Before the Emerald Crucible, ten years had passed in torment. The two Green Demon Envoys, tasked with constantly exhaling vital spirit essence, were now withered husks. Their own spiritual forms were dim, failing, as if they could no longer bear the strain.

Days later, one of the Envoys gasped a final breath of vital essence. His spirit dissolved into nothingness, his physical shell collapsing beside the Crucible, utterly lifeless.

Before half an incense stick could burn, the other Envoy’s spirit also flickered and faded, vanishing into the aether.

The death of these two, who had served the Green-Robed Elder for so long, elicited no reaction. The Elder himself radiated an aura of decay, a being half-consumed by oblivion. Only sheer will held him from slipping into the Great Void.

His eyes, bloodshot, burned with an elation that had only intensified over the decade. It had now reached a fever pitch.

His frail form shifted from seated to kneeling. He raised his head, his aged face, obscured by the green robe, contorted with fervor. In a rasping voice, he cried out,

“By the oath of the Green Demon Priesthood, passed down through generations, I beseech thee, Green Demon Lord, awaken and descend! I offer this vessel to thee, to be possessed and reborn!” As he spoke, an ancient incantation, indistinct yet powerful, echoed from his lips. It spread outwards, enveloping the surroundings, filling the air.

Slowly, the Scorpion Citadel itself began to tremble. Dust billowed as a colossal spiritual presence, as if roused from slumber, emanated from the very stones of the Citadel.

The Green-Robed Elder, trembling with anticipation, gazed upwards. He beheld nine streams of verdant energy, converging from the cardinal directions, above the Emerald Crucible. These streams coalesced into a gargantuan, spectral form!

A phantom figure, thousands of fathoms tall, emerged: a scorpion of vibrant green!

Its carapace was marred by countless scars, its aura weak, yet it radiated an immeasurable power, a force that sent tremors through the entire Green Demon Continent!

This specter was but a fragment of the Green Demon Scorpion’s soul, imprisoned for eons. Its true essence could not escape its confinement. This manifestation was a mere sliver, a shard of its being. By possessing a suitable vessel, it could find a way to absorb its imprisoned soul and achieve true resurrection.

The colossal scorpion phantom slowly opened eyes that had been shut for countless millennia. A chilling, heartless gaze, imbued with supreme authority, swept down.

“It is you who calls upon me…” A voice of glacial cold echoed through the heavens, its very tone a law, shaking the foundations of existence.

Yet, even in this awe-inspiring presence, its profound weakness was undeniable, a fragility that threatened to crumble with the slightest breath.

The Green-Robed Elder shuddered, bowing his head repeatedly before the apparition.

“Lord Green Demon! I have prepared a perfect vessel, ripe for your possession and rebirth. Its mind is devoid of sentience, its spirit extinguished, presenting no obstacle to your descent!” The Green-Robed Elder’s voice, no longer hoarse, pulsed with unbridled excitement.

He knew the Green Demon Scorpion was weakened by its imprisonment, especially with its spirit fractured in this manner. Therefore, he had taken many precautions. He knew the slightest spark of awareness in the vessel could lead to failure, potentially crippling the already vulnerable Scorpion.

Such a mishap could unravel all his efforts and further wound the weakened Scorpion!

As his words faded, the gigantic Green Demon Scorpion phantom shifted slightly. Its eyes focused on the Emerald Crucible below, its gaze piercing the crucible, falling directly upon Wang Lin within.

The Scorpion’s gaze swept over Wang Lin’s form nine times, probing deep within his flesh and bone. But even it could not sense the Celestial Jewel, nor the hidden spirit of Wang Lin, shrouded by its protective aura.

At last, the massive Scorpion spirit withdrew its gaze.

“Lord Green Demon, I have refined this vessel to meet your specifications. No vestige of a soul remains!” The Green-Robed Elder implored, kneeling before the apparition.

“You… have served well. Upon my rebirth, you shall be rewarded…” The enormous scorpion phantom rippled with energy, and then it moved with startling speed. Its body dissolved into emerald light, rushing toward the Emerald Crucible. It pierced the crucible and surged toward Wang Lin, arriving in an instant.

Wang Lin’s spirit, hidden by the Celestial Jewel, remained still.

For ten years, he had waited. He waited not only for the creation of this body, but for the realization of a daring scheme. The Green-Robed Elder’s caution, his multiple tests, demonstrated that the slightest presence of a soul could cause the possession to fail, preventing the Scorpion’s rebirth!

Therefore, he would stake everything. He had waited for the Scorpion’s arrival, for if the Scorpion sought to consume him, he, in turn, would devour the Scorpion!

Though the Scorpion spirit appeared formidable, it was, in truth, severely wounded and imprisoned. More than that, it was a mere fragment, a sliver of its true power. The Green Demon Scorpion spirit arrived in a flash, but it did not immediately attempt to possess Wang Lin. Instead, it lingered outside, its spiritual sense sweeping over the body once more, ensuring its safety. Only then, satisfied, did it converge on Wang Lin’s flesh from all sides!

In the blink of an eye, the Green Demon Scorpion’s spirit began to seep into Wang Lin’s body, bit by bit. Yet, even then, it did not immediately claim the vessel. Once inside, it continued to observe with extreme caution.

Time drifted by, and three days passed. During this time, the Green Demon Scorpion spirit cautiously dispatched more of its essence into Wang Lin’s body, slowly spreading. Its manner was so deliberate, so wary, that it seemed ready to flee at the slightest sign of danger.
The beast could not perceive Wang Lin’s nascent soul, yet Wang Lin saw it clear as day. He watched as the scorpion wraith, within his borrowed flesh, slowly expanded its influence, yet dared not fully possess him. Such was the extreme caution of the scorpion, a testament to its weakened state.

Indeed, its frailty bordered on oblivion!

Wang Lin’s soul remained still, patient as the grave. Had he struck now, the scorpion, lacking a foothold in possession, could easily flee. But should it attempt to claim his form, escape would be nigh impossible. That would be the opportune moment.

A glacial glint shone in Wang Lin’s soul-eyes. He knew not how his cultivation would be affected by devouring the scorpion wraith, but a feeling, a certainty, bloomed within him – this was a chance for unparalleled advancement!

He possessed the patience to use his own body as bait, to pay the price for this single, momentous opportunity.

Outside the Green Demon Furnace, the emerald-robed elder waited with fevered anticipation. He longed to witness the Green Demon Scorpion’s rebirth, the moment it would claim the flesh and live again. To see that would be a worthy end, a peaceful passage to the netherworld.

After seven long days, the Green Demon Scorpion seemed to lose its composure. Its immense spectral form slowly, irrevocably, seeped into Wang Lin’s body, claiming more and more territory until nearly seven-tenths of the vessel was under its control.

Gradually, a sense of ease settled over it. The scorpion began the true possession, the tendrils of its spectral form surging forth like a tide of venom, racing towards Wang Lin’s mind. Upon entering the skull, it found no trace of a nascent soul, no spark of resistance. Excitement surged through its essence.

For years it had waited, and now, it had found the perfect vessel, the chance for rebirth! The cultivators of the Immortal Astral Continent were forbidden to it, even those without nascent souls. Born of this land, it could only claim those who, like itself, hailed from beyond the heavens!

Throwing caution to the winds, the scorpion poured its essence into the mind. Within the depths of Wang Lin’s brain, the spectral form of a scorpion began to coalesce. Once fully formed, the possession would be complete!

But just as the phantom image was halfway realized, Wang Lin’s soul, shielded by the Heaven Defying Bead, erupted with explosive force, bursting forth from the artifact like a caged storm unleashed.

In that instant, Wang Lin lunged for his own skull, targeting the very nexus where the scorpion was taking form. He struck with a primal force, swallowing the nascent scorpion soul whole.

There were no spells, no arts, only raw, ravenous consumption. The scorpion wraith emitted a shriek of pure terror. Never had it suspected a soul to reside within this mortal vessel! Unprepared, it was struck dumb by Wang Lin’s sudden emergence.

Though weakened, the scorpion fought back with ferocious intensity, resisting Wang Lin’s devouring assault. A battle, savage and desperate, erupted between their souls within the confines of the flesh.

But the scorpion was unprepared, while Wang Lin had waited and planned for over a century. Now, fueled by desperation, he consumed with a reckless abandon.

Time flowed like sand through an hourglass. After a mere incense stick’s burning, the struggle between Wang Lin and the scorpion soul reached a perilous climax. The scorpion screamed incessantly, its fragmented soul failing against Wang Lin’s century-long resolve. It was becoming weaker, its essence fading.

This terrifying drama, unfolding within Wang Lin’s form, remained hidden from all outside. The emerald-robed elder, eyes fixed on the Green Demon Furnace, noticed a violent tremor pass through the Green Demon’s spectral form, the very form that was now mostly within Wang Lin. This sight sent a chill down his spine.

“This…?” he stammered, unable to comprehend why the Green Demon Lord’s possession was progressing so violently. It appeared as though something was amiss. But quickly, he managed to rationalize the bizarre phenomenon.

“The Lord must be dissatisfied with the vessel’s initial condition. He must be personally reshaping it during the possession itself!” The elder grew more convinced with each passing moment. A warm smile spread across his face. To be personally sculpted by the Green Demon Lord! It was a true testament to the vessel’s worth!

He looked with a knowing grin at the shuddering scorpion wraith within the Green Demon Furnace, his smile widening.

Within Wang Lin’s body, Wang Lin and the scorpion wraith had consumed each other countless times. He had waited more than a century, prepared for more than a century. Now that opportunity had finally arrived, he could not let the scorpion wraith who tried to steal his body go!

Wang Lin’s madness struck fear into the heart of the scorpion. It had been weak to begin with, and the constant devouring left it longing to retreat. The piece of soul had taken it countless years to gather, and it valued it dearly. The death of this soul would mean its final slumber.

At that moment, it felt nothing but hatred towards the sacrificial tribe, for it saw this as their doing!

Driven by the instinct to survive, the scorpion emitted a silent scream and began to retreat, but Wang Lin pursued it relentlessly, devouring it piece by piece. His madness filled the scorpion with terror.

It retreated with all its speed, and finally escaped Wang Lin’s head. Just as it was about to leave Wang Lin’s body, Wang Lin consumed a large piece of it, and with a miserable scream, it darted out of Wang Lin’s head, rushing towards the sky in a panic, its large body was a fraction of what it had been.

The scene left the green-robed old man staring in utter confusion.

As the scorpion soul departed, Wang Lin’s nascent soul swiftly engulfed his entire being. The eyes of the one seated within the Green Demon Furnace abruptly snapped open after a century of slumber!

As his eyes opened, the world trembled and the Green Demon Furnace shattered into countless pieces, all thrown backwards by the force of his awakening. Wang Lin leaped to his feet!

“Flame True Body!” Wang Lin roared, and his left eye transformed into a sea of fire, behind him, a true body as majestic as he was appeared!!

“Lightning True Body!” Wang Lin spoke once more, and lightning roared in his right eye, the Lightning True Body created by the sect master of the Dao Demon Sect materialized, and appeared behind Wang Lin!

“Earth True Body!!” Wang Lin roared, and one hundred and eight thousand pores on his body burst forth with a shocking yellow light. In an instant, a third true body was born behind him!
Lo, from the depths of his being, emerged the Aquarian True Form! The very essence of Shui Ben Tao, now mingled with Wang Lin’s blood, surged forth at his command. A network of emerald veins pulsed upon Wang Lin’s flesh, each throb a beacon of crimson light. And then, from the ether, a spectral image took shape beside him, solidifying until it stood revealed – Wang Lin’s fourth True Form of Origin!

With the manifestation of these four True Forms, Wang Lin’s presence became a tempestuous force that threatened to rend the very heavens. His cultivation remained outwardly unchanged, yet should he find the stillness within, a single thought would unleash its boundless might.

But tranquility was a luxury he could not afford. As the four True Forms materialized, a searing golden light erupted from Wang Lin’s eyes, a light imbued with an earth-shattering power of suppression. He turned that gaze upon the fleeing Scorpion Soul!

A piercing shriek tore from the Scorpion Soul’s essence as it sensed, within that golden glare, the lingering might of the Immortal Ancestor’s Immortal Severing Sword! The very fabric of its spectral form trembled under the weight of that ancient power.

Time pressed upon him, and Wang Lin allowed no hesitation. With a sudden and agonizing motion, his right hand rose, and from its palm, a bone blade emerged, reeking of the cold breath of the underworld. It extended, a nine-foot scythe of shadows, and as Wang Lin lifted it high, so too did the four True Forms behind him, each manifesting their own nine-foot Yin Blade. Together, they mirrored Wang Lin’s action, and with a unified roar, they unleashed their power upon the Scorpion Soul!

The emerald-robed elder, his eyes wide with disbelief, could only stare. A torrent of blood gushed from his lips, and with his eyes still locked on the impossible spectacle, his life flickered and died. He had been slain not by blade or spell, but by the sheer, unadulterated fury of his own frustration!