Chapter Seventy-Seven: Possession

Judging by appearances, the elder who looked even older than the old Taoist must be the sect leader. His cultivation was only a bit higher than the old Taoist’s, just enough to handle ordinary minor spirits; anything stronger would put them all in serious difficulty.

“Junior Brother Wu, there is a matter within the sect that requires your decision,” the sect leader said.

“Please speak, Senior Brother Sect Leader.”

“It’s like this: a few days ago, Junior Brother Li’s disciple married Junior Brother Zhang’s daughter. Our junior brother gifted them a mirror. However, there are two people, but only one mirror—it’s a bit awkward. I heard you have another mirror, so Junior Brother Li and Junior Brother Zhang have come to ask for it.” The sect leader pointed to the two elders seated nearby.

That day, the old Taoist had given the mirror out of admiration for these two, who were the most outstanding disciples in the sect—especially as they had become Dao companions. Thus, he had offered his treasured lower-grade spiritual treasure.

Besides the mirror Yuan Wuji had given away, the old Taoist had parted with his only other mirror. Now, there were none left.

“Junior Brother Wu, could you bear to part with it? I will certainly reward you handsomely,” said Senior Brother Li.

Hearing this, the old Taoist could only force a bitter smile. That mirror had already been given away by Yuan Wuji; how could there be another? Moreover, the mirror was now tainted with an aura of evil spirits—let alone using it, just carrying it around could bring harm to one’s health.

“Senior Brother, there’s truly only one mirror. I really don’t have another,” the old Taoist said, bracing himself. He’d been a bit too loose-tongued after drinking that day, and now could only feign ignorance.

“Junior Brother, if you can produce the other mirror, you may name your price and I will do my best to fulfill it.”

It was clear they didn’t believe him, thinking he was just unwilling to hand over the mirror. After all, the power of the mirror had left a deep impression—something they’d never seen before.

“I really don’t have another, Senior Brother.”

“Are you sure, Junior Brother?” Both Senior Brother Li and Senior Brother Zhang’s faces turned grim, convinced the old Taoist was simply refusing.

“Junior Brother Wu, Li’s disciple and Zhang’s daughter are the most talented youths of our sect. Entrusting them with the spiritual treasure would be most fitting and would not disgrace its power,” the sect leader added, siding with Li.

The old Taoist hadn’t expected that a single spiritual treasure would make him the enemy of everyone here, but perhaps it was inevitable. A lower-grade spiritual treasure was not something minor ghost-catchers like them could even hope to see, let alone possess—now, two had surfaced at once, and old bonds of brotherhood meant nothing in comparison.

“Senior Brother, I wish I could give it to them, but I truly don’t have it.” He hadn’t imagined that giving away a single mirror would cause him so much trouble; he’d never have parted with it if he’d known.

“So, you really won’t hand it over, Junior Brother?”

“If you don’t give it up today, you’re not leaving,” they pressed.

“Junior Brother Wu, you’d better just hand it over. You’re already half in the grave. Give it to the next generation and they’ll remember your kindness. When you’re gone, someone will see you off,” another junior brother threatened, standing with Li and Zhang in making things difficult. Clearly, they’d all been waiting for him here.

“You…” The old Taoist was so angry he could barely speak. Every time he returned after catching spirits, he would come here to meet the sect leader—it was tradition.

But today, it had turned into a trap, with even the sect leader involved. What’s more, they had arranged themselves subtly, blocking off the only exit.

“You’re digging your own graves,” came an imperious voice—but though the body was the old Taoist’s, it was Yuan Wuji now in control.

In his previous life, Yuan Wuji had seen far too many people who betrayed principle for profit. If he let them play out their little schemes, it would drag on for days, maybe weeks, with no end in sight.

This world was one where the strong preyed on the weak; before overwhelming power, all their plots were nothing but paper.

They were afraid of the old Taoist’s spiritual treasure—otherwise, they wouldn’t have waited here, nor brought all the sect’s top members.

“Junior Brother Wu, you’re getting too full of yourself. Let me teach you a lesson!” Senior Brother Li snarled, drawing a mirror from his robe and attacking. It was, of course, the very spiritual treasure the old Taoist had given away.

Li feared the old Taoist would use the treasure against him, knowing well its might. To be safe, he wielded it first.

Ordinarily, the old Taoist would never have been a match for Li. But now, with Yuan Wuji in control—even if Li was given a hundred treasures, in Yuan Wuji’s eyes he was just a child.

With a muffled crash, before Li could even approach, Yuan Wuji pressed down through the air, pinning Li into the ground. Who knew how many bones broke; only his barely alive head stuck out.

Yuan Wuji barely considered these mortals worth his effort, but a whimsical idea occurred to him—now was a good time to test his theories.

“Old man, I’ll let you live a bit longer. You’ll get to see something interesting,” Yuan Wuji squatted down, addressing Li’s battered head.

He picked up the mirror that had fallen nearby and tossed it to the sect leader.

“Old man, call those two youngsters here,” he commanded.

No one had expected that the always weak Junior Brother Wu would display such formidable strength, dispatching Li in a single move.

“Junior Brother Wu, I’m your senior brother—how can you speak to me like that?” the sect leader tried to appeal to their brotherhood, but his expression turned to terror a moment later.

Without another word, Yuan Wuji kicked him in the groin, then slapped him flying, seating himself at the head.

“I have no patience for nonsense. If you don’t move, I’ll cripple you completely—and the rest of you, too.” Yuan Wuji pointed at everyone present.

“Junior Brother Wu—”

A bang cut him off. An elder tried to speak, but Yuan Wuji crushed him from a distance before he could finish. The bloody warning made everyone tremble in fear.

The sect leader, collapsed on the floor, was so frightened by Yuan Wuji’s methods that he crawled desperately for the door, not wanting to be the next to die.

“You’d best hurry, or by the time you return, who knows how many I’ll have killed. But don’t worry—I won’t kill you,” Yuan Wuji said to Senior Brother Zhang, who, like Li, still had some value left.

Zhang was relieved, yet all the more terrified.

The sect leader quickly brought a young man and woman. When the young man saw Senior Brother Li embedded in the floor, his pupils contracted sharply. Clearly, the sect leader had not told them the truth.