Previously, Xu Qiye's entire attention had been focused on Xu Mang, and he hadn't considered this direction at all.
"Jiang Ye..." A hint of gloom flashed in his eyes.
"As long as I find an Opportunity to get close to Jiang Ye, as long as I approach him, the Supreme Bone within me will surely respond, and then I'll know whether the Supreme Bone is truly on him or not!"
Just as Xu Qiye's thoughts were racing, a clear, cold voice sounded in his ear, startling him from his contemplation.
"Xu Xiye, where did you go just now?"
Xu Qiye suddenly looked up, only to see Shen Luowan standing not far away, her slender, beautiful eyes like cold stars, fixed intently on him, carrying a hint of calculation and coldness.
"Second Princess..." Xu Qiye's heart leaped, and an ominous premonition surged within him.
Shen Luowan was suddenly asking him directly about his whereabouts.
And last night, she had stayed overnight in Jiang Ye's Divine Son Palace... Thinking of this, Xu Qiye was instantly filled with rage!
But given Shen Luowan's expression at the moment, Xu Qiye dared not show any outburst.
Looking at her face, he suppressed the turmoil in his heart, forced a slightly stiff smile, and said, "Replying to Second Princess, your subordinate was just walking around nearby."
"Just walking around?" Shen Luowan's tone carried a hint of mockery, and her gaze became even sharper: "Xu Xiye, this Princess asks you, who exactly are you?"
Xu Qiye's heart jolted at her words, as if struck by lightning.
He had never expected Shen Luowan to ask such a question.
Could it be that his identity had been found to be abnormal?
He took a deep breath and, feigning composure, said, "Second Princess, your subordinate doesn't understand your meaning. Your subordinate is naturally Xiye, your follower."
Shen Luowan approached step by step, her gaze calm yet profound.
"Xu Xiye, I ask you."
"Are you Xu Qiye?"
Boom!
Xu Qiye's mind roared, his heart feeling as if it had been suddenly seized.
"How could she suddenly suspect?"
"Could it be that yesterday, when she was in Jiang Ye's Divine Son Palace... she discovered something?"
"Damn it!"
Seeing his flickering expression, Shen Luowan became even more certain of her guess and said coldly, "You avoid my gaze, why? Who exactly are you?"
Xu Qiye's face instantly turned pale, like a blank sheet of paper.
"Second Princess... I am not Xu Qiye. I was lost to the outer domains since childhood, a nameless orphan."
"Oh?" Shen Luowan's gaze remained unchanged, "Then how do you explain the Supreme Bone on you?"
Xu Qiye whispered, "I once, by a lucky Opportunity, swallowed an ancient artifact, which contained traces of a Supreme Bone that underwent Fusion with me."
"Too coincidental." Shen Luowan's voice was as cold as ice, "You joined my ranks under the guise of a follower. I never doubted you, but you have too many secrets."
She paused, her voice slightly sinking: "Since that's the case, release your Divine Sense and let me verify the truth."
"Second Princess, no!" Xu Qiye opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but found that he couldn't find any suitable reason.
Fine beads of sweat began to seep from his forehead, and his heart was in a panic.
"Xu Xiye, this Princess will give you one last chance. State your true identity! Otherwise..."
Shen Luowan's voice suddenly turned icy cold, and a strong pressure emanated from her, like an invisible, colossal mountain pressing down on Xu Qiye, making it difficult for him to breathe.
Xu Qiye's face became uncertain.
He knew that he could no longer hide it.
Shen Luowan's perception far exceeded his imagination, and she seemed to have already grasped some information he didn't know.
"Second Princess..." Xu Qiye's voice was filled with bitterness and helplessness. He slowly lowered his head, finally giving up resistance.
After a moment of contemplation, he roared, "Your subordinate is indeed not Xu Xiye. My true name is Xu Qiye."
"As expected." Shen Luowan's tone remained cold and unfluctuating. "Then, Xu Qiye, what is your purpose in approaching this Princess?"
Xu Qiye's heart sank. He knew that everything he had planned would come to naught.
But he was still unwilling and wanted to regain Shen Luowan's trust.
He looked up, his eyes filled with pain and resentment, and said, "Second Princess, you don't know, I was originally a collateral Disciple of the Xu Family, but the Xu Family, in order to cultivate Xu Mang, actually wanted to seize the Supreme Bone within me!"
"I, a collateral Disciple with no power or influence, was utterly incapable of inheriting it, and could only be forced to mislead the Xu Family, hide my identity, and cling to life."
To increase credibility, Xu Qiye began to fabricate lies, pushing all responsibility onto the Xu Family.
He even tried to involve the Jiang Clan.
"The Xu Family is also inextricably linked to the Jiang Clan! The Xu Family and the Jiang Clan have close ties, so it's possible the Jiang Clan is behind it! The entire Xu Family is a group of villains who stop at nothing for profit!" Xu Qiye spoke with agitated emotion, tears streaming down his face, desperately trying to portray himself as a victim.
Shen Luowan listened quietly to Xu Qiye's narration, her face devoid of any expression, like ancient, unchanging ice.
Her outward appearance was sharp as an eagle's, seemingly seeing through Xu Qiye's true thoughts deep within his heart.
After a long while, Shen Luowan slowly spoke, her calm tone unsettling: "Xu Qiye, this Princess, considering that you have followed me for many years and helped me with many things, will pretend not to know about today's matter."
Hearing this, Xu Qiye's heart jolted. He quickly looked up, his eyes filled with anticipation, watching Shen Luowan.
However, Shen Luowan's next words froze him completely, like bitter ice.
"But, from today onwards, you are no longer my follower, and I, and the Divine Firmament Immortal Dynasty, will have no further connection with you!"
"Second Princess! No, please!" Xu Qiye immediately panicked. He quickly knelt on the ground, pleading bitterly.
If he lost Shen Luowan's protection, in these Myriad Domains of the Heavens where the strong prey on the weak, he would likely find it impossible to move an inch.
The Xu Family and the Jiang Clan were even more unshakeable behemoths!
However, Shen Luowan was unmoved, going straight to the point: "You merely wanted to cling to the power of my Divine Firmament Immortal Dynasty to help you deal with the Jiang Clan and the Xu Family, did you truly think I didn't understand?"
"Hmph! Xu Mang being attacked by Demonic Path cultivators a few days ago, that must have been your doing as well, wasn't it?"
"No... it wasn't me!" Xu Qiye immediately retorted.
But Shen Luowan didn't care about the truth; what mattered was that Xu Qiye's troubles were simply too great.
She couldn't handle them, and even a slight misstep could potentially drag the Divine Firmament Immortal Dynasty into an abyss because of this Xu Qiye!
"My Divine Firmament Immortal Dynasty doesn't want to get involved in your big trouble!"
"Get out!"
She merely gave Xu Qiye a cold glance before turning and walking into her residence, heavily closing the palace doors.
Xu Qiye knelt on the cold ground, his face ashen, his body chilling.
He knew that everything was too late.
"Damn it!"
"It must have been Jiang Ye who told Shen Luowan about me. What exactly happened? Is this Jiang Ye truly my destined nemesis!?"