"Why would only bachelors put in their best effort?"
"Ning'er, think about it this way. The Heavenly Sound God Sect is made up entirely of female disciples. If they sent male disciples who already had families, and those men ended up catching eyes with the female disciples of the Heavenly Sound God Sect, wouldn't that cause all sorts of domestic troubles? That's why they absolutely have to send bachelors,"
"I think I understand now." Xiao Ning'er's cheeks flushed slightly red. This move of Nie Li's really was pulling the rug out from under someone's feet.
If one day all the female disciples of the Heavenly Sound God Sect ended up becoming Dao companions with the male disciples of the Feather God Sect, then the Heavenly Sound God Sect would practically become a vassal of the Feather God Sect.
"There doesn't seem to be much left to do here at the Heavenly Sound God Sect. Should I go pay visits to the other God Sects?" Nie Li murmured to himself. If the Heavenly Sound God Sect was gradually coming under his control, it was time to continue expanding his influence.
"Nie Li, what are you saying?" Xiao Ning'er hadn't caught what he said and asked with confusion.
"Ning'er, I suddenly want to discuss something with you," Nie Li said after a moment's thought.
"What is it?" Xiao Ning'er looked at Nie Li with a hint of curiosity.
"It's like this—I've been investigating something, about the
"The Black Devil Forest? The one southwest of the
"Yes, that Black Devil Forest." Nie Li sank into deep memories. In his past life, it was precisely Xiao Ning'er who had stepped into the Black Devil Forest and never come out. The other woman he had encountered in his previous life, Xiao Ning—for some reason, Xiao Ning'er had memories of her.
All of this was very likely connected to the Black Devil Forest.
Perhaps in his past life, after Xiao Ning'er entered the Black Devil Forest, she hadn't died. Instead, she had come to the Dragon Ruins Domain and met him there.
That was why, deep in his heart, Nie Li had always carried a thread of guilt toward Xiao Ning'er.
"I've been to that Black Devil Forest a few times," Xiao Ning'er said after a moment's reflection.
"You've been there? What's it like?" Nie Li asked in surprise.
"I never went inside the Black Devil Forest." Xiao Ning'er shook her head. "But every time I passed by it, there was always a voice, as if calling to me. Each time I drew near, I would feel this strange sensation."
"What kind of sensation?"
"It was as if I were crossing through time and space, becoming a different person. It felt like some tragic love affair had played out. Every time I passed by, my heart was filled with a kind of sadness and sorrow." A glimmer of tears welled up in Xiao Ning'er's eyes.
"Becoming a different person?" Nie Li paced back and forth, muttering to himself. "Strange. Why would you feel that way? Could it be that Ning'er can also sense her past life?"
"In my past life, did Ning'er perhaps feel the call of the Black Devil Forest as well, and that's why she stepped into it without hesitation?" Nie Li frowned. "If that's the case, then the concept of fate, and the concept of time and space, are truly worth pondering."
"Nie Li, what are you talking about?" Xiao Ning'er asked, bewildered.
"The Book of Time-Space Demon Spirit—what exactly allows me to be reborn? What is the underlying principle behind it?" Nie Li furrowed his brow in thought. "Could it be that time and space form some kind of circular structure?"
"What circular structure?" Xiao Ning'er asked, startled.