"Big Sister, Big Sister, why didn't you expose Ye Chuxue for killing Lu Nanfeng and teach them both a lesson?"
The golden little sword had expected Song Wanníng to pull out the shadow stone, but to its surprise, she didn't even mention it. She acted completely unaware, as if none of it had happened.
Song Wanníng smiled gently at the question, her fingers brushing the little golden sword as she explained, "No rush. It's not time to use it yet."
With one last glance toward the Demon Cavern, she activated the talisman in her hand and vanished, instantly transported back to the cave chamber. She swept her eyes across the map laid out on the sand table, picked a marked location, and sent herself there.
Meanwhile, at the bottom of the Demon Cavern, Ye Chuxue and Gu Qingyuan were already enduring inhuman torment. Dark demonic flames lashed at them again and again. In no time, their clothing was reduced to ash, and their skin began to fester and blacken…
But worse than the pain of the flesh was the agony of the Primordial Soul.
Already gravely wounded, the two could only curl up on the ground, barely clinging to life as they suffered in silence. At this point, they didn't even have the strength left to hate Song Wanníng.
…
Time flew by in a blink. Four months passed in silence.
Only two months remained before the Demon Sea would close again. In that time, Song Wanníng had used her map and teleportation ability to scour through several regions.
She'd collected many rare herbs, as well as a few valuable treasures.
Unfortunately, there was still no sign of the Xirang.
Swallowing a pill, Song Wanníng sat down cross-legged and began to meditate and restore her energy.
Just then, the secret chamber door creaked open, and Mo Yuan stepped out. When he saw that she was injured, his expression shifted with alarm. He rushed forward at once.
"Senior, who hurt you? I'll kill them right now!"
"It's nothing. I ran into a fifth-rank spirit beast. Got a little injured during the fight, that's all."
Song Wanníng shook her head. She didn't take such minor wounds seriously. But when she glanced at Mo Yuan's cultivation, her eyes narrowed slightly. He'd already broken through to late-stage Golden Core?
That was fast.
Then again, considering his bone age was already over fifty, he should have advanced long ago if not for the incident. Had everything gone smoothly, this wouldn't be considered fast at all.
Now that he'd entered the Demon Sea and encountered such a rare opportunity, if he didn't advance rapidly, he'd never make it on the path of cultivation.
"Congratulations on your breakthrough."
She smiled faintly. Just four words, yet they warmed Mo Yuan's heart more than he expected.
He smiled in return, then shifted his gaze toward the bubble. By now, Qu Shang was already a bloody mess. If not for the pills keeping him alive, he likely would've perished long ago.
But the Demon Sovereign wasn't doing much better. Countless waves of devouring demons had assaulted him for months, and there was still no end in sight. He'd tried to leave, but each time he went more than ten meters from the bubble, he was forcibly teleported back. Escape was impossible.
The Demon Sovereign was livid. He had come to the Demon Sea to cultivate, but instead of absorbing demonic energy, he'd been thrown into utter chaos.
What miserable luck!!!
He just hoped Qu Shang had managed to kill that good-for-nothing Mo Yuan. If Mo Yuan had escaped the Demon Sea, tracking him down later would be a nightmare.
Seething with rage, the Demon Sovereign lashed out again. His frantic attacks, filled with fury, were a satisfying sight for Mo Yuan.
"Hmph!"
Mo Yuan let out a cold snort, then got to work with his little tricks.
While Song Wanníng sat nearby recovering, he repeatedly teleported the Demon Sovereign right into the path of fifth-rank spirit beasts.
These beasts were on par with a Divine Transformation cultivator. Even for the Demon Sovereign, handling them was difficult. And since his cultivation had some instability, his injuries quickly worsened.
Once she finished healing, Song Wanníng opened her eyes and cast a glance at Mo Yuan. His smug delight didn't escape her notice. She rose to her feet and spoke directly.
"Mo Yuan, do you want to kill him here in the Demon Sea and take control of the entire demon clan?"
The power rolling off her was vast and overwhelming. Even her sword vibrated at her side, humming with intensity.
Mo Yuan froze, frowning slightly. "Of course I want to. But he's at the peak of Divine Transformation… Even in the Demon Sea, there's no guarantee I can finish him off."
Just because he could control the Demon Sea didn't mean he could take someone's life on a whim. If it were that easy, he would've killed that bastard the moment he entered the sea. Right now, he was just trying to collect some interest. Once he had cultivated enough, then he would strike.
But Song Wanníng's next words stirred a storm in his heart.
"If you want to, I can help you."
Her tone was firm, her gaze unwavering. In that instant, she looked like a sword unsheathed, sharp and brimming with deadly intent.
Mo Yuan stared in disbelief, mouth agape. It took him a moment to find his voice.
"Senior, you're only at Nascent Soul… I can't let you risk yourself! I do hate him. I wish he'd drop dead this very moment… but that's not realistic."
A Nascent Soul cultivator killing someone at the peak of Divine Transformation?
Impossible. Unless the heavens themselves collapsed.
But Song Wanníng just kept looking at him.
"All you need to do is answer me. Do you want to kill him here in the Demon Sea? You should know this sea is your greatest advantage. Once he leaves…
Besides, he's already at the peak. It won't be long before he ascends."
The Demon Sovereign had to die.
Not just for Mo Yuan's sake. For Song Wanníng as well, this was likely her only chance to take him down. It was a dangerous move, but she needed to take control of the demon clan and its vast resources.
She was going to push the Song family beyond every other clan. Make them one of the absolute elites. She wanted the vultures circling in the dark to twist with envy. Wanted them to watch as the Song family rose to the heavens.
A deep fire burned in Song Wanníng's eyes.
The higher one's cultivation, the greater the ambition.
And she loved this version of herself.
Mo Yuan was shaken. The senior was right. What if that bastard really did ascend?
How would he ever get revenge?
He suddenly raised his head, eyes burning with resolve.
"Senior, I want to kill him!!!! Please help me!!"
After spending so much time with Song Wanníng, he knew she wasn't the type to make baseless claims. If she said she had a way, then she must truly have a plan.
His eyes gleamed with fierce determination.
Song Wanníng received the answer she wanted and gave a satisfied nod.
"Of course I'll help you. But you must promise me this: when the time comes, if I need your help, you will give me your full support."
If she was risking her life to help him get revenge, and didn't ask anything in return, Mo Yuan would definitely start doubting her intentions.
So she laid her conditions out clearly.
Mo Yuan's heart eased when he heard that. Though he admired Song Wanníng deeply, he never believed she would risk her life for him without reason.
He looked her in the eyes and said solemnly, "Senior, don't worry. As long as you help me kill him, the demon clan will be yours!
Whenever you call on us, I will mobilize every force at my disposal to assist you!"
Song Wanníng had done so much for him. He would never forget these debts.
Once he took control of the demon clan, they would become her greatest support.
"Good."
A cold gleam flashed through Song Wanníng's eyes.
This promise had come from Mo Yuan's own mouth.
The demon clan… was already hers.