Ling Zhou nodded. "You're right. With the master - disciple mark as proof, there's no mistake."
Once the master - disciple contract was established, the mark would be imprinted in the sea of consciousness. Even though Ling Zhou was now just a soul body, the master - disciple mark between him and Shen Qing still remained.
True Lord Honghua wore a pained expression and couldn't help but let out a sigh. "You and True Lord Hengling are really destined enemies for life..."
Hearing True Lord Honghua mention True Lord Hengling, Ling Zhou fell silent.
After a moment, True Lord Honghua finally gave in. "Although Shen Qing is a disciple of the Qingyun Sword Sect, she's also your disciple. Since you, her master, have allowed it, what else can I say?"
Hearing this, Ling Zhou bared his teeth and smiled. "Thank you, Uncle - Master. You're so kind."
True Lord Honghua couldn't help but laugh, and his eyes grew hot again.
Back then, when Hengling and Ling Zhou's master perished, he was entrusted with the two of them. But over the years, it seemed that he hadn't fulfilled his promise well.
Hengling had gone astray as he grew up, and now Ling Zhou was just a soul body.
He felt so guilty!
Seeing the guilt and disappointment in True Lord Honghua's eyes, Ling Zhou quickly comforted him. "Uncle - Master, it's not your fault. Everyone has their own fate. Don't blame yourself."
True Lord Honghua shook his head and then nodded. He looked at Ling Zhou with relief and shifted his attention to Shen Qing.
Meanwhile, True Lord Red Butterfly was frantically sending messages to Yao Yue with a sound - transmitting jade pendant. However, Yao Yue, who was still working hard, threw the constantly vibrating jade pendant into her storage bag and didn't notice True Lord Red Butterfly's messages at all.
Li Xian maintained the hand - seal posture. He had to keep casting the spell to ensure that Ji Chongming's soul wouldn't return to his body. So when he saw Shen Qing get injured, he could only feel anxious and couldn't go to help.
But he believed in Shen Qing. She would surely succeed.
Out of the corner of her eye, Shen Qing saw three annoying people waking up and about to cause trouble. She shouted at Hong Chaoyang, "Chaoyang, I'll handle things from now on. You guard for me. Make sure no fools come to disturb me!"
Although Hong Chaoyang was worried about Shen Qing, he still did as she said and clearly blocked Pei Xuanjing, He Yu, and Shen Chuyun.
After Ji Chongming's soul left his body, he was initially confused about what was going on. But when he saw Shen Qing trying to force the Soul - Locking Banner to recognize her as its master, he couldn't help but laugh.
He floated beside Shen Qing and gloated, "Do you think you can make the Soul - Locking Banner recognize you as its master?!"
"Don't overestimate yourself. Look, your palm has been corroded by the demonic qi and has turned as black as coal!"
"Shen Qing, aren't you scared? To be honest, I'm quite looking forward to seeing you being corroded by the demonic qi of the Soul - Locking Banner and then degenerating into a demonic cultivator. By then, the Nine Wastelands Continent won't tolerate you, and you'll have to go to the Demon Realm with me."
"At that time, I'll surely torture you severely and reward you to the demon soldiers. I'll make your life a living hell to avenge my Xiaobai!"
Ji Chongming constantly disrupted Shen Qing's state of mind and stared intently as the demonic qi slowly spread to her forearm.
The burning pain from the demonic qi was one thing, but what was even more difficult for Shen Qing to handle was the resentment of the countless wronged souls in the Soul - Locking Banner. That resentment turned into a cold chill, corroding her body, and the desperate emotions affected her heart.
Shen Qing knew that if she gave in, she would be absorbed by the Soul - Locking Banner and become one of the countless wronged souls. So she couldn't let go.
Big beads of sweat rolled down Shen Qing's forehead. Seeing Shen Qing's hand trembling, a glint of pleasure flashed in Ji Chongming's eyes. He kept spitting out threats and disgusting words, hoping to disrupt Shen Qing's state of mind.
Affected by the resentment, Shen Qing's mind involuntarily recalled all the sad things she had experienced.
Whether it was from her past life or a dream, the faces of those who had made her fall into despair appeared before her eyes one by one. Shen Qing bit her tongue to keep herself awake.
The disciples on the side knew they couldn't help much and could only look on anxiously, holding their breath and hoping that Shen Qing would succeed.
Seeing that Shen Qing seemed to be on the verge of collapse, Pei Xuanjing shouted, "Shen Qing, don't be so stubborn. If you continue like this, you'll die!"
He Yu also shouted, "Yes, Senior Brother is right. Shen Qing, why do you have to do this?"
Hong Chaoyang's eyes blazed with anger. No wonder Shen Qing had asked him to specifically stop these people.
Knowing that Shen Qing was in a difficult situation, these people not only didn't encourage her but also boosted the enemy's morale and dampened their own.
It was so infuriating!
So Hong Chaoyang calmly raised his hand and slapped Pei Xuanjing and He Yu each.
The crisp sound of the slaps attracted the attention of all the disciples.
He Yu's face darkened. He stiffened his neck and angrily said, "What are you doing? We're worried about Shen Qing. Why did you hit us?"
Hong Chaoyang sneered, his eyes full of indignation for Shen Qing. "I finally understand why Shen Qing has always disliked you. Everyone else knows that at this time, they shouldn't disrupt Shen Qing's state of mind and had better not speak easily. But you're different. You assumed from the start that Shen Qing would fail."
"What do you take Shen Qing for?"
The other disciples all showed blame and looked at them unhappily, as if they were looking at ignorant children.
Pei Xuanjing and He Yu's faces turned bright red.
They never expected that what they thought was kindness and concern for Shen Qing was just a disturbance in others' eyes.
Hong Chaoyang looked at Shen Chuyun unhappily and half - threatened, "What about you? You're not that stupid, are you?"
Shen Chuyun shook her head fearfully. "I won't say a word. Not a single one."
Hong Chaoyang nodded in satisfaction. "Finally, there's someone not so stupid."
Seeing what Hong Chaoyang had done for her, a pleased smile appeared on Shen Qing's lips.
Ji Chongming couldn't stand seeing Shen Qing looking so in control. At this point, why could she still smile!
"Shen Qing! What on earth are you so proud of? Does stealing someone else's thing make you so happy? How can you be so shameless!"
Facing Ji Chongming's malicious words, Shen Qing just hooked her lips into a smile. "Steal?"
"Call it and see if it answers you."
Ji Chongming's face changed, and he stubbornly said, "The Soul - Locking Banner is a precious treasure of the Demon Realm. It was originally mine!"
Shen Qing showed a sarcastic expression. "Do you think you can deceive everyone? The Soul - Locking Banner has never recognized you as its master. If it hasn't recognized a master, how can it be stealing?"
Ji Chongming lost his temper, and his face began to contort. "Shen Qing, you're talking nonsense!"
"Just a raging loser."
"Shen Qing!"
Xue Ling couldn't stand it anymore and slapped Shen Qing on the shoulder.
A warm spiritual energy spread through Shen Qing's body, and her increasingly heavy body became a bit lighter.
"Why are you talking so much to this crow demon? Let me give you a hand and take down this ugly - looking crow demon!"