At first, everyone only saw an exquisite piece of fine clothing.
But they didn't see any sign of Chen Xi within the ornate garment.
It wasn't until the white mist slowly dissipated that everyone realized what appeared before them was not a dress, but a screen of blue and white, adorned with golden dragon patterns.
Immediately after, a pair of slender, fair hands gently lifted the screen.
The owner of these hands had skin like congealed fat, a delicate appearance, a face lightly powdered, and a beauty that could captivate. Her figure was as graceful as a willow in the wind, with nine fox tails trailing behind her, and white fox ears atop her head.
Qi Yu was momentarily bewildered.
Si Qing fell into doubt.
Just as An Nuo, utterly confused, pondered who this person before them might be, the fox tribe prisoner kneeling on the ground suddenly widened their eyes. Then, stumbling forward, they threw themselves to embrace the woman's legs, sobbing and crying.
A transparent energy barrier enveloped the fox woman and the fox prisoner, preventing Qi Yu from hearing their conversation. He could only see the fox prisoner weeping and writing on paper with tears streaming down their face, finally imprinting it with a handprint.
During this process, the fox prisoner began to emit wisps of spiritual energy, as if under some spell.
Finally, after the fox prisoner finished speaking, their body suddenly turned to dust and scattered, leaving only a few crystals on the ground.
At the same time, the energy barrier vanished instantly, and the fox tribe woman within transformed into a thoroughly embarrassed Chen Xi.
"...What's the deal with these crystals? And why was that fox tribe prisoner hugging you and crying so hard? What was he saying? Lord Chen Xi, what was going on with you just now?" Si Qing's eyes widened in shock, and he blurted out question after question.
While the others didn't ask, their faces were filled with curiosity.
"This is one of my heart techniques, named 'Judgment'," Chen Xi said, growing more embarrassed. "It's nothing much, really. It can transform into the person the target most cherishes, causing them to be entranced and unconsciously confess their past sins."
"After the confession, their three souls and seven spirits, spiritual cultivation, physical body, and memories of their misdeeds all transform into crystals of different colors."
Chen Xi said, spreading her hands. "These crystals can be disposed of separately. The three souls and seven spirits are sent to the underworld for judgment, while the spiritual cultivation and physical body can be consumed by oneself."
Yan Hua found it quite interesting. "Can it only transform into a lover?"
"No, the person most cherished includes, but is not limited to, lovers, parents, children, siblings, or even one's own spirit pets, flowers, and plants," Chen Xi said, turning her head away in embarrassment. "The fox tribe woman I transformed into just now was that fox tribe prisoner's mother."
Qi Yu stroked his chin. "This technique is interesting. The main reason the demon tribe faces so many restrictions is that some demon cultivators require human souls. This is a wicked technique, and despite the demon tribe prohibiting it several times, it can't be eradicated."
"I've been thinking, with so many prisoners needing severe judgment in the Three Realms every year, day after day, it's countless. If we processed them all with 'Judgment,' and then separated their three souls and seven spirits and spiritual cultivation, selling their souls to the demon tribe, wouldn't that be quite good?"
"But wouldn't that be inappropriate? Firstly, there's no way to process so many people with 'Judgment.' Even if we could, directly handling the prisoners' three souls and seven spirits ourselves, instead of sending them to the underworld, would be breaking the rules!" Chen Xi felt this approach wouldn't work.
Qi Yu waved his hand. "I've calculated it. There are many evildoers in the Three Realms. If each one were sent to the eighteen levels of hell, the underworld wouldn't be able to cope."
"Moreover, ever since my reincarnation ten thousand years ago, the underworld's punishment for these evildoers has been changed to them remaining in the eighteen levels of hell until they are utterly annihilated."
"Look, since they have to be dealt with anyway, what's the difference between being eaten as food or staying in the underworld until they are ashes?"
"As for the problem of 'Judgment' not being able to handle so many prisoners, I think that's also very simple."
As Qi Yu spoke, he closed his eyes and formed hand seals. Soon, countless identical clones materialized around them.
"I can use the 'Yan Zhen Mirror' to create clones, and then have the clones use the 'Judgment' technique to process those prisoners who have committed heinous crimes and are to be executed, on a large scale."
Qi Yu rubbed his hands together with anticipation. "Ah, then not only can we profit from the demon tribe, but we can also profit from other tribes in the Three Realms. And from a moral standpoint, these are all repeat offenders who are destined to be annihilated in hell. The underworld is currently overcrowded with souls, and there's already not enough space. They won't refuse; instead, they'll thank us."
"Also, the memory crystals of these repeat offenders' misdeeds can be displayed on water screens for the younglings in tribal schools to watch as a warning."
As Qi Yu spoke, he excitedly took out paper and pen, and in his speech, he analyzed dozens more ways to make money.
Chen Xi fell silent. After a while, she looked up at Yan Hua and asked a question from the bottom of her heart: "I've possessed this 'Judgment' technique for so many years, why have I never thought of using it to make money? Yan Hua, why do you think that is?"
Yan Hua pursed his lips. After a long pause, he comforted Chen Xi, "It's fine, you're not short of money anyway."
"Is this about being short of money or not?" Chen Xi put her hands on her hips. "The problem now is, I feel like I might be a bit stupid!"
Considering Qi Yu's age, even if you doubled it, it wouldn't be as old as him.
How could his mind be so full of strange ideas?
"Everyone knows this, so don't say it out loud," Yan Hua said, stroking Chen Xi's head with his dragon tail. "If you weren't stupid, you wouldn't have such a good technique and still foolishly keep it hidden."
Chen Xi felt it was truly heartbreaking and couldn't help but retort, "How is the 'Judgment' technique good? It's not good at all! When I used this technique before, if I didn't reveal my dragon horns and tail, people would think I was a succubus from the demon tribe, or a charm cultivator from the demon race!"
Qi Yu's expression became serious, as if he finally understood.
Si Qing also looked enlightened.
An Nuo and Shao Feng had been frowning tightly before.
Now, they finally understood why Chen Xi felt so shy and embarrassed when using this technique.
The dignified dragon race being mistaken for demons or devils because of such a technique...
Especially since Chen Xi's status within the dragon tribe was not low. If this happened to a junior, they would likely be ridiculed by their own kind.
After all, among the demon and devil tribes, succubi and charm cultivators were considered the lowest of races.
They were so insignificant they couldn't even appear in public.
This comparison was like a respectable young lady from a good human family being likened to a "stage performer from a brothel" – it was a form of mockery and humiliation.
"Who said that to you?" Yan Hua looked at Chen Xi. "When?"