No one cared about the Heavenly Inquiry Sect’s opinion.

If not for the unknown whereabouts of the two Divinity Transformation cultivators, the other sects would have already started carving up the Heavenly Inquiry Sect right before their eyes.

This was the cruel Cultivation World.

Without sufficient strength, even a Major Sect would be suppressed.

The rise and fall of various powers, constantly in flux, was what created an ever more prosperous Cultivation World.

The Sect Master, filled with humiliation, escorted the visitors to Guest Welcoming Peak, then turned and went to Yunxiao Peak.

Unlike his previous arrogance and dissatisfaction, he now looked utterly exhausted.

"Junior Sister Song, something terrible has happened!"

He landed quickly on Yunxiao Peak and rushed over to Song Wanning. "Junior Sister Song, all those people want to challenge you. I’m afraid they’ll use dirty tricks to harm you. Why don’t you feign illness?"

"You’re the one in our Heavenly Inquiry Sect with the most hope of advancing to Divinity Transformation right now. That bunch of scoundrels definitely has ill intentions!"

He cursed a few more times, filled with righteous indignation, which made Song Wanning laugh.

After all, just a few days ago, the Sect Master couldn’t stand the sight of her and was secretly favoring Gu Qingyuan.

Now that Gu Qingyuan was unreliable, he had come to suck up to her.

’With someone like this as the Sect Master of the Heavenly Inquiry Sect, it’s no wonder the Sect has gone downhill.’

"Junior Sister Song, did you hear what I said?"

The Sect Master waved a hand, questioning her unhappily.

Song Wanning lowered her eyes. "I heard."

"Good. Right now, morale in the Heavenly Inquiry Sect is unstable, and the other sects are bearing down on us aggressively. Our Sect is in peril."

The Sect Master sighed as he spoke. "For now, we can only hope that you, Junior Sister Song, advance to Divinity Transformation soon and back up our Heavenly Inquiry Sect."

"By the way, can you contact the two Ancestors? My messages have all vanished like stones tossed into the sea!"

It was anyone’s guess where the two Ancestors had gone; there had been no word back at all.

Song Wanning shook her head, hiding the smile at the corners of her lips. "I can’t."

"They must be in some Secret Realm."

"Perhaps."

The Sect Master sighed again and warned her repeatedly, "If they challenge you, you must keep your cool and not accept!"

"I know."

Song Wanning had no intention of accepting the challenges anyway.

She would not do something like standing up for the Heavenly Inquiry Sect ever again.

The Sect Master left with a long face.

"Damn him! Martial Uncle just ascended, and he’s already got designs on you. In his dreams!"

The Sword Spirit spat in disgust, finding the Sect Master’s hypocrisy utterly repulsive.

"He’s lazy and hedonistic, neglecting his own cultivation, yet he expects you to guard the Sect for him. How can he be so shameless?"

Song Wanning’s brow arched slightly. "Pay him no mind. Once the Heavenly Inquiry Sect falls, he should disappear from this world as well."

"There’s no need to get angry over someone like him."

"Hmph, I’m just furious that he’s treating you like a fool!"

The Sword Spirit was born alongside Song Wanning; she was its sky, its faith.

It wanted to strike down anyone who hurt her.

Song Wanning smiled. "Let him jump around for a few more days. Once he’s been nailed to the Sect’s pillar of shame... it won’t be too late for him to disappear."

"Hehe, you’re right. Dying just like that would be letting him off too easily!"

The Sword Spirit let out a wicked little laugh, looking forward to that day more and more.

*

The next day, Yunxiao Peak received a visitor: Liu Yiyi.

"Wan Ning, I missed you to death!"

She rushed straight toward Song Wanning, a fresh, sweet scent wafting from her,

Song Wanning sidestepped, dodging her.

Liu Yiyi’s embrace met only air. She looked at her, a little surprised, a flash of doubt crossing her eyes.

But she quickly composed herself and asked with a pout, "What’s wrong? It’s only been a little while. Have we grown distant?"

"Or is it that you’ve just advanced and now you’re looking down on your old friends?"

Liu Yiyi was pretty and had a harmless appearance, which, combined with her quirky and mischievous personality, made her very likable. She had friends everywhere and made new ones constantly.

Song Wanning had once considered her an extremely good friend, telling her all her secrets and worries. But after falling into a desperate plight and seeking shelter from this former friend, she could never forget the ugly look on her face.

"Did you really think I considered you a good friend? You’re so naive! I was only using you because you know Alchemy!"

"Sometimes I really hate the sight of you! Why do you get the best of everything? The best family background, the best talent... even that face of yours is infuriating!"

"The only reason I got close to you in the first place was because my brother liked you! But I think his taste is terrible. You’re nothing compared to Ye Chuxue!"

"Luckily, my brother saw the error of his ways and didn’t waste any more time on you."

"Look, I’ve already notified the Heavenly Inquiry Sect. They’ll be here any minute to capture you, the traitor! HAHAHAHA—"

That crazed laughter, that savage expression—it was all made especially twisted by jealousy.

Human nature is a complex thing. Before one even realizes it, everything has changed.

Perhaps there had been sincerity at the beginning, or perhaps it had been exploitation from the start.

Song Wanning had collapsed internally, and her Heart Demon had grown stronger...

And it was all because of the person standing before her.

Heh.

’I haven’t even had a chance to settle the score with her, and Liu Yiyi has delivered herself right to my doorstep.’

A sinister, cold glint appeared in her eyes. She stared intently at Liu Yiyi, making Liu Yiyi’s scalp tingle for some unknown reason.

Song Wanning was clearly smiling as she always did, but that smile made the hair on Liu Yiyi’s body stand on end, as if she were being targeted by something.

’Does she know about the proposal I made yesterday?’

Liu Yiyi’s expression changed, and she explained in an aggrieved tone, "Wan Ning, are you angry about yesterday? I’m sorry, my hands were tied. Our Mountain Gazing Sect’s Sect Master demanded that I be the one to mention you. I really didn’t do it on purpose."

As she spoke, her eyes filled with tears, and she looked as if she were about to burst out crying.

"SOB SOB SOB—"

Liu Yiyi cried very "sadly."

The smile on Song Wanning’s lips deepened. Watching this clumsy performance, she was struck by how stupid her past self had been. To think she couldn’t even see through someone like this—no wonder she’d been forced down a path to ruin.

’It wasn’t an injustice.’

Thankfully, the Three Lives Mirror had helped her, giving her a chance to come back and correct her mistakes.

Song Wanning clenched her fingers and remained silent.

Her unusual reaction made Liu Yiyi’s heart skip a beat. She continued to cry while sneaking glances at Song Wanning.

Slowly, the tears stopped coming.

’Something is wrong with Song Wanning!’

Liu Yiyi stopped crying, her heart filled with suspicion, and she took the initiative to ask, "Wan Ning, the Heavenly Inquiry Sect is in a critical situation. If you don’t step up and accept the challenges, I’m afraid the sect will be in peril!"

In her heart, she hated Song Wanning’s comprehension and talent.

’How has it only been this long? Song Wanning is already at Nascent Soul Peak, two whole minor realms ahead of me!’

She wrung her hands, her features twisted with jealousy.

Suddenly, Song Wanning sighed and grabbed Liu Yiyi’s hand.

"I know the situation is critical, but my current cultivation... wasn’t achieved through conventional means. So—it wouldn’t stand up to scrutiny."

She gave an extremely subtle hint, and Liu Yiyi instantly seized on the key point, overjoyed.

’So that’s how it is!’

’Song Wanning’s cultivation was just propped up by pills!’

’In that case, she can’t blame me for using her as a stepping stone!’