In Zhao Shuning's hand, the glistening object was Yuan Xin's spiritual root.
For a spiritual pharmacist, the spiritual root was like their lifeblood. Without it, their spiritual power would be useless.
"Your Majesty, I beg you. I beg you. As long as you spare my spiritual root, I'll do anything for you," Yuan Xin pleaded.
Zhao Shuning rolled up the sleeve of her right arm and said softly, "Really?"
At this moment, Yuan Xin's expression changed.
He looked at the Soul - Condensing Pearl on Zhao Shuning's right hand in panic. Surprise and shock were all over his face.
Zhao Shuning was naturally puzzled by Yuan Xin's sudden change of expression.
"Yuan Xin, what are you up to?"
At this time, Yuan Xin stared at the Soul - Condensing Pearl and stammered, "Soul - Reversing - Soul - Reversing Pearl Chain. You, you—"
Zhao Shuning looked at the four pearls in her hand. These were the Soul - Condensing Pearls that Zhao Huai had given her. Later, after Zhao Huai had an accident, the pearls had fallen to the ground and cracked. So, compared with the original Soul - Condensing Pearls, they were indeed quite different.
But even if the Soul - Condensing Pearls were rare, Yuan Xin was a man who had seen the world. How could he show such an expression?
Zhao Shuning couldn't figure it out.
"You're still pretending! You're not Ye Ling. You're her. And now you're still pretending," Yuan Xin suddenly shouted like a madman.
Zhao Shuning frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"You were the one who told us how to deploy and how to harm the Empress Ye Ling back then. Now, you've transformed into Ye Ling's appearance and want to kill me, Yuan Xin, off completely? How could I forget that you can transform into thousands of people's appearances? Naturally, you can transform into Ye Ling's appearance to deceive me now. Your acting is really good, but you've still revealed yourself," Yuan Xin ranted.
Zhao Shuning was utterly confused.
She took a step forward.
Yuan Xin took five or six steps back.
"What are you talking about? What on earth do you mean?"
Yuan Xin suddenly burst into laughter. Then, his tears flowed down his face along with his laughter.
He started to mutter to himself.
"I know that no one can escape if they're your prey."
"Senior, you're already a supreme existence in the Eastern Swamp Wilderness and on the Nine - State Continent, second only to the Emperor. Why? Why do you still play these games with us?"
Zhao Shuning still didn't understand.
The more Yuan Xin talked, the more confused she became.
Moreover, based on her understanding of Yuan Xin, he didn't seem to be lying.
Obviously, Yuan Xin's mind was on the verge of a complete breakdown.
"Yuan Xin, are you out of your mind? You can even mistake me," Zhao Shuning said.
Yuan Xin roared, looking terrified.
"Don't come closer. Yes, you do look very much like Ye Ling, as if you were carved out of the same mold. But Senior, that Soul - Reversing Pearl Chain is such a precious thing to you. No one dares to touch it. I don't know why you've gone to so much trouble to play with me today, but I already know it's you. No one else but you dares to wear this Soul - Reversing Pearl Chain."
Zhao Shuning reached out her hand.
But Yuan Xin stood up in terror and ran away in a hurry.
Then, he looked at Zhao Shuning with a desperate expression.
"I won't be your plaything. You just want to see me suffer, right? It's impossible. I'll never give my life to you forever," Yuan Xin said.
After saying this, Yuan Xin actually activated his spiritual power on his own. Risking the destruction of his own spiritual root, he broke the circle of spiritual power that bound him.
At the same time, due to the erosion of the spiritual power, Yuan Xin's spiritual root suddenly swelled several feet and then exploded on the spot.
Yuan Xin's spiritual root was destroyed.
It wasn't Zhao Shuning who did it.
Yuan Xin knew that breaking free from the spiritual power restraint might damage his spiritual root, but he still did it.
Sure enough, his spiritual root was completely destroyed.
Zhao Shuning's spiritual power suddenly returned to her body.
She quickly looked across. Yuan Xin's pupils moved.
Then his mind began to scatter, and all the spiritual power around him faded away.
Who on earth was the person Yuan Xin had just mentioned?
Why was he so afraid of that person?
Because of that person, he even destroyed his own spiritual root?
What kind of existence could make Yuan Xin so afraid?
At this moment, countless questions popped up in Zhao Shuning's mind. She wanted to step forward and ask Yuan Xin clearly, but Yuan Xin suddenly stood up.
It startled Zhao Shuning.
Miao Xi quickly stepped forward and placed her hand on Yuan Xin's wrist. There was no trace of spiritual power. The family head had actually destroyed his own spiritual root.
"How could this be?"
Miao Xi looked at Zhao Shuning.
Then she turned back and asked, "Family Head, how do you feel now?"
Yuan Xin turned back, looked at Miao Xi, and suddenly burst into laughter.
He didn't seem to be faking it. Before Miao Xi could react, Yuan Xin reached out his hands and hugged Miao Xi, muttering, "Daughter, Daddy sees you."
"Hehe, Xin'er, Daddy will take you to see something fun and eat something delicious. Okay?"
Yuan Xin looked at Miao Xi, his eyes full of a father's love for his daughter.
Zhao Shuning called out, "Family Head Yuan?"
Yuan Xin turned back, looked at Zhao Shuning, and quickly squatted down, covering his head with his clothes.
Then he said in a panic, "Lan Ran, Lan Ran, don't come looking for me. I was wrong. I was really wrong."
Zhao Shuning wanted to say something else. She looked at the Phoenix, and the Phoenix shook its head at her. She knew that it was useless to say anything at this time.
Yuan Xin had gone crazy.
Truly crazy.
The people present smelled a stench of urine.
They covered their noses and looked for the source of the smell.
Finally, they found that the person who had peed his pants in public was Yuan Xin, who was crouching on the ground with his head in his hands, constantly begging for mercy.
Who would have thought that the head of the prestigious Yuan family would end up like this one day.
Miao Xi also took many steps back because of the smell.
Yuan Xin had gone crazy. Maybe he had been under a lot of pressure recently.
The Xin'er and Lan Ran in his mouth might be the people he valued most in his heart, but he just hadn't realized it before.
"Xin'er, where are you going?"
Seeing that Miao Xi was about to leave, Yuan Xin lunged at her.
Seeing this, Miao Xi turned around and ran.
Yuan Xin chased after Miao Xi and ran farther and farther away.
Zhao Shuning sighed, flipped onto the back of the Phoenix, and said to the people of Shengjing City, "I've said that I'll surely keep my promise. Among the Yuan family's subordinates, there are also loyal and righteous people. But the evil deeds that Yuan Xin has done are more than what you've seen. From today on, the Inspection Department of Daliang will take over this place. They will surely enforce the law impartially. If you're not convinced or feel wronged, you can submit a petition directly to the Zhao family in Linjiang. They will seek justice for you."
Zhao Shuning patted the back of the Phoenix.
The Phoenix turned around, leaped into the air, and soared into the sky. In an instant, it disappeared from everyone's sight.
Zhao Shuning had long said that good and evil would eventually be rewarded. When you do evil deeds, you should think about the bad consequences you'll face in the future.