Walking to a place where the crowd couldn't see, the divine beast quickly dropped the handkerchief in its hand. Its hands, stained with tea, had already corroded, leaving only bones.
Meanwhile, Ling Xi, having achieved his goal, was leisurely drinking tea, inwardly pleased.
He noticed the spotlessly clean floor and suddenly remembered that the tea the divine beast had brought earlier was not right. His brow furrowed slightly.
Although the tea on the floor had been wiped clean without a trace, he could still smell it.
This was the Immortal Execution Powder from the Heavenly Realm. Once it came into contact with someone, even those with profound cultivation would have their primordial spirits shattered.
This poison was usually given to fallen immortals who were judged. It executed their primordial spirits, cast them out of the Heavenly Court, and relegated them to mortals.
Even more peculiar was that the Immortal Execution Powder, being the most brutal poison in the Heavenly Realm, was typically possessed only by the supreme beings of the Heavenly Realm.
But Ye Ziling was merely a mortal. Why would such a potent poison like the Immortal Execution Powder be used to harm her?
Ling Xi thought of the military tally.
Earlier, after he had rescued Ye Ziling from the painting, he had helped her obtain the military tally of the Heavenly Realm.
Obtaining the military tally had only one purpose—to rebel.
Seeing that Ye Jingxian had not returned for a long time, Ye Ziling felt a surge of unease and stood up to walk towards the door.
As soon as she stepped out, she saw all the divine beasts lying on the ground, unconscious, with only bones remaining in their claws.
A flash of golden light swept through, quickly condensing into several powerful and vigorous characters.
Ye Ziling's pupils contracted sharply.
This was Qing Bai's handwriting.
While Ye Jingxian was changing his clothes, Qing Bai had already sent people to knock him out and abduct him to the Heavenly Court.
Although Ye Ziling was worried, her mind remained clear.
Qing Bai must have known that the military tally had been stolen and wanted to use her second brother's life to exchange for it.
Without a word, Ye Ziling headed straight for the Heavenly Court.
The gates of Qing Bai's palace were wide open, as if he had prepared for her arrival.
As she forced her way in, the guards could only retreat tremblingly, cupping their hands respectfully towards her without a word.
The man in the main hall stood straight, his imposing aura lowering the temperature of the entire hall by several degrees. He sat in the main seat, his gaze like lightning, shooting towards Ye Ziling.
"You've come?"
Qing Bai's voice was deep, exuding a profound sense of deterrence.
"Has the Emperor been waiting for me for a long time?" Ye Ziling asked, a smile replacing her anger. Her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and she curved her lips into a seductive smile.
Just as she was about to summon her primordial spirit, Qing Bai sneered, his tone laced with a hint of mockery, "I have set up a primordial spirit suppression curse. Here, no immortal's primordial spirit can be summoned."
Ye Ziling sneered. She knew Qing Bai had deliberately left the gates open, intending for her to walk into a trap.
The man's fingertips tapped rhythmically on the table, his long, narrow phoenix eyes fixed on her, his gaze as cold as ice. "I made myself very clear: the military tally for a life. Do you want your brother's life or the military tally?"
"Naturally, both."
A bewitching smile bloomed on Ye Ziling's lips. The silver hairpin in her hand transformed into a sharp arrow, flying directly towards Qing Bai's chest!
Unexpectedly, Qing Bai waved his sleeve, and the arrow was frozen in mid-air by a surge of power.
The man flickered and vanished from his spot. In the next second, Ye Ziling was grabbed by the throat and suspended in mid-air.
That handsome face, which seemed to exist beyond the mortal realm, was now covered in frost. Killing intent filled his eyes, and he looked down at her coldly, "You're getting more rebellious, not a bit changed."
Qing Bai knew Ye Ziling's weaknesses all too well. If it were her previous body, that arrow would have already pierced his chest.
He had deliberately set up the barrier to suppress her primordial spirit, as the primordial spirit invisibly contained all her strength, while her current body was merely a mortal vessel with strong cultivation.
Ridiculous! Even with the highest mortal cultivation, one dared to contend against a celestial being!
Ye Ziling, her throat constricted by his grip, found it difficult to breathe, yet she remained unfazed. She curled her lips into a brazen smile, "Even if I die here, you still won't get the military tally!"
Qing Bai looked at her stubborn smile and let out a contemptuous sneer. He knew Ye Ziling's nature; she became more defiant as she grew older. Since she was here to die, she wouldn't have the military tally on her.
Ye Ziling looked at the handsome face so close to hers, her expression dazed. It was clear Qing Bai was at a loss. She let out another mocking cold laugh, "Qing Bai, you should be happy... that I'm dying by your hand for the second time."
The man's breathing grew heavier. Looking at her face, his gaze was unfathomably dark.
His cold eyes gradually softened, his bottomless pupils reflecting her tragically beautiful face. He parted his thin lips, his voice hoarse, and uttered the name he used to call her: "Ling'er, as always, is so clever."
The man's hand slowly loosened its grip a bit, and Ye Ziling landed on the ground, coughing twice.
She gasped for air, glancing disdainfully at the man before her.
Didn't he always want to get rid of her? What was he doing now?
The man looked down at her coldly, his voice clear and distant, "Leaving me, you've learned to find other men."
Ye Ziling knew this guy was possessive. If something belonged to him, even if he didn't cherish it, he wouldn't let anyone else touch it.
He wanted her to die pure and untainted!
Ye Ziling laughed darkly, "Emperor, are you confused? Goddess Tu Yao died long ago, she died from the poisoned wine you gave her, died in the alchemy furnace. You plotted against her yourself, have you forgotten? Should I help you recall?"
"Tu Yao!" Qing Bai gritted his teeth, his sharp, hawk-like eyes erupting with terrifying sharpness, "... If you are willing to confess your guilt, I will spare your life."
In the beginning, when he massacred her tribe, he indeed intended to kill her.
But through their interactions in the Heavenly Court, he had to admit that he had already developed feelings for her.
But what about her?
She was entangled with Jun Lan. In his anger, he had killed her.
Ye Ziling smiled lightly, the mockery in her eyes deepening.
Outsiders couldn't tell, but she was very familiar with it.
This sentence meant: If you are willing to bow your head and admit your mistake to me, I will let bygones be bygones.
But Qing Bai had miscalculated.
When Qing Bai massacred her parents and her tribe, she had sworn to never rest until she avenged them!
Past affection? It was likely just false pretense!
"...Qing Bai, do you think it's possible? If I were someone who feared death, why would I risk coming to see you?"
The man's body trembled violently, the rage in his eyes gradually rising, his face as dark as ink.
Ye Ziling knew she had provoked him. Seeing the man's increasingly darkened expression, the mockery on her face grew stronger.
To her surprise, she was easily pulled up the next second and thrown roughly onto the bed, groaning in pain.
A fierce gust of wind swept over, and the man's figure instantly loomed over her. The surrounding dragon's saliva fragrance grew more intense.
"...Get away, get away!" She tried her best to push him away, but couldn't break free from his restraint.
Qing Bai's hands gripped her shoulders, his dark, inky phoenix eyes churning with a raging storm. His large hands frantically tore at her clothes.
She was like a fallen kite, listless and powerless.
Qing Bai knew that her most precious possession was her dignity.