Chapter 265: Designed for Possession

The mist thickened, casting an eerie aura across the entire space.

On the desk, the three jade pendants began to glow faintly, as if reacting to Chen Fei’s presence. The soft, breathing-like shimmer made them appear especially enticing.

Just as Chen Fei was studying them closely, distinct sigils gradually emerged on the surface of each pendant—solid and defined, taking him by surprise.

The three pendants respectively revealed the sigils for Water, Thunder, and Spirit—clearly corresponding to Tongling Zhenren’s three signature powers.

As if sensing Chen Fei’s attention, the pendants pulsed even more invitingly.

Chen Fei slowly raised his hand, but paused just short of touching them, wearing a hesitant expression.

However, his eyes subtly drifted toward the shadowy figure in front of the table.

Though its back was turned, the moment the Spirit sigil emerged, Chen Fei clearly sensed it move—not with his eyes, but with his suppressed spiritual sight.

It was alive.

He had suspected as much, but now it was confirmed—and that realization sent a chill down his spine.

To verify what he saw wasn’t an illusion, Chen Fei deliberately pretended to be indecisive, showing signs of struggle and hesitation.

That was enough—the figure twitched again.

It was growing anxious.

“Sigh… it’s a pity. None of these are compatible with me,” Chen Fei muttered regretfully and pulled back his hand.

Just as he turned away, the Spirit sigil pendant suddenly floated into the air and hovered before him.

Sentient treasures choosing their master?

Under normal circumstances, he might’ve believed it. But not here—not after confirming the shadow was alive.

“No means no. Pity,” Chen Fei shook his head and turned to leave.

Finally, the figure could no longer stay silent.

“You little brat… refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit!” a sinister voice rang out behind him.

Chen Fei chuckled and turned around slowly.

The shadow finally revealed its face.

It was a pale, shriveled visage—cold and hostile. But what stood out most were the eyes, filled with a chilling, soul-piercing gleam.

“So, you’ve finally dropped the act?” Chen Fei said with a calm smile.

“You’ve seen those people on the lower floors, haven’t you? That’s your fate too!” the figure snarled. It stepped forward, never taking its eyes off him.

“You passed all three trials. That qualifies you to become my nourishment!”

A twisted grin stretched across the skeletal face. Raising a hand, he pointed directly at Chen Fei.

“Become part of my collection, just like the rest.”

Chen Fei didn’t strike yet. Instead, he calmly asked, “So… are you really Tongling Zhenren?”

“What do you think?” the corpse-like being smirked without answering directly, eyes gleaming with feral light.

He clearly couldn’t wait to take Chen Fei’s strong body for himself.

In a blur, he appeared right in front of Chen Fei.

But what greeted him was a burst of flame—the Fire Seal of the Yin-Yang Five Element Imprint!

“Petty tricks,” the corpse sneered.

What happened next was bizarre—the explosive flames were simply waved away, vanishing midair as though nothing had happened.

Before Chen Fei could react, the corpse was already in front of him again.

“Struggle. Resist. That makes it all the more delicious to devour you!”

His voice was filled with madness and glee.

Then came the black threads—they oozed from his body like liquid shadows, piercing right through Chen Fei’s protective aura and latching onto his flesh.

Wherever they touched, a cold chill seeped into his body—and inside his spiritual sea, the corpse’s presence appeared.

“Haha! What a vast sea of consciousness! Excellent! Truly excellent!” the undead being laughed maniacally, eyes brimming with greed.

Chen Fei realized immediately—this was a classic possession attempt.

So that’s what had happened to those people on the lower floors. Their blank eyes, preserved bodies—all victims of this creature’s possession.

But this corpse wasn’t seeking a new body to survive—it was possessing purely for nourishment. It fed on spirit, mind, and life force.

Unfortunately, this time… he picked the wrong target.

Just as the corpse reveled in excitement, the Void Heaven Cauldron manifested above his head.

“An Artifact Martial Soul?” the corpse immediately recognized it. A flicker of contempt crossed his face, followed by confusion.

“Strange… such exceptional talent, and yet just an artifact soul? Has the world recovered already? Even this trash of a Martial Soul can grow this strong?”

He waved his hand, intending to swat the cauldron aside.

But the moment he moved, the Void Heaven Cauldron released a powerful suction force.

“What is this?!” the corpse’s face twisted in shock as inky black Qi burst from his body to resist the pull.

He wrapped himself in dense black energy, attempting to hold his ground.

But it was useless.

Before the Void Heaven Cauldron, his efforts were like paper before a flame.

The cauldron descended—unstoppable.

Buzz!

With a faint hum, the cauldron trembled—and in the blink of an eye, the corpse was sucked in.

If he had suppressed Chen Fei with tricks or illusions, he might have stood a chance. But rushing headlong into the cauldron’s trap?

That was just asking to die.

“Challenge the Void Heaven Cauldron? A remnant soul like yours isn’t even a warm-up,” Chen Fei thought.

Within the cauldron, the corpse screamed in agony.

“No! I am Tongling Zhenren! I can’t die here! No—!”

His voice grew weaker and weaker until it was no more.

Soon, all that remained of him was pure spirit energy, which fed directly into Chen Fei.

The areas of his body affected by the black threads instantly recovered.

Stretching his body, Chen Fei surveyed the space.

The sinister, oppressive air was gone.

The jade pendant hovering over the desk shook, then transformed into a streak of light that shot into Chen Fei’s body.

On the surface of the Void Heaven Cauldron, three sigils slowly appeared—Water, Thunder, and Spirit.

“An ancient immortal art… the True Art of Water and Thunder?”

Chen Fei was stunned. He never expected to obtain a genuine ancient immortal technique so easily.

Of course, this was only possible because of the Void Heaven Cauldron.

Without it subduing Tongling Zhenren’s soul, he wouldn’t have lasted a second—let alone earned a reward.

Boom!

Suddenly, the wall ahead began to rumble—and a chamber revealed itself behind it.

Chen Fei didn’t hesitate. He stepped inside.

With Tongling Zhenren’s soul dealt with, what else could possibly remain that was dangerous?

The originally dark chamber lit up.

Another figure appeared before him.

But this time, unlike the scheming soul from earlier, this was clearly a true corpse.

The molted shell of Tongling Zhenren—a genuine relic of an ancient immortal.

It was the first time Chen Fei had seen such a thing.

But since it was no longer sentient, he made no move to disturb it.

Instead, he bowed respectfully and said solemnly:

“Farewell, Tongling Immortal.”