Song Wanníng did not want to dwell on the matter any further. She ordered the golden flying sword to stand guard while she focused completely on transcribing the inheritance from her sea of consciousness into a jade slip.
Her energy was limited. As for breaking through formation barriers, she had no plans to force her way in. But just because she lacked talent did not mean the Song Clan's disciples were the same.
Since Feng Jiuxiao had ultimately chosen to entrust the inheritance to her, naturally he did not impose restrictions on how she used it.
Therefore, she planned to return this inheritance to the Song Clan, to cultivate the next generation of disciples.
...
In the Human Realm.
The situation surrounding Liu Yao had grown increasingly chaotic, now erupting into a full-blown scandal.
It began when Hundred Ghosts Gate accused Liu Yao of harboring twisted perversions and revealed that he was a demon cultivator.
Even the Sect Master of Wàngshān Sect had been implicated.
According to the rumors, the Sect Master had a depraved mind, deriving pleasure from harming young children. Hundreds of lives were said to have been lost at his hands.
The news sent shockwaves through the cultivation world.
Wàngshān Sect instantly became a pariah, condemned by all sides. Its members no longer dared to leave their sect grounds.
Those disciples who were already out traveling took off their outer robes, afraid of revealing their affiliation.
It was at this time that Liu Yao finally met Liu Yiyi, who had been searching for him. His clothes were tattered, his body covered in injuries. He had deliberately let his messy hair fall over his face to hide his identity.
When he saw his younger sister standing at the city gates, Liu Yao could not help but tear up in joy. He wanted nothing more than to run into her arms.
But without his storage ring, he had been unable to treat his wounds. A Nascent Soul cultivator reduced to such a pitiful state was rare indeed.
Still unaware of the public outcry, he walked toward Liu Yiyi with a smile on his face.
But just a few steps later, he overheard a pair of cultivators entering the city.
"Where do you think Liu Yao's hiding?"
"There are people everywhere searching for him, yet no one has found even a trace!"
"Well, he is a Nascent Soul cultivator. If he really wants to hide, it's no surprise no one can track him down..."
They're looking for me?
Liu Yao's heart skipped a beat. He slowed his pace.
He lowered his head and strained to listen.
"Ugh, Liu Yao's whole scandal hasn't even settled, and now the Wàngshān Sect Master's filth is coming to light!"
"Wàngshān Sect can barely protect itself now. I doubt anyone still cares about Liu Yao!"
"You really believe that story about the Sect Master?"
"To be honest, not really. He's led Wàngshān Sect for years without scandal. I don't think he's that kind of person."
"Same. A lot of people think this is just Hundred Ghosts Gate trying to smear him on purpose."
...
The conversation drifted off as the group entered the city.
Liu Yao watched their backs, his steps growing even slower. He no longer dared approach Liu Yiyi directly.
From their words, it sounded like something had indeed gone terribly wrong.
And the Sect Master too?
Could it be... the incident with Song Wanníng had been exposed?
"Damn it. That wretched woman is a walking disaster."
Liu Yao's worst fear had come true.
Song Wanníng was the treasured daughter of the Song Clan. If word got out, the clan would have every reason to act against him, and not even his sect would be able to protect him.
That was precisely why he had tried to drag Qīxiézi into the matter back then—to avoid this outcome.
Who would've thought he would end up caught in the mess anyway?
Liu Yao turned around and walked away from the city gates, sending a secret sound transmission to Liu Yiyi.
"Yiyi, follow me!"
Standing at the city gate, Liu Yiyi suddenly heard a familiar voice. She looked up, her heart leaping with joy, only to see the back of a man who looked like a beggar.
But upon closer inspection, she realized this "beggar" had the aura of a peak Nascent Soul cultivator, though clearly wounded.
"Big Brother?"
Liu Yiyi froze, then quickly followed him without hesitation.
These past days, she had been hiding her identity and moving quietly through the city, searching for any trace of her brother. And now, she had finally found him.
She followed Liu Yao deep into the mountains. The two of them stopped in a secluded area.
Liu Yao lifted his head, his expression cold as he looked at her. "Yiyi, I finally found you."
"Big Brother, what happened to you? How did you end up like this?"
Seeing her brother in such a miserable state left Liu Yiyi shocked. She quickly took out an inner robe from her storage ring and handed it to him. After putting on the robe, Liu Yao's expression softened slightly. He recounted everything that had happened.
"You're saying... Qi Xiezi betrayed you?"
Liu Yiyi's voice shot up. A rush of fury flushed her cheeks red.
"I told you demon cultivators can't be trusted. But you wouldn't listen. Do you even know what's being said out there right now?"
She clenched her fists, deeply disappointed.
She had warned him over and over, but Liu Yao had sworn there would be no mistakes. And now?
"Yiyi, you can't blame me for this."
Liu Yao looked uneasy. Qi Xiezi had always lived by devouring the essence of others. By all logic, he should've been the one most tempted by Song Wanníng.
Who would've thought he'd suddenly switch sides and drag Liu Yao down with him?
"Forget it. What matters now is—are the Song Clan hunting me?"
That was Liu Yao's greatest concern.
Liu Yiyi became even angrier at that. She glared at him, frustrated beyond words.
"If it were just the Song Clan, it wouldn't be so bad. But don't you get it? Everyone now believes you're a demon cultivator!"
In the cultivation world, demon cultivators were enemies of all.
Now, every righteous cultivator saw Liu Yao as a target.
"What... what do you mean?"
Liu Yao's brows furrowed, a sinking feeling growing in his gut.
"If it's just about Qi Xiezi, I can explain. I'll even expose her collusion with him and clear my name!"
Even now, all he could think about was how to retaliate against Song Wanníng.
But what Liu Yiyi said next left him completely frozen.
And then, when she projected that vile recording into the air...
Liu Yao's world shattered.
His eyes turned bloodshot. Like a crazed beast, he grabbed Liu Yiyi by the collar.
"You said—she used the recording stone—"
How could she?
Wasn't that stone her leverage to threaten and control him?
How could she dare broadcast it?
How could she even dare to leak it to Hundred Ghosts Gate?!
Liu Yao's hair whipped around in the wind. Madness and bloodlust filled his gaze. If Song Wanníng had stood in front of him just then, he would have torn her to pieces.
"Let go of me!"
Liu Yiyi shoved him away, furious.
"You did this to yourself. Why are you taking it out on me?
Right now you should be thinking about how to clear your name. Otherwise, even I won't be able to help you!"
Liu Yao was now hated by all. She didn't even dare reveal her own identity. How was this any different from being a rat in the streets?
"Clear my name? Yes, yes—clear it!"
Liu Yao sobered up a bit from her scolding and started pacing in a panic.
How could he turn things around?
Right. Throw the filth back at her.
He would claim it was Song Wanníng who colluded with a demon cultivator, that she had framed him on purpose.
"Even if my name is ruined, that wretched woman has to follow me to hell!"