Chapter 244: To Do or Not to Do is Hard to Decide

Lingxiang knew well that Xiaobai was quite capable, otherwise he would not be able to perform arts of transformation, and she understood even better that he only asked because he had her best interests at heart.

She had also thought that if she ever encountered danger, she would use the Summoning Spirit Spell to call Xiaobai, and with his abilities, he would surely be able to help her escape safely. But ever since she had seen Long Qi and the others in danger several times, she had ultimately abandoned such thoughts.

It was not that Lingxiang did not trust Xiaobai, but rather that although he was of the Demon Race, he was different from orthodox demons; he had been formed through the entry of a resentful soul into a living being.

If a member of the Demon Race dies, although they only possess two or four of their Three Souls and Seven Spirits, there is still a glimmer of a chance for a turnaround, but for a resentment-demon like him, that glimmer of a chance was lost the moment he underwent Demon Transformation.

Resentment is like fire, and the soul is the firewood.

If one can win the fight, that is fine, but if one cannot, and things go poorly to the point of losing one's life, the end result is the soul flying away and the spirits scattering.

Lingxiang regarded Xiaobai as a friend. Although she had originally entered into a Spirit Binding with Xiaobai to catch the true culprit, after a long time spent together, she felt that Xiaobai was truly someone worthy of trust, even with her life.

Yet she was unwilling to see anyone she valued suffer any mishap, even if it were only a possibility!

It was for this reason that when Lingxiang saw the Phoenix Egg from the E-beast, she insisted on asking for it.

"Soul Transformation?" Xiaobai was greatly puzzled. "Are you going to burn me or burn it?"

Strictly speaking, Soul Transformation was originally a custom of the Di people in Manzhou, specifically for burning sacrificial offerings for the deceased, which was also how the world understood it, but Lingxiang had seen other annotations in the "Classic of Profound Exploration."

Hearing this, Lingxiang glanced sideways at Xiaobai: "Look at that ignorant look of yours~!"

That "yours" was drawn out with nine twists and eighteen turns, and hearing it, Xiaobai immediately exploded.

"Hey! You little brat, this lord is at least several hundred years old; I could even be your ancestor. Is this how you talk to your elders? You really are asking for a beating!"

As Xiaobai spoke, he raised his hand, pretending to strike Lingxiang, but Lingxiang glanced at him with even greater disdain and scoffed: "Pfft! Isn't it just a hundred or so years? You can even use that as a talking point; it's a joke. If we really want to talk about it, your age doesn't even catch up to my grandfather's."

Hearing this, Xiaobai was stunned on the spot, and it was a long time before he stammered: "You... your grandfather is of such advanced age!"

Lingxiang did not answer him, only shook her head: "I was almost led astray by you." She then changed the subject: "Since you are of such an age, you must surely know about Possession."

"You... what do you mean by this?" Hearing this, Xiaobai pointed at the Phoenix Egg in Lingxiang's hand with a look of utter astonishment, but for a long while, he could not say what he meant.

Lingxiang looked at Xiaobai and calmly nodded. Seeing her like this, Xiaobai immediately waved his hands and stood up.

"No, no, I cannot do such an unconscionable thing."

It was a joke; although he had been a demon for a long time and had done many absurd things, he had also read the sages, and from beginning to end, he had never harmed a human life, let alone a divine beast.

Besides, he had long since let go of his obsessions, and now he was as kind as could be!

Although this Phoenix Egg had not hatched for thousands of years, it was a real, living little life, and the power of life within it could be truly and clearly felt.

Possession was such a heinous crime; how could he possibly do it?

Xiaobai retreated a yard away, wishing he could leave this place immediately, but Lingxiang began to laugh.

"Is this how you see me?" Lingxiang raised her delicate eyebrows and said sarcastically: "Oh my! So that's it! So that's it! I work hard to plan for others, only to end up with a vicious reputation in the end. It really is impossible to be a good person!"

This made Xiaobai even more confused; could it be that Lingxiang had another meaning?

Seeing Xiaobai turn back, Lingxiang smiled and weighed the Phoenix Egg in her hand: "There are three types of Possession. The first is Corpse Seizure, transferring one's own soul into the flesh of the deceased, which can still be considered forgivable; the second is Soul Seizure, taking the Three Souls of the Yang Spirit and forcing them into a human body, temporarily seizing their Seven Spirits to control them, which is mostly done through evil arts; as for this third one..."

The third is Body Seizure. This method violates the Human Dao; it gathers the Three Souls of the Yang Spirit into the Inner Elixir, then forces them into the body of a living person, either devouring or extinguishing their spirit, thereby occupying another's flesh to extend one's own life.

Lingxiang did not say it out loud, but she believed Xiaobai understood, for after all, he was able to become a demon—though he did not intend to perform Possession, the principle was similar.

"I understand that you did not do it intentionally, and I know your character well, but I am not that kind of ruthless person, so naturally, I would not let you do such a thing."

"In that case, it is not for me to perform Possession?"

Lingxiang smiled: "Naturally not." She then explained to Xiaobai the explanation of Soul Transformation she had seen in the "Classic of Profound Exploration."

It turned out that so-called Soul Transformation was the separation of the Yang Spirit from the flesh, which then resides in a new living being; this is no different from reincarnation, only it has not gone through that process in the Underworld.

And after Soul Transformation, because it has not passed through the Wang Chuan, one would still retain their memories, though they would not be remembered immediately, but would be recalled slowly as one grows in the future.

However, if that time truly comes, perhaps one might feel it was just a dream!

"Are you saying you want me to leave my fox body? But as a demon, I do not possess the 'Tai Guang' (Light of the Womb), and as a resentment-demon, my Earth Soul is likely incomplete, not to mention my Life Soul, which I have long since not known where to find. With such incompleteness, how can this method be done?"

Xiaobai was naturally tempted; if that were really the case, Lingxiang could also get rid of the path of falling into demonhood, but this method seemed impossible no matter how he looked at it!

Lingxiang shook her head and stated her own insights.

"Although you were formed from a resentful soul, in my view, you are different."

"As you said, you were originally formed from resentment, so your 'Shuang Ling' (Clear Spirit) is incomplete, which is understandable. But your conscience still remains, so your Heaven Soul must be there, otherwise you would not be so concerned about the matter of Possession. As for the Life Soul, it is the repository of reincarnation; when your soul enters, it will naturally be found."

"Looking at it this way, your 'Tai Guang' and 'You Jing' (Hidden Essence) are complete; the only variable is the Earth Soul and 'Shuang Ling'." Lingxiang said, her eyes slightly closed, as if she were also hesitant, "It is just that I do not know if you dare to take this risk to give it a try..."

"But..." After hearing what Lingxiang said, Xiaobai was still very hesitant, "But what about the Yang Spirit that originally belonged to this chick? Wouldn't this action block someone else's path?"

Lingxiang shook her head again: "Do you know about Phoenix Rebirth?"

Once a phoenix appears, it is eternal; when its strength is exhausted, it will burn itself with fire, and when it turns to ashes, it will be reborn again.

"It is just so; unless it is a method of killing a god or encountering a heavenly tribulation, a phoenix will not die. Therefore, whether in Chenjian or the Divine Realm, the number of phoenixes is few and far between."

"So that's how it is..." Xiaobai frowned; he seemed to understand Lingxiang's painstaking efforts.

But if this were really the case, he was afraid that he would have to leave her in the future!

Xiaobai had been very tempted, but after hearing what Lingxiang said, he wavered; he did not know whether he should accept it.

Or rather, whether he could bear to accept it...

"That's right, if you succeed, you can leave the Demon Race and ascend to the Divine Path!"