Chapter 243: Jialan Temple

"Big sister, what's Coma Wuhen up to? After disappearing for a while, he's suddenly acting like a different person—he's trapped us here and dares to lustfully force us into dual-cultivation with him."

"Hmph, I'm not even sure he's still Coma Wuhen—haven't you noticed he can now command the demonic beasts here?" The blue-armored woman replied coldly after a snort.

"So you mean this guy's been possessed?" The red-armored woman gasped, a flicker of panic crossing her lovely face.

"I don't know if it's possession, but at the very least, he's been controlled by something." The blue-armored woman replied calmly.

"Then what do we do? He said before he left that if we refuse dual-cultivation, he'll use us as medicinal ingredients to brew pills!" The red-armored woman exclaimed anxiously.

"What else can we do? Just hold out as long as we can, and wait to see if a chance arises later."

"Don't forget—the chief true disciple of the Thousand Bamboo Sect, famed for her mastery of spirit tools, is also here. I don't believe he'll perish so easily." The blue-armored woman analyzed.

"That's true. Brother Luo's abilities are considerable—he might find us and rescue us." Hearing this, the red-armored woman's spirits lifted slightly, hope stirring in her heart.

……

Coma Wuhen ascended a staircase, now clad in a purple robe, his face filled with deep thought.

Ahead, at the exit, a venerable monk with a kind and benevolent face waited. Upon seeing Coma Wuhen emerge, he immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Your Grace, have the two female disciples agreed?"

"No. These two girls are ungrateful. I plan to break their will further—once they've exhausted their few second-rank talismans, I'll have no trouble making them submit." Coma Wuhen replied coolly, his brow naturally bearing an air of supreme disdain.

"It's my fault—I never imagined the Fànshēn entrusted with guarding the treasure would spontaneously awaken consciousness and fail to recognize Your Grace's reincarnation, refusing us even a single step closer. Otherwise, Your Grace wouldn't have had to endure such hardship." The old monk sighed.

"Heh, the Fànshēn was originally formed from my past-life remains. The final command etched into its flesh was to guard the highest level of this tower. Even now that it has awakened self-awareness, it cannot defy that command—not even a step beyond the top floor."

"Moreover, though merely a vessel, it was my Nascent Soul body. After so many years, lacking the secret methods to nourish it, its body refinement has declined—but it still rivals a Golden Core cultivator in strength." Coma Wuhen sat calmly on a chair in the hall, speaking without haste.

"Of course. Originally, I intended for this fragment of my consciousness to inhabit the Fànshēn, but I feared my fragment was too weak and might be consumed by the remains, so I gave you a mechanical body instead. Otherwise, I doubt you would have survived until my reincarnation returned."

"But now that the Fànshēn has awakened consciousness, it has become another serious problem." The old monk sighed.

"Don't worry. Before my reincarnation, I anticipated this possibility and prepared a contingency."

"With the Yuan Yin power of these two girls, plus a bit of my past-life blood, once I cultivate that secret technique, I can forcibly subdue the Fànshēn using my past-life aura."

"With the vast treasures left behind in the top level from my Nascent Soul days, plus this Fànshēn's remains being nearly equal to the body of a Golden Core elder, I stand a strong chance of advancing to Nascent Soul in this life—and I won't forget you."

"You're my past-life fragment, but after so many years, you've likely developed independent consciousness. You don't want me to reclaim you, do you?" Coma Wuhen glanced at the old monk, a look of understanding on his face.

"Amitabha, Amitabha! Your Grace, forgive me—I've dwelled in this secret realm for over a thousand years and have grown accustomed to being outside. I humbly beg Your Grace to grant me freedom." The old monk bowed his head repeatedly in apology.

"You waited a thousand years for me. Even if you've done no great deeds, you've suffered much. When I reach Golden Core, I'll find you a true body and set you free." Coma Wuhen stroked his chin and smiled gently at the old monk.

"Thank you, Your Grace!" The old monk beamed with joy.

"But how could you be so careless? Let that Thousand Bamboo Sect brat escape."

"If he were still here, we could use him directly as a medicinal ingredient to brew the Soul-Essence Pill. Though it violates the Dao, under these circumstances, it would let me master the secret technique faster."

"Your Grace, I had already activated the restrictions, driving the boy into a corner—but he detonated his breaking-device, forcibly shattering the seals and fleeing."

"I dared not pursue, fearing harm to Your Grace's reincarnation, so I let him go."

"But Your Grace need not worry—every inch of Jialan Temple is sealed by spiritual arrays. Even if he runs, he cannot escape beyond the temple grounds."

"Yet after so many years, many seals have decayed. Finding him will take more time."

"As for the Soul-Essence Pill, many outsiders have arrived outside the array. Capturing a few as ingredients will be effortless." The old monk replied without changing expression.

"True enough. Then capture a few quickly. With the dual-cultivation power and the Soul-Essence Pill, I can master the secret technique soon."

"Pity—I awoke my past-life memories too late, and my cultivation talent isn't exceptional. When I entered the secret realm, I was only at the peak of Qi Refinement. Had I been at the Great Peak of Qi Refinement, I wouldn't need such trouble—I could have cultivated the secret technique directly."

"Even if the Fànshēn hadn't gone awry, I could have taken the top-level pills—achieving Foundation Establishment would have been effortless." Coma Wuhen sighed with regret.

"I'll handle the Soul-Essence Pill's brewing."

"I'll activate the array now and see if I can capture a few of those demonic cultivators exploring the outer seals." The old monk bowed respectfully.

"Hmm. Go ahead."

"Though I've regained some of my past-life memories and know the method to brew the Soul-Essence Pill, my alchemical skills haven't fully returned. You'll still need to brew it." Coma Wuhen nodded.

"Naturally. Your Grace, wait a moment—I'll return shortly." The old monk bowed deeply and exited the hall.

After the old monk left, Coma Wuhen sat quietly on the chair, lost in thought, then smiled and murmured to himself:

"So this is what it feels like to awaken my past life—truly wondrous!"

"Two distinct memories coexist within me, yet much of my past-life memory remains hazy and forgotten. Am I now Jialan Shiren, or Coma Wuhen?"

"Forget it. As long as I can establish the Foundation, form the Golden Core, even condense a Nascent Soul—who I am doesn't matter."

"Now, let's see what those two girls are up to."

He suddenly flipped his hand, a pale golden token appearing in his palm. He drew it through the air before him, tracing a circle.

A hazy, milky-white image materialized before him.

With a slight flick of the token, the scene on the screen shifted rapidly—now the temple gate, now the high walls, now countless side chambers…

Finally, he halted the token. The image stabilized, returning to the dark cylindrical hall.

Inside, the blue- and red-armored women had resumed their original forms, seated cross-legged on the floor, seemingly seizing every moment to restore their Qi.

Coma Wuhen watched for a moment, his gaze lingering on their curvaceous figures, a lecherous gleam creeping into his eyes.