A divine light descended from the sky, enshrouding Zi Linling and Bai Ze.
The light flowed, transforming through nine colors of silver, gold, red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple. Two symbols rose from the bodies of the human and the beast.
The symbols quickly exchanged and merged, then rapidly separated, returning to the human and the beast respectively.
Along with them, the two drops of vital blood in the air also separated and returned to their respective bodies.
A ethereal voice sounded, "The light of protection has been bestowed. The contract of living and dying together is complete!"
Then, the voice dissipated, the light receded, and a faint connection was formed between Zi Linling and Bai Ze. Su Dan Novel Network.
The Tree of Life also reverted to its original form.
"Ye Lingyuan, let's go!"
Zi Linling greeted Ye Lingyuan, then mentally contacted the spring of life on the second level of the Seven-Colored Space.
The two felt their surroundings shift and found themselves back on the twenty-ninth step.
Zi Linling nodded at Ye Lingyuan and silently thought, "Enter!"
They then entered the Seven-Colored Space.
So beautiful!
Zi Linling gasped in admiration at the beautiful scenery before her.
What met her eyes was a peaceful, idyllic paradise.
The Tree of Life stood tall and proud in the now dry Lake of Life, reaching into the clouds.
The Stairway to Heaven floated high in the air above the paradise, appearing incredibly mysterious.
The entire Seven-Colored Space exuded vibrant vitality.
Even the white mist on the Stairway to Heaven was laced with a deep green.
Though entranced, Zi Linling dared not linger.
After all, many more hard battles lay ahead.
Therefore, after confirming that the paradise and the Tree of Life had indeed been collected within, she retreated to the Altar of Resentful Spirits.
Ye Lingyuan blinked in surprise.
Zi Linling had vanished and reappeared in the blink of an eye.
If Zi Linling hadn't greeted him beforehand, he would have suspected she had never left.
Of course, this was related to the functions of the Seven-Colored Space itself.
Before Zi Linling could even greet Ye Lingyuan, the altar spirit's icy voice rang out.
"Where is the item?"
Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan exchanged glances. Zi Linling said nonchalantly, "What item?"
The altar spirit retorted, "Don't try to fool me. Since you've returned here, it means you've completed the fourth trial."
Zi Linling casually replied, "Then please open the fifth trial!"
"Hmph! Didn't I say before that after completing the fourth trial, the best treasure must be handed over, and the rest will be divided equally?"
Zi Linling stated calmly, "We did obtain some treasures, but as for the 'best' you mentioned... there isn't one!"
The altar spirit's voice turned cold, "Hmph! Do you intend to break the rules?"
Zi Linling patted her chest and sneered, "How could I? I just don't know, what constitutes 'best'?"
"Naturally, it's the most precious, the rarest, the most difficult to obtain, and the most valuable!"
A glint flashed in Zi Linling's eyes. "So, this item is indeterminate, is that right?"
"Not entirely! How about this, you still take out all the items you obtained and let me judge them."
Just then, Ye Lingyuan moved closer to Zi Linling and took her hand.
Zi Linling was startled. Just as she was about to withdraw her hand, she felt Ye Lingyuan's fingers tracing patterns on her palm.
"You're attracting it. This king needs time!"
Zi Linling understood. Ye Lingyuan must have discovered something.
She subtly patted Ye Lingyuan's hand, then said to the air, "Is that so... Alright!"
As Zi Linling spoke, she took out a few medicinal herbs from her embrace and reluctantly handed them over, saying, "This is all."
Then, she felt a gaze fixed on the herbs in her hand.
And then, the altar spirit's icy voice was tinged with anger, "Are you playing tricks on me?"
Zi Linling said calmly, "How dare I! This is all we've gained this time."
"I don't believe you!"
"Believe it or not!"
Zi Linling appeared utterly unfazed.
"Hmph! If my master hadn't stripped me of my monitoring capabilities for certain areas when he left, do you think your actions would have escaped my sight?"
Zi Linling blinked in surprise.
Did the altar spirit mean...
That the altar spirit knew nothing of what she and Ye Lingyuan had experienced in the paradise?
If so, she had even less reason to relent.
"I told you, this is all we've gained!"
"I told you, I don't believe you, so I've decided... to search your soul!"
Soul searching, which means forcibly accessing a person's memories, could turn the searched individual into an imbecile with the slightest mistake.
"Soul searching?"
Zi Linling's expression turned cold. "You're merely an artifact spirit, essentially a guard dog. You dare to attempt soul searching on me? You are NOT WORTHY!"
"You... You actually insulted me?"
Zi Linling said coldly, "Insulted? Even if I did!"
"You... Very well! Hoarding a supreme treasure and insulting me. In tens of millions of years, you are the first!"
Zi Linling sneered, "Idiot! Do you know why your master stripped you of your monitoring capabilities for certain areas when he left?"
"This..."
Zi Linling said sternly, "It's because certain things did not wish for you to know, or could not allow you to know."
"You foolish creature, you're even using the guise of trials to covet the items he left behind. Do you think your master would destroy you if he knew?"
"This..."
"So, I said you're nothing but a guard dog left by your master. Was I wrong to insult you?"
The altar spirit fell silent instantly.
"Heh heh! You're quite sharp-tongued, managing to silence the altar spirit!"
That sinister voice echoed again, "He's not worthy, but am I?"
Zi Linling's eyes flickered with sharp light. She said coldly, "You? You have the nerve to ask? You're merely a conscript captured by the altar's master!"
"I presume your master only intended for you to assist the altar spirit in managing the altar? But you, you've turned against guests and become accomplices with the altar spirit. Truly a betrayal of your master's trust?"
In the Vermilion Bird Space, the white-haired man chuckled sinisterly, "Calling you sharp-tongued is no exaggeration. Regardless, I am now in charge of the altar, so you must abide by my rules!"
Zi Linling sneered, "A joke! Your rules? Aren't they merely an excuse for your greed?"
"I believe you deliberately sent us to the fourth trial precisely for a treasure left by the altar's master?"
"However, you are destined to be disappointed! Apart from these herbs, we truly obtained nothing else."
"Is that so?"
The sinister voice became even more chilling, "Since you refuse to tell the truth, then..."