"Martial Aunt, did you find the spirit essence?" Renshu Chang asked as he walked in.
"Yes, we found it, but it’s already been used," Amalia replied.
Renshu Chang was stunned for a moment before he finally found his voice again, "That fast?"
Amalia simply nodded without explaining further.
"Well, it’s good that it’s been used, but other sects might not believe it," Renshu Chang said with a sigh.
"I know. Don’t worry about them. If they think they can have it, then let them try to take it," Amalia replied coldly.
After the previous battle with Al’gath, none of them would dare to challenge them again, especially the devils who were probably running for their lives by now.
Renshu Chang remembered the other reason he came in and almost lost his train of thought, "By the way, the members of Eternal One Sect and Artifact Refining Valley are here too, but I noticed that Ruma Yang and Hari Liu are missing."
He thought they wouldn’t be interested, but as soon as he mentioned it, both of them suddenly looked at him.
"You said Ruma Yang and Hari Liu didn’t come to the mine?"
With two pairs of eyes staring at him, Renshu Chang almost thought there was something on his face.
He nodded and said, "They really didn’t come. I suspect they might be looking for a place to break through."
A worried look crossed Renshu Chang’s face.
Both Ruma Yang and Hari Liu were at the peak of the Golden Core stage.
Besides searching for resources, another reason they entered the Double Cavern Secret Realm was to attempt a breakthrough.
If they succeeded, the threat of two Nascent Soul cultivators would be much greater than that of Golden Core stage cultivators.
Ruma Yang is probably after the Eight Gods Blade, and Hari Liu wants the Spiritual Vein.
They might even team up against them.
"They won’t team up," Kenny Lin said.
Even Amalia looked at him, "How can you be so sure?"
Renshu Chang was full of curiosity.
Kenny Lin lazily replied, "Because there’s something wrong with Hari Liu."
Amalia: "Speak clearly."
Renshu Chang: "..."
Kenny Lin: "He’s likely been possessed by Izzonel. By now, he’s probably been fully assimilated."
Renshu Chang’s face changed dramatically, and he quickly asked, "Junior Master Uncle, are you sure? Has Hari Liu really been taken over by Izzonel? Isn’t he a genius cultivator? Even if Izzonel is also a genius, assimilating someone like Hari Liu should be very difficult, with a high chance of failure."
Amalia suddenly said, "What if Hari Liu was severely injured?"
Renshu Chang’s expression shifted.
He recalled that Senior Brother Cao had told him about how Hari Liu used his blood essence to feed a golden sword to try to kill Izzonel.
"If that’s the case, then it’s possible. But how does junior master uncle know this?"
Kenny Lin grinned and said, "It’s just a guess. It might not be true. There’s also a chance that Izzonel’s soul was destroyed by that golden sword."
Amalia said, "I remember that after Hari Liu was seriously injured by Al’gath, he never fought again."
Renshu Chang said seriously, "Until we know for sure, anything is possible. If Hari Liu has really been taken over by Izzonel, we must report this. We can’t just ignore it."
Kenny Lin smiled again and said, "If Hari Liu and Ruma Yang disappeared together, maybe Ruma Yang was possessed by devils too."
"That’s unlikely," Renshu Chang replied firmly, "Assimilating a genius of the same level takes time. Even if Hari Liu has been taken over by Izzonel, he’d need time to adjust to his new body. He wouldn’t have the energy to assimilate someone else right away. My guess is that Ruma Yang found a place to break through, and ’Hari Liu’ is either adjusting to his body or looking for a secluded place to complete the assimilation."
"There’s something I don’t understand," Amalia said, "How can a devil’s soul assimilate a human?"
When devils break through, aside from their appearance is different from humans, everything else is the same—even their cultivation methods.
Amalia had never understood why a devil’s soul could assimilate a human and turn them into a devil.
If it was just possession, that would be easier to explain.
But after a devil assimilates a human, they can continue to assimilate other humans.
"If a devil hasn’t died, they’re almost the same as a human. They can’t assimilate a human while alive. Only after they die do they have the ability to devilize a human," Renshu Chang explained, "It’s said that devils were once a cursed race, turned into what they are now."
"’It’s said’?" Amalia was surprised.
"Yes, it’s said because no one has fully understood what kind of race devils really are. Some even say devils are the incarnations of demon hearts, the enemies of every human cultivator. But this hasn’t been proven. Maybe one day, if someone can explore the devil realm, we’ll find out."
"No one’s ever explored the devil realm before?" Amalia asked.
Renshu Chang shook his head, "Maybe someone has, but we just don’t know about it."
Amalia nodded her head and didn’t ask further questions.
The idea that Hari Liu had been assimilated was truly unexpected for Renshu Chang.
After all, he was a genius, the least likely person to be taken over, yet it had happened.
Renshu Chang believed that the two junior master uncle and martial aunt wouldn’t speak without reason.
If their junior master uncle and martial aunt mentioned it, there was a good chance it was true.
"Let’s not worry about them for now. Even if they break through, we won’t fear them. But you should start your breakthrough too. The more strength we have, the better we can protect the others," Amalia said.
Renshu Chang was taken aback, "Now?"
Amalia nodded, "Yes, now that the devils are gone and the other factions’ geniuses aren’t around either, it’s the best time. Everyone is here, so we can protect you while you break through."
The situation in the secret realm was getting stranger and stranger.
Renshu Chang hesitated for a moment but then agreed, "Alright, but what about the people from the Divine Maiden Sect..."