"..."
Qu Qingyao could not help letting out a muffled groan, her body trembling from the sudden, agonizing pain!
A blinding radiance immediately erupted from between her brows!
The Communication Jade Slip, upon which she had placed several layers of concealment methods, was forcibly ripped from the depths of her spiritual platform by Shen Yan!
"A communication artifact..."
Shen Yan coldly examined the jade slip, then looked at Qu Qingyao, who had collapsed to her knees from the pain, and said in a frosty voice:
"Do you think your cultivation has already reached perfection?"
"Or do you think that because my life's end is drawing near, I can no longer see through the things you have hidden?!"
"Qu Qingyao, your talent is indeed exceptional, but that does not mean you can do whatever you please!"
"Much less does it mean you can hide things from the sect and do as you wish!!"
She raised the jade slip before her eyes, her gaze sharp as a blade as she enunciated each word:
"Tell me, who is this jade slip meant to contact?"
"Speak! I can still show you leniency and postpone your Heavenly Maiden Trial for now!"
Qu Qingyao wiped the blood from between her brows with the back of her hand and forced herself upright.
Her face was deathly pale, yet her eyes still held an almost mechanical calmness.
"In reply to the Valley Master, I do not know either."
"I happened upon this object in a secret realm. Perhaps it was left behind by some prodigy of old..."
"Heh... hehehe...!" Shen Yan laughed instead of growing angry, suppressing the urge to smash the jade slip. "Good. Very good! Qu Qingyao, who taught you to play dumb so well?"
"I fear you have even forgotten the sect's grace in raising