At the mouth of the cave, Song Wanníng removed the soul imprint from Liu Yao's storage ring and casually checked its contents.
A few spirit stones, some herbs, a couple bottles of pills. There were several magic tools, but all were previously used and of low quality—hardly worth much. The rest included a few formation disks, talismans, and a change of clothes.
Even as a Yuányīng Zhēnjūn of the Wangshan Sect, Liu Yao was still... broke.
And that was the reality for most cultivators.
Cultivation required more than just absorbing spiritual energy. External resources were often necessary, and facing danger meant consuming pills, using equipment, and more. It was a costly path.
That was why most cultivators had tried their hand at one of the four supplementary arts of cultivation, hoping for talent that would open another stream of income.
Just her status as an alchemy master was enough to attract both admiration and jealousy. As for who truly liked her, and who just coveted her value—Song Wanníng no longer cared.
She stored the usable items in her own ring, then pocketed Liu Yao's storage ring, planning to deal with it later. Her gaze dropped to the severed limb on the ground. A fireball talisman incinerated it on the spot.
…
"So, honored guest, what sort of business brings you to the Hundred Ghost Sect?"
An elderly woman with graying hair sat across from Song Wanníng, smiling kindly.
"I want to spread a certain message and image. This is a memory stone."
Song Wanníng placed the memory stone on the table.
The Hundred Ghost Sect had been founded over a thousand years ago and still held a stable position today. The forces backing it were no joke. Their specialty was selling information. Whether it was news of someone ascending to the heavens or a man cheating on his wife, one could likely find it here.
So when Song Wanníng presented a memory stone, the old woman blinked in surprise.
Deliberately spreading a message? That was less common.
But with enough money, anything could be arranged.
The old woman offered a steep price, her smile never fading.
Song Wanníng raised her brows, then tossed Liu Yao's storage ring onto the table, along with the spirit stones she'd taken earlier.
Using Liu Yao's own wealth to make him famous—surely, he would be moved to tears. Suppressing her amusement, she completed the transaction and left.
The old woman picked up the memory stone, ready to pass it along, but the moment she activated it, she froze.
Her face flushed red with fury.
"This—this—
That animal!!"
Her hands trembled with rage.
In the footage, the Seven Vile Cultivator appeared utterly childlike and innocent.
For Liu Yao to do something like that, even to a child—unforgivable!
Storming toward the main hall, she clutched the memory stone tightly.
Inside the hall, a woman in white robes sat at the head. She lifted her gaze slightly as the old woman entered.
"Palace Mistress, please take a look at this memory stone. A cultivator just visited the Hundred Ghost Sect to request its contents be spread far and wide…"
"Oh?"
The Palace Mistress showed some interest and activated the stone. She had sharp eyes. She noticed right away—those two were clearly under the influence of a drug.
"Who is this man?" she asked, pointing at Liu Yao, her voice calm, clearly unbothered by the disturbing footage.
"He is Liu Yao, a Yuányīng Zhēnjūn of the Wangshan Sect," the old woman replied truthfully.
"Hmph. So he's from Wangshan Sect?"
The Palace Mistress let out a cold laugh and tossed the memory stone back.
"Handle this matter properly. I want it known from every alley to every street!
Oh, and as for how to spread it—follow my instructions exactly…"
She leaned in and whispered a few words before waving the old woman away.
As the old woman stepped out of the hall, she suddenly slapped her thigh.
"Ai, how could I forget!"
The Palace Mistress had a grudge against the Wangshan Sect!
…
After leaving the Hundred Ghost Sect, Song Wanníng slipped into a narrow alley. Her figure blurred and vanished.
Moments later, someone else crept in.
"Huh? I swear someone just came this way…"
Scratching his head, he searched for a bit and left, finding nothing.
By then, Song Wanníng was already outside the city. She had chosen the Hundred Ghost Sect for two reasons. First, they had a wide-reaching network that could spread information to every corner of the realm.
Second, she recalled from her past life that someone in the Hundred Ghost Sect had a grudge against the Wangshan Sect's Sect Master.
It was said that when the Sect Master was young, he went on an expedition with a female cultivator. Something happened during that journey, and she was killed by a demon beast.
That woman had a younger sister, who joined the Hundred Ghost Sect. Step by step, she rose to power, becoming a Palace Mistress—and eventually took her revenge.
In her past life, the Wangshan Sect's master had died at that Palace Mistress's hands. The details were unclear, but the grudge was real.
That was enough.
Song Wanníng was more than happy to make use of that tension. The Wangshan Sect would not escape unscathed. With that thought, her mood lightened.
She rode her flying carpet toward the Talisman Sect.
As for Liu Yao…
There were plenty of people ready to deal with him.
Back at the Wangshan Sect, Liu Yiyi was pacing anxiously inside her room. Her brother had said he was going to deal with Song Wanníng yesterday, but after that, there'd been no word. She still couldn't contact him, and that left her deeply unsettled.
When she got his message yesterday saying Song Wanníng had been captured, she had celebrated for a long time.
She had only regretted being too far away to watch Song Wanníng die in person. She had imagined that scene countless times in her dreams—the proud woman brought low, begging for mercy.
Even better, her brother had arranged for the demon cultivator to humiliate Song Wanníng before draining her dry.
Just the thought of it made her impatient. She'd even reminded her brother to record it with a memory stone. Even in death, Song Wanníng would be disgraced—reviled by the world.
"Is she dead yet?"
Liu Yiyi muttered as she paced, sending out another communication talisman. Still no response.
"No, I need to check my brother's soul lamp. What if something happened?!"
Growing more anxious by the second, she rushed out of the main hall toward the Soul Pavilion.
She hadn't gone far when someone stepped into her path.
Her expression shifted. She immediately wanted to turn back, but concern for her brother made her grit her teeth and press forward.
"Senior Sister Wu…"
She bowed respectfully, though her lowered eyes seethed with anger.
"Well, well. Isn't this our sect's little hero? Where are you rushing off to—another duel invitation, perhaps?"
Senior Sister Wu's voice dripped with mockery as her disdainful gaze swept over Liu Yiyi.
This two-faced traitor had ruined their sect's plans, harmed their reputation, and turned them into a laughingstock.
Just thinking about it made Wu want to slap her again.
Liu Yiyi: "!!!!!"
This damn woman!!