"Hmph."

The shadow laughed coldly.

"Looks like you're not an idiot. I thought you wouldn't figure it out."

"How did you..."

The Divine Phoenix was taken aback. She had thought someone else was behind the attack. She felt Lan Zhengqing had neither the need nor the reason to attack her. Was it really necessary for him to try to kill her just because she was leaving?

Scenes from her encounters with Lan Zhengqing replayed in her mind like a slideshow.

The more she thought about it, the stranger it seemed; the more she thought about it, the more off it felt.

They had been attacked by Blood Demon Wolves, and Lan Zhengqing had appeared out of nowhere like a god descending from the heavens.

This feeling... it was as if Lan Zhengqing already knew their location in advance.

Could it be that this guy had been stalking them and only stepped in when he saw them in danger?

It was highly probable; she hadn't liked Lan Zhengqing from the first time they met. If not for Zhu Ruoling's repeated explanations, she would never have trusted such a shady character.

But thinking like this, something still seemed off. Why wouldn't Lan Zhengqing let her leave?

She pondered for a moment. Instead of guessing blindly here, it would be quicker to ask Lan Zhengqing directly.

This guy had chosen to reveal his identity and appear before her, which meant he was prepared.

There was no way he would be afraid of her questioning!

Moreover,

She could sense that he was extremely confident, exuding a mysterious sense of self-assurance as if he actually wanted her to ask about the truth.

Because,

He thought that she posed no threat anymore, so he could say everything without reservation.

"Lan Zhengqing, what exactly do you want to do?"

Lan Zhengqing smirked, his expression quite amusing. However, the Divine Phoenix couldn't see this; she could only see the shadow with hands behind its back, slowly circling the frozen "coffin."

Even without seeing the other person's expression, the Divine Phoenix could guess just how mocking it was.

"This Frost Sky Formation is indeed formidable, rendering you helpless. It took two heavy blows without leaving a scratch, which is quite impressive. I haven't seen the Frost Sky Formation for a long time. After all, not everyone is qualified to use it. You, a mere ant, trapped by the Frost Sky Formation—it's your honor."

"Lan Zhengqing, cut the crap and get to the point already. What's going on!" The Divine Phoenix shouted impatiently, extremely displeased with Lan Zhengqing's ramblings.

"Trash is indeed trash, just like Lin Fan's useless demeanor. It's really killing me," Lan Zhengqing sighed, shaking his head, suddenly bending down to approach the Frost Sky Formation.

Through the ice wall, the Divine Phoenix clearly saw Lan Zhengqing's smug face and his gaze filled with contempt!

She immediately clenched her fist, her eye twitching angrily.

"Heh, what's the use of being angry? If you have the ability, come out. You're just an ant. What right do you have to look at me like that? Believe it or not, I could keep you trapped in this Frost Sky Formation for a lifetime!"

"You..." The Divine Phoenix was startled, her eyes going wide.

If truly trapped in this formation for a lifetime, wouldn't that mean dying in loneliness and solitude?!

Moreover,

There was no telling about Lin Fan's fate. If Lin Fan wasn't dead, he probably wouldn't guess she was imprisoned in the Water Clan.

What to do?! Must she really be trapped here for a lifetime?!

Lan Zhengqing straightened up with a sneer, once again circling the Frost Sky Formation, checking for any anomalies.

After confirming everything was in order, he finally stopped.

"Do you want to know why I brought you back to the Water Clan?"

"Why?" The Divine Phoenix asked through gritted teeth.

"It's simple, for power."

Lan Zhengqing's voice was faint, very calm, and composed, carrying a hint of longing and aspiration, revealing the last two words.

"Power?" The Divine Phoenix was stunned, not understanding what this meant.

"That's right. Power, supreme power! By bringing you all back, I'll soon grasp supreme power. Just thinking about it excites me."

"What do you mean?" The Divine Phoenix sensed something was wrong. Lan Zhengqing seemed like a different person, possessed by madness, consumed by greed, completely unlike his previous gentlemanly demeanor.

Horrifying.

Absolutely horrifying.

Chillingly terrifying.

She knew that beneath that exterior lay a completely different soul. She just didn't expect this soul to be so terrifying, with such an intense hunger for power.

"You don't need to know the specifics. All you need to know is that you are all pawns in my hands. Of course, I will thank you. Without you, I wouldn't achieve the success that's coming." Lan Zhengqing said with a grotesque smile, chuckling sinisterly.

"We... us?!" The Divine Phoenix sensed something off, suddenly pressing against the ice wall, shouting furiously. "What do you mean, us?! What have you done to Zhu Ruoling?! Don't you know she is the daughter of Zhu Sui from the Fire Clan? If you dare touch a hair on her head, Zhu Sui will never forgive you!"

"Fire Clan? Zhu Sui? Hahaha!" Lan Zhengqing burst into laughter. "Do you think I still fear the Fire Clan or Zhu Sui now?! You truly have no idea what supreme power means."

Gulp.

The Divine Phoenix swallowed hard, her eyes wide with shock, dumbfounded.

At that moment, she finally understood what was happening. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

It turned out Lan Zhengqing's target all along was Zhu Ruoling!

And her attempt to take Zhu Ruoling away was why Lan Zhengqing attacked her!

Imprisoning her within this Frost Sky Formation was his way to ensure she wouldn't take Zhu Ruoling away again.

This guy's target all along had been Zhu Ruoling... how had she been so dense not to realize it until now!

She should have thought of it sooner!

Although she still didn't know how Lan Zhengqing intended to fulfill his greed, she could be sure it was definitely related to Zhu Ruoling.

And probably tied to the Fire Clan...

The Divine Phoenix glared angrily at Lan Zhengqing's shadow, her body trembling slightly.

"Afraid now?"

"What exactly are you planning to do?"

"That's my secret, I can't tell you. If you really want to know, I can tell you, but you would have to stay in this Frost Sky Formation for a lifetime. Is that okay?"

"Despicable scoundrel!"

"Heh, I don't care how you curse me because I don't see an ant like you as worth my attention. Enough, I'm too lazy to talk with you further. I only came to see if you had awakened, ended up saying too much by accident. I advise you, stop meddling."

Lan Zhengqing left those cold words behind, turning to walk back the way he came.

Just as he was about to leave,

Suddenly!

The door burst open, and another shadow stumbled in, crashing right into Lan Zhengqing.

"Can't you watch where you're going?! Trying to get yourself killed?!"

"Youn...young master... i-it's bad..."

The person shakily got up from the ground, hurriedly whispering something into Lan Zhengqing's ear.

Lan Zhengqing's expression changed drastically, involuntarily shouting.

"What?! Lin Fan?! How... how could he be here?!"