Bai Lang’s mind stirred, and he found himself on the Ghost Altar.
He had left a clone on the Ghost Altar, allowing him to transfer his divine consciousness at any time.
Bai Lang had already sensed Feng Liqi's power from across the void. Now, facing Feng Liqi directly, he felt like a small boat tossed in a storm, on the verge of capsizing.
Trembling, he bowed to Feng Liqi once more before attuning himself to the altar spirit. After all, the master of the Ghost Altar was his teacher, Gui Zhi Dao, not him, so his connection to the altar spirit was naturally not very strong.
However, under the pressure of Feng Liqi, he had overlooked someone: Ye Lingyuan, who had been with Zi Linling all along.
When Feng Liqi appeared, he had forced both Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan into a deep slumber. Yet, at the very moment Feng Liqi forcibly pierced through space, a subtle change occurred within Ye Lingyuan.
A translucent, diminutive figure crawled out from the top of Ye Lingyuan's head and seeped into the altar steps. This fluctuation had been precisely masked by Feng Liqi’s power. The tiny figure, after slipping inside, flashed and reappeared before the altar spirit.
Simultaneously, a transparent bubble encased the altar spirit. The translucent figure then entered the bubble.
The altar spirit, though called a spirit, was merely a mass of black energy. Trapped within the transparent bubble, it instinctively tried to resist. But it was futile. It discovered its connection to the outside world had been completely severed. Its spiritual energy, divine consciousness, perception, and thoughts were no longer under its control.
What was happening? The altar spirit had never encountered such a situation. What was this thing? It had existed since ancient times, yet it never knew there was something in this world capable of trapping it.
The translucent figure gradually revealed its form. It was none other than Ye Lingyuan.
“Who are you?” the altar spirit recoiled, shrinking into a ball. It was certain that the person before it was not the man named Ye Lingyuan on the altar.
“Ye Lingyuan” spoke gently, “Who I am is not important. What matters is when you will activate the fifth trial!”
Upon hearing his voice, the altar spirit shivered and replied, “Hand over the item from the fourth trial, and the fifth trial can be opened.”
“Ye Lingyuan” said with a half-smile, “Is that so? Are you sure? My temper is not very good, and I detest lies.”
That voice sent a shiver down the altar spirit’s spine, assuming it had one.
“Yes! This spirit never lies!” Though the altar spirit spoke thus, its heart was as guilty as a thief’s.
“You, having existed for tens of millions of years, why are you so disobedient?”
“Ye Lingyuan” smiled gently, but a transparent whip lashed out, striking the altar spirit. The altar spirit sensed danger from the translucent whip. Dammit! It was a mass of black energy; logically, the whip should have no effect. But the reality was…
“Ah!” As the transparent whip landed on it, it felt pain. The pain felt as if the whip had struck its very heart. What kind of whip was this? Not only could it strike, but it could also inflict pain. Furthermore, the black energy at the point of impact seemed to have thinned.
“How do you find the taste of the One Qi Whip?” “Ye Lingyuan” chuckled, looking at the altar spirit. The so-called One Qi referred to the primordial energy that existed at the dawn of creation, capable of subduing all things, both tangible and intangible.
The One Qi Whip? The altar spirit was aghast. That was a primordial treasure!
“Who are you? How do you possess the One Qi Whip?”
“I’ve told you, who I am is not important. When you will activate the fifth trial is what matters!” “Ye Lingyuan’s” smile remained, but it sent an extreme chill into the altar spirit’s core.
“Activating the fifth trial requires the master’s command; otherwise, this spirit is powerless.”
“Is that so? It seems the One Qi Whip has not disciplined you enough.” As “Ye Lingyuan” finished speaking, the One Qi Whip lashed out at the altar spirit again.
Just as the altar spirit attempted to dodge, the devilishly gentle voice rang out once more. “I forgot to tell you, this transparent bubble is called the One Qi Bubble. It is intrinsically linked to the One Qi Whip. You cannot escape; you might as well enjoy it!”
With that, “Ye Lingyuan” closed his eyes and lazily leaned against the One Qi Bubble.
“Ahhhh…” The altar spirit’s miserable screams echoed from within the One Qi Bubble. This was truly unprecedented in all of history.
“Ye Lingyuan,” with his eyes closed, raised an eyebrow and sealed his hearing.
After ten lashes, half of the altar spirit’s black energy was whipped away. It spoke weakly, “Stop hitting! Stop hitting! I will activate the fifth trial now.” If it had eyes, it would surely be weeping profusely.
“Ye Lingyuan” opened his eyes, and the One Qi Whip was put aside. He smiled and said, “Wouldn’t it have been easier to just listen earlier? Why did you have to take a whipping? You really are asking for it, aren't you?”
The altar spirit’s body had shrunk by half, and it hovered tremblingly. It nodded timidly, daring not to provoke the man before it again. It had truly experienced what it meant to be a devil smiling gently today.
“I will release you now. You will obediently activate the fifth trial. Understand?” “Ye Lingyuan’s” voice remained gentle, unchanged from the beginning to the end. The altar spirit nodded pitifully.
“Don’t even think about playing any tricks. The One Qi Whip is very eager for another round with you.” The altar spirit nodded again. It no longer dared to entertain any thought of mischief.
“That’s the spirit! Alright, be off with you!” “Ye Lingyuan” murmured, “收” (shōu - retract), and the One Qi Bubble and One Qi Whip retreated into his body. “Go quickly!”
The altar spirit nodded, preparing to contact Bai Lang to activate the fifth trial, when the devilishly gentle voice sounded again. “If my existence is ever revealed, you know the consequences!” The altar spirit nodded vigorously and began to contact Bai Lang.
“Ye Lingyuan” moved his mind and returned the way he came, back into Ye Lingyuan’s body.
Bai Lang, unable to contact the altar spirit, was pacing frantically. Just as he was wondering how to explain to Feng Liqi, he felt a response from the altar spirit.
“Altar spirit, what are you doing! Hurry and activate the fifth trial!”
“Okay!” The altar spirit replied weakly and then proceeded to activate the fifth trial.
Seeing that the dust had settled, Feng Liqi prepared to return to Zi Linling’s sea of consciousness. Suddenly, her gaze sharpened as she looked at the unconscious Ye Lingyuan. Just moments ago, she had sensed a familiar aura flash by. But upon closer inspection, she found nothing.