Bai Zhixi stared blankly at the youth dressed in black robes, his features strikingly handsome.
Eventually, a faint blush actually spread across her pretty face as she inwardly scorned, "Pah,果然 (just as expected) villains really do have deceivingly charming looks."
"The Nine-Tailed Clan, with their innate talent for spatial manipulation. It seems your status within the clan isn't low."
Ling Xiao's expression was warm, his tone laced with gentleness.
In the current Holy State, the Holy Church reigned supreme, commanding all human forces.
Meanwhile, the demon tribes occupied their own territories and had always been united.
However, humans and demons walked different paths, and conflicts between the two races had existed since ancient times.
This Bai Zhixi was young, yet her talent was exceptionally fearsome.
If utilized well, she would undoubtedly become a significant asset in the future.
Of course, Ling Xiao admitted he had a bit of a desire for... nurturing a young maiden.
After all, such a pretty little loli, and a kind-hearted little fox at that—killing her would truly be a shame.
The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Clan, even when considering the entire Holy State, were the most alluring race.
This clan possessed not only the innate seductive charm of fox spirits but also a proud nature. Conquering one would offer a uniquely satisfying experience.
Although this young girl before him was still tender, her allure not yet fully bloomened.
But likely within five years, she would undoubtedly become a existence capable of captivating entire regions of the Holy State.
My little... childhood friend? Meeting me can only be... your misfortune.
"Bad person... you... don't come any closer."
Bai Zhixi covered her chest with both hands, a look of fear on her face.
Back in Qingfeng City, she had already witnessed Ling Xiao's terrifying nature.
And now, this devil had right before her eyes slain a mighty Illusion-Breaking Realm expert.
At this moment, Bai Zhixi had completely abandoned any thought of escape.
Actually, she was rather underestimating herself.
With her innate mastery of Void Dao Principles, Ling Xiao would have been utterly unable to do anything to her had he not revealed his Heavenly Demon True Body.
If the situation hadn't been so critical earlier, Ling Xiao would never have dared to release his demonic intent.
Fortunately, gaining that strand of Sword Dao Origin made the risk worthwhile.
However...
Since this little girl had witnessed him using his demonic form, he absolutely couldn't let her leave so easily.
Otherwise, once she returned to her clan and spoke of today's events, Ling Xiao's fate would likely become exceedingly miserable.
Although the demon tribes and the Holy Church were at odds, over the past few years, Ling Xiao had heard of many powerful demons submitting to the Holy Church.
So, to be safe...
"Why was that Blood Temple expert chasing you?"
Ling Xiao walked up to Bai Zhixi, positioning himself to prevent her from using her spatial talent to escape.
"How should I know... Probably sent by the Grey Wolf Clan."
Bai Zhixi initially wanted to put on a cold and haughty front, but there was no one else around right now. If she angered this great demon again, she would surely suffer.
"The Grey Wolf Clan?"
Ling Xiao frowned, a contemplative glint flashing in his eyes.
Probably not.
Although the Grey Wolf Clan was also a royal demon clan, their influence was roughly on par with the Nine-Tailed Clan.
Even if they sent experts, it shouldn't involve alarming the Blood Soul Temple.
Moreover, one sentence from the white-clothed swordsman earlier had greatly confused Ling Xiao.
'So you are the one the Holy Elder spoke of?'
Who was the Holy Elder?
Why was he the one mentioned?
What did he say about him?
All of this gave Ling Xiao a sense of inexplicable crisis.
Furthermore, when Ling Xiao fused with the swordsman's soul earlier, he discovered his memories had been sealed.
With Ling Xiao's current means, he was utterly unable to break the seal.
What did this mean?
It meant this Blood Temple expert's purpose was definitely not mere assassination.
He must have had another objective.
"It seems I need to be more careful," Ling Xiao sighed inwardly, turning his gaze back to Bai Zhixi.
"Open your mind. Don't resist me."
"What do you want to do? Bad person... Don't even think about it..."
Bai Zhixi immediately grew tense, her pink eyes filled with indignity.
"I'll give you two choices. Either die, or open your mind. I will only erase the memories from moments ago. I won't do anything else to you."
Seeing the little girl's strong resistance, Ling Xiao had no choice but to use a mix of threat and promise.
"You... You promise?"
At this moment, Bai Zhixi didn't doubt in the slightest that Ling Xiao would kill her.
This guy's ruthlessness far surpassed that of the Grey Wolf Clan.
"Of course. With my status, would I lie to a mere little girl like you?"
A warm smile spread across Ling Xiao's face, making him look exactly like a bad uncle trying to lure a little girl with candy.
"Then... Then swear it on your Dao Heart."
Bai Zhixi, after all, was just a young girl who actually believed in the power of oaths.
If oaths were truly effective, wouldn't all the men in the world be dead by now?
"Hmph, should I break this oath, may I be a demon for eternity," Ling Xiao coldly snorted.
Bai Zhixi, however, widened her large eyes, lost in thought for a long while.
Why did this oath feel somewhat... off?
But finally, under Ling Xiao's slightly threatening gaze, she very reluctantly opened her mind.
After all, survival was paramount!
It was just erasing a segment of memory. She didn't want to remember this big scoundrel anyway!
Looking at Bai Zhixi before him, eyes tightly shut, pouting and clearly unhappy, a sinister smile instantly appeared on Ling Xiao's face.
"Ancient Soul-Snatching Art!"
"Hum."
Bai Zhixi only felt a wisp of soul force drift into her sea of consciousness. Immediately after, her entire person sank into boundless darkness.
"Forget what just happened. Remember, Ling Xiao is the man you love most in this life. Your entire existence is to be devoted to him. Your body and soul belong to him."
A voice suddenly echoed in the darkness, seemingly imbued with magic, deeply engraving itself into Bai Zhixi's heart and mind.
"Ling Xiao is the one I love most. My body and soul belong to him. I must dedicate everything to him."
Bai Zhixi stared vacantly into the distance, her eyes empty, continuously repeating these words.
It was only after a good while that she snapped out of that bizarre state.
Ling Xiao looked satisfied at the Nine-Tailed Clan heavenly maiden before him.
The technique he had just employed wasn't mere soul-snatching.
It was something higher—Soul Imprinting.
This method, similar to hypnosis, directly imprinted commands into the host's subconscious, creating an instinct.
Moreover, it was not easily detected.
Given the Nine-Tailed Fox King's strength, if Ling Xiao had used a simple soul-snatching technique on this girl, she would likely have noticed something amiss.
After all, after mental trauma, a person's behavior and emotions would show some changes.
But Soul Imprinting wouldn't.
Although this method couldn't completely control the host like soul-snatching, and even preserved the host's original consciousness and thoughts...
It was far more interesting, and moreover, it didn't affect the host's cultivation.
A puppet, of course, needed the most genuine reactions to be stimulating.
Otherwise, one might as well just buy an inflatable doll.
"You!! You're that Ling Xiao!! What are you doing here!!!"
The daze in Bai Zhixi's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a panicked shriek upon seeing Ling Xiao.
"I... Where am I?"
Simultaneously, she looked somewhat confusedly at the mountain stream surrounding them, especially the hundred-mile-long chasms scarring the ground, which left her utterly bewildered.
"What... What did you do to me?!"