If her guess was correct, this desert was likely a region near the demon race's territory.
By switching the two, someone had transported the Wuyou Sea straight into demon territory.
"According to the records, the array should have a linked passage that connects both locations," Yu Cheng said with a furrowed brow. "But whether we can find it or not, we'll have to test it ourselves."
Holding his compass tightly, he began sweeping the area again. Song Wanníng and Feng Lanxi didn't remain idle either. They joined in the search. After three days and nights, the three finally stood at the edge of a desert corner.
"Based on the compass readings, all the previously strong formation fluctuations have been ruled out. Only this place remains."
Yu Cheng pointed toward a spot, then handed several formation flags to the others. Both Song Wanníng and Feng Lanxi had some foundation in formation arts. They immediately understood his intent and split off to different positions with the flags in hand.
Each flag was inserted precisely where Yu Cheng had instructed. After everything was in place, Yu Cheng took out over a hundred spirit stones and rapidly threw them toward each key point.
The moment the last stone landed, a powerful ripple of spiritual energy enveloped the surrounding hundred miles. And in the next breath, a vortex appeared out of thin air at the desert's edge. The aura of a transmission array radiated from within.
The three exchanged glances, their eyes lighting up. "Found it!"
Feng Lanxi grinned. "Let me go first. I want to see what's on the other side of this array!"
Without hesitation, she leapt into the vortex.
"We're going too."
Yu Cheng gave a brief nod to Song Wanníng, then jumped in after her.
Song Wanníng lingered for a few seconds, staring at the vortex. She seemed lost in thought, then vanished into the portal in a flash.
As soon as she entered the array, a powerful wave of disorientation swept over her. It felt as if the heavens and stars had been overturned. Her balance gave out completely. She gave up on standing and simply sat cross-legged. The dizziness gradually eased.
But Feng Lanxi and Yu Cheng were nowhere to be seen.
Apparently, this teleportation array had the ability to separate those who entered.
"Master, Master, can we really get to the Wuyou Sea?"
The merfolk's worried voice came from her spiritual sea.
The Wuyou Sea had vanished. What would happen to its beloved?
It couldn't bear to lose its little sweetheart!
"We should be able to."
Song Wanníng couldn't promise with certainty, either. Her thoughts drifted to her past life. Back then, when Ye Chuxue returned from her trials, she was selected to enter the Cangyue Secret Realm.
That secret realm was filled with prohibitions, but it also hid countless opportunities.
With that immortal artifact, Ye Chuxue broke seal after seal in the realm. She not only made a name for herself but also became a savior figure to many young prodigies.
Plenty coveted that artifact, but they all ended up as stepping stones, fueling Ye Chuxue's rapid rise. It had taken Song Wanníng and Gu Qingyuan seventy years of hard cultivation to reach Nascent Soul stage—yet people still called them geniuses.
But Ye Chuxue and Bai Yang had endless encounters and fortuitous treasures. They reached Nascent Soul in just thirty years.
And what about her?
Time after time, she clashed with Ye Chuxue after falling into demonic cultivation. She lost every time, yet survived.
Back then, she thought it was sheer willpower.
Later, she realized—she was Ye Chuxue's greatest stepping stone.
Once Ye Chuxue reached the peak, neither she nor the Song family would have any value left. They could be discarded without a second thought.
Heavenly Dao abandoned her like worn-out shoes, squeezing every last drop of value before letting her die.
What a cruel joke.
Song Wanníng took a deep breath. A wisp of demonic energy flashed through her eyes before being quickly suppressed.
Every time Ye Chuxue came up, she struggled to stay calm.
But could anyone blame her? After seeing through the schemes of Heavenly Dao, it was hard to face things rationally.
"Master, look!"
The merfolk suddenly cried out in joy. Song Wanníng looked up to see a glowing white circle forming ahead. The moment she passed through it, a rush of cold seawater crashed into her face. She quickly took out and swallowed a Water-Avoidance Pearl. A spiritual barrier instantly rose around her, keeping the seawater at bay.
"It's the Wuyou Sea! Master, we're really back at the Wuyou Sea!"
The merfolk cheered in delight, but then frowned, puzzled.
"Huh? Why does the energy here feel... strange?"
Frowning, Song Wanníng released it into the water. It darted happily into the familiar ocean currents.
"Heh—"
Song Wanníng chuckled bitterly. Her eyes glinted with killing intent. All of this, just to avoid her. Just to hand over another great opportunity to Ye Chuxue. They had even gone so far as to relocate the entire Wuyou Sea into demon territory.
Truly meticulous planning.
She clenched her fists, her gaze turning razor-sharp.
Fine then. Let them come.
She had broken their plans once, twice—she could do it a third time, or a hundred more.
Forcing herself to calm down, she pulled out her transmission talismans and tried to contact Feng Lanxi and Yu Cheng, only to find the talismans useless. Some kind of interference was blocking them.
"It seems the place where Ye Chuxue got her immortal artifact was likely here, in the Wuyou Sea."
Song Wanníng spread out her divine sense, but to her surprise, it was completely suppressed. She could only observe with the naked eye.
"Little one, do you know how to navigate the seabed?"
She looked at the merfolk with a cold glint in her eyes.
The merfolk nodded hurriedly. Every time the master got angry, it was terrifying.
Swallowing hard, it began explaining the layout of the sea floor.
"Let's check your old home first."
She had no clue which direction Ye Chuxue would come from, but she could at least fulfill the merfolk's wish.
She had given her word. She would not break it.
"Alright, I'll take you there right away!"
The merfolk felt moved.
Master was really the best!
Though she always seemed cold and scary, deep down she had a soft heart.
The merfolk prided itself on understanding her true nature. It gleefully led Song Wanníng forward.
Its little darling—it was finally going home!
...
Half an hour later, the merfolk stopped at the sea floor, completely stunned.
Its home was gone.
The cave it had painstakingly claimed had turned into a pile of rubble. A swarm of multi-treasure fish were now nesting among the debris. Not a trace of the past remained.
"Jiao-Jiao? Jiao-Jiao, where are you?! Jiao-Jiao!"
It panicked, frantically searching the area. But no matter how hard it looked, it couldn't find any sign of its beloved.
Song Wanníng frowned slightly.
Had that merfolk also been captured by Mo Wentian?
Just as the thought passed, the merfolk suddenly clutched its chest.
"Jiao-Jiao! I can sense her!"
Its eyes lit up, and without even looking back, it swam furiously toward the sensation.
Song Wanníng hesitated for only a second before following. What she didn't know was that the place the merfolk was heading to... was the very same place she had been looking for.