"Follow me," he glared at Bai Ran.
The mist gradually dispersed, the view cleared, and the two drew closer to the depths of the forest.
The spiritual energy fluctuations grew stronger and stronger, Bai Ran squinted.
From the first moment she saw this man, she felt a dull ache in her heart. Whether it was intuition or a sixth sense, she always felt his eyes were strangely familiar...
"Through here, and you'll reach the place where treasures are stored," he stopped.
Bai Ran looked at the grass in front of her, taller than a person, and stiffened: "Why is the grass here growing so lushly?"
"It's influenced by the treasure," the man pushed aside the grass, revealing a hidden path before them.
"Since its creation, it has been shrouded in extremely powerful spiritual energy. For ten years, for a hundred years, the surrounding plants, nourished by the spiritual energy, have grown taller and more luxuriant."
Bai Ran listened silently and followed him onto the small path in the grass.
After walking for an unknown duration, the man's voice, full of laughter, rang out: "We're here."
Bai Ran looked up. Before her was a patch of grass that had long since withered, desolate and bleak.
"If it's nourished by spiritual energy, why has the grass here withered?" She crouched down and crushed the dead grass on the ground.
"Naturally, it's because it's too close to the treasure."
The man raised his palm lightly, and a green light cluster rose from the withered grassland.
"Everything has its advantages and disadvantages. Outside a certain range, plants only feel gentle spiritual energy. But once they enter this range, all they feel is a powerful killing intent."
The man chuckled: "Therefore, I cannot get close."
Bai Ran looked at the green cluster floating in the distance and took a step forward.
But the moment her foot touched the ground, a wind laden with violent spiritual energy swept over, making her robes fly wildly.
A hint of excitement appeared on Bai Ran's face: "Interesting..."
Step by step, she drew closer to the green cluster, and the wind carrying spiritual energy became more formidable.
"What is mine, I will not let go of a single bit."
Looking at the green cluster before her, Bai Ran curved her lips into a smile, and a stronger spiritual energy surged throughout her body.
Suddenly, the wind around them stopped.
Her hand smoothly reached into the green cluster.
"It's a flute?" Bai Ran looked at the jade-green vertical flute in her hand, her face filled with confusion.
"What is the use of this flute?" She turned back, but the man had vanished without a trace.
The light of dawn rose in the sky. At this moment, the mist had completely dispersed, and the entire forest looked serene and beautiful.
"It's the Soul Controlling Flute!" Xiao Zi's voice seemed somewhat excited.
"Soul Controlling Flute?" Bai Ran looked at the vertical flute in her hand: "Is it worth a lot?"
Xiao Zi's mouth twitched: "What are you thinking about all day? An ultimate treasure, can it be measured by money!"
"So, what's the use of this Soul Controlling Flute?" Bai Ran weighed the vertical flute.
Xiao Zi cleared his throat, looking very serious: "The Soul Controlling Flute was born at the beginning of heaven and earth."
"Don't look at this flute as ordinary now, once it's contracted by someone, it can scare to death those old guys on the ninth heaven!"
Bai Ran carefully examined the vertical flute in her hand. It didn't seem as miraculous as Xiao Zi described.
"The reason the Soul Controlling Flute is called the Soul Controlling Flute is that it can control any creature with a soul."
"From small plants and trees to the souls of humans, as soon as they hear the sound of the flute, they become your most loyal subordinate, at your command."
Bai Ran was startled: "Such a heaven-defying treasure, why hasn't it been discovered by the world until now?"
Xiao Zi sighed: "Do you think a treasure of this magnitude can be easily obtained by anyone?"
She didn't know what kind of luck this little brat had, bringing her disciple for trials and picking up an ultimate treasure?
"Moreover, in this small middle realm, only a sparse few recognize this treasure, let alone compete for it."
Bai Ran clenched the flute in her hand: "I don't believe this flute is so powerful without any cost."
Cost... Xiao Zi pursed his lips: "There must be a cost, but as for what it is, I don't know."
He had only read about the Soul Controlling Flute in books; he wasn't entirely sure about the actual cost of using it.
"Let's contract it first," Bai Ran cut her palm, and blood slowly flowed onto the jade-green flute body.
"Ching—!" The Soul Controlling Flute trembled, and suddenly! A beam of extremely dazzling light shot up into the sky! Straight into the clouds!
Bai Ran's expression changed drastically. Such an anomaly would surely attract many people! Kuaishu Pavilion
"Brat! Hurry!" Xiao Zi looked at her nervously.
As she watched, intricate formations appeared around the Soul Controlling Flute.
"I am Soul Control. Sacrifice your soul to contract—" an ancient voice echoed in Bai Ran's mind.
Soul! The cost is the sacrifice of her own soul!
Xiao Zi looked at Bai Ran anxiously, as if she couldn't hear this voice.
"Xiao Zi..." She tightened her grip on the vertical flute: "Perhaps I cannot contract this Soul Controlling Flute..."
He was stunned: "Why?"
"Soul..." Bai Ran chuckled: "I won't sell my soul to this broken flute!"
The formations instantly vanished, and the surging light dissipated into the heavens and earth in the blink of an eye.
At this moment, Xiao Zi was stunned.
In Bai Ran's eyes, he saw boundless, unparalleled beauty...
A wild red robe, a radiance that surpassed all others...
A sentence echoed in Xiao Zi's mind...
'She was meant to stand at the peak of Cloud Mountain, looking down upon this decaying world—'
......
He covered his face, "What the heck... I'm truly defeated by her..."
"It's just that..." He raised an eyebrow: "That ranking competition is about to start, aren't you going to participate?"
Bai Ran froze. She noticed that the sun had inexplicably risen to the zenith.
Sect Ranking Competition!!!
She put away the Soul Controlling Flute and rushed frantically towards the forest exit.
She had been tricked! That Time Controlling Beast could still use its abilities!!!
......
At this moment, Xiong Zongzhu stood at the forest entrance, his face as dark as could be.
A few hours ago, a barrier had inexplicably appeared in this forest.
He was desperately worried, but unable to enter.
"Damn it! Could the little girl really be in trouble!"
Xiong Zongzhu frowned deeply, but just as he was about to shatter the barrier with his old life, a figure shot out of the forest.
"Little girl!" he exclaimed with joy.
"Sect Leader! What time is it!" Bai Ran stopped abruptly in front of Xiong Zongzhu.
"It's Si Shi! The competition has already started! If you didn't come out soon, I would have rushed in in desperation!"
He grabbed Bai Ran and flew madly towards Que Tian Sect.
Bai Ran's mouth twitched. This scene, how familiar it felt...
......
At this moment, in a corner of the forest, the Time Controlling Beast received a furious punch.
"Dad..." he rubbed his head aggrievedly: "I was wrong..."
"Unfilial son! Your father is alive and well!" An old man's face was full of anger: "You said I was dead? Who gave you the courage!"
He pouted: "It was to trick her..."