Fighting: Practice makes it real, start with a poisonous body.

What do you need this for?

The Soul Emperor sat atop his blood-red throne, his pale face appearing even more sinister in the glow of the ghostly green flames.

Upon hearing Gu Yuan's blunt demand for a method to control the resurrected person, a hint of surprise flashed across his eyes.

He wasn't surprised that Gu Yuan knew about the existence of this secret technique.

Ancient imperial clans have existed for tens of thousands of years, making them both mortal enemies and their most familiar adversaries. The Soul Clan possesses insidious secret techniques for controlling resurrected individuals; this core secret is no longer an absolute secret within the circles of top powers.

For tens of thousands of years, the Soul Clan has been known as the Dark Web of the continent, and its infiltration of other imperial clans has long been deeply ingrained. The Soul Emperor knows the secrets of the ancient clans like the back of his hand, and similarly, he knows that Gu Yuan's intelligence network is by no means a mere decoration.

The Soul Emperor tapped the armrest of his throne lightly with his fingertips, the skull-built chair making a dull sound: "This secret technique is insidious and domineering, with severe aftereffects. It cannot be used lightly."

Gu Yuan's expression was stern, and the golden holy power around him trembled slightly due to the fluctuations in his emotions. He said coldly, "Why ask so many questions? To lend or not to lend?"

The Soul Emperor narrowed his eyes, a glint of light flashing in his dark pupils: "Could it be that you have obtained the remains of some ancient powerhouse?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Yuan's expression froze instantly, his aura abruptly receding as he went into a state of alert. He remained silent, staring intently at the Soul Emperor.

Seeing his tacit agreement, the Soul Emperor felt seventy percent certain, and his smile became even more playful: "You fellow, you seemed to have reached the end of your rope, but I didn't expect you to find a new way out... That's true."

"As a former patriarch of an ancient clan, possessing the foundation of a nine-star Dou Sheng, he has indeed managed to survive until now, showing he still has some skill."

With this thought in mind, the Soul Emperor slowly sat up straight and said, "Gu Yuan, it's not that I'm unwilling to tell you. It's just that this method has many restrictions and is extremely harsh."

I don't know how complete the remains of the powerful figure you're looking for are, whether they contain fragments of a soul, or how much time has passed since their death...

If any one of these conditions is not met, even if I tell you the method, you probably won't be able to use it, and you'll just be wasting that precious corpse.

The Soul Emperor's words were all reasonable, and Gu Yuan understood this as well. He frowned, his expression conflicted, and after much deliberation, he finally relented.

Now he is in a difficult situation. If he wants to revive the ancient clan, the Pure Lotus Demon Saint is his only hope. If the secret technique fails because of the concealment of information, he will regret it deeply.

"The body is intact, sealed by a special restriction, and even retains a faint trace of life; although the soul has mostly dissipated, I have found a special secret method to awaken it; as for the time of death..."

Although he had been dead for thousands of years, he had foreseen his fate in life and prepared a backup plan for resurrection. Both his body and soul were preserved extremely well by special means.

They should all be treated as if they had just died.

"I see……"

A glint of light flashed in the eyes of the Soul Emperor, confirming his suspicions. He slammed his hand on the armrest of his throne, producing a dull thud, and sneered.

"For you to see this person as your last lifeline, and even risk entering the Soul Realm for help, their cultivation level in life must have been extraordinary, right? Were they a Nine-Star Dou Sheng, or a Half-Emperor who had already touched the threshold of the Emperor Realm?"

As for the Dou Di, Hun Tiandi didn't even dare to think about it.

The body of a Dou Di has long existed as one with heaven and earth. After the soul is scattered, even the corpse is hard to leave behind. Moreover, although the secret techniques of the Soul Clan are powerful, it is absolutely impossible to control a Dou Di who has been resurrected.

Even in death, such beings retain an overwhelming aura, which cannot be restrained by ordinary secret techniques.

"Soul Emperor, you already know enough!"

Gu Yuan's face gradually darkened, and his holy power surged once more, clearly angered by the Soul Emperor's relentless pressure. The Emperor's questioning had crossed his final line!

"You are not qualified to negotiate with me!" A fierce killing intent suddenly flashed in the eyes of the Soul Emperor.

The soul orb on the crimson throne instantly burst forth with an eerie red light, and the temperature of the entire hall plummeted!
"You should have expected this before you came to the Soul Realm. The moment you stepped into this place, your life and all your bargaining chips were handed over to me!"
In this realm of souls, you are already a fish on the chopping block, at my mercy! If you don't tell me now, I have plenty of ways to pry your mouth open!
"The Soul Clan's punishments are far more cruel than you imagine. Even if you're a nine-star Dou Sheng, I can make you wish you were dead! Do you have some hidden tricks up your sleeve? I don't believe it!"

Don't try to scare me!

Gu Yuan was not afraid at all. Instead, he took a step forward and coldly shouted, "Soul Emperor, you are arrogant and think too highly of yourself, believing that everything is under your control!"

You even boasted that you've thoroughly figured out everything about me!
But as an old rival who has fought for thousands of years, how could I not know you well?!
You would never lay a hand on me!
Now, the Dragon and Phoenix Sons are powerful, sweeping across the world. No one on the entire continent can rival them. Even your Soul Clan is being eyed by them and is constantly threatened with invasion!

We are both thorns in the side of the Dragon-Phoenix Prince; he'd love for us to both be severely weakened so he can reap the benefits!

Gu Yuan's gaze was sharp as a knife as he stared intently at the Soul Emperor: "Let me out, use my backup plan, oppose him, and wear down the power of the Dragon-Phoenix Son. That's in your best interest!"

Although we are mortal enemies, cooperating for now is the wisest course of action in the face of the threat posed by the Dragon-Phoenix Child! Quickly, tell me how to control the resurrected!

"...Gu Yuan, I must say, you have indeed made some progress over the past thousand years."

The murderous intent on the Soul Emperor's face completely vanished, replaced by a sinister smile.

"Fine, since you want it, I'll give it to you! However, there's no such thing as a free lunch. The secret techniques of my Soul Clan are not so easy to obtain."

He paused, his gaze falling on Gu Yuan's storage ring, a glint of greed flashing in his eyes: "I want the fragment of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade from your Gu Clan!"

Upon hearing this, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence. Gu Yuan's body stiffened abruptly, and his remaining right hand clenched tightly.

Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade!

This was his last bargaining chip in his negotiations with the Soul Emperor!

"What? Reluctant to part with him?" Seeing Gu Yuan's struggling expression, the Soul Emperor sneered, "Gu Yuan, since you've become somewhat clever, you should know that you have no right to refuse me now."

You are now in the Soul Realm, your life and death entirely in my hands. Either hand over the fragment of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade, take the secret technique, and fight the Dragon-Phoenix Son to the death!

"Either you stay in this Soul Realm, become a prisoner of my Soul Clan, and never again step out of the Soul Realm!"

The words of the Soul Emperor struck Gu Yuan's heart like a heavy hammer.

Gu Yuan's expression was extremely unpleasant.

The Soul Emperor was right; he had no bargaining power now. Losing the fragment of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade might cost him the chance to inherit the Dou Di legacy in the future.

But if he doesn't obtain the secret technique, he won't even be able to hold on for now, and the ancient clan will eventually perish!

A moment later, a resolute glint flashed in Gu Yuan's eyes. He hardened his heart and no longer hesitated. Holy power surged at his fingertips as he took out an ancient, broken piece of jade from his storage ring.

The fragment of jade was about the size of a palm, dark yellow in color, and covered with complex ancient runes. It faintly exuded a faint imperial aura and was the fragment of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade of the ancient clan!

"Okay, I'll give it to you!"

With a low shout, Gu Yuan suddenly exerted force in his arm, hurling the fragment of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's jade forward. The fragment transformed into a yellow streak of light, piercing the darkness of the hall and flying straight towards the Soul Emperor. (End of Chapter)