The icy mist concealed itself all around, appearing as a white haze from the outside, with ice crystals shimmering within, indistinguishable from the frost-laden mist covering the area.
Not even Jiang Yin, nor the Imprisoning Demon Sword, noticed anything amiss.
It wasn’t until it took advantage of Jiang Yin’s moment of distraction, suddenly lunging forward and shedding its disguise to reveal a dense, chilling Netherworld power, that both Jiang Yin and the sword were jolted awake.
However, the Netherworld Talisman phantom was too close, giving no time to react before it engulfed Jiang Yin.
Spiritual consciousness and the soul are not the same; one is awareness, mobilizing the entire body, while the other is the soul, linked to one’s lifespan.
Yet, they are intricately connected, often intertwined.
The Netherworld Talisman phantom had been hiding for a long time, and when it struck, it was as swift as a serpent, swallowing Jiang Yin’s spiritual consciousness entirely and attempting to extend its reach to her soul.
The soul of someone whose lifespan hasn’t ended is difficult to control, but with direct contact, there’s a chance to imprint a Dao pattern on it.
Once the Dao pattern is successfully imprinted, no matter how Jiang Yin resists, she would eventually fall under the control of the Netherworld Talisman.
Jiang Yin was caught off guard, her spiritual consciousness bound before she could react.
Fortunately, the Imprisoning Demon Sword defended her in time, preventing her soul from being compromised.
Tang Muxi saw a mass of black mist enveloping Jiang Yin and immediately became anxious, “Senior Sister!
Are you okay?”
As she spoke, she seemed to be gathering her spiritual consciousness, ready to take human form to investigate.
Thanks to the influence of the white mist in the spiritual sea these days, the Netherworld Talisman hadn’t easily taken control.
Now, gathering spiritual consciousness was akin to exposing one’s lifeline, leaving oneself vulnerable.
Gan Sha was overjoyed and quickly manipulated the Netherworld Talisman to erode.
Unexpectedly, as soon as it moved, a pitch-black sword held it firmly in place.
“Don’t come out!”
Jiang Yin was drenched in cold sweat, her spiritual consciousness disturbed by the Netherworld Talisman, feeling muddled and confused.
Her forehead felt as if pierced by thousands of sharp blades, the pain excruciating.
The erosion intensified, yet the pain gradually lessened, indicating her spiritual consciousness was slowly succumbing.
Once she could no longer feel the pain, she would no longer be herself.
Even with the Imprisoning Demon Sword guarding her soul, it might be futile.
“I… have my own way, don’t come out.”
Gan Sha found the Netherworld Talisman completely immobile, sneering as he used the power of the Dao pattern to transmit his voice, “Your own way?
Ha, your spiritual consciousness is invaded, as if pierced by ten thousand blades.
Forget retreating, even thinking is difficult.
What way do you have?”
“If I forcefully destroy the phantom Dao pattern, do you think your soul can remain… safe?”
Jiang Yin’s eyes darkened, sharply interrupting, “Gan Sha!”
Gan Sha snorted coldly but truly said no more.
Tang Muxi initially felt a chill hearing Gan Sha’s voice, but upon realizing her Senior Sister was in danger, her fear turned to deep concern, urgently asking, “Senior Sister, is what he said true?”
Jiang Yin chuckled softly, shaking her head slowly, “Why don’t you believe me?
You just heard my heartbeat.”
“Senior Sister!”
Tang Muxi was anxious, seeing her Senior Sister still joking at such a critical moment.
She didn’t want to doubt Jiang Yin, but sensing her Senior Sister’s uncontrollable trembling in reality, she couldn’t convince herself otherwise.
Tang Muxi remained silent for a long time, ultimately conceding, gathering her human form to reveal her soul, completely exposing her throat, “Gan Sha, let go of Senior Sister, I’m willing to do anything.”
Her soul had undergone countless reincarnations, powerful and full of life.
As soon as it appeared, the Netherworld Talisman immediately became restless, desperately drawn to it.
Jiang Yin sensed its anomaly, immediately exerting all her strength to restrain it, preventing it from leaving her spiritual consciousness while urgently shouting at Tang Muxi, “What are you doing!
Go back!”
Perhaps knowing her fate, this time Tang Muxi had the mood to joke, “Senior Sister, this is my sea of consciousness, where else can I go back to?”
Jiang Yin was furious, her aura of hostility emanating, “Tang Muxi!
Withdraw your soul!”
Her junior sister had no divine weapon; if the Netherworld Talisman touched her…
the consequences would be unimaginable.
Tang Muxi’s smile faded, lowering her head but remaining unmoved.
Gan Sha noticed the Netherworld Talisman losing control due to her soul’s appearance, feeling alarmed.
Initially, when it shot out from Wen Fei, his intention was for the Netherworld Talisman to infiltrate Jiang Yin’s body.
Over time, he would control her and obtain the Imprisoning Demon Sword.
But the Netherworld Talisman flew straight into the body of the girl beside Jiang Yin.
Gan Sha hadn’t paid attention to this seemingly ordinary girl, but after witnessing her unusually vast sea of consciousness and dense icy mist, he became interested.
Her spiritual threads bore a mysterious seal, even the Netherworld Talisman couldn’t break through.
Gan Sha pondered for a moment before slowly speaking, “A life for a life, if you want to save your Senior Sister, then exchange it with your own life.”
He hadn’t given up on the Imprisoning Demon Sword, but he noticed how much Jiang Yin valued this woman and decided to use a different approach to manipulate her.
Tang Muxi wasn’t surprised by his response at all.
Without even thinking, she nodded in agreement.
On the other hand, Jiang Yin was furious, vehemently opposing, “No!
Tang Muxi, go back!
If you withdraw your soul now, we can pretend nothing happened!”
Tang Muxi had never seen Jiang Yin so stubborn and frenzied, as if she had lost all reason, which made her feel a bit fearful.
But time was running out for her.
The blood color on her Senior Sister’s body was gradually fading, and the aura of decay from the Netherworld was growing stronger.
If this continued, she might not be able to hold on.
“Senior Sister…”
She took a few steps forward, standing in front of Jiang Yin.
The thick black mist surged more violently as she approached, like a fierce ghost eager to tear her apart and devour her.
Jiang Yin, however, was even more frenzied than it, completely abandoning defense, her whole body exuding a murderous aura, trying to forcibly cut the Dao patterns with the Imprisoning Demon Sword.
But without anyone to protect her, and with her own soul completely exposed, this method was like killing a thousand enemies at the cost of eight hundred of her own.
In an instant, half of the black mist was cut away, but her own soul was also becoming increasingly tainted.
“Senior Sister, don’t!”
Seeing her Senior Sister about to perish, Tang Muxi was utterly anxious, throwing herself into the Netherworld Talisman.
Before she could accept it, the vast power of the Netherworld completely surged into her body.
At the same time, Gan Sha realized that he had completely lost control.
He was shocked and tried to send a message, but unfortunately, the Netherworld Talisman was like a stone sinking into the sea, with no feedback at all.
Tang Muxi, unaware of the situation, felt the fierce power of the Netherworld permeating her body.
She thought it was Gan Sha impatiently trying to control her, so she didn’t resist.
She just took the opportunity before completely losing consciousness to embrace Jiang Yin.
“Goodbye, big demon.”
She kissed Jiang Yin on the lips, then resolutely pushed her Senior Sister out of her sea of consciousness.
This was still her domain, and with just a thought, she could send Jiang Yin away.
Jiang Yin was heartbroken, wanting to hold on, but it was ultimately useless.
When she regained her senses, her spirit and soul had returned to her body, but the Imprisoning Demon Sword was still in Tang Muxi’s sea of consciousness.
Having abandoned defense earlier, her soul had absorbed some of the Netherworld Talisman’s power, causing intense pain upon returning to her body.
But Jiang Yin had no time to care.
As soon as she opened her eyes, she anxiously checked on Tang Muxi’s condition.
The two were already holding each other, so it wasn’t difficult to check.
However, now the Netherworld Talisman had completely permeated Tang Muxi’s body, forming an impenetrable prison, mercilessly blocking the demonic energy Jiang Yin released.
“Junior Sister!
How are you?”
Jiang Yin couldn’t probe, so she tightly grasped her junior sister’s hand and tried to activate the Imprisoning Demon Sword with her mind, but it was like a stone sinking into the sea, with no feedback from the sword either.
“Junior Sister!”
Jiang Yin called again, her voice trembling.
Fear and countless despairing thoughts flooded her mind, tormenting her already damaged spirit.
What would happen to her?
Would she die?
In two lifetimes, she had never felt so desperate and helpless.
She regretted it, wishing she hadn’t been so stubborn today, wishing she had listened to her junior sister’s advice, waited for the lamp to arrive, wishing… wishing she had known.
“Illusion God! Wen Fei!”
Jiang Yin sought help from others for the first time.
Tang Muxi lay still with her eyes closed.
She heard her Senior Sister’s nearly broken voice, feeling bitter inside, wanting to respond, but the power of the Netherworld bound her soul, preventing her from doing anything.
The expected erosion didn’t occur, and the long-feared pain of a thousand blades piercing her heart was nowhere to be found.
The Dao patterns of the Netherworld Talisman only stubbornly wrapped around her soul, without causing her any harm.
Instead, it seemed to be searching for something, eager yet with a hint of affection.
In the midst of it all, using the Dao patterns as a medium, Tang Muxi came into contact with a purer power of the Netherworld.
She saw a shrimp-green jade talisman emitting a chilling ghostly power, engraved with mysterious and complex runes, exuding an oppressive aura that captivated the soul.
This was the true form of the Netherworld Talisman.
Even though she had never seen it before, Tang Muxi had no doubt.
Only a fellow divine artifact like the Netherworld Talisman could exude such an arrogant power, like a sovereign of this realm, radiating authority.
But for some reason… this jade talisman was slowly approaching her…?
Tang Muxi grew more puzzled, and almost instinctively, she reached out her finger, wanting to touch the talisman.
However, before she could make contact, a shout interrupted her.
“What thief dares covet the Netherworld talisman!”
The Ghost Emperor, realizing his connection with the Netherworld Talisman was rapidly weakening, was shocked and quickly shouted in anger to defend it.
Tang Muxi was startled and quickly withdrew her hand.
The scene before her suddenly spun, and she found herself back in her own sea of consciousness.
The oppressive aura from before vanished completely, as if everything had been just an illusion.
After an unknown amount of time, the binding force of the Netherworld Talisman gradually lessened.
Not only did it not inscribe the Dao patterns onto her soul, but it also became increasingly docile.
Suddenly, at a certain moment, the shadow of the Dao patterns transformed into an incredibly pure ghostly power, surging into her meridians with great force.
She could absorb any spiritual or demonic energy, and ghostly power was no exception.
But this power was too immense, flowing into her meridians without warning, like a flood pouring down, making it hard for her to bear, and a muffled groan escaped her lips.
Jiang Yin, seeing her brows tightly furrowed and a thin layer of cold sweat on her forehead, was immediately alarmed.
As soon as the obstruction from the Netherworld Talisman disappeared, she quickly sent her spiritual sense back into Tang Muxi’s spiritual sea.
Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away in the capital of the Nine Fiends King, Gan Sha spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes wide with disbelief.
The reversal of the Netherworld Talisman’s Dao patterns meant he had completely lost control.
