162 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

### Chapter 152: Out of Control The woman standing before them retained only her human face, while the rest of her body was obscured by a muddy ghostly aura, swollen with excess power. Her limbs and trunk were enveloped in a purplish-black shadow, far removed from both humans and ordinary ghosts. Her nails were now as sharp as a beast’s claws. Xiang Shi Yan could almost feel Gui Wang’s talons puncture her skin, yet they abruptly halted, refraining from going further. Xiang Shi Yan's sword pierced through her neck, and purplish-black "blood" surged out, flowing down the sword's blood groove and reaching Xiang Shi Yan’s hand. The unexpectedly dry and warm blood-like fluid felt like hot sand slipping through her fingers, contrasting sharply with the cold, sticky blood from before when the chains had not been unbound. This change was due to the ghostly energies forming the great ghost being transformed into solid fragments under immense power. If Yu Zi Ming were to continue sacrificing lives to feed her, would the remnant soul resurrect first, or would Gui Wang lose control and consume her master? Whichever outcome it was, it clearly portended nothing good. Xiang Shi Yan fixed her gaze on Gui Wang, noticing traces of thought and emotion flickering across her face, as though she had suddenly regained her senses. It was as if a person long dormant had been abruptly roused, only to find herself on a battlefield, confusion etched across her features. The woman stared blankly at Xiang Shi Yan's face, seemingly recognizing her somewhat, and tried to speak, but could only produce hoarse sounds. This artificially created body lacked vocal cords and internal organs, instead housing chaotic souls from many devoured spirits. She stumbled back two steps, allowing Xiang Shi Yan's sword to slide from her neck. The woman whimpered twice while clutching her wound, which instantly healed as if it had never been. It was then she seemed to realize the abnormal changes in her body, looking at her own hands in bewilderment. "What did you do?" Yu Zi Ming sensed Gui Wang’s anomaly. Although disobedient at times, she had never behaved like this in the midst of battle. Yu Zi Ming felt her connection with her master was still intact, yet mysteriously, Gui Wang would no longer follow her command to kill Xiang Shi Yan. The woman seemed to still remember her disciple's voice and turned to look at Yu Zi Ming. She knew she was dead. The shadow of death had followed her since she embarked on the path of cultivation and finally succeeded in dismantling her post-breakthrough. The short-lived ghost cultivator lived less than two hundred years but had come to terms with her innate condition, ready to depart with dignity. Fate governs life and death, and she understood this more than anyone. Why, then, was she here, having died before? The woman subconsciously hoped her disciple could explain, fixing Yu Zi Ming with a look of disbelief. Suddenly, her head ached as a flood of memories forced their way into her consciousness: how she, like a mindless beast, was raised by Yu Ji, who used vile methods to sustain her fragmented soul and extend its existence. Staring at the haggard, diminished figure before her now, she struggled to recognize the beloved disciple she once knew. Yet the girl's features, unchanged since her death, confirmed it was indeed Yu Ji—cast out for harboring forbidden feelings towards her master. Images of unfamiliar faces flashed through her mind, some belonging to devoured ghosts, others to innocent lives, and many were young female cultivators brought by her disciple for possession over the years. Most unsettling, however, was the image of her disciple's face awash with heated passion. Her cherished disciple had been shy and reserved, respectfully adhering to their sect's rules for a century; her only transgression was falling for her short-lived master. Because of this, the master had always regretted harshly punishing what was merely a young girl’s misconstrued affection and summoned Yu Ji, her sect's last heir, back to bestow her worldly possessions before passing. It was likely then, during the grotesque disintegration of her remaining form, that Yu Ji stole a piece of her soul. During bedchamber encounters, Yu Ji seemed tormented by the sinful pleasure as well, tears more common than breathy words of love. She mated with the ghostly servant at night, only to harbor terror within by day. The girl from her memories resembled a demoness from folktales, coupling with non-humans and birthing abominations. She wished she could muster even a single rebuke, but she found herself unable to form an articulate question, reminiscent of her drunken reaction when she realized the young girl knelt by her bed, sweetly kissing her lips. Now, not only was her mind clouded, but her previously powerful body felt heavy beyond measure. She knew how much effort it took to nurture a Gui Wang. Even when ghost cultivation rode high and some treaties passed down generationally, to nurture such a strong servant alone over centuries meant Yu Zi Ming's path was smeared in blood. An extraordinary talent indeed, but unfortunately, because of her, this diligence was not channelled down the righteous path. Despite degrading her body and cultivation, she had reached the major ascension stage; without such a burden, she might have transcended into the god-realization stage long ago. No 'if' could erase the tangible weight of thousands of lives and countess souls now on her shoulders. The ghostly servant lacked thought, driven by the remnants of the master's soul but devoid of the ghostly cultivator’s intelligence. It understood only to follow orders and operate on primal instinct. Yu Zi Ming staggered back, sensing that the commands sent through her spiritual sense vanished into the void. Yet the flood of rage and frustration spilled into her mind against her will. "Master...?" Initially, Yu Zi Ming had obsessively pondered what she would say, what her returned master might think after witnessing her heinous acts. But as the disembodied remnant voice weakened to nil, grounding her with countless immortality-breaching spells, Yu Zi Ming became numb. It no longer mattered. She didn’t know when admiration and grief had mutated into this obstinacy, but when the woman lifted her by the neck, suspending her in the air, her mind was unusually clear. Staring at that face, a bittersweet relief overcame her. After all these years, her master's visage, turned over numerous times, was finally sifted down to disappointment and anger. A remnant soul couldn’t sculpt the ghostly servant’s form unaided. She always questioned whether the impressions she recreated were exaggerated echoes of a woman she once knew. It wasn’t until she saw that face again, etched with furious reproach, did Yu Zi Ming confirm her semblance was spot-on. “Rebellious disciple... how dare you…!” The woman's eyes were wide with rage as she squeezed out a hoarse voice. The tide suddenly shifted, leaving Xiang Shi Yan relieved but perplexed by the servants’ abrupt conflict. Wasn't the Gui Wang Yu Zi Ming’s beloved? Despite her frail-looking appearance, Yu Zi Ming remained an advanced cultivator. To throttle her to death still required tremendous effort. Yet she offered no resistance, leaving her lover’s grip slowly tighten, her face flush until she could only sputter out a pitiful sound. What was her muteness holding back? Was it pleas for mercy, explanations, or a dark wish finally fulfilled? Four streaks of light caught Xiang Shi Yan’s eye, diverting her attention from the pair. She recognized the silhouette belonging to her master, Lian Long. Here at last were four prestigious level cultivators. Since Xiang Shi Yan’s initial report of the ghostly cultivator incident, pleas for aid had flown from the camp like migrating birds. It took nine hours for these seniors to finally reach here. Without the suppression of heavenly thunder and the Gui Wang’s foreboding aura, the valley's spectral masses began stirring again. Merging their vivid hues, the sky’s radiant lights wove a tightly knit web as it descended slowly. Xiang Shi Yan discerned the spiritual forces coursing through the unfurling seal and sensed its intricate design tailored to last for countless years. With four cultivators expending their entire essence to form this enduring seal, surely, all seemed destined for closure. Then why did the unease gnaw at her so intensely, eclipsing even her fleeting clash with Gui Wang? There was something she’d missed... a crucial, glaring element concealed in plain sight. At that moment, a scorching pain seared her skin, marking the reminder someone had left upon her. A sudden intuition seized Xiang Shi Yan as she strung together the narrative from start to finish. "Dragon pearl!" Her voice rang powerfully with spiritual force, propelling her cry into the distance, "Stop her!" As though responding to Xiang Shi Yan's warning, a thin black silhouette surged out of the Wraith Gorge, streaking into the sky with a trail of azure light. For the first time, Xiang Shi Yan saw Xuan Jiu's true form, untainted by hallucinations. Unlike her water-based avatar, every black scale exuded an overwhelming sense of majesty. This mythical beast had emerged from the fragmentary memories that once entangled her consciousness. The dark dragon's eyes shone with a bright, molten gold radiance. Though not as enormous as the Dragon King who had perished there, she was equally intimidating. Xuan Jiu appeared at dawn, slender and beautiful, as if she had consumed the light of the rising sun. Her petite form cast a shadow large enough to blot out the sun. In her jaws, Xuan Jiu held a verdant pearl, glowing softly. The luminescent halo surrounding it was sharper than any blade, an invisible snare binding all souls trapped in that place. As it was extracted from the abyss, the ghosts, driven mad by their own greed, crawled forth, snarling and fierce. The timing was perfect; the freshly forged seal slowly descended, pressing the millennia-old demons back into the chasm. The azure light snapped like threads, arcing in the air before winding back upon itself. The presence of the pearl-bearing dragon induced shivers among all present; even Xiang Shi Yan, who had witnessed Xuan Jiu's spiritual form, felt the weight of the black dragon’s undeniable might. Looking down with disdain, Xuan Jiu watched as the fragile ally was strangled by her own ghostly servant. A peculiar, vacant smile of relief surfaced on the woman's face—Yu Zi Ming no longer needed rescuing. Nevertheless, Xuan Jiu honored her promise, departing only once life had ebbed away. As time was drawn out for Xiang Shi Yan and others, so too did Yu Zi Ming delay in her own way. The sudden appearance of the ancient beast was a shock, prompting the group to regard Xuan Jiu with caution. As she prepared to leave, several beams of spiritual light shot towards her. However, the black dragon's movements were agile. She evaded the incoming attacks with ease, her sinuous body swaying in the air. Occasionally, one or two strikes grazed her, only to be deflected as if by an invisible barrier. Xiang Shi Yan's heart jolted with realization—this was undoubtedly the 'Gathering Cloud Garment' Huai Ye had failed to retrieve. Xuan Jiu had reclaimed her skin. Though her dragon form appeared complete with scales, they should have been in Xiang Shi Yan’s possession. She couldn't help but wonder if they still bestowed invulnerability. The seal had yet to stabilize, and the four seniors lacked the strength for pursuit, a scenario likely foreseen by Xuan Jiu. Xiang Shi Yan should have suspected that Yu Zi Ming, a descendant of ghost cultivators, was overreaching in attempting to unseal such an ancient site. The gorge’s breach had unmistakably been smashed open by someone. A deceptive feeling engulfed Xiang Shi Yan—a sense that as the black dragon fled, it cast a significant glance back at her. Yet discerning expressions from the scaled visage was nearly impossible, leaving her uncertain. Nonetheless, recognizing Xuan Jiu’s manipulation, using their vigilance against the ghost cultivator to summon strong cultivators to free herself from the ghosts clinging to the dragon pearl, Xiang Shi Yan was reminded of another matter. Earlier that night, she had examined a Revitalizing Pill, driven by an intense unease to compare it with the remnant traces on the two pills auctioned for Xuan Jiu. Exceptional alchemists sometimes left signatures in their concoctions—subtle, unique spiritual imprints and pill vein patterns that attested to their quality. Such traces were notoriously difficult to completely conceal, even with intent. Despite her medical expertise, Xiang Shi Yan's knowledge of alchemy was insufficient to detect similarities amidst the pill’s repeating intricate motifs. Yet she discerned that the pill wasn’t a relic salvaged from ruins; it was newly crafted and artificially aged. If merely for appeal, one might overlook it, given that authentic formulas, long lost, hardly sparked belief. Selling it as an aged item guaranteed better acceptance. If someone's deliberate ruse drew Xiang Shi Yan here—it wasn’t vanity; she found Xuan Jiu's actions baffling, often strangely interested in her, capable of anything unexpected. Suppose that Revitalizing Pill was bait laid by Xuan Jiu—could it carry poison or a hex? Or perhaps it wasn’t a Revitalizing Pill at all… ### Author's Note: He He: Is it possible that it’s neither poison nor hex, but just meant for healing? Xiang Shi Yan: A trick! I'm not eating it. Thanks to all who voted or donated nutrient fluids between 2022-09-09 and 2022-09-12. Special thanks to: Buildup Master 5 bottles. Thank you so much for your support, I will continue to work hard! No pop-up ads, permanent domain (xbanxia.com).