Chapter 337

Chapter 337: Soul Search

If anyone else had questioned her like that, Yu Zhi Yi would have ignored them. But she could tell Jiang Yu Wei wasn’t really doubting her. His worldview had taken too hard a hit, and he didn’t want to believe that the little sister he had watched grow up would actually harm him. So she wasn’t angry. She sent a thread of spiritual energy into the spatial talisman.

Everyone heard a sharp, miserable scream.

Right after, a wisp of black smoke slipped out of the talisman and, in a blink, rushed at Jiang Yu Wei. The smoke seemed light and floaty, but it moved as fast as lightning, reaching him almost instantly.

Proud of his skills, Jiang Yu Wei still couldn’t dodge. By the time he reacted, the smoke was already at his face. He didn’t shriek, but for a heartbeat his heart stopped cold.

Just when he thought he was done for, the black smoke let out another horrible scream.

Its attack had arrived in a flash-so fast that Jiang Yu Wei had no time to set up any defense, not even something as simple as closing his eyes. He saw it clearly: right before the smoke hit him, a bright light burst out from his body. Black and white collided; the smoke instantly faded lighter.

He even saw the smoke shiver, like a person trembling from fear.

Hovering in front of him for a moment, the black smoke seemed to hesitate, as if it were thinking. After just a breath, it gave up on him and turned toward Jiang Yu Chuan.

Knowing his defensive jade pendant was much stronger than any protective talisman, Jiang Yu Chuan didn’t panic. In fact, he looked a bit interested, as if this sudden puff of smoke was something to study.

Sensing something wrong, the black smoke slammed on an invisible brake. It hung in midair for several breaths. Everyone could feel its hesitation.

Then it moved again. It curved in the air, skipped past Jiang Yu Chuan, and lunged straight at Yu Zhi Yi.

Yu Zhi Yi’s face didn’t change. While it was still some distance away, she raised her hand.

A huge pull yanked the smoke into her palm. Gold light flashed in her hand; the smoke scattered, and a transparent soul appeared.

Jiang Yu Wei’s eyes widened: “!!!” It was actually a person!

Jiang Yu Chuan was also surprised, but only at the part where the spirit had “turned into a living ghost.”

The “living ghost” was stunned too. It looked down at itself, then at Yu Zhi Yi, its expression wary but with a spark of excitement.

Yu Zhi Yi arched a brow, thinking: [Excited?] Usually, anything evil or foul ran for its life the instant it saw her. This thing…was not ordinary.

The living ghost thought it had hidden its feelings well. After that flash of excitement, it put on a scared face and pleaded: “Master, spare me! Please, Master, spare me!”

Acting like she couldn’t read its emotions, Yu Zhi Yi looked exactly like a careless expert. Letting her gaze drift lazily over the ghost, she asked: “Who told you to attach yourself to that talisman?”

The living ghost’s face changed; filled with fear, it said: “Master, I can’t say! I can’t! If I say it, I’ll die!”

“You’re only a remnant soul,” Yu Zhi Yi said mildly. “How else can you die?”

“I mean I’ll be wiped out-scattered to nothing!” the ghost blurted.

“I can also wipe you out,” Yu Zhi Yi said.

“…” The ghost choked on its words. After several breaths, it let out a long exhale and said: “T-then I’ll talk. But, my lord, could I whisper it next to your ear? I’m afraid the one who controlled me back then is listening.”

Jiang Yu Chuan grew alert at once and called out: “Jin’er!”

Jiang Yu Wei frowned and warned: “Evil beings are crafty. Jin’er, don’t fall for it.”

Yu Zhi Yi smiled with calm confidence and said: “Relax. It can’t hurt me.”

The Jiang clan brothers still hesitated, but since Yu Zhi Yi seemed so sure-and they had seen her skills-they didn’t say more.

Looking pitiful, the living ghost edged closer to Yu Zhi Yi. Seeing the little girl lean over and not even look at it, it smirked and suddenly turned into a white streak, aiming to dive into her body.

[What Martial Alliance Leader? No matter how grand the title, he’s only a mortal. But this little girl is a real cultivator. A cultivator’s body and power are far better than a mortal’s. And this girl is strong-if I seize her, I can skip decades of work. Isn’t that better than taking a body that could die any time? The gender isn’t ideal, but compared to immortality and the future of cultivation, that tiny complaint is nothing.]

“Jin’er!” both Jiang brothers shouted in shock.

But Yu Zhi Yi easily caught the “living ghost” by the neck.

Though it was only a soul, when Yu Zhi Yi clamped down, the ghost’s face truly reddened. “Ugh-ugh-ugh-” It tried to struggle, tried to beg, but whatever it tried, it couldn’t break free from that pale, slender hand. That hand looked delicate and beautiful, but right now it was like a giant clamp.

Yu Zhi Yi sighed and said: “I told you you’re no threat to me. That means I’m confident I can handle you.”

These days, she had kept her focus on drawing talismans and hadn’t spent much energy on cultivation-but drawing talismans burns spiritual energy. Whenever the spiritual energy in her meridians and dantian ran dry, the several hundred strands of golden merit light she had stored would automatically turn into spiritual energy and fill her again. In that process, her meridians and dantian were tempered and became tougher, and they expanded each time they were washed clean.

She hadn’t met a peer at her realm to compare against, but by common sense she was likely a bit stronger than others at the same level. This remnant soul could seize bodies, so it had surely come from a mystic sect before it died. Yet it couldn’t see through her cultivation base at all, which showed that even when it was alive, it had been weaker than her. To dare seize her body was like an old man sticking his head in a noose-asking to die.

She didn’t waste more words. She began a soul search.

A soul search is a cruel method of interrogation. The one being searched-whether flesh or soul-usually ends up a fool. Most of the time, she would never use such a method. But this spirit felt no shame about seizing others. Even after failing again and again, it didn’t stop.

For scum like that, even if it ended up scattered to nothing, she wouldn’t blink.

Placing her hand on the living ghost’s head, she quietly started the soul search.