Chapter 272 — Ghost Possession

Abbess Hongfa of the Hall of Six Harmonies says his progress is extremely rapid—he has no need of her guidance at all. Three days ago he had only just perfected the Five Luminaries realm, and now he is more than half broken through. In another two days he will be a divine-power wielder of the Six Harmonies realm. By the way, where has your cultivation reached?

" "The Five Luminaries realm is more or less perfected.

" Shen Mu ate his meat in great mouthfuls.

"Only, I still have no clue about the Six Harmonies realm. " Bashan's eyes flickered. "Then you ought to pay a visit to the Hall of Six Harmonies. Abbess Hongfa teaches precisely this. I'd like to see which of you is stronger, you or Ban Gongcuo. " Shen Mu did not raise his head. "I don't think it's necessary. I have the Overlord Body. . .

" "I know, I know—you have the Overlord Body, nose in the air, proud as an ox.

" Bashan laughed. "I had Wanyun test him.

Wanyun lasted two moves against him before he was defeated. " Shen Mu finally looked up. "Two moves?

Senior brother, are you certain he beat Shen Wanyun in only two moves?

" Bashan nodded.

Shen Mu's expression turned grave. Shen Wanyun's gifts were indeed extraordinary; he was the finest of the younger generation, only a notch below the Buddha's Heir and the Daoist Heir in talent and insight, and his strength was very great as well.

When Foxin, the Buddha's Heir, blocked the mountain gate of the Grand Academy, Shen Wanyun went to challenge him and lost after a dozen or so moves—which showed his measure. His foundations were exceedingly deep, and after receiving the guidance of the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping, he had almost no weaknesses.

Since returning from the Southern Wilds, Shen Mu had rarely seen him; he had only heard that he spent most of his time in the Tianlu Tower, presumably cultivating the deified state of the Five Luminaries Divine Treasury.

Having attained the deified state of the Five Luminaries Divine Treasury, Shen Wanyun, even if not the equal of Foxin the Buddha's Heir, was not far behind. To defeat Shen Wanyun in only two moves—Shen Mu asked himself whether he could do it, and the answer was no, unless he opened with a move as overbearing as Sword Striding the Rivers and Mountains! "Interesting. " Shen Mu finished eating, wiped his mouth, and smiled. "Wu Kehan, you keep goading me to go to the Hall of Six Harmonies and have a look at this Ban Gongcuo.

What exactly are you planning? " Bashan said unhurriedly, "I want you to sound out what he really is.

I suspect he's been possessed by a ghost. Besides, an Overlord Body shouldn't be afraid, should he? " "Possessed by a ghost?

" Shen Mu was briefly startled. He recalled that when they were on their way to the Golden Palace of Loulan, Zaifu had spoken of an old monster in the Golden Palace who had been reincarnated eighteen times and lived nineteen lives.

He blurted out, "You mean. .

.

" Bashan nodded. "I suspect Ban Gongcuo is no longer Ban Gongcuo, but has been taken over by an unspeakably terrible old monster, one who has lived ten thousand years. He is an old adversary of Master Tiandao as well.

It is because of him that our master cast off even his own name and dares not use his true one. " Shen Mu nodded. Bashan had spoken of this before: Zaifu had told no one his true name, not even Bashan, and all because of that powerful figure in the Golden Palace of Loulan who had been reincarnated eighteen times!

That was a fearsome being; knowing an enemy's name, he could work his arts to harm him directly.

"Shen Wanyun couldn't sound him out, which is why I want you to go to the Hall of Six Harmonies and have a look at him. " Bashan's eyes flickered. "Master Tiandao's greatest enemy is him.

If Ban Gongcuo truly is possessed by him, then killing Ban Gongcuo would rid our master of a mortal foe. But he is, after all, the son of the Khan of the Mandi Kingdom. Without certainty, I won't act rashly. So it falls to you to find out what he is. " Rough-featured as he was, his mind was fine and careful.

Shen Mu rose. "I was just about to try breaking through and make a push for the Six Harmonies realm. I'll go to the Hall of Six Harmonies.

.

. " He said sheepishly, "Senior brother, which hall is the Hall of Six Harmonies?

" Bashan nearly spat blood. "You've been at the Grand Academy almost a year, and you don't even know which one is the Hall of Six Harmonies? " Shen Mu said, a little embarrassed, "I've been at the Grand Academy so long, and I've only attended one lecture. " "I'll take you there! " Bashan led him out of the Scholars' Residence, and the two walked side by side. Suddenly something came to Shen Mu's mind.

"Senior brother, have you ever heard of the Heavenly Sacred Cult?

"