Jing Feng quickly stepped forward, tore off a wanted poster, and handed it to Bai Ran. "Miss Bai, take a look."
Bai Ran took the poster and her gaze fell on Bai Hu's bright red wedding attire. Her expression immediately grew serious.
"Miss Bai?" Jing Feng followed her gaze and noticed she was staring intently at Bai Hu's red wedding robe.
"You all take a closer look," Bai Ran said, pointing to Bai Hu's hands.
The others stepped forward and saw that Bai Hu's hands were clasped in front of him. On his wrists, two shackles were hidden beneath his sleeves, looking somewhat familiar.
"Isn't that!?" Zhu Que exclaimed in disbelief, staring at the shackles.
Xiao Zi's expression also turned serious. The style of these shackles was identical to the ones that had imprisoned Long Yu.
Could it be that Bai Hu, like Long Yu, had his mind controlled?
Just then, the communication jade pendant worn at Zhu Que's waist grew scorching hot, startling everyone.
She looked down and then back at Bai Ran, bewildered. "Master... it's Bai Hu..."
Bai Hu? But wasn't he controlled by the shackles?
Bai Ran lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment, then reached out and took the communication jade pendant, infusing it with spiritual energy.
"That woman is truly troublesome. Where are you? I can't hold on much longer."
As soon as the call connected, Bai Hu's hurried and panicked voice came through the jade pendant, sounding anything but controlled.
"Bai, Bai Hu, the wanted poster in the city is..." Xiao Zi tentatively asked, utterly confused.
"It's Miao Yuan's doing. That person is a lunatic."
Hearing this, the group fell silent. Bai Hu didn't seem controlled at all, did he?
However, at this moment, Bai Ran chuckled softly, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Perhaps spiritual energy doesn't affect ancient divine beasts."
Mo Ze was unaware of Bai Hu's true identity, unaware that Bai Hu was an ancient divine beast in human form.
Long Yu's mind was stolen when he wore the shackles, but Bai Hu didn't seem affected. This could only mean that the spiritual energy attack contained within the shackles was ineffective against ancient divine beasts.
"So you've seen the shackles."
Hearing Bai Ran's voice, Bai Hu seemed to calm down considerably. "Master is right. The shackles are real, but the spiritual energy within them has no effect on me."
The group finally breathed a sigh of relief. If Bai Hu himself was controlled, then all their plans would become infinitely more difficult.
"Does anyone else know that you haven't been controlled?"
"No. Since I put on the shackles, I've been pretending to be dazed. Others can't tell."
Bai Ran nodded and slowly put down the communication jade pendant. "We are already within the territory governed by the Shifang Temple. Be careful and wait for our news."
The other side acknowledged, and Bai Ran stopped infusing spiritual energy into the communication jade pendant.
"Miss Bai, when do we make our move?" Jing Feng asked, his face extremely serious. Jiang Ye and the others also looked at Bai Ran, awaiting her answer.
Bai Ran gazed at the palace standing not far away, a plan forming in her mind.
She curved her lips upwards in a beautiful arc. "Mo Ze knows Bai Hu is one of us. He will undoubtedly strengthen the defenses around the Shifang Temple."
"Our arrival will be like walking right into his trap."
That's right... Jing Feng lowered his head, a troubled expression on his face.
Bai Hu was at the Shifang Temple, so Mo Ze would certainly set up an ambush nearby, waiting for them to take the bait. But they couldn't leave Bai Hu behind...
"However, Mo Ze might not think that way," Bai Ran paused. "After all, isn't there a saying, 'The cleverest are often outwitted by their own cleverness'?"
The others looked at her in confusion, not understanding what she meant...
...
Meanwhile, in a luxurious bedchamber, a figure lay on a white jade couch, his face and lips pale.
He slept, but beads of cold sweat constantly appeared on his forehead, his features contorted in evident pain.
"No... don't..."
Suddenly, the man jolted awake. He quickly sat up, gasping for air, as if still caught in a nightmare.
The man's breathing was heavy, and it took him a long time to recover.
At this moment, outside the bedchamber, the Palace Master of Yaochi Palace slowly entered. Seeing him in this state, she seemed unsurprised.
"Divine Emperor." Zhuang Man bowed and stepped forward, inclining her head slightly. "The Qihuang Formation is now complete."
Mo Ze slowly exhaled, reaching up to rub his temples, his face etched with fatigue.
"Mm, any movement from the Shifang Temple?"
"Reporting to you, there has been no movement yet."
Mo Ze waved his hand, dismissing Zhuang Man. "You may go."
After Zhuang Man departed, the entire bedchamber became empty, leaving him alone, sitting quietly on the white jade couch.
"This dream again..." Mo Ze's dark eyes narrowed slightly, his hand, which hung by his robe, slowly clenched into a fist.
The same place, the same people, the same event, the same outcome. Mo Ze dreamed of this scene almost periodically.
This strange feeling made him extremely agitated...
Mo Ze stood up, his expression improving slightly. "The Qihuang Formation, it's a temporary fix, not a cure."
He reached out, picked up his outer robe, and casually draped it over his shoulders. "Someone—"
Shortly after, a servant boy scurried in from outside, bowing subserviently. "What are your orders, Divine Emperor?"
"Do you know where Baili Xiao is now?"
The servant boy was taken aback, not expecting the Divine Emperor to inquire about the former War God's whereabouts. "The former War God has disgraced the Divine Realm. No one pays attention to his movements."
The servant's words were laced with sarcasm and strong prejudice against Baili Xiao.
Mo Ze frowned, naturally noticing this. "You may go. Have Zhong Yichuan come in."
The servant boy bowed and exited the bedchamber. Then, a figure slowly strode in and stood before Mo Ze.
"Divine Emperor..."
"Go find Baili Xiao." Before Zhong Yichuan could finish speaking, Mo Ze issued the command.
Baili Xiao? Zhong Yichuan was perplexed, but he obediently accepted the order and withdrew from the palace.
He walked swiftly to a deserted place and took out the communication jade pendant hidden at his waist.
"Your Highness, Mo Ze has issued an order."
"What is it?"
"The task is to find Baili Xiao."
Baili Xiao? Why would Mo Ze be looking for him... At the other end of the jade pendant, Long Jinhan's brow furrowed slightly, his long fingers propping up his chin.
Baili Xiao was the former War God of the Divine Realm, constantly exploited and used by Mo Huai'an, no, by Mo Cheng Ze.
He possessed profound cultivation and could even divine fate and read astrological charts. Could it be...
Long Jinhan looked up, tightening his grip on the jade pendant. "Find Baili Xiao and bring him to Mo Ze."
"If any accidents occur, there's no need to hide your identity."
"Yes," Zhong Yichuan replied. He understood his master's intentions, which were to prioritize Baili Xiao's safety.