Chapter 43: Testing the Waters

Under the dimming sky on Central Lake Island, Shangguan Qin gestured at Pang Jian and Luo Hongyan repeatedly as her face gradually filled with despair.

Her spirit seemed drained. Her posture and gaze exuded profound negativity.

At this moment, faint and eerie Spirit Devils appeared around the shores of Black Orchid Lake and silently drifted toward Central Lake Island.

When the Divine Spirit Pagoda was active and hovering above the island, it could hunt down the Spirit Devils that entered the vicinity of Central Lake Island.

Within a certain radius, the terrifying soul-targeting force emitted by the Divine Spirit Pagoda was too overwhelming for any Spirit Devil to withstand.

This was precisely why the Spirit Devils dared not reveal themselves until after the Divine Spirit Pagoda plummeted to the ground.

It was only after Pang Jian set foot on Central Lake Island, with the island's eerie sinking and the Divine Spirit Pagoda's ungraceful descent, that the Spirit Devils dared to come out of hiding.

Shortly after, the Spirit Devils spread out across the island, intentionally steering clear of the Divine Spirit Pagoda perched atop the small hill.

"As far as Shangguan Qin is concerned, the person in that deep hole can easily deal with us." Luo Hongyan pursed her lips. In her hand was a freshly bloomed red flower that she delicately plucked the petals off of one by one. She then said, "Shangguan Qin is like this flower. Her eyes are dull and her will to live is faltering.

"My hunch is that there's someone down in that deep hole whose heart has been devoured by the essence of the Celestial Phoenix, like Ouyang Duanhai." Luo Hongyan dropped the barren twig, now devoid of petals. Treading on the petals scattered on the ground, she pulled Pang Jian back and said, "Let's retreat for now. We'll follow her suggestion to not disturb whoever is lurking within the deep hole."

As Luo Hongyan forcefully pulled Pang Jian to descend from the small hill, he failed to notice that a Spirit Devil emerged from a flower near Shangguan Qin.

Whoosh!

Just as Pang Jian and Luo Hongyan turned around, they saw a servant loyal to He Rong running toward the Divine Spirit Pagoda.

When he was just a dozen steps away from the Divine Spirit Pagoda, the servant unexpectedly collapsed with a soft thud and never rose again.

A faint wisp of shadow emerged from his sea of consciousness on the top of his head and drifted toward a window on the highest floor of the white pagoda before vanishing from view.

Su Yuntian and He Rong had been vigilantly watching the servant. When they witnessed the servant collapse and his soul forcefully extracted, their expressions turned grim.

It was only then that they were convinced Luo Hongyan had not deceived them; the Divine Spirit Pagoda truly did have the power to extract souls.

With a cold sneer, Luo Hongyan said, "I warned you not to approach the white pagoda."

He Rong was already displeased with her from the beginning, and responded solemnly to her mockery, "We know nothing about the Divine Spirit Pagoda. How do we know whether you're telling the truth unless we test it ourselves?"

"Indeed, the best way to learn is through hardship. After all, it's not my people who are dying. Since you're so eager to test it, why not send a few more people over to try?" Luo Hongyan questioned, her lips curled into a sardonic smirk. Her gaze, filled with ill intent, swept over the loyal servants of the Su Clan and the He Clan.

Having seen their comrade's demise, the servants all instinctively averted their eyes. They were reluctant to meet the gazes of not only Luo Hongyan but also He Rong and Su Yuntian, fearing they would be tasked with probing the Divine Spirit Pagoda.

"Ning Yao, none of us know the mysteries of the Divine Spirit Pagoda. How do you know about it?" Su Yuntian asked curiously.

"Someone from the Star River Alliance took an interest in me and shared its secrets with me," Luo Hongyan lied, staring at the seemingly pristine white pagoda. She could sense the thick Profound Yin energy emanating from it.

She then said to Pang Jian, "At the lowest level of the Divine Spirit Pagoda, there should be an array laid out with spirit stones. It's used to fly the Divine Spirit Pagoda. At the highest level, there should be another array. I don't know what spirit materials were used to construct the array, but I do know that it's the reason the Divine Spirit Pagoda can extract souls.

"The person in that deep hole is currently occupied and probably hasn't even noticed that the Divine Spirit Pagoda has fallen. We should destroy the array that poses the greatest threat to us before he leaves the deep hole. Once they do, we have no way of knowing whether they regain control of the Divine Spirit Pagoda and ascend into the sky."

Pang Jian nodded, "True. Even Shangguan Qin doesn't dare to make any sound that could disturb him."

"Shangguan Qin!"

"She's also on this island?"

Su Yuntian and He Rong hurriedly inquired, preparing to make their way toward the peak of the small hill to verify for themselves.

Luo Hongyan calmly explained, "She gestured for us to leave the island. Next to her was a deep hole created by the bone of the Celestial Phoenix piercing the ground. Within that deep hole, someone may have absorbed the essence of the Celestial Phoenix and transformed into a Divine Guard. This individual could be even more formidable than Ouyang Duanhai, and Shangguan Qin believes that venturing there would only lead to our demise."

Despite Luo Hongyan's explanation, Su Yuntian and He Rong still decided to head to the peak of the small hill to confirm the situation for themselves.

There, they also saw Shangguan Qin. Beside the deep hole, Shangguan Qin was gesturing frantically for them to leave.

Luo Hongyan's eyes flickered with uncertainty as she said, "Pang Jian, I cannot approach the Divine Spirit Pagoda. Anyone who gets close will perish. I don't know why, but I have a feeling that you can approach the Divine Spirit Pagoda without dying. If you can get close to the array that can extract souls and break it with your Dragonwood Spear, it will stop functioning."

Luo Hongyan's eyes were filled with expectation as she looked at Pang Jian.

Pang Jian pointed at himself in surprise. "Me?"

Luo Hongyan nodded seriously as she coaxed, "The lowest floor of the white pagoda should hold many spirit stones. The spirit materials used to construct the array also hold immense value."

Pang Jian shook his head and said, "I'm not going."

Having seen how the He Clan's servant died, fear had rooted itself in Pang Jian's heart. He was reluctant to approach it recklessly.

Luo Hongyan felt a surge of frustration in her heart as she glared at Pang Jian's chest.

With that miraculous bronze pendant and your body tempered by the essence of the Celestial Phoenix, your soul will stay tethered to your body,

she wanted to say those words aloud.

However, she was acutely aware that uttering those words would reveal her true identity. Thus, she forcefully suppressed the urge to spill them.

Seeing that she could not persuade Pang Jian, Luo Hongyan sighed and walked toward the Divine Spirit Pagoda. "Forget about it. I'll try it on my own."

As she approached the white pagoda, Pang Jian could not help but notice that the Profound Yin energy radiating from the Divine Spirit Pagoda had significantly intensified.

Inside Ning Yao's sea of consciousness, Luo Hongyan's enchanting red figure suddenly shone with a bright red light, alarming Ning Yao.

Boom!

The red figure within Ning Yao's sea of consciousness showed signs of being pulled by the Divine Spirit Pagoda, causing it to sway.

At the same time, Ning Yao sensed that the force restricting her had weakened.

The restriction Luo Hongyan placed on her was also being pulled by the Divine Spirit Pagoda and seemed to be on the verge of collapsing.

Ning Yao yearned for her freedom, and this change caused her to stir with excitement.

"Hehe, if I were sucked away by the Divine Spirit Pagoda, do you really think you'd survive?" Luo Hongyan chuckled softly. "Before setting foot here, I had no idea that the white pagoda would fall onto the island. I dared to come because I believed that as long as I didn't enter the white pagoda, I could stabilize my soul within your body.

"But even if I were sucked into the Divine Spirit Pagoda, wouldn't your fragile soul be torn apart in an instant?" Ning Yao's excitement was instantly doused by Luo Hongyan's words like a bucket of cold water over a fire.

In front of the white pagoda, Luo Hongyan abruptly turned around. Two streaks of blood trickled from her nose as she fiercely resisted the white pagoda's attempt to extract her soul.

Terror and despair flashed in her eyes as she extended her hands toward Pang Jian, like a drowning person grasping at their last shred of hope. Her once pretty face was drained of color as she screamed, "Pang Jian, save me! Quickly pull me back, pull me from the Divine Spirit Pagoda!"

She felt as if she were being consumed by a terrifying, malevolent force, utterly powerless to break free from its grip. All she could do was desperately scream and plead for Pang Jian's assistance.

Su Yuntian, He Rong, and everyone else present were all deeply shaken. A chill ran down their spines.

Luo Hongyan had long passed the lifeless body of the He Clan's servant and stood a mere ten steps away from the Divine Spirit Pagoda!

"Stay away from the Divine Spirit Pagoda!" He Rong ordered. Not only did he have no intention of rescuing Luo Hongyan, but he also ordered all those loyal to him to keep further distance from the ominous Divine Spirit Pagoda.

"Father!" Su Meng screamed in panic.

Su Yuntian calmly shook his head with a stern expression on his face. "Both of us, like her, are merely in the Meridian Opening Realm. If she cannot endure it, then neither can we. Let's not do anything foolish!"

Seeing the pained expression on Su Meng's face, Su Yuntian feared she would act impulsively and quickly reached out to grab hold of her arm.

Restrained by Su Yuntian, Su Meng could only stare helplessly at Luo Hongyan, heart filled with concern but unable to offer any assistance.

"You sought death on your own. Why drag me into this?" Pang Jian said, his voice laced with anger and troubled expression. However, as he said this, he took a step toward Luo Hongyan.

He took one step, followed by a second, then a third.

Pang Jian showed no signs of discomfort whatsoever!

Su Meng's vision blurred, and when it cleared, Pang Jian had already reached Luo Hongyan's side.

Pang Jian did not hesitate. He firmly grasped Luo Hongyan's slender waist and swiftly withdrew.

"Brother...Brother Pang!"

Su Meng wriggled excitedly in her father's grasp. Her round face resembled a ripe apple, flushed red with excitement as she shouted and cheered.

He Rong, Su Yuntian, and their servants all watched with stupefied eyes.

Pang Jian's soul did not leave his body. It had not been absorbed by the Divine Spirit Pagoda.

Clasped tightly in his arms, Luo Hongyan looked up at him awkwardly, eyes shining with a peculiar brilliance.

In Ning Yao's sea of consciousness, Luo Hongyan let out a triumphant giggle.

Only Ning Yao could hear this laughter that brimmed with joy and happiness.

Swoosh!

Pang Jian returned in the blink of an eye. He steadied Luo Hongyan before placing her back on the ground. His sharply defined features were etched with coldness and impatience as he icily remarked, "The next time you seek death, don't bother asking me for help."

Luo Hongyan's face was pale, seemingly quite shaken from the experience. She casually wiped away the traces of blood beneath her delicate, straight nose. Using her bright, star-like eyes, she gazed at Pang Jian's face without saying a word.

She completely ignored Su Yuntian, He Rong, and their servants. It was like they were invisible.

Noticing Pang Jian's discomfort under her gaze, Luo Hongyan said in a gentle voice, "Aren't you fine? My intuition was right. You aren't affected by the Divine Spirit Pagoda at all."

Pang Jian stayed silent. He had not experienced any discomfort at all, nor did he feel any sensation of malevolent force pulling at his soul.