CHAPTER 638: CHAPTER 637: BYE-BYE!

If it weren’t for the system’s notification, Jiang Yuan wouldn’t have known that he had already experienced an unsuccessful soul possess attempt!

It didn’t feel like anything at all, not painful or itchy, unlike the little monsters lurking in mysterious caves that might suddenly jump out. Even if they knocked off some health points, it wouldn’t hurt, but at least it would highlight the health bar.

The other party launched a possession curse, and not only did it not light up my health bar, but I also got an achievement. Just thinking about it is a bit funny.

"A tool that can reflect curses..." He pondered, realizing that such an inconspicuous method was indeed hard to guard against. Just spend the money for peace of mind; after all, it’s not too expensive.

Click to purchase, and the account balance fluctuated as a black card gleamed into the storage bag.

[Would you like to use the "Bounce Bounce Bounce" set? Once equipped, you can check the remaining uses in the personal interface]

After equipping, Jiang Yuan’s mind moved to open the personal interface, and sure enough, he saw a black card at the bottom right corner showing ten remaining uses.

"You better behave now; maybe it’ll end quickly for you." He looked sincerely at Hu Zhili, trapped in the net, and said, "Curses don’t work on me. Save your strength."

Later, I’ll let my contract pet have some fun with you. Don’t mess around and end up screwing yourself over.

"Huh? Did he just curse the Void Hunter?"

"I didn’t see any unusual actions; is it true or false?"

"The curse technique is truly powerful, hard to defend against."

"It surely requires a great price; just look at his current appearance..."

The onlooking fox demons didn’t dare to get close or leave, fearing the Void Hunter would resolve this mess and leave immediately. They stayed to keep a close eye on the rapid changes, hoping to seize the chance to plead to be taken away.

In the dark, a move was made, leaving Jiang Yuan unscathed, but Hu Zhili was not so lucky.

He was bent on possessing the Void Hunter to acquire everything from him, willing to use soul power as a gamble. Failing the attempt left him instantly haggard, as if he aged decades in an instant.

Trying to possess someone who isn’t injured was certainly too difficult, but he couldn’t resign himself without trying.

If the possession curse was useless, then step back and use the forceful plunder curse!

Possession directly replaces the other’s soul, using their body and identity to own everything of theirs; forceful plunder is a bit lacking, unable to occupy the other’s body, but things like lifespan, magical treasures, and even some memories can be randomly taken.

Just the Immortal Shuttle that can traverse the void was enough to take the gamble!

[Hu Zhili initiated a forceful plunder curse on you, causing no harm]

[Bounce Bounce Bounce, all curses unfavorable to you are reflected!]

[Lifespan +368 years]

[Hu Zhili’s lifebound weapon corrupted by a mysterious aura: Shattered Frost Sword +1]

[Hu Zhili’s magical treasure corrupted by a mysterious aura: Shattered Frost Pearl +1]

[Hu Zhili’s Memory Fragments +1]

......

"I told you, curses don’t work on me. Why bother?" Jiang Yuan didn’t lift a finger; he just watched two notifications fly by in his line of sight, and the curse reflection handed him benefits on a silver platter, making him laugh.

Hu Zhili’s lifespan was suddenly reduced by over three hundred years. His long black hair, once held up by a jade hairpin, began to turn white, and he aged from his thirties to his seventies or eighties instantly, with wrinkles visibly appearing on his face.

"Venerable Family, what happened to him?" Hu Zhile looked bewildered. Clearly, both sides kept their distance without making moves; how did the old fox suddenly wither?

Jiang Yuan shrugged with an innocent look, "I told him not to curse me; it’s pointless. He wouldn’t listen, first trying the possession curse, and after failing, he used the forceful plunder curse, ending up like this. Zhile, you better figure out what to do with him; I fear if we wait, he’ll kill himself."

"Hahaha!" She bent over with laughter, pointing at the fox demons watching the show not far away, and said, "Hu Zhili, you’ve really made a mess of that name. Not wise at all! How dare you think of possessing the Venerable Family? Any one of them you possess would have a much higher success rate than this.

Failing once and still not learning a lesson, stubbornly sticking to one target and plucking it to death, hahaha... No wonder you fancy those losers; only they are dumb and useless enough to make you look smart and capable, right?"

Though ridiculed, the meticulous Hu Zhile was well aware she didn’t have the Venerable Family’s power.

If the old fox had a backup plan, relaxing vigilance now could lead to disaster. At the same time, she felt somewhat fortunate and afraid; luckily, the old fox’s greed fixed his gaze on the Venerable Family. Otherwise, it would truly be indefensible.

The suddenly aged Hu Zhili swept a sinister gaze over the crowd outside the net, knowing his lifespan was nearly at its end. He chuckled bitterly, "Do you really think I’m that dumb? You’ve already been hit by the blood kin curse, unable to cast any more curses;

They... huh, what Zhixun said is true. We’ve long become bizarre, merely using the pills made by Hu Da’an to mask our aura and deceive you. The curse techniques I’ve learned target cultivators and can’t target bizarre bodies, so I had to go all-in and try cursing Jiang Dao You."

"Fellow Daoist, don’t listen to his nonsense! We are all righteous cultivators!"

"His son turned into a strange creature, biting and slandering us randomly. Now he is also going along with it, unwilling to let us live well. Fellow cultivator, you must distinguish right from wrong!"

"That’s right, Hu Zhili, this scoundrel who might kill his own children at any time, cannot be trusted with even half a word..."

......

His words broke the others’ defenses, but fearing Hu Zhili’s potential sneaky tricks, no one dared to approach, only cursing from afar.

"This strong arming curse technique is quite interesting." Jiang Yuan took out a thin book of memory fragments from the storage bag, opened it for a glance, and raised his eyebrows, "Really? You learned curse techniques from your big sister, then usurped her lifespan, cultivation, and parental love?"

Tsk tsk, you dislike Hu Zhile because she looks like your elder aunt, and seeing her face makes you guilty, always feeling that your sister might have placed a deadly curse on you before her death. Worried you’ll die by her hand someday? But numerous attempts to harm her have failed, if that’s the case..."

He handed the book to Hu Zhile and, with interest, looked at Hu Zhili, saying, "Your sister might have indeed cursed you. Maybe that’s why Hu Zhile has survived through adversity, giving her a chance to return and claim your life. This is what they mean by the Heavenly Dao has good cycles!"

His attempt to seize from others failed, and his deepest secret was exposed. Hu Zhili stared at the face almost identical to his sister, listening to the heart-condemning words, frantically shouting, "That’s right! I hated her superior cultivation talent and her countless adoration. I was jealous of her!

I sought learning of curse techniques from her, cursed her when she was off guard, and killed her.

A cultivator dying should vanish completely into nothingness, yet on her hundredth day post-death, Hu Zhile was born with the same face identical to her... Hu Zhile, I’ve always wanted to kill you, but you’ve been lucky enough to evade. Now you’ve won, kill me!"

Caught in the capture net, he roared like a madman. Hu Zhile read through the memory fragments with a faint smile, "I was just hesitating whether to end you swiftly with a sword, but your bit of fatherly love touched me."

She turned to Jiang Yuan, smiling lightly, "Venerable family, I’ve decided how to deal with him, please lend your aid."

The palace ruins were ready-made. They purposely chose a piece of debris about the same size as the world fragment where Hu Zhile settled with her younger sister back then, tying Hu Zhili up and dragging him to its edge.

"Since you’re still alive and well, it shows I don’t intend to kill you." Hu Zhile deliberately stuffed the memory fragments into his bosom, "Here, back then I had my sister for company, it wasn’t lonely. I’m giving you a book to keep company now. The rest depends on your fate; don’t give up too early. Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to meet someone in the void for rescue."

Hu Zhili struggled desperately, but the curse backlash had exhausted his spirit root, leaving him without spiritual power to break free from the capture net.

Gazing into the vast, deep void, fear consumed him, his voice trembled, pleading, "Zhile, kill me! Don’t, don’t let me wander in the void again; I’ve drifted enough back then! Kill me! Don’t you hate me to death? Kill me to vent!"

"So you can feel fear too?" Hu Zhile watched him, smiling gently, "I’ve dreamed countless times about days almost dying from hunger. You are much better off now than we were back then, at least you don’t have kin eyeing your flesh and blood."

She stood with clasped hands, taking a deep breath, "Father, the vast void awaits, please take care."

Jiang Yuan kicked the palace debris out.

The boundless void stretched as far as the eye could see; those more timid might wet themselves from just peering into it. Hu Zhili roared repeatedly but did not wet himself, yet his limited lifespan and withered elixir field spirit root, even a Daluo Golden Immortal descending could not save him.

Drifting in a void without spiritual energy, either he ends himself or starves to death.

Farewell to you!

[Hu Zhile’s Inner Obsession Resolved: 100%]

[Side Quest: Hu Zhile’s Obsession]

[Quest 6: Assist Hu Zhile in resolving inner obsession, completed. Reward: Thousand Mechanism Moistening Spirit Pill formula issued]

Watching the fragment drift farther, the calls for help growing fainter, Jiang Yuan clapped his hands and activated the courtyard communicator.

Finally completing a side quest, he clicked to use the awarded pill formula, checking what herbs were needed to refine the Thousand Mechanism Moistening Spirit Pill.

"The higher end and excellent medicines need more and rarer herbs; hopefully Miss Hu Jiu can help find channels to procure more." He thought it was best to refine several batches to replenish the members of the small courtyard, aspiring to restore all to celestial spirit roots.

With the most crucial play done and obsessions unraveled, they awaited Hu Zhili’s death and curse release.

Left was a total slaughter, to eliminate all anomalies, and claim these world remnants truly as their own!

"Jiang Dao You, look... hehehe." Turning, he met the six fox demon anomalies trailing closely behind.

Hu Jun, the leader, rubbed his hands with a smile, "Is our deal still valid? We can help mine together! As long as we can leave this place for a new world, we’ll agree to anything!"

Jiang Yuan didn’t reply, but directed his gaze to Hu Zhile, indicating her to make the decision.

Hu Zhile grabbed hold and smiled, "As said, Elder Ninth, you remember me right? Though I couldn’t land on this piece of earth, I know everyone has hardships, I don’t resent anyone.

Hatred is only for Hu Zhili abandoning us, and then cursing to kill me. Despite this, I choose not to take his life, instead banishing him.

Still, the venerable family’s Immortal Shuttle has only three seats. Among you six, who stays, who leaves?

All are kin; I’m not suited to decide. Better to follow your old rule—survival of the fittest, whoever can win in combat has the spot, okay?"