Chapter 33: The Controlled Corpse

“No need to overthink it.”

Perhaps Ye Cha’s presence had elevated her aesthetic standards, but as Shen Ruotong gazed at Bai Ge, who stood before her with an apologetic expression, she found his appearance merely passable. She couldn’t fathom why the other female cultivators seemed so enamored.

Despite these thoughts, Shen Ruotong’s expression remained placid and indifferent.

It had been an accident, one for which Bai Ge bore no responsibility. Shen Ruotong had already received news regarding Myriad Law Peak’s month-long, sleepless research into a new formation.

Thus, when the mishap occurred during the sect’s minor competition, she harbored not a single doubt.

If Myriad Law Peak achieved new breakthroughs this time, the Formation Division of the Skyward Sect would gain numerous new trump cards.

This was a positive development.

Therefore, Shen Ruotong chose not to punish anyone this time, opting instead to downplay the incident and let it pass.

When Ye Cha heard Shen Ruotong’s simple four words, the corners of his lips curled into an almost imperceptible smile. He knew that even if Bai Ge truly was a ‘green tea’ like himself, his own victory was assured given Bai Ge’s inadequate innate conditions.

‘Perhaps this is a gift from the heavens!’

Shen Ruotong held no interest in Bai Ge, not even bothering to acknowledge him. Judging by her current demeanor, she simply wished to send him away quickly, avoiding any tedious interactions that might cause annoyance.

Seeing Shen Ruotong’s cold indifference towards other male cultivators, Ye Cha felt relieved that his meticulous plans were unfolding flawlessly.

Each step was precise, one after another.

The carefully laid net had successfully lured Shen Ruotong, his intended prey.

Reflecting on this, Ye Cha was filled with emotion. He couldn’t help but glance at Bai Ge again, silently reminding himself to plan even more cautiously in the future to perfect his enticing scheme.

However, that glance made Ye Cha’s heart skip a beat.

‘There’s something wrong with Bai Ge.’

At that very moment, Ye Cha’s eyelids twitched incessantly, as if warning him of an impending misfortune. His heart immediately tightened with alarm.

On Bai Ge’s exposed wrist was a small bluish-green spot. Its area was not large, and had Ye Cha not been exceptionally close, he wouldn’t have noticed it. While a spot on the body wasn’t unusual, a cadaveric spot on a living person was indeed strange.

Given his profession before transmigration, Ye Cha was certain that the mark he saw was, in fact, a cadaveric spot.

Considering the existence of fiendish cultivators and ghost cultivators in the cultivation world who specifically refined corpses as weapons, Ye Cha suddenly felt as though he had stumbled upon a crucial detail.

‘This Bai Ge must have died long ago!!!’

‘The Bai Ge currently before them is merely a controlled corpse.’

If that were truly the case, then Bai Ge’s target must be Shen Ruotong. ‘Wait, that seems a bit far-fetched.’

After all, Shen Ruotong’s strength was formidable. Before his death, Bai Ge was merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Could he possibly ascend to a higher realm simply by dying?

Even if so, he couldn’t possibly leap directly from Foundation Establishment to Void Glimpse, traversing six entire realms. Even immortals couldn’t achieve such a feat.

As Ye Cha pondered these thoughts, his gaze shifted to Zhou Lingling, who stood nearby. He immediately concluded that she was Bai Ge’s true target.

Compared to Shen Ruotong, whose cultivation suppressed him, Zhou Lingling, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, was undoubtedly an easy target.

Moreover, the Soaring Cloud Sect’s visit to the Skyward Sect this time was not a simple tour.

They had a special mission.

With this realization, Ye Cha deduced the reason behind Bai Ge’s attack on Zhou Lingling.

While Ye Cha was engrossed in these thoughts, Zhou Lingling, whose attention had been solely on him, immediately noticed his gaze. A surge of pleasant surprise filled her, making her wonder, ‘Could Ye Cha be interested in me?’

‘If that’s the case, then it’s truly wonderful!’

Looking at the handsome and dashing Ye Cha, then recalling the persistently bothersome Wang Li, Zhou Lingling couldn’t help but think, ‘They’re both men, so why is the difference so vast?’

‘Furthermore, the most crucial point is… why are all the ugly men clinging to me, while a handsome man like Ye Cha remains so aloof?’

‘I’m not a woman who toys with emotions, after all…’

Ye Cha had no idea that a simple glance from him had led Zhou Lingling to concoct so many fantasies. His mind was now racing, eager to seize this opportunity to gain an advantage.

Indeed, upon realizing that Bai Ge might be a corpse, Ye Cha felt no panic whatsoever.

It wasn’t as if he hadn’t seen corpses before.

They simply came in two varieties: those that moved and those that didn’t!

More than the terrifying corpse, Ye Cha worried about exposing his Heavenly Net Physique and having his head cleaved off by Shen Ruotong’s sword.

Therefore, with an opportunity to prove himself, he couldn’t let it slip.

‘Poor Senior Brother Bai Ge, after suffering a tragic death at someone else’s hands, his corpse is now being exploited. And now, he’s even being used as a stepping stone for my own advancement.’

‘However, since he’s already dead, this could be considered his final contribution!’

Ye Cha mused silently, then swiftly and discreetly removed the bandage from his left hand. As he used his other hand to feel the wound that had refused to heal, he knew it was time for some ‘resourcefulness.’

Of course, it might not even be necessary, but preparing in advance was never a bad idea.

“Sect Master, Ye Cha has something to report…”

As Ye Cha spoke, he quickly stepped forward. When he was just a few paces from Shen Ruotong, he continued with the latter half of his sentence: “Beware, there’s something wrong with Bai Ge.”

No sooner had Ye Cha finished speaking than Bai Ge made his move.

Just as Ye Cha had suspected, Bai Ge had no intention of attacking Shen Ruotong. Once Ye Cha directly exposed his identity, Bai Ge shot him a chilling glance, then, without hesitation, moved against Zhou Lingling.

A purple flash soared from his hand, flying straight and fast towards Zhou Lingling.

“Stop!”

Upon seeing Bai Ge attack without a word, Shen Ruotong’s brows furrowed. Without a second thought, she unleashed an invisible sword qi that forced Bai Ge to his knees with a ‘thud,’ simultaneously intercepting the purple flash.

Shen Ruotong’s power was immense; such minor tricks were utterly futile against her absolute strength, akin to an ant trying to shake a tree.

However, Bai Ge suddenly burst into laughter, then slowly spoke in his original voice.

“Haha, I never expected my plan to be ruined by a mere trifle! Shen Ruotong, don’t get ahead of yourself. Even if you obtain that item, you won’t be able to do anything to me.”

As Bai Ge spoke, he suddenly made another move. His body began to swell, like a balloon being continuously inflated, stretching his taut skin until it became almost translucent.

The obvious self-detonation prompted a cold snort from Shen Ruotong. Instead of using sharp sword qi, she directly conjured a small bell from her Spatial Ring and shook it towards the greatly expanded Bai Ge.

A sudden gust of wind appeared, and Bai Ge’s body, no longer under his control, rapidly moved towards the small bell.

Yet, an unexpected development occurred at that very moment. A radiant smile suddenly appeared on Bai Ge’s lips.

He directly raised his hand and retrieved a scroll from his waist. As it unfurled in the wind, a woman in a purple dress emerged from the painting with a delicate laugh. Her face was veiled, but her captivating purple eyes drew all attention.

“Shen Ruotong, long time no see~”