Chapter 48: The Reincarnation’s Challenge

That voice!

Tong Qiu lifted her head. Her eyes, submerged in blood, could only perceive a blurry crimson haze.

Bai Jiujiu!

Had she broken free from the fiery rings’ control?

A faint smile touched Tong Qiu’s pallid face, yet a profound worry for Bai Jiujiu still clouded her expression.

She knew that Bai Jiujiu, poisoned, could not use her demonic powers. Relying solely on the artifacts granted by her unique physique, Tong Qiu wondered if she could truly contend with Scarlet Soul, who seemed almost immune to conventional spells.

‘Senior, you can do it…’

“Yuan Suppressing Banner?” Scarlet Soul frowned, her gaze fixed on the banner in Bai Jiujiu’s hand that had blocked her attack. She sensed that this particular Yuan Suppressing Banner felt significantly weaker than those found in the prison.

The attacks of the two demons were at a stalemate. Scarlet Soul had merely amplified her demonic energy slightly when attempting to kill Tong Qiu, without employing any intricate demonic spells.

Naturally, her attack was easily parried by the rolled-up (pseudo) Yuan Suppressing Banner in Bai Jiujiu’s grasp. This artifact inherently possessed the power to suppress all demonic arts in the world.

“Hahahaha! Bai Jiu’er, it truly is you! This ability to replicate artifacts and devour cultivation methods—no one else in this world possesses it but you!”

Scarlet Soul raised her other hand, splaying her fingers into a claw shape. A wispy ball of blue flame coalesced in her palm.

“To think, you’ve actually reincarnated as a demon! It must be Heaven’s will for your soul to merge with mine!”

Seeing the ghostly flame hurtling towards her, Bai Jiujiu, in a moment of urgency, diffused the force of Scarlet Soul’s attack. Simultaneously, she arched her back and spun three hundred and sixty degrees mid-air, using the (pseudo) Yuan Suppressing Banner to shatter the ghostly flame.

However, her calculated maneuver seemed to fall short, as Bai Jiujiu’s face made intimate contact with the ground.

“Hahahaha! Hahahaha!”

Scarlet Soul’s laughter echoed with a strange, unnerving resonance.

Listening to Scarlet Soul’s unsettling, yandere-like pronouncements, Bai Jiujiu felt shivers run down her spine.

‘What in the world is this nonsense?’

Hiss~

Her tongue flicked out, her body instinctively sensing danger. Bai Jiujiu immediately propped herself up with one hand, swinging the Yuan Suppressing Banner to strike the ground. The reverse impact propelled her into the air, allowing her to deftly evade several fireballs launched from behind.

“I’ve lived for over eight thousand years! How could I possibly be the reincarnation of Bai Jiu’er from two hundred years ago!”

Bai Jiujiu’s voice carried a hint of anger. Mid-air, she retrieved the golden pearl from her sleeve and hurled it towards Scarlet Soul. Simultaneously, she released all eight (pseudo) Yuan Suppressing Banners, positioning them instantly in eight different locations.

‘Every single one of them says the same thing. In Lianshui City, Song Ming also claimed I was Bai Jiu’er’s reincarnation.’

‘Now even this Scarlet Soul, who has lived for millennia, says it.’

‘Do these people not understand?’

‘Eight thousand years > two hundred years.’

‘At most, I, Bai Jiujiu, had a past life as an otaku. But in this world, perhaps I might be the reincarnation of some powerful being, as transmigration novels often have such settings.’

‘But absolutely, absolutely, *absolutely* not the reincarnation of a human from two hundred years ago!’

Scarlet Soul had just raised her hand to stop Bai Jiujiu when she discovered that her soul-formed body was slowly melting away under the influence of the replicated artifact.

“This is… a Spirit Gathering Pearl!” Scarlet Soul exclaimed in shock, apparently never expecting Bai Jiujiu to possess an artifact specifically designed to target souls.

This artifact was originally used by Zhang Feng in Chongxi Town to purify the uncontrolled vengeful souls dispersed by Long Zhi. Later, Bai Jiujiu knocked Zhang Feng unconscious from behind. Unable to brainwash him and take him, she could only replicate a counterfeit, just like with the Yuan Suppressing Banner.

The (pseudo) Spirit Gathering Pearl was an artifact specifically created to target demon entities with soul bodies, possessing the ability to melt and purify souls over a wide area.

While its effects were remarkable, it demanded a high level of mental fortitude and cultivation from its user.

Even Zhang Feng, at the Core Formation realm, could only use it sparingly by embedding it into a token.

A single mistake could lead to a backlash; minor consequences included damaged spiritual roots, forever preventing cultivation, while severe consequences could result in the soul melting, leaving the user a self-less vegetative state.

However, in terms of mental fortitude and cultivation alone, Bai Jiujiu, having slept for eight thousand years, was second to none.

Under the illumination of the golden light, Scarlet Soul was forced to restore her body to its physical form.

It was this brief delay that allowed Bai Jiujiu to complete the formation of her (pseudo) Yuan Suppressing Banners.

The eight banners stood in their respective positions, and the demonic energy suppressing array unfurled, causing Scarlet Soul, at its center, to feel her power gradually draining away.

Concurrently, Bai Jiujiu flipped her hand and threw out the Demon-Binding Rope, securing Scarlet Soul tightly in place.

Her right hand then smoothly drew the Flowing Shadow Sword, holding it against Scarlet Soul’s neck.

The victor was decided!

This seamless series of actions left Tong Qiu, lying on the ground with her eyes wide, utterly dumbfounded.

‘Was this truly the same irreverent senior she had traveled with?’

‘That’s right…’

‘Bai Jiujiu is, after all, the master of Cloudfall Mountain and a mighty eight-thousand-year-old demon at the Demon Manor realm.’

Yet, a strange feeling persisted. ‘Could Scarlet Soul truly be subdued so easily by Senior?’

“Hehehe, interesting! I never imagined you, Bai Jiu’er, would reincarnate as a snake demon capable of using artifacts but unable to wield demonic power!”

Scarlet Soul, with the Flowing Shadow Sword pressed against her throat, showed not a hint of panic. Instead, she continued speaking as if nothing untoward had happened.

“I told you, I am no one’s reincarnation!”

‘My past self, my apologies~’

“Among all cultivators in the current world capable of wielding a hundred treasures, only Bai Jiu’er, throughout history, has possessed such skill. Your appearance and abilities are identical to hers. If you are not her reincarnation, then who could you be?”

“Believe it or not. I am simply myself; I am not anyone else. Instead, you tell me: where have you imprisoned Su Ling’er?”

Bai Jiujiu did not fall into confusion or waver because of Scarlet Soul’s few words.

These thoughts had crossed her mind long, long ago.

Her objective was clear: to bring that troublesome, wayward disciple, Su Ling’er, home!

That was all.

Nothing else needed to be considered.

“Su Ling’er? So you came looking for her? Hahahaha! Hahahahaha! The Azure Dragon and his lot were right after all.”

“Azure Dragon?”

At that moment, just as Bai Jiujiu grasped this crucial piece of information, Tong Qiu cried out to Bai Jiujiu in panicked alarm.

“Senior, be careful! Scarlet Soul possesses the ability to create clones!”

Tong Qiu, who was lying on the ground, unwilling to be a burden, suddenly remembered. The bounty notice for Scarlet Soul had listed ‘Twin Shadow Clone’ among her known demonic arts, which allowed her to manifest another ethereal body.

Unfortunately, she was severely injured now, and rushing forward would only make her a hindrance.

A chilling gust of wind swept through.

A blue soul body slowly emerged from within Bai Jiujiu’s body, under the astonished gazes of the two women.

The ethereal face met Bai Jiujiu’s gaze. Scarlet Soul laughed wickedly and unrestrainedly at Bai Jiujiu, then softly uttered,

“Fall into a dream’s demise!”

Thump!

Bai Jiujiu’s brain felt as though it had been struck by a heavy hammer, hearing only a faint, colossal thud. Without any chance to think, Bai Jiujiu lost consciousness, collapsing limply to the ground in a deep slumber.

As its user fell unconscious, all the artifacts, including the (pseudo) Yuan Suppressing Banners, lost their luster and function, one by one toppling to the ground.

A triumphant smile played on Scarlet Soul’s lips. She gently rubbed her wrist, which had been bound by the Demon-Binding Rope, then kicked the demon-subduing artifact lying at her feet away.

‘Now, you are finally mine.’

Scarlet Soul crouched down, gently caressing Bai Jiujiu’s exquisite face.

Swish, swish, swish.

Three spiritual energy fire needles shot towards Scarlet Soul. However, with the threat of the Spirit Gathering Pearl gone, the fire needles passed harmlessly through Scarlet Soul’s ethereal body.

Scarlet Soul glanced sideways at Tong Qiu, her expression as flat as still water as she lifted her head.

“Stay away from her, stay away from Senior!”