Chapter 160 – Extra 21 – Sun Yunhe & Jiang Qi 5

After the two had treated their wounds and regained some strength, they finally had the leisure to go and inspect the buried Spiritual Aperture. The commotion caused by breaking the formation this time was indeed considerable. The entire mountain peak seemed to have been flattened, and the once spiritually abundant feng shui treasure land had turned into a pile of jagged rocks. Forget about a Spiritual Aperture, even a true dragon’s lair would likely be of no use now.

Reluctantly circling the mound of soil a few times, Sun Yunhe sighed, “It’s my first time seeing a real Spiritual Aperture, and it’s already destroyed by the formation. If I could witness a true Heavenly Eye, perhaps I could come up with some earth-shattering formation.”

His tone was filled with deep regret. Jiang Qi glanced at the mound and said indifferently, “There will be other Spiritual Apertures.”

“That’s true,” Sun Yunhe immediately perked up, his eyes shining with excitement. “It’s said that Spiritual Apertures were cut off thousands of years ago, but it seems that’s not entirely true. There must be some still hidden in the wilderness. Though they may not compare to the Blessed Lands and Heavenly Caves of the famous sects, they are still rare treasures. When I find another Spiritual Aperture in the future, I’ll definitely figure out how to use it. Who knows, maybe even witchcraft can be applied to Spiritual Apertures!”

At this, Jiang Qi raised an eyebrow. “In ancient times, shamans performed rituals in specific locations, so there might indeed be some truth to that. However, witchcraft is not something you can use.”

“I know,” Sun Yunhe turned his gaze back to the Golden Bell in Jiang Qi’s hand. This too was a bone artifact, but instead of a metal bell, it contained a piece of white bone—a Witch Bone left behind by the previous Jiang Wu. Only Jiang Qi could activate it. The biggest difference between witchcraft and Daoist techniques lay in bloodline. Without the Wu Family Bloodline, no matter how talented you were, you could never use the Wu Family’s Ritual Instruments.

He sighed softly, repeating with regret, “I know. Witch Bones and witchcraft are extraordinary, but not everyone can use them. Maybe if I think harder, I can find a workaround. Like… soul possession… no, not soul possession, it’s harmful to one’s virtue…”

Seeing Sun Yunhe’s slightly conflicted expression, a subtle smile appeared at the corner of Jiang Qi’s lips. Although he was from a prestigious orthodox sect and was the next in line to become the sect leader, his good friend was not as rigid as those orthodox gentlemen. His curiosity was too strong, and he possessed a talent that was beyond ordinary. If not for the moral teachings instilled in him since childhood, who knows what kind of arrogant thoughts he might have developed. It was precisely because of those invisible shackles that he became someone who, while not particularly flexible, was still deeply admirable. Jiang Qi was a shaman, and his clan had been at odds with the Daoist sects for thousands of years. That he would form such a close friendship with a disciple of a Daoist sect was something even he hadn’t expected.

However, not everything was perfect.

Shifting his gaze, Jiang Qi looked up at the full moon that had regained its brilliance and asked casually, “What’s next? What do you plan to do?”

“I’ll return to Mao Mountain first. Even though the Spiritual Aperture is gone, I should still inform my master. After reporting to the sect, I might head to the Sichuan and Chongqing regions. With the ongoing war, there are bound to be many evil spirits emerging,” Sun Yunhe answered earnestly. No matter how much he enjoyed adventures, he hadn’t forgotten the original purpose of his descent from the mountain.

Jiang Qi, however, chuckled softly. “Is that so? I happen to know of a place where there might be a Spiritual Aperture. I was thinking of inviting you to explore it.”

“Really?” Sun Yunhe’s eyes lit up, but then he hesitated for a moment before finally sighing, “I should still go to Sichuan and Chongqing first. Some matters are more urgent.”

This was where his stubbornness lay. Jiang Qi didn’t argue further and simply replied, “Alright.”

Yet hearing this, Sun Yunhe grew somewhat hesitant. If it were exploring a remote Spiritual Aperture, Jiang Qi would definitely accompany him. But if it were just exorcising evil spirits, the likelihood of him joining was much smaller. Jiang Qi wasn’t someone who enjoyed traveling, nor would he easily reveal his identity as a shaman to others. In that case, it was hard to say when they would meet again.

After pondering for a while, he couldn’t help but speak up, “After I’ve been to Sichuan and Chongqing, I’ll come to Guizhou to find you, and we can explore that Spiritual Aperture together…”

His tone carried a hint of urgency that he himself hadn’t noticed. Jiang Qi’s lips curved slightly as he replied, “Alright.”

With this agreement, the weight in Sun Yunhe’s chest immediately lifted. Glancing at the sky, he said to his companion, “You’re injured, so rest for a while. I’ll keep watch, and we’ll descend the mountain tomorrow.”

In truth, Sun Yunhe was barely holding on himself. The toll of maintaining such a large formation alone was likely far greater than battling the cave demon. Yet Jiang Qi didn’t refuse. Instead, he walked over to the grass outside the formation and lay down, still in his clothes. Now dressed in his original indigo robes instead of the glaring white hemp, he exuded a sense of calm and tranquility. Watching the man’s almost leisurely posture, Sun Yunhe gently clenched his fist and looked away. Though he wasn’t sure why he had been so distracted lately, he knew deep down that something was amiss within him. Perhaps some time apart would be better.

He sighed softly and looked up at the starry sky.

Five months later

The shaman Jiang Qi died, and Sun Yunhe used a Forbidden Technique, betraying Mao Mountain. It was said that Sun Yunhe had obtained a set of Witch Bones, which were extremely powerful. No one knew how he could use the Wu Family’s treasure, but this became clear evidence of his descent into darkness…

“Brother Jiang, will you leave behind Witch Bones after a hundred years?”

“Not necessarily.”

“Wouldn’t it be a pity for someone as talented as you?”

“Rather than leaving them to unworthy disciples, I might as well give them to you.”

“What?!”

“Just a joke.”

If a soul is possessed, ordinary people can also use it. All it takes is soul possession…