Liu Yiyi's eyelids twitched slightly as she fought to contain her excitement.
After putting the pieces together in her head, she became convinced that Song Wanníng had relied on pills to force her cultivation upward. It must have been a desperate attempt to keep up appearances for Wentian Sect.
Such a move only proved how dire their situation had become.
If that was the case, then she had no reason to show mercy.
"Sigh... Wanníng, I understand your situation, I really do. But everyone is clamoring to challenge you now. I'm afraid you won't be able to avoid it this time."
Song Wanníng immediately put on a panicked expression. "What do I do? There's no way I can beat them!"
"No, this won't work. I'll just feign illness. Say I've been injured and can't fight!"
She grabbed Liu Yiyi's hand, her face full of worry, as if truly afraid.
Liu Yiyi scoffed inwardly. What a joke.
Still, she gently patted Song Wanníng's hand. "Don't worry. I'll think of something."
Her eyes lit up with sudden inspiration. "I've got it. How about this? I'll be the one to challenge you."
Before Song Wanníng could respond, Liu Yiyi added quickly, as if afraid she would misunderstand. "Relax, I'll hold back. I'll make sure you win—gracefully."
"Really?" Song Wanníng looked like she had just been tossed a lifeline.
"Of course. We're best friends, aren't we? Of course I'll help you!"
Liu Yiyi cursed her as a fool in her heart. Only an idiot like Song Wanníng would believe such an obvious setup.
Song Wanníng had always been like this—naive and foolish, obsessed with right and wrong. She had no sense of subtlety or social finesse.
Maybe it was because her status and talent had always been so far above everyone else's. That confidence made Liu Yiyi, who had spent her whole life clinging to others, utterly resentful.
"Once you win in public, the disciples of Wentian Sect will start to treat you like a goddess."
"And if someone else challenges you afterward, just say you were injured during our match and need time to recover."
"How does that sound?"
Liu Yiyi had already planned her retreat route. From the surface, it looked generous and supportive.
How could Song Wanníng not be "moved"?
Even now, Liu Yiyi still wanted to step on her to boost her own reputation. How bold.
She could already imagine what Liu Yiyi might say if she "accidentally" won the match:
"Oh no, I didn't mean to! I thought you could take that hit..."
Song Wanníng even pictured the pitiful expression she'd wear while explaining herself.
She smiled.
If Liu Yiyi wanted to be famous, she would let her.
Tightening her grip on Liu Yiyi's hand, she looked up with a quiet, heavy gaze. "You really are the best."
"Yiyi, I'm so lucky to have you in this life..."
"Oh please, what are friends for?" Liu Yiyi laughed along with her.
Her moment in the spotlight was coming.
…
When news came that Song Wanníng had accepted the challenge, the Sect Master nearly leapt out of his seat.
Hadn't she promised not to put herself in danger?
What was she thinking?
Several elders were already prepared to fight. Although none of them could rival geniuses like Gu Qingyuan or Lu Xingyao, they were still well-seasoned Nascent Soul cultivators with solid foundations.
"Wait, don't panic. The person she agreed to fight is Liu Yiyi from Wangshan Sect. Mid-stage Nascent Soul."
The Sect Master stared blankly. "Mid-stage? She dares act this bold with just that?"
He looked like he had misheard.
Second Elder shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe she's just stupid."
The Sect Master remained speechless.
Third Elder snorted coldly. "This just proves how arrogant they are. They clearly don't take our Wentian Sect seriously."
"In that case, it's not a bad thing that Junior Sister Song agreed. Time to give them a lesson."
Everyone knew Song Wanníng's strength. If Liu Yiyi insisted on seeking death, they had no reason to stop her.
The Sect Master nodded. "You're right. With Junior Sister Song on the field, there's no way we'll lose."
"But everyone else should still be ready. We've all received challenges. I've also sent word again to the Grand Elders, urging them to return as soon as possible."
"If we can hold out long enough, the others won't be able to act recklessly."
That was the only strategy they had left—buy time.
The elders exchanged worried glances. "Still no word from the Grand Elders?"
"Not yet, but it should be soon."
…
The duel took place as scheduled.
Everyone from Wentian Sect who had reached the Nascent Soul stage had arrived, except Gu Qingyuan, who was still recovering.
In total, thirteen people had gathered.
Seven of them were elders. The rest, like Song Wanníng, were independent disciples who normally kept to themselves but had now stepped forward in defense of the sect.
Every single one of them had been challenged—except the Sect Master.
The five sects and four factions had brought more than thirty cultivators, all top-tier elites. Their strength was nothing to scoff at, though their cultivation levels varied.
Among them, Song Wanníng stood out like a lantern in the dark.
Her beauty was striking, yes, but it was her cultivation that truly drew attention.
Barely past her first century, she had already reached the peak of the Nascent Soul stage. Even among so-called prodigies, she stood far above the rest.
"Hahaha, your sect truly is full of talent. Sect Master, you really were being modest."
"Indeed, Wentian Sect is teeming with experts. We can hardly compare!"
Despite the smiles and compliments, the Sect Master felt sick to his stomach. He had to force himself to respond, though the effort was wearing him down. In less than half a year, he looked like he had aged a decade.
The Nascent Soul cultivators took their seats. The disciples remained utterly silent, stiff as statues.
Over forty high-level cultivators had gathered. Just the sight of them was enough to make most hearts tremble. No one dared make a sound.
Song Wanníng sat on the elevated platform, alone.
Li Ruo and Bai Yang were not at her side today. They had blended into the crowd, ready to cheer her on in their own way.
She glanced at Bai Yang, whose expression was a mix of worry and anticipation. A faint, mocking smile tugged at her lips.
So the male lead had fallen out with the female lead again. They hadn't been seen together lately.
But if fate had truly bound them, a few spats would not be enough to break that connection.
Just as she looked away, her gaze locked with another.
Liu Yao.
Liu Yiyi's older brother.
He was also at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, thirty years her senior. The siblings, born with opposing elemental roots—fire and water—had both become disciples of a Divine Transformation elder in Wangshan Sect.
Song Wanníng had met them when she was barely a teen. She had once saved Liu Yiyi during a mission, and from that moment, the entanglement began.
Liu Yao had fallen for her at first sight. His affection was well known, and he treated her with open admiration.
Even after her engagement to Gu Qingyuan, he had spiraled into melancholy and once sent her a voice transmission asking if she regretted it.
Song Wanníng, ever direct, had rejected him more than ten times. Eventually, she stopped replying altogether.
Later, this man who once professed such passionate love turned around and fell for Ye Chuxue instead.
Everything had changed.
Like a fan who once adored her, only to turn bitter and vicious the moment he was no longer welcome.
He had even claimed he'd been deceived by her beauty, and that his past feelings were all a mistake.