Wayfarer

Chapter 855: Heartslain Bodies

Yu Fuli, well aware of the enmity between Xiao Nanfeng and Han Gucheng, was curious about their meeting. He summoned both of them to his study.

He sat behind his desk, sipping on a cup of tea as he listened to some music. Just then, a shout came from outside. "Your Majesty, Eastern Aspect Xiao and Immortal Emperor Han are here!"

"Enter," Yu Fuli commanded.

With a wave of his hand, the music abruptly stopped. Han Gucheng and Xiao Nanfeng walked into the study.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," they said, bowing slightly.

Yu Fuli glanced at Xiao Nanfeng with a smile. "Has Madam Rouge left?"

"How did you know, Your Majesty?"Xiao Nanfeng was perturbed.

"Is it hard to tell? Judging from the situation, it looks like you helped her break through. Someone like her, with a heart as steadfast as a rock, would have found it incredibly difficult to modify her cultivation even with the Yuqing Grandmaster's insight. To think you could have succeeded where she didn't..."

"You flatter me, Your Majesty. It was just a minor change—likely nothing significant."

Yu Fuli shook his head but didn't elaborate. Xiao Nanfeng, who had yet to embark on the path of heart cultivation, couldn't understand the profound subtleties involved. Matters of the heart were delicate, and even seemingly minor shifts could lead to monumental transformations. The 'slight' change in Madam Rouge's heart could have enhanced her power immensely.

Then, Yu Fuli turned to Han Gucheng and scrutinized him. "Hmm? Are you really Han Gucheng?"

"Han Gucheng greets His Majesty," Han Gucheng said again, giving the Heavenly Emperor a deep bow.

Yu Fuli shook his head. "You're not Han Gucheng."

Xiao Nanfeng was astonished, as was Han Gucheng himself. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Your Majesty, how could I not be Han Gucheng? Admittedly, this is just an avatar, not my main body," Han Gucheng said.

Yu Fuli shook his head. "You're Han Gucheng's main body."

"What?" Xiao Nanfeng was taken aback. He looked toward Han Gucheng, who had a similarly confused expression on his face.

"You must be mistaken, Your Majesty. Surely I'm aware of my own circumstances...?"

"Your cultivation is relatively ordinary, but your aptitude for heart cultivation is exceptional. You cultivate the Heartslain Bodies, don't you?" Yu Fuli asked with a smile.

"How did you know, Your Majesty?" Han Gucheng asked cautiously.

"The Heartslain Bodies allows cultivators to divide themselves into three bodies: the good, the malicious, and the obstinate. These bodies differ from ordinary avatars; they're as real as your main body but represent different facets of the self. This form of yours, surrounded by an aura of merit, must be your good body."

Han Gucheng gave Yu Fuli a complex look before he nodded. "Your Majesty's insight is unparalleled. Indeed, this is my good body. I currently only have two bodies at present; the other hasn't been subdivided further."

Yu Fuli stared at Han Gucheng and added, "Not only are you Han Gucheng's good body, your body is incomplete. Something seems to be missing."

Han Gucheng nodded again. "Before I came here, my other self tampered with this form, erasing some of my memories. It is indeed incomplete."

Xiao Nanfeng was shocked. Could cultivators manipulate their own avatars? Han Gucheng's forms seemed to have individual consciousness, unlike his avatars, which shared the same consciousness. It was a strange and unsettling notion.

"What do you seek from me?" Yu Fuli asked, sipping his tea.

Han Gucheng took a deep breath. "Please deal with Saint Lun Hui, Your Majesty."

"Oh?" Yu Fuli put down his teacup, glancing at Han Gucheng in intrigue.

"My other self is currently with the main body of Saint Lun Hui, and I expect that they're studying the primordial altar together. I've discovered that, throughout history, the most powerful figures of each era have used the primordial altar to defy the heavens in some way. Though karmic altars can connect to the primordial altar, having the primordial altar physically present is particularly potent," Han Gucheng said.

"Are you intending to negotiate with me?" Yu Fuli asked, narrowing his eyes.

"No, Your Majesty. I only hope to request aid from you. I too have been using Saint Lun Hui and the primordial altar for my own gain, but once I obtain what I seek, there will inevitably be conflict between us. I earnestly entreat that you intervene, Your Majesty."

Yu Fuli scrutinized him. "I know that you and Saint Lun Hui are conspiring, but what exactly are you after that requires my help to clean up your mess?"

Han Gucheng smiled wryly. "I don't know."

"Oh?"

"My other body erased this form's memories and even severed our heart connection. I know nothing about the situation or where my other body is, precisely."

"Fascinating. Your two selves are scheming against each other? How intriguing."

Han Gucheng shook his head. "Your Majesty, that's impossible. My other self and I are one; we can't work against each other. If I perish, so too will my other self. This was likely done because the personality of this body isn't suited to handling certain darker matters."

"Fine. Since your situation is so intriguing, I'll help you deal with Saint Lun Hui. Besides, I could use the primordial altar myself," Yu Fuli replied with a smile.

All the Immortal Emperors of the world were Yu Fuli's subjects. Though Han Gucheng and Xiao Nanfeng had feuded, this was immaterial to Yu Fuli. He agreed readily.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Han Gucheng said, bowing deeply.

"Since your heart connection has been severed, I can't pinpoint your other self's location. How can I find it?" Yu Fuli asked.

Han Gucheng smiled wryly. "Your Majesty, my other self said it would contact me soon—within a few days—and share its memories with me."

"Your other self must be engaged in something extraordinary for him to be so secretive," Yu Fuli mused.

"I apologize, Your Majesty."

"It matters not. Although I can't pinpoint your other self's location, I can observe his surroundings. Would you like to see what's happening?" Yu Fuli asked.

"Truly?" Han Gucheng asked curiously.

He hesitated for a moment before ultimately nodding. "If you have the means to do so, Your Majesty, I'd love to."

He didn't refuse; Yu Fuli was showing him respect by asking for his opinion rather than doing so outright. Refusing might well sour Yu Fuli's opinion of him.

"Very well. Let's use your body as a medium, then. By your shared truesoul, I invoke your other self. Reveal!" Yu Fuli commanded.

He extended a finger to Han Gucheng's brow, causing purple light to emerge. With a wave of his hand, Yu Fuli cast the light outward to create a glowing purple screen.

On the screen was a peculiar space, dominated by a massive altar shrouded in black fog. The symbols on the altar were obscured, but it emanated an overwhelming aura of power.

"The primordial altar indeed," Yu Fuli said with a smile.

In addition to the altar, there were countless Enlightenment Grounds visible. Near the altar, a group of figures could be seen.

Saint Lun Hui sat nearby, sipping on Immortal tea. He was surrounded by a green aura of formidable power.

"That's Saint Lun Hui's main body," Han Gucheng explained.

Not far away stood Han Gucheng's three wives and his son Han Bing, all of whom were observing Han Gucheng's other body curiously.

Han Gucheng's other body was focused on a mountain of ice. He flew around the mountain and ran his hands across its surface.

"What mountain is that? Why would my other self erase this memory?" Han Gucheng's good body murmured, frowning.

"The cursed spiritual power of the Superior..." Yu Fuli exclaimed.

"Your Majesty, you recognize that mountain of ice?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"More than recognize, in fact. To think Han Gucheng was scheming for that..." Yu Fuli smiled.

"What is he plotting, Your Majesty?"

"If I'm not mistaken, Saint Lun Hui is trying to merge the Enlightenment Grounds, while Han Gucheng is seeking to use the icy mountain as a medium to retrieve a cursed effigy from the altar for symbiosis."

"There are cursed effigies in the primordial altar?" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

"Throughout history, many hegemons of their era have offered cursed effigies as sacrifices to the altar in exchange for power. These entities can be retrieved, and the altar can even purge their malevolence," Yu Fuli explained.

"So Han Gucheng wants to live in symbiosis with a purified cursed effigy?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, frowning.

"It's possible. And the cursed effigy he's targeting is rather extraordinary." Yu Fuli smiled.

"Your Majesty, what cursed effigy is he intending to retrieve?"

"If that icy mountain is to serve as the medium... perhaps the Superior," Yu Fuli replied.

"The Superior?"

"You should be aware of the Body of Yin, from which the Shangqing, Taiqing, and Yuqing Yin Bodies derive. The Superior was the one who authored Body of Yin."

"The Superior ended up in the primordial altar? You mean that he was sacrificed?"

"Indeed. He was jointly sacrificed by the three Qing Grandmasters."

Xiao Nanfeng was stunned. To think that the Superior, who had taught the three Qing Grandmasters, had been betrayed by them and offered up as a sacrifice!

And now, Han Gucheng was intending to claim that legacy for himself. His ambitions were truly staggering.