I Can Extract Divine Power

A mocking glint appeared in Shen Bai’s eyes. "Senior," he said, "don’t you think all of this has gone a bit too smoothly for me?"

When he said this, the Ruo Shui City Lord remained silent.

Shen Bai continued, "If I had attacked the Courtesan back then, would I have destroyed the Ten Thousand Flowers Building, or everything else here?"

"Or even this Deceitful Object right in front of me."

The Ruo Shui City Lord’s expression was calm. "Go on," she said.

Shen Bai said slowly, "You see, what if you were the one in the coffin, Senior? What if you were actually a subordinate of the mastermind, and that bead was the key to releasing your Seal? I would have been in a terrible predicament, wouldn’t I?"

The Ruo Shui City Lord sighed. "How did you figure it out?"

"That’s not for you to worry about, Senior," Shen Bai said, shaking his head.

’How did I figure it out?’

’If that Luminous Pearl was a Deceitful Object, my Golden Finger would have shown me its Information long ago.’

’But I can’t see any Information. That proves this Luminous Pearl isn’t a Deceitful Object; it’s just been made to imitate the aura of one.’

’The Ruo Shui City Lord is a master of Illusion Techniques. Faking an aura like this would be child’s play for her.’

’In fact, nothing I’m seeing right now could possibly be real.’

A look of admiration appeared in the Ruo Shui City Lord’s eyes. "Your power is peerless among the younger generation, and your cunning is equally formidable. A person like you would have been a rare sight, even back in the days of the Daqi Divine Dynasty."

"A pity. So what if you’ve seen through it? In the end, it’s all just smoke and mirrors."

Shen Bai said, "I didn’t expect you to admit it so readily, Senior."

The Ruo Shui City Lord sneered. "I’ve lived for far too long to see the point in quibbling."

"So, you really are a subordinate of the mastermind, Senior?" Shen Bai asked.

The Ruo Shui City Lord nodded. "That’s right. But much of what I told you was true. We have only one mission: to plunge Ten Thousand Cities into ever-greater chaos. We have no other memories."

"Sigh... It’s laughable, really. I actually grew afraid of death back then and ultimately surrendered to them."

"This place is my prison. I was sealed here by someone of equal power, with the coffin as the focal point of the Seal."

"Help me break free, and I will help you reach the absolute peak. I can give you anything you desire."

Deception had failed, so the Ruo Shui City Lord resorted to temptation.

Shen Bai laughed. "The same old story. If I refuse, are you going to threaten me like the Courtesan did, Senior?"

"If you were able to act, I’d already be dead. All this would be unnecessary."

He was right.

If Shen Bai were in her shoes, he would have simply captured his target and forced them to undo the Seal.

Why go through all the trouble of setting up layer after layer of deception?

The Ruo Shui City Lord said, "You’re right. But do you really intend to stay here and keep watch with me in this lightless abyss forever?"

"This is the Flowing Water Thousand Machines Cultivation Technique. Everything you see is false."

"Your very next step could be the one that undoes my Seal."

"Flowing water never stagnates, and illusions are Immortal."

As she finished speaking, the world before his eyes transformed.

The classical Ten Thousand Flowers Building vanished. The underground floor disappeared. The magnificent, sprawling Ruo Shui City was reduced to ruins.

The landscape was a desolate expanse of scorched earth and endless, crumbling ruins.

Layer upon layer of fog emerged, obscuring everything. Even the Ruo Shui City Lord’s figure was gone.

"You had best be careful."

"Take one wrong step, and this illusion will turn deadly. And I will emerge from it."

"I’ll say it again: if you agree to my terms, I will help you ascend to the very peak."

"The entire world will be yours to roam."

Hearing the voice echo around him, Shen Bai shook his head. "I don’t like being threatened."

"Then you can stay here and keep me company," the Ruo Shui City Lord’s voice said slowly. "Silent eons, endless ruins, a life of solitude... How long can you endure?"

"Time is the greatest torture of all."

Shen Bai looked at the fog before him and took a step forward.

The Ruo Shui City Lord’s voice cut off abruptly.

The surrounding fog churned violently, and vast swathes of it began to dissipate at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The Luminous Pearl, the coffin, and the Ruo Shui City Lord all reappeared around Shen Bai.

The Ruo Shui City Lord said in disbelief, "How dare you move about so recklessly?"

Shen Bai smiled. "City Lord, your Illusion Technique has long been suppressed to its limits. Even back in the Ten Thousand Flowers Building, you needed the Courtesan to resort to all sorts of enticements."

"How could it possibly be so powerful now that a single misstep would be dangerous? That’s impossible."

The Ruo Shui City Lord fell silent.

Shen Bai strode toward the river.

"When I return, I will end you with my own hands."

Having said his piece, Shen Bai prepared to leave.

There was no point in staying. It wouldn’t solve the problem and would only create more trouble for him.

That being the case, he was better off leaving now and coming up with another plan.

Besides, the Ruo Shui City Lord was stuck here; it wasn’t like she could run.

If all else failed, Shen Bai could report this to his superiors, and the Saint Martial Emperor would surely dispatch a sufficiently powerful expert to handle it.

The Ruo Shui City Lord gritted her teeth. "You have just thrown away the opportunity of a lifetime."

Shen Bai glanced back. "No, I think I’ve learned quite a lot. For one, knowing that the Era of Ten Thousand Cities had cowards like you who feared death so much certainly lowers my opinion of that age."

"I was merely trying to survive," the Ruo Shui City Lord said.

Shen Bai waved a dismissive hand. "Survive? Forget it. There’s no point in talking about this any further. We’ll see each other again."

He looked forward to his next visit, when he would resolve the trouble here.

The Ruo Shui City Lord watched Shen Bai’s retreating back with cold eyes, saying nothing.

In truth, she was completely powerless to stop him.