The process of transferring spiritual energy must have left Qingluan exhausted, as he took quite a while to respond. Finally, he asked, "When will you leave?"
"I need to wait for someone," Jingheng replied. He lay back, looking up at the iron-bound demon-restraining chains that lined the ceiling of the heavenly prison. He could have left when Bai Zhi did, but the lessons from his past life taught him that grudges must be avenged.
He closed his eyes, recalling how, in his past life, someone rushed into the prison and said, "Ah Jing, I'm alive, so I believe in you. You need to leave this place quickly. You have a long life ahead, and you shouldn't waste it in this gloomy place."
Back then, he thought the person was looking out for him, so he transferred his soul into a straw doll, leaving his physical body to be dealt with by others. However, many years later, he learned that his physical body had been refined and truly reduced to ashes.
The celestial tribe was different from the demon tribe. Demons could cultivate for a hundred years to acquire a spirit orb. If the orb was destroyed, they could start again, albeit with some hardship, but there was still hope. However, the celestial tribe had physical bodies from birth, which transformed as they became gods. If the physical body was destroyed, there was nothing left.
In his past life, Chou Zhi loved his eyes and his voice, seeking the best treasures to ensure his soul wouldn't perish. But in this life, he wouldn't be the substitute for Chou Zhi's heart's desire.
He was determined to settle the scores from his past life, one by one.
"Your hatred and resentment could lead you down the path of demons," Qingluan's voice interrupted his thoughts. It was then that Jingheng realized that the dry straw beneath him was beginning to smolder. His anger had unconsciously caused his lotus fire to flare up.
Jingheng extinguished his energy and calmed his thoughts. "I need to work on my cultivation. It's hard to control."
Qingluan seemed to find this amusing and said, "I always thought that gods had inherent powers, and any further cultivation was just for the mind. But you seem to have gotten it backward."
"No one taught me cultivation techniques," Jingheng replied.
In his past life, everyone in the Celestial Realm told him that only strength mattered, teaching him how to wield power. But now he realized that without cultivation techniques to control it, excessive use of power was intended to lead him down the demonic path.
Qingluan was about to say something else when they heard footsteps approaching, accompanied by the scent of flowers—Rong Wan had arrived.
In an instant, the heavenly prison grew colder, and soft sobbing could be heard. Rong Wan's eyes were slightly red, her cheeks pale, and her lips faintly open. Upon seeing Jingheng, she asked, "Ah Jing, I came to see you. Are you cold?"
Jingheng wasn't sure whether to feel happy or sad. He instinctively wanted to move away, but he discreetly hid the spirit orb, forcing himself to act surprised and say, "Sister, you're here..."
Rong Wan glanced behind her and quickly pulled a straw doll from her sleeve. "I heard that Lord Bai Zhi wants to kill you. Ah Jing, how could you get into such trouble!"
As she spoke, her tear-filled eyes began to overflow again. Jingheng lowered his head and replied, "So, even my sister doesn't believe in me."
Turning his back on her, he tried to avoid eye contact, his eyes filled with tears, appearing distraught. Rong Wan quickly concealed her sadness and entered the prison, saying, "Ah Jing, I believe in you, but... but Lord Bai Zhi doesn't. You should listen to me..."
"If my sister believes in me, I'm relieved. But you should go back quickly," Jingheng cut her off and pretended to be concerned, glancing at the door behind her. "I'm a criminal now. I don't want you to get implicated."
Rong Wan lowered her head slightly. In that moment, Jingheng noticed the straw doll in her hand and couldn't help but inwardly sneer. He knew exactly what Rong Wan was planning.