A journey through the world of martial arts

Chapter 222: Changing Soul to Shape the Body
Inside Lanruo Temple, Nie Xiaoqian looked at Xiaoxue's grave expression and asked softly, "Xiaoxue, what exactly happened? How did the people from the Xuanxin Sect know we were here?"

Looking at Xiaoqian's bewildered expression, Xiaoxue sighed inwardly. Xiaoqian had been protected too well by the Holy Lord, to the point that she didn't even know some common sense.

“We are demons, and Jinhua City is a mortal city. When we enter, it’s like ink staining a clear stream. Ordinary people might not see anything, but it’s very obvious to the Xuanxin Sect. If we hadn’t run fast, we would probably have already run into those Xuanxin Sect members.”

Upon hearing this, Nie Xiaoqian's expression changed. Although she was simple-minded, she was not a little demon who knew nothing. Since ancient times, good and evil have been irreconcilable. If she were to be encountered by the Xuanxin Sect, she would only face certain death.

Thinking of this, Nie Xiaoqian felt a chill in her heart. Looking at Xiaoxue, she said in a trembling voice, "Xiaoxue, will Brother Qiye come to save us?"

"The Holy Emperor is busy with countless affairs of state, and the Xuanxin Sect is keeping a close eye on things, so he probably won't show up in person. At most, he'll send the Four Sages and others to meet us. If all else fails, there's the Empress Dowager. She won't just let us go like this."

Xiaoxue gently patted Xiaoqian's hand, offering words of comfort. Hearing this, Xiaoqian relaxed slightly, but still felt some worry. What if the rescue wasn't timely...?

Just as Nie Xiaoqian was lost in thought, Xiaoxue suddenly had a thought and walked lightly to the window. Looking out through the window, she saw two streaks of light dissipate in the abandoned courtyard, revealing the figures of Yan Chixia and Sima Sanniang.

"Red Clouds, this is it. I have sealed off Lanruo Temple with array flags, I guarantee they won't be able to escape."

After Sima San Niang finished speaking, she carefully examined the compass. Suddenly, Yan Chixia sensed someone spying on him and looked in Xiao Xue's direction. Xiao Xue was terrified and quickly looked away, patting her chest and panting heavily.

"Xiaoxue, what's wrong?"

Nie Xiaoqian looked at Xiaoxue, whose face was pale, and asked cautiously.

"It's Yan Chixia and his wife, Xiaoqian. We're really doomed now."

When Xiaoxue saw Yan Chixia and his wife arrive, the last bit of hope in her heart was wiped away. Yan Chixia and his wife were renowned, and there were very few people in the Holy Dynasty who could suppress them. She lost all will to resist.

Nie Xiaoqian was shocked upon hearing this. She looked at Xiaoxue, wanting to say something, but couldn't utter a word. Finally, she tentatively asked, "Xiaoxue, do you think there's any chance of survival if we surrender?"

Nie Xiaoqian said this with the idea of ​​giving it a try. After all, although she was a person of the Holy Dynasty, she had never killed any living beings since she took human form, and she had no blood taint on her body. If she met a reasonable person, she might be able to save her life. She just didn't know if Yan Chixia and his wife were such people. Now she could only take a gamble.

Xiaoxue, who was in despair, brightened up when she heard Xiaoqian's words. She looked at Xiaoqian with a happy expression and said, "It's definitely possible. Neither of us has ever killed any living beings, and Yan Chixia and his wife are not the kind of people who kill demons on sight. As long as we are sincere, they probably won't make things too difficult for us."

Now that things have come to this, the situation is no longer in her own hands, so Xiaoxue can only place her hopes on Yan Chixia and his wife.

Just then, a beam of crimson light shot in from outside. Xiaoxue's expression changed, and she hurriedly pulled Xiaoqian away. As the crimson light dissipated, streaks of crimson sword energy sealed off the entire space. Xiaoxue saw that although the sword energy was not moving, its murderous intent was very obvious. She believed that if she made any move, the sword energy would definitely strike without hesitation.

Xiaoxue and Xiaoqian stood still. After a while, Yan Chixia and Sima Sanniang walked in one after the other. After seeing Xiaoxue and Xiaoqian, Yan Chixia ignored Xiaoxue and stared intently at Nie Xiaoqian, who was hiding behind Xiaoxue.

"Chixia, the person we're looking for is her!" Sima Sanniang said, pointing at Nie Xiaoqian while holding a compass.

Upon hearing this, Xiaoxue's expression changed, and she reached out to protect Nie Xiaoqian. Yan Chixia snorted coldly, and a surge of powerful Xuan energy directly shook Xiaoxue, causing her blood to churn and her body to collapse to the ground, with blood seeping from the corner of her mouth.

"If you want to arrest me, then come at me alone. Don't hurt Xiaoxue."

When Nie Xiaoqian saw that Xiaoxue was injured, she quickly stepped forward to block her way, looking at Yan Chixia and his wife with indignation.

"Nie Xiaoqian, come with us. As for this little demon, what do you think, Third Sister?"

Yan Chixia could also see that Xiaoxue had no bloodthirsty aura and was not someone who indiscriminately killed innocent people. Although she was a demon, it was not unreasonable to let her go, since he did not kill every demon he saw.

"No, we must take this little demon with us as well. This matter is of utmost importance, and we absolutely cannot let any information leak out."

Sima Sanniang glanced at Xiaoxue and Nie Xiaoqian, then shook her head. Under normal circumstances, it would be fine, but this matter concerns the fate of the Xuanxin Sect and the righteous path of humanity. If anything goes wrong, all living beings will suffer. Sima Sanniang knew she couldn't bear such a responsibility, so she had to keep all the variables in her own hands.

"We'll see what Junior Brother Gu Xu and Sect Master Jin Guang think after this is over."

After listening to Sima San Niang's words, Yan Chixia nodded. He realized that he had not considered things thoroughly enough. The matter of the seven lifetimes of vengeful lovers should not be revealed in the slightest. If the Yin Yue Dynasty knew in advance, the established plans and strategies would have to be re-analyzed and recalculated, even if they were not abandoned. It would be a loss that would not outweigh the gains.

Upon hearing Sima San Niang's words, Nie Xiaoqian was startled and wanted to say something, but Xiao Xue grabbed her arm tightly. Seeing Xiao Xue shake her head, Nie Xiaoqian could only stand still.

"Excuse me, both of you!"

Sima San Niang spoke softly, then reached out and took out two talismans, sticking them between the two men's eyebrows. The two men had no way to block them and were instantly suppressed by the talismans. Their minds became exhausted, and they then fainted.

"Third Sister, there's no time to lose. Let's hurry and take them to the capital. This Lanruo Temple is not a place to stay for long."

Yan Chixia was both rough and shrewd. These two little demons must have their reasons for running here. It was just that they acted too quickly, which is why they were so easily defeated. But if they were too slow, things would change. Although the couple were not afraid of being surrounded, why make things complicated when they could solve them easily?

Upon hearing this, Sima San Niang nodded in agreement, reached out and put Nie Xiaoqian and Xiao Xue into a specially made human bag. Yan Chixia then swept his sleeve and withdrew the sword energy that had sealed the space. After doing this, the two did not linger and transformed into a beam of light, flying towards the capital.

Shortly after Nie Xiaoqian and Xiaoxue were captured, Wujian and Xiuluo, two of the Four Sages of the Demon Palace, arrived late at Lanruo Temple.

"There is residual Xuan power. Judging from the fluctuations in their auras, it belongs to Yan Chixia and his wife. We are still a step too late." After examining the situation for a moment, the Asura Sage opened his eyes and said in a deep voice.

"Judging from the time, the person who came has been gone for three quarters of an hour, heading north. If I'm not mistaken, Yan Chixia and his wife should have gone to the capital."

Upon hearing this, Shura's expression suddenly darkened. The capital was the stronghold of the Xuanxin Sect. Not to mention the two of them, even if the entire Yinyue Dynasty were to mobilize, they probably wouldn't be able to harm the enemy much. It seemed that this operation had completely failed.

"Let's go back first and ask the Holy Lord for instructions." Shura said in a deep voice. The Sage of No Return nodded, and then their figures gradually faded away and finally disappeared completely.

After Wujian and Shura returned to the Yinyue Dynasty using the teleportation array, they went straight to the Holy Temple without stopping. Inside the Holy Temple, Qiye was listening to Jing Wuyuan's report. After a moment, Qiye nodded and said, "These losses are within expectations. As for the compensation for the fallen, Evil Dragon, I'll leave that to you. Remember, don't be stingy. These people sacrificed themselves for the Holy Dynasty; their families must not be mistreated." Qiye looked at Evil Dragon below and said solemnly.

Upon hearing this, the evil dragon immediately stood up, clasped his hands in a salute, and said earnestly, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will certainly handle this matter properly."

"Senior Lie Ming is seriously injured. Teacher, please take out three 'Thousand Flowers and Hundred Dews Pills' from the Holy Dynasty's treasures and give them to Senior Lie Ming."

Lie Mingzi is now considered one of the few remaining experts in the Holy Dynasty, and he will still be useful in the future. I can afford to give him just a few pills.

Upon hearing this, Jing Wuyuan immediately responded and couldn't help but sigh inwardly. He thought that the Holy Emperor's move was a very clever way of managing his subordinates. If Lie Mingzi knew the reason for this, he would definitely be even more loyal to the Holy Emperor and the Holy Dynasty.

Just as the group was discussing matters, a chime suddenly rang out in the hall. Qi Ye asked, "What is it?"

The gatekeeper immediately replied, "Your Majesty, the Sage of the Infernal Realm and the Sage of Asura have returned, saying they have important matters to report."

"Let them in."

The disciple immediately agreed, and then the hall doors opened. Wujian and Xiuluo quickly walked in, bowed to Qiye, and then recounted in detail what had happened.

"The Xuanxin Sect is incredibly fast. We were reminded by the Empress Dowager and didn't delay at all, yet we still fell behind them. Could it be that they knew about this all along? Otherwise, how could the timing be so coincidental?"

After listening, the evil dragon's expression became somewhat solemn. In previous confrontations with the Xuanxin Sect, the Holy Dynasty had repeatedly been at a disadvantage. This time, it concerned an important matter of the Holy Dynasty and was originally highly confidential. Apart from those present, no one knew about it. If it weren't for the fact that these people knew the inside story, the evil dragon would have suspected that there was a traitor within the Holy Dynasty.

Jing Wuyuan pondered and said, "If it were anyone else, it wouldn't be a big deal. But that Daoist Gu Xu, having fought with him several times before, is enough to prove that he is quite cunning and always plans before acting. It seems that destroying the Yin Shi You Quan this time is just part of his plan. Xiaoqian may have already been targeted by him when she went to Jinhua City. If so, it makes sense."

"What the teacher said makes sense. Xiaoqian is related to the fate of the Holy Dynasty. She absolutely cannot be allowed to suffer any mishaps. Since Xiaoqian has been taken back to the capital by Yan Chixia and his wife, we have no choice but to fight her head-on."

"Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

Upon hearing this, the four sages jumped up in surprise and said in unison.

Jing Wuyuan also shook his head, stood up and said, "The capital is a place where the dragon's energy gathers in the human world. With the Xuanxin Sect's main camp guarding it, it can be said to be extremely strong. Now that the Yinyue Dynasty has just suffered a heavy blow, it is really not appropriate to launch another large-scale military campaign."

Looking into Qi Ye's eyes, Jing Wuyuan pondered for a moment longer before saying in a deep voice, "Perhaps we can use that method!"

The four sages were all puzzled, while Qi Ye angrily exclaimed, "Absolutely not!"

Qi Ye knew that the method Jing Wuyuan mentioned was the forbidden technique of the Holy Dynasty, "Soul Transformation and Body Shaping." This method was extremely evil, as it used a forbidden array to transfer a person's soul into a vessel. The method sounded simple, but the birth date and time of the vessel had to be exactly the same as that of the person undergoing the soul transformation, and their own soul had to be erased, leaving an empty shell as a suitable container.

Moreover, even if the person performing the spell succeeds by chance, they will lose all their power and foundation, becoming someone even less than an ordinary person. They will die within six months to three months.

Looking at Qi Ye's expression, Jing Wuyuan said solemnly, "Your Majesty, this method is the only effective way and the one that can minimize the losses. This matter concerns the future and destiny of the Holy Dynasty. We must not give up because of Your Majesty's veto. Your Majesty, no matter what, this Soul Transformation and Body Shaping Method must be carried out."

The four sages were completely bewildered by these words. Jing Wuyuan, having no intention of winning them over, explained the forbidden technique in a few words. After listening, the four sages had different expressions, some solemn, some joyful, some ashamed, and so on.

After a while, the evil dragon stepped forward, bowed to Qi Ye on the throne, and said in a deep voice, "Your subordinate agrees to perform the Soul Transformation and Body Shaping!"

Seeing this, the other three also stepped forward, bowed, and respectfully said, "We humbly request that Your Majesty grant permission to perform the Soul-Shaping and Body-Mending Technique!"

"you!"

Qi Ye stood up, pointed at the four people below, glanced at Jing Wuyuan who had a calm expression, and then swept his sleeve and left the hall under everyone's gaze.

After Qi Ye left, the four sages all looked at Jing Wuyuan. Upon seeing this, the latter said seriously, "The Holy Dynasty must not be harmed. Since the Holy Emperor does not agree, we can only ask the Empress Dowager for instructions. Are you willing to come with me to see the Empress Dowager?"

Upon hearing this, the four scholars exchanged glances and said in unison, "We are willing to follow your instructions, sir."

Jing Wuyuan nodded in satisfaction and left the temple first, followed closely by the Four Sages. The five of them soon arrived outside the Empress Dowager's bedroom. After being informed, they entered the bedroom.

"Jing Wuyuan, do you really intend to use the Soul Transformation and Body Shaping Technique?" Youyue asked softly, looking at the five people in front of her through the beaded curtain.

"Hasn't the Empress Dowager already prepared a body for him? If Jing Wuyuan doesn't use the Soul-Shaping Body Reshaping Technique, wouldn't he be letting down the Empress Dowager's efforts?"

"Jing Wuyuan, you are truly bold. However, I admire your daring attitude. Very well, you can have Rongti. As for manpower, I will lend you Meiji, Hongmei, and Chuntao. It will be an extra layer of protection."

Upon hearing this, Jing Wuyuan immediately bowed respectfully. Regardless of the Empress Dowager's motives, at least her attitude was correct. This Meiji's cultivation was no less than that of the Four Sages, and Hongmei and Chuntao were the Empress Dowager's four personal attendants, whose cultivation was naturally not weak. With the Four Sages protecting them, they were more than capable of handling most obstacles.

"Time is of the essence. We must act at midnight tonight." Jing Wuyuan was worried that delay might lead to unforeseen circumstances. If the Xuanxin Orthodox Sect made their move first, it would be too late for them to do anything.

"You can make your own decision. As for Qi Ye, you should let him know. Whether he goes or not is entirely up to him."

Youyue waved her hand towards the outside, and Jing Wuyuan and the others bowed again before leaving the bedchamber.

"Meiji, Hongmei, Chuntao, the three of you will obey Jing Wuyuan's orders tonight. Anyone who disobeys will be killed!"

Upon hearing this, Meiji and the other two were all startled and solemnly agreed.

(End of this chapter)