Chapter 477

Chapter 477: Battle for Possession

Fang Lie’s Nirvana fire was the legendary flame of life from ancient tales. It could reverse life and death, purify all unclean evils, and stood unmatched as the ultimate counter to all poisons.

Even in ancient times, this fire remained a myth. Only the Mo Ancestor had ever cultivated it—and even his version was incomplete. Apart from him, only the Divine Beast phoenix clan possessed a faint trace of it.

In the current era, none knew of its existence, least of all the disciples of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect.

This Poisonous Spider had grown arrogant, convinced her poisons were invincible—scentless, tasteless, and lethal enough to force even Thunder Tribulation Immortals to expend great effort to purge.

She believed Fang Lie would die instantly upon being poisoned, helpless as meat on a chopping block.

Yet she never imagined encountering its natural counter. Though lacking destructive force, Nirvana fire reigned supreme in purification, effortlessly cleansing all toxins.

Thus Fang Lie not only cured himself but also purged every trace of poison from Poisonous Spider’s body.

While harmless to ordinary people, this purification proved fatal to Ten Thousand Poisons Sect disciples. Their cultivation required ingesting poisons until their magic, bodies, and even souls became venomous weapons.

A mere touch from them could kill. But stripped of their toxins, they became utterly vulnerable.

As Nirvana fire blazed, Poisonous Spider shrieked inhumanly. Her body ignited like a torch, crumbling to ash within moments.

Spectators frowned, cursing her foolishness for falling prey to Fang Lie’s ambush. None recognized Nirvana fire’s true nature, assuming he simply wielded a potent inherited true fire.

Many spiritual fires could dispel poison, and her swift death was attributed to the flame’s raw power.

The Ten Thousand Poisons Sect’s Thunder Tribulation Immortal stood stunned. What seemed certain victory had reversed catastrophically, their sole Core Inner Gate Disciple reduced to ashes. The sect’s decline worsened—once a major power, they could now barely sustain one core disciple after exhausting vast resources.

Though seething with rage, the sect elder dared not confront Huo Wufang. With a hateful glare, she tossed down a Seventh-rank top-grade treasure and retreated.

Fang Lie collected his winnings and barked, "Who’s next to die?"

Two consecutive deaths dampened the Demonic Path prodigies’ aura. Silence fell until a plain-looking middle-aged woman emerged, Qing Feng swirling around her—a Wind Tribulation Immortal’s hallmark.

"Miao Xingfang of Soul Split Sect greets Senior Brother," she chirped in a girlish voice mismatching her appearance.

Fang Lie narrowed his eyes. "You’re a Wind Tribulation Immortal?"

"Of course not!" Her laugh tinkled. "That would break the rules. This is merely a spare body—pay it no mind."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. The Soul Split Sect’s notoriety came from their Soul Split Dao magic—a twisted cultivation method focusing on soul refinement. Practitioners’ souls could separate from bodies to devour others’ souls, growing stronger while treating physical forms as disposable vessels.

Though vile and heaven-defying, this method enabled rapid advancement. The stronger the cultivator, the more Soul Fragments they could split—and the deadlier those fragments became.

Split souls, like the main soul, could manipulate the physical body for combat. However, their greatest strength lay in directly possessing opponents through soul invasion. This method avoided messy battles while securing all possessions intact – whether magical treasures or storage pouches.

Actual fights risked damaging these spoils. To boost their cultivation and plunder resources, Soul Split Sect cultivators loved indiscriminate killing and looting without moral distinction.

Their ability to discard bodies and multiply spiritual forms made them notoriously difficult to apprehend. Even when committing murder, they left no concrete evidence.

The sect’s soul possession techniques excelled at infiltration. Many disciples would possess pampered young masters from wealthy clans, then return to steal family treasures using their hosts’ identities.

This earned Soul Split Sect cultivators widespread infamy. Though universally despised, their elusive nature deterred most from retaliation, as provoking them risked catastrophic consequences.

When the Soul Split Sect’s Core Inner Gate Disciple appeared, the crowd tensed visibly. Even senior cultivators showed guarded expressions.

"It’s over. Fang Lie’s doomed. What good is an undying nature against Soul Split Sect possession? He’ll become their puppet!"

"That Miao Xingfang’s clearly a Talent. Under thirty yet capable of possessing Wind Tribulation Immortals? Her soul must be monstrously strong!"

"This is cheating! Shouldn’t this be a Dao magic duel instead of soul warfare?"

"Since when do Demonic Path cultivators play fair? If they hadn’t kidnapped Fang Lie’s concubine, he wouldn’t be here!"

"Calling this ‘honorable combat’? A dozen prodigies ganging up on Fang Lie – where’s the fairness?"

Amid the chatter, Miao Xingfang cooed at Fang Lie: "If this vessel seems unfair, I’ll simply abandon it. Shall we play properly then?"

The possessed middle-aged woman collapsed mid-sentence – breathing but consciousness extinguished, reduced to living corpse.

Emerald light shot from the vacant body toward Fang Lie’s brow. Before he could react, the soul invasion struck.

Fang Lie crumpled, facial muscles twitching through rage, agony, and grotesque contortions. The crowd recognized a possession deathmatch – victor takes all.

Within Fang Lie’s consciousness sea, a three-foot sphere of viscous liquid materialized – Miao Xingfang’s soul essence rippling with alien energy.

Ordinary cultivators’ souls resembled diffuse mist, only condensing after Wind Tribulation ascension. But Miao Xingfang’s had been refined since childhood through sect secrets into this predatory liquid form, fattened by countless devoured souls.

The advantage proved overwhelming – liquid soul consuming misty souls like water absorbing smoke. This let Soul Split Sect disciples challenge higher realms. Miao Xingfang’s feat of possessing an injured Wind Tribulation Immortal confirmed her prowess.

Facing Fang Lie’s mere Qi Sea realm cultivation, victory seemed certain. Her soul pulsed with taunting intent: "Stop hiding, brat. Come be this lady’s snack!"

The liquid mass surged deeper… then recoiled with a psychic shriek: "Impossible! How can a soul take this form? This is cheating!"

Before her writhed Fang Lie’s soul – not mist, but unyielding steel wire. The Unity Classic’s soul-refining Dao magic, enhanced by Penglai Immortal Liquid, had forged this indestructible filament. While lacking sensory range, its razor-sharp divine sense dominated close combat.

Unwilling to retreat, Miao Xingfang’s soul morphed into gaping jaws. Teeth shattered against metallic resilience.

Fang Lie’s soul-thread vibrated with mocking laughter: "Fool! You challenge my soul combat power? The Unity Classic and Penglai’s gifts make you insects before me! Since you’re eager to die…"

The steel whip snapped. Liquid soul-matter split with a thunderous CRACK.