Moreover, he was currently gripping Bei Li Mo's Demon Heart and could grievously wound her at any time, so there was nothing to truly fear. Regardless of who emerged victorious in that Soul Battlefield, the soul would inevitably return to the body standing before him.
"My concern is that time isn't on our side," the Dharma Body said, expression grave. "Xue Li and Yu Rumeng have already arrived in Yun Ying."
Yang Kai's brows furrowed upon hearing this.
As the master of this continent, the Dharma Body would only make such a statement if he had sensed something definite. Yu Rumeng's arrival wasn't of great concern — it was actually a good thing. It was Xue Li who gave Yang Kai a headache.
"Should I lure Yu Rumeng here?" the Dharma Body asked.
Yang Kai considered for a moment, then slowly shook his head. "No need. Don't let her know about what's happening here for now."
Despite the considerable protection Yu Rumeng had shown him on the Zhoutian Continent, Yang Kai still couldn't place his complete trust in her. Before the situation here became clear, bringing her here would only introduce more variables — her relationship with Bei Li Mo had never been good, and if she saw Bei Li Mo in her current state, she might very well seize the opportunity to deliver a killing blow.
He didn't even intend to tell Yu Rumeng after things were resolved here. It was always wise to remain cautious — that kind of vigilance might one day save his life.
But with both Demon Saints now in Yun Ying, they would inevitably find this place sooner or later. The only question was how long the Dharma Body could conceal the aura here.
"How long can you stall them?" Yang Kai asked.
The Dharma Body shook his head. "I can't stall them. They're currently searching throughout Yun Ying and will reach this area within half a shichen."
Yang Kai's expression darkened. "Transferring now would likely be too late." Bei Li Mo's aura still lingered here — even relocation would be pointless. All he could do was hope that the battle between Xuan Bing and Bei Li Mo would reach a conclusion within half a shichen.
The two fell silent, with only the Demon Heart clutched in Yang Kai's fist thudding away ceaselessly.
It didn't take half a shichen — merely the time it took to burn a stick of incense — when Yang Kai suddenly sensed a surge of soul power reviving within Bei Li Mo's body. Immediately after, those beautiful but vacant eyes regained their liveliness. As though feeling pain, she couldn't help but let out a muffled groan.
Her gaze focused, and she saw Yang Kai standing before her with a guarded expression, one hand already plunged into her chest, his grip on her heart so tight she couldn't draw breath.
"Bei Li Mo?" Yang Kai raised an eyebrow. Every person's soul aura was unique, and he could naturally discern whose soul had returned to this body.
What brought him some relief was that the sensation he had felt within Xuan Bing's soul spirit body hadn't faded. It seemed that, just as Xuan Bing had said, the Soul Imprint had indeed been transferred onto Bei Li Mo.
"Yes!" Bei Li Mo hissed through clenched teeth, her gaze blazing with fury as she glared at Yang Kai.
"So Xuan Bing is dead?" Yang Kai exhaled softly, not particularly surprised. Even Xuan Bing herself hadn't been confident she could devour and seize Bei Li Mo — this outcome was well within expectations.
"Disappointed?" Bei Li Mo sneered.
"Disappointed isn't the word," Yang Kai replied coolly, shaking his head. "To me, whether you live or she dies doesn't matter. Neither of you is exactly a good person."
Bei Li Mo took a deep breath, her full chest heaving, which tugged at the wound in her chest. Her delicate brows knitted together involuntarily as she looked down at Yang Kai's hand. "Could you remove your hand now? Don't you think treating a woman this way is rather rude?"
"You're a Demon Saint, not some ordinary woman!" Yang Kai snorted, but he didn't persist. As she had asked, he slowly loosened his grip on the Demon Heart and withdrew his dragon claw.
Blood sprayed outward, and Bei Li Mo let out another muffled groan, her face turning deathly pale.
Before she could even catch her breath, Yang Kai had already activated his soul consciousness.
Bei Li Mo immediately clutched her head and shrieked in agony. She raised her eyes to glare at him and screamed, "What are you doing!"
Yang Kai said flatly, "Testing just how powerful that Soul Imprint really is!"
"Stop! Stop it! Are you trying to kill me?!" Bei Li Mo shrieked hoarsely, her entire body crouching to the ground, trembling uncontrollably.
Yang Kai looked down at her with cold indifference. "Save the theatrics for someone else. I know the Soul Imprint alone can't kill you, but that doesn't prevent me from bringing you pain. Remember this feeling — if you ever dare harbor thoughts of acting against me, this sensation will follow you all the way to death!"
The Soul Imprint couldn't truly control Bei Li Mo's life or death, but it could restrain her actions. If she were locked in a life-or-death battle with someone and Yang Kai activated it at that moment, she would certainly die on the spot.
Her screams were utterly desolate, and it was clear she was in tremendous agony. An aura of killing intent burst involuntarily from her body, though she didn't dare act on it out of fear.
Yang Kai sustained the Soul Imprint at its maximum intensity for some time, but it still couldn't actually take Bei Li Mo's life — it merely made her wailing all the more pitiful.
After a short while, Yang Kai withdrew his hand. He had already tested the Soul Imprint's effectiveness. While it differed somewhat from what Xuan Bing had described, the results fell within an acceptable range.
Bei Li Mo lay on the ground like a heap of limp flesh, gasping for air, her entire body drenched in sweat. Her beautiful eyes stared vacantly at the sky, unable to focus for a long time, resembling a fish on the brink of death.
A gust of cold wind swept past, sending a chill through her entire body that made her shudder. Only then did she begin to regain her senses.