Chapter 107: Elder Ge

The Ghostly Shadow finally seemed to realize something.

Zhang Pu laughed heartily. In that moment, he no longer resembled a mere student from Earth; he had regained the glorious aura he once possessed during his time in the World of Immortal Cultivation.

"You’ve realized it, haven't you? This isn't the true 'Great Planting of the Spirit Seed.' It is merely a crude version. Your soul is not yet fully subservient to my every command, but because of this technique, you will have to serve as my assistant for some time!" Zhang Pu spoke with the confidence of one who held total control.

When he had reached the Tribulation Transcendence stage in the Immortal World, he had chanced upon this forbidden necromantic art. He still remembered the essential mantras perfectly, though due to his current low cultivation level—having only just stepped into the Foundation Establishment stage—he lacked the power to unleash its full potential.

Yet, for now, even this rudimentary application of the Great Planting of the Spirit Seed was enough to bring this dying soul under his absolute thumb.

Even if the entity were to recover its strength later, or regain the boundless, arrogant power it had displayed by the campfire, the fact that a large portion of its consciousness was under Zhang Pu’s control meant it would never dare to stir up trouble against him again. This was the wondrous nature of the Great Planting of the Spirit Seed.

Truth be told, if Zhang Pu had possessed the power to fully execute the technique, the Ghostly Shadow would have ceased to be itself entirely, becoming nothing more than a living puppet—a mere tool for Zhang Pu to wield in battle, a true walking corpse.

In such a state, even if the Ghostly Shadow had harbored secrets, Zhang Pu could have easily gleaned them from its mind. Knowing this, the entity chose to be forthcoming with Zhang Pu of its own accord.

As it turned out, the Ghostly Shadow was an exalted figure from a star realm that specialized in dark-element spiritual energy. There, he was revered as Elder Ge. He was truly of an immense age.

Through the methods of the spirit seed implantation, Zhang Pu learned that Elder Ge was not inherently an evil person. Coupled with the fact that the elder was indeed elderly and highly respected in his home realm, Zhang Pu was willing to address him as Elder Ge.

Titles aside, Zhang Pu was well aware that Elder Ge was now his prisoner. He could grant him respect and offer him the treatment of the world’s most distinguished captive, but regardless, for the time to come, the elder would have to serve him—even act as his enforcer.

Truly, having such a high-level puppet as an enforcer by his side filled Zhang Pu with such excitement and joy that, for a moment, he even forgot he was just a high school student.

Zhang Pu expressed his intention to take Elder Ge with him to help build his future endeavors, promising that he would eventually assist him in forging a new physical body.

One had to understand that for someone like Elder Ge, who had lost his physical form, finding a vessel that perfectly matched his soul was no easy task. Even with possession, encountering a rare, compatible spiritual root like Zhang Pu’s was a fantasy—and to make matters worse, his attempt to possess Zhang Pu had ended in failure.

Not only had he failed, he had also forfeited his own autonomy. It was fortunate that Zhang Pu had no intention of killing him; otherwise, he would have lost everything instead of being left with a glimmer of hope.

Elder Ge considered the proposal for a moment and immediately agreed. He knew that in his current situation, whether he consented or not, he would be powerless if Zhang Pu decided to use force.

Zhang Pu knew well that the elder would agree. A clever man like Elder Ge would never choose to face the "punishment wine" when he could simply accept the "toasted wine." A great man knows when to bend and when to stand tall—there was no need for grand philosophy; only by surviving could one speak of anything else.

Forging a suitable body for Elder Ge was no simple feat. Zhang Pu knew he currently lacked the capability, and Elder Ge, due to his own circumstances, was even more helpless. Therefore, it would require their cooperation, along with a stroke of good fortune.

In truth, this arrangement seemed even more favorable for Elder Ge.

The matters here soon drew to a close. Fearing he might frighten those back at the campfire, Zhang Pu did not arrange for Elder Ge to follow directly by his side when he returned. However, the elder would no longer remain in the cave he had inhabited for so many long years.

Elder Ge was willing to follow Zhang Pu to his Flower Sea Inn once the current business was finished. Furthermore, he would shadow them through the mountain forest, keeping a discreet distance as they traveled toward the Poison Dragon Pool. Elder Ge promised that once he recovered some of his strength, he would assist Zhang Pu in dealing with the Black Dragon at the pool.

Before leaving the cave, Zhang Pu took out two medicinal pills from his supplies.

Since Elder Ge was now in the form of a shadow, he had no mouth to consume the pills, but Zhang Pu had his own methods. He ground the pills into powder and scattered them over the shadow, chanting incantations as he did so. Elder Ge understood how to absorb the energy offered by Zhang Pu.

After Elder Ge absorbed the medicine, Zhang Pu used some of his own true essence to help him stabilize to a certain degree.

Because neither of them could make the shadow vanish entirely, Zhang Pu kept him from joining the group directly. The psychological shadow cast upon the others had been too great; if Elder Ge were to follow them to the Poison Dragon Pool, he would have to linger on the periphery. In his shadow form, especially if he chose to hide, most people would never even notice him.

As for returning to the Flower Sea Inn after these events, Zhang Pu planned to explain everything to Liu Yingde and the others. With his own clarification, he was certain his companions would quickly overcome their lingering fears.

Elder Ge dispelled the mist barrier, and Zhang Pu walked back as if he had simply been out for a stroll. Elder Ge gathered his belongings from the cave and prepared to follow the group toward the Poison Dragon Pool.

Once the mist barrier vanished, the moonlight returned to normal around the campfire, but the scene remained chaotic. Some were still shouting about evil spirits, causing even the seasoned warriors—who usually feared nothing—to feel a creeping sense of unease.

If they had been attacked by a powerful enemy or a wild beast, they would not have felt this way, even after a brutal battle. Most of these people had faced death many times before. But the encounter that night was unlike anything they had ever experienced in their lives.

Such things, no matter how one looked back on them, left a chilling sensation deep in the heart.