No one cared what Wentian Sect thought.
If not for the current absence of their two Divine Transformation cultivators, the sect would have already been carved up in broad daylight.
Such was the cruelty of the cultivation world.
Without power, even a major sect could be crushed.
Factions rose and fell constantly. That cycle of conflict and succession was the very engine that drove the prosperity of the realm.
Humiliated, the Sect Master escorted the guests to Guest Peak, then turned and headed straight for Yunxiao Peak.
Gone was the prideful arrogance from before. Now he looked utterly worn down.
"Junior Sister Song, we have a serious problem!"
He landed in a hurry and rushed over to Song Wanníng.
"Junior Sister, everyone wants to challenge you. I'm afraid they might play dirty. Maybe you should claim illness and avoid the fight. You're our sect's best hope of reaching Divine Transformation. There's no way those vultures have good intentions!"
He continued venting with righteous indignation, swearing up and down, until Song Wanníng started laughing.
Not long ago, this same man had looked down on her and secretly favored Gu Qingyuan. Now that Gu Qingyuan had proven unreliable, he was turning around to curry favor.
With someone like him as Sect Master, it was no wonder Wentian Sect was on the decline.
"Junior Sister Song, are you listening to me?" he asked with a scowl.
"I heard you," Song Wanníng replied calmly.
"Good. The sect is in chaos, and the other factions are pressing in. We're at a critical juncture."
He sighed again. "Right now, we can only hope you break through to Divine Transformation soon. You might be the only one who can hold the line."
"Also, have you been able to reach the two ancestors? I haven't received a single reply. It's like they vanished."
Song Wanníng shook her head, suppressing the faint curve of her lips.
"No. They're probably hidden away in some secret realm."
"Probably," the Sect Master muttered with another long sigh. "Just remember, if they challenge you, don't accept. Stay calm."
"Understood."
Song Wanníng had never intended to fight.
Standing up for Wentian Sect was no longer her responsibility.
The Sect Master left, still looking as though the sky was about to fall.
"Shameless. Your martial uncle just ascended, and now he's eyeing you like a tool. What a dreamer."
The sword spirit snorted with disdain.
"He spends his time indulging in pleasures and avoiding cultivation, but wants you to carry the sect on your back. The audacity!"
Song Wanníng arched a brow. "Ignore him. Once Wentian Sect collapses, he'll disappear along with it."
"No point getting angry over someone like him."
"Still, seeing him treat you like a fool makes my blood boil!"
The sword spirit was born from Song Wanníng's essence. She was its heaven, its faith. Anyone who hurt her, it wanted to slice apart.
Song Wanníng chuckled. "Let him scramble a little longer. Once he's nailed to the sect's pillar of shame, then he can disappear."
"Heh, you're right. Dying now would be letting him off too easily!"
The sword spirit snickered maliciously, looking forward to that day.
—
The next morning, Yunxiao Peak received a visitor: Liu Yiyi.
"Wanníng! I missed you so much!"
She flew straight toward Song Wanníng, a wave of perfume preceding her.
Song Wanníng shifted slightly to the side, dodging her.
Liu Yiyi stumbled and blinked in surprise. A flicker of confusion flashed through her eyes.
But she quickly recovered, pouting as she asked, "What, we haven't seen each other in a while and now you're acting distant? Or is it that, now that you've advanced, you think you're too good for old friends?"
Liu Yiyi had the kind of pretty, harmless face that people instinctively trusted. Combined with her playful, quirky personality, she made friends easily wherever she went.
Once upon a time, Song Wanníng had considered her a true friend. She had confided everything—secrets, burdens, pain.
Until the moment she reached out for help in her darkest hour... and was met with betrayal.
"You really thought we were friends? How naive. I only kept you close because you could refine pills. You were useful, that's all."
"Honestly, I hated seeing your face. Why did you always have the best of everything? The best family, the best talent, even that irritatingly perfect face."
"I only got close to you because my brother liked you. But in the end, even he came to his senses. Compared to Ye Chuxue, you don't even come close."
"Lucky for him he gave up before wasting more time on you."
"Oh, and by the way, I already reported you to Wentian Sect. They'll be here soon to arrest their 'traitor.' Hahaha—!"
That twisted laughter, that contorted face warped by jealousy.
Human hearts were frightening things.
Whether their connection had once been real or fake from the start, Song Wanníng no longer cared. She hadn't even gone looking for Liu Yiyi yet, and here the woman came, walking into her grasp.
Her gaze darkened, an eerie chill blooming in her eyes. She stared at Liu Yiyi until the other woman's scalp prickled.
She was smiling—the same serene smile as always—but it felt as though something had locked onto Liu Yiyi like a predator.
Had she found out about what Liu Yiyi did yesterday?
Liu Yiyi's expression changed. She quickly tried to explain, her voice trembling with just the right amount of distress.
"Wanníng, are you upset about yesterday? I'm sorry, truly! I didn't have a choice. Our Sect Master insisted I mention you. I didn't mean to throw you under the bus."
Tears welled up in her eyes as she cried dramatically.
"Boohoohoo—"
Her sobbing was almost theatrical.
Song Wanníng's smile deepened.
Watching this clumsy performance, she realized how foolish she had once been. To think she hadn't seen through someone like this.
No wonder she had fallen so far in her past life.
She didn't regret it. Not anymore.
Thanks to the Mirror of Three Lives, she had been given a second chance to correct her mistakes.
Her fingers curled slightly, nails pressing into her palm. She said nothing.
Liu Yiyi, sensing something was wrong, peeked nervously between tears.
But her voice faltered. Something was off.
She stopped crying. Her heart was full of unease.
"Wanníng, Wentian Sect is in crisis. If you don't step up and fight, the sect might not survive!"
She couldn't stand it. Couldn't stand that Song Wanníng had such talent. In just a short time, she had reached the peak of Nascent Soul, two whole stages above Liu Yiyi.
Her jealousy warped her expression.
Suddenly, Song Wanníng sighed and reached out, grabbing Liu Yiyi's hand.
"I know the situation is dire. But... my advancement wasn't entirely orthodox. It can't withstand scrutiny."
She dropped the hint subtly, her words carefully measured.
Liu Yiyi's eyes lit up with glee.
So that was it!
Her cultivation came from pills. It wasn't real!
If that was the case, then Song Wanníng was the perfect stepping stone.