Chapter 283 - Dream Demon

The Flying Snow Calamity acted upon the spirit, so naturally, the harvest should also be seen in the spirit.Jiang Wang fingered the Daoist magical gesture and unfolded a sea of flowers.

His usual tactic was to mix flame flowers amidst the sea of flowers, using illusionary flowers to conceal the flame flowers, giving the sea of flowers—a combat environment creation Dao technique—lethal power.

But now…

A phantom flower bloomed, and as it neared his palm, it transformed into a flame flower and exploded.

Before it completely dispersed, Jiang Wang reached out, snuffed it out, and released it as a phantom flower in his palm.

The seamless and smooth transition between phantom and flame flowers, all but without interruption, truly achieved the effect of intertwining illusion and reality.

With a bit more refinement, it could be said to be a Dao technique superior to the original, worthy of the name Sea of Flame Flowers.

What did this reflect?

Better control over illusions?

Essentially, was it not the growth of Spirit and Soul Power?

Jiang Wang pondered.

He had always had an idea regarding the Dark Candle, but due to a lack of strength, it hadn’t taken shape.

If one were to light the Dark Candle in the Tongtian Palace, using flame flowers would not work, but what about the Fire of Soul?

Spirit could come and go from the Tongtian Palace, and even the Heaven and Earth Gate wouldn’t block it!

He certainly couldn’t do it before, but now, why not give it a try?

His Spirit and Soul Power used to be out of the question, but after surviving the Flying Snow Calamity, that might not be the case.

He didn’t possess the relevant Dao technique for the Fire of Soul, but what if he shaped it in the form of flame flowers?

He was intimately familiar with all the details of flame flowers, a Dao technique he had mastered long ago in Fenglin City and had continually used and practiced to this day, never slackening.

Now, it was just a matter of converting Path Origin power into Spirit and Soul Power instead.

It might just be feasible!

Jiang Wang’s consciousness sunk into the Tongtian Palace.

From the perspective of his mind’s eye, he watched the Dark Candle.

The Star-Entwining Spirit Snake, a true spirit of the Dao vein, seemed to gain some sentient awareness and half-wrapped itself around a Star River Dao Spiral, no longer moving.

And the Dark Candle didn’t move at all, as if it hadn’t changed in any way.

Jiang Wang tried to sense his own Spirit and Soul Power—naturally futile before, but now, there was a marvelous change.

He decided to use a bit of his Spirit and Soul Power as a fire starter, energizing it in the way of flame flowers.

Perhaps the structural rules of the Fire of Soul differed from those of flame flowers.

But the way to create flame flowers was based on the natural formation of fire-element flowers.

That is to say, Jiang Wang only needed to provide a direction or catalyst, and the power of Spirit would naturally foster and birth itself.

A red flame was born.

It was born inside the Tongtian Palace!

The color was pure, blazing hot, as if determined to burn out at any moment, refusing to coexist with darkness.

Jiang Wang controlled it, slowly approaching that single Dark Candle, getting closer…

The Dark Candle, lit up!

It was the first time it had been lit by Jiang Wang, rather than self-igniting.

Indeed, the fire of the heart lit the Dark Candle.

The Dark Candle melted away at a speed visible to the naked eye, and at the same time as before, a secret technique emerged in his mind.

This time, it was the White Bone Secret Technique, Yin-Yang Reflection.

After applying this secret technique, any Dao technique used would be accompanied by an Underworld reflection, resulting in a double effect.

For example, a single flame flower, under the augmentation of Yin-Yang Reflection, would become two.

But the limitation remained that it was only for augmenting White Bone Dao secret techniques.

If incorporated into the White Bone Dao secret technique system, it would no doubt be a very powerful secret technique.

But as of now, the White Bone Dao secret techniques that Jiang Wang had mastered were only the Flesh Regeneration and Soul Restoration Technique and the Bone Escaping Technique.

Neither needed the enhancement of Yin-Yang Reflection.

Double the healing with the Flesh Regeneration and Soul Restoration Technique to save two people at once wasn’t too bad.

But what about the Bone Escaping Technique with a double reflection?

To consume twice the lifespan and die of old age in the blink of an eye?

However, now was not the time to think about the Dao technique system.

Jiang Wang continued to burn the Dark Candle with the spirit flame flower, seemingly determined to burn it off entirely at once.

Just at that moment.

“Alas,” it was as though a sigh arose from the deepest depths of his heart.

The voice said, “I mean no harm.”

The Dark Candle hadn’t moved, but that spirit flame flower…

suddenly extinguished.

This Dark Candle indeed has a problem!

I was indeed influenced before!

Despite having suspicions early on, when those suspicions turned into reality, Jiang Wang couldn’t help but feel alarmed.

Anyone who knows their consciousness has another influencer would find it hard to remain calm.

“Who are you?” Jiang Wang asked, gathering his Spirit and Soul Power.

“I am you,” that voice said, “so however you construct the flame flowers, I can dissolve them just as easily.”

“You are me?” Jiang Wang certainly didn’t believe it.

If it weren’t for this voice’s ability to influence the Fire of Soul, he would have undoubtedly melted the Dark Candle completely by now.

“You might not have noticed, but I must tell you something,” the voice said, “Using the Bone Tao Secret Technique, you get tainted by the Bone Respecting God.”

“Using the Bone Tao Secret Technique, you get tainted by the Bone Respecting God?” Jiang Wang repeated the sentence and felt a chill in his heart.

“The true power of an Underworld Deity is beyond your imagination.

Every time you use a Bone Tao Secret Technique, this taint grows deeper.

In the end, no one can escape His control.

That’s how He rules the Bone God Kingdom.”

The voice continued, “And I, I am a part of your spirit.

The tainted part, residing within the Dark Candle.”

“You are a part of my spirit?” Jiang Wang felt as if he was listening to some fantastical tale.

“I was first born when you performed the flesh-to-soul revival technique for Bai Lian.

Or perhaps I should call her, Miao Yu.”

“That’s not important,” Jiang Wang said, “You mentioned…

‘birth’?”

“No, she is important.

It’s just that you’re not ready to admit it yet.

I’ve told you, I am you.

You can even deceive yourself, but you can’t deceive another you.”

A Fire of Soul flower appeared inside the Tongtian Palace.

Jiang Wang’s attitude was firm, “Don’t talk about boring things.

If you can’t persuade me in the shortest time, why not try here and now to see who has deeper control over this spirit.”

“Alright, alright, you don’t need to get angry.

There’s no need for us to deplete ourselves.

I’ve said, I have no ill will towards you.

Isn’t that true?

Think about it, I’ve never harmed you.

On the contrary, I’ve always strived to keep you away from danger,” the voice said.

Jiang Wang replied, “In my view, influencing my thoughts is already the greatest malice.”

“If you are very resistant to this, I apologize.

At first, I just didn’t want to scare you, and I didn’t want you to encounter danger either.

After all, we are one and the same; if you die, I cannot live.”

“Let’s continue about your birth,” Jiang Wang said.

“The Dark Candle is the treasure of the White Bone Doctrine, and I am the part of your spirit tainted by the Bone Respecting God.

I can’t explain my birth; it was a matter of chance and coincidence.

I was also confused at the beginning, but the Dark Candle absorbed me.

Within the Dark Candle, I found space and avoided fighting with you for dominance over the spirit.”

At least regarding what this voice said, that , Jiang Wang had to believe it.

The extinguished Fire of Soul flower was clear proof.

“If you really dislike the term ‘another you’… I am the part of your spirit that’s been tainted by the Bone Respecting God, you could consider me your heart-demon,” the voice said, “You can call me Jiang Yan.”

Jiang Wang said, “Yan is but a malevolent spirit.”

“Tainted by the Bone Respecting God, could it possibly be any sort of beautiful dream?” The voice claiming to be Jiang Yan thus spoke.

The remark was rather frank.

“You seem to know a lot of things I don’t.

If you are me, this doesn’t make sense,” Jiang Wang said.

“My birth is due to the Bone Respecting God contaminating a part of your spirit, so in addition to a part of your affairs, I also know many things about the Bone Tao, all because of the existence of the Dark Candle, which prevents me from being controlled by the Bone Respecting God.

Think about it, the parts I know that you don’t, aren’t they all related to the Bone Tao?”

Whether it was the warning before the Bone Respecting God’s descent in Fenglin City or the neglect of the plague bell in Chiwei Prefecture, indeed, all were related to the Bone Tao.

“Just this doesn’t seem to be enough to convince me,” Jiang Wang said indifferently.

“Then let me put it another way.

Originally, I just wanted to hide quietly inside the Dark Candle, every action was to save you.

And this time, if you hadn’t insisted on igniting the Dark Candle, I would not have appeared at all.

The Dark Candle is the Bone Tao’s treasured artifact, allowing me to reside within it.

Once it’s gone, I must return to your spirit and merge with you, becoming a new ‘me’.

Have you considered whether you’re willing to accept that situation?”

“It’s not certain that you could merge with me,” Jiang Wang said.

“Yes, perhaps a new ‘me’ that combines all of our wills, or simply you, with my will completely erased,” Jiang Yan said.

“Or, it could just be simply ‘me’.”

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” Jiang Wang said.

“I don’t believe you just want to live inside the Dark Candle forever.

Or perhaps I should find a way to send you out of Tongtian Palace and see if outside, you can still influence my spirit?”

“There’s no need to mince words, I have my independent will and naturally am not content to forever hide in the Dark Candle, watching how splendidly you live, dwelling for a lifetime in your Tongtian Palace,” Jiang Yan ignored Jiang Wang’s threat, seemingly certain Jiang Wang couldn’t find a way to send away the Dark Candle, or maybe he believed Jiang Wang wouldn’t make that choice.

He directly said, “My thoughts are simple, I also want a body of my own.

Of course, I don’t think I could compete with you.

In fact, you’re not my best choice.”

“There are many corpses in the mass graves.

Men, women, old, young, beautiful, ugly, any will do.”

“Of course not,” Jiang Yan said.

“I was born with the essence of the Bone Tao and require the body of a White Bone Doctrine follower…

Never mind, I’ll just say it, I only want the body of a Bone Taoist, who should now be called the Bone Saint Lord.”

“Your demands are not low.”

“I am you, Jiang Wang!

Do you think you’re someone in your bones who just settles for mediocrity?”

“And if I don’t agree?”

Jiang Yan said coldly, “Jiang Wang, you should understand yourself better.

Ask yourself, when have you ever lacked the courage to go down with your adversaries?”

“Since you consider yourself another me, since you think you understand me well,” Jiang Wang laughed, “then why do you still attempt to threaten me?”

“It’s precisely because I understand you, that I want you to know.

No matter the outcome of our struggle for the spirit, the spirit will be severely damaged, forever hopeless in the path of Dao.

In fact, this is the reason I have avoided clashing with you from the beginning.

I believe you too would give up the possibility of fighting with me for this reason,” he said.

Jiang Wang was silent.

These words indeed left him with no retort.

Or rather, he didn’t need to retort.

That was the reality.

He had traveled this far to reach the peak, there was absolutely no reason to stop early.

Jiang Yan continued, “Jiang Wang, I am you, and you are me.

There is no comrade closer and more reliable than oneself—we are allies, not enemies.”

After a long while, Jiang Wang said, “Acquiring the body of the Bone Saint Lord won’t be easy in a short period of time.”

“No matter,” Jiang Yan’s voice seemed to carry a smile, “I have patience, and I have confidence in you.”