Bai Ran frowned, deep in thought.
If she were to actively switch bodies, she would need to offer her soul to the Soul Controlling Flute and use it to manipulate her soul for transfer.
Even if she switched bodies, her soul would still be incomplete. Bai Ran chuckled, "It seems I still need Baili Xiao's help."
The day Baili Xiao personally killed her would be the day their bodies were swapped.
"Should we set a trap?" Long Jinhan asked, looking at Bai Ran.
If things continued so smoothly within the allotted time, Baili Xiao might not follow her plan to attack the little girl as expected.
Bai Ran nodded, "Perhaps we should."
Given Baili Xiao's nature, how could he put himself in a death trap?
Unless there was some immense hatred or misunderstanding that forced Baili Xiao to treat her as an enemy...
Long Jinhan's lips curved, and a well-formed plan took shape in his mind.
"Girl, how about we try that method..."
He leaned in and whispered into Bai Ran's ear, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
Long Jinhan's plan was simple: to make Baili Xiao consume the Illusory Grass poison.
The Illusory Grass poison had appeared in the lower realm before, it was the poison consumed by Zhao Kang in the military camp when they were saving her grandfather.
A small dose of Illusory Grass poison could drastically alter one's temperament.
Even someone as gentle and aloof as Baili Xiao, a flower on a high mountain, would transform into a cruel and bloodthirsty madman overnight.
Furthermore, Bai Ran could cure the poison, instantly restoring Baili Xiao's sanity.
"I only need to administer the antidote at the moment he tries to kill me..."
Bai Ran rubbed her chin, "It is indeed feasible."
However, there was no need to rush. The body swap could be done slowly.
Baili Xiao's condition had just stabilized. Further stimulating him with the Illusory Grass poison might cause him to recall everything he had forgotten.
After finalizing the plan, Long Jinhan left the two bodies behind.
The Divine Realm would surely be aware that the demon race had abducted the corpses and would spare no effort to retrieve them. Keeping them in Bai Ran's space was the safest option.
Long Jinhan departed, and the soundproofing barrier in the room was lifted, replaced by the chirping sounds from the courtyard.
"I told you it was poisonous! Why did you touch it directly with your hand!"
Zhuque, furious, landed a punch on Jiang Ye's head. "Now look! It's swollen like a pig's trotters!"
Jiang Ye held up his right hand, which had swollen to a bruised purple, several times its normal size.
He was on the verge of tears. Who knew the Squeaking Worm's poison was so potent? Just touching it had caused this much damage.
In the courtyard, the Squeaking Worm, chopped into pieces, lay on the ground, its sticky mud soiling the courtyard.
Jiang Ye had simply wanted to clean it for them when he was poisoned.
"You're irredeemably stupid!" Zhuque stood with her hands on her hips, gnashing her teeth in anger.
The toxin spread rapidly, and soon the bruised purple began to creep towards Jiang Ye's neck.
Zhuque cursed as she bled him, trying to slow the spread of the poison. "We can only wait for Master to come out."
Bai Ran leaned against the door, clearly hearing their conversation.
Her palm moved slightly, and she released Bai Hu from her space. "Can you cure the poison of this Squeaking Worm?"
Bai Hu bowed slightly, extremely obedient. "Replying to Master, I can."
If he couldn't cure the poison of a mere mystic beast, wouldn't that be an insult to his divine beast name?
Bai Ran smiled. Since the trial for the contractor had succeeded, the abilities of the Four Divine Beasts had begun to gradually strengthen.
Originally, the divine beasts' strength was limited by their contractor's cultivation level. If the contractor was strong, the divine beasts would also become stronger.
Conversely, if the contractor was weaker than the divine beasts, the divine beasts would be affected by the contract and their power would be limited to the contractor's same cultivation level.
However, after passing the assessment, this restriction seemed to have been removed.
The inherent strength of the Four Ancient Divine Beasts began to manifest.
Qing Long and Zhuque primarily focused on offense, Xuan Wu on defense, and Bai Hu on healing. Now, their strength was beginning to catch up to Zhong Zi and Dong Ling.
"Go and cure Jiang Ye," Bai Ran commanded, and Bai Hu exited the room.
A faint green light illuminated as Bai Hu stepped forward and took Jiang Ye's arm.
With a mere sweep of his hand, the bruised purple toxin rapidly receded, and the swelling slowly subsided until it returned to normal.
"Wow!" Jiang Ye clenched his fist, his arm perfectly fine, as if nothing had happened.
"You're amazing!"
Zhuque was surprised for a moment, then her heart understood. Her own strength had improved significantly; how could he be left behind?
Meanwhile, in the demon realm, Dongfang Wuji released Tang Yi's hand, his face filled with disbelief.
"What? Why are you pulling me?"
Jing Feng, that idiot, why did he have to fall for Jing Yun?
From Tang Yi's attitude, it seemed she was quite supportive of their relationship?
Tang Yi put a finger to her lips, signaling him to be quiet. "If I don't pull you away, do you want to stay here and be a hindrance?"
Dongfang Wuji spoke, staring directly at Tang Yi. "Could it be that you've always known that Jing Feng's beloved person is Jing Yun?"
"Aren't they brothers?"
Dongfang Wuji felt utterly unwell; this was against all ethics!
Tang Yi looked at Dongfang Wuji as if he were an idiot. "Who told you they are blood relatives?"
"Don't they both have the surname Jing? And they're similar in age, and they look so...?"
Gradually, Dongfang Wuji's voice weakened. They looked... not alike in any way...
"They're not biological brothers...?"
His voice rose at the end, and for a moment, his tone became uncertain.
Tang Yi sighed and rolled her eyes at him. "You can't say that every man with the surname Jing who is of similar age is blood-related, can you?"
"Don't forget, Jing Feng and Jing Yun were the first to accompany His Majesty."
Jing Feng and Jing Yun were both orphans from the battlefield, picked up by His Majesty and specially trained to be the demon realm's left and right hands.
Their names were also given by His Majesty, simply as a matter of convenience, and did not imply they were blood related.
Dongfang Wuji pursed his lips, almost messing things up in his haste. "It was just a moment of panic, I forgot..."
Come to think of it, they had arrived one after the other, and their appearances were entirely unrelated. How could they be brothers?
"I knew it. If I left you there, you would have definitely messed things up," Tang Yi looked at him helplessly.
Dongfang Wuji awkwardly touched his nose. He had misunderstood, hadn't he...
"Then... does Jing Yun like Jing Feng?"
Tang Yi's eyes lit up at this. "Let me tell you! Before that boy Jing Feng returned, I had discussed this topic with Jing Yun!"
"I asked Jing Yun what kind of person he thought Jing Feng was. Guess what he replied?"
"How did he reply?" Dongfang Wuji stared intently at Tang Yi, his face full of anticipation.
Tang Yi raised her eyebrows, her lips unable to stop curving upward.
"Very good, and if it were his, it would be even better."