"Do you consider that an attack?" Bai Yueyi stopped in her tracks and shook her head slightly: "That wasn't an attack."

"Just like for you humans, breathing is not an attack, drinking water is not an attack, eating is not an attack, reproduction is not an attack... these are instincts."

"Your illusion record has entered a certain range, and it has naturally become active."

Chen Jing tried to keep his gaze above the other's neck: "Then why did it attack me?"

"Because it's alive." Bai Yueyi's voice was hollow and ethereal, like an echo in an empty valley: "What do you consider to be alive?"

Chen Jing was somewhat puzzled. After thinking for a moment, he quickly said, "To be alive means to have one's own life?"

“You’ve said nothing at all.” Bai Yueyi shook her head. “I can continue to ask you what it means to have one’s own life.”

Chen Jing looked into Bai Yueyi's eyes: "Because some words are self-evident, like living and life. If you keep asking about the meaning of a certain word, you will always need a new word to explain it."

“As long as the ‘Tao’ is self-evident.” Bai Yueyi’s eyes remained unwavering. “It was my question that was wrong. I should have asked you, what are the characteristics of living, or rather, of life?”

Chen Jing thought for a moment, then tentatively asked:

"Can it draw resources from the outside world to maintain its existence, and at the same time replicate itself in the environment as much as possible?"

These words left Bai Yueyi speechless.

She paused for a short while before speaking:

"You're referring to the 'survival' characteristic of life—preserving itself, surviving, and reproducing. But not all life forms possess this characteristic. For example, some ancient gods and demons are simply living spiritual energy, existing naturally without needing to draw resources or energy."

"But there is one characteristic that is more important than 'survival'."

She looked at Chen Jing again, and the two looked at each other. This time, Chen Jing finally read something called "gaze" in her eyes.

His gaze was quite complex, but Chen Jing couldn't decipher its meaning.

“That is free will.” Bai Yueyi revealed her answer: “Even if the phantom you create doesn’t have real ‘intelligence’ after it comes to life, it still has free will. So-called free will is resistance to manipulation.”

"Because you tried to manipulate it, it naturally rebelled against you."

Chen Jing frowned, his mind racing:

"If what Bai Yueyi said is true, then she meant no harm, and the previous battle was just a misunderstanding... No, we can't be completely sure of that possibility. She appeared as a very beautiful woman, almost perfectly matching my aesthetic standards, and she immediately found a reason to praise me, all to increase my favorability towards her. In addition, she told me that she hadn't spoken to anyone for a long time, which may also be to evoke my sympathy and make me trust her. If that's the case, then her explanation is problematic, and her purpose is just to dispel my doubts."

"But why?"

"Bai Yueyi claims that her power can see my 'history,' but the history she sees only seems to include what I experienced after the time travel, not my inner thoughts or my experiences before the time travel... My biggest secret is clearly the 'source of darkness' and the 'time travel,' not the 'assassination on the big ship.'"

"There are two possibilities: either she really didn't see it, or she saw it but pretended not to..."

At this moment, Bai Yueyi suddenly spoke:

"You've been thinking for too long. What are you thinking about?"

Chen Jing snapped out of his thoughts and casually replied:

"I'm wondering, Miss Bai Yueyi, why did you suddenly appear and tell me all this?"

"Oh?" Bai Yueyi covered her mouth with her hand, concealing a small smile. "Do you have any guesses?"

After sorting out his thoughts, Chen Jing said, "Miss Bai Yueyi, you mentioned 'free will' and believe that it is the greatest characteristic of being alive. Moreover, Miss Bai Yueyi, you are obviously alive, which proves that you believe that 'free will' is the most important thing to you, even more important than survival."

"And according to my guess, the ultimate purpose of the series of blood sacrifice rituals carried out in Ash City should be to control and manipulate you, Miss Bai Yueyi."

"So, Miss Bai Yueyi, your goal is naturally to resist his manipulation."

Bai Yueyi smiled and said, "It is indeed time-saving and effortless to talk to smart people. But you seem to be hiding something and not saying some things."

"Although you kept your eyes fixed on mine, your left hand was unconsciously in your pocket the whole time. This means you don't trust me and are unwilling to reveal your true feelings."

"The 'speech state' disguise that comes with the Blood Realm Dao Qi can only disguise your speech state, at most including facial expressions, but it will still expose problems in many details."

"Chen Jing, why can't we be honest with each other? At least I've already done that for you."

Chen Jing took his hand out of his pocket and said helplessly, "Miss Bai Yueyi, may I ask you a few questions?"

“Of course, we still have plenty of time.” Bai Yueyi nodded. “Just call me Bai Yueyi, there’s no need to be so formal, and add ‘Miss’ to my name.”

"My first question, Miss Bai Yueyi, is it possible for you to control your own animated phantom?" Chen Jing asked.

Bai Yueyi nodded: "I can manipulate it, but only if I am not sealed. When I am sealed, the only living phantom I can actually manipulate is the one in front of you right now."

“Miss Bai Yueyi, my second question is, can you create illusions, or create other things that you can bring to life?” Chen Jing continued to ask.

Bai Yueyi said helplessly:

“Originally, it was possible. In fact, what I activated was not illusion, but ‘history.’ Therefore, ‘creation’ or ‘manufacturing’ is not appropriate. The most accurate word should be ‘record.’ Before I was sealed, I could record the history that had happened, carry it in the form of paper and pictures, and consume it when needed to activate it.”

"Actually, you've already witnessed this ability. At the Qi Realm of the Cosmic Qi, one can already record and use spells. The angel you fought at the beginning was a Qi Realm cultivator of the Cosmic Qi. Some Cosmic Qi cultivators even record many relatively simple and monotonous spells together on a special talisman called a 'Spell Card.' Using a Spell Card allows one to release many spells at once."

"The reason your illusion is activated is because you are recording a real, historical entity, not a virtual illusion you created."

So, the wandering souls of slaves were also a real historical fact? Chen Jing pondered, but did not ask the question aloud.

He had more important questions to ask:

“Miss Bai Yueyi, since these are illusions, drawing them can be considered a record of history. As long as the recorded history is real, it doesn’t matter what medium is used, right?”

"So, does a corpse count as a historical record of the person?"