"…"
Song Wanníng simply watched Jiang Cen put on her little act. She smiled faintly, not bothering to respond.
"Hehe, well, it's like this. I was worried you might not know the situation, so I came here to tell you personally."
Jiang Cen felt a flicker of irritation at Song Wanníng's lack of cooperation, but she had to finish what she came to say.
"If you want to join the expedition to the Lingxi Secret Realm, it's not impossible. You can challenge one of the top hundred core disciples. Win, and you'll get a spot."
This had always been an ancient tradition of the Guhan Sect. The challenge results had already been decided months ago, and everyone accepted the current top hundred without dispute.
But Song Wanníng, this newcomer, was an unexpected variable.
"As long as I tell her this, she'll definitely be grateful to me. Then, if I get close to her and occasionally whisper a few things about Zhang Shuning's hypocrisy, she'll soon come to hate her…
I know the plot better than anyone. If I want to stir trouble between them, that's nothing more than a flick of the wrist.
Still, I can't be too obvious. The cultivation world is full of sharp minds. I've already suffered losses from being too blunt in the past."
Jiang Cen didn't want to recall her unlucky moments. She wanted the treasures in the Lingxi Secret Realm for herself.
Zhang Shuning's opportunities? She planned to seize them too.
In short, every treasure must end up in her hands, and no one else's.
Song Wanníng listened to her thoughts with a cold heart. Outwardly, her expression barely changed; there was no sign of excitement.
"The sect master already told me about this. But I appreciate you making the trip, Martial Uncle Jiang."
In truth, the sect master had already explained this to her earlier, which was why she had been training with her sword so intently.
Now Jiang Cen had come with this news, expecting gratitude. It was almost laughable.
Jiang Cen's expression faltered. She looked at Song Wanníng in surprise.
Yet Song Wanníng still wore that faint smile — a smile that never reached her eyes.
"Isn't she an ascender? What's her real relationship with the sect master?
First someone was sent to welcome her, then she was given the position of true disciple. Now even something this trivial is told to her personally…
Could there be something going on between them?"
Her gaze became more searching. It swept over Song Wanníng's shapely figure, then settled on her stunningly beautiful face, deepening her suspicions.
"Who would have thought… someone this beautiful, yet still relying on men to survive. What a waste of a face.
But then again, weren't all the pretty women in my past life like that? Willing to do anything for money and status. Not like me. I may be average-looking, but I've always relied on myself."
A trace of disdain rose in Jiang Cen's heart. Her gaze toward Song Wanníng grew even more scornful.
"Hehe…"
Song Wanníng almost laughed in anger at the malice in Jiang Cen's thoughts. This fool? She wouldn't even bother pretending to be friendly.
And she wanted Song Wanníng as a follower?
Not afraid she'd die before she could enjoy it?
Her expression cooled. She no longer wanted to waste her time. She had originally planned to humor Jiang Cen for a while so she could conveniently look for treasures.
Now she had no desire to interact with her at all.
One reason: bad luck.
"Anything else? If not, I'm busy."
The dismissal was clear.
Jiang Cen's smile vanished.
"What do you mean by that? I came here in good faith to tell you this, and this is your attitude?"
For years, she had grown used to others bowing and flattering her. Being dismissed by Song Wanníng ignited her temper.
A little no-name cultivator with no backing — who did she think she was?
Jiang Cen seethed, but Song Wanníng remained relaxed, her whole bearing one of effortless ease.
"Of course I'm going to prepare for the challenge. What else could I mean? Safe travels."
Song Wanníng no longer bothered to pretend. She picked up her longsword and resumed her practice, not even sparing Jiang Cen a glance.
Blades of fierce sword light lashed out in all directions. Jiang Cen's face flushed red, but she wasn't going to keep making a fool of herself.
"Just you wait. You'll come begging to me one day.
Don't want to be my dog, but still want to go to the Lingxi Secret Realm? Keep dreaming."
Jiang Cen shot her one last venomous glare and stormed off.
Her plan to rope in Song Wanníng had failed. She would have to find someone else to hold Zhang Shuning in check.
But who?
It was troublesome — everyone knew Zhang Shuning was Liu Xingzhi's disciple. No one wanted to cross her.
"Infuriating. Why can't anything go my way?"
Hadn't she already changed the fate of the original vicious female side character by coming into this book?
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She turned on her heel and left in another direction. If Song Wanníng refused to cooperate, she had plenty of ways to make her beg. And when that time came, the terms would be hers to name.
A glint of malice flashed in her eyes as she sped away.
…
After Jiang Cen left, Song Wanníng sheathed her sword.
"Sister, she definitely won't let this go. She might even try something in secret!"
Long Ling was no longer the naïve being she had been when first born. She now understood the darkness of the human heart and could clearly sense Jiang Cen's malice.
"I only hope she does."
Song Wanníng's eyes narrowed. From what she had gleaned from Jiang Cen's thoughts, the woman had not been especially clever even before crossing into this world.
If she were smart, she would have devoted herself to cultivation, used the resources to advance, and sought ascension — not waste her time chasing the male lead and dreaming about romance.
The more a fool like this acted, the easier it would be to exploit her.
The Lingxi Secret Realm was a trip Song Wanníng was determined to make.
Her decision made, she tapped her foot lightly and soared into the air, heading toward the Bai Mu Rankings.
The Bai Mu Rankings were near the battle stage. Whenever someone challenged a ranked genius, the stage's bell would ring, drawing disciples to watch.
As one of the Five Great Sects, Guhan Sect's top hundred were already the elite among elites.
A quarter of an hour later, Song Wanníng arrived at the rankings.
The Bai Mu Rankings were divided into groups by cultivation level: Divine Transformation, Void Refinement, and Divine Soul.
Song Wanníng's target was in the Void Refinement group.
She stopped before the board, her gaze lingering briefly on the top three before scanning down.
If she chose someone near the bottom, there was a good chance someone would try to take the spot back from her afterward.
She had thought her earlier bold words would provoke hostility from these geniuses, but no one had paid her any mind. Clearly, they didn't see her as a threat.
In that case, she would be the one to start the challenge.
A faint smile curved her lips. She picked up the war drum mallet beside her and struck at the name in the fiftieth position.
The instant it hit, a deep, resonant drumbeat boomed, echoing for miles around.
Disciples everywhere froze in surprise.
Someone was attacking the rankings?