The Spiritual Battle Of Souls

A huge rumbling noise awakened Arthur Fang who was sleeping peacefully. He shouted, "Is heaven falling? If it's not, don't disturb my sleep." He knew that he was just a baby and he cannot do anything even if heaven plummets on him. As soon as he closed his eyes another loud bang shook his soul. He opened his eyes, stood up and looked in the direction of the sound. He saw a massive human-shaped silhouette attacking some kind of barrier which spooked him thoroughly. The first thing that came into his mind was to search for a blanket and cover himself fully, he was a baby after all. As soon as that thought came a silk cloth flew towards him and covered him entirely making him feel very safe. When the cloth wrapped his figure he noticed that he was just an infant. He instantly knew that it was his soul, he thought that his soul would be an adult but it was only a child.

"Why am I so small? My spiritual soul is so small, maybe it's because I'm reincarnated into a newborn baby and not transmigrated. Hmm! If a person reincarnates with an old soul how can he grow up, is he not an old man already?"

With the protective feeling of the silk cloth, he calmed down and realised, "I see, it looks like I'm in the world of souls again, I can feel my body so I'm not dead for sure. Maybe I'm dreaming, I think I am inside the dream world. Hahaha! My soul is indeed a soul of a baby both in size and mentality. You face danger and the first thing that you want is a blanket to cover your head, protection from all evil by a cloth covering your body? What a genius!

But, why is this silken cloth responding to me? Why do I feel comforted by it, is this because I'm a baby and baby instinct is overpowering me?"

"I was sleeping before so this is just some weird dream," he convinced himself, then he chose to give up thinking anymore and watch the wretched spectre rampaging inside the barrier instead.

"Since this is my dream, what is there to be afraid of, let me go near and see what he is doing." With that decision, he went towards the spectre and yelled, "Hey, what are you doing?"

The giant spectre stared into his eyes and started to attack him without responding. But, all the attack was nullified by both the barrier and the cloth. "Good cloth," he chuckled and flew back.

"I travelled the vast sky and encompassed the whole universe. Heavenly Lord of all Emperors, the Next Sovereign of the Sky, Li Jun, cannot be trapped inside this lowest level of Nether Ironstone. Wait as soon as I recover my power and possess that body I'll annihilate every one of your kins on this continent to appease my mind. Don't you know the punishment of messing with a Cardinal Emperor who is going to be the next Sovereign?" Cried, the spectre (Li Jun) and rammed the barrier frenziedly. He was so pissed off that he was rambling and striking non-stop at the barrier until he was tired and he finally quieted down.

Then he looked at the bewildered boy looking at him and said, "Boy, use your Silken cloth to attack this barrier."

"Why? Why should I help you? I don't even know you and I also don't know what cloth are you talking about?" Arthur pouted and replied.

Li Jun cackled, "Boy, you are surely a dumbhead. You still do think that you are inside your stupid dream," Isn't it?

"Don't you know why you are born into this world after your death? I brought you here without letting you go through the yellow springs of forgetfulness, that's why you have your past life's memories intact. I gave you a new life and brought you into this world. I chose you to become the most powerful Sovereign of the sky and be rulers of the vast heavenly realms with me."

After understanding things partly, Arthur asked, "Were you buried inside Great Qin Emperor's tomb? Are you Qin Emperor?"

Knowing that he had to be patient in explaining and gaining Arthur's trust first, Li Jun replied, "How can I be that Shi Feng, he was a fool and he even called himself Emperor. How can he call himself Emperor when he was only a measly king in the remotest and deserted place of the universe. He was a weak person only to rule over weaklings and thought himself to be the real deal, truly pathetic. Genuine Emperors are the likes of me who withstands every tribulation of the heavens and walks the sky with dignity and authority. I gave him a chance to reincarnate because he wanted to be immortal but that idiot stayed away from the Imperial Jade Seal that I gave him and lost his only chance to immortality."

"But my mother said Qin Emperor is the greatest of all and he talked to Gods", Arthur protested.

Arthur further inquired, " Isn't the Emperor, I mean Shi Feng supposed to use the Imperial Jade Seal on all his official matters? How can he seal away his Imperial Seal? And why were you trapped inside the seal?"

"Oh! It was called Imperial Jade Seal because I, an Emperor was sealed inside it. Thus, came its rightful name. When I found him, I told him its name and that idiot misunderstood it completely, hence using it as his official stamp. I could not use my powers because I was sealed and cast down to earth. I was able to communicate with him only through his dreams. That pig didn't understand the true power of the seal and didn't dare to take the final step to immortality. Later when I had used up all of my spiritual power to communicate with him and was recuperating inside the Jade seal he made a new seal made of gold, similar to the Imperial Jade Seal, then stored me away in one of his treasuries. " Answered Li Jun.

"I was not trapped inside the seal, I was sealed and sent away to search a destined person to rule over the vast realm", he further added.

Arthur further asked, "What was the final step to immortality?"

"The last step to immortality was to kill oneself and pour blood over the seal. Are you done with your questions?" Li Jun asked after answering.

"Okay last question, out of all the people why did you choose me?" Asked Arthur.

"It is simple, I chose you because you are honest and has a good heart. You don't have greed over wealth and has the heart to rule the world with justice. I am very powerful but to reincarnate you and give you new life by bringing you here I have lost almost all of my power," replied Li Jun smugly.

After listening patiently Arthur thanked Li Jun and thought for some time and said, "Sir, you have helped me greatly so tell me how I can help you in return."

Li Jun happily instructed, "Good Boy, Oh! Come here and instruct that Silken-Cloth attack the barrier. Your blood resonates with the cloth so it will listen to you."

Arthur ordered, "Good cloth, dance in front of me." Soon, the cloth began to dance like a graceful dancer.

"Do a moonwalk dance and he thought of Michael Jackson performing it," The cloth followed his thoughts.

Just as he was about to order a salsa he was disturbed by Li Jun, "Boy, time is of the essence, your spiritual power is limited and it will be consumed every time you use it, so don't waste your spiritual power unnecessarily. Play with it later and now concentrate on the work at hand."

Feeling irritated by Li Jun, Arthur ordered, "Good cloth go and bind that annoying fellow over there."

Swoosh! The Silken cloth flew and bound Li Jun entirely making him impossible to move. With full of anger, Li Jun bellowed, "You ungrateful bastard, I'll kill you."

"Good Cloth, bind his mouth so he cannot talk," Arthur laughed and ordered again, "Good cloth, "He wants to squeeze into my soul and possess my body so let this old fellow understand what squeezing means, wring him to death."

Arthur doubted that Li Jun was lying but to confirm it further he inquired like a curious obedient child asking questions to his elders. Seeing the act of a child-like behaviour and being unresponsive on named a boy Li Jun concluded that Arthur was simply a boy in the past life who had not experienced life and hence he tried to coax Arthur with sweet words. Most of Arthur's doubts were clarified and especially when Li Jun said he chose Arthur, Li Jun didn't even contact Arthur nor was he given a choice to decide for reincarnation. His death was completely coincidental, an unfortunate event. And later when Li Jun said that Arthur was without any greed or desired wealth, He was certain that Li Jun was not to be believed at all. Li Jun just wanted to kill him and possess his body and kill everyone.

The Silken-Cloth tightened over Li Jun but it was not able to go further to squeeze him to death. Seeing this Arthur further commanded, "Good Cloth, just bind him tighter and slap him to death." Then numerous slapping and angry yelling resounded the space.

The cloth did restrain and torture Li Jun effectively but killing him was impossible and accordingly, they reached a stalemate.

Li Jun felt relieved when he finally notice that the silken cloth was a damaged one, it was crafted by an Emperor so he feared it but when it was unable to destroy him he saw its flaw and he cried out loud, "Wait you bastard, this damaged silken cloth won't be able to kill me. It is restraining me now but after some time it will lose its power as soon as your spiritual power is consumed and the Nether Ironstone barrier too shall weaken. After it falls I shall claim ur life, you measly bastard."

Hearing that Arthur was mortified and began to fear for his life. Seeing the pale face of Arthur, Li Jun laughed hysterically and yelled, "You thought that this useless treasure of yours could impale me? You dream big, boy, when I possess your body and torture your soul you will see how big the sky is and how worthless your life is."

"Arthur, being Arthur, asked," If I let you go and help you break the barrier, will you leave me alone and let me live in peace?"

"I sent you to this world so I can break the seal and travel through your soul. Do you think that I will let you live your life in peace? You were bound to die, the moment you incarnate. If I let you live how can possess your body? Hahahaha, count down your time boy," Li Jun laughed maniacally.

Suddenly, a sharp rainbow beam of light traversed through the barrier and plunged at Li Jun. Soon, the maniacal laughter turned into a sorrowful cry of pain and Li Jun's soul shattered. The Silken-cloth held the fragments of the soul power within it completely, preventing it to leak out harming Arthur. Upon closer look, Arthur noticed that the cloth shined brighter than before and a silver lustre formed around its hem.

Finally, he prevailed and after confirming that the Li Jun had died for real Arthur breathed in relief. He then directed the silken cloth to show him Li Jun's dead soul. When the silken cloth fluttered and uncovered the whole assemblage of soul fragments an overwhelming power rippled towards him but on his instinctive reflex the silken cloth acted instantly and bound the soul fragments into its place. The fragments were bound however, the leaked spiritual power sipped itself into Arthur's soul, nourishing him and he fell into a deep sleep, he was not injured but his soul was taxed heavily while controlling the Silken-cloth. With nourishment coming out steadily from the spiritual energy source he slept comfortably and peacefully.