’Gu Qingyuan’s poison has seeped into his lungs, Junior Sister Ye’s old illness still hasn’t healed, and now even I am gravely injured...’ 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

It was only then that Bai Yang truly understood how important his master was.

In the past, every time they were injured or poisoned, their Master had protected them. Coupled with an endless supply of top-tier Elixir Pills to consume, they could recover quickly.

Now that their Master had washed his hands of them, they repeatedly found themselves in dire straits.

Bai Yang clutched the Elixir Bottle, his determination to reconcile with his Master growing ever stronger.

He sat cross-legged on a small couch nearby, took an Elixir Pill, and began to heal his injuries.

「A few days later.」

Song Wanning returned to the Song Family.

Unlike in the past, the Song Family had become much busier. The remaining disciples within the clan were few, and they hurried about, the former lively atmosphere gone.

Song Qingyun, as the Clan Leader, still presided over the clan. The Clan Leader’s wife, Mu Yuan, had secretly left the Song Family under the pretext of entering seclusion for cultivation.

Seeing his daughter had returned, Song Qingyun was overjoyed. He quickly led her into the study, unable to hide the excitement on his face.

"Wan Ning, just as you predicted, there really is a Spirit Vein there! And it’s a Top-grade Spiritual Vein!!!!"

"Look, this is a Spirit Stone mined from the Spirit Vein!"

A top-grade spiritual stone, glowing with a rich golden light, appeared before Song Wanning. Faintly, it seemed to reflect her stunning face.

"So it’s a gold-attribute Spirit Vein."

She calmly accepted the Spirit Stone, her expression cool.

’In my past life, this Spirit Vein fell into Ye Chuxue’s hands. It became the foundation for her travels across the world and the source of her confidence to win people over.’

’But now, the Song Family has developed it first, and it will become the Song Family’s nourishment.’

"We must be extremely careful about the Spirit Vein. We absolutely cannot let other powers discover it, or they will certainly come to demand a piece of the pie!"

A Top-grade Spiritual Vein was simply too tempting. It was an opportunity, but also a source of trouble.

’The longer we can keep this a secret, the better!’

Song Qingyun smiled at her words. "Don’t worry, the people sent to mine are all trustworthy. We’ve told everyone they’ve gone out for training!"

"Even among the Song Family disciples, very few know the truth!"

The matter was of great importance. His wife had even gone personally to supervise, determined not to let any news leak.

"That’s good! We must now speed up the mining. The more we excavate, the better!"

Song Wanning’s eyes narrowed as a thought occurred to her. "After we begin mining the vein, Father, you must be willing to spend the Spirit Stones and urge the family disciples to cultivate diligently!"

"The Song Family is powerful, and many have long been jealous of us. A clan war is inevitable..."

’Back then, when Gu Qingyuan, Bai Yang, and the others led people from various sects and families to besiege the Song Family, weren’t they just taking advantage of the situation?’

’Those people had long since targeted the Song Family like a juicy piece of meat, just waiting for an opportunity to strike...’

"Alright, Father understands!"

Song Qingyun’s expression turned cold and solemn. The moment he thought of those people wanting to slaughter the several thousand members of the Song Family, he couldn’t conceal the killing intent in his heart...

"I will find a way to have them train hard! We must strive to endure when the crisis comes!"

"Also, I have been contacting some old friends recently. I hope they will be of use when the time comes... Relying on our Song Family to fight alone is not enough..."

He understood clearly. The enemy would come aggressively. Since they dared to lay siege, they must intend to massacre them completely.

No matter how fiercely the Song Family fought back, they couldn’t overcome the enemy’s superior numbers. Fortunately, they had prepared in advance and could contact other powers to make plans, so they wouldn’t be so passive.

Song Wanning nodded, a dark glint flashing in her eyes.

’As the head of the clan, Father has his own plans.’

’What I need to do is increase my Cultivation, so that when danger strikes, I can step forward and protect the Song Family!’

After bidding her father farewell, Song Wanning went to her personal courtyard. Although she hadn’t lived at home for many years, the courtyard was just as she had left it—the windows were bright, the furniture was clean, it was spotless, and the air was filled with the fragrance of grass and herbs.

Dismissing the servants, she entered her room and activated the courtyard’s restrictive wards.

The bead she had won at the auction lay quietly in her Storage Ring.

’In my previous life, Ye Chuxue was the one who won this item at the auction.’

’This time, I "stole it from right under her nose" and finally got my hands on it.’

’But having learned a lesson once before, I know very well that even if I have it, this item might not necessarily be usable by me!’

But Song Wanning was unwilling to miss the opportunity, so she decided to take a risk and test the item’s power.

’The Sect is full of strife and not as safe as home. Claiming ownership in my own courtyard is the best possible choice!’

Taking a deep breath, Song Wanning carefully took out the bead.

She examined it closely but couldn’t see anything special about it.

With a raise of her brow, she decisively pricked her finger, squeezed out a few drops of blood, and let them fall onto the bead.

The blood, which should have been absorbed, instead slid down the bead’s smooth surface.

DRIP—

The fresh blood fell to the ground.

Veins bulged on Song Wanning’s arm. A vicious aura uncontrollably rose within her, instantly filling her eyes.

It seemed as if it would devour her sanity.

However, it didn’t last for two seconds before she regained her clarity, forcefully suppressing the vicious aura in her heart.

"So you’re unwilling to accept me as your master?"

Song Wanning gave a grim smile, squeezed out a few more drops of blood, and dripped them onto the bead.

She had given herself one chance, and she was also giving the bead a chance.

But the bead remained willful, flatly refusing to accept her ownership. It even smugly shook off the bloodstains.

It was as if it were provoking Song Wanning.

"Heh."

Song Wanning laughed.

’As expected. These sentient items all choose their own masters. No one can use them except for the female protagonist.’

’If I just hold onto it, I’m sure it won’t be long before this bead finds its way back into Ye Chuxue’s hands through one method or another.’

That was something she could not tolerate.

Besides, this bead had cost her so many Spirit Stones.

How could Song Wanning let it go so easily?

"Since you won’t behave, then let me teach you what obedience means."

With that, she took the bead and walked into the Alchemy Room.

She restrained the bead, tying it above the Dan Fire so it had no chance to struggle or escape, then ignited the Dan Fire.

This Dan Fire was derived from an Abnormal Fire, its flames domineering and fierce.

As soon as the great fire flared to life, the entire room became unbearably hot.

The bead was being roasted in the middle. Although it couldn’t speak, Song Wanning could sense its arrogant and willful nature, as if it were saying it was not afraid.

Ignoring whether it would work or not, Song Wanning directed the Dan Fire at the bead and began to burn it intensely.

She had plenty of patience to slowly tame the bead.

If the bead truly remained stubborn, she wouldn’t mind destroying it directly. At worst, it would just be a loss of some Spirit Stones.

’If I can’t have it, I’ll destroy it. In any case, I won’t let it have the chance to return to Ye Chuxue’s hands and become a weapon used against me.’

With a carefree air, she pulled up a stool, sat down to the side, and admired the bead’s constantly changing luster in the light of the fire.