Chapter 2046

Chapter 2046: Layers of Suspicious Fog

A mystic had once read their fate, saying the two sisters complemented each other. As long as their bond remained strong, the Mingchuan family would rise to greater heights. However, there was one catch: a destined calamity awaited them.

As they grew, Mingchuan Yangzi and Mingchuan Yunzi proved both intelligent and capable. Though not sharing the same mother, their affection was as deep as that of full sisters.

This peaceful life continued until a few months ago. To save Mingchuan Yunzi, Yangzi fell victim to a curse from a sorcerer, leading to a car accident that caused her soul to leave her body.

To rescue Yangzi, Yunzi made a deal with the Eight-Headed Serpent. Using her own fortune, she found a vessel for Yangzi’s soul: Yu Qingyun.

Yangzi’s soul needed to hide within Yu Qingyun’s body for nine months before it could return to its original form. Since one body can only hold one soul, Yunzi learned techniques from the Eight-Headed Serpent to strip Yu Qingyun’s soul from her body and imprison it within a book. This book was hidden in the middle drawer of the dressing table in Yunzi’s bedroom.

The so-called amnesia was a lie, told only to the public. The identity of "Mingchuan Nianlang" was also fake. This was why Yu Qingyun, housing Yangzi’s soul, lived in this secluded place. Aside from daily caretakers, no one visited, allowing them to hide for the nine months. They never expected Zhu Yanyi and her group to appear and take Yu Qingyun’s body away first.

Zhu Yanyi looked at the Eight-Headed Serpent. "You do such wicked things. I bet you’ve done many. You call yourself a god, but you are truly the main culprit."

The Eight-Headed Serpent shook its head frantically, explaining that it acted only on behalf of others. It revealed the appearance of the person who commissioned it. Zhu Yanyi realized the serpent was merely a figurehead; the mastermind was someone else.

Zhu Yanyi looked at the serpent with surprise. "Do you know? I wanted to kill you. I thought you were just a reptile, and I could eat your meat. But now, I see you’ve done too much evil. You should be destroyed by the Heavenly Dao. How can you enjoy worship here?"

The serpent had nothing to say. Over the years, its only lesson was self-preservation.

"You look nothing like a divine beast. Even though I know you are fake, why are you so afraid?" Zhu Yanyi said calmly, then her eyes twinkled.

"I give you two choices. First, I use Binglan to burn you to ashes." She smiled, playing with Binglan, her threat very clear.

The serpent shook its head vigorously. It did not want to be burned. It looked at Zhu Yanyi.

Zhu Yanyi said softly, "The second choice is simple. Split your divine soul in half and give me one part. You will become the Zhu family’s subordinate and guardian spirit. As a guardian, we will offer sacrifices during festivals. That is all."

The serpent did not want to give up half its soul, as it would then be controlled by others.

"If you refuse, you become ashes," Zhu Yanyi said slowly. She did not care if it agreed; it was just a suggestion.

She wanted the serpent to protect the Zhu family when she was away. Though not a true divine beast, it was a rare intelligent creature. With it guarding the family secretly, their safety would be assured.

Seeing Zhu Yanyi take out Binglan, the serpent thought nothing of it and spat out half its divine soul. It looked at Zhu Yanyi pitifully. Better to live poorly than die.

Zhu Yanyi collected the soul and nodded in satisfaction. "Stay here for a few days. I will come for you when I leave." She walked out of the temple.

With the truth known, Zhu Yanyi moved to the next step: retrieving the book imprisoning Yu Qingyun’s soul.

Back at her residence, she told Yan Aohan and the others.

Yan Aohan looked at the Eight-Headed Serpent’s soul pearl in Zhu Yanyi’s hand and nodded slightly. "Having the serpent as your family’s guardian spirit is good. Though it is just a reptile with limited cultivation, it ensures your relatives’ safety."

Yan Aohan also knew this was an opportunity for the serpent.

Without Zhu Yanyi, the serpent would struggle to ascend. But if it protected the Zhu family as instructed, ascension would not be a dream.

As the saying goes, when one person achieves the Dao, even chickens and dogs ascend. If Zhu Yanyi became a god, her family, though lacking cultivators, would be blessed by divine fortune. All descendants would enjoy divine protection and unique opportunities.

Similarly, the serpent, having contributed to the Zhu family, would receive its reward, making ascension possible.

Yan Aohan did not mention this. It was not a bad thing, so he kept silent.

"Now, we must find the book trapping Senior Brother Qingyun," Zhu Yanyi said slowly.

"I have never heard of such harmful acts. Using another’s body as a vessel to save someone is too excessive," Sikong Xuran said, always hating evil.

Zhu Yanyi smiled. "It is fine. Such actions have karma. The Mingchuan family did this, so retribution will fall on them."

Few believe in retribution now, but ancient people did.

Ancient belief was not necessarily superstition; it had its logic.

As a cultivator, Zhu Yanyi understood the importance of karma. If Mingchuan Yunzi did not find proper compensation and persisted, she might suffer personally, or the entire Mingchuan family could be implicated. This was karmic retribution.

Zhu Yanyi was angry at Yunzi’s actions. She was not naive and would not easily forgive. However, before dealing with her, Zhu Yanyi knew priorities. The current priority was retrieving Yu Qingyun’s soul.

"Aohan, as the Lord of the Underworld, you will need to help us find it," Zhu Yanyi said after thinking.