Xiao Chen's face darkened as he hastily layered himself with spiritual shields, though he knew they were futile against the terrifying forces at play. Still, it was better than nothing—a feeble attempt at reassuring himself.
"Demon Ancestor, detonate!"
The mysterious woman's eyes flashed with ruthless resolve. The towering Demon Ancestor phantom with its twin horns spread its arms wide, tightly grappling the Monster Ancestor phantom. A violent surge of energy erupted from within the Demon Ancestor's body.
Boom!
A deafening explosion shook the heavens as if the very fabric of existence was tearing apart. Xiao Chen's vision blackened, blood streaming from his orifices before he lost consciousness.
When Xiao Chen awoke, his mind was groggy, and his body felt leaden. As his vision cleared, he gasped at the scene before him. The grand hall had been reduced to a wasteland of rubble. The intricate formations and barriers had been obliterated in the blast, and the ground itself was upturned and ravaged.
Neither the Spirit Corpse Sovereign nor the mysterious woman was anywhere to be seen. On the ground lay the shattered remnants of the blood-veined jade plate, its fragments scattered.
"Hm? What's this?"
A faint, ethereal figure appeared before Xiao Chen, so translucent it seemed on the verge of vanishing entirely. Had he not been observing closely, he might have missed it altogether.
"It's her!" Xiao Chen's heart skipped a beat. It was the mysterious woman, or at least her soul. To have survived the catastrophic explosion, her resilience was beyond extraordinary.
Instinctively, Xiao Chen took a cautious step back, the memory of Chu Kuang's soul being devoured and his body taken over fresh in his mind. He had no intention of meeting the same fate.
The woman's eyes opened, her expression as proud and unyielding as ever, despite the tenuous state of her soul.
"What? Afraid I'll seize your body?" she sneered. "Relax. If I could do that, I would have done so while you were unconscious."
Her explanation was tinged with mockery, the corners of her lips curving upward in derision.
Xiao Chen hesitated for a moment before offering a wry smile. "Given your capabilities, I'd be foolish not to be cautious."
The woman's eyes flickered with subtle admiration before she spoke. "You've surprised me. To think you survived the clash between me and that Monster Clan scum. Your luck is extraordinary."
Xiao Chen gave a faint smile, neither confirming nor denying her statement.
Her brow furrowed slightly at his nonchalant demeanor, a flicker of annoyance passing over her face. "Regardless, the fact that you're still alive speaks to your remarkable fortune. I have a proposition for you. Are you willing to hear it?"
Xiao Chen's eyes narrowed slightly, his tone measured. "What kind of proposition?"
"I need a place for my soul to reside," she said, her gaze unwavering. "Let me inhabit your body. In return, you'll help me gather the necessary spiritual herbs to refine a restorative pill. Once completed, I will reward you generously."
Her words carried urgency. Although she had survived the explosion, her soul was critically damaged and deteriorating by the moment. Even with her current self-imposed seal, she would likely dissipate within half a year. By residing within a cultivator's body, she could significantly slow this decay, potentially extending her survival by decades—long enough to concoct the pill and fully recover.
Xiao Chen's expression darkened at her suggestion. His voice turned cold. "Do you take me for a fool? Allowing your soul into my body is tantamount to inviting disaster. If you harbor ulterior motives, I'd be handing you my life on a silver platter."
His outright rejection was firm and decisive. The woman's enigmatic origins and cunning made her far too dangerous to trust.
The mysterious woman's pride flared, but she suppressed her frustration. Her current circumstances left her with no leverage to force him. Taking a deep breath, she tempered her tone. "I understand your concerns. To ease your mind, I can swear an oath upon my heart demon that I will not harm you. As proof of my sincerity, I will also offer you immediate benefits that will aid your cultivation."
Xiao Chen remained unmoved. "A heart demon oath? With your mastery of demonic arts and profound cultivation, such an oath likely means little to you. As for your so-called 'sincerity,' it's meaningless if I can't ensure my own survival."
His voice was calm but carried an unmistakable finality.
Her eyes burned with fury, but she knew he wasn't entirely wrong. For someone of her power, a heart demon oath held little binding force.
"Fine," she snapped, her tone icy. "What terms would convince you?"
Xiao Chen appeared thoughtful for a moment before speaking. "If you truly wish to gain my trust, you'll offer me one of your soul fragments as collateral. I'll place a seal upon it for my protection. Once our agreement is fulfilled, I'll return it and lift the seal. What do you say?"
Her expression darkened further, her anger palpable. "Impossible!"
Suddenly, her demeanor shifted. Tears welled in her eyes, and her voice softened to a pitiful whisper. "My soul is already gravely injured. If I don't find a place to recover soon, I'll disappear entirely. Could you truly stand by and watch me perish?"
Her plea was accompanied by a delicate trembling, her fragile appearance stirring a pang of guilt in Xiao Chen.
For a fleeting moment, Xiao Chen felt his resolve waver. But biting his tongue sharply, he snapped himself out of her spell. His heart pounded as he realized how easily her charm had swayed him.
"Your tricks won't work on me," he said, his tone unyielding. "I may lack strength, but my mind is firm. If your situation were as dire as you claim, you wouldn't waste time trying to manipulate me."
Her tears vanished instantly, replaced by a steely glare. She muttered under her breath, exasperated by his obstinacy.
"You refuse to yield, no matter my approach," she said coldly. "Fine. What's your alternative proposal?"
Xiao Chen feigned deliberation before replying. "A mutual agreement bound by a unilateral life-death contract. You pledge your loyalty, with me as the master. Any harm you attempt will result in mutual destruction. That's my only offer."
Her face twisted with indignation, and her voice seethed with fury. "Never! I would rather perish than bind myself to a lowly Qi Refining cultivator!"