Chapter 152: The Radiant Stag

Wang Yuanfeng walked over, inspected the soul hanging from the tree, and identified it with a discerning look. "So it's the earthly soul," he muttered. "It seems he has lost two of his three souls."

He glanced in the direction of the nearby prefecture capital and traced the origin of the sight, discovering the presence of the dynasty's sovereign aura. However, it was flickering and unstable, as if it could collapse at any moment.

This made it clear that the Crown Prince was in dire straits. It was only because his allotted lifespan had not yet expired that he was able to linger in the mortal realm for a short while, though this was fraught with danger.

If the heavenly soul leaves the body, it generally stays nearby, waiting for the vital breath to vanish before drifting up into the sky and disappearing. The earthly soul, however, is different. Commonly referred to as the ghost soul, it retains the consciousness of the living. Once frightened and separated from the body, it will bolt, instinctively fleeing the dangerous place it occupies.

Wang Yuanfeng visually estimated the distance between the Crown Prince's aura in the prefecture capital and his current location. It was at least five miles. He wondered what on earth could have frightened the Crown Prince so severely.

The earthly soul is exceptionally sensitive to external stimuli. Sensing someone approaching, it turned its head, recognized Wang Yuanfeng, and its mouth opened and closed as if trying to speak.

Wang Yuanfeng sank his consciousness into his spiritual platform and sensed carefully, hearing the Crown Prince say, "Wang Yuanfeng, take me to see the Marquis of Wu'an quickly! Someone is trying to kill me!"

"Oh? Who is trying to kill you?" Wang Yuanfeng asked.

The Crown Prince felt a slight displeasure upon seeing Wang Yuanfeng questioning him, but knowing that Wang Yuanfeng acted with utter disregard for convention, he said, "Hurry and protect me so I can leave. When the time comes, this crown prince will certainly reward you."

Hearing this, Wang Yuanfeng burst out laughing. He was practically a ghost already, yet he still acted as if he were the crown prince. Still, it would be useful to pocket this soul; later, he could steal the Crown Prince's physical body and see what he could trade it for.

He said to the Crown Prince's earthly soul, "You're practically a ghost now, yet you still think you're the crown prince?"

"No, no! I am the crown prince! I am destined to inherit the grand succession and become the Emperor of Great Liang!" Upon hearing that he was dead, the Crown Prince's ghost subconsciously refused to admit it, crying out in panic.

Wang Yuanfeng looked at the Crown Prince with quiet disdain. The man was entirely oblivious to his own plight, still indulging in imperial daydreams with such a fragile state of mind. Yet, burdened with the sovereign aura of Great Liang, he had still been frightened out of his wits. It was evident that his essence, energy, and spirit had long since been severely depleted. Even if he were to ascend the throne, he probably wouldn't live much longer.

Wang Yuanfeng shook his head. Figuring that the man was still the crown prince and thus retained some value, he fished a small jade vial containing cinnabar from his robes. Opening the stopper, he said to the Crown Prince, "Inside here is cinnabar, which has the property of nourishing the soul and calming the spirit. Stay inside for now. When I find your physical body later, I will guide your soul back into it."

The Crown Prince shook his head vigorously, his consciousness somewhat disordered as he stammered, "No, no, I won't go in! I am the crown prince, I want to..."

Wang Yuanfeng was well aware that in such circumstances, the souls lost by ordinary people were usually incomplete in mind; they would only regain their wits after death, turning into regular ghosts. Unless there was a deep grievance, their sanity would normally remain intact. However, a detached soul carried only lingering obsession, leaving its consciousness rather chaotic. Before the Crown Prince could finish speaking, Wang Yuanfeng made a summoning gesture, and the Crown Prince's earthly soul flew straight into the vial, whereupon he promptly snapped the cap shut.

Checking on the Crown Prince within with his divine sense, Wang Yuanfeng saw that although the soul was still panicked, the aura of the cinnabar inside was gradually nurturing its form. In a few days' time, it would likely recover fully.

"Halt! What evildoer are you, stop at once!"

A thunderous voice rang out from behind, making Wang Yuanfeng's ears ring. Annoyed by the interruption, he adjusted his grip on his treasured sword, turned around, and saw a youth dressed in white who radiated a bright, sunny aura and bore a pair of antlers upon his head. The youth was pointing a two-foot-long fork straight at him.

Seeing that Wang Yuanfeng neither answered nor showed any intention of backing down, but instead adopted a ready-to-fight posture, the horned youth flew into a rage. He shouted loudly, "What kind of demonic scoundrel are you, daring to harvest a soul to practice evil arts? Hand that soul over immediately, and I might spare your life and let you leave!"

Wang Yuanfeng, already somewhat irritated by the roar, was further incensed by the insults. "What kind of monster are you?" he retorted. "If you have any spine, state your name. I'll skin you alive and carve your title right into it!"

Infuriated, the monster instinctively blurted out, "Your grandfather sits and stands by his true name—I am the Radiant Deer!"

Upon hearing this name, Wang Yuanfeng's Armillary Sphere suddenly trembled slightly, its spiritual aura drawing a connection to the Radiant Deer. Wang Yuanfeng carefully looked the creature over. The deer possessed remarkably keen perception, but its sharp tongue had blinded him to its presence earlier when it had angered him. A wicked grin spread across Wang Yuanfeng's face.

Seeing that look in Wang Yuanfeng's eyes, the Radiant Deer instinctively felt a tightening in its lower back. "Y-you..." it stammered. "Don't try anything funny! This young master isn't into that!"

Mistaking the deer's hesitation for fear of a fight, Wang Yuanfeng gave a contemptuous look and said, "Well, your grandfather loves doing exactly this!"

With that, he unsheathed his sword in a flash, executing the "Ground-Piercing Bee Stinger" technique as he charged forward.

The sword Qi split into countless needle-like wisps finer than ox hair, hurtling toward the Radiant Deer. Letting out a cry of alarm, the deer felt a chill run through its body and swept its fork outward, releasing a boundless, brilliant radiance to meet the attack.

"Hum, hum, hum!"

The countless needle-like sword Qi plunged into the brilliant radiance, dissolving rapidly, but many still pierced straight through the glowing barrier and struck the Radiant Deer. With no other choice, the deer raised its left arm to forcefully fend off the barrage of sword Qi needles.

"Ah!"

The Radiant Deer let out a miserable shriek as its left arm was pierced full of tiny holes, blood welling up from within, looking utterly wretched.

Yet the attack did not stop there. The sword Qi that entered the deer's arm did not dissipate immediately; instead, following the meridians of the arm, it surged inward toward its main body.

The Radiant Deer panicked. Wherever this sword Qi passed, the meridians were left completely shredded. If it were allowed to complete a full circuit through its body, its cultivation would be utterly ruined.

Hardening its heart, the Radiant Deer resolved on a drastic amputation to save its life, swinging the fork in its right hand down toward its own arm.

"Not good!" Wang Yuanfeng thought to himself. Acting swiftly, he executed the "Long Rainbow Piercing the Sun" technique, thrusting his sword at the Radiant Deer's fork.

"Clang!" Just as the deer was about to strike its own arm, a flash of sword light knocked the fork from its grasp.

Before the deer could react, a sword blade was laid horizontally across its neck.

Wang Yuanfeng looked at the Radiant Deer. Though the creature had stopped moving, cold sweat streamed down its forehead, and its face was twisted in agony as it endured excruciating pain.

Wang Yuanfeng knew it was suffering from the erosion of the sword Qi. If he did not intervene, within a quarter of an hour the deer would likely be knocked back to its original beastly form, and its cultivation would be completely crippled.

With a flick of his wrist, Wang Yuanfeng drew the sword Qi out of the deer's body. The Radiant Deer instantly felt a wave of relief, gasping heavily for air.

Looking down at the deer, Wang Yuanfeng said, "Seeing as you might still be of some use, I'll spare your life today. But your reckless mouth cannot go unpunished."

Pacing slightly and looking the deer up and down, he added, "If you obediently submit to me, who knows? I might even grant you a fortunate destiny."

Hearing this, the Radiant Deer knew its life was saved, but the way Wang Yuanfeng eyed it still sent a shiver down its spine. Gritting its teeth, it declared, "I won't let you have your way! Just kill me!"

A strange look crossed Wang Yuanfeng's face as he found the deer's expression rather bizarre. Still, thinking that while the stellar spirits were important, as long as the Armillary Sphere could be made to function, having one more lackey or one less didn't matter much. Pressing the edge of his sword slightly harder against the deer's neck until a thin thread of blood appeared, he growled fiercely, "Will you submit or not?"