When Zhou Yuling had previously revealed information about Jiang Wenxing, Jiang Ye had speculated—

Reincarnators like Jiang Wenxing were likely active for extended periods within the mist...

And now Zhou Yuling had brought back more news—

The "Taboo" she witnessed was completely filled with mist!

So there was a high probability...

That some connection existed between those Reincarnators and the so-called "Taboo"?

Jiang Ye couldn't help but suspect...

That Reincarnators like Jiang Wenxing...

Could they all be [Privileged Ones]?!

Then...

The "Rebirth Day" mentioned in [Forbidden Body]...

Could it be related to the reincarnation cycle of the Doomsday Apartment?

The reason these Reincarnators achieved reincarnation was because they met the conditions for reincarnation on "Rebirth Day"?

This was the most obvious first layer of thought.

Logically, it was quite clear.

But when Jiang Ye thought deeper, he couldn't help but suspect—

The mastermind behind mass-producing [Privileged Ones] and having them resurrect on "Rebirth Day"...

Could it be the Nomadic Merchant?

Because based on current information—

The method for [Privileged Ones] to reselect permission identities was through "resurrection" after voluntary death.

But after voluntary death, they would inevitably drop the [Privileged One] Permission Iron Piece!

Such a mechanism seemed designed to encourage mass production of [Privileged One] Permission Iron Pieces!

And even if players didn't voluntarily die or reselect identities...

Then the identity they would most likely maintain long-term would be [Nomadic Merchant]!

So...

Could this large number of [Nomadic Merchants] also be what the mastermind behind "Taboo" desired?

In any case, no matter how he thought about it, Jiang Ye still felt—

This overpowered [Privileged One] identity, perhaps like the "Formless Leaf," still had hidden pitfalls.

And the one digging the pits wasn't Jiang Wenxing, but someone stronger than Jiang Wenxing and other Reincarnators.

Both Jiang Wenxing and the Reincarnators were in the pit.

Of course, those Reincarnators might also realize there was a problem.

But for the sake of reincarnation, they might not have a choice...

Thinking this far, Jiang Ye didn't continue delving deeper.

After exchanging glances with Zhou Yuling, they tacitly didn't voice their respective speculations.

Jiang Ye just asked another question: "Can you use [Free Movement] to sense where Jiang Wenxing is?"

Zhou Yuling didn't respond, immediately focusing on sensing.

After a moment, a flicker of surprise crossed her pupils.

She suddenly looked down at the ground beneath her feet, murmuring:

"The Jiang Wenxing I sense..."

"Seems to be beneath this soil!"

So...

He really wasn't dead!

He was even nearby, but for some reason, hadn't appeared!

Zhou Yuling's expression turned serious, and she couldn't help asking:

"Could the vibrations from beneath this ground earlier be Jiang Wenxing's doing?"

Mentioning Jiang Wenxing, her tone still couldn't conceal lingering fear.

However...

She had also realized—

Jiang Wenxing couldn't reach that special prison!

No, even if he used the Blood Mark to reach it...

That prison was Jiang Ye's territory!

So now, with the prison as his backing, Jiang Ye actually wasn't afraid of Jiang Wenxing!

Perhaps this was why Jiang Wenxing hadn't reappeared...

What was he trying to do? Reap the benefits without effort?

Zhou Yuling's expression remained grave.

But Jiang Ye didn't say more.

His gaze fell on the charred black soil, speculating—

If Jiang Wenxing was underground, perhaps he was searching for the black chains he had buried earlier?

Or perhaps...

Could he be searching for the prison?

Thinking this, Jiang Ye also vaguely suspected—

Could that unique Time-Stop Prison be beneath this ground, imprisoned within the endless roots of the "Formless Tree"?

Thinking this, he couldn't help but want to explore underground too!

However...

He ultimately reined in his thoughts, his gaze falling on the Permission Iron Piece in his palm.

Zhou Yuling also looked at the Permission Iron Piece, understanding dawning.

It had now been basically proven—

This [Privileged One] Permission Iron Piece could indeed be mass-produced.

But that mysterious strong player didn't seem to know about this.

Clearly, he wasn't a Reincarnator, but he had likely deduced the path to reincarnation through his own methods.

So...

Jiang Ye clenched his hand around the Permission Iron Piece and looked at Zhou Yuling:

"Uncertain if that guy has powerful detection methods, so I'll still send you into the prison and release him."

Zhou Yuling nodded.

So, with another [clone swapping], Jiang Ye sent Zhou Yuling back into the prison.

The swapped-out clone brought out the mini Small Wooden Doll sealing the mysterious strong player.

Jiang Ye quietly stared at the small doll.

After a moment, as expected...

Even though Zhou Yuling wasn't operating it.

The talisman pasted on the doll fluttered without wind.

Then, as if an invisible force tore the talisman away!

As the talisman detached, the small doll quickly enlarged, gradually transforming into the mysterious strong player's appearance.

His expression was quite gloomy upon recovery.

However, when he saw the surroundings had indeed changed from prison to beneath the Formless Tree...

The mysterious strong player's expression shifted repeatedly, finally suppressing all emotion as his gaze settled on Jiang Ye.

Jiang Ye raised an eyebrow, deliberately saying:

"What? You didn't think I'd go back on my word and deliberately imprison you forever in that prison?"

His tone completely implied the mysterious strong player was judging a gentleman by a villain's standard.

The mysterious strong player didn't respond immediately.

He pondered with a slightly darkened expression before stating with absolute certainty:

"That prison..."

"If I'm not mistaken, if Zhou Yuling as an 'outsider' had truly used Lin Ling's talisman on me."

"Then that talisman would never have taken effect."

"It was you, in that instant, who seized Zhou Yuling's body, so the talisman worked."

"You can freely enter and exit the prison, and you can ignore the prison's special rules."

His tone was calm and certain.

And that calm expression faintly revealed a trace of wariness.

He had truly been careless...

To actually agree to seal himself with the talisman.

That special prison was practically like Jiang Ye's exclusive "permission domain"!

Entering such a prison was like voluntarily jumping into a dragon's den or tiger's lair!

These were thoughts the mysterious strong player had during the moment of sealing.

At that time, he was utterly despairing!

Originally thinking Jiang Ye wouldn't let him go...

Yet unexpectedly, he had actually escaped the prison!

This...

Was bizarre!

Too strange!

Logically, since Jiang Ye had absolute advantage in the prison, he shouldn't have released him...

Yet, he still let him out...

The mysterious strong player appeared calm outwardly, but inwardly he was unprecedentedly cautious.

However, Jiang Ye didn't care about his thoughts.

He just waved the Permission Iron Piece toward the other.

Then stated directly:

"Since you're out, let's complete the transaction quickly. We've delayed too long already :)"

"..."

The mysterious strong player naturally wanted to trade too.

But Jiang Ye's smile was clearly suspicious!

Moreover, he had previously wanted to use the Permission Iron Piece himself, then have it drop...

But now, he didn't mention this at all?

Why?

Could it be that during his talisman sealing, Jiang Ye had already bound that Permission Iron Piece?

Countless thoughts flashed through the mysterious strong player's mind.

But ultimately, he didn't say much, just nodded cautiously:

"Then..."

"Shall we proceed with the transaction according to our previously agreed steps?"

Jiang Ye nodded, then asked: "For your 'blood-drip' process, do you still need to use a mirrored clone?"

The mysterious strong player thought for a moment, then shook his head.

The next second, his entire body directly froze into an Ice Sculpture.

The next second, from the Ice Sculpture he had become, a grain-sized ice crystal suddenly separated...

The ice crystal actively flew toward the Permission Iron Piece in Jiang Ye's hand.

Then, the ice crystal melted, transforming into a deep red, nearly black blood drop...

And that blood drop quite smoothly merged into the Permission Iron Piece.

The Ice Sculpture that completed the "blood-drip" restored to the mysterious strong player's refined appearance.

However, Jiang Ye clearly sensed the mysterious strong player's expression suddenly stiffen.

His eyes clearly flashed with hesitation.

He even sharply looked up at Jiang Ye, questioning sternly:

"Did you tamper with this iron piece?"

Jiang Ye guessed this guy, like Zhou Yuling, had heard the prompt.

Clearly he also suspected that prompt similar to binding a Temporary Identity might mean the Permission Iron Piece had issues.

But previously, Zhou Yuling and Jiang Ye had thought Jiang Wenxing tampered with the Permission Iron Piece.

Now the mysterious strong player thought Jiang Ye had tampered with the Permission Iron Piece during his sealing.

Jiang Ye didn't explain anything, just said lightly:

"I swear, I haven't tampered with this Permission Iron Piece."

"If you have doubts, you can simply choose 'No' and end the transaction."

This verbal "swearing" seemed completely useless.

But Jiang Ye's two sentences clearly revealed certain information.

The mysterious strong player immediately grasped the key, instantly realizing: "You've heard this prompt too?"

"Did you choose 'No'? Or did you choose 'Yes', then died and dropped the Permission Iron Piece?"

Jiang Ye raised an eyebrow: "I'm not obligated to answer your questions."

"But if you're willing to answer one of my questions, I can answer this question in exchange."

"..."

Mysterious strong player: "Ask."

Jiang Ye: "What does the prompt you heard say you're about to become?"

The mysterious strong player remained silent for a moment, then quickly answered:

"You are about to become a Nomadic Merchant, do you agree? Yes/No."

He directly told Jiang Ye the entire prompt content.

And this prompt content revealed quite crucial information—

The prompt Zhou Yuling heard was: You are about to become SVIP!

But for the mysterious strong player, it became: You are about to become a Nomadic Merchant!

This might be because...

When Jiang Wenxing died, the identity he replicated wasn't [Nomadic Merchant], but [SVIP]?

So the iron piece dropped after his death gave the SVIP prompt during initial binding.

And when Zhou Yuling died, the identity she replicated was [Nomadic Merchant].

So the iron piece she dropped gave the Nomadic Merchant prompt when the mysterious strong player bound it?

And this mysterious strong player didn't show the expected shock at the [Nomadic Merchant] prompt...

It seemed this guy indeed possessed considerable information.

But not complete, otherwise he wouldn't hesitate now.

After understanding this, Jiang Ye, as exchange, indeed answered the other's question:

"I chose [Yes]."

The mysterious strong player thought briefly, then stared intently at Jiang Ye for a moment.

Soon, he made the same choice as Jiang Ye—

[Yes!]

So, following a process similar to Zhou Yuling's...

A new prompt sounded in his mind:

[Congratulations on obtaining permission identity: Privileged One (Nomadic Merchant)!]

And accompanying this prompt...

A giant magic circle similarly appeared beneath the mysterious strong player's feet.

But unlike Zhou Yuling's previous situation—

His magic circle, from the moment it appeared, was directly in operation!

After operating briefly, the magic circle fixed on a specific pattern, then slowly disappeared...

And the mysterious strong player looked dazed for a moment, then suddenly clenched his fist, a flash of wild joy passing through his eyes!

Then, with focused expression, he clearly began checking the information corresponding to this [Privileged One] identity.

Watching this scene, Jiang Ye thoughtfully pondered.

Clearly, the mysterious strong player completed the [Privileged One] identity binding without needing chains.

So...

Zhou Yuling needed chains because of the prison's special characteristics?

So, the chains' function was indeed related to the prison?

And if Jiang Ye's speculation was correct, that the prison was trapped within the Formless Tree's endless roots...

Then roughly speaking, the chains were also related to the Formless Tree.

But now, the chains had sunk into Zhou Yuling's body...

A thought occurred to Jiang Ye, and the Jiang Ye in the prison suddenly said to Zhou Yuling:

"Try summoning the 'Formless Leaf' to see?"

Zhou Yuling tried, originally thinking it wouldn't succeed.

After all, the prison's characteristics were evident.

However...

Perhaps because that Formless Leaf was transformed from Jiang Ye, it actually summoned effortlessly.

Only...

When Zhou Yuling looked at the summoned Formless Leaf, she was shocked!

"This... what are these black patterns on it?"

"Did other strong players' acknowledged Formless Leaves also show this situation?"

Jiang Ye didn't answer.

But the answer was obvious—No!

So...

The chains that merged into Zhou Yuling's body ultimately ended up...

Manifesting on the Formless Leaf!

Beneath the Formless Tree, Jiang Ye stared intently at the mysterious strong player.

Sure enough, he saw his expression change unpredictably.

From initial wild joy to frowning contemplation.

Suddenly, he sharply looked up, his gaze complex when looking at Jiang Ye:

"This [Forbidden Body]'s second effect..."

"If I understand correctly, doesn't it mean players resurrected after death won't lose the [Privileged One] identity?"

"So, you also have a clone that obtained the [Privileged One] identity!"

"The Permission Iron Piece I used wasn't dropped by Jiang Wenxing, but by your clone!"

Jiang Ye smiled, not answering.

But he knew the mysterious strong player didn't need his answer.

After all, the facts were evident.

And these facts made him less worried about the mysterious strong player directly fleeing.

After all...

You have [Free Movement], I have it too!

You run? I chase! You can't escape even with wings!

Jiang Ye smiled slightly, then reminded:

"You might as well sense where Jiang Wenxing is :)"

Hearing this, the mysterious strong player stiffened.

Sure enough, Jiang Wenxing wasn't dead!

He was right beneath the vast soil generating this Formless Tree!

The mysterious strong player clearly carried a fear of Jiang Wenxing akin to bloodline suppression.

His entire expression inexplicably turned unpleasant.

But Jiang Ye didn't care what he thought, smiling again:

"Next, the transaction continues—shouldn't you completely hand over that Ice Crystal Tear Drop to me now?"