’If she was guessing correctly, this desert was likely a region near the Demon Clan’s territory.’

’The two places had been swapped, and the Wuyou Sea had somehow ended up here.’

"According to the ancient texts, there are indeed array passages that can connect two locations, but we’ll have to try and see if we can actually find one."

Yu Cheng’s brows furrowed. Holding his Compass, he immediately began to search the area.

Song Wanning and Feng Lansi didn’t remain idle, joining the search as well.

After three days and nights, the trio finally came to a stop in a corner of the desert.

"According to the Magical Treasure’s guidance, we’ve already ruled out the places with the strongest array fluctuations. This is the only spot left!"

Yu Cheng pointed to the corner and took out several array flags, handing them to the other two.

Song Wanning and Feng Lansi had both dabbled in arrays, so they immediately understood his plan. Each took a flag and, following Yu Cheng’s directions, ran to different positions.

They inserted the array flags one by one into the spots Yu Cheng indicated. Once everything was ready, Yu Cheng took out over a hundred Spirit Stones and rapidly tossed them toward various points.

The Spirit Stones landed in their designated spots. After the final one settled into place, a wave of Spiritual Power suddenly enveloped the area for a hundred li in every direction.

The next moment, a vortex materialized out of thin air in the corner of the desert. A potent aura emanated from it—the distinct energy of a Transmission Array!

The three exchanged a look, their eyes lighting up. "Great! We found it!"

Feng Lansi laughed. "Let me go first and see what’s on the other side of this Transmission Array!"

With that, she took a leap and jumped straight into the vortex.

"We’re going too!"

Worried about Feng Lansi, Yu Cheng said this to Song Wanning before jumping in after her.

Song Wanning brought up the rear. She stared at the vortex for a few seconds, her thoughts unreadable, before her form flickered and she entered the Transmission Array.

The moment she entered the Transmission Array, she was hit by a dizzying, disorienting sensation, as if the stars themselves were shifting. She swayed back and forth, barely able to stay on her feet.

She decided to simply sit down cross-legged, which helped ease the feeling somewhat.

’But there was no sign of Feng Lansi or Yu Cheng. She had no idea what was so special about this Transmission Array that it could separate them!’

"Master, Master, are we really going to the Wuyou Sea?"

The merfolk asked, its heart twisting with anxiety.

’The Wuyou Sea vanished. What would happen to its beloved merfolk?’

’It couldn’t lose its little Jiao Jiao!’

"We should be able to."

Song Wanning didn’t dare to be certain. She was reminded of her past life, when Ye Chuxue had returned from her training and been selected to enter the Cangyue Secret Realm.

The Cangyue Secret Realm was filled with countless restrictive seals, but that also meant it was home to all kinds of opportunities.

Relying on that Immortal Artifact, Ye Chuxue had broken one seal after another, not only stealing the spotlight but also becoming the benefactor of many young prodigies.

Many people coveted her Immortal Artifact as a result, but for one reason or another, they all ended up as Ye Chuxue’s stepping stones, fueling her meteoric rise.

She and Gu Qingyuan had cultivated for seventy years to reach the Nascent Soul Stage, and they had been hailed as geniuses for it.

But Ye Chuxue and Bai Yang had a constant stream of miraculous encounters and endless opportunities... they reached the Nascent Soul Stage after a mere thirty years of cultivation.

’And her?’

’After falling to the demonic path, her countless clashes with Ye Chuxue had all ended in failure, yet she had always stubbornly managed to survive.’

’Back then, she’d thought it was just her own tenacious vitality.’

’Only later did she realize it was all because she was Ye Chuxue’s greatest stepping stone.’

’The day Ye Chuxue finally succeeded, she and the Song Family would no longer have any value and could be discarded at will...’

’The Heavenly Dao cast her aside like a worn-out shoe, determined to wring out her very last drop of value before her death.’

’How utterly laughable!’

Song Wanning took a deep breath. A flicker of Demonic Qi flashed in her eyes before she quickly suppressed it. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Whenever Ye Chuxue was involved, her composure was still easily shaken.

But she couldn’t be blamed. Ever since seeing through the Heavenly Dao’s intentions, she found it incredibly difficult to remain calm.

"Master, look!"

The merfolk suddenly cried out in delight. Song Wanning looked over and saw a white ring of light suddenly appear.

The moment she passed through it, ice-cold seawater rushed toward her, splashing against her face.

She took out a Water-Repelling Pearl and swallowed it. A barrier immediately formed around her, pushing the seawater away.

"It really is the Wuyou Sea! Master, we’ve made it to the Wuyou Sea!!!"

The merfolk cried out in joy, but it soon sensed something was wrong. "Huh? Why does the aura here feel so strange..."

It frowned in confusion as Song Wanning released it, allowing it to return to the familiar embrace of the sea.

"Heh..."

Hearing this, Song Wanning let out a self-mocking laugh as a flash of Evil Qi glinted in her eyes.

’To avoid me, to hand this opportunity to Ye Chuxue, they actually moved the entire Wuyou Sea into the Demon Clan’s territory!’

’They really went to great lengths, didn’t they!!!!’

She clenched her fists, her gaze turning incredibly sharp.

’Then bring it on. If I can ruin their plans once or twice, I can ruin them a third time, and countless times more!!’

She quickly calmed herself and tried to send a Communication Talisman to Feng Lansi and Yu Cheng, but she found it wouldn’t send. Something must be blocking it.

’It seems the place where Ye Chuxue gets the Immortal Artifact is very likely here in the Wuyou Sea!’

Song Wanning tried to extend her Divine Sense, only to discover that it was restricted on the seabed. She could only rely on her own eyes to survey her surroundings.

"Little Jiao, do you recognize the paths on the seabed here?"

She looked toward the merfolk, her expression frosty as she asked.

The merfolk nodded honestly. ’Master is so scary whenever she gets angry.’

It swallowed nervously and began to describe the layout of the seabed to Song Wanning.

"Let’s go check your old lair first."

Song Wanning didn’t know where Ye Chuxue might be, so she decided to fulfill the merfolk’s wish first.

’Since she had made a promise to the merfolk, she would not break her word.’

"Okay! I’ll take you there right now!!!"

’Master is the best!’

The merfolk thought excitedly.

’Even though Master is usually cold and scary, she’s actually very soft-hearted.’

Convinced it had its master figured out, the merfolk happily darted off, leading Song Wanning toward its old lair.

’My little Jiao Jiao, I’m back!!’

...

「Half an hour later.」

The merfolk hovered on the seabed, completely stunned.

Its old lair was gone.

The cave it had worked so hard to find was now just a pile of rubble. A school of Duo Bao Fish was nesting in the ruins. Not a single trace of its old home remained.

"Jiao Jiao? Jiao Jiao, where are you? Jiao Jiao!!!"

The merfolk panicked. It searched everywhere but couldn’t find any trace of the other merfolk.

Song Wanning frowned at the sight. ’Could Mo Wentian have captured that merfolk too?’

Just as the thought crossed her mind, the merfolk suddenly clutched at its chest in pain.

"Jiao Jiao! I can sense Jiao Jiao’s location!"

The merfolk’s eyes lit up. Without a second thought, it started swimming in the direction of the sensation.

After a moment of thought, Song Wanning followed it.

Little did she know, the place the merfolk was heading was the very place she was looking for.