I got to hurry. The fight has already started.

He thought to himself as he tightly gripped his ax. He slowly recalled the two people who were up ahead. They were two people who were very nice to him throughout the journey. The yellow-robed old man who constantly gave him advice as well as pills with a stubborn look on his face. The silver-haired lady that always laughed lightly by his side. Perhaps it was rash on his part to help strangers he had known more than two weeks yet, but Liu Xun personally felt he had to move forward or else he would end up regretting it the rest of his life.

Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack.

The wheel continued to spin as the youth took hurried steps. The incline got steeper as he got higher up the mountain. The frosted trees surrounding casted multiple shadows under the moonlight as the foreign surroundings crept over the brave youth who advanced. Countless ice sculptures littered the grounds, still and lifeless. Crunch. Another burst pill was eaten.

"System, area scan again."

[Roger scanning...the area is clear without any enemies within 500-metres again.]

"How much qi do I have remaining?"

[423/678 qi remaining.]

"Well system, how do I use this Demonic Possession Stone?"

[The same as usual. Press it on your forehead and give it consent to activate.]

"Alright then."

The youth in black robes chose to stop on the spot as he looked at the dull purplish-black stone in his hands. Inside it lays the soul of a demonic cultivator. Who knows what kind of devilish existence could come out? He gently placed the stone on his forehead as he felt a cold and eerie chill seep into the depths of his conscience.

[Warning host, demonic possession has been initiated...]

"Hmm, besides this chill...I feel nothing really different."

The youth said to himself as he looked at his palm. There was no visual difference in his qi aura. Perhaps it was slowly rising up due to the stone's temporary boost, but he could not feel the presence of any demonic beings in his body. Well, it would be a pity to miss out on the experience of a senior even if it is a demonic practitioner. At least, the stone managed to give the necessary power boost to ensure that I would not be a huge burden in the upcoming fight. Even though I have control over the demonic cultivator's soul, it would be really unpleasant to deal with another being who may act against me at any point.

The youth felt his qi as he could feel the surge in power. It had long exceeded his maximum capacity as it overflowed through his meridians. He could feel the overwhelmingly large power pool and reservoir in that small body of his. Is this how small it feels to be qi gathering? Unlike before where he felt content with his power in comparison to the Essence Foundation seniors, he felt like a tiny ant previously compared to now! The overwhelming power of a Core Inversion cultivator!

----

---

--

-

"Oh really, boy? Nothing different, eh?"

Another voice came out while the youth was being distracted by his increase in qi. Wait, what? Liu Xun was completely flabbergasted as he turned to look at his surroundings. There was no one else present. He turned around as he looked again carefully. Still not a single soul in sight.

"System, area..."

"Hey wait a moment there, kiddo. Do not waste any energy pointlessly."

The words from a hoarse voice came out. It felt really close as if a whisper to his left ear, yet there was no one present. This instantly creeped Liu Xun out as he immediately swung his ax to his left in retaliation. Swoosh. He hit nothing but thin air. Another miss. It was as if he was dealing with a specter or such.

"Hey hey, what did I say about conserving energy," the voice mentioned in a slightly exasperated tone, it then continued its words. "Just chill, it is just me. Your resident possessing demonic soul. Kekeke!"

The voice reached out again as it gave a cackling laugh.

Liu Xun was surprised. He began to notice the slight difference. Yes, he had not previously felt anything wrong with his body since he had control over it. Yet occasionally, the right side of his face would twitch and move on its own. He could also feel some parts of his body relinquishing control towards an unknown source.

"Hey, just let me borrow part of your body, okay? So, who are we going to fight today?"

Liu Xun felt uncomfortable as the right side of his face began to talk in a raucous manner. This was unlike the left side which he had complete control over. In fact, only half his mouth opened as words spewed from the right half of it. It sort of worried him not only how weird he looked, but also what would happen if the being actually gains control. And also was it possible for it to gain control?

[Do not worry host, the soul cannot obtain control, even over your dead body. It has been set to a lower command bracket despite his strength being far greater than yours.]

"Don't worry, you can grab control back easily as it is the rules of the stone. I cannot disobey. Just let me control some of the hard parts. I cannot expect a Qi Gathering chick like you to actually use my Core Inversion qi and power properly with your lacking skills right? Just let me fight part of the fights that you cannot handle, you can have an arm or so. Then I won't be so bored lingering around. HAHAHA!"

The coarse and rude voice laughed out without restraint. The control over his body was slowly eroding away. Still, Liu Xun felt that he could easily wrestle back control when needed. It makes sense to let this senior handle part of the fight as his words were facts. There was the other consideration that if the senior is pleased and displays his abilities. He himself might be able to get some of that senior's skills, a win-win in that sense. It would be unfavorable to displease the senior considering he has done no harm as of yet and looks rather receptive to being reasoned with, despite his coarse language and unruly behavior.

"Alright then, senior. I will trust you for now. So how much of my body can you use effectively?"

Liu Xun acquiesced control to the demonic soul.

"Ohhh, I can use it fully if you gave me permission to. But you wouldn't be learning shit then, right? It looks like you are an ax cultivator, eh? I have seen quite a few of those troublesome bastards. Slow but mountain-crushing strength. It sure doesn't suit your disposition at all, haha. Slender with fine sharp features, you are the prime example of how those retarded righteous sword cultivators look like. Well, I am also a sword cultivator in a sense, albeit a demonic one."

The voice continued to introduce his abilities while responding to the question.

"Still, I would probably be able to swing an ax better than you could. Hey, do you have any spare weapons? It would be difficult for the both of us to share just a single ax, right? I cannot sense anything at the moment on your body, but you do own one of them right? Those shitty cheat systems. They always have this special inventory that no normal cultivator could sense. That was the shit that brought me to my end, a hidden item from an inventory. Heh, the brat I fought did put a good fight still so I will applaud his valiant effort despite him cheating."

Looks like the demonic cultivator harbors a slight grudge against system users, but it seemed to be pretty trivial.

"A Core Inversion demonic beast. Assumingly at least high Core Inversion stage..."

"Holy mother of cow...you are a real crazy one! You...you actually dared to go and pick a fight with a possible high or peak Core Inversion stage being despite being qi gathering? Even with my power boost, you are only pseudo-Core Inversion at the moment. And I thought I used to be the mad man back then. I shall relinquish my title to you. How about it? The Chaotic Maniacal Hundred Saber Slash King. Nice, right?"

"No, thanks. And this Core Inversion beast, also has possibly hundreds of minions around Core Formation stage..."

"What!? Are you trying to kill me!? Well, I am already dead. But man, you sure are suicidal. Assuming we are both from the XianTian realm, what about this beast's name? I may have passed quite a while ago, but I may have heard a thing or two about this demonic beast since it is that strong. Those beasts could easily live up to several thousand years if they hide in their tiny caves away from my saber after all, HAHA!"

"It is Shaggoroth."

"OH, so it is that freaking meat sack huh! It used to run around back then while I was still alive. I let it off since it loved to be a pain in the righteous cultivators' asses. As they say, an enemy of an enemy is a...what was that again...oh right, rabid dog that can be used! Haha! It would probably indeed be high or even peak Core Inversion by now. Anyways, back to my point, weapons?"

Liu Xun pondered at the demonic soul's words as he then gathered his thoughts for a short moment. Was it okay to show this senior everything. Well since he had the control rights, it should be fine.

"Hmm, why are you quiet all of a sudden?"

The voice continued to question.

"System, can I temporarily show the soul my status?"

[Yes, you can. Since you both share the same body, both of you can view the status page at once. He can also hear this voice through the share function.]

"Oooooh, so this is what that damnable system sounds like. Sounds very pretty, hey lady want to go out for lunch?"

[...]

"Hmph, how rude."

The demonic voice continued its monologue.

"Come on now, we have to hurry the fight has already started. System, status."

"What the fight already started, there is no one he...you have allies?"

"Well, yeah...you cannot expect me to charge against all that alone right? And can't you hear those clashes?"

"WELL THEN SAY THAT EARLIER! I thought that was just some dogs fighting out of nowhere. I almost assumed that my current host is a suicidal battle frenzy maniac that just wants an impossible fight to the death against all odds! I guess I will have my title back then. Well, how strong are they?"

"Errr...early Core Inversion and middle Essence Foundation."

He replied solemnly, knowing the news wasn't really good.

"Okay, I changed my mind. Even if you are not suicidal level crazy, you are still pretty darned crazy. A pseudo-Core Inversion and early Core Inversion versus a high Core Inversion and hundreds of Core Formation..."

"What about the Essence Foundation..."

"That doesn't mean squat. Not even Core Formation, how much can that thing even contribute!"

"But isn't Core Formation to Core Inversion..."

"Hey look here, kiddo. It is 100 or possibly 100s of Core Formation to a Core Inversion. And you currently aren't even in Core Inversion, but the sub-realm before it. The peak of the peak of Organ Refinement. You would still need to assist the early Core Inversion to fight that fucking meat sack! And 100 Core Formation could easily pose a threat to a Core Inversion depending on the scenario. Like in a formation, I would be more scared of 100 Core Formations than a single early Core Inversion. Anyways, they are just demonic beasts but you get my point. Though the quantity is not as important as the quality, it still matters! Anyways, weapons?"

[...Host do you still want the status?]

"Yes, please."

[Affirmative, bring out status.]