Gu Qingyuan’s pupils contracted at her words, and veins bulged on his clenched fists.

He never imagined that he would one day be surpassed by his junior sister.

Even when he lost to Song Wanning last time, he had told himself it was only because he was desperate to save someone and hadn’t been fully focused on the fight.

But that last sword strike had shaken him to the core.

Just as Song Wanning had said, Gu Qingyuan had sensed the giant sword the moment it appeared, but he’d had no time to react before it struck him.

Its power was terrifying!

A sense of urgency surged within him.

His pride would never allow him to be left in the dust by Song Wanning!

"Junior Sister Song, you’ve advanced?"

The Sect Master and the others finally noticed this as well, their surprise tinged with guilt.

Just a moment ago... they had all tacitly sided with Gu Qingyuan.

Song Wanning’s sword strike must have been partly a demonstration for their benefit...

"Yes, I was fortunate enough to advance."

Song Wanning’s expression was serene as she shot the Sect Master a meaningful glance.

’This man has sided with Gu Qingyuan time and again. Does he really think I’m a pushover?’

A plan quietly formed in her mind. Her eyes took on a playful glint, and she curled her lips into a smile at the Sect Master.

The Sect Master shuddered violently as a chill shot up his spine straight to the crown of his head.

’Ever since that business with the elixir, Song Wanning has become more and more unsettling...’

He composed his expression. "Junior Sister Song, your advancement is a joyous occasion. However, Junior Brother Gu is your fellow sect member, and these junior disciples are innocent. You shouldn’t have been so heavy-handed with them!"

Leaving An Ze aside for a moment, Bai Yang and Ye Chuxue are the chosen prodigies of the Heavenly Inquiry Sect’s new generation. Yet, in the last six months, they have been injured by Song Wanning multiple times, their vitality greatly diminished, and they still haven’t recovered.

The moment Song Wanning came out of seclusion, she attacked them without any regard for the facts. It’s simply outrageous!

"Hurry up and give them some Elixir Pills!"

He used a commanding tone. ’If I don’t suppress Song Wanning’s arrogance now,’ he thought, ’the entire Heavenly Inquiry Sect will be hers to command in the future.’

"This whole affair was Li Rao’s fault to begin with. You can’t be so partial to her just because she’s your disciple!"

"You’ll only end up harming her by doing this! It will also make everyone mistakenly believe you’re the one pulling the strings, which will damage your reputation!"

In the past, no matter what Song Wanning did, Gu Qingyuan was there to keep her in check, so he never had to worry.

But that was no longer the case. He had to make Song Wanning understand the situation. No matter how large and powerful the Song Family was, the Heavenly Inquiry Sect was not her personal domain.

He certainly couldn’t let her run amok!

"That’s right, Junior Sister Song. What you’ve done violates the sect’s rules. By rights, you should be punished..."

As the Sect Master’s number one lackey, the Seventh Elder immediately picked up the thread.

"As Nascent Soul True Monarchs, we must lead by example. We absolutely cannot use our Cultivation to bully our fellow sect members!"

"Wouldn’t you agree?"

As soon as he said this, the spectating disciples all showed looks of approval.

’If Nascent Soul True Monarchs can just attack and kill fellow disciples at will, wouldn’t we be in danger in the future?’ 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"Junior Sister Song, we’re only doing this for your own good..."

The two of them teamed up, taking turns accusing Song Wanning of being unreasonable and bullying her sect mates.

Song Wanning was so angry she laughed.

"The Sect Master and the Seventh Elder are truly something else. When Gu Qingyuan tried to perform a Soul Search, that wasn’t considered bullying a fellow sect member?"

"Li Rao was the one in the wrong, and she stubbornly refused to admit it! Junior Brother Gu was forced to resort to such measures!"

The Sect Master flicked his sleeves and snorted coldly.

"Junior Sister Song, stop twisting words and forcing logic!"

The more Song Wanning protected Li Rao, the more the Sect Master felt she had something to hide, becoming even more certain that she was the one who put Li Rao up to it.

Now, the more he looked at Song Wanning, the more he loathed her.

Relying on the Song Family’s power and her own skill in Alchemy, Song Wanning had never shown them any respect.

And now she was utterly lawless, repeatedly embarrassing him, the Sect Master!

"Sect Master!!!"

Song Wanning’s eyes suddenly turned cold. "May I ask how the Sect Master determined that it was Li Rao who used poison? Do you have a witness? Physical evidence?"

"You have nothing, yet you condemn Li Rao as guilty based on your own speculation?"

"Is this how the Sect Master of our Heavenly Inquiry Sect administers justice?"

"So incapable of telling right from wrong... I’d say your time as Sect Master is about up!!!"

"Song Wanning!!!!!!!!!"

Killing intent instantly erupted in the Sect Master’s heart. His face was terrifyingly dark. "Are you questioning me?"

"Yes, I am questioning you!"

Song Wanning didn’t back down an inch, the flames in her eyes leaping higher.

"Someone who is deaf, mute, and biased is unfit to be the master of a sect!"

"You—"

The Sect Master’s eyes bulged with rage. If the Seventh Elder hadn’t held him back, he would have charged forward to fight Song Wanning.

’With so many disciples watching, how dare Song Wanning talk back to me like this!’

"’You’ what?"

Song Wanning sneered.

"The Sect Master and Seventh Elder keep saying I’m partial to my disciple, but aren’t you two the same?"

"If you want fairness, then you should let me perform a Soul Search on Ye Chuxue!"

"How about it?"

"No!!!!!"

Several voices cried out in unison.

The Sect Master, Gu Qingyuan, Bai Yang, An Ze...

They all rejected the idea in a panic.

"Master... Junior Sister Ye has done nothing wrong. You can’t perform a Soul Search..."

The Elixir Pill he had taken started to work. Bai Yang struggled to his feet and shook his head at Song Wanning.

He stood in front of Ye Chuxue, glancing at the timid and cowardly Li Rao with even greater disgust in his heart.

"That’s right! Master! It’s clearly Li Rao’s fault, so on what grounds should you search Ye Chuxue’s soul?"

An Ze also shouted from where he lay on the ground.

Even though he was terrified of Song Wanning, he still held his head high, determined to stand up for Ye Chuxue.

’Such a loyal dog.’

Song Wanning’s expression was mocking as she looked at Gu Qingyuan.

Gu Qingyuan felt a pang of guilt under her gaze and pursed his lips, explaining, "I was just trying to scare her..."

Without any proof, of course he couldn’t have actually performed a Soul Search.

He just hadn’t managed to bluff the truth out of her before Song Wanning appeared.

"Is that so? Then I’ll just have to scare her a little, too."

Song Wanning shrugged and started walking toward Ye Chuxue.

"No!!!"

The group instantly formed a wall in front of Ye Chuxue as if facing a great enemy, their expressions wary as if Song Wanning were about to eat someone.

Song Wanning was like a madwoman right now, completely unpredictable. They didn’t dare take the risk!

Protected behind the group, Ye Chuxue felt a surge of bliss, even though her body ached terribly.

Like a victor, she shot a provocative glance at Song Wanning.

’So what if Song Wanning acts crazy and aggressive?’

’Everyone is on my side!’

’Song Wanning is nothing but a loser!’

Receiving the taunt, Song Wanning’s eyes curved into crescents and the corners of her lips hooked up slightly. In the next instant, with a wave of her hand, she sent the men in front of her flying.

An instant later, she appeared beside Ye Chuxue and brought her palm down before the other woman’s terrified eyes.

"Don’t!"

Everyone cried out in alarm and attacked her in unison.

The disciples were even more terrified, their faces drained of color as they scrambled back, not daring to get any closer.