Ian Song refused to believe it, and once again channeled a strand of Puppet Mastery Divine Art into the Heavensnare Saintess's brow. But just as the puppet rune entered her sea of consciousness, it was shattered again by a flash of cyan sword-light.
"What are you trying to do to me?"
Serena Skye watched Ian warily, her guard up.
Ian ignored her and instead fell into deep thought.
Sword-light rising in the sea of consciousness... Could it be that the Heavensnare Saintess has a Soul Relic hidden in her mind, guarding her soul?
A Soul Relic is an incredibly precious thing.
Thinking of this, his gaze burned hotter, and a hint of killing intent crept into his eyes as he stared at Serena Skye. A Soul Relic can block soul-type attacks, but it can't protect her body—if he killed her, he'd be able to claim the Soul Relic from her sea of consciousness.
Serena Skye was extremely sensitive to killing intent. Instinctively, she stepped back two paces, watching Ian with heightened alertness. "What exactly do you want?"
"Do you know what's inside your mind?"
Ian asked in a low voice.
Suddenly, strands of cyan light erupted from between Serena Skye's brows. As the moments passed, the radiance intensified, finally condensing into a palm-sized Azure Lotus.
"Pfft!"
Serena Skye spat out a mouthful of blood, then reached up, plucked the Azure Lotus from her brow, and handed it to Ian.
Ian accepted the lotus, instantly feeling a wave of cool, refreshing energy flow into his hand—soothing and invigorating.
"Can I go now?"
Serena Skye stared at Ian nervously as she asked.
"Hold on!"
Ian stored the Azure Lotus in his Storage Ring for the time being.
"Are you going back on your word?" Serena's face, already pale, turned even whiter. Her expression grew desolate and sorrowful, and in Ian's eyes, she looked almost pitiable.
Ian smiled. "Relax, I may not be a gentleman, but I keep my promises. Your soul is badly injured and your strength is less than a tenth of normal. Returning to the Heavensnare Order won't be easy. Since you handed over the Soul Relic, I'll help you recover before you leave!"
That was why she valued this Soul Relic so highly.
But now, to save her life, she had no choice but to surrender the Soul Relic.
"Are you really willing to let me go?"
"I have no reason to lie to you. After all, killing you would let me claim that thing in your mind just the same!"
"Fine, I agree!" Serena Skye paused, then continued, "You should be glad you didn't just kill me for the treasure. I'm blood-bound to the Soul Relic—if I die, it will automatically be destroyed! Now, I'll dissolve my bond with it. I hope you won't break your word once you get it."
Hearing Serena's words, Ian felt secretly relieved. Thankfully, he'd held onto a shred of decency—otherwise, he really would have missed out on this Soul Relic.
"Don't worry, when I say I'll let you go, I'll let you go!" Ian met Serena Skye's gaze as he spoke.
"I'll trust you this once!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Serena Skye closed her eyes. Instantly, her face turned deathly pale, and blood welled up at the corner of her mouth.
Buzz!
Suddenly, strands of azure light burst from between Serena Skye's brows. As time passed, the glow grew stronger, finally condensing into an egg-sized jade lotus.
"Pfft!"
Serena Skye spat out a mouthful of blood, then reached up and plucked the azure lotus from her brow, handing it to Ian.
Ian took the lotus, instantly feeling a wave of cool, refreshing energy flow into his palm. It was incredibly soothing.
"Can I leave now?"
Serena Skye stared nervously at Ian as she asked.
"Wait a moment!"
Ian temporarily stored the jade lotus in his Storage Ring.
"Are you going back on your word?" Serena's already pale face turned even whiter, her expression full of sorrow and despair. In Ian's eyes, her look was almost pitiful.
Ian smiled. "Relax, I may not be much of a gentleman, but I keep my promises. Your soul is badly injured, and your strength is less than a tenth of normal. It won't be easy to return to the Heavensnare Order. Since you handed over this Soul Relic, I'll help you recover before you go!"