Chapter 4

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Xiaochen couldn't help but feel afraid. Although he hadn't experienced soul possession, he had heard about it. Now, a soul had entered his body. What else could it be if not for soul possession?

"Soul possession?" The voice was slightly taken aback, then laughed somewhat disdainfully: "That's a technique used by the Demon Sect. A body obtained through soul possession is never the most suitable, and it will bring many troubles later on. I am an independent existence, merely residing in your body."

"Phew..." Xiaochen let out a sigh of relief. It seemed that this soul really wasn't here for soul possession. Otherwise, why would it explain so much? And when Xiaochen calmed down, he realized that he still had his own consciousness. He took a deep breath and asked, "Then who are you... soul? Why did you choose to reside in my body?"

"Who I am is meaningless for you to know for now. As for why I chose to reside in your body, it's because your constitution is very similar to mine. When you jumped off the cliff, it triggered my soul, so I resided in your body!" the voice explained calmly.

"Damn, similar constitution? You still want to possess my body?" Xiaochen was startled and furious! But he also felt a bit sad, thinking, "I, Xiaochen, didn't die from falling off a cliff, but I'm going to die from being possessed?"

"Xiaochen, don't be so agitated!" The voice sounded again, this time with a hint of amusement: "You should thank me for not dying when you jumped off the cliff. If I hadn't entered your body mid-air, you would have been smashed to pieces by now!"

"You... how do you know my name? Can you... read minds?" Xiaochen was startled and asked.

"Don't forget, I'm inside your body. As long as you think about it in your mind, you can communicate with me without speaking out loud." The voice continued: "As for soul possession, I have no interest. Although your body is similar to mine, it's only similar. Moreover, if I possess your body, I might lose my own thoughts, or rather, our thoughts might merge into a new person..."

"Is that so... then thank you for saving my life." For some reason, perhaps because this soul was also in Xiaochen's body, the words he spoke made Xiaochen feel exceptionally sincere, as if he wasn't lying.

"Don't mention it, old man here didn't save you for nothing!" The voice didn't care about Xiaochen's gratitude: "I saved you for my own sake! I have some unfulfilled wishes from my life, and I want you to help me achieve them!"

"Why should I?" Xiaochen's heart stirred; there was indeed something going on! "I said it, you couldn't have saved me out of the goodness of your heart. You had a plan all along!"

"Hmm... father missing, expelled from the family, fiancée breaking off the engagement, bullied by former subordinates... tsk tsk... looks like you've had a pretty miserable life..." the voice suddenly said with a mocking tone.

"Damn! You old bastard, spying on my privacy!" Xiaochen was thoroughly enraged, feeling an urge to hit someone, but whose fist could he raise? Was he going to hit himself? That would be insane!

"I just took a casual look. Don't worry, I have no bad intentions. I only looked at your recent memories." The voice said indifferently: "But, with such a good constitution, you're being bullied like this, tsk tsk, truly pitiful!"

"Old man, what do you really want to say?" Xiaochen was so angry he gritted his teeth, but he couldn't do anything to this soul. It was inside his body, and he couldn't hit or scold it—this old man had thick skin, and scolding him wouldn't make a difference!

"Do you want to become strong?" The voice put aside its mocking tone and asked enticingly.

After cursing, Xiaochen suddenly remembered the soul's words, "such a good constitution"? Could it be that his constitution was considered good in the soul's eyes? Xiaochen wasn't stupid. Thinking about it, he asked tentatively, "Do you have a way to cultivate inner strength?"

"No!" The voice replied straightforwardly.

"..." Xiaochen felt an urge to lose control: "If not, why did you ask?"

"But, perhaps there's an alternative? Not cultivating inner strength, but still becoming strong?" The voice answered its own question.

"You... you mean you have other cultivation methods that can achieve the same effect as inner strength?" Xiaochen was slightly stunned and quickly asked.

"Hehe, exactly!" The voice confirmed: "Otherwise, how could I make you help me fulfill my wishes? With your current skills?"

"Fine! As long as you can make me strong, in exchange, I'll help you fulfill your wishes!" Xiaochen hesitated for a moment and then made his decision, saying firmly: "But let's be clear, if you ask me to do dangerous things, I won't do them!"

"Hehe, that's not up to you. My first wish is that I never had a disciple before I died. Xiaochen, kneel and pay respects to your master!" The voice laughed wickedly.

"Master?" Xiaochen was taken aback, then realized he had been tricked: "If I become your disciple, you'll be my master, and I'll have to do whatever you say. This isn't an exchange at all!"

"When did I say it was an exchange? You said it was an exchange!" The voice retorted: "Besides, one of my wishes is to have a disciple!"

"You..." Xiaochen stared, at a loss for words.

"Alright, to be honest, you are my disciple and the only successor of my lineage. How could I push you into a fire pit? Recognizing me as your master will only bring you benefits, not harm!" The voice laughed.

"Fine, I agree!" Xiaochen thought about it. He had no other choice. If he wanted to become strong, relying on this soul was his only option. He hadn't cultivated inner strength in over a decade; if there were other methods, he would have used them long ago!

"Good, but let's skip the disciple ceremony for now. I can't leave your body right now, and you can't bow to yourself!" The voice was very satisfied when Xiaochen agreed: "You can call me Master or Elder Tian in the future."

"Master, what should I do now? How do I get back from this cliff?" Since Xiaochen accepted Elder Tian as his master, he no longer dwelled on it.

"Getting back, not so fast!" Elder Tian said: "It's been too long, and my soul's mental energy is very weak. I can temporarily take over your body and fly up the cliff, but that will use up all my remaining mental energy, and then I will enter a dormant state."

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