The old beggar laughed again, a sinister laugh. His eyes narrowed with a cruel glint, he looked at Yang Qi who was still sitting there paralyzed by his technique.
—"I am Shen Tu Jian, from the powerful Shen Tu family, an ancient bloodline related to the Black Phoenix Heavenly Dynasty, one of the most powerful dynasties in the Heavenly Domain."
Shen Tu Jian continued, his voice booming in the night air.
—"My family, blessed by generations of legendary cultivators, ruled over vast territories, in the very heart of the Heavenly Domain. As the Patriarch's eldest, I was destined for a life of greatness. From the moment I was born, I was seen to have immense potential for cultivation. With my family's infinite resources and the support of the greatest masters, I rose at a speed that few could match."
A bitter smile appeared on his face.
— "I was appointed a general in the service of the Black Phoenix Dynasty, a title that would have filled any man. My armies obeyed my every command, and my enemies trembled at the mere mention of my name. I could have stopped there, basked in my glory… but it was not enough. For me, Shen Tu Jian, nothing ever was. I wanted more than titles and riches. I wanted ultimate power."
Shen Tu Jian began to walk around Yang Qi, like a predator savoring its prey.
— "Then, a rumor began to circulate in the celestial domain. An artifact, forged by an ancient deity of the divine domain, had appeared. An artifact that was said to grant absolute power to its possessor. As soon as I heard these whispers, I knew that this artifact had to be mine. Nothing could stop me. I gave up everything, left everything behind. Family, duty, honor... all of these were unimportant compared to the idea of achieving unlimited power."
He stopped and looked him straight in the eye, a glint of obsession shining in his gaze.
"For millennia, I searched. In ancient ruins, in the heart of forbidden lands, I hunted for this artifact with a determination that even the gods themselves could not break. And finally, I found it. Yes, this artifact did exist, and it held a power I could never have imagined."
His voice dropped to a darker, more ominous tone.
"But I was not the only one who coveted it. Countless enemies had hunted me throughout my quest, some from the greatest families of the celestial domain, others creatures of the divine domain. They fell upon me the moment I seized the artifact. I knew I would not make it out alive. But I refused to die without a plan."
His gaze darkened even further.
— "So, I did the unthinkable. I merged the artifact with my soul, sealing it away inside me, so that no one could take possession of it. Then, I blew up my own body, reducing those who tried to steal my treasure to ashes. My soul, destroyed but intact thanks to the artifact, fell, far from the celestial realm… to here, in this lower realm, the spiritual realm."
Shen Tu Jian clenched his fists as he looked at his wrinkled hands.
— "I wandered for centuries, my essence weakening, slipping into wretched bodies like that beggar's. I could do nothing in this shell, but I waited, waited… Until you. A young body, weak indeed, but a body that I could shape and restore."
He burst out laughing, a sound filled with malice and satisfaction.
— "That's why you're important, Yang Qi." I will use your body to take back what is mine. Once I strengthen and restore it, neither this wretched city nor this world will be able to hold me back. I will return to the heavenly realm and reclaim what is rightfully mine!"
Yang Qi, though paralyzed, felt a growing terror wash over him. Shen Tu Jian's coldness, his boundless ambition, and his thirst for power were terrifying.
—"And now," Shen Tu Jian said, a sick smile on his lips, "the time has come to take what is mine. Don't worry, you won't feel anything… at least, not for long."
He began to invoke an obscure technique, the ancient symbols appearing around him in a burst of sinister light.
Shen Tu Jian, with an expression of triumph etched on his wrinkled face, dove into the possession incantation. The luminous symbols he had invoked wrapped around Yang Qi, trapping the young man's mind in a net woven by ancient forces. As the old beggar's sinister aura thickened, the still helpless Yang Qi felt his mind waver. Dark shadows crept into his consciousness, seeking to swallow him whole.
—"It's time…" Shen Tu Jian murmured, his eyes shining with lust.
With one final incantation, Shen Tu Jian plunged into Yang Qi's body, his black soul forcing its way through the broken meridians and the young man's weakened mind. Yang Qi's muscles trembled, his flesh tightening under the assault. Shen Tu Jian felt his senses reclaim this new body. Youth, vitality… even if Yang Qi's body was weak, he knew he could rebuild it. He had the time, he had the means. With his knowledge and forbidden techniques, he would make this body perfect, worthy of the celestial power he would soon possess.
But something was wrong.
In his euphoria, Shen Tu Jian had overlooked a tenuous, almost imperceptible resistance. Yang Qi's soul, although fractured, had not been completely annihilated. It was struggling. A faint but persistent glow prevented it from taking complete possession of the body. This surprised him, but he knew that it was only a matter of time before he could crush this remaining spark of humanity.
"No matter," he muttered to himself, "it will take a little longer, but nothing can stop me."
Shen Tu Jian turned his attention back to the inside of his mind, where the artifact he had once stolen remained locked away. Now that he had a body in his possession, he could finally access its power. The artifact, an object of unimaginable power, had the power to transcend dimensions and alter reality itself. This object, The Starry Pagoda, had become a legend in the heavenly and divine realms. By controlling it, Shen Tu Jian knew that he could not only restore his former power but also surpass his greatest ambitions.
He sank deeper into his meditation, seeking to unlock the seal he himself had placed around the Eye of the Moving Heavens.
—"I will take possession of all of this. I will regain my glory, and nothing will be able to oppose me," he murmured, lost in his dreams of power.
However, an unexpected voice broke his reverie.
—"You dare?"
Shen Tu Jian abruptly opened his eyes. A golden glow appeared in the darkness of his mind, slowly materializing in front of him. He narrowed his eyes and stepped back slightly. Before him floated a small figure, surrounded by a divine and mysterious aura. It was a creature of unparalleled beauty, resembling a fairy. Its flowing golden hair floated around its face as if it were made of pure light. Its golden eyes shone with ancient wisdom and pierced the darkness with fearsome intensity. His clothes, as luxurious as they were royal, were woven with threads of gold and celestial gems. His appearance was that of a man.
—"Who are you?" Shen Tu Jian asked, uncertain for the first time in centuries.
The divine spirit folded his arms, floating gently in the air, his rather fine clothes flowing harmoniously and gracefully.
—"I am the divine spirit of the Starry Pagoda," he replied in a gentle but commanding voice. "And you, Shen Tu Jian, have made a grave mistake."
Shen Tu Jian felt a surge of relief. A divine spirit! The spirit of such a powerful artifact could greatly improve his chances of regaining his former power. Divine spirits were invaluable guides for any cultivator. With such an ally by his side, his heavenly ambitions would come to fruition even faster than he had imagined.
—"Ah, a divine spirit... Perfect. Together, we will conquer the heavens and—"
The divine spirit interrupted him with a burst of mocking laughter.
—"You? Conquer the heavens?" He stepped closer to him, his gaze hardening. "Don't you understand? This body that you stole doesn't belong to you. I only serve the chosen one, and that isn't you."
Shen Tu Jian stepped back, his confusion turning into anger.
—"What? But I'm the one who discovered the artifact! This is my power! I'm the one who saved you, Shen Tu Jian's soul!"
The divine spirit shook his head, his expression impassive.
—"This body doesn't belong to you, and the Starry Pagoda can only belong to the true owner of this body."
Before Shen Tu Jian could even react, the fairy raised her hand, and a wave of golden light surged over him. Pain filled his mind as his consciousness was slowly torn away from Yang Qi's body. He screamed, desperately trying to resist, but the power of the divine mind was overwhelming.
"No… no… you can't…" he cried as his soul gradually disintegrated.
In a final burst of light, Shen Tu Jian was consumed, his soul annihilated by the pure power of the divine mind.
Calm suddenly returned. For a long moment, only silence reigned. Then, Yang Qi slowly opened his eyes. His body was strangely light, and his mind clear, though still confused. He lay there for a moment, trying to comprehend what had just happened. Shen Tu Jian… the artifact… his mind swirled with unanswered questions.
Suddenly, the ethereal voice rang out again, gentle and respectful this time.
"Master, you are finally awake."
Yang Qi sat up hastily, his gaze searching for the source of that voice. In front of him, the same spirit with golden hair and bright eyes floated gently.
"Master?" Yang Qi repeated in disbelief.
He bowed slightly.
"Yes, master. I am the divine spirit of the Starry Pagoda. My name is Tianxu. From this day on, I am at your service."
Yang Qi stood there frozen, his mind trying to comprehend the earth-shattering events he had just experienced. Why was he calling him master? And what was this artifact that had somehow saved him from Shen Tu Jian's grasp?