Zhao Yi's divine soul returned, and he looked at the astonished and angry Kong Shi, raising his hand slightly.

Two Daoists appeared out of nowhere on either side of Kong Shi, bringing her before Zhao Yi.

"You, what do you want to do?"

Used to a life of comfort, Kong Shi trembled with fear, but still bared her teeth at Zhao Yi with false bravado.

Slap!

Miaoyin Zhenren, extremely disgusted with Kong Shi's malice, slapped her hard as she continued to bark despite her impending doom.

Miaoyin Zhenren detested Kong Shi, and although the slap did not use True Essence, it was by no means restrained.

An instantly bright red handprint appeared on Kong Shi's well-maintained face.

Wow!

Kong Shi spat a mouthful of fresh blood in pain, with a few white teeth mixed in the bright red froth.

"You little wench..."

Kong Shi seemed to go mad.

Amidst betrayal and isolation, and beaten up by Miaoyin Zhenren, her eyes showed no fear; instead, she continued to shout at Miaoyin Zhenren and Zhao Yi.

"You are doomed! You will all die!"

This time, even Miaoyin Zhenren noticed the problem.

Seeing Kong Shi's relentless cursing, Miaoyin Zhenren suddenly lost interest in hitting her.

Disciplining a poisonous woman was satisfying, but hitting a mere puppet was meaningless.

"Is she being controlled mentally?" Miaoyin Zhenren asked.

Zhao Yi nodded, "Kong Shi probably worshipped a 'spirit' known as Combat Puppet. With the spirit's power, she refined her kin into puppets, gaining the battle power of a Tier Nine Saint King Realm. Little did she know, in the process of turning her offspring into puppets, she herself became a puppet of that 'spirit'!"

Miaoyin Zhenren's expression tightened, "What an evil ghostly thing!"

Zhao Yi nodded, looking into Kong Shi's eyes, and suddenly said, "Combat Puppet, I know you can see me and hear my voice. Make this nagging woman stop; she's too noisy! You should know she can't kill me and will only make me more annoyed with you, maybe prompting me to hunt you down sooner!"

With these words, Kong Shi fell silent instantly.

The next second, an eerie voice that seemed like it was from thousands of people conjoined emerged from Kong Shi's mouth.

The Combat Puppet's "spirit" said, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, we can talk."

After the strange voice finished, Zhao Yi showed no reaction, but the person involved, Kong Shi, almost went insane.

Kong Shi's eyes were wildly darting, showing clear signs of panic and fear.

Seeing this, Miaoyin Zhenren immediately realized Kong Shi's current state was identical to her previously manipulated grandchildren, conscious but unable to control herself.

Miaoyin Zhenren laughed, "So you do know fear. I thought you heartless beasts didn't know what fear was!"

"Good to know you're afraid." Miaoyin Zhenren laughed wickedly, "Enjoy it, your good days are coming."

Miaoyin Zhenren recalled Zhao Yi mentioned that when a 'spirit' falls, the ones who sacrificed to it would face a Celestial Tribulation backlash.

Miaoyin Zhenren originally intended to kill Kong Shi, but now it seemed that killing her would be too merciful.

Better let her become a puppet, experience a fate worse than death, undergo a Celestial Tribulation, and finally be annihilated under Tribulation Thunder.

This is poetic justice!

Miaoyin Zhenren was just thinking about this when Zhao Yi spoke up.

He looked at Kong Shi and got straight to the point: "Someone of your kind told me this earlier. Their bargaining chip was to help me find your true form. I am satisfied with this proposition and am prepared to cooperate with them."

After Zhao Yi finished speaking, he said expressionlessly, "It's unfortunate you're a step too late! Just wait, we will find you soon and return you to chaos!"

"You can listen to my terms."

The Combat Puppet's "spirit" still sounded eerie; though the tone was steady, there was a sense of urgency.

Clearly, it wasn't secluded in the Buddhist Secret Realm.

It sensed the altar 'spirit's' demise, knowing this was related to Zhao Yi.

Therefore, it previously manipulated Kong Shi to stop Zhao Yi, hoping to kill him.

Unfortunately, Kong Shi failed!

When one plan failed, it devised another, seeking to cooperate with Zhao Yi.

Zhao Yi was somewhat surprised, "It seems you indeed possess some intelligence, at least more so than the altar I previously destroyed."

Knowing when to advance or retreat, understanding gain and loss, seeking favor while avoiding harm.

These common human traits are key in determining whether a being has high intelligence.

Zhao Yi did not expect the Combat Puppet "spirit" to be a cunning hero and was more determined to destroy it.

If such a highly intelligent, high-level being isn't destroyed before it fully grows, when it matures, everyone will perish!

Despite his internal fierceness, Zhao Yi remained outwardly composed.

He smiled and said, "I like dealing with smart individuals. Prepare your bargaining chip, and I will soon come for you!"

"Kong Shi" nodded mechanically, emitting a chilling, horrific laugh.

"As you wish, Your Highness the Crown Prince, my bargaining chip will certainly not disappoint you!"

Zhao Yi smiled without speaking, ignoring Kong Shi filled with terror and pleading eyes, and instructed the two Daoists, "Take her back, and those two poor souls on the ground as well. Return them to the Kong Family Patriarch. A family should be neat and complete."

"As you command!"

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