Chapter 396: One Body, Two Souls

As soon as the pattern of the Heaven's Mandate Array appeared, it seemed to come alive, instantly weaving into a massive light net that tightly enveloped Xi Er at its center.

The patterns glimmered with a faint Golden Light, and the moment they brushed Xi Er's hem, they snapped shut.

Xi Er, who had still worn a teasing expression, furrowed her brows sharply when she sensed her body shift.

She instinctively tried to raise her hand, but the moment her limbs moved, countless fine golden threads shot out from the Formation Pattern, instantly coiling around her limbs.

These golden threads appeared delicate, yet were unbreakable.

Xi Er tried to muster her strength to break free, but the golden threads tightened further, suppressing even the surging Shennong Bloodline within her body, leaving her unable to move.

"Hm?"

Xi Er let out a light hum, and rather than panic, she curled a cold, elegant smile.

Her icy eyes swept over the sky‑filled patterns, then rested on Jiang Feng, surprisingly carrying a hint of admiration.

"Silently, right in Her Highness's small courtyard, this formation was laid—truly worthy of the Kunlun True Transmission. This Heaven's Mandate Array is rather intriguing."

She flexed her wrist slightly, the cold aura around her surged again, attempting to use the power of the Shennong Bloodline to burst through the golden threads.

But those golden threads seemed specifically designed to curb her bloodline; the denser the cold aura, the brighter the golden threads shone.

The smile on Xi Er's face faded slightly, yet her gaze still held contempt.

"Do you truly think this Array-Breaking Technique can trap Her Highness?"

As the words fell, the power within her erupted completely!

The pressure, surpassing the Wu Zun Realm, surged like a tsunami, and the courtyard floor instantly split into countless ravines!

The raging wind and snow returned, ice shards pelting the patterns like a downpour, yet the Golden Light blocked them entirely, not even a ripple was raised.

"Useless."

Jiang Feng braced against the ground, struggling to rise.

"If you weren't of the Shennong Bloodline, this massive array couldn't even handle you. But since you've inherited the blood of the Great Emperor Shennong, this Heaven's Mandate Array you cannot break."

The Heaven's Mandate Array is a formation inherited from the Kunlun Forbidden Land; when the Kunlun Ancestor first created it, it was to suppress strong ones possessing the Ancient Bloodline.

The Formation Technique does not trap based on cultivation level, only on specific bloodlines; once entangled, unless the arranger actively releases it, escape is impossible.

Xi Er's complexion finally changed, her eyes filled with murderous intent.

She stared at Jiang Feng intently, her tone icy and bone‑piercing.

"Jiang Feng, what exactly do you intend to do to Her Highness?"

Jiang Feng slowly wiped the blood from his mouth corner, stepping toward Xi Er.

Jiang Feng halted, standing outside the Formation Pattern, his gaze locked onto Xi Er.

"I only ask you, where has Xi Er gone?"

Hearing this, Xi Er's murderous glare deepened, yet a mocking curve lifted her mouth.

"You have no right to ask Her Highness that. Quickly dissolve the array, or when I break free, I will crush your bones to dust!"

As she spoke, the cold aura around her surged again.

But Jiang Feng turned a deaf ear, simply watching her quietly.

"If you don't speak, I won't release it. I have all the time; we can drag this out forever."

"You!"

Xi Er trembled with rage, her jade fingers clenched tightly.

"Saintess, Jiang Feng is speaking the truth!"

Beside them, Yao Lao finally could not hold back and stepped forward, his face full of anxiety.

"The Heaven's Mandate Array is one of Kunlun's most formidable formations; it does not trap cultivation, only bloodline! Even if you are at the Wu Zun Peak, or surpass Wu Zun, as long as the Shennong Bloodline remains, it is hard to break free from this formation's shackles. Better reconcile with Jiang Feng quickly, tell him the truth; it is best for everyone!"

Xi Er gave Yao Lao a cold glance.

"Make Her Highness reconcile with this ant of his? He doesn't deserve it! Yao Lao, this waste, is he even worth your pleading?"

"Will you just stand by as Her Highness is imprisoned by him? Won't you act?"

Yao Lao's face showed a faint bitter smile.

"Saintess, this old man also wishes to know where the once naive and lovely Xi Er has gone. Please enlighten me!"

Xi Er let out a cold snort, ignoring Yao Lao.

She again fixed her gaze on Jiang Feng, her eyes full of chill.

"Jiang Feng, if you dare, kill Her Highness! Anyway, Her Highness despises being trapped by such ants as you."

She assumed Jiang Feng would not dare to kill her.

But Jiang Feng gently shook his head, his tone calm.

"The Heaven's Mandate Array cannot take your life. I cannot kill you. I can only keep you trapped like this until you tell me Xi Er's whereabouts."

He was right; the core of the Heaven's Mandate Array is binding, not killing.

"Do you think this can force Her Highness to comply?"

Xi Er's mouth curled a cold smile.

"Her Highness has endless patience; even if you trap me for hundreds or thousands of years, it matters not. As for you, your cultivation is low, your qi and blood severely depleted—how long can you endure? When your oil runs out and the lamp dims, this formation will collapse on its own. Then, Her Highness will make you pay a grievous price!"

As she spoke, she began to try to circulate the power of her internal bloodline.

She aimed to forcibly break through the golden threads' restraint.

Yet no matter how hard she tried, the golden threads clung to her limbs like maggots on a heel bone, and the Formation Technique's Golden Light grew ever brighter, suppressing her bloodline power more intensely.

After several attempts, Xi Er finally ceased her movements.

She could clearly feel her strength draining bit by bit; if she continued, she alone would suffer the loss.

Moreover, Jiang Feng's relentless resolve, refusing to stop until he achieved his goal, inexplicably stirred a trace of irritation within her.

She fell silent for a moment, the murderous intent in her eyes gradually fading.

You win.

Xi Er's voice became much calmer.

Her Highness will tell you, Her Highness is indeed one person with that foolish woman, but merely one body with two souls.

As soon as those words were spoken, Jiang Feng and Yao Lao both froze.

One body two souls?

Jiang Feng's heart was stirred by huge waves.

He never imagined that Xi Er's body actually housed another soul.

The innocent, lovable Xi Er and the cold, ruthless saintess before him actually share the same body as two souls!

Yao Lao's face was also full of shock.

He has lived for over a thousand years, seen many strange things, but never heard of a case of one body two souls.

No wonder Xi Er's temperament suddenly changed drastically—it turns out it wasn't the same soul in control of the body!

Are you telling the truth?

Jiang Feng's voice carried a hint of trembling as he stared intently at Xi Er, afraid she was deceiving him.

Is Xi Er... still in this body?

If it's merely one body two souls, does that mean Xi Er hasn't disappeared, but is merely suppressed by the soul of that saintess before us?

As long as we drive out that saintess's soul, can Xi Er return?

Xi Er looked at the hope in Jiang Feng's eyes, and the corner of her mouth curled into a mocking smile.

How? Hearing she's still here makes you happy? Too bad, you're getting happy too early.

She paused, her tone turning even colder.

That foolish girl, in order to save you, voluntarily handed over control of the body to Her Highness. She now is merely a lingering soul sleeping deep within the body, lacking consciousness, no different from having disappeared.