"It’s nothing."

Song Wanning gently beckoned, and the Storage Bag full of Spirit Stones flew into her hand.

A quick glance revealed a considerable number of Mid-grade Spirit Stones inside, likely far more than four hundred thousand.

Satisfied with their good sense, she gave a faint smile, then placed Bai Yang on a flying carpet and swiftly departed with him.

The flying carpet became a black dot, gradually disappearing from sight.

Yun Jin Yue clutched the medicine vial in her hand, her heart still filled with gratitude.

’We just injured True Monarch Song’s disciple, yet she helped us without holding any grudges. She’s nothing like the person the rumors make her out to be!’

The rumors always claimed Song Wanning was narrow-minded, capricious, and reckless, completely disregarding the lives of her fellow sect members.

’It seems it was all lies!’

’True Monarch Song would even help complete strangers like us. How could she possibly stand by and watch a fellow sect member die?’

’That sect member must have done something unforgivable!’

Yun Jin Yue quickly placed the elixir into her Storage Ring and led her companions in a hasty flight back toward Yunxiang City.

*

BAM—

Ye Chuxue plummeted into a ravine, the impact making her see stars.

"Hiss!"

Every inch of her body ached. She drew in a sharp breath and struggled to her feet.

’Where am I?’

She furrowed her brow, scanning her surroundings.

’The Thousand Miles Transmission Talisman has a random destination, and this one was defective!’

’Now there’s no telling where it sent me!’

Without a second thought, Ye Chuxue pulled out a Sound Transmission Talisman, intending to contact her Sect to rescue Bai Yang.

’I escaped first... I don’t know how those people from Yunxiang City will treat Bai Yang...’

’Yunxiang City... I’ll remember this. When my master awakens, I’ll make you pay!’

Ignoring her injuries, she sent the Sound Transmission Talisman on its way.

However, the talisman had only flown a few meters before it was suddenly struck out of the air.

"Who?!?!"

Ye Chuxue was shocked. She immediately fell into a defensive stance and backed away.

The next moment, a figure emerged from the nearby trees. It was Mo Yuan.

Mo Yuan wore a half-mask that concealed the markings on his face, leaving only one stunningly handsome side exposed.

She froze for a second, then immediately recognized him as the host from the auction house!

"It’s you! How are you here?"

She instinctively tightened her grip on her storage ring, her entire body tensing as if covered in spikes, warning everyone to stay away.

’He was the one who personally delivered the Elixir Pill!’

’He must be here for the Heavenly Yuan Nourishing Heart Pill, too!’

Ye Chuxue bit her lip. She never imagined a single Elixir Pill could attract one wave of trouble after another.

’Back then, Song Wanning had plenty of these Elixir Pills, and Master could get them with ease.’

’Who would have thought they were so precious in the outside world!’

"Hand over the Elixir Pill, and I’ll spare your life."

Mo Yuan’s expression was sinister, and his skin took on an ashen-gray hue that was deeply unsettling.

The Demonic Qi in his body erupted, swirling around him in black tendrils.

"You’re a Demon Cultivator? The Divine Walking Auction House actually dares to harbor a Demon Cultivator?"

Ye Chuxue’s eyes widened in shock, and her heart sank.

’A Demon Cultivator!’

’Demon Cultivators are notorious for killing without batting an eye. This is bad.’

"You talk too much."

Mo Yuan barely lifted his gaze, a bloodthirsty glint flashing in his eyes.

"Since you’ve chosen the hard way, I won’t hold back!"

With that, he lunged at Ye Chuxue.

Ye Chuxue was already injured from being surrounded earlier, and with the poison still in her system, she was practically running on fumes.

Within a few moves, Mo Yuan had wounded her and backed her into a corner.

Desperate, she could only take out the Magic Artifacts she had acquired over the years from her Storage Ring and, in a drastic move, detonate them.

The force of the exploding Magic Artifacts was terrifying. It severely wounded Mo Yuan, but the blast also sent Ye Chuxue flying.

"Pfft—"

She spat out a mouthful of blood, collapsing to the ground like a ragdoll.

Mo Yuan was also sent flying, spraying blood as he was blasted dozens of meters away. He slammed hard against a cliff face before rolling wretchedly to the ground.

The immense impact ravaged his internal organs and destabilized his Divine Soul, leaving him in agony.

He struggled to his feet, his eyes locking onto Ye Chuxue with bloodthirsty malice.

’A mere worm dared to injure me!’

Mo Yuan dragged his Black Cherry Long Spear as he walked slowly toward Ye Chuxue.

The tip of the spear scraped across the ground, creating a sharp, grating sound that made Ye Chuxue’s heart plummet into despair.

She raised her head to glare at Mo Yuan with murderous intent, struggling to her own feet.

’Even if I die, I won’t let this damn Demon Cultivator have an easy time of it!’

’If it comes to it, I’ll take him down with me.’

Ye Chuxue’s eyes flashed with grim determination. She pulled out a heap of assorted talismans from her Storage Ring. They were all low-level talismans, but used together, they could still cause some trouble.

At the same time, she reluctantly took out her few remaining Magic Artifacts and hurled them mercilessly toward Mo Yuan.

A flicker of shock crossed Mo Yuan’s eyes.

’Where did this bitch get so many Magical Treasures?’

’I thought she was just an ordinary Cultivator, but she’s a real handful!’

But there was no longer a chance to retreat. He could only face the attack head-on.

BOOM—

BOOM—

BOOM—

A series of explosions rang out, nearly leveling the entire ravine.

Ye Chuxue and Mo Yuan were both grievously wounded, sent flying by the explosions, and knocked unconscious on the ground.

In the instant before they lost consciousness, the same thought surfaced in both their minds.

’If I survive this, I will make sure they die without a grave!’

...

After the explosions, the ravine was a complete wreck.

Song Wanning sat on her flying carpet, casually scratching her ear. The explosions had been so loud they made her ears go numb.

Seeing that both of them were unconscious, she descended slowly. She scanned the scene, the corner of her mouth curling into a slight smirk.

Mo Yuan had used a little trick on the Elixir Pill to lock onto Ye Chuxue’s location. So even though she used a Thousand Miles Transmission Talisman, she still couldn’t evade his pursuit.

It had all ended in mutual destruction.

Song Wanning’s expression was placid as she strolled over to Ye Chuxue. She stared at the girl’s slender, pale neck. ’I really want to just squeeze it...’

’It would be even better if I could snap it in one go.’

Thick malevolence churned in her eyes. She closed them for a moment, suppressing the hatred in her heart, then squatted down and forcibly yanked the storage ring from Ye Chuxue’s hand.

But that didn’t seem to be enough to vent her anger.

CRACK—

Both of Ye Chuxue’s wrists snapped with a crisp sound.

Song Wanning got to her feet and viciously kicked Ye Chuxue’s body a few times.

’Besides, Ye Chuxue will blame Mo Yuan for all this in the end. It’d be a waste not to take the opportunity!’

A gentle smile graced her lips as she continued to vent her frustrations on Ye Chuxue. Finally, the stifling anger in her heart subsided a little.

She then walked over to Mo Yuan, and Song Wanning tossed a black sack at him.

The sack grew as it flew, enveloping Mo Yuan completely.

With a flick of her wrist, the sack flew up and landed on the flying carpet.

Song Wanning sat back down on the flying carpet, her eyes shimmering with a triumphant light.

’In this life, I wonder if Mo Yuan can still become Ye Chuxue’s loyal lapdog?’