82: Soul Shadow

Underground.

Mo Xuan used his innate talent to part the water, preventing Zhou Leren from drowning.

One person and one snake passed through the underground river and arrived at the end of the grotto.

Mo Xuan took out the Legacy token and handed it to Zhou Leren, then his figure flickered and he entered the spirit beast pendant.

However, he did not relax his vigilance; once there was any danger, he could quickly react to ensure Zhou Leren's safety.

Zhou Leren took the Legacy token, looked at the shimmering stone door, took a deep breath, and released the trembling token.

The token, freed from Zhou Leren's grasp, followed the stone door's pull to the central groove of the stone door and imprinted itself there.

The stone door shook slightly, and Zhou Leren retreated a few steps, his eyes fixed on the changes in the stone door.

Before long, the shaking subsided, the light dispersed, and the stone door slowly opened, revealing the scene inside.

Behind the stone door was a small Immortal Cave, with several bookshelves, but they were already rotten and covered with moss.

Zhou Leren saw the commotion subside and no other changes occurring around him, so he bravely walked inside.

Looking at the rotten ancient texts and Jade Slips on the bookshelves, Zhou Leren felt a pang of heartache.

Although they were already indistinguishable, being hidden by a Golden Core Immortal Master, they must have been extraordinary items, but now they had all been swallowed by time.

The books were one thing, but the Jade Slips were also completely destroyed; Zhou Leren picked them up one by one, placed them on his brow to examine, but found nothing.

Zhou Leren sighed, having no choice but to accept this fact; though unwilling, he could only reluctantly accept it.

If only he had come earlier... A few unrealistic thoughts flashed through Zhou Leren's mind.

Passing the bookshelves, Zhou Leren continued to look around; besides a few stone tables and stone stools, there was only a stone bed inside.

On the stone bed sat a human skeleton in a cross-legged position; the flesh had long since vanished, and beside the skeleton was a stone circular disk, dim and dusty, inconspicuous.

"Senior, I apologize for disturbing you."

Zhou Leren observed carefully and found no other figures besides the human skeleton on the stone bed, then he bowed respectfully to the skeleton.

He made a judgment in his heart: this should be the owner of this Immortal Cave, who must have been a Golden Core Immortal Master in his lifetime, but in the end, he could only silently pass away here.

"You're finally here!"

Just as Zhou Leren was bowing, a low, hoarse voice sounded in Zhou Leren's ear.

Zhou Leren's face showed horror; he looked up at the stone bed and saw a dim Soul shadow floating on the stone circular disk beside the human skeleton.

"This is... a Nascent Soul?"

Zhou Leren exclaimed in shock.

A monstrous wave surged in his heart.

"How can it be a Nascent Soul?"

"Could it be that Old Ancestor and Grandpa's judgments were both wrong?"

Zhou Leren's cold sweat poured down, extremely unsettled; if so, wouldn't even Old Ancestor be caught in this danger?

"Don't panic!"

Mo Xuan's voice rang in Zhou Leren's mind.

When this Soul shadow appeared, the always vigilant Mo Xuan almost prepared to take Zhou Leren and flee.

However, he did not feel any threat from this Soul shadow, which was why he suppressed his thumping heart.

Hearing this, Zhou Leren finally calmed down and bowed to the Soul shadow, saying:

"Junior Cultivator, Zhou Leren of the Zhou Family greets Senior."

"Oh?"

"You're not afraid of me?"

The Soul shadow felt a little strange in his heart; this kid was just in a panic, how did he suddenly calm down?

"Not afraid!"

Zhou Leren's voice, though tender, was resolute.

"With Senior's ability, if you wanted to harm Junior, how could Junior escape Senior's grasp?"

After speaking, Zhou Leren added another sentence.

"Hehe~"

The Soul shadow shook his head, seeming to see through Zhou Leren's insincere words, but he didn't mind.

"I am not a Nascent Soul; I am merely a remnant Soul."

The Soul shadow spoke faintly, his tone desolate, with a hint of unwillingness and regret.

Hearing this, Zhou Leren's face showed confusion; although he had never seen a Nascent Soul True Lord, if it wasn't a Nascent Soul, how could he maintain his Soul for so long without perishing?

"Back then, I forcibly attempted to Breakthrough to Nascent Soul, and although I failed, I still gained some of the power of the Nascent Soul Stage, which is why I could wait until now."

"However, it's just a lingering existence."

The Soul shadow saw Zhou Leren's confusion and explained.

"Does Senior have a Nascent Soul Stage Legacy?"

Zhou Leren's eyes lit up, and he quickly asked.

"Heh..."

"It's precisely because I lacked a Nascent Soul Legacy that I ended up in this state."

The Soul shadow let out a laugh, but it was quite bitter.

"Senior, please forgive me!"

Realizing his inappropriateness just now, Zhou Leren apologized to the Soul shadow.

"No matter."

"Although I don't know how you, with your body devoid of cultivation, found this place, my time is short, and I can't wait any longer."

"From now on, you will be my Personal Disciple, inheriting my mantle and my Dao Legacy. Are you willing?"

The Soul shadow spoke solemnly, his voice steady.

"Junior is willing!"

Zhou Leren's heart trembled; such a good thing, he should agree first.

"Good, good, good!"

"Come forward and kowtow three times to complete the ceremony of master and Disciple."

The Soul shadow's tone was slightly excited, seemingly happy to have a successor.

Zhou Leren hesitated only briefly before walking forward, coming before the stone bed, and bowing to the human skeleton.

"Disciple greets Master!"

Zhou Leren said loudly, kowtowing to the skeleton.

The Soul shadow looked at Zhou Leren, who was about to bow before him, and his heart became increasingly filled with anticipation.

One bow, two bows... Seeing Zhou Leren completely lower his guard, the Soul shadow grew more delighted. Just as Zhou Leren was about to perform the third bow, the Soul shadow laughed heartily:

"Good Disciple, I'll borrow your body for a moment."

After speaking, while Zhou Leren was stunned, the Soul shadow dissipated from the stone disk, transforming into a black stream of light that shot straight towards Zhou Leren's glabella.

"Hahahahaha..."

The Soul shadow's hearty voice echoed in the stone cave.

"Bang!"

"Damn it..."

"Who dares to ruin this Lord's good fortune!"

The Soul shadow was exasperated; the stream of light dispersed, and he reappeared in his form.

Just as the Soul shadow was about to touch Zhou Leren's glabella, he was blocked by a water curtain and could not advance an inch.

The Soul shadow's strength had long since completely declined; otherwise, he wouldn't even need to use tricks on Zhou Leren, who had not yet entered the Qi Refining First Layer.

He made Zhou Leren completely lower his guard before daring to perform Soul Possession.

"Hmph!"

Mo Xuan slowly flew out of the spirit beast pendant and coldly snorted at the Soul shadow before him.

Zhou Leren recovered, a cold sweat breaking out on his back. He had indeed let down his guard just now; if Mo Xuan hadn't been by his side, perhaps... Mo Xuan's Mid-stage Foundation Establishment might slowly spread out.

"Senior's actions are truly despicable."

Mo Xuan looked at the Soul shadow before him and spoke faintly. He himself was almost deceived by this person just now; thankfully, he had kept a watchful eye.