Let the Strong Devour the Strong

"You will tell Jiang Chen to meet us at the Sound Soul Valley—alone—or we won't reveal anything further."

Mie Lin's expression shifted, her brow furrowing deeper. "You want both of them to meet?"

"It's time to settle this matter once and for all. Whoever emerges victorious from their encounter won't dare blame us. After all, they seek each other's destruction; let them take care of it themselves."

Mie Lin's gaze sharpened as realization dawned on her face. "If that brat Jiang Chen wins, he'll have avenged his family. If the other party triumphs, he'll achieve his goal and put an end to the Jiang lineage entirely."

"Exactly," Xiao Ning chuckled darkly, "This meeting will be a fight to the death—a resolution neither can refuse—and … we shall merely give them what they desire."

A shiver ran down Mie Lin's spine. This was more than cunning—it bordered on diabolical. Yet, wasn't this precisely the kind of manipulation the Shadowclaw Sect excelled in?

Still, she couldn't help but wonder: who exactly was Xiao Ning?

What cultivation level had he attained in his past life?

Still, one question gnawed at her. "And what makes you so sure they'll bite?"

"Jiang Chen breathes for revenge. He'll crawl through fire if it leads him to his family's killer. As for the other party…" Xiao Ning's eyes gleamed with quiet malice. "Let's just say Jiang Chen's survival is… unacceptable to him. Especially now that he's awakened a Five-Colored Nascent Soul."

From Li Fang's memories, Xiao Ning already knew everything there was to know about this man. His name was Wu Shu, heir to the Imperial Wu Clan, whose father ruled as emperor over the Rising Cloud Empire—the most formidable power in the Sea and Mountain Realm.

Of course such information was known only to two people: Elder Jin and, of course, Li Fang himself.

The world of cultivation was ruthless, where power reigned supreme and alliances shifted like desert sands. In this brutal game of survival, everyone was a pawn, and Xiao Ning had just played a masterful hand.

"Very well," Mie Lin said finally, her voice tinged with newfound respect—and apprehension. "I will deliver your message. Consider it done."

Her tone carried a subtle reverence now, acknowledging the depths of Xiao Ning's ruthlessness and strategic brilliance. Even the original Li Fang hadn't possessed such capabilities.

"Excellent. Ensure Jiang Chen receives the message personally. Tell him... his family's killer awaits."

As Mie Lin turned to leave, her gaze lingered on Xiao Ning for a moment longer, a mixture of curiosity and unease swirling within her eyes. Then, without another word, she melted into the shadows.

Watching her go, Xiao Ning's lips curled into a cold smirk. Truthfully, he didn't care much about the conflict itself—it simply suited his purposes.

The jade he'd given to Elder Zhou contained the cultivation resources he currently needed.

For now, he had no plans to go elsewhere unless he reached the Heavenly Tribulation Realm. Beyond that point, he intended to leave the Sea and Mountain Realm altogether, ascending to one of the upper realms in the Outer Divine Sector.

"The Wu Clan..." His thoughts drifted, pondering the vastness of their influence.

Though they ruled the Sea and Mountain Realm, their true base lay in the Inner Worlds, where their main branch resided. Over time, the outer-world faction had diminished to little more than a subsidiary, yet its origins remained deeply tied to the clan's legacy.

[System Update]

SOUL INTEGRITY: 40% → 43% 

EXISTENTIAL MASS: 2.1 → 1.8 

(Divine Embodiment Realm entities are now 50% likely to detect anomalies.)

Seeing these updates, Xiao Ning's lips curved upward in satisfaction. "The more I integrate myself into Li Fang's life, the stronger the bond between his soul and my consciousness becomes."

His gaze fell upon the existential mass figure. "Likewise, the closer I align with his nature, the less burdensome this anomaly grows."

Indeed, embodying Li Fang came naturally to him. The man hadn't been particularly talkative or revealing, preferring instead to observe, analyze, and strike when least expected. A ghost in his own life, manipulating events unseen—that demeanor suited Xiao Ning perfectly.

"Perhaps that's why it feels so effortless to wear his skin," Xiao Ning mused aloud, amusement lacing his tone. But then his gaze hardened. "Still, being a ghost doesn't mean I must stay hidden forever."

Though he wore Li Fang's identity as a mask, it was merely a stepping stone—a foundation upon which he would rebuild his own power anew. Using this shell, he would rise again, carving out a path uniquely his own.

"Codex," Xiao Ning thought casually, "since you possess my consciousness, you likely retain my memories as well, correct?"

[Host is correct]

"Then compile all mystical grade cultivation techniques suitable for my current state."

[Sorting Mystical-grade Cultivation Techniques...]

[Host Parameters:]

- Primary Essence:

Annihilation/Destruction (Heavenly Blight) 

- Secondary Essence: Pure Yin (Ghost Moon) 

- Body Foundation: Fourth-Stage Bone Marrow, Annihilation Bone Scripture (Heartbone Core) 

- Soul-Consciousness Disparity: 57% (Li Fang Residual Imprints) 

[Compatible Techniques Found: 3]

"Heaven-Devouring Blood Sutra" (Mystical-Step, Mid)

 - Requirements: Continuous absorption of high-grade spiritual materials or living cultivators. 

 - Risk: Accelerates existential mass growth (+0.1 per refinement). Host's "demonic" aura becomes undeniable. 

 - Codex Note:"Efficient but conspicuous. Recommend pairing with Yang essence to mask corruption signatures." 

"Eclipse Phantom Veins" (Mystical-Step, Early)

 - Merges Ghost Moon Yin with annihilation energy to create 'void meridians,' enabling instant teleportation within shadows and phased existence. 

 - Requirements: Lunar alignment ritual (next occurrence: 17 days). Sacrifice of 10% lifespan to anchor void meridians. 

 - Risk: Permanent Yin saturation may freeze emotional affect (see: 'Frostbone Psychosis' in 83% of historical cases). 

 - Codex Note: "Optimal for evasion and assassination. Incompatible with long-term social infiltration."

"Ninefold Paragon's Asura Scripture" (Pseudo-Celestial-Step, Fragment)

 - Unlocks 'Asura gate,' transforming the host into Aura. Each 'fold' multiplies Spiritual power exponentially

(Current limit: 1st fold = x10 strength). 

 - Requirements: Must consume the nascent soul of a nascent soul cultivator to ignite first fold. 

 - Codex Note: "Fragment recovered from Host's memory of the Shattered War Realm. Caution: Incomplete."

Xiao Ning's eyes narrowed as the Codex's projections faded.

"The Wu Clan rules this realm," he muttered, pacing the cave. "If I choose the Heaven-Devouring method, I'll draw their scrutiny unless I move to lower level realm. The Eclipse Veins would make me like a ghost— Let's not think about it. But the Asura Scripture…" 

He paused, lost in thoughts.

Cultivation techniques are divided into tiers based on the heights they can help a cultivator reach.

Mundane-tier techniques support cultivation up to the Divine Transformation Realm, offering a complete foundation for mortal cultivation advancement.

Mystical-tier techniques begin where Mundane ends, enabling progress through the Divine Transformation Realm and beyond, often involving soul fusion, will manifestation, or domain-level comprehension.

Celestial-tier techniques are exceedingly rare and highly coveted. They are said to open a path toward true immortality.

"Codex. The Asura Scripture's first fold—would Wu Shu's nascent soul suffice?"