Because Qiongqi smelled a peculiar fragrance from Zi Linling, it caused the bloodline power within its body to churn incessantly. Therefore, Zi Linling was already a delectable meal to it.
"Well fought!"
A hint of unrestrained joy flashed in Zi Linling's eyes. After breaking through the fourth trial, she needed a hearty battle to solidify her spiritual energy.
"Wood Spirit Cage!"
Countless vines coiled towards Qiongqi, quickly weaving into a cage. This was a inherited divine ability she received after recognizing the Life Deity as her master. A deity, is a divine position, and also an inheritance.
Qiongqi leaped fiercely, its wings beating rapidly. Its beastly form suspended in mid-air. The vines missed, changed direction, and extended upwards. Qiongqi leaped, aided by its wings, escaping the vine's encirclement and directly approaching Zi Linling. Then, it opened its massive maw, about to bite down on Zi Linling.
"Hmph! Want to eat me? That depends on whether your bite is strong enough!"
Zi Linling's Dragon Step was activated. She swiftly dodged Qiongqi's bite, then spun around and thrust towards Qiongqi's neck.
A trace of disdain flashed in Qiongqi's eyes. It flapped its wings, its entire feline body rising sharply, and kicked down towards Zi Linling's back. The implication was clear: "My bite is indeed strong!"
Zi Linling's eyes flickered. A close-quarters combat? Excellent! Her feet glowed, and the Dragon Step was activated again. Her body twisted at a bizarre angle, and she raised her surgical knife towards the sky. If Qiongqi landed its kick, it would surely be injured.
"Huh!"
Its reaction was quite fast. Qiongqi's wings moved again, and its feline body avoided the surgical knife, landing on the ground. In the first round, neither gained an advantage.
Ye Lingyuan stood aside, watching the fight between the human and the beast intently. He had been about to attack Qiongqi when he received a telepathic message from Zi Linling. Thus, the glowing net of five colors silently merged into the air.
Time ticked by, and Zi Linling's spiritual energy and body finally merged perfectly.
"Qiongqi, since you served as my sparring partner, I'll give you a chance to surrender. How about it?" Zi Linling looked at Qiongqi intently. Although she didn't lack beast companions, she had to tame Qiongqi.
"Roar~"
The answer was a beastly roar that shook the heavens and the earth. The ferocity of the ancient fierce beast Qiongqi was further ignited.
"Hmph!"
This is an insult to this beast! If I don't devour you today, I'm not Qiongqi!
Seeing its ferocity flare up, Zi Linling's smile instantly vanished.
"Since that's the case, I can only trouble you!"
"Scorching Flames! Burning Body! Fiery Prison!"
Zi Linling unleashed three spiritual skills in one breath. Blazing flames instantly ignited, rapidly closing in on Qiongqi.
A trace of disdain flickered in Qiongqi's eyes. With such meager power, you still dream of trapping this beast? It flapped its wings, its feline body rising again. Just as it was about to fly out of the flames' range, it suddenly felt a weight descend upon its head. A multi-colored net was cast from above, rapidly tightening. This net was none other than Ye Lingyuan's "Five Elements God Binding Net" that had been hidden in the air earlier.
Trapped by the net, Qiongqi instinctively struggled. But as it struggled, the "Five Elements God Binding Net" tightened further, and its wings lost balance. Then, its body rapidly plummeted into the sea of fire.
Zi Linling's mind stirred, and the sea of fire parted, creating an open space. Qiongqi crashed heavily onto the ground. At the same time, vines rapidly coiled around Qiongqi's body, forming the "Wood Spirit Cage." The "Wood Spirit Cage" and Ye Lingyuan's "Five Elements God Binding Net" worked in conjunction, binding Qiongqi tightly.
"You cheated!"
Qiongqi finally roared in anger.
Zi Linling smiled faintly and said, "Don't you know that all's fair in war?"
Qiongqi's struggles paused. That's right, all's fair in war! It had used this tactic many times when instigating arguments between others!
"What do you want?"
Zi Linling nodded at Ye Lingyuan, who slowly walked over and said coldly, "Qiongqi, don't you want to get out of here?"
Qiongqi asked, "Get out? How?"
Ye Lingyuan said, "We can take you out!"
Qiongqi scoffed, "Do you know what place this is?"
Ye Lingyuan nodded and said, "The Ghost Altar!"
Qiongqi was speechless, "Since you know, then how can we get out?"
Ye Lingyuan said faintly, "Surrender and acknowledge us as master!"
Qiongqi was stunned and chuckled mockingly, "So that's what you're after! If I become your master, will I still have any freedom?"
Zi Linling chuckled and said, "They say Qiongqi is cunning. It seems it's nothing more than that!"
"You're the cunning one!" Qiongqi glared at Zi Linling and said, "What do you mean?"
"What do I mean?" Zi Linling glanced at it faintly and said, "If I'm not mistaken, you've been trapped here for quite a few years, haven't you?"
Qiongqi remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
"You're trapped here, and haven't you lost your freedom just the same? Now that you acknowledge us as master, and we take you out, won't the outside world be far more free than here?"
Qiongqi was somewhat tempted. Zi Linling was right. It and its three brothers had been trapped here for tens of millions of years, and they had long lost their freedom. Although they were born immortal, this place was not as exciting as the outside world.
"Who knows what your intentions are?" Qiongqi, being inherently cunning, was also extremely vigilant.
Zi Linling said faintly, "We need to pass the trials, and you need freedom. It's merely a matter of mutual benefit, what intentions could there be?"
Qiongqi thought about it. Although it had food and drink every day here, it lived like a walking corpse. It would be better to go out. However, it wouldn't easily give itself away.
"Since that's the case, I agree to your terms, but I have two conditions."
"We're all ears!" Zi Linling exchanged another glance with Ye Lingyuan and said.
"First, I have three brothers, and we must take them with us! Second, we need sufficient freedom!"
Zi Linling smiled slightly and said, "Alright, but your three brothers must also surrender to us, otherwise, we cannot take them out." In truth, even if they didn't surrender, she could still take them out, as the Goddess's Shrine and the Seven-Colored Space both had that function. But why should she? Many things in this world require equivalent exchange; otherwise, things obtained too easily are difficult to cherish. Besides, she didn't want to reveal the Goddess's Shrine and the Seven-Colored Space, especially the Seven-Colored Space.
Qiongqi thought for a moment and said, "Alright!"