Chapter 678

His eyes burned with fanaticism, fixed on Jiang Ming as if gazing at his most cherished possession.

"Excellent, excellent—this is precisely the body I need."

"Truly, fate has not abandoned me! I've encountered a genius of such extraordinary talent!"

Wang Hong couldn't help but let out an exclamation.

As the Vessel Sage, his experience was unparalleled, his vision razor-sharp.

Naturally, he could see just how superior Jiang Ming's Array Dao talent truly was.

Without exaggeration, it surpassed every genius he had ever seen.

It was even nearing his own level!

Even more enticing was this:

The foundation of his cultivation was exceptionally solid; his surging blood qi and robust physique far exceeded those of his peers, igniting fierce excitement within him!

To possess such a body as a vessel—if the possession succeeded—he would undoubtedly gain immense benefits, avoid countless detours, and reclaim the Sage realm at the fastest possible speed!

Meanwhile, hearing Wang Hong's astonishing words and sensing the greed radiating from them,

Jiang Ming's unease grew stronger.

He never imagined the man had concealed such a deep scheme!

After tens of thousands of years, he had still preserved his true spirit intact—and now intended to possess Jiang Ming's body!

You have to understand, this is a powerful being who is expected to become a Saint King.

Even though he held great confidence in his own strength, before such a terrifying entity, he still felt hollow inside, a chill creeping over him.

"Will I die here today?"

Jiang Ming's face twisted in bitterness; despair deepened within him.

He had only just cultivated to the Sun Wheel realm, had not yet served his clan long enough, let alone repaid the Grand Chief's countless kindnesses.

He had so many unfinished tasks—yet now, suddenly, he faced this peril: being possessed by a Sage's true spirit.

But if he was possessed, his body might well become a weapon turned against his own clan!

And those clan members still trapped in the Purple Xuan Heaven would be the first victims.

In this moment, the image of the Grand Chief entrusting him with great responsibility—as Guardian of Purple Xuan, protector of all clan members—flashed again in his mind.

Jiang Ming clenched his fists, his gaze flickering with growing resolve.

In an instant, he made his decision: to burn his Yuan force and soul, forcing a self-explosion.

Even if his body and spirit were utterly destroyed, he would grant the enemy not a single opening.

Jiang Ming turned back to Wang Hong, sneering: "You want my body so badly? Hah! I'll make sure you don't get it!"

In an instant, blinding light erupted from Jiang Ming's body, radiating overwhelming power!

Seeing this, how could Wang Hong not know what was happening?

He widened his eyes, staring at the boy before him, filled with disbelief!

He never imagined that despite his youth, the boy possessed astonishing courage—after merely a few words, he had already decided to self-destruct!

Deep within Wang Hong's pupils burned malice and fury!

He had waited so long for heaven's mercy—to find a body so perfectly suited in every way.

How could he stand by and watch this body explode before his eyes?!

Thinking of this, he abandoned all caution and immediately unleashed his Sage origin!

At the cost of his true spirit's lifespan, he accelerated his speed wildly, charging toward Jiang Ming like a madman!

Even though Jiang Ming reacted swiftly enough to ignite his Yuan force and soul at once, preparing to explode,

Before a Sage who had exhausted his true spirit's lifespan, it was still too slow!

In an instant, Wang Hong plunged into Jiang Ming's body.

With this act, Jiang Ming's body stiffened—his frantic burning of Yuan force and soul halted instantly.

Wang Hong's action had successfully stopped his foolish attempt.

Immediately, he stormed straight into the depths of the mind!

Only then did Wang Hong finally exhale, then sneer:

"Good boy—if I hadn't acted decisively, you might have succeeded. I must say, forcing an old man like me to expend my true spirit's lifespan with nothing but Sun Wheel cultivation—that alone is enough to make you proud..."

"Now, I've completed all prior steps. Everything is settled. Surrender your defenses, and let this perfect body welcome its new master!"

Saying this, Wang Hong shook his head and continued: "Rest easy—once I inherit your body, I shall treat it as my own."

"You may never reach the Sage realm, but I can reach it effortlessly—even the Sage King is within my reach!"

"I will use your body to climb to the peak of strength. Of course, you won't live to see it—hahahaha!"

His words kept echoing.

Jiang Ming's heart sank deeper and deeper.

At this moment, he felt as if submerged in a ten-thousand-zhang icy pool, drowned in endless cold that pierced his bones.

Jiang Ming felt utter despair.

He simply could not accept such a tragic end.

Death itself was not terrifying.

What he truly feared was his body falling under Wang Hong's control—and turning into a weapon against those who cared for him, admired him, loved him.

At this moment, for the first time in his life, Jiang Ming truly felt how close death was.

The sensation of hovering between life and death was something he had never experienced in battle against ferocious beasts.

Under the influence of this unique state of mind, he began to gain insight—things he had never understood before now became perfectly clear.

Had this happened under normal circumstances, he would have been overjoyed by such a revelation.

But now, he was a man on the verge of death — what use were these gains?

He watched as Wang Hong drew closer and closer to his true spirit.

Jiang Ming's frantically pounding, panic-stricken heart calmed with startling suddenness.

In his eyes, it was as if the figure of the Clan Chief appeared.

"If only the Clan Chief were by my side right now — how different would things be?"

For some unknown reason, this thought suddenly arose in his mind and swiftly took root.

Thinking of this, the look he cast toward Wang Hong already carried a trace of contempt and mockery.

So what if you seize my body?

Once the Clan Chief detects the anomaly here—

Even if you were once a Sage realm powerhouse, you will surely meet an end of body and soul destroyed together!

Every scheme you have plotted will come to nothing!

At this moment, Wang Hong had not noticed any change in Jiang Ming's emotions at all.

In his eyes, only the other's true spirit was worthy of his attention!

Once he himself erased that true spirit, he could seize the nest in place of the dove and take control of this body!

Thinking of this, Wang Hong could not help but feel a surge of excitement in his heart!

Then he secretly thought: "By now, outside I have no idea how many years have passed — I... am still alive."

"And you, Junior Brother Nangong, I bet even your grave marker is gone by now?"

"Hahaha, with that naive disposition of yours, you still wanted to fight me? Truly the height of stupidity — seeking your own death!"

The smile on Wang Hong's face grew ever broader.

But when he reached the place where Jiang Ming's true spirit resided and stretched out both hands, ready to tear it apart—

An accident no one could possibly have foreseen occurred.

Boom—

Dense, dazzling rays of light burst forth from Jiang Ming's true spirit, illuminating the surroundings, making the very depths of the mind extraordinarily bright, as if it were broad daylight!

Faced with this utterly inconceivable scene before him—

The smile on Wang Hong's face froze abruptly; his eyes went wide, and he wore an expression as though he had seen a ghost!

Before those incomparably brilliant rays of light, he instantly felt as though he were gazing upon the heavens themselves, experiencing his own insignificance!

That vast gulf between heaven and earth, between cloud and mud, filled him with dread — his very true spirit trembled!

He truly could not imagine that one day he would sense such immense terror, such unbearable fear, from a weak, utterly contemptible Sun Wheel realm cultivator whom he could crush with a flick of his wrist!

"Wha... what on earth is going on?!"

Wang Hong's confidence was gone; even his voice had begun to tremble.