Chapter 1422: This Body as a Sheath

"Ah! Wu!"Fang Heling let out meaningless dry cries from his mouth, he knew not what he wailed. Merely a sentiment with nowhere to vent, urging him to roar forth.Like a trapped beast, like a wounded dog.He was a wounded dog caged, yet he too would go mad, would howl, would fight.His strongest power was suppressed within, his Crippled Sword Art halted at the mere flesh.But the cold glint between his fingers was already grasped in hand.He leaped high.He still had daggers, still had fists, still had teeth...He was not without all.His pained heart grew even more pained.His blood-red eyes grew even more blood-red."Ah!"He cried out almost maniacally, yet without a single complete syllable.This world was blood-red.And he himself, pale as bone.I will kill you, I will kill you, I will kill you!His rage and hatred, burning at such high frequency.Yet a hand reached out, hovering before his brow, halting him.Like an eagle seizing a chick.He even saw the process.That person so calmly raised his right hand, then vertically held his palm, facing him directly. That palm, by chance, hovered at his brow.And at this moment, Fang Heling discovered he could no longer move.That hand hovering before his brow seemed to have taken over his body, and also frozen his destiny.His entire person, in a diving posture, was fixed mid-air.Like a kite held by a string.And that person, looked up at him.These were eyes gentle and indifferent, yet distant and mysterious.Fang Heling inexplicably felt as if he had been seen through to the depths of his soul.Yet he clearly remembered, Zhang Linchuan's gaze was not like this.When wearing the white bone mask, Zhang Linchuan's eyes held a hint of haughtiness and distance, perfectly fitting the image of a Daoist Academy genius from one of the three great families. After donning the white bone mask, there was only coldness.He believed the latter was the true Zhang Linchuan.Not heartless, but utterly devoid of emotion.Aside from his desires, nothing else mattered.Then what could have caused him to become like this?Fang Heling struggled to think, in the midst of endless pain, silently circulating his divine ability."Your heart seems to be increasing my pain."The man who had subdued him with a mere lift of his hand, still looked at him thus, his tone seeming to sigh, "But there is truly no more room for it to increase."Fang Heling's heart was greatly shaken!Not only because his secret movements had been detected.But also because his desperately activated Heart of Hatred divine ability had not even created a single ripple!Moreover...What did it mean, "there is no more room for the pain in his heart to increase"?"You who personally slaughtered your entire family, do you also feel pain?" Fang Heling stared fiercely at the other party, hissing the question.If he could, he wished he could bite through this person's throat, drink this person's blood dry!And to his surprise—The man before him, with those gentle and indifferent, yet distant and mysterious eyes, actually had a momentary ripple of emotion.He actually saw a fleeting hint of sorrow in this person's eyes!Zhang Linchuan... Could Zhang Linchuan also feel sorrow?"I remember..."In his astonishment, Fang Heling heard the person before him say, "You are from the Fang family."Fang Heling was stunned.Could Zhang Linchuan be so unfamiliar with him?Impossible.Because before Zhang Linchuan wore that white bone mask, the two had interacted many times. He had unilaterally shown good will countless times, and the Zhang Linchuan of that time had always kept a not-too-distant relationship.No matter how much he looked down on him, he wouldn't fail to remember him.Then, would Zhang Linchuan deliberately act unfamiliar to humiliate him?Definitely not.Because he... was not even qualified to be humiliated by him."You are not Zhang Linchuan!" Fang Heling's blood-red eyes recovered a trace of clarity: "Who are you?"Then he heard, the man who looked exactly like Zhang Linchuan, softly say: "You may call me Wang Nianxiang."The other party mentioned the Fang family.Aside from the old friends from Maple Forest City, no one would care about some damned Fang family in Maple Forest City. Even Maple Forest City was just a damned place.Thus, Fang Heling was certain that this person across from him should also be from Maple Forest City.But...Wang Nianxiang?He only knew of a Wang Changxiang, an excellent disciple of the Maple Forest City Daoist Academy, who later even entered the County Daoist Academy.He worked hard to curry favor with Zhang Linchuan, but was not well acquainted with Wang Changxiang, because Wang Changxiang was always diligently cultivating and undertaking missions, with few opportunities to interact.He roughly knew that Wang Changxiang had an elder brother, a waste who could not cultivate. He lived in seclusion within the Wang clan's ancestral grounds, rarely showing his face. Aside from that, he knew little else.That person, if he remembered correctly, should be called Wang Changji...Who was Wang Nianxiang?As if seeing through his confusion, the person before him continued, "I am Wang Changxiang's elder brother."Wang Changxiang's elder brother...Nianxiang...Fang Heling had not been to Zhuang Country afterward, nor had he sought out old friends from Maple Forest City, so he did not know what had become of Wang Changxiang in the end.Until today, he had always felt that Wang Changxiang should still be in the Qinghe County Daoist Academy, living the life he had once longed for. Climbing step by step, becoming a respected strong practitioner, a superior being... Of course, looking at it now, it was all just selling his life for that son of a bitch, the Zhuang court.But no matter what became of Wang Changxiang, how could the waste Wang Changji, who couldn't cultivate back then, have become so strong? How could he have become like this?"What is your relationship with Zhang Linchuan...?" Fang Heling asked."He took my body, then I took his body," the man now known as Wang Nianxiang said calmly.But this simple sentence, what hidden undercurrents it contained.A waste who couldn't cultivate, how could his body have been coveted and forcibly taken by Zhang Linchuan, and how could he have in turn taken Zhang Linchuan's body!Fang Heling could fully imagine how heart-stopping the scene of this person and Zhang Linchuan fighting over bodies must have been!But the more terrifying information for him was that in the struggle between Zhang Linchuan and Wang Changji, it seemed Zhang Linchuan was the one who had taken the initiative.Even someone as strong and terrifyingly despairing as Wang Changji had his body taken by Zhang Linchuan... How strong then must Zhang Linchuan be?What he remembered was Zhang Linchuan, the White Bone Emissary who ravaged Maple Forest City during its disaster, that ruthless man skilled in lightning arts with an Inner Mansion realm cultivation.He knew that with Zhang Linchuan's talent, after that carefully planned conspiracy, he would definitely make significant progress.But he thought that by fighting so desperately, he could close the gap a little!Fang Heling's body was still suspended mid-air, but he had almost ignored these things. With some inexpressible emotions, he anxiously asked: "Then do you know, what is Zhang Linchuan's current strength?"He heard his own voice, very dry.Because the answer he had already seen.And felt.Regarding his hardship and bitterness, Wang Changji simply said indifferently: "I see you are also pursuing the Lifeless Sect... The Lifeless Sect was founded by him alone, what do you say his current strength is?"Fang Heling could now understand, a cult of the Lifeless Sect's size, what kind of power it could gather, and what kind of power was needed to support it.He had always thought that the Lifeless Sect was probably the White Bone Path under a different name.Zhang Linchuan had probably climbed to a higher position in the Lifeless Sect compared to before...But unexpectedly, Zhang Linchuan was precisely the Patriarch of the Lifeless Sect, the divine lord, the dao lord, the cult master all in one.The worst outcome had become reality!Since the Lifeless Sect was founded by Zhang Linchuan himself, then Zhang Linchuan's strength was immeasurable.Especially the word "also" that Wang Changji used.Even as strong as Wang Changji, he was also pursuing the Lifeless Sect. They had once fought over bodies, and with the destruction of the Maple Forest City region, there must be deep-seated enmity like a sea of blood. But Wang Changji did not directly attack to find Zhang Linchuan.What did this indicate?Wang Changji's unspoken meaning was clearly saying—"The gap between you and the real Zhang Linchuan is even greater than the gap between you and me."This answer was undisguised, so stark.But it was too cruel."I understand," Fang Heling said.In Wang Nianxiang's eyes, there was a look of surprise for the first time.Perhaps surprised that Fang Heling, who he considered extremely fragile, could be so calm at this moment.As an ordinary person, spending everyday with a group of monsters, especially when he himself was gradually becoming a monster. Fang Heling's will had always been on the verge of collapse. Constantly going mad, constantly tearing apart, constantly self-hypnotizing.Such a Fang Heling, even if he became strong, was just a paper tiger. Not to mention he was far from being strong.Wang Changji saw through his fragile essence with a glance.And thus was somewhat surprised by the calmness he displayed at this moment.But it was only surprise.He said nothing, merely slowly withdrew the hand that had hovered before Fang Heling's brow.And in Fang Heling's perception...Everything was reversing.His body leaped back.His body and soul were still boiling, returning to before the boiling.His eyes were blood-red, the dagger stopped between his fingers.The part of his soul, bone, flesh, and blood that he thought had separated, had stopped just before separating, not reaching the point of separation at all.Everything was like a dream, as if nothing had happened.He had only just turned around, just seen Wang Changji, the one who had taken Zhang Linchuan's body!Filled with shock, speechless!Those indifferent yet profound eyes looked over: "You don't have much power to consume, are you sure you want to waste it like this?"Was I already subdued before I could activate the Crippled Sword Art?Fang Heling fell into self-doubt, at a loss, but subconsciously followed the suggestion and dispelled the Crippled Sword Art."Just now..."He wanted to ask what had just happened, but only opened his mouth before being cut off."Now is not the time to speak," Wang Changji said.At this moment.Behind Fang Heling was a tall cliff with strong pines, and hanging from a pine tree was a Lifeless Sect follower, having died a tragic death.Wang Changji, ordinary in attire but with an unusual appearance and even more special temperament, stood opposite him, maintaining a relatively spacious distance.Then he stepped forward.With just one step, he had already reached Fang Heling's side.He casually grabbed his arm.Another step, and he was already pulling him to leap off the high cliff.Fang Heling had not thought of evading, but he simply found no room to evade.Exhausting all his imagination and strength, he knew not how to avoid it.The hand that grabbed his arm was as if it had taken root on him, its roots deeply embedded in his flesh and blood, making it impossible for him to break free.So it was in a back-facing posture, falling off the high cliff.The biting wind whistled in his ears, and from this angle, he could still see the Lifeless Sect follower he had hung on the tree, whose heart he had crushed.For a moment he almost thought the other party intended to kill him by letting him fall.But the fall stopped.Wang Changji, pulling him, directly crashed into the cliff wall horizontally.The expected scene of his body shattering against stones did not occur, the cliff wall naturally opened a hole, just wide enough to accommodate two people hiding.Wang Changji released his hand.That feeling of being tightly gripped disappeared.The relieved Fang Heling was about to open his mouth to ask, when Wang Nianxiang glanced at him.He inexplicably understood the meaning of that look—Do not speak.So he tightly closed his mouth.Almost in the next instant, he heard the roar that broke through the long sky!Terrifying aura spilled out everywhere, an unknown strong practitioner descended upon the high cliff!Fang Heling's heart immediately leaped into his throat.Because the movement of the strong practitioner's arrival clearly stopped near the strong pine tree on the cliff.That is to say, the newcomer was likely a strong practitioner from the Lifeless Sect.If Wang Changji had not suddenly appeared today, he would have fallen into the other party's hands!And now...Could they simply jump off the high cliff like this, then create a hole in the cliff wall, and be able to hide from a strong practitioner with such terrifying speed?Without even needing to seal the hole?Fang Heling almost wanted to cast a Daoist technique himself, forming an earth wall, to make their hiding place more convincing. But after all, he did not dare to make any noise.They just simply stood here like this, and he did not see Wang Changji perform any secret techniques... Could they really not be discovered?What made Fang Heling feel fortunate yet somewhat doubt life was—The answer to the question soon appeared.The roaring sound belonging to that Lifeless Sect strong practitioner rang out again, and in an instant, it was far away.From beginning to end, that unknown strong practitioner of the Lifeless Sect did not pay the slightest attention below the cliff wall.Such a small distance, and yet they were truly hidden!How was it done?Fang Heling did not believe that unknown strong practitioner of the Lifeless Sect would be so negligent.He looked at Wang Changji, implying, can I speak now?This man who had wasted the Vein Opening Pill and had been considered a waste in Maple Forest City for a long time, his eyes were still indifferent at this moment.As if nothing could attract his attention, and nothing could make him care.Fang Heling then said: "Who was that just now?""The former second elder of the White Bone Path, now the Guardian Dharma King of the Lifeless Sect. Lu Yan," Wang Changji replied casually, and then added, "The more troublesome thing is, he has now achieved God Incarnate. A God Incarnate strong practitioner with innate Nether Eyes will be very difficult to deal with."He spoke of trouble, but Fang Heling did not see any expression of trouble on his face."If he has already achieved God Incarnate. Then you..."Fang Heling should not have asked such a question.It was not as if he had not encountered cultivators in the God Incarnate realm. The pressure from their spiritual sense sweeping over him was not unfamiliar. The performance of their golden body and jade marrow in battle was also very distinct... Wang Changji did not have these.But what Wang Changji brought him was a sense of oppression he had never felt from cultivators below the God Incarnate realm. Far exceeding the terrifying human devils like Zheng Fei, Li Shou, and Yanzi!"I have not achieved God Incarnate," Wang Changji said indifferently, "but Lu Yan relies too much on his Nether Eyes, and this is precisely his cognitive impediment."Not yet God Incarnate, yet daring to hide under the nose of a God Incarnate strong practitioner, just digging a hole in the cliff wall, and then standing there openly?Even if Lu Yan flew down and scanned with his naked eyes, it would be impossible to miss the two of them!What kind of strong practitioner could so calmly evaluate the innate Nether Eyes of a God Incarnate cultivator and brazenly exploit them?Was this man with a calm face not truly a hidden True Person?Fang Heling felt that his understanding of this world was being overturned.He admitted he was a waste, but could the gap between people truly be this great?"Although you say you haven't achieved God Incarnate, I think you can kill him," Fang Heling said hesitantly.Wang Changji shook his head: "The essence is insurmountable. Unless I can refine spiritual sense in advance... but that itself is already a step of God Incarnate."These words denied the possibility of him killing Lu Yan across realms.But they also expressed his confidence in facing Lu Yan in a tone of stating established facts. As long as he refined spiritual sense, he could do it...Lu Yan was not an ordinary God Incarnate strong practitioner, but a God Incarnate with innate Nether Eyes.Such individuals with innate divine abilities are often more powerful than cultivators of the same realm.Wang Changxiang's elder brother, was he originally more talented than Wang Changxiang?No, compared to Wang Changji's performance today, where could the Wang Changxiang of back then be called a "genius"?Fang Heling had to admit that among the people he knew, perhaps only Jiang Wang and that Zhang Linchuan could be slightly compared to this talent.Unfortunately, he himself had no qualification to even participate in the comparison.He subconsciously moved his throat, and said somewhat dryly: "Why did you save me?"At this moment he of course understood that he had perhaps stepped into a trap of the Lifeless Sect today. And Wang Changji suddenly appeared, saving him right under Lu Yan's nose.But... why?What did Wang Changji want?After his father's death, he absolutely did not believe that there would still be anyone in this world who would give him unconditional good will.Everything had a price.Could he bear the price Wang Changji wanted?Fang Heling quietly pondered.But Wang Changji had already turned and walked out, stepping on air as if on flat ground.Leaving only his voice behind: "Just happened to be passing by."Looking at his unwavering back, Fang Heling suddenly blurted out: "Help me!"But that back did not stop, continuing down the cliff.Fang Heling followed closely, leaping off the cliff, shouting behind him: "No, don't help me. Give me a chance, let me help you more!""You specifically came to save me, you must also hope that I can bring more trouble to the Lifeless Sect, right?""I am willing! As long as you can help me become stronger, I am willing to pay any price. The Lifeless Sect is an organization I must eradicate, and Zhang Linchuan is an enemy I hate to the bone!"Wang Changji's figure stopped.He turned his head and looked at Fang Heling with his gentle yet distant eyes: "That bait was originally meant to lure me. So I saved you, indeed just happened to be passing by."Fang Heling did not give up: "Since you have already saved me by the way, why not anticipate me playing a greater role?"Wang Changji's expression had always been extremely faint, whether in the initial confrontation or later when hiding from Lu Yan. This made him seem as if he was always separated from this world by something.Including the way he looked at Fang Heling at this moment, it was also like this.Neither hopeful nor pitying, he simply said: "How could you think that you can help me?""I am a waste, I admit," Fang Heling said. "Compared to geniuses like you, I am completely a waste."He looked steadily at Wang Changji: "But my desire to kill Zhang Linchuan is stronger than yours."Wang Changji's calmness at this moment appeared indifferent, even cold, but he clearly did not care about Fang Heling's feelings, merely saying in his inherent tone: "Someone like Zhang Linchuan is not someone you can kill just because you want to kill him very much. Perhaps there are truly miracles in this world, but I have never seen one.""Even if I bite off a piece of his flesh? Even if I rub off a piece of his skin? Even if I just delayed him for a breath of time. Wasted one of his glances?"Fang Heling's eyes had now faded from blood-red, but there was still a kind of nearly cruel ruthlessness: "I am willing to give everything I can give, as long as I can play even a tiny role in the process of killing him!"Wang Changji did indeed feel his determination.He looked at him seriously for a few moments: "The person who gave you that sword art should be very strong. Why don't you let him help you?""He won't help me."Fang Heling shook his head bitterly: "Except for Yanzi, he won't care about anyone else's life or death.Everyone in the organization is like his toy, easily replaceable at any time.If I want to get something, I must pay something, but I have already paid everything I could pay.I can undertake any dangerous mission in exchange for the reward he bestows. But he often suffers from amnesia and sometimes doesn't even know what to do himself, so there aren't always missions.My speed of becoming stronger has already slowed down, I cannot slow down any further..."Sometimes Fang Heling did not know whether he was lucky or suffered a greater misfortune when Yanzi picked him up and brought him back to No Return Valley.He had certainly gained abilities far stronger than when he was in Maple Forest City.But look at his current state—A廢弃(discarded) and reshaped mediocre Daoist vein, a forcibly transplanted malicious divine ability, a绝凶(extremely vicious) sword art that cripples oneself and others...Even his body had been "adjusted" by Yan Chunhui time and again as a price.He was no longer human, nor ghost.He had seen Yanzi shed tears in front of a mirror.Although he himself could not cry, he also felt the same sense of disgust towards his own body.Wang Changji turned and continued walking down.Fang Heling wanted to strive for a little more, but truly didn't know what else he could strive for.He felt somewhat disheartened, truly not knowing how to cross this chasm.It was as if no matter how he jumped, he was still in the mire.No matter how he struggled, it was dark and without day."Follow me for this period," Wang Changji's voice came from ahead: "After I understand your current state, I'll see if I can do something for you... Are you free in terms of time?""Free! Free!" Fang Heling quickly followed.