As a demon cultivator who had cultivated all the way to the Nascent Soul stage, Qi Xiezi had consumed more blood essence than he could count.
Those people hadn't just died. Many had been forced to remain conscious as he violated and drained them, forced to witness the horror of their end.
That kind of damage cut far deeper than any physical wound. It was a complete violation of their spirit. A monster like him should have died long ago. And he dared think she would spare his life?
Delusional.
As for Liu Yao, a dignified Nascent Soul cultivator of a righteous sect, yet he had colluded with a demon cultivator for selfish gain.
His betrayal alone deserved death.
But letting him die so easily would be far too merciful.
Song Wanníng's gaze darkened. She would tear away every shred of Liu Yao's dignity, letting him die in a mire of shame and hatred. And while she was at it, she'd drag Liu Yiyi down with him.
Even in death, they would still have value.
She placed a memory stone in the air, no longer sparing the two men tangled inside the cave a single glance, then turned and walked to the entrance.
Behind her, Liu Yao's furious howls and curses echoed through the cave.
Song Wanníng took out a cup of spiritual tea, savoring it slowly while listening to his escalating breakdown.
…
Time ticked on. The moon climbed high into the sky, its pale light filtering through the leaves and falling upon the mouth of the cave.
The sounds inside had long gone quiet.
No, more accurately, Liu Yao's throat had long since gone hoarse.
Qi Xiezi emerged, readjusting his robes. His skin was mottled with bruises and bites, but his expression still carried a touch of lingering satisfaction.
What a pity. Liu Yao had passed out. Otherwise, he might have enjoyed a bit more.
Qi Xiezi licked his lips, then approached Song Wanníng with a sycophantic grin.
Inwardly though, he was swearing up a storm.
"What kind of poison did she give me?"
Even now, his demonic qi showed no signs of returning. His strength remained completely suppressed. If this went on, and Song Wanníng suddenly decided to kill him, he wouldn't even have the strength to fight back.
"Master, it's done," he reported with a hunch-backed bow, making his already short figure seem even smaller.
Song Wanníng turned her head slightly. A moment later, her hand pressed down directly onto the top of Qi Xiezi's head. He flinched in surprise, but before he could react, a wisp of flame burst out, engulfing his entire skull.
"Aghhhh—!"
He screamed instinctively, only to find himself locked in place by a crushing force. Even his eyeballs couldn't twitch.
"T-That's... Shenyou Mystic Flame?"
He trembled as his gaze shifted toward the fire.
His soul jolted in horror.
This was one of the top three on the list of exotic flames—capable of directly incinerating divine souls. His own Soul-Calling Banner used wronged spirits to corrode others' souls, but this flame could annihilate them.
Song Wanníng had such a treasure on her?
Combined with her Divine Transformation cultivation, even without poison, he never stood a chance.
Those thoughts passed in a flash.
Then came the pain.
A searing, soul-level agony erupted from the depths of his divine sense, wracking his body.
Qi Xiezi's facial features twisted beyond recognition.
"AHHH—!"
He shrieked like a dying animal.
The suppressive force vanished, letting him collapse to the ground, rolling and howling in torment.
Of all pain in the world, none compared to soul damage.
And this... this was soul-burning fire.
Soon, Qi Xiezi began convulsing uncontrollably, foaming at the mouth.
There wasn't a single wound on his body, yet it was a terrifying sight.
Inside the cave, Liu Yao was startled awake by the screams.
He cracked open his eyes and froze.
Song Wanníng had the Shenyou Mystic Flame?
Damn it!
Why did she get everything?!
Jealousy and resentment surged in his chest, but above all, he felt fear. His spiritual energy was still slowly recovering. Until he was back at full strength, he wasn't her match.
He immediately withdrew his presence, trying to fool her into thinking he was still unconscious. Buying time to recover, planning how to escape.
Liu Yao shut his eyes tightly, held his breath, and stilled his qi.
But Qi Xiezi's screams were like knives gouging into his heart.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
His heart pounded with dread.
If she found out he was awake, she'd kill him without hesitation.
Stay calm. Stay calm!
He forced himself into stillness, mentally chanting to himself.
Outside, Qi Xiezi's cries weakened.
His body still twitched, but the spasms were less violent now.
Then, a tiny Yuányīng burst from his sea of consciousness, fleeing in panic.
When a cultivator reached the Nascent Soul stage, a miniature version of their soul formed in their divine sense. This Yuányīng was essentially a second life.
If necessary, Yuányīng could abandon the original body and seek a new host—possessing another to survive.
As long as Qi Xiezi's Yuányīng escaped, he still had a sliver of hope.
Clinging to this chance, Yuányīng fled with all its might toward the cave entrance.
Song Wanníng stood there, calm and unhurried.
She didn't lift a finger to stop him.
At that moment, Qi Xiezi thought he saw a sliver of hope.
His will to survive ignited, and he poured every last scrap of strength into his escape.
Faster!
Just a little faster!
He screamed in his heart, convinced he was seconds away from escaping the clutches of this demon woman.
Then—just as he neared the exit—a glowing array rose before him.
The array shimmered, cutting off his path... and with it, his final hope.
He froze. His strength failed him completely.
It's over.
Truly over.
His eyes lost focus as he slowly closed them in despair.
That cursed Song Wanníng.
She hadn't just used him.
She had made him feel his soul being burned alive.
He had been tortured to the brink of death.
And now... even his last shot at escape had been severed.
Unforgivable!
Qi Xiezi suddenly turned, tears of blood in his eyes. His face was twisted with hatred.
"I'll take you with me!"
He screamed and charged at Song Wanníng, his avatar attempting self-detonation.
Even if he couldn't kill her, he wanted her wounded.
But as he lunged forward, all he met was her calm, mocking gaze.
She raised a single hand.
A golden miniature sword flicked from her fingertips.
"No—!"
Qi Xiezi's voice turned to a terrified wail.
In the next instant, the swelling Yuányīng burst like a punctured balloon.
A muffled explosion filled the cave. The avatar shattered, scattering into glowing motes of dust, vanishing into the air.
Outside the cave, the physical body collapsed and transformed. The once childlike shell morphed into a withered, elderly form—over a meter and a half tall, with white hair, mottled skin, and deep wrinkles. A foul stench rose from the corpse.
Song Wanníng lifted her hand again and tossed out a fire talisman.
The corpse was quickly reduced to ash.