You Are My Hostage

Communication between Sea Emperor and Bigge wasn't going smoothly, not because of a lack of information exchange, but because of Bigge's psychological issues. When Sea Emperor suggested that Bigge take the two of them to safety, Bigge fell silent. Sea Emperor, left with no other option, explained the situation to them in detail, but still received only silence.

"Sea Emperor, can you remove the magic-suppressing effect on us?" Liliath suddenly asked. Liliath had been listening to Sea Emperor and Bigge talk about this the whole time.

"Anti-magic is also a type of energy seal, which I can remove." The Sea Emperor didn't know what Liliath was planning. "Should the vine bindings be removed as well?"

"No need, just lift my magic ban, don't lift it on Bigge yet," Liliath continued to explain. "I have a special ability that can help Bigge temporarily suppress his mental block."

Bigge had been silent all along, also looked at Liliath. "Is it really okay?"

"It should be possible, but I need your cooperation," Liliath wasn't entirely sure if this method would work. "I have a special ability called Black Hypnosis, which can forcibly hypnotize other creatures and control their actions. Sea Emperor, please remove the magic-suppressing effect for me."

"Now? But this ability shouldn't last long, right?" Sea Emperor also knew that the stronger the ability, the more restrictions it would be subject to.

"It can only last for a maximum of three hours, and while using this ability, I will lose all my combat power. After three hours, my combat power will also be halved," Liliath explained the side effects of this ability.

The Sea Emperor reconsidered the variable of Liliath's hypnosis and began calculating the feasibility of the plan. After a moment, he spoke, "There are at least six hours until the Time Reversal ends. If the Witch Clan doesn't discover the theft of the Treasure Vault, they won't attack us for at least five hours, because Gu Ding hasn't yet refined enough Purification Potion. If you hypnotize Bigge now, Bigge will lose his fighting ability in three hours, and your fighting ability will be halved. Gu Ding can't escape alone, and he won't last until the Time Reversal ends. All three of you will die here. Lily, wait a little longer. In three hours, I will lift the magic ban for you, which will greatly increase our chances of escape."

"Three hours?" Liliath nodded after hearing the Sea Emperor's explanation. "Okay, we've already waited for several days, so a few more hours won't matter."

"How's it going? Is everything going smoothly with Bigge?" Gu Ding asked after hearing that Sea Emperor had turned off the communication.

"It's not going very smoothly; he's remained silent the whole time." The Sea Emperor was somewhat exasperated by Bigge's psychological barrier. "But Lily should be able to handle it. We'll begin our operation in three hours."

Gu Ding nodded and continued making the potion.

About two hours later, a scratching sound came from outside the tent.

"Someone's coming, and more than one," Sea Emperor warned Gu Ding.

Not long after, Laudun led two witch warriors into the tent. Seeing that Gu Ding was still making potions, he walked around the edge of the tent, searching for something.

"Just say what you want to say, don't disturb me while I'm making potions." Gu Ding roughly guessed that the theft of the treasure vault had probably been discovered. Bigge and Liliath were bound by magic-suppressing vines, unable to move or use their abilities. He was the only outsider who could move freely, so these people came to him immediately.

"Outsider, you stole something right under our noses. Do you really think we didn't know?" Laudun stared intently at Gu Ding, trying to glean a judgment from the other's subtle expressions.

"I haven't left the tent these past few days. You can check the number of potions here yourself. Besides, do you really think anyone can steal things and simultaneously concoct Perfect Quality potions? Concocting any Perfect Quality potion requires the alchemist to devote 100% of their energy. Even the slightest distraction will prevent it from being made. If you have any doubts, you can take me to see your High Priest." Gu Ding wasn't lying; he hadn't stolen the items, and he had indeed been concocting potions in the tent for the past few days.

"Perfect timing, the High Priest also wants to see you." Although Laudun was somewhat suspicious, he dared not jump to conclusions. "I simply don't believe you could lie to him."

"Lead the way!" Gu Ding was looking for an opportunity to contact the High Priest. Although it was about an hour earlier than expected, there was still a chance to escape.

Laudun and his group led Gu Ding to the High Priest's tent.

"High Priest, the person has been brought!" Laudun knocked on the tent door.

"Let him in!" came the High Priest's aged voice from inside the tent.

Gu Ding pushed open the door and entered. The High Priest sat cross-legged behind a table, staring intently at Gu Ding. "You've got some nerve!"

"High Priest, I don't quite understand what you mean. If it's about losing something, I can only tell you that you've come to the wrong person." Gu Ding had no intention of taking the blame for what the Sea Emperor had done.

"Is that so?" The High Priest's smile turned somewhat sinister. He lightly tapped the crystal ball on the table with his cane. The crystal ball showed an insect landing on a staff, which instantly vanished. The insect then flew towards a piece of armor, landing on it and disappearing as well. "This must be your special ability, summoning insects to steal things for you. You should also have spatial abilities, right?"

"All my abilities are melee-based, and these insects were not summoned by me," Gu Ding denied completely in one sentence.

"Even now, you're still trying to deny it. Among the outsiders, you're the only one whose magic-suppressing abilities weren't sealed. You can't possibly say that our people stole it themselves, can you?" The High Priest hadn't expected Gu Ding to deny it under these circumstances.

"I told you, I didn't do it, believe it or not." Gu Ding continued to play word games with the other party. In this theft, Gu Ding was only the mastermind, but the actual theft was carried out by Sea Emperor Duli, so it was indeed not Gu Ding who did it.

"Since that's the case, would you dare let me examine your memories?" The High Priest began to doubt his own judgment slightly, as Gu Ding didn't seem to be lying.

"How do we investigate?" Gu Ding felt this should be a good opportunity to seal the other party.

"Aren't you worried that I might do something to you?" The High Priest was surprised that Gu Ding didn't object.

"There's no need. If you wanted to kill me, it would only be a matter of snapping your fingers." Gu Ding shook his head.

"Alright then, let me see what secrets are hidden in your little head." The High Priest beckoned, and Gu Ding felt as if his body was enveloped by a strange energy, making him unable to move. He slowly floated in front of him, and the High Priest pointed a finger at Gu Ding's forehead.

The moment his fingers touched Gu Ding's forehead, the Absolute Seal within Gu Ding's body activated instantly. The High Priest's movements froze instantly; he felt as if a strange, cold energy had seeped into his body, freezing all the energy within him, followed by a strong sense of weakness. Suddenly, his neck tightened; Gu Ding had gripped his throat.

"Hehe, I didn't expect it to be so easy. From now on, you are my hostage." Gu Ding grinned at him.

(Thanks to MoShang?, TroublesomeBookworm, and keung1311 for the donations~~)

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