304: Chapter 304: The Body-Seizing Array

After three consecutive days of indulgence.

News arrived from the Deacon Hall.

Sect Master Li Jiuyou had summoned him.

When Xiao Ran received the message, he was on the bed, recovering his strength.

After receiving the information, Xiao Ran bade farewell to the reluctant Poison Lady.

After all, the Sect Master's summons was the most important matter of his return this time.

Three days. He had waited for three days, and finally, it had arrived.

With the Sect Master summoning him, he did not need to think to know what it was about.

The Third Supreme Elder could not wait any longer.

For this epic meeting, Xiao Ran specifically tidied his robes before leaving.

The black robe was new; it was the standard-issue robe for a Demon Child of the Eternal Night Demon Sect, with a white jade belt cinched at his waist and a purple gold crown upon his head.

He looked just like an ordinary Demon Child.

His aura at the Peak Soul Transformation Stage leaked out just right—neither ostentatious nor understated.

He then turned and walked out of the Eternal Night Palace.

Behind him, Poison Lady watched his back, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

She did not know what Xiao Ran was going to do, but she knew it must be very dangerous.

Xiao Ran did not say, and she did not ask.

She simply stood there, watching him disappear into the twilight.

Xiao Ran transformed into a streak of light and flew toward the Main Peak.

Main Peak, Council Hall.

Sect Master Li Jiuyou sat on the main seat, holding a cup of tea in his hand.

His expression was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Xiao Ran walked into the great hall and cupped his hands, saying, "Disciple Xiao Ran greets the Sect Master."

Sect Master Li Jiuyou set down his tea cup and looked at him.

His gaze lingered on Xiao Ran for a long time, scanning from top to bottom, from left to right, as if examining a piece of merchandise.

Xiao Ran's aura was at the Peak Soul Transformation Stage.

Seeing this, a flash of satisfaction crossed Sect Master Li Jiuyou's eyes, but it quickly returned to calm.

"You've come?" Sect Master Li Jiuyou asked.

Xiao Ran nodded, "This Disciple has arrived."

Sect Master Li Jiuyou stood up, walked to the window, and turned his back to Xiao Ran.

"I have heard about the matters in the Far North Land, and I am very gratified."

Xiao Ran replied modestly, "Sect Master, you overpraise; this Disciple merely did what was within his duty."

Sect Master Li Jiuyou turned around and looked at him.

"Xiao Ran, do you know that the Third Supreme Elder has been keeping an eye on you?"

Xiao Ran's heart stirred, but his expression remained calm.

"This Disciple does not know."

Sect Master Li Jiuyou looked at him, silent for a moment.

"The Third Supreme Elder has recently come out of seclusion. He says you are the most outstanding Disciple the Eternal Night Demon Sect has seen in a thousand years, and he wishes to meet you in person."

Xiao Ran's face showed an expression of being overwhelmed by the favor.

"What virtue or ability does this Disciple possess to be summoned in person by the Grand Elder?"

Sect Master Li Jiuyou waved his hand, "No need for modesty. Let us go; the Grand Elder is waiting for you at the Cave of Ten Thousand Demons."

"He, the old man, does not like to be kept waiting."

Xiao Ran cupped his hands, "This Disciple obeys."

Sect Master Li Jiuyou took a step and walked out of the great hall.

Xiao Ran followed behind him.

The two, one after the other, walked out of the Council Hall and flew toward the back mountain.

Along the way, Xiao Ran carefully observed the surrounding environment.

From the Main Peak to the back mountain, one had to pass through a long flight of stone steps.

On both sides of the stone steps was a dense forest of ancient trees.

The forest was gloomy; sunlight could not penetrate the leaves, and only dappled light and shadows were cast upon the ground.

Xiao Ran noticed that some runes were carved onto the ancient trees on both sides of the stone steps.

The runes were very concealed, covered by a powerful Divine Ability; one could not see them at all without looking carefully.

But how keen was Xiao Ran's Divine Sense? He discovered them immediately.

"This Formation..." Xiao Ran's heart stirred.

He recognized those runes.

This was an ancient auxiliary Possession Formation, capable of suppressing the Divine Soul of the one being possessed, making it easier for the possessor to occupy the Physical Body.

The range covered by the Formation was vast, extending from the start of the stone steps all the way to the entrance of the Cave of Ten Thousand Demons.

In other words, from the moment he stepped onto the stone steps, he had already entered the Third Supreme Elder's trap.

But Xiao Ran did not panic.

He had long expected this.

He continued to follow behind Sect Master Li Jiuyou, his expression calm, as if he had discovered nothing.

After walking for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, a pitch-black cave entrance appeared ahead.

The entrance was about three zhang high and five zhang wide; the cave walls were made of black rock, covered with dark golden runes.

The runes flowed, emitting a suffocating aura.

Above the entrance, three blood-red characters were carved.

Cave of Ten Thousand Demons.

Sect Master Li Jiuyou stopped and turned to look at Xiao Ran.

"The Grand Elder is waiting for you inside. Go in."

Xiao Ran cupped his hands, "Is the Sect Master not going in?"

Sect Master Li Jiuyou shook his head.

"The Grand Elder only wishes to see you alone. I will wait outside."

Xiao Ran nodded, took a deep breath, and stepped into the Cave of Ten Thousand Demons.

It was very dark inside the cave; only dark red magma flowed within the rock crevices, emitting a bubbling sound.

The air was filled with a scent of decay; a single breath made one's throat tighten.

Xiao Ran circulated his Guixu Body, devouring and converting the surrounding aura.

His Divine Sense expanded, enveloping the entire cavern.

Xiao Ran saw that the walls on both sides of the cavern were covered with dense, intricate runes.

Those runes were connected to the Formation outside, together forming a massive Possession Formation.

The center of the Formation was where the Third Supreme Elder was located.

If he hadn't guessed wrong, the Third Supreme Elder had already prepared everything for the Possession at this moment.

"Old thing, you just couldn't wait." Xiao Ran sneered inwardly.

He walked for a long time until an altar appeared ahead.

The altar was three zhang high and nine zhang wide, with all four sides covered in dark golden runes.

The runes flowed, emitting a faint, eerie light.

On the altar, an old man sat cross-legged.

The old man wore a faded black Daoist robe, his face withered, so thin he was nothing but a skeleton.

But Xiao Ran knew that inside this seemingly decaying body hid the terrifying power of the Body Integration Peak.

The old man opened his eyes.

Gray eyes stared at Xiao Ran; there were no pupils, looking like two cloudy glass beads.

"Disciple Xiao Ran greets the Grand Elder." Xiao Ran cupped his hands, his posture respectful.

The old man nodded, a smile curving the corners of his mouth.

"Rise; there is no need for such formalities."

Xiao Ran stood up, stood before the altar, and looked up at the old man.

The old man's gaze swept up and down over him, as if admiring a piece of exquisite porcelain.

"The Myriad Dao Guixu Body is truly worthy of its reputation; your Foundation is very solid, your Qi is very pure, without a trace of Impurities."

His voice was hoarse, like wind blowing through withered branches, carrying a sense of ancient exhaustion.

Xiao Ran replied modestly, "Grand Elder, you overpraise."

The old man waved his hand, "This seat has lived for nine thousand three hundred years and has seen countless Geniuses, but those with such outstanding Aptitude as you are few and far between."

His tone carried a hint of admiration.

Xiao Ran did not speak.

The old man continued, "I have heard of your deeds in the Far North Land; having a Disciple like you in the Eternal Night Demon Sect is this seat's good fortune."

Xiao Ran cupped his hands, "This Disciple dares not accept such praise; this Disciple was merely lucky."

The old man laughed.

"Lucky? There is no such thing as luck in this world."

"You have reached where you are today not by luck, but by strength."

His voice carried a hint of emotion.

Xiao Ran was silent.

The old man looked at him, a flicker of complexity flashing through his gray eyes.

"Xiao Ran, do you know why this seat wishes to see you?"

Xiao Ran shook his head, "This Disciple does not know."

The old man stood up and walked down from the altar.

He walked to Xiao Ran, his withered hand resting on Xiao Ran's shoulder.

"Because this seat wants to pass on a Divine Ability to you."

"You are my Named Disciple, yet I have never given you any benefits."

"That simply will not do!"

The old man's voice was very soft, as soft as wind blowing over withered leaves.

A flash of surprise crossed Xiao Ran's eyes, but it quickly returned to calm.

"What virtue or ability does this Disciple possess..."

The old man interrupted him, "You need not be modest. This Divine Ability is the essence of my life's learning, named the Myriad Soul Heaven-Devouring Art."

"Cultivating this method allows one to devour the Divine Soul of others for one's own use, strengthening one's own Divine Soul. With your Myriad Dao Guixu Body, cultivating this Divine Ability will yield twice the result with half the effort."

Xiao Ran's heart stirred.

Devouring Divine Souls? Isn't this the prelude to Possession?

The old thing wants to use the name of passing on a technique to devour his Divine Soul.

He isn't even pretending anymore.

Very good! Very good! Very good!!!

It just so happens that he can counter him.

Xiao Ran, however, showed an expression of excitement on his face.

"Many thanks, Grand Elder!"

The old man nodded with satisfaction.

"Sit cross-legged and close your eyes. This seat will transmit Divine Sense into your Sea of Consciousness; you shall Cultivate according to my guidance."

Xiao Ran followed instructions and sat cross-legged, closing his eyes.

His Divine Sense was internalized, but his vigilance was raised to the maximum.

The Guixu Vortex slowly rotated in his Dantian, ready to erupt at any moment.