Ning Zhuo nodded, a smile on his face, praising her for admitting her mistake and asking about Ban Ji’s plan to deal with him.
The Silk Lady, with sincere expression, swore that as long as Ning Zhuo spared her, she would tell him everything she knew.
Ning Zhuo’s smile grew wider: "Is the noble lady trying to take advantage of my youth and innocence?"
Earlier, the Silk Lady had observed the verbal duel between Ning Zhuo and Che Zhuzi. Tearfully, she quickly expressed her willingness to die for the sake of freedom. She also told Ning Zhuo she had hidden treasures, and if he let her go, she would lead him to unlock the hidden treasures everywhere.
Ning Zhuo: "If I search your soul, won’t I know them all the same?"
The Silk Lady widened her tearful eyes and quickly shook her head: "Young Master Ning Zhuo, you are a rising star on the Righteous Path, how could you use such demonic means like the Soul Searching Technique?"
"If this gets out, it will ruin your reputation."
"You are kind and virtuous, only scaring me to guide me towards goodness. I also wish for you to guide me..."
As she said this, the Silk Lady gave Ning Zhuo a seductive glance and then crawled forward a few steps, trying to get close to Ning Zhuo’s calf.
Ning Zhuo immediately snorted coldly, unwilling to continue such entanglements with the Silk Lady.
He kicked her over with a thumping kick, full of righteous anger, and rebuked her: "You wicked demon cultivator, what sense is there in talking about justice with scum like you? Isn’t it utterly foolish?"
"I only ask you, when you conspired to harm me, did you hold yourself to the same standard of justice?"
The Silk Lady quickly cried out: "Young Master, I was only manipulated by others, Ban Ji gave me a large sum of money, I..."
Ning Zhuo waved his hand: "Shut up."
The Silk Lady immediately closed her mouth, unable to speak through her sobs.
Ning Zhuo sneered: "See, you’ve run out of arguments, haven’t you?"
The Silk Lady’s pupils contracted sharply, and she glared at Ning Zhuo, her face flushed with anger, her heart roaring: "If you have guts, don’t use the Slave Contract to control me, let me speak, ah ah ah!"
How can you be so shameless, a young prodigy on the Righteous Path?!
Ning Zhuo issued his ultimatum: "I won’t waste time with you, here’s my final warning, confess honestly, or suffer the physical pain."
The Silk Lady finally restrained her mournful demeanor and coldly smiled at Ning Zhuo: "Young Master, you have the Slave Contract in your hand. Why don’t you use this contract to force me to tell the truth?"
Without waiting for Ning Zhuo to answer, the Silk Lady answered her own question: "Yes, your worries are indeed justified."
"After accepting Ban Ji’s commission, we signed the contract. If any of the secrets within are revealed, I’ll suffer backlash and die."
"Even if you use the Soul Searching Technique, you won’t get what you want."
"Don’t forget, I am a Demon Cultivator!"
"As a Demon Cultivator, how could I be unprepared for Soul Searching Techniques?"
"I’d rather tell you, I’ve long used methods to refine my soul, capable of resisting soul searching, and at a critical moment, my soul would self-destruct. Even if it means scattering my soul, I won’t let the enemy succeed!"
The Silk Lady, saying as much, revealed a ruthless expression, finally showing the demeanor of a Demon Cultivator.
Ning Zhuo fell silent, merely staring at the Silk Lady.
After a few breaths, he spoke mildly: "You say you can resist soul searching? I’m curious which type you resist?"
"For example, Soul Binding Silk, Three Souls Spinning Wheel, Soul Feeding Demon? Or Soul Seed Spirit Embryo, Soul Cicada Shedding, Human Candle Sacrifice? Or perhaps Soul Makeup Mirror Observation, Soul Tracing Scripture, Dream Soul Absorption Ointment?"
Ning Zhuo recited them fluently.
"If not those, there’s also the Nine Nether Bone Bell, Emotion Puppet Guide, Bone Marrow Ghost Firefly, or the Resentful Couple’s Unity Tribulation."
"These methods all have the wonderful use of soul searching."
"Which one can you resist?"
The Silk Lady was dumbfounded as she listened.
Her Adam’s apple bobbed, and she unconsciously swallowed. Her gaze at Ning Zhuo was filled with shock and questioning.
Why are you so familiar with these soul searching techniques?
Are you the Demon Cultivator, or is it me?!
From Ning Zhuo’s smile, the Silk Lady felt a deep chill.
Ning Zhuo quietly thanked Tian Shuang, one of the Heaven and Earth Ghosts, in his heart.
Both fell into a moment of silence.
The Silk Lady could only gamble that Ning Zhuo was bluffing.
And indeed, Ning Zhuo was doing just that.
Though he knew of these soul searching techniques, he hadn’t truly mastered them, and couldn’t do much to the Silk Lady.
"I could use the Life Hanging Divine Power, in conjunction with the Slave Contract... but the real key is the possible existence of a Secret Keeping Contract."
"I need to find the complete content of this contract, then look for flaws or loopholes, and choose to use a specific soul searching technique."
"It’s like unlocking a lock, avoiding backlash, and then opening the repository of her memories, allowing me to view them."
When thinking this, Ning Zhuo suddenly had a jolt.
"So, it’s like that!"
In his Divine Sea, a spirit light flashed, a recalling of old matters, capturing a crucial idea.
Previously, when this spirit light appeared, it was interrupted by a strange feeling due to Ban Ji, breaking the capture of the light.
Now, having captured the Silk Lady, the thought of soul searching triggered the previous inspiration again.
"Soul Searching Technique, Soul Searching Technique is the key!"
Ning Zhuo was so excited he could hardly contain himself.
With this idea, he might undergo an extreme transformation in his cultivation because of the Soul Searching Technique.
The matter of Ban Ji and the Silk Lady was directly thrown to the back of Ning Zhuo’s mind.
"I must dedicate myself to studying soul searching techniques!"
Cloud Soul Valley.
Tian Shuang stood at the cliff edge, his tattered clothes being torn by the Astral Wind.
A fierce battle was nearing its end, and Tian Shuang was defeated; the victor was Earth Ash.
Earth Ash used a spell, shouting sharply at him: "Tian Shuang, wake up!"
Tian Shuang reacted like he was electrocuted, reaching out abruptly to grab his cheek, and then pulling it fiercely.
After a few breaths, he tore a ghost mask off his face.
"I am Tian Shuang, I am Tian Shuang!"
"I am not Earth Ghost!!"
With the ghost mask off, Tian Shuang’s mind cleared, understanding who he truly was.
Earth Ash, seeing his mind restored, sighed in relief and walked slowly over: "Tian Shuang, why did you persist with the Different Soul Unity Technique for so long?"
Tian Shuang, covered in cold sweat, shook his head weakly, sighing deeply: "I was a bit too eager for success."
Earth Ash sighed in unison.
Since the battle in the Thousand Peak Forest, Tian Shuang had suffered a significant setback, unable to achieve peace, anxious in every aspect, eager for success.
"Different Soul Unity Technique is tolerable. If you mess it up, I can cover for you."
"But you must never use the Boat Burning Soul Crossing Technique!" Earth Ash warned.
Tian Shuang nodded: "Of course, I understand this; I am not so reckless."
Earth Ash sighed, looking at the abyss below the cliff.
The abyss steamed with mist that never dissipated, twisting grayish-white clouds into many obscure human faces, flickering in the thick fog.
Earth Ash said: "This is a rare land for Soul Cultivation, with uniquely valuable Cloud Souls. Tian Shuang, you’ve almost depleted your whole fortune, collect more while you’re here."
Tian Shuang, looking utterly disheartened, said: "Can you not mention this again?!"
Earth Ash laughed heartily.
Myriad Images Sect, Bluestone Cave Mansion.
Ning Zhuo gazed at the Jade Slip: "I’ve decided to learn the Boat Burning Soul Crossing Technique!"
This technique is also a sort of Soul Searching Technique, but its effect is extreme and domineering.
Once cast, it causes the target’s soul to burn and self-immolate, transforming into a fire ship.
The casting cultivator’s soul escapes, boarding the fire ship to ferry themselves.
During this process, the fire ship’s self-combustion unleashes a barrage of memories.
The cultivator passively absorbs these memories onboard the fire ship, as if personally experiencing the other’s life!
Thus, all skills are at the caster’s disposal.
But this method has a huge drawback.
Due to the powerful soul searching ability, its effect is so complete that after experiencing another’s life, the caster might entirely forget themselves.