Training the Villain to Become a Big Sister Obsessed - Chapter 98

The phrase “the spring breeze never fades” lessened the sadness and reluctance of the young disciples at their separation. After returning from the cloud summit, everyone made their preparations. Lan Shan-jun received a message from Grandmaster Xuan and happened to be heading the same way as Xiao Jiu, who was going to find Elder Xue. The two walked slowly on the cloud steps, where few Academy students were moving around.

“You hardly see anyone in the Academy today. It’s really quiet.”

Xiao Jiu said, turning to the person beside her, and asked: “Are you heading back to Sleepless City soon?”

Lan Shan-jun nodded: “Ling Guang and the others are waiting for me by the Three Thousand Steps.”

“That’s nice, having company on the way back,” Xiao Jiu said enviously.

Lan Shan-jun smiled at her, teasing: “Don’t you have company too? Isn’t Elder Xue returning to the White Tiger Hall with you?”

Xiao Jiu stiffened completely. Her brows furrowed as she said in distress: “She’s definitely going back to complain. My mother will definitely listen to her and scold and punish me.”

“Ahem—” Lan Shan-jun lightly coughed a warning.

Xiao Jiu looked up and nearly bristled with shock upon seeing the smiling Elder Xue in the distance. She subconsciously reached out and pulled Lan Shan-jun’s sleeve, hiding behind her.

Lan Shan-jun chuckled at her a few times, then saluted Elder Xue from afar.

Pulling her sleeve out of Xiao Jiu’s grasp, Lan Shan-jun turned to head towards the Cloud Palace where Grandmaster Xuan handled matters, while Xiao Jiu slowly shuffled forward, head bowed and shoulders slumped.

The Cloud Palace was magnificent. The last time she was here, Lan Shan-jun had only viewed it from a distance below and hadn’t actually entered. Stepping over the three flights of high steps, she felt an inexplicable pressure in her heart, giving her the illusion that she was standing on the Three Thousand Steps.

Taking a deep breath, she walked up to the front of the Cloud Palace. What met her eyes were four extremely tall cloud pillars, about four people thick, their color gleaming like white jade. Intricately carved upon them were the Four Directions’ original forms, vividly lifelike: the Azure Dragon soaring through the clouds in arrogance, the Vermillion Bird spreading its wings high, the White Tiger engulfing thousands of miles with its aura, and the Black Tortoise as stable as a mountain.

Stepping into the floating mist, Lan Shan-jun slowly walked toward the center of the Hall and offered a shallow bow to the person seated in the high seat: “Grandmaster Xuan.”

“In this Hall, you must address me as Dao Xuan, the Celestial Elder.”

Grandmaster Xuan—Dao Xuan’s voice was softer than usual, but it carried an indescribable penetrating power that seemed to reach the depths of one’s soul.

Lan Shan-jun looked up, realizing then that Dao Xuan was seated cross-legged beneath a divine statue. The statue’s appearance was indistinct, its true form unseen, yet it radiated an immense, intangible pressure.

The immortal beneath the statue was equally solemn, dressed in a moon-white Dharma robe like gauze and mist. Exquisite silver cloud patterns were faintly visible on the long robe, making her look noble and detached, unlike anything worldly.

Recovering her composure, Lan Shan-jun respectfully bowed again, saying: “Dao Xuan, the Celestial Elder.”

Beyond her respect, what lingered in her heart was an unparalleled sense of awe and longing.

So this is what an immortal is like. No wonder so many cultivators were devoted to the Dao, seeking only to achieve immortality.

Dao Xuan nodded slightly. She raised two fingers, giving Lan Shan-jun no time to react before injecting a stream of immortal energy into her glabella.

Her Sea of Consciousness was then forcefully opened. Although the immortal energy protected Lan Shan-jun’s soul, she still felt an intense pain. Her legs weakened, unable to support her, and she immediately collapsed to her knees.

Cold sweat dripped down. Lan Shan-jun raised her head. She was now within her Sea of Consciousness, and Dao Xuan stood before her.

“Lan Shan, although Chang Feng gave you the power of wind, allowing you to develop the Wind Spirit Root, this body originally did not possess one. This existence is fundamentally forbidden by the Heavenly Dao. And your soul does not belong to the Four Seas, yet you occupy this body, which counts as a form of Soul Seizure.”

Lan Shan-jun gasped twice. She raised her head to look directly at Dao Xuan: “This was not my intention. How can you call it Soul Seizure?”

She naturally understood the gravity of Soul Seizure. If she were deemed a Soul Seizer, even her Master, the Eastern Lord, could not protect her.

Dao Xuan’s gaze slowly fell on the cage within the Sea of Consciousness, where a person who looked very similar to Lan Shan-jun sat quietly.

“You should know who the true owner of this body is. Since you have decided to stay here, you and she cannot co-exist. Even if you confine her within your Sea of Consciousness, the Heavenly Dao will eventually discover it. When that happens, both you and she will be obliterated.”

Upon hearing the word “obliterated,” Lan Shan-jun and Lan Yan looked at each other simultaneously.

Lan Yan suddenly stood up, rushing towards Dao Xuan, only to be stopped by the cage. She gripped the spiritual energy bars unwillingly. “Grandmaster Xuan, Grandmaster Xuan, I am the owner of this body! You possess vast divine powers, you know this! The one the Heavenly Dao should obliterate is her!”

Lan Yan pointed at Lan Shan-jun, saying agitatedly: “She shouldn’t be here! She seized and occupied my body!”

Lan Shan-jun watched Lan Yan accuse her without much panic. Since Dao Xuan directly opened her Sea of Consciousness and discussed this in front of both of them, she would not so easily conclude that she was a Soul Seizer.

“If we cannot co-exist in this body, is it possible to find another body and separate the soul?” Lan Shan-jun asked.

Dao Xuan smiled slightly, pleased by Lan Shan-jun’s shrewdness.

“I am very fortunate that you spoke of finding another body rather than simply killing her.” One of Dao Xuan’s hands behind her slowly dispersed its immortal energy. Had Lan Shan-jun shown even a fraction of killing intent towards Lan Yan, she would have instantly shattered Lan Shan-jun’s soul.

“Lan Shan, remember what I told you. Killing intent must not be too heavy.”

Lan Shan-jun lowered her eyes and affirmed this.

“The matter of recreating a body and splitting the soul is for the two of you to decide. I can only provide hints.”

The moment Dao Xuan finished speaking, Lan Shan-jun blinked and was suddenly outside the Sea of Consciousness, pushed out of the Cloud Palace by a force.

Standing below the Cloud Palace, Lan Shan-jun looked at her raised hand with complicated emotions.

“Recreating a body…”

“Lan Shan-jun, you don’t belong here. Why must you stay? You haven’t truly developed feelings for Cang Wu, have you?” Lan Yan asked incredulously.

These past few days, Lan Shan-jun had intentionally severed the connection between the Sea of Consciousness and the outside world. Although Lan Yan didn’t know exactly what happened, she could guess some things.

There was something illicit going on between Lan Shan-jun and Cang Wu!

“You haven’t done anything with her, have you?” Lan Yan suddenly asked seriously.

Lan Shan-jun lowered her eyelashes and said softly: “Recreating a body also means separating you out. Do you think I would give up this body?”

“Lan Shan-jun! Have you no shame! This is fundamentally my body! If anyone is going out, it’s you!” Lan Yan yelled angrily.

“I am not a Soul Seizer. Don’t act so innocent. When you first claimed to be the Book Spirit, didn’t you have ulterior motives? You tried every means to persuade me to kill the villain. Did you know something?” Lan Shan-jun said slowly.

Lan Yan was silent for a moment. When she spoke, the anger had subsided, and she reverted to the tone she used as the Book Spirit: “I was trying to help you go back. Didn’t you hear Senior Sister Xie’s words? If you kill Cang Wu, you can go back.”

Lan Shan-jun did not fall for her trap. She scoffed lightly: “Help me? You wanted me to be your scapegoat, didn’t you? You have memories of the previous life and know that you will die by Cang Wu’s sword. So you wanted to hide inside this body, wait for Cang Wu to become a demon, get me killed by her, and then regain control of this body. Is that right?”

“I will thoroughly research how to reconstruct a physical body. If all else fails, a puppet will suffice.”

“You—!”

Before Lan Yan could finish her outburst, Lan Shan-jun cut off the connection to the Sea of Consciousness.

She took one last look at the Cloud Palace. The sweat on her palms was dried by the wind, leaving a chill.

She certainly harbored killing intent toward Lan Yan, and that intent grew stronger as her determination to stay increased. The only reason she hesitated to act was Lan Yan’s identity—she was the person who rightfully belonged in this world.

If she killed her, would it alarm the Heavenly Dao? And would that put her in danger?

What Dao Xuan said today meant she couldn’t directly kill Lan Yan in the Sea of Consciousness. But after the soul separation…

Lan Shan-jun walked away down the cloud steps. Far above in the Cloud Palace, a pair of eyes watched her the entire time.

“Celestial Elder, if you were concerned, why didn’t you just kill that soul and take the Chaos Diagram, instead of telling them all this?”

Dao Xuan’s gaze shifted to an immortal crane that had just flown to her side. It was the one who had just spoken.

“You haven’t learned to transform into human form yet, but you’ve already learned to contemplate such matters.” Dao Xuan lightly tapped the crane’s head and did not continue the conversation.

On her way to the Three Thousand Steps, Lan Shan-jun saw Xiao Jiu again, carrying a fox she must have acquired somewhere.

Qingyun Academy has foxes?

Approaching with curiosity, Lan Shan-jun stroked the fox’s ear: “Where did this come from?”

Xiao Jiu replied: “I found it.”

Lan Shan-jun frowned. Found it? The entire Academy was above the clouds. This fox didn’t seem to have developed spiritual intelligence yet. If not careful, it would fall and lose its life. Which thoughtless person brought it up here?

The little fox trembled in fear in Xiao Jiu’s arms. Its eyes were blood-red, staring unblinkingly at Lan Shan-jun.

Lan Shan-jun usually loved such furry animals, but looking at this fox, she felt a strange sense of aversion.

Just as she was about to withdraw her hand, the fox suddenly went berserk, opening its mouth to bite. Lan Shan-jun dodged quickly, but her fingertip was still scratched by its teeth, breaking the skin. Xiao Jiu, who was holding it, was bitten severely.

Even though the pain made her wince, Xiao Jiu did not let go of the fox. She gently comforted it, humming in a tone Lan Shan-jun couldn’t understand to soothe the fox’s emotions.

Lan Shan-jun asked: “Do you really like foxes?”

Xiao Jiu nodded, her tone cheerful: “I grew up in a fox den when I was little. Those few foxes were all so beautiful.”

As she spoke, Xiao Jiu seemed to recall something. Her expression shifted, a flicker of sadness passing quickly. She looked at Lan Shan-jun: “Let’s go. Let’s go to the Three Thousand Steps together.”

“Alright.”

By the time Lan Shan-jun and Xiao Jiu, who was holding the fox, reached the Three Thousand Steps, they found many people waiting.

Not only Cang Wu, Ling Guang, and Song Qing-cheng, but Zhao Chen and Mo Huai-sheng were also waiting there.

As the two approached, Mo Huai-sheng said: “Fu An originally wanted to wait and leave with you too, but because of an urgent summons from the Valley of A Thousand Poisons, Mu Liu also came out. Fu An went with her.”

“I almost forgot about that person,” Xiao Jiu said with an “Ah.” “Won’t she bully Mu Fu An again?”

“Not necessarily,” Mo Huai-sheng smiled. “When they left, Mu Liu saw that Fu An was close to us and wanted to teach her a lesson, but Fu An didn’t give her the chance and subtly tripped her up instead.”

“Well done!” Xiao Jiu laughed, reaching out to rub the fox’s head. A faint numbness spread from the bite wound, but it was so slight that she ignored it completely.

“Well… until we meet again.”

“Until…”

“Until what!” Ling Guang rushed down two steps of the Three Thousand Steps, looking up at them from below. “We came up here together, so of course, we must walk down together.”

“Walk down together? Sounds good.” Xiao Jiu followed her.

The others didn’t object to the idea. The sun was shining beautifully, and it was still early. They would walk down together.

Lan Shan-jun and Cang Wu walked leisurely together. Their hanging hands met, and then intertwined.

Cang Wu felt the coldness in her palm, frowning slightly: “Senior Sister, why are your hands so cold?”

Lan Shan-jun pursed her lips, her brow suddenly knitting together.

She felt something was wrong.

Her whole body was becoming numb; she seemed to be completely losing sensation in her limbs.

Lan Shan-jun quickly recalled everything she had touched recently, finally fixating on one object: the fox.

Then Xiao Jiu…

She suddenly looked up, intending to check on Xiao Jiu ahead, but her vision was instantly plunged into endless darkness.

She couldn’t even feel her eyes.