Grasping the Evil

Chapter 1022: Entanglements

The Blood Bee that led Ning Fan here had long disappeared.

Ning Fan stared at the Bloodsea for a while, then suddenly made a leap onto the frozen Bloodsea. With a few flickers, he arrived below the floating Mystic Ice Platform.

With another flicker, his movement technique seemed ghostly, appearing as if he hadn’t moved at all. Yet, when he spread his hand, a drop of deep blue ice liquid had appeared on his palm.

This was precisely the drop from the Mystic Ice Platform.

"This substance seems to have a suppressive effect on the Punishing Ring within my body..."

This ice liquid gave off a bone-chilling sensation, yet it would not cause any frostbite. It seemed only to have a freezing effect on certain specific things.

When Ning Fan touched the ice liquid from a close distance, the eight Punishing Rings within his body showed obvious changes. The sealing power flowing within the rings unexpectedly had a tiny part frozen from the edge. Once the seal was frozen, a trace of the originally sealed Calamity Blood cultivation was then released.

A mere trace, yet it was enough to astonish Ning Fan.

"Back when I was traversing the Fiendish Domain Continent, I visited many Ancient Cultivator Cave Mansions. There was one mansion with stone carvings that mentioned something called [Reprieve Cold Dew]. The Reprieve Cold Dew is a rare ancient treasure of the Dabei Clan, with a magical effect of freezing sealing power. Some ancient cultivators once sought the path of the Ascetic Monk, voluntarily requesting the Dazu Saint to use the Punishing Ring to suppress their cultivation as a way to temper themselves. However, the cultivation world is always fraught with risks and slaughter, and even these ascetic monks sometimes had to resort to unleashing their sealed cultivation. At those times, the monks would often not shatter the Punishing Ring, as it’s said the ring holds some unknown benefits, and they would hesitate to break it lightly... In times of crisis, they would often choose to ingest a small amount of Reprieve Cold Dew, thus temporarily restoring some of their sealed cultivation without damaging the Punishing Ring. The duration and amount of restored cultivation depend on the amount of Cold Dew ingested..."

Ning Fan recalled the stone carvings he had seen before, making soft guesses.

Could this drop of ice liquid be the Reprieve Cold Dew? Given that it can suppress the Punishing Ring, it indeed seems possible. Unfortunately, the stone carvings recorded too little about the Reprieve Cold Dew, leaving Ning Fan unable to confirm it, only hypothesizing a few points.

The Punishing Ring is truly a troublesome thing.

It’s not that the Punishing Ring is particularly hard to break; if Ning Fan wished, he could shatter it anytime and restore his true cultivation. The problem lies in the fact that the Punishing Ring represents a form of restriction imposed by the Dabei Clan on foreign cultivators. Once this restriction is broken, it would be considered a violation of the Dabei Clan’s laws, inviting the pursuit of the Central Continent’s Five Emperors...

The Punishing Ring cannot be broken.

Not breaking it doesn’t mean there’s no other way to cleverly restore cultivation. Clearly, this drop of ice liquid is precisely such a tricky item. Even if it’s not Reprieve Cold Dew, it most likely has a similar suppressive effect. Just holding this substance can freeze part of the Punishing Ring’s seal. Ingesting some and using its freezing power to directly suppress the Punishing Ring in the Dantian might yield even better results.

This item can serve as another trump card in the second round of seizing the tomb! Should he be unable to obtain the South Sea Spring Water with sealed cultivation, Ning Fan wouldn’t mind consuming some ice liquid to participate in the second round with unleashed cultivation...

"If it’s for the South Sea Spring Water, I believe the Baihua Great Emperor would absolutely not blame me for taking this item. I even suspect that the Blood Bee leading me here was sent by the Baihua Great Emperor, with some intentional purpose..."

Having thought of this, a hint of caution appeared in Ning Fan’s eyes. After checking the ice liquid and finding nothing unusual, he put it away.

Just as he was about to leave, a blood light shot out from the frozen Bloodsea, buzzing towards Ning Fan...

Ning Fan’s eyes focused, ready to defend, but the blood light suddenly paused, revealing its form as the Blood Bee that had previously attacked him. This time, however, the Blood Bee seemed to have no intention of attacking, falling onto the ice surface of the Bloodsea. Upon landing, it transformed amid a series of blood-red runes into a young woman dressed in a pink veil.

The woman’s body emitted a glow, giving off a sacred aura. Underneath her flowing hair was a nearly perfect delicate body, emanating a faint fragrance resembling flowers and honey.

The only disharmonious aspect was the iron chains locked onto her tender bare feet, clanking as she walked, much like a prisoner.

After appearing, the woman showed a hint of hesitation on her face but quickly made a decision, dragging the iron chains step by step as she approached, bowing before Ning Fan.

"The criminal woman greets the young master. Please forgive the previous attack, young master..."

Then, with a gentle wave of her palm, streaks of blood light shot out, transforming into a nearly transparent blood-colored beehive, encompassing a ten-zhang area around Ning Fan. The beehive posed no threat; its only feature was a strong isolation against spirit sense, so powerful that even an Immortal Emperor couldn’t easily break through to see inside. Clearly, it was a formidable isolation divine skill.

It seemed the woman wished to speak with Ning Fan, wary of the treasure trove’s owner, the Baihua Great Emperor, thus taking special precautions...

"What does the girl mean by this?" Ning Fan’s gaze was calm as he scrutinized the woman before him, quietly guessing her intentions.

The woman bowed again, imploring, "The young master is a powerful cultivator; I beg the young master to rescue this humble girl from the sea of suffering!"

"Rescue you from the sea of suffering? Are you referring to truly saving your main demon soul from this Bloodsea?"

Ning Fan frowned slightly.

This woman was transformed from the Blood Bee that had previously attacked him. He hadn’t seen clearly during their brief encounter before, but now he realized that she had no physical body, only a wisp of a demon soul. Furthermore, it wasn’t her main demon soul but something akin to a second demon soul.

Humans can cultivate a main spirit and a second primordial spirit; similarly, demon cultivators can cultivate a main demon soul and a second demon soul; it’s the same principle.

With Ning Fan’s Rain Technique Perception, he could vaguely sense a deeply concealed demon aura below the ice layer of the Bloodsea, seemingly suppressed, which matched the Blood Bee’s breath. However, it was several times stronger than the Blood Bee, likely the main demon soul of this Blood Bee woman.

A main and a secondary... The cultivation of this woman’s secondary demon soul had reached the Shattered Thought Peak while her main demon soul’s cultivation seemed to have reached the Eternity’s Second Calamity Celestial Honored Realm...

This woman appeared to have practiced some secret technique, even the Mind Reading Technique could be partially obscured, making it impossible to see into her heart...

Not simple at all...

"Young master, please discern, this humble girl was originally a Bee Demon, born in antiquity. Though a demon, I never harmed anyone. Admiring Buddhist Law, I entered under the tutelage of the first owner of Baihua Peak—Guhua Celestial Being, listening and cultivating diligently. Gradually, I achieved a certain level of cultivation and became the guardian spirit beast of Baihua Peak. Later, when Guhua Celestial Being failed to break through the Eternal Seventh Calamity and perished in the lightning tribulation, the second owner of Baihua arrived. He still appointed me as the mountain protector spirit beast. Thus, through several generational transitions, I’ve always practiced at Baihua Peak without ever having any dissent until the arrival of the fourth Baihua owner—Ji Shiling..."

Upon mentioning the name Ji Shiling, the Blood Bee woman clutched her head in pain as if there was a restriction within her demon soul, preventing her from freely mentioning the name. It took a while before the pain subsided.

Ji Shiling?

Ning Fan was slightly surprised; the name was unfamiliar.

"Ji Shiling is the common name of this generation’s Baihua Emperor, but now she probably doesn’t use it anymore..." The Blood Bee Woman explained with restraint despite the restrictions.

"Why has Lady been suppressed here by the Baihua Great Emperor?" Ning Fan thought for a moment and asked anyway.

"I annoyed Ji Shiling due to certain matters..."

The Blood Bee Woman seemed somewhat embarrassed to speak, hesitated for a moment, then continued,

"Actually, when Ji Shiling first assumed the role of Baihua Lord, she was kind to me. However, one year, she suddenly demanded that I sacrifice my chastity to seduce a man. But what I admired was the orthodox Buddhist Law, and I always practiced self-restraint and virtue, so I refused firmly, unwilling to yield and lose my Yin energy. Unexpectedly, this angered Ji Shiling. In her rage, she destroyed my physical defense, extracted my Demon Soul, and further imprisoned it under this bloody mist..."

"Thankfully, I am adept at the incarnated souls technique. Although I couldn’t break through the bloody mist to escape, I gradually cultivated a second Demon Soul. With an incarnated soul’s body, I secretly broke away from the bloody mist. However, unfortunately, Ji Shiling noticed and used mighty methods to imprison me here again. Compared to my main Demon Soul being suppressed at the bottom of the bloody mist, my second Demon Soul can gain a certain freedom to wander outside the bloody mist, but it still can’t get too far away. Moreover, every few months, a tide of bloody thoughts emerges in this bloody mist, causing me to suffer soul infusion pain, hardly better than death..."

A flash of hatred appeared in the Blood Bee Woman’s eyes.

"So, you wish for me to take the risk of offending the Baihua Great Emperor to rescue you from this suppression?" Ning Fan frowned.

Seeking treasures in the vault was all he intended, and he didn’t want to stir extra trouble or provoke the Baihua Great Emperor for a stranger.

"Young Master jests. You and I are neither relatives nor acquaintances; how could I hope for you to go to such lengths for a stranger? To be honest, though I’m suppressed here, I’ve also made some arrangements outside. This escape plan has been long in preparation; certainly, I need some assistance from Young Master, but there’s no need for you to do anything in the vault that would anger Ji Shiling, ensuring no risk of offending her. You can rest assured on this point. I just wish for you to seek someone in the Middle State and deliver something to them. If this can be accomplished, I am sixty to seventy percent confident I can escape from here on my own. Even if Ji Shiling is truly enraged, it won’t place blame on you. Should you lend a hand, the reward would surely satisfy you!"

Rewarding after the event, huh...

Ning Fan observed the Blood Bee Woman without expression, calculating silently in his heart.

It seemed she already had an extremely thorough escape plan in mind; all she needed was someone to assist by finding a person outside and delivering an item...

On the surface, it’s just a slight effort...but, is there truly no risk in this matter?

Is there a deeper reason why the Baihua Great Emperor suppressed the Blood Bee Woman here? Is it really as she says, that she was suppressed for refusing to seduce a man?

To Ning Fan, the Baihua Emperor was a person characterized by unpredictability and ominousness, but she wasn’t someone lacking self-control. On the contrary, as seen from her tolerance toward Ning Fan for transgressions, she was rather someone with a forbearing nature for greater things... Would such a person truly suppress a spirit beast serving multiple Baihua Lords because of a momentary rage?

Ning Fan was more inclined to believe that there was another reason behind this, possibly a significant one...

Moreover, whether the Baihua Great Emperor was unaware of the Blood Bee Woman’s escape plan, had already detected it, or had already planned countermeasures, waiting leisurely for her attempting to escape just to fall into a trap, culminating her scheme...

You can’t rule out this possibility.

No wonder Ning Fan was so cautious; the waters of Baihua Peak were dauntingly deep. The Baihua Great Emperor’s existence might just be an Illusory Art, which was already filled with oddities. Furthermore, this issue of suppression beneath the bloody mist seemed to have other mysteries, leading Ning Fan to ponder further...

"It seems mere verbal rewards cannot sway Young Master. You are indeed a man with a firm heart..." the Blood Bee Woman paused for a moment, then continued, "To tell you the truth, Ji Shiling has actually plotted against you, but you haven’t realized it yet."

"Plotted against? What does that mean?"

Ning Fan’s expression remained indifferent, yet in his heart, he recalled the entire process from when he arrived at Baihua Peak, ultimately thinking of that drop of icy liquid.

Could it be that that item was truly problematic...

"Young Master might not know, but my attack on you today was not by mere chance; it was under Ji Shiling’s orders, commanding me to lead you here to entice you to take that drop of Reprieve Cold Dew..."

So, it was indeed the Reprieve Cold Dew, pre-arranged by the Baihua Emperor...

"If I am not mistaken, Young Master, you should be a Foreign Cultivator, right? You are likely unfamiliar with the Reprieve Cold Dew. It’s understandable, as even among beings like Da Bi’s Honored Immortal, very few truly understand it. Having served Guhua Celestial Being, I’ve heard him speak of the drawbacks of this substance. Guhua categorized the Immortal Hundred Herbs into dozens of classes, and this one belongs to the Poppy family. Consuming this is akin to mortals consuming poppy; in excess, it leads to addiction. Once addicted, continuous consumption becomes necessary, and as the addiction deepens day by day, it gradually undermines the cultivator’s path foundation, causing regress in cultivations... In the past, ascetic monks consumed it, fearless of the addiction, and even often used it to temper their minds, yet not many truly overcame the addiction, and many a path was ruined because of it..."

"Ji Shiling, fearing that you would refuse to consume it if the truth was told, lured you into stealing it yourself. Firstly, to avoid affecting the chances of obtaining South Sea Spring Water; secondly, perhaps intending to secretly plant an addiction within you. If you consume it without a means to resolve the addiction, you may find yourself controlled by Ji Shiling. Presumably, Young Master wouldn’t like being subjected to another’s control, correct?"

Ning Fan’s gaze immediately darkened.

This substance is comparable to the poppy in the mortal world, is it!

If so, even with its effect of freezing the Punishment Ring Seal, Ning Fan could not possibly consume it.

The risk is too great!

He also felt a surge of anger, realizing that the Baihua Great Emperor used this substance to plot against him for the sake of South Sea Spring Water, potentially further guile linked to the addiction...

The Baihua Emperor really went too far!

"After telling you this, will Young Master be willing to take some risk to assist me? Don’t you wish to retaliate against Ji Shiling a little..." the Blood Bee Woman looked deeply into Ning Fan’s eyes and smiled.

A way to retaliate is right in front: release the Baihua Emperor’s imprisoned sinner, letting the Baihua Emperor’s years of schemes go to waste!

"That reason is insufficient to make me help you!"

Ning Fan suddenly took a deep breath, his heart instantly returning to calm, showing no signs of his prior anger.

For the sake of the Ancient Chaos Grand Emperor, he’d temporarily endure such calculative scheming; if revenge were to happen, it wouldn’t be now but after achieving his goals...

The Blood Bee Woman glanced at Ning Fan in slight surprise, she had underestimated Ning Fan’s endurance. After hesitating a bit, she added, "How about this, if you are willing to assist, not only will there be significant rewards afterward, but I can also offer you some immediate benefits right now."

"Benefits? What benefits?"

"Young Master may want to take a closer look. What exactly is this icy blood sea?"

The Blood Bee maiden pointed through the blood curtain covering the place towards the icy blood sea in front of them.

Ning Fan followed the direction she pointed and carefully observed this blood sea, his expression shifting from serious to grim, and then to slight shock.

"This sea... it’s entirely composed of Immortal Emperor’s blood! However, the resentment here is too heavy."

"Young Master has good eyesight. The water of this blood sea is indeed Immortal Emperor’s blood. In the past, when Guhua Celestial Being failed to transcend the Eternal Seven Tribulations, he fell under the Tribulation of Measure, spilling blood for thousands of miles into a river with unquenchable resentment, turning a perfectly good Baihua Buddha Land into a fierce domain, destroying the Spirit Vein, and dispersing ninety percent of the disciples. It wasn’t until the second Baihua master came and spent a hundred years resolving this Imperial Death Resentment, reconstructing the Spirit Vein, and collecting all the blood scattered by Guhua Celestial Being. Unfortunately, although this blood is Emperor’s blood, the heavy resentment caused the loss of its golden glow, making it useless, so the second Baihua master sealed it in the treasury to gather dust. Not until Ji Shiling became the fourth Baihua master did he retrieve this blood for repeated study, though it’s unknown what he was researching. Later, when I offended Ji Shiling, he used this blood to suppress me..."

"The resentment in this blood sea is extremely terrifying, and every several months, a tide of blood recollection forms. Although this tide doesn’t take lives, it disturbs the heart of cultivators. When I was initially suppressed, each time the tide appeared, I would lose my sanity, falling into madness, taking months to regain clarity, only to face the next tide again in continuous cycles."

"Perhaps I gradually adapted to it because, as time passed, the periods of madness during the tides shortened. Although the tides are still excruciatingly painful, I started to gain some benefits from them. The resentment in the blood sea contains some memories of Guhua Celestial Being before his death, including a scene of his failed tribulation, as well as some secret divine abilities he used before dying... In a few hours, the next blood recollection tide will occur, and if I’m willing to pay some price, I’m confident I can imprint the scene of Guhua Celestial Being’s failed tribulation and give it to you... Only the young woman who knows this blood sea best can accomplish this, others cannot."

Ning Fan showed a moved expression.

The divine abilities and secret techniques of Baihua Celestial Being weren’t much to Ning Fan’s interest, but the memory of Baihua Celestial Being’s failed tribulation... That was more precious than the divine skills of an Immortal Emperor!

The cultivators of the Timeless Realm are classified in realms by the number of tribulations they transgress, where the tribulation is naturally not an ordinary lightning tribulation, but a Tribulation of Measure, whose might is incomparable to minor calamities like the Bone Age Calamity.

For Eternal Cultivators, reaching the limit of their mana is not the most difficult task. Drawing down a Tribulation of Measure after that is the most difficult. Without drawing it down, one will be stuck at a bottleneck, unable to advance further.

And for Immortal Emperor-strong beings, drawing down a Tribulation of Measure is not the hardest part. Passing it is the most difficult challenge...

The tribulations of Immortal Venerable and Immortal King are not too perilous; even the Sixth Calamity that establishes an emperor position isn’t insurmountable with proper preparation and sufficient aptitude.

However, once one becomes an emperor, the power of the tribulation multiplies tens of times, and from the Seventh Tribulation onwards, only a tenth to a twentieth manage to pass. Countless Immortal Emperors have died so due to failing their tribulation.

The fundamental difference between an Immortal Emperor’s tribulation and others’ is that there is only one chance to attempt it: succeed, and one advances; fail, and one perishes. No Immortal Emperor has ever survived a failed tribulation.

This results in a situation where most Immortal Emperors remain at the Eternal Sixth Calamity: some because they lack the opportunity to draw down the tribulation, others, old monsters whose bottlenecks have long eased, can draw down the Seventh Tribulation any time, but they suppress it with all their might, as they have no confidence in passing, staying at the sixth calamity’s cultivation.

Any experience related to tribulation for those eager to transgress and ascend is precious and invaluable.

If one can observe another Immortal Emperor undergoing a Tribulation of Measure, it surely increases one’s understanding and slightly raises the chances of success. The matters concerning life and death are of utmost caution.

It’s a pity that witnessing an Immortal Emperor’s tribulation memory is not easily obtainable. Those who succeed mostly do so by a hair’s breadth, using all their divine abilities and mysterious skills, and such tribulation memories involve many secrets and are not shared with others easily.

They are top secrets of various Immortal Emperor powers!

It’s said that the Godly Void Pavilion of the Eastern Heaven once auctioned a memory crystal containing the memory of a successful tribulation sealed with great divine power, eventually bought by an Immortal Emperor with a damaged Innate Treasure...

The price was indeed hefty.

The Blood Bee maiden before Ning Fan provided a chance to observe an Immortal Emperor’s failed tribulation memory. Though it’s only the memory of failure, it’s still very helpful in understanding the details of the Tribulation of Measure.

However, this benefit still could not sway Ning Fan. After all, Ning Fan was far from becoming an emperor, let alone experiencing the Seventh Tribulation, so there was no urgency in learning these.

"If it’s only the memory of a failed tribulation, it’s not enough!" Ning Fan shook his head.

"Hmph, if it were any other Sixth Calamity Immortal Emperor, they would be eager to help for these failed tribulation memories. It’s only a matter of delivering an item, not a difficult task. But Young Master’s appetite is truly not small! If you weren’t the most trustworthy among those who entered the treasury over the years, I’d have sought help from others instead of wasting words with you here!"

The Blood Bee maiden was somewhat displeased, seeing Ning Fan unmoved, and bit her lip, "I have nothing more to offer in return at this moment. If I can escape this peril, I will repay with something far more valuable than this tribulation memory, which I assure with a Demon Soul Great Oath!"

Ning Fan shook his head slightly, "No need for the Demon Soul Great Oath. I have three questions. If you can answer one or two, I might still help."

Upon hearing this, the Blood Bee maiden’s expression softened, and she smiled, saying, "What questions does Young Master have? I am most willing to provide answers."

"First, what is the true reason Baihua Emperor is suppressing you!"

"This matter..." The Blood Bee maiden was momentarily at a loss for words, aware that Ning Fan saw through her concealment. Though her face turned slightly grave, she did not argue.

"Second, aside from your main Demon Soul and second Demon Soul, you seem to have cultivated other subsidiary Demon Souls, right?"

"Correct..." She forced a calm expression, but her heart was secretly startled. She indeed cultivated a third Demon Soul, hidden elsewhere, which was a secret unknown to anyone, even Ji Shiling. How did this man before her, whom she’d just met, know of this?

"Third, do you think Baihua Great Emperor is aware of your escape plan?"

"..."

The Blood Bee maiden’s expression turned increasingly desolate and despairing.

Even this man whom she’d just met saw through her hidden third Demon Soul. Could Ji Shiling have seen through it too, perhaps even knowing its whereabouts all along?

Is there any point in continuing with the escape plan...

Might she escape one scheme only to fall into another...

"Indeed, this woman has cultivated other auxiliary Demon Souls. I’m afraid the person she wants me to find is the other auxiliary Demon Souls she has hidden in the outside world..."

Ning Fan simply guessed casually, but upon seeing the Blood Bee woman’s change in expression, he knew that he had hit the nail on the head.

"Will Young Master help or not with this favor..." the Blood Bee woman smiled ruefully.

"Not help!"

What a joke, why should Ning Fan help a woman who is keeping secrets from him.

What if she tricked him!

"Very well, regarding the matter of escape, I do need to reconsider. Since Young Master refuses to help, so be it... But, seeing as I’ve given Young Master some advice, could he keep secret about my intent to escape and not tell Ji Shiling." Faced with Ning Fan’s refusal, the Blood Bee woman was not disappointed and instead returned to a calm expression.

"Rest assured, I am not one to gossip. Although I won’t help you escape, I won’t harm you either. Even though I’ve said I won’t help you escape, I am willing to give you all other kinds of assistance as recompense for your advice on the Reprieve Cold Dew matter."

Thus, under the surprised gaze of the Blood Bee woman, Ning Fan easily broke through her isolated beehive, waved his sleeve, and sent forth golden streaks of light, continually altering the dominant forces in the area.

Gradually, the forces within the bloody mist eased, and the suppression originally present was alleviated.

The Blood Bee woman covered her mouth in disbelief. Her Main Demon Soul, painfully suppressed at the bottom of the blood sea, would constantly endure the agony of soul tearing. Yet, as Ning Fan effortlessly modified the dominant forces here, that soul-tearing pain actually subsided!

Though the Main Demon Soul remained suppressed, it suffered little pain. Having endured millions of years of continuous agony, the sudden disappearance of pain was a comfort beyond ordinary experience, causing the Blood Bee woman to moan in relief, feeling relaxed all over.

Her gaze towards Ning Fan held a mixture of complexity, and a deep sense of awe.

To change Ji Shiling’s restrictions at will... this foreign cultivator’s Dao of formations is outstanding!

Although Ning Fan refused the Blood Bee woman’s request, he did not plan to leave right away but stayed, waiting for the blood thought tidal waves mentioned by the Blood Bee woman.

This Blood Bee woman certainly won’t pay the price to help him imprint the Ancient Flower Sovereign’s tribulation memories.

The fact that she won’t help doesn’t mean Ning Fan can’t try himself. If he can imprint a portion of the tribulation memories from the tidal waves with his own strength, it would be a pleasing matter.

Four hours later, the blood thought tidal waves began.

The originally ice-sealed surface of the blood sea suddenly rose with green lightning. As this lightning appeared, the Blood Bee woman’s expression changed, she hastily bade farewell, transforming into a blood light to return to the sea bottom, not daring to remain on the surface.

Subsequently, the entire upper part of the blood sea became engulfed in green lightning.

The green lightning gradually weakened, but immediately after, a resentment that could cover the sky erupted from beneath the green lightning.

"I don’t believe it!"

"I don’t believe it!!!"

It was an ancient roar echoing to this day, rising from within that resentment—the death roar of the Ancient Flower Sovereign!

Ning Fan dared not be negligent, already secretly activating the Body-protecting Golden Light of the God-Extinguishing Shield to keep the imperial death resentment at bay a few yards away, remaining utterly composed.

At the same time, in the depths of the blood sea bottom, amidst infinite blood light pressure, the Blood Bee woman was conversing with someone identical to her appearance.

It was her Main Demon Soul!

"I apologize, I could not persuade that person to help..."

"Humph, he is indeed fortunate; otherwise, to the Third Demon Soul, that Vast Expanse Butterfly would be quite the nourishment."

"That person is overly cautious, but fortunately, even if he doesn’t offer himself, the Third Demon Soul should still act on its own. To us Spirit Eating Bees, the taste of the Vast Expanse Butterfly is unmistakable and irresistible!"

"However, he did make a point. Our plan, Ji Shiling certainly knows about it. She’s likely using this matter to verify some suspicions. If not doubtful, how could she imprison us here for so many years..."

"That Vast Expanse Butterfly seems intent on imprinting the Ancient Flower Sovereign’s tribulation memory with its power..."

"Difficult, extremely difficult! Even if we join forces, it would require a hefty price to accomplish such a task. If this person’s cultivations are sealed, touching the memories within the resentment might lead to a loss of mind... Haha, let it be a punishment for his unwillingness to help. We’ll just watch him suffer under this resentment!"

...

Meanwhile, the Baihua Great Emperor inside the inner hall snorted coldly.

If she wasn’t mistaken, the suppressed Spirit Eating Bee had activated its hive magic, even in contact with Ning Fan.

It seemed the Spirit Eating Bee knew the drawbacks of the Reprieve Cold Dew...

Thus, Ning Fan most likely won’t consume that Reprieve Cold Dew.

"Humph, if this person doesn’t unseal his cultivations, winning the top three in the second round is mere foolish dreaming! It seems obtaining the South Sea Spring Water will require a different approach without relying on this person..."