be difficult for you to go far.â
Having his own words hurled back at him, Jiang Xuan burned with rage and spat out another mouthful of blood.
Difficult to go far? Iâm almost dead! How much farther can I possibly go?!
His eyes turned bloodshot. âIâll kill you! I will definitely kill you! I will definitely cut you into a thousand pieces!â
A terrifying pressure instantly descended upon the area. At the end of the day, he was still a Half-Step Transcendent realm cultivator. Gu Han couldnât possibly withstand his full power. His spirit light trembled incessantly again, on the verge of breaking.
Gu Han spat out a mouthful of bloody foam. âServe you right, old man! If you hadnât been greedy, coveting my fortune, would you have ended up like this?â
Jiang Xuan could no longer suppress his bloodlust, eager to reduce Gu Han into mincemeat. âIâll kill you!â
Just then, Chu Kuang screamed, âWait! Donât kill him yet!â
Jiang Xuan whirled around, glaring fiercely at him, full of madness and despair. âYou saw how he brought me to this state! How can I not kill himââ
Chu Kuang looked at him seriously, âPerhaps thereâs still a way for you!â
A sliver of hope flashed in Jiang Xuanâs eyes. âWhat? Do you have a great medicine that can replenish vitality to save me?â
Chu Kuang shook his head. âNo.â
Otherwise, why would a proper Saint realm cultivator like him end up walking this path?
Jiang Xuan despaired again. âThen thereâs no other way! Iâve already consumed most of that divine essence! With the secret realm undergoing such a huge mutation, itâs uncertain itâll be open again in the future! Even if it does, I canât wait another five years!â
Chu Kuang shook his head. âActually, you only broke through to the Half-Step Transcendent realm a few decades ago. Your lifespan is still quite ample!â
Jiang Xuan showed a miserable smile. âAmple? Whatâs the damn use! Without a physical body, I still canât live!â
âSo, your problem lies with your body. Have you ever thought about...â Chu Kuang analyzed quickly, his gaze turning to Gu Han. âChanging to a different body?â
Hearing that, Gu Han felt a swirl of anger, disdain, and disbelief. He hadnât expected these two to circle around and set their sights on his body again.
Jiang Xuan also reacted. âChange? You meanââ
Chu Kuang stared intently at Gu Han, his eyes practically gleaming. âJust now, I very clearly saw a part of that divine power entering your body. Logically, you should have died long ago. Not only are you fine, but your injuries have mostly recoveredâand you even broke through! Even in my previous life, I couldnât possibly have done such a thing. How did you do it?â
Gu Han answered expressionlessly, âYou want to know? Then call me âDaddy Guâ too.â
Chu Kuangâs eyes grew brighter and brighter. âI understand. No wonder Yang Lin still fell despite having those beads. Do you have a way to refine divine power, or rather, can you absorb it?â
Beside him, Jiang Xuan subconsciously shook his head. âNo! Thatâs absolutely impossible!â
In fact, forcibly refining divine power was what led to his downfall in the first place. He knew full well how difficult it was to accomplish such a thing. No, it wasnât just difficult, it was completely hopeless!
Chu Kuang smiled, pointing at Gu Han. âThen how do you explain his situation?â
Jiang Xuan was also at a loss for words.
Chu Kuang took a deep breath. âHence why Iâm suggesting you to change bodies. That way, we can learn his secrets.â
Jiang Xuan hesitated. âIââ
Chu Kuang raised an eyebrow. âWhat? Whether in natural talent and endowment, or in opportunities and fortunes, he ranks among the very top. Such a near-perfect body, why do you think I would give it to you?â
Jiang Xuan sighed. âBut possession carries too great a risk!â
Although his soul had been greatly tempered in the Earthly Tribulation realm, the chance of recklessly possessing such a genius was minuscule. Even reaching thirty percent would be considered heaven-blessed. Such a losing gamble went against his very nature.
Gu Han frowned deeply. âYou two want to possess me?â
Chu Kuang nodded. âYes. Do you have an objection?â
Gu Hanâs eyes narrowed slightly. âNo shit! My objection is a huge one!â
âWhat a pity then. Your objection is the least important. Barely one-tenth of my soul power is left, but suppressing a puny Spirit Profound cultivatorâs soul is still within my capability. This time...â Chu Kuang laughed, glancing at Jiang Xuan. âYour probability of successful possession is as high as ninety percent!â
Jiang Xuanâs breathing grew labored. âNinety percent? R-really?â
Chu Kuang was very confident. âOf course! If youâre still afraid even with such odds, then you deserve to die!â
Jiang Xuan became agitated. âNot at all, not at all! Thatâs already very high! Given this kidâs talent, even limited to seventy percent of my potential, I would still surpass my current strength. If I still donât dare, I might as well die!â
Suddenly, Gu Han roared angrily, âYou want to possess me? Dream on!â
He held his sword across his chest, his aura instantly surging to its peak. Considering what was about to happen to him, Gu Hanâs fury did not surprise the two.
Chu Kuang clasped his hands behind his back, displaying the domineering aura of a Saint realm cultivator to the fullest. âI said your objection is unimportant!â
Even Jiang Xuan resumed his previous detached demeanor. âKid, this is the consequence of your actions. Why persist in something so futile? Accepting your fate peacefully might very well be a form of liberation!â
Gu Hanâs expression darkened. âLiberation my ass!â
He spun around and started fleeing into the distance.
Chu Kuangâs expression turned cold. âStop him!â
Without needing the reminder, Jiang Xuan swayed slightly and instantly landed in front of Gu Han.
He chuckled. âKid, donât run. Thereâs no escape.â
A determined glint flashed in Gu Hanâs eyes. âIâd rather die than let you two succeed!â
As he spoke, he shifted the direction of his sword, thrusting it toward himself.
Jiang Xuan shouted, âNo! Donât!â
A terrifying pressure descended, instantly restraining Gu Han. Having regarded Gu Hanâs body as his own, Jiang Xuan wouldnât harm a single hair on him. In fact, he even kindly propped up a protective spirit light for him, blocking the encroachment of the red mist.
Looking at the immobilized Gu Han, Jiang Xuan grew more and more satisfied. âNot bad! You are dignified and uncommon in appearance, not bad-looking at all! In fact, youâre even more handsome than my original body. Good, very good!â
Not far away, Chu Kuang couldnât bear to listen anymore.
Handsome? Did your original body have even the slightest connection to those two words?
Gu Han gnashed his teeth. âEven if I die, I will definitely not let you off!â
Jiang Xuan wasnât angered. âCurse away while you still have time. Vent properly. After I possess you, there will be no trace of you left in this world.â
Chu Kuang walked over. âEnough. Delays breed complications, start quickly!â
The faint layer of light around him suddenly blazed brightly.
Jiang Xuan took another look at him. "
Hmm?
As expected of a saint! Such profound soul power!â
Chu Kuangâs soul power far exceeded his expectations, greatly reassuring Jiang Xuan. Subduing a mere Spirit Profound realm cultivator would be all too easy!
In fact, even Gu Han felt intimidated. Chu Kuangâs soul power was actually much stronger than his.
Chu Kuang looked down at him. âDo you have any regrets?â
Gu Han suddenly regained his calm. âPointless question.â
Chu Kuang nodded. âTrue. Whether you regret it or not, nothing will change.â
With that, the light in his eyes suddenly blazed brightly.
Staring directly into Gu Hanâs eyes, he softly said, âSoul-Snatching!â