Yue Mingkong's Turtle-in-a-Jar Plan — You Should Keep an Eye on Your Shifu
Yue Mingkong’s Turtle-in-a-Jar Plan — You Should Keep an Eye on Your Shifu
Although Gu Changge had always felt that the Reincarnation of the Mortal One wasn’t much different from the so-called Body Possession trope, strictly speaking, there was a huge difference between the two.
For an old fox like the Mortal One, who had reincarnated so many times, how could he not have some means of concealment? To the outside world, he could easily create the appearance of two souls coexisting in one body.
Even if a supreme being personally probed him, they would never find any trace of Body Possession. At most, it could be explained away as the awakening of memories from a past life.
So when Gu Changge so righteously told Yao Yao and Grandma Yin Hua that Jiang Yang had been possessed, it was really no different from slander.
After all, he currently had no powerful means to directly prove that Jiang Yang was no longer the Jiang Yang of before.
But that didn’t matter.
After all, Yao Yao trusted him deeply.
What he wanted was for Yao Yao to grow suspicious of Jiang Yang, to become guarded against him.
If Jiang Yang was foolish enough to directly make a move against Yao Yao, that would suit Gu Changge’s wishes perfectly.
When the Fortuity of the Heavenly Star Realm clashed between the two of them, he could sit back and reap the fisherman’s profit, delivering the finishing blow to the Mortal One at the critical moment.
Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
“Judging by the Mortal One’s current methods, it’s highly unlikely he preserved the original Jiang Yang’s consciousness. Great men don’t fuss over trifles — that so-called righteous and glorious image is just a facade maintained for appearances.”
“After all, what decent person selects a Saintess generation after generation...”
“Which means the brother Yao Yao once had should already be gone. It’s only right that she hates the Mortal One.”
“As her Shifu, stepping in to help her — there’s nothing wrong with that.”
Countless thoughts flashed through Gu Changge’s mind.
His face remained gentle, showing no trace of anything unusual.
As for exploiting Yao Yao’s guilt — he felt none whatsoever.
Rather than letting her be used by the Mortal One, why not let him, her Shifu, lend her a hand and avenge her brother’s murder?
“Yao Yao, keep this Jade Pendant safe. It contains a wisp of your Shifu’s Dharma Body. If you encounter danger, crush it, and I will sense it immediately.”
Gu Changge pondered for a moment before continuing.
At the same time, a crystalline Jade Pendant appeared in his palm, countless runes flickering across it, ancient and mysterious.
It contained a terrifying aura — a single wisp of it seemed capable of shattering heaven and earth.
“Thank you, Shifu.” Yao Yao obediently accepted it.
Gu Changge smiled faintly.
He knew Yao Yao was unlikely to encounter any real danger.
At a critical moment, once the power of the Dao Fruit erupted, who could possibly hurt her?
But Yao Yao herself didn’t know this.
In her eyes, Gu Changge gave her this Jade Pendant because he worried Jiang Yang might harm her while he was away.
This touched her deeply.
Of course, Gu Changge had another layer of intent. What the Jade Pendant contained was not a so-called Dharma Body, but one of his Demonization avatars.
Demonization was similar to a divine sense — equivalent to a wisp of his soul, seated within, able to know Yao Yao’s every move at all times.
He knew Jiang Yang would definitely come looking for Yao Yao next, under the pretense of taking her out to have fun, while actually trying to win her trust.
At that point, if he, as her Shifu, interfered, it would inevitably arouse Jiang Yang’s suspicion.
Although Jiang Yang planned to move against him,
he also understood that now was not the time.
Gu Changge had no intention of startling the snake in the grass either. That was why he planned to monitor Jiang Yang’s every move through Yao Yao. Even if Jiang Yang grew suspicious then, he could never guess Gu Changge’s true purpose.
“A Dharma Body...”
Grandma Yin Hua looked on enviously. She could sense how terrifying and extraordinary this Jade Pendant was.
With this pendant protecting her, probably not even a Sacred Realm cultivator could harm Yao Yao.
This Shifu of hers was truly unfathomably powerful!
Was there anything he couldn’t produce?
But soon, remembering Jiang Yang’s recent changes, worry, helplessness, and conflict appeared on her face.
After all, even the Exalted Immortal had said he wasn’t certain and needed further deliberation. So what exactly was going on with Jiang Yang now? Had he really been possessed?
And just as Yao Yao and Grandma Yin Hua were growing suspicious of Jiang Yang,
Gu Changge heard the System’s notification.
Jiang Yang’s Fortuity Points had indeed dropped by quite a bit.
He could see with his own eyes the ethereal strands of fortune between heaven and earth rapidly draining away.
At this rate, once Jiang Yang’s Fortuity Points decayed to a certain level within the Heavenly Star Realm, he could begin considering harvesting them — the chances of success would be fairly high.
“When the Fortuitous One’s Fortuity Points hit zero and the drop rule triggers, what kind of Heavenly Gift Treasure Chest will drop?”
“Could it be something like the Symbol of Reincarnation, or a Dao Fruit?”
At this point, Gu Changge was already thinking about the final reward.
He had the Reincarnation of the Mortal One completely in the palm of his hand.
From Jiang Chuchu, he had already learned of the Reincarnation of the Mortal One’s greatest trump card. Even if Jiang Yang went berserk now, with that body of his, he could at most break through to the Enlightenment Realm.
How far was that from Gu Changge’s true strength?
Even if the Reincarnation of the Mortal One had some means of borrowing the momentum of heaven and earth, Gu Changge wouldn’t care.
The only thing he needed to watch out for was the method left behind by the Prime Ancestor of Celestia Holy Land — the Celestia Sacred Emperor.
A phantom of a Sacred Emperor?
Or perhaps a Sacred Emperor Grade Weapon?
“If the Eight Barren Demon Halberd revives, it should be able to contend against the Celestia Ancestor’s weapon.” Gu Changge’s eyes narrowed.
As for a Sacred Emperor’s phantom? Don’t forget — the phantom left behind by the Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being had been devoured by Gu Changge’s Grand Flask.
Before an Ancient Supreme Being, a Sacred Emperor was far too lacking.
Only after reaching perfection in the Nine Minor Realms within the Sacred King Realm did one have the chance to assault the Sacred Emperor Realm.
And only after reaching the Sacred Emperor Realm did one have the chance to achieve Dao and prove oneself an Emperor!
The so-called Ancient Supreme Beings were existences who had already proven their Dao in ancient times. Some of them had even walked very far down the path of Dao attainment, approaching Immortality itself!
And besides his innate Demonic Heart, Gu Changge was also born accompanied by a Grand Flask.
That Grand Flask was no phantom condensed from the Immortal-Devouring Demonic Art — it truly existed, sinking and floating somewhere in the deepest part of his Spiritual Sea.
It only slowly emerged after he began cultivating.
No one but him knew of it.
In over twenty years, Gu Changge had only used it once.
That Grand Flask was one of Gu Changge’s greatest trump cards!
Over the next few days, Gu Changge took Yao Yao and the others to temporarily reside at Celestia Holy Land.
News of his arrival at Celestia Holy Land quickly spread from within.
After all, many cultivators had personally witnessed Gu Changge entering the gates of Celestia Holy Land that day.
For a time, news circulated everywhere in the Sky Domain, causing a sensation. Many cultivators began speculating, utterly baffled and shocked.
Many factions and Mystic Mountains sent people to pay visits, but all were turned away at the door. Soon, many noticed that the relationship between Celestia Holy Land and Gu Changge didn’t seem very harmonious.
Gu Changge was residing at Celestia Holy Land,
yet they only dared to bear it carefully, not daring to show the slightest dissatisfaction — instead treating him with reverence and flattery.
This sight and attitude shocked many factions, who then secretly sneered.
The always domineering and overbearing Celestia Holy Land actually had a day like this.
...
Meanwhile, Yue Mingkong also received news about Celestia Holy Land.
Her methods were very covert, but she had secretly taken control of quite a few powerful local factions. Several ancient clans of the Sky Domain were now under her control.
Nothing that happened in the Sky Domain could escape her eyes and ears.
Celestia Holy Land was no exception.
At this moment, her expression was cold and profound as she frowned down at the group of people kneeling prostrate below her, a terrifying pressure circulating around her.
“Jiang Yang...”
Yue Mingkong murmured the name, astonishing killing intent and coldness spreading through her eyes.
“After searching for so long, you’ve finally shown yourself.”
She had only just learned this name from one of her subordinates.
A disciple of Celestia Holy Land, bearing a Barren Sacred Physique whose curse had been lifted, was beginning to rise to fame.
“No wonder there was no news of him before — so it was the Barren Sacred Physique, a crippled physique. That’s why there was no word of him all these years?”
“Truly, what I sought high and low has come to me without any effort.”
Yue Mingkong’s expression grew even colder, her killing intent astonishing.
Her original plan had been to head to the Sky Pool first, wait for the World Purifying Green Lotus to emerge, pluck it ahead of time, and reduce the Mortal One’s plan of unifying all his lives into one to nothing.
But now, her thinking had changed.
Since the Reincarnation of the Mortal One had appeared, what she needed to do now was find a way to eliminate him.
No matter how small the chance of success, she had to try first.
She just didn’t know whether the Reincarnation of the Mortal One had awakened his past-life memories yet.
“If he hasn’t awakened, this will be much easier.”
“But if he has, it’ll be a bit more troublesome. Still, the Reincarnation of the Mortal One doesn’t know I’m coming to kill him.”
“If he takes me for one of the other orthodoxies from the Overworld coming to find him...”
A cold smile appeared on Yue Mingkong’s breathtakingly beautiful face beneath her veil.
Her plan wasn’t actually complicated.
To kill the Reincarnation of the Mortal One, preparations had to be made in advance.
Because Jiang Yang had countless methods, he would be far harder to deal with than even Ye Ling, the successor of the Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being, had been last time.
The slightest misstep, and he would surely escape — or she would be wounded, even grievously injured or killed, by his methods.
Yue Mingkong didn’t want to take great risks. She needed detailed planning and arrangements first.
“If my memory serves, the founder of this Celestia Holy Land actually has a deep connection to the Mortal One — an innate being he enlightened in one of his lives.”
“There must be a contingency the Mortal One left behind within Celestia Holy Land. I need to find a way to lure him out — best if he’s alone...”
Countless thoughts flashed through Yue Mingkong’s mind.
Soon, she had a plan.
First, she needed to settle on a location, arrange all the Array Patterns and personnel there in advance, then lure the Reincarnation of the Mortal One over — catching a turtle in a jar.
She refused to believe that a lone Reincarnation of the Mortal One would have any way to escape.
Then, Yue Mingkong’s eyes flickered. Taking up a brush in her jade hand, she began writing, planning to have someone deliver this letter into Jiang Yang’s hands at Celestia Holy Land.
At this point, she was instead worried that the Exalted Immortal would ruin her plan.
According to the reports, the sister of the Mortal One’s current reincarnation had been taken in as a disciple by that Exalted Immortal, who had then happened to bring her to Celestia Holy Land.
“Is all of this too much of a coincidence? Or is that Exalted Immortal also here searching for the Reincarnation of the Mortal One?”
Yue Mingkong frowned. For her, the only advantage right now was that she was in the shadows while the other party was in the light.
That Exalted Immortal had no idea she existed.
If that Exalted Immortal interfered with her plan, she wouldn’t mind dealing with him along the way.
For this descent to the Overworld, she had made extensive preparations and brought many things — including numerous terrifying Forbidden Weapons and even a Sacred Emperor Grade Weapon.
...
At the same time, in an ancient city three thousand li outside Celestia Holy Land, the bustling, lively streets were filled with cultivators and beings coming and going.
Both sides were lined with pavilions and shops, palaces and divine halls, packed closely together, divine mist swirling — truly grand and magnificent.
“This is your first time at Celestia Holy Land. As your brother, I have to show you around properly today.”
Jiang Yang wore an apologetic smile as he led Yao Yao and Grandma Yin Hua around, speaking casually.
Behind them followed Zhao Yi, the Supreme Elder of Celestia Holy Land, who looked like a mere maid but was actually Jiang Yang’s guardian.
What had happened in the great hall that day had somewhat damaged Jiang Yang’s dignity, causing his image in Zhao Yi’s heart to plummet considerably.
But soon, under Jiang Yang’s guidance and methods, Zhao Yi’s cultivation — stagnant for many years — showed signs of a breakthrough, shocking her greatly and changing her view and attitude toward Jiang Yang once more.
Zhao Yi now felt that everything that happened in the great hall that day had been an accident.
Jiang Yang’s methods grew ever more mysterious and unfathomable, making him even harder for her to see through.
At this moment, Jiang Yang wore a smile as he spoke to Yao Yao and Grandma Yin Hua, intending to win back Yao Yao’s trust.
Along the way, he repeatedly brought up things from their childhood.
His expressions and tone gradually became just like the brother Yao Yao used to know.
But what Gu Changge had told the two of them that night was like a thorn nailed into their hearts.
Neither Yao Yao nor Grandma Yin Hua was willing to be close to Jiang Yang.
It couldn’t quite be called coldness.
But there was always a barrier, a distance — even wariness.
This made Jiang Yang frown inwardly in confusion, though his expression showed nothing unusual.
He continued chatting warmly with the two of them, putting on the appearance of wanting to make up for his earlier mistakes.
This time, Gu Changge hadn’t come along with them. Although he was her Shifu, constantly tagging along would have been an eyesore and inappropriate.
Jiang Yang saw nothing wrong with this.
If Gu Changge had still followed along at this point, only then would he have thought Gu Changge’s ulterior motives were utterly undisguised.
Moreover, he had sensed the Jade Pendant on Yao Yao’s body.
It carried Gu Changge’s aura.
Jiang Yang figured it was something Gu Changge had left to keep track of Yao Yao’s location.
He didn’t pay it much mind, since he had no intention of doing anything to Yao Yao — Gu Changge was simply being paranoid.
“Big brother, I’m a little tired. I want to go back.”
Just then, a trace of weariness appeared on Yao Yao’s little face. She glanced at Jiang Yang and spoke softly.
Today, Jiang Yang had taken her and Grandma out of Celestia Holy Land to wander around the nearby ancient city, saying he hadn’t seen them in a long time and wanted to catch up and chat.
With the Jade Pendant her Shifu had bestowed, Yao Yao wasn’t worried, so she had agreed.
Besides, she still remembered what Gu Changge had said.
She intended to see what exactly was wrong with Jiang Yang — whether his temperament had truly changed drastically, or whether he had been possessed.
So Yao Yao quietly observed along the way, but found that whether it was Jiang Yang’s expressions, his tone, or the way he looked at her, everything was no different from before.
He was still the brother she knew so well.
He remembered her favorite foods, and he remembered how, when they were little, the two of them had encountered a fierce beast at the village entrance —
and how that fierce beast, for some unknown reason, had been scared into trembling.
If it were before, she would have been certain this was her brother, that there was no problem.
But the words Gu Changge had spoken last night still echoed in her ears, sending chills down the backs of both Yao Yao and Grandma Yin Hua.
Jiang Yang’s current manner was quite different from how he had been in the great hall that day.
And only a single night had passed.
Regarding that day, Jiang Yang’s explanation remained that he had been too impulsive, blinded by jealousy, and that he wasn’t normally like that.
Yao Yao and Grandma Yin Hua remained silent on this, offering no comment.
“Since Yao Yao is tired, let’s head back.”
Hearing this, Jiang Yang paused slightly, then smiled.
He hadn’t expected to win back Yao Yao’s trust so easily anyway.
So he wasn’t in a hurry, taking her at her word that she was truly tired.
After merging with his previous consciousness, Jiang Yang himself was quite fond of this obedient little sister of his — not to mention her extraordinary origins. Even having her by his side in the future could be of help to him.
This left Jiang Yang rather satisfied.
As for Gu Changge — after thinking it over, he concluded that Gu Changge had descended to the Overworld and merely passed by this place by chance, then discovered Yao Yao’s extraordinary origins and took her as a disciple, planning to bring her back to the Beyond with some other scheme in mind.
Having figured all this out, Jiang Yang certainly wouldn’t let Gu Changge have his way. He would take Yao Yao back from his side.
In Jiang Yang’s eyes, Gu Changge was just a fool who couldn’t recognize Mount Tai when he saw it — sooner or later, he would make him pay the proper price for the humiliation in the great hall that day.
“Big brother, is there something else you haven’t told Yao Yao? Didn’t you say that day that you had your difficulties?”
Yao Yao nodded.
Then her big eyes suddenly fixed on Jiang Yang, full of doubt and confusion.
She actually still wanted to hear about that matter from Jiang Yang’s own mouth.
“Didn’t you say you believed me back then?”
Jiang Yang smiled, seemingly unsurprised that Yao Yao would ask again.
Then he continued, reciting the explanation he had prepared long ago.
Much of it matched what Gu Changge had told Yao Yao — the only difference being that, at the end, Jiang Yang left out the details of the Miasma’s eruption.
He glossed over it with a single phrase: an accident had happened.
And it was precisely that one phrase that made Grandma Yin Hua’s expression change slightly.
“It seems big brother’s luck is really good — you’re the only one who survived.”
Yao Yao fell silent. Seeing that Jiang Yang wouldn’t speak of the details and only brushed past it with “an accident,” she understood that there was definitely something wrong with this matter.
“Oh, right — Yao Yao, you should be careful of that Shifu of yours.”
Jiang Yang noticed Yao Yao’s expression. His gaze shifted slightly. He knew Gu Changge had probably told her something, but he didn’t care.
Because with his reincarnation methods, even a Sacred Emperor acting personally couldn’t detect anything amiss.
He didn’t believe Gu Changge could see through anything.
At this point, it was nothing more than guesswork.
“Hm?”
Yao Yao froze at his words, not expecting Jiang Yang to suddenly say this — telling her to keep an eye on her own Shifu.
“What do you mean?”
She asked in confusion, not understanding what Jiang Yang meant. Was he trying to drive a wedge between her and her Shifu?
By this point, she had already subconsciously shut Jiang Yang out, treating him as a stranger.