Chapter 4

The setting sun disappeared, and the bright moon rose into the sky. Moonlight flowed like water into the small courtyard of the Yu family, passing through the window lattice and illuminating Yu Xuan's pale, handsome face. At this moment, he was sitting cross-legged on the bed. Feeling the moonlight, he raised his head and looked out the window. A full moon hung high in the night sky. “It's here.” Almost the instant he finished speaking, an indescribable force surged into his body. Yu Xuan's body trembled slightly. “Mm…” He let out a soft groan, biting his lower lip as his cheeks flushed red. Calm down. Calm down. Keep your heart as still as water. He silently repeated this in his mind, sinking his consciousness into his dantian and examining his body from within. Unlike the last time, when he had lost control without any preparation, this time he was fully prepared. He clearly saw wisps of pure white, semi-transparent matter, resembling milk, slowly descending from the bright moon in the night sky and squeezing into his soul bit by bit. “No… I still can't take it…” “It feels like my soul is going to explode…” His soul was being continuously stretched and swollen by the substance he had temporarily named Moon-Soul. “Oh, damn… I can't take it anymore…” “I have to use that move.” Yu Xuan muttered under his breath as cold sweat continuously slid down his forehead. Yet, his mind remained calm. He still had one trump card he hadn't used. It was a secret technique he had learned several days ago on the top floor of the library. The Soul-Splitting Technique—a secret art that could practically be considered a forbidden technique. On the Profound Heaven Continent, no one had ever survived the use of the Soul-Splitting Technique without suffering consequences. At best, their spiritual sense would be severely damaged, leaving them in a vegetative state and mentally incapacitated for the rest of their lives. At worst, their souls would be completely destroyed, leaving them unable to even reincarnate. Most of these people had used the secret technique only after realizing they had no hope of reaching the Soul Formation Realm, hoping to glimpse the legendary divine ability of separating one's soul from the body. But he was different! His soul was already so powerful that his physical body could barely contain it. He had to split off a portion of his soul and send it outside his body. As for whether his soul would be damaged afterward, he had carefully considered that as well. Even if his soul really was damaged, the Moon-Soul power would repair it during the next full moon. In other words, the worst possible price he would have to pay was becoming a vegetable for a month. His thoughts stopped there because his physical body could no longer hold on. He was already on the verge of being transformed into Moon-Soul itself. Unless Feng Lingya appeared before him right now and helped him bear some of the burden, continuing like this would leave his brain completely fried. “Split the Soul and Sever the Essence.” “……” “Begin!” Boom! Spiritual energy instantly gathered. It transformed into an incomparably sharp blade. Then it viciously slashed down toward his soul. “Ah—!” Excruciating pain instantly swept through his entire body, and Yu Xuan groaned in agony. The soul was not so easily divided. Although the blade formed from spiritual energy was incredibly sharp, using it to cut apart a soul was like slicing through pork with a dull knife. The more he cut, the more unbearable the pain became. Hang in there. I'm already halfway done. Yu Xuan encouraged himself inwardly. Cold sweat continuously streamed down his face. His complexion had turned deathly pale, and blood seeped from his bitten lower lip. …… At the same time, in a corner of Xuanzing City. Under the moonlight, in a pavilion. Li Ruoxue was respectfully pouring tea for Su Qiongyue. The hazy moonlight illuminated Su Qiongyue's translucent soul projection, accentuating her breathtaking beauty. Her full figure complemented the woman's peerless features. “Master, the moonlight is beautiful tonight.” Li Ruoxue pushed the teacup toward her. Su Qiongyue gently nodded. She did not take the teacup. Instead, she simply drew in the tea with her soul power, causing the fragrance of the tea to enter her soul. “Mm, not bad.” After tasting the tea, Su Qiongyue replied absentmindedly. Clearly, her attention was not on admiring the moonlight. Because at this moment, she suddenly sensed an extremely pure force attracting her soul. It was so powerful that even her soul began to tremble. For the first time, an unmistakable desire appeared in her eyes. What exactly was this? Why did it exert such a powerful attraction on her soul? Her physical body had been dead for many years. Now, only a wisp of her soul remained, dwelling within an ancient sword. If she could obtain that power…… Perhaps. She could truly solidify her soul completely and even recover her former cultivation! No, she really couldn't resist any longer. That force made her entire body itch with unbearable longing. If she didn't go and see what this opportunity actually was, she feared she would be consumed by regret every day from now on. “Ruoxue.” “Master?” “I suddenly sensed something from the heavens and earth.” She looked into the distance, undisguised longing in her eyes. “Go back to your room and rest first. I need to go out for a while.” Li Ruoxue was somewhat puzzled. “Now?” “Mm.” Su Qiongyue nodded. “Alright.” Although Li Ruoxue was confused, she obediently nodded. Su Qiongyue took one last look at her disciple. Then, with a flash of her figure, she transformed into a streak of light and flew toward the source of that power. Su Qiongyue streaked across the night sky of Xuanzing City. Her speed was astonishingly fast. As someone who now only possessed a soul, ordinary cultivators could not detect her movements at all. Yet the closer she got to the source of that power, the more shocked Su Qiongyue became. Too pure. Even from a great distance, she could sense her soul trembling faintly. “What exactly is it?” A strange light flickered in Su Qiongyue's eyes. She had roamed the Spirit Realm for hundreds of years and had encountered countless rare treasures of heaven and earth. Yet she had never experienced anything like this before. Could it be some legendary heavenly treasure? Or perhaps…… The inheritance left behind by some peerless powerhouse? As the distance continued to shrink, that power became increasingly distinct. Soon. A familiar residence appeared within her line of sight. Su Qiongyue froze. “This is…… the Yu family?” The Yu family was considered a prominent cultivation clan in Xuanzing City. Moreover, there was a young man named Yu Xuan in the Yu family. He was the youth who had once been engaged to her disciple. At the thought of that name, Su Qiongyue shook her head slightly. If not for Ruoxue, she would never have paid any attention to a junior in the Qi Refinement Realm. To an existence like her, who had once stood at the pinnacle of an entire realm, Qi Refinement cultivators were hardly any different from ordinary mortals. They were all nothing more than ants that had only just stepped onto the path of immortality. “The Yu family? It should just be a coincidence.” Su Qiongyue muttered to herself. She sensed that force again, and her expression suddenly changed. “I found it. It's right there!” Su Qiongyue's gaze locked onto a particular courtyard, and she flew toward it. She passed through the courtyard wall and over the rockery. Her gaze finally landed on a room. “Could it be……” she murmured. Her soul became ethereal once more as she concealed her aura and slowly approached the window. The next moment. Su Qiongyue's pupils contracted sharply, and her face filled with astonishment. Inside the room. A young man was sitting cross-legged on the bed. Moonlight streamed through the window and fell upon his body. The young man's face was pale, his forehead covered in cold sweat. Wisps of pure white Moon-Soul power descended from the moonlight, continuously surging into his body. And the power that had driven Su Qiongyue into a frenzy of longing…… Was actually emanating from his soul!