High Martial Arts: Gains one point of health per second, sweeping across the heavens.

Bai Zhi felt a little flustered when she saw that Su Jie remained silent for a long time.

She gritted her teeth and took another step forward, almost pressing herself against Su Jie's body.

She looked up, her eyes brimming with tears, her voice tinged with grievance:

"Does the young master find Bai Zhi beneath him? Although Bai Zhi's cultivation is low, she is still a holy maiden of the Heavenly Maiden Temple, and her body is still pure and innocent..."

What she said was true. She was selected into the Heavenly Maiden Temple from a young age. She was exceptionally talented and cultivated all the way without ever getting involved in worldly affairs.

The concept of female supremacy is deeply ingrained in the Temple of the Heavenly Maiden. Women are expected to be self-disciplined, dignified, and to cherish themselves as treasures, not to be easily given away.

She was influenced by this for countless years, and was later established as a saint, with a noble status, and has always been a high and mighty being.

Which of those men who admired her wasn't captivated by her words, and which of them wasn't easily rejected by her?

She has never been in love with anyone, nor has she ever been close to anyone.

Because she knew that the harder something was to obtain, the more precious it was, and the more precious something was, the more it could be used as leverage.

Bai Zhi looked at the man in front of her with an innocent expression, but she couldn't see him clearly.

He was neither like those fools who were easily bewitched by her words, nor like those aloof and cold old monsters.

The way he looked at her, while possessive, was mostly playful and cold.

This made her feel frustrated and uneasy, but it also made her more certain that this man was worth her investment of all her resources.

Upon hearing this, Su Jie thought to himself, "What a beautiful white lotus, and a white lotus that is about to bloom."

However, since you won't repay me willingly, don't blame me for resorting to physical punishment.

Su Jie spoke, his tone calm: "Holy Maiden? The Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Maiden Temple?"

He looked her up and down and chuckled, "Interesting. How did a saintess like you end up in this terrifying realm? Does your Heavenly Maiden Temple really trust you to risk your life alone?"

Bai Zhi was slightly taken aback, not expecting that this was what he was focusing on.

She lowered her eyelashes, her voice as soft as a sigh: "So what if she's a saintess... In the face of absolute power, she's nothing but an ant."

I want to become stronger; I don't want to always be someone's protector. So, I came.

She raised her head, a hint of sincerity appearing in her eyes. "I thought that with my strength and wisdom, I would be able to protect myself on this battlefield."

But I was wrong. The people on this battlefield are more ruthless, dirtier, and more shameless than me.

She bit her lip. "So, young master, Bai Zhi wants to follow you. If you need anything, Bai Zhi is willing..."

Su Jie chuckled inwardly upon hearing this. What a load of rubbish! She's gotten so used to being fawned over by sycophants in the Heavenly Maiden Temple that she thinks that with her looks, even a man who dominates the battlefield would fall for her act.

Su Jie spoke calmly: "Willing to what? Offer yourself in marriage? Or are you trying to scam me out of my universe crystals?"

Bai Zhi's face flushed red instantly. She hadn't expected Su Jie to be so blunt, and she hadn't expected that he had already seen through her thoughts.

Her lips trembled as she tried to explain, but found herself unable to utter a single word.

Su Jie smiled, took a step forward, and looked down at her. His voice wasn't loud, but it reached her ears clearly:

"You are indeed good-looking, and that's your only asset. But don't try to pull your little tricks on me; they won't work on me."

Bai Zhi's face flushed red instantly, but she didn't panic.

She lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, her voice carrying just the right amount of grievance:

"What you're saying, young master... Bai Zhi is merely grateful for your saving her life and wishes to repay you. If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do."

She raised her head, her almond-shaped eyes brimming with tears, yet stubbornly refusing to let them fall.

"Although Bai Zhi's cultivation level is low, she is still a saintess of the Heavenly Maiden Temple. She wouldn't stoop so low for a few cosmic crystals."

She paused, her voice even softer: "As for offering myself in return... if you really want it, what can Bai Zhi do?"

Bai Zhi is no match for the young master, and she can't escape either. Whatever the young master desires, can Bai Zhi refuse?

She bit her lower lip, a hint of shame and indignation flashing in her eyes, yet she still straightened her back. Her appearance, clearly frightened but forcing herself to stand up, was even more alluring than her pitiful look just now.

Su Jie looked at her and couldn't help but chuckle to himself. What a sophisticated white lotus flower!

These words not only cleared him of suspicion that he coveted the cosmic crystal, but also put the choice back on him.

I'm the one who wants to repay you, and you're the one who wants me. I didn't seduce you.

If you take me as your own, then you will definitely have to take responsibility for me in the future, otherwise the Heavenly Maiden Temple will definitely stand up for me.

Brilliant, truly brilliant. It's a pity she encountered Su Jie, who doesn't eat beef.

Moreover, she was of great use in winning over Jiang Yue'er, and Su Jie had a general plan in mind the moment he saw her.

Su Jie looked at him calmly and said coldly, "It's a fact that I saved you. Now I'll give you two choices."

Bai Zhi's heart tightened suddenly, and she subconsciously gripped the hilt of her sword.

"First, I'll kill you. That'll be repayment for the life-saving debt you owe me, and then you won't owe me anything. And, incidentally, I'll take the cosmic crystal you possessed."

Bai Zhi's face turned deathly pale instantly. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found that she couldn't even beg for mercy.

Because Su Jie's expression told her that he wasn't trying to scare her.

He really would kill her, without hesitation, as easily as he had just crushed those two Eternals.

"Second." Su Jie held up two fingers, his tone still calm.

"I'll give you ten breaths. Within those ten breaths, you must convince me that keeping you alive is more valuable than killing you. If you fail, the outcome will be the same as in point one."

Bai Zhi's pupils suddenly contracted.

Ten breaths? To persuade him? What does she have? Six high-grade cosmic crystals? They're nothing to him.

The identity of the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Maiden Temple? It's insignificant in front of him.

What else did she have? She bit her lip, looked down at her hands, and then at the curves that were faintly visible beneath her moon-white battle dress.

She suddenly realized that her only bargaining chip was herself—her appearance, her body, her pure and untouched soul.

Su Jie didn't urge her, but just watched her quietly.

His gaze was calm, devoid of greed or desire, carrying only a condescending scrutiny.

Su Jie knew very well that the way to deal with this kind of innocent-looking woman was to be domineering and forceful.

She needs to understand from the bottom of her heart that her tricks for manipulating men are worthless to him.

If you treat her nicely, she will take advantage of you; if you make her feel that she has an opportunity, she will take every step carefully.