He had to make a big show of his supposed feelings for the whole world to see, but those feelings were riddled with ulterior motives.

He was clearly after the Song Family, yet he insisted on acting so deeply in love.

And he always acted as if Song Wanning would have to be blind to pass him up.

It was utterly disgusting.

Her eyes glinted. ’Even if Gu Qingyuan is a pile of shit, this Liu Yao is no better! Don’t think I didn’t see the silent exchange between those siblings. It’s obvious they’re plotting against me.’

"Heh. Mr. Liu, what is the meaning of this?"

"Your sister lost. Are you here to stand up for her?"

Song Wanning didn’t answer his question directly, instead questioning his purpose for coming onto the stage.

She never intended to fight for the Heavenly Inquiry Sect’s honor in the first place. This was about settling a private score under the guise of public duty—a special little gift for the siblings.

Liu Yao smiled faintly at her words. "Song Dao You has misunderstood. Yiyi’s skills were inferior, so she has no one else to blame."

"I simply admire the speed of your advancement, Song Dao You, and was hoping to ask for some pointers..."

He smiled confidently, his bearing indeed looking heroic and extraordinary.

Song Wanning frowned, looked at Liu Yiyi who was about to step down from the stage, and suddenly said, "Yiyi, what’s going on here?"

"Didn’t you say we were just putting on a show? Why is your brother joining in the fun?"

"Did you two plan this?"

Her face was a picture of confusion and bewilderment as she casually blurted out their "plan."

Liu Yiyi froze, turning to look back at Song Wanning in disbelief. Her mind reeled. ’Is Song Wanning out of her mind?’

’Why would she say that out loud?’

’Does she have no shame?’

Liu Yiyi was shocked and baffled. Any normal person would never have exposed a plan they had agreed upon.

But Song Wanning did just that.

The crowd instantly erupted in an uproar.

"How could Grandmaster Song... She..."

"So Grandmaster Song and Liu Yiyi were just acting?"

"..."

The disciples of the Heavenly Inquiry Sect were mortified.

Just moments ago, they felt Grandmaster Song had been so majestic, winning immense prestige for the Heavenly Inquiry Sect.

Who would have thought it was all an act...

On the high platform, the faces of the dignitaries turned black, and countless icy glares were aimed at the people from the Mountain Gazing Sect.

"Is this the will of your Mountain Gazing Sect?"

"You lot are truly loyal and righteous, aren’t you..."

"If Song Wanning hadn’t said it, we’d still be kept in the dark!"

"The Mountain Gazing Sect had better give us an explanation!"

"..."

Everyone directed passive-aggressive remarks at the Mountain Gazing Sect. If not for the inappropriateness of the occasion, they would have seized Liu Yiyi for interrogation.

The Mountain Gazing Sect’s Sect Master’s face twitched. Steeling himself, he said, "There must be some misunderstanding. Everyone, please calm down!"

"If Yiyi has truly done something to betray us, our Mountain Gazing Sect will absolutely not tolerate it."

He was burning with rage and shot Liu Yiyi a fierce glare.

’To think she colluded with Song Wanning to deceive and toy with him, even betraying the Mountain Gazing Sect’s interests! Where does that leave them?’

The other Cultivators from the Mountain Gazing Sect were also red-faced with anger.

Liu Yiyi’s actions had undoubtedly put them all on the spot. It was absurd!

Besides them, the Nascent Soul Cultivators from the Heavenly Inquiry Sect also wore strange expressions.

’It was one thing for Song Wanning to collude with an outsider for an act, but why did she have to say it out loud? It’s utterly humiliating!’

The Sect Master wished he could find a hole to crawl into, mentally cursing Song Wanning for her extreme stupidity.

Those mocking gazes made him lose all face. For the already precarious Heavenly Inquiry Sect, this was like adding frost to snow.

No one understood Song Wanning.

But she just clicked her tongue lightly. "Yiyi, why aren’t you saying anything? Could it be you two were really just messing with me on purpose?"

Liu Yiyi: "..."

’This idiot!’

She turned stiffly. The biting chill from the high platform made her scalp tingle and her heart pound with fear.

’She didn’t dare imagine how others would see her if the accusation of her "colluding" with Song Wanning was confirmed... Forget about making a name for herself; her reputation would be utterly ruined.’

Liu Yiyi’s eyes darted about rapidly. Gritting her teeth, she prepared to deny everything.

’Losing Song Wanning as a "friend" was better than being doomed beyond recovery.’

So she feigned ignorance and said, "Wan Ning, you... how could you talk such nonsense?"

"When did I ever say I would put on an act with you? How can you slander me like this!"

She looked at Song Wanning with a hurt expression, her eyes reddening with grievance. "My skills may be lacking, but I gave it my all during the match..."

"For you to speak like this... I’m so disappointed..."

Liu Yiyi already had a kind and harmless appearance; this tearful complaint made her seem all the more pitiful and innocent.

Song Wanning, on the other hand, was dazzlingly beautiful and had an imposing aura. She looked like someone who wasn’t easy to get along with.

It was obvious at a glance who was "bullying" whom.

Liu Yao’s face fell, greatly displeased with Song Wanning’s actions. ’We’re going to be family in the future, how could she slander Yiyi?’

"Song Dao You, you are in the wrong here. No matter how close you and Yiyi are, you cannot joke about the challenge matches."

The challenges had just begun, and already such a farce had erupted. The people from the Mountain Gazing Sect must be furious right now.

So he added, "You should stop fooling around."

His tone, as if both helpless and intimate, made Song Wanning want to vomit. Her face twitched slightly.

"Yiyi, you... how could you do this? You’re the one who made the agreement with me!"

She clutched her chest in shock, her face filled with astonishment. "How did this become me slandering you?"

Liu Yiyi said nothing, only looking heartbroken and sad.

The crowd began to doubt the truth in Song Wanning’s words.

Were the two of them really acting or not?

Just as everyone was full of questions, Song Wanning suddenly took out a Memory Stone.

Liu Yiyi’s face instantly turned pale.

"What are you doing?"

’Has Song Wanning gone mad? Why would she take out a Memory Stone!’

"Sigh. Well, since none of you believe me, I have no choice but to show some evidence to prove my case."

As she spoke, an image from the Memory Stone was projected into the air. It was the scene of Liu Yiyi "colluding" with Song Wanning.

Every single word was heard by the crowd.

On the high platform, everyone’s expression was grim. Not a single person was pleased.

Liu Yiyi’s face paled further. Her heart sank, and all her confidence vanished.

’It’s over! It’s really over now! Song Wanning did this on purpose! She did it on purpose!’

At this moment, Liu Yiyi finally understood that she had been played by Song Wanning.

Song Wanning had feigned agreement to the challenge, even intentionally held back on stage, all to cement Liu Yiyi’s reputation as a traitor...

’After this, how would the Mountain Gazing Sect see her? How would the other Sects see her? They’ll definitely hate her to death!’

Liu Yiyi’s eyes turned red with fury as she glared at Song Wanning. "Song Wanning, you deliberately set me up..."

"How could you be so vicious?!"

Song Wanning tilted her head slightly, a smile playing on her lips. "Whatever do you mean? I was simply so moved that I wanted to keep a memento."

"Accusing me like this... it truly is hurtful."

Her voice was low, tinged with a faint chill, but her eyes were filled with mockery, derision, and undisguised malice.