Questions

Because of Ling Xi's absurdly powerful Starfall Spirit Array, the white-clad Supreme's Supreme Dharma Body was blasted apart, and the backlash from its destruction left her severely injured.

The white-clad Supreme had clearly still held something in reserve. She had intended to drag her injured body over and play that Ancient Zither, but at the moment of her weakness, two icy chains wrapped around her wrists.

It was an extremely peculiar sensation. The spiritual energy throughout her body was instantly sealed, impossible to mobilize, while that energy continued flowing in a single direction, leaking outward from where the chains had bound her.

A sense of helplessness rose within the white-clad Supreme.

What was even more unbelievable was that the person responsible was not the Spirit Array Grandmaster before her, but that Heaven Piercing Realm brat below whom she knew quite well.

Spirit Locking Chains.

Among the many Ice Sculptures in the Ice Plains, this was currently the most useful one for Bai Ye. After forcibly opening the Ice Plains and using an Ice Sculpture, the fact that he could still stand here unscathed was at least seventy percent thanks to the Spirit Locking Chains.

Perhaps because he had used them so often, he was also the most familiar with these icy chains. He could better control their released power and the price he could bear.

He raised his head and met the white-clad Supreme's disbelieving beautiful eyes.

Just as he did every time he went to Qin Lian, he gave her a brilliant smile.

"I got you."

The hunt had succeeded.

When Ling Xi descended from the sky, she was holding the white-clad Supreme, whose ability to move had been sealed.

The Spirit Locking Chains had only sealed her spiritual energy for a short time before Bai Ye withdrew them into the Ice Plains. The reason she was now sitting so obediently was entirely because Ling Xi had placed several exceedingly complex spirit arrays on her body.

In short, the Supreme expert before them had now lost most of her threat.

Whether she still had a chance to escape depended on whether she was willing to risk her life against them.

If a Supreme expert truly disregarded her own life and forcibly detonated her Divine Soul and Supreme Sea, she would indeed pose some threat to them.

At the very least, it would ruin their original plan to capture her alive.

Then tonight's gains would not be worth the cost.

However, judging by how calm and steady she appeared now, she did not seem to have any intention of risking her life.

It seemed that she also understood there was room for negotiation between them.

"You worked hard."

The moment Ling Xi landed on the ship, Bai Ye reached out to support her arms and gently caught her, allowing her feet to touch the deck steadily.

Ling Xi tucked a slightly messy strand of hair behind her ear, her face somewhat pale.

That final spirit array had consumed a great deal of her spiritual energy. Even with the support of several enhancement spirit arrays, it had nearly drained her dry.

And this was only an incomplete, imperfect version. One could well imagine how terrifying the complete version's consumption and power would be.

Bai Ye took two exquisite little bottles from his Mustard Seed Bracelet and handed them to Ling Xi.

"Spirit Replenishing Elixir."

Just from the bottles' appearance, it was obvious that the pills inside were exceptionally valuable.

These were top-grade pills he had brought with him when he left Ying Longcheng, practically the finest treasures stored away in the City Lord's Mansion warehouse.

Normally, he would never use such rare items so casually. But if they were for Ling Xi, there was no need for hesitation.

Ling Xi accepted the pills from him, but did not rush to take them. Instead, she looked toward the pretty face revealed beneath the removed hood.

This was a female Supreme. She was fairly beautiful, but her expression had remained indifferent from beginning to end, causing that naturally exquisite face to lose some of its charm.

"I did not seal her voice. Ask her whatever you want to know."

After saying that, Ling Xi sat down to one side, leaving Bai Ye and the woman in white enough space.

Bai Ye nodded at her to show that he understood.

Her voice had not been sealed, yet she had not said a single word since boarding the ship.

That meant she already understood the situation. She would not waste time on such meaningless matters. She was waiting for Bai Ye and the others to get to the point.

Tch.

Bai Ye was all too familiar with this damned way of thinking.

"I've heard that zither piece before." Bai Ye crouched down, closing the distance between them as he spoke with a smile. "That was the Spirit Obscuring Soul Cleansing Melody, wasn't it?"

Upon hearing the words "Spirit Obscuring Soul Cleansing Melody," the woman in white's eyes shifted slightly as she looked in his direction.

Although her expression did not change, that small movement alone revealed her surprise.

"The Spirit Obscuring Soul Cleansing Melody is one of the Yan Tian Sect's secret arts." Bai Ye carefully recalled the contents of Si Qingyu's inherited memories. "It is an internal cultivation method used to cleanse one's Divine Soul spiritual roots and increase the success rate of cultivating the Yan Tian Art. The user must use it alongside the Yan Tian Art. There is absolutely no possibility that it was ever passed outside the sect."

Increase the success rate of cultivating the Yan Tian Art?

The Yan Tian Sect's techniques and spirit arts had only one cultivation requirement: the ability to maintain Absolute Rationality. Cleansing Divine Soul spiritual roots was merely the Yan Tian Sect's internal term for it. Put simply, it meant washing away all of your emotions and feelings, forcing you to remain absolutely rational.

This was also why everyone had lost their memories at Qin Lian Theatre back then.

Because it was a strange secret art that targeted the Divine Soul itself.

The reason Bai Ye had not lost that portion of his memories was that he was already the ideal material for cultivating the Yan Tian Sect's techniques. There was no need, nor was it possible, for him to undergo any further cleansing.

Thus, when the Yan Tian Sect still stood tall in the Great Thousand World, this zither piece had also been used to select those geniuses suited to cultivating the Yan Tian Sect's techniques.

And the creator of this zither piece was Si Qingyu herself.

"Why do you know this piece?"

Bai Ye sat cross-legged, speaking to the woman in white as though they were simply chatting about everyday matters.

Ever since returning from the Luo God Clan, he had been studying Si Qingyu's inherited memories. Those inherited memories contained no techniques or spirit arts, only summaries and understandings of the knowledge she had accumulated throughout her life.

Si Qingyu's description of the Spirit Obscuring Soul Cleansing Melody was extremely detailed. Those minute details immediately reminded Bai Ye of what had happened at Qin Lian Theatre, and the descriptions matched perfectly. From that moment onward, Bai Ye had basically confirmed that Qin Lian Opera House was very likely connected to the Yan Tian Sect.

"How did you know that name?"

At last, her voice was no longer ambiguous between male and female. The woman's voice was hoarse as she stared at Bai Ye and asked her first question.

"I don't like it when someone answers my question with another question." Bai Ye looked at her and spread his palm. "How about this? Let's make a fair deal. You answer one question for me, and I'll clear up one doubt for you. Sounds fair, right?"

The woman looked at him silently for a moment. Several seconds later, she finally nodded.

She could accept that proposal.

"First question. What is your name?"

Bai Ye asked first.

Without any hesitation, the woman answered directly, "Yi Qingluan."

Clean and decisive, without the slightest dragging of her feet.

A silver glint flashed through Bai Ye's eyes.

See Through Illusion.

Very good. She had not lied.

"Why do you know about the Spirit Obscuring Soul Cleansing Melody?"

"Because I saw related records."

He had not lied. He had indeed learned that the Yan Tian Sect possessed such a thing from related records. It was simply that those records came directly from the memories of the Yan Tian Sect's ancient Sect Leader.

"Why can you play the Spirit Obscuring Soul Cleansing Melody?"

Bai Ye asked his second question.

But this time, Yi Qingluan chose silence.

"..."

"Don't want to answer? Fine, then I'll keep asking." Bai Ye did not care about her attitude and continued, "Why was Qin Lian built in this place?"

Yi Qingluan's lips moved slightly, but she still did not speak.

Clearly, she remained silent on this question as well.

"Why are you so concerned about news of the Cold Pool?"

"..."

"What is your relationship with the owner of the Cold Pool?"

"..."

"You..." Bai Ye narrowed his eyes. He pointed at his handsome face before speaking. "Don't you find my face very familiar?"

Only at this question did Yi Qingluan raise her head and look at Bai Ye, a trace of confusion flashing through her eyes.

Then, she gave a small shake of her head.

She gave her answer.

"No."

"Very unfamiliar."