The disciples' attitude toward Song Wanníng had long since changed. These days, they came daily, eager to watch her turn the tables and rise to glory. Some were more excited about her duels than about stepping onto the battle stage themselves.
When she failed to appear today, disappointment rippled through the crowd. Still, no one was in a hurry to leave. Perhaps she was only running late?
It wasn't until someone spotted Leng Qingzhu returning that realization struck.
"Looks like Martial Uncle Leng is back, and Junior Sister Song's gone to catch up with her."
"Then she won't be showing up today. Let's head off."
"Agreed. I'll come again tomorrow. She's sure to be here then."
In pairs and trios, the disciples drifted away. Even the thirtieth-ranked contender left in a gloomy mood. She had been looking forward to a good, exhilarating match for days, only for Song Wanníng not to come.
The battle stage soon returned to silence. Only after the crowd had completely dispersed did Jiang Cen step out, her eyes shadowed.
Ever since Song Wanníng had rejected her last time, Jiang Cen had mentally placed her in Zhang Shuning's camp. After all, Zhang Shuning had once taken Song Wanníng into the treasure vault. Who was to say the two hadn't joined forces?
So when she heard of Song Wanníng's strength, Jiang Cen came to test the waters, worried that once they entered the secret realm, Song Wanníng might ruin her plans.
Who would have guessed she wouldn't even show up today!
Jiang Cen's face darkened. Lately, Liu Xingzhi had shut himself away in seclusion, giving her no chance to get close. That made the secret realm trip all the more important. Women like Song Wanníng and Zhang Shuning—talented and beautiful—were her biggest rivals.
"One Zhang Shuning is trouble enough. Now there's Song Wanníng. Infuriating."
She kicked a stone across the ground, frustration gnawing at her. The more Liu Xingzhi ignored her, the more determined she was to win him over. Yet time and again, she was met with defeat.
If she hadn't transmigrated into this story and known what lay ahead, she might have given up long ago. Rousing her spirits, Jiang Cen decided she still needed to probe Song Wanníng's abilities on the battle stage.
On Zhuiyun Peak, Song Wanníng remained in seclusion. Carefully, she drew from her internal world the Twin Blood Lotus, a spark of delight flashing in her eyes.
Perhaps due to the influence of the chaotic energy within her internal world, the snow lotus's colors had dimmed slightly, but its aura had grown even richer and heavier.
A top-tier spiritual treasure, without doubt.
Holding it in her palm, she could feel the surging vitality within. Even her own blood seemed to quiver in response. Exhaling a long breath, she stilled her mind. Only when all distracting thoughts were gone did she begin the process of refining the Twin Blood Lotus.
The lotus root, however, she set aside. It was an exceptional crafting material, perfect for reforging her life-bound longsword.
She pricked her finger, letting several drops of blood fall onto the lotus, then pressed out a drop of heart's blood, guiding it into the stamens of both blossoms. The instant the heart's blood touched, the lotus rippled with overwhelming power, then dissolved into a streak of crimson light that shot straight into her dantian.
The moment it entered, the lotus burst apart, transforming into countless streams of red essence that flooded her entire core.
Boom.
Her dantian roared. Spirit energy and demonic qi began their usual clashing, neither yielding despite the suppressing weight of the chaotic energy.
They seemed determined to outdo each other.
But soon, the crimson aura pressed them both down with force.
Outside, Leng Qingzhu sat in the courtyard, standing guard for her disciple while paging through an ancient array manual.
Several familiar auras approached at speed. She raised her head to see black specks racing across the sky.
When they landed, she made no move to rise.
The newcomers, all fire and bustle, were already calling out before they crossed the threshold. "Little Junior Sister, we heard your disciple has ascended!"
"Come on, let us see her!"
They surrounded Leng Qingzhu instantly, peering about the courtyard.
"Hm? Where's your disciple? We don't see her."
"Little Junior Sister, don't tell me you sent her away. She's our only Martial Nephew!"
Leng Qingzhu sighed inwardly. These unreliable senior brothers and sisters.
"Wanníng is inside cultivating. I'm keeping watch for her," she explained, otherwise they truly might have barged in.
"So eager? Seems our Martial Nephew is as diligent as me!" Qin Ming said proudly, hands on hips, already pleased with her without having met her.
"Second Senior Brother, don't flatter yourself. You're the laziest of us all. How else would you still be in the Out-of-Body stage?"
The third, Feng Xue, snorted, dismantling his brag without mercy.
"What nonsense? I only slowed down my cultivation to take care of you ungrateful lot."
The two were soon bickering.
The fourth, Cang Yang, tried to mediate, but he was poor with words and only fanned the flames.
The three squabbled loudly, enough to give anyone a headache.
Leng Qingzhu watched with a flat expression, her eyes full of helplessness.
Of her four senior brothers and sisters, only the eldest Senior Sister was truly dependable, though even she had her… quirks.
Still, keeping Wanníng here on Zhuiyun Peak should be the right choice. They might cause trouble, but they were fiercely protective, and straightforward enough to avoid petty schemes.
She only hoped her disciple could get along with them. After all, Wanníng was not the type to take a loss quietly.
When the quarrel finally died down, they plopped down beside Leng Qingzhu.
"Little Junior Sister, we'd barely left the secret realm when we heard you'd run off. If the elders hadn't stopped us, we'd have come back right away."
Feng Xue kept sneaking glances toward the house, her curiosity about Song Wanníng growing by the moment. A disciple who shut herself in to cultivate immediately upon return clearly had some great opportunity, and was just waiting for Leng Qingzhu to guard her.
"Don't worry," Feng Xue said, clapping Leng Qingzhu's shoulder with the air of someone ready for a fight. "Your disciple is our disciple. If anything happens, we'll protect her."
Qin Ming nodded. "Third Junior Sister finally said something sensible. With us here, she can focus on her cultivation."
A beautiful, gentle Little Junior Sister—of course they'd protect her.
Especially since she had just ascended and might need them most.
The more Qin Ming thought about it, the more important he felt his role was. His gaze even turned watchful.
Leng Qingzhu's brow twitched. "Wanníng hasn't done anything secretive. She's simply new here, and I don't want her to attract the wrong attention."
If word got out that Wanníng carried a supreme treasure, some people might get ideas in the secret realm.
"I see."
At once, the three sobered. Playful banter was one thing, but when it came to inter-sect rivalries, they knew better than to take it lightly.