Chi Muyao held Xi Huai and forcefully insisted on healing him. 

Helping the blue fox earlier almost exhausted his spiritual energy, which had yet to recover when he was thrown into danger again.

Before entering the formation, Xi Huai exchanged blows with Su You, which didn't go smoothly. As a result, Xi Huai's state was very bad. He was still unconscious. 

Forcefully treating someone was painful, like thin needles pricking open every blood vessel and siphoning away his blood through numerous small holes.

The pain of being forcibly sucked dry made the veins pop on Chi Muyao's forehead. 

He was in pain, but he still had to look around vigilantly.

This was a chamber-like room carved out of a huge rock. There were no windows, no doors, and there were murals on the walls. Chi Muyao took a quick look. They depicted the Heavenly Punishment ritual. 

Chi Muyao had little knowledge of this kind of ancient Heavenly Punishment formation, the Eighty-one Plates of the Mausoleum. He only knew a few basics. 

After all, not many people have come out of this formation alive, and the survivors were not willing to recount what they experienced inside, meaning there were no detailed records to date. 

After gathering eighty-one people in the place where heaven was angered, the formation would activate and spawn a hurricane to bring people inside. After eighty-one people entered, the formation would automatically close. 

There was no saving anyone who got sucked in, because no one knew how to get out. They would probably have to wait until the next time heaven was angered, when the formation activated again.

However, the people implicated this time were somewhat innocent. Almost everyone of the Ling Que mountain range's Xiang Huang Pavilion had been killed by the blue fox using heaven's anger. The people inside were those who came to seal off the miasma.

It wasn't their fault, but they had to face the consequences. 

It was truly unfortunate they encountered this ancient formation. 

After the others gathered in the chamber calmed down, some began to discuss what to do, while others silently readied their weapons. Others still were too injured and could only hold their breaths.

Chi Muyao noticed unfriendly gazes and hid carefully in the most remote corner of the room. He hoped Xi Huai would wake up quickly. 

At this time, someone spoke to Chi Muyao, "This cultivator friend looks unfamiliar. Which sect are you from?" 

It was a Golden Core stage cultivator who spoke. He looked friendly, but he came with sword in hand. 

Chi Muyao could only reply, "I am a disciple of the Yu Chong School." 

“He's...from the Demonic Faction, isn't he?” the cultivator asked. Chi Muyao did not answer. He rested his hand on the golden clock and remained vigilant at all times. 

Then Su You's voice came from within the chamber, "Do you guys know the secret contained within this ancient formation?"

Everyone looked around but could not see Su You himself. 

They were also using their divine sense, but it could not penetrate the walls of this chamber. 

Su You's voice came again, “Calling it an ancient Heavenly Punishment formation is actually a farce. In truth, this is a possession array.

Chi Muyao supported Xi Huai and shifted back again, trying to avoid the eyes of everyone. After all, the dragon horn on Xi Huai’s head was too identifying a feature.

All the cultivators gathered here were from the Righteous Faction. They were at the Foundation Building to the Golden Core stage, as well as a seriously injured Nascent Soul stage senior. However, that person seemed to be close to death. Chi Muyao really didn’t have the strength to spare to save him. He could only protect Xi Huai as best he could.

While doing that, he listened to Su You and tried to predict the man's scheme. 

Possession. 

Now Chi Muyao understood. This plot was all for the sake of the one in the coffin. 

Su You never gave up on resurrecting that person. 

They were the only one Su You cared about. Anyone else could go die for all he cared.

He was an extreme egotist. 

Su You continued to 'dutifully' introduce this ancient Heavenly Punishment formation. All villains seemed to have this flaw of monologuing. "According to the outside world, the Eighty-one Plates of the Mausoleum kills eight out of every nine people. What they don't know is that the odds are actually one in ten, which means there are 90 people in here, and only one can leave alive."

The cultivators in the chamber looked at each other. There were only eighty people here, eighty-one plus Su You. Where did the other nine come from?

Soon, they thought back to the previously mentioned key word: possession.

Su You laughed oddly sharply again, continuing after a long time, "You guessed it, haven't you? Nine more ancient souls will appear in this formation. They were not willing to die so easily, so they put their souls in here. When people arrive inside one day, they will take over their bodies and leave—a form of resurrection." 

“Later, there were so many people arriving in the formation that some of the people who died here joined the ranks of the souls. Now there are many souls in this formation, all out to possess you guys. They are the most vicious characters, who beat out hundreds of others.” 

“However...this method of resurrection is so depraved that all the people selected have angered heaven. Of course, these nine souls also need to compete, for only one can leave alive from this formation.”

“So in this formation, you have to test your luck and see who is lucky enough to find the way out while being wary of everyone else. Who knows who is out to possess you? Don't think that the people you know are fine, maybe they've been possessed already. However, if that soul isn't satisfied with your aptitude, they might move on to another body. 

“This formation is sustained by a strange spiritual fountain. In the outside world, possession often fails due to the soul and the body being incompatible, or because the original inhabitant is able to push the intruder out and banish them. However, that won't happen here. You guys can even possess other people. This is the ideal environment for possession. As long as you use the right method, you can do it without worry. 

"All you have to do—is tear the other person's soul apart until it's impossible to piece together again!”

Chi Muyao's breathing lapsed.

He hugged Xi Huai tighter and tighter. 

He finally understood why Su You had been keeping an eye on the two of them. Perhaps Su You wanted to seize their bodies.

Xi Huai's aptitude was one in a millennia, a true talent. Everyone in the cultivation world knew that.

Especially the fact that he formed his golden core in three days. It simply boggled the mind of many cultivators. In fact, many people thought the Demonic Faction was bluffing when it came out. 

He suspected that Su You wanted Xi Huai's body for the person in the coffin. 

Su You also wanted to use his healing ability to help said person successfully possess him.

Thinking of this, Chi Muyao was actually truly angry. Su You thought he, Chi Muyao, would help another person to seize Xi Huai's body? 

How cruel was that?! 

Su You became silent after introducing the formation. He didn't appear either.

Chi Muyao checked Xi Huai's condition again, but he soon noticed a few more cultivators coming towards them.

Chi Muyao held Dingding and looked at them vigilantly. 

One of them pulled out his sword and said, “I'm sure you heard that just now. This is a possession formation. If those nine souls come out, his body is the obvious first choice. Let's put him down before that so it won't happen."  

Ridiculous. Extremely shameless. How could he say such words with a straight face?! 

These people were worse than dogs!

Chi Muyao replied with a sneer, “I'm afraid you're wrong. Those souls want his body, so he would actually attract the souls and help you guys. After all, those souls don't think much of you, do they?” 

“You! As a righteous cultivator, why have you been defending this Demonic Faction disciple? Could it be that your Yu Chong School has joined the Demonic Faction?"

"I can't represent the Yu Chong School on my own, but I won't let you touch him either." 

"That's not up to you!"

In this group of cultivators, some of them were Foundation Building stage, and received Chi Muyao's care in the pure land. They ate the food Chi Muyao personally caught and cooked. 

Some were Golden Core stage cultivators who helped the Heavenly Venerables set up the mountain sealing Grand Array.

They all attacked together. Chi Muyao could only reach for the golden clock. Suddenly, several fire attacks were thrown out, catching these guys off guard. 

Xi Huai finally woke up. Sitting up, he looked at the group and said, "The likes of you want to kill me?" 

At that, Shukuang was already in his hand. Xi Huai quickly rose and engaged with those people.

The chamber was very vast, but it seemed too small to fight in. All the cultivators present would be dragged in.

Someone tried to persuade them, "You guys shouldn't fight. We should discuss countermeasures instead of losing control." 

Xi Huai ignored him, only tossing Chi Muyao a protective barrier. He was annoyed and replied coldly, "When I kill them, it will all end." 

With that, the silver sword twisted and burst out. A shrill sound heralded the Hui Dragon Flames surging towards those people. It caught on their wounds, quickly scalding the surface of their bodies before diving in and burning them into cinders from the inside out.

Xi Huai stopped after their corpses fell to the ground. He surveyed the rest of the room.

 Chi Muyao rushed over and hugged Xi Huai's arm.

The near instant deaths of those people made the others exchange glances. Some people eagerly tried to persuade the others to attack together and kill Xi Huai. 

Others avoided their gaze and didn't want to get involved.

They were already in despair after being dragged into this formation. They were in no shape to participate in some battle.

Chi Muyao sent a transmission to Xi Huai, "You just woke up, so take a rest first. We won't know what is going to happen next." 

"No, I'm going to kill them all."

“Xi Huai! Didn't you kill the people who wanted you dead? The others didn't do anything, so why must you kill them?"

“Entering this formation means only one person can survive. Killing them now means fewer people competing with you later."

"No, it's not like that. This formation is one where luck determines life and death. Nine people will enter different doors, only one which leads to the exit. This is not a problem you can solve by killing them." 

Xi Huai held his sword. Blood trickled down the blade onto the floor.

He looked down at Chi Muyao and asked, “Don't you understand? I'm fighting for you to live. If the formation is activated, these people will be separated. It will be difficult to try and kill them then."

"What about you?" 

"..." Xi Huai did not speak. He just turned around and looked at the crowd again.

Chi Muyao hurriedly held Xi Huai's sword arm. "I would rather be killed by the formation than live by sacrificing so many lives."

Editor's Corner

Your editor has something to say: Again, thank you to everyone for your amazing patience, compassion and support. I know how hard it is to wait for new chapters (I’m a reader too!), so you guys’ being so awesome about things is just…thank you so much. My Dad is undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment at the moment, but I’ve managed to squeeze some time in to update. I hope everyone has had a good start to 2023, a lovely Christmas and New Year and everyone is looking forward to Lunar New Year celebrations. Hugs all round and thank you again for the supportive comments, they really mean a lot!

Chapters

8 Comments

  1. iamjam0616

    Thank you for the hard work and hope 2023 will be good for you and your family!!

  2. Noctis

    Thank you so much for still thinking about posting in such circumstances I send love to you and all your family, hope this new year will be a better one for you

  3. crogatui

    oh nooooo not a possession arc I’m not sure my heart can handle it

    Also thank you for the double update! I’m glad to hear that your dad is seeking treatment! Hopefully things will be a little better for you this year : ) As always, best wishes to you ♥️

  4. LicoLico

    Thank You for the new chapter (๑°꒵°๑)・*♡ Wishing You all the best! Take care ♡

    • Kblack

      I hate Su You so much! (⁠ノ⁠ಠ⁠益⁠ಠ⁠)⁠ノ
      Waiting for his time to come, so we can go back to our lovey dovey couple. ƪ⁠(⁠˘⁠⌣⁠˘⁠)⁠ʃ

      Thanx for the hard work!

  5. rotten

    maybe not the correct place to ask but is there a peach blossom codex discord group ? desperately need a source of news for this novel and an empire as a betrothal gift

    • rotten

      Also will kill myself with a block of tofu if this possession array leads to further misunderstandings that hamper the cp .. Cmon guys… Just get together and communicate your feelings honestly … you can do it i promise

    • Sahloknir

      Hey there – we have plans for a Discord which got derailed last year due to my Mum going into hospital and myself and family being involved in a bad car accident. My Mum passed away late last year and my Dad was diagnosed with lung cancer shortly after so it was not a very good time. We’re on the home stretch with his treatment, so hopefully we’ll have our Discord up and running soon!

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