All Caught in the Net (Part 2)

"That's it!" Gong Qi caught the change in Snake Tongue immediately. He closed in, but did not interfere, instead carefully observing what followed.

But on the other side, Snake Tongue's sensations were rather subtle. This time was unlike before. The experience of her soul splitting, with a wisp of it returning to Ban City, had yet to arrive. Instead, the Mirage Mist Wall grew ever thicker, acting not only upon her Consciousness Level but directly upon the Material Layer, manifesting within the Cloud Top World.

Could it really be as Gong Qi said? Had that powerful figure far away in Earth Time-Space spent the past few days preparing meticulously, changing methods and working on her?

But why had the pull between soul and flesh failed to appear for so long?

Snake Tongue wanted to contact that person, to seize the chance to send a warning and beg them to help her escape the Cloud Top World and Gong Qi's control. No matter what fate awaited her afterward, as long as she could live differently... or even die differently, she could accept it.

Yet the powerful figure on Earth gave her no such chance.

The Mirage Mist Wall grew increasingly dense and heavy, while the Ban City and "Soul-Flesh Unification" she had hoped for remained nowhere in sight. She had no idea what had gone wrong.

"You..."

Gong Qi drifted over to speak with her. He had only just begun, but both his voice and the thoughts he transmitted suddenly blurred, as though they were truly separated by a thick curtain wall, muddled and indistinct.

Neither Snake Tongue nor Gong Qi had expected this.

Before they could react, the Mirage Mist Wall churned and surged, erupting and flowing as it cut off their sight. Within it, Snake Tongue felt a heavy