"Target Yu Yunzhou's affection -40, current affection -100. Host's seduction mission failed. Punishment will now be carried out!"
The system's cold, mechanical voice rang out again without warning.
Xiao Heyun no longer had the strength to fight back. Both arms and legs were nearly broken. He had been clinging to the hope that the system would save him, but instead was met with this devastating announcement.
His eyes widened in panic, completely baffled. How had her affection dropped to -100? What had he done?
"System, you must have made a mistake! Save me, I'm going to die!"
His voice shook as desperation and pain flooded him, his eyes turning bloodshot. He was frantic, flailing between fear and agony.
But the system gave no reply. In its calculation, this host had been challenging its authority. That was intolerable. He had to be crushed in one blow, or else discipline would fall apart later.
"Commencing punishment: electric shock!"
The words had barely fallen when a violent current of electricity enveloped Xiao Heyun in an instant.
"Ah—!"
He let out a hoarse, piercing scream as his body convulsed uncontrollably.
Nearby beasts lunging to attack were caught in the current as well, their twitching bodies making the scene look absurdly comical.
"What the—what's going on now?"
Cultivators watching from a distance were all startled. Why had lightning suddenly appeared again?
"Did this guy dig up someone's ancestor's grave?"
What rotten luck.
A few couldn't help gloating. Who told him to sneak in here? He was only getting what he deserved.
Still, the situation created a problem: when would they get their chance to seize the treasure?
Everyone was biding their time, waiting for the beasts to kill him. Once the item had no owner, it would be a free-for-all.
Xiao Heyun's convulsions continued. His bruised and swollen face now looked even more battered.
Song Wanníng gave a small scoff. "I must have been blind before. How could someone like him be compared to Elder Liu? Nothing but trash."
That was her honest opinion.
Xiao Heyun was not only a coward but utterly despicable, his mind full of nothing but women. The thought of him coveting her made her skin crawl.
Yu Yunzhou clearly agreed. "He's not even worth one hair of Elder Liu's head."
In her heart, Liu Xingzhi was untouchable. No one could defile that image.
And this man—aping another's style yet daring to approach her with scheming intent—did he take her for a fool?
With Elder Liu ahead of him, who would ever look his way? What a joke.
She suddenly turned to Song Wanníng.
"What's your name? Why haven't I seen you before?"
Song Wanníng was a disciple of Guhan Sect, yet Yu Yunzhou had never laid eyes on her.
And it seemed she had some rapport with Zhang Shuning.
"I'm Song Wanníng, just ascended not long ago and joined Guhan Sect."
Song Wanníng smiled as she introduced herself, feeling a flicker of interest toward Yu Yunzhou. This woman didn't seem like the brainless, spiteful side character type. Compared to Jiang Cen, she was much more clear-headed.
"That man is Xiao Heyun, from Qingyun Sect. I ran into them during my ascension. At the time, he was tangled up with his Junior Sister.
As far as I know, he's especially good at clinging to influential women, though I have no idea for what purpose. Now that he's set his sights on you, Daoyou, you must be careful not to fall for his tricks."
As long as Yu Yunzhou's affection didn't improve, Xiao Heyun's schemes were doomed.
Yu Yunzhou's gaze hardened with disgust.
She had already guessed his intentions, but hearing he targeted women one after another made her loathing boil over. If not for the beasts surrounding him now, she would have beaten him herself.
How dare he covet her. A toad dreaming of swan meat.
Their brief exchange ended just as the electric shock punishment stopped.
Xiao Heyun collapsed bonelessly to the ground, ringed by unconscious beasts still twitching from the current.
The moment the current ceased, the other beasts nearby went wild again, rushing toward him in a frenzy.
Blood poured from the holes and gashes in his body.
At that moment, Xiao Heyun truly thought he would die.
A massive beast lunged toward him. His eyes shut tight in despair.
He was gambling that the system would not abandon him.
That it would never allow him to die here.
Luck was with him—this time.
"Pathetic waste."
The system's voice was full of disdain. A flash of light, and in the blink of an eye, Xiao Heyun vanished from where he lay.
Beasts crashed down on empty air, roaring in frustration.
The surrounding cultivators paid the price, the enraged beasts lashing out in indiscriminate slaughter to vent their fury over Xiao Heyun's disappearance.
Yu Yunzhou's disgust for him deepened. She silently swore that if they met again, she would erase Xiao Heyun from existence.
Song Wanníng watched him vanish, a cold glint in her eyes. What exactly was this "system"? It clearly had no small amount of power. If she wanted to deal with Xiao Heyun, she would first have to eliminate it.
…
"Pfft—"
Xiao Heyun hit the ground hard in a grassy clearing, coughing up several mouthfuls of blood. He lay sprawled, barely breathing.
His fists clenched weakly. He had won his gamble, but the system had let him suffer nearly to death before stepping in. It was merciless. He should never have harbored any illusion of loyalty or care from it.
When the day came that he succeeded, he would rip it out of himself—and destroy it.
That bitter vow burned in his chest as he forced down a healing pill.
"Host, target Yu Yunzhou's affection is now -100. You must resolve this as soon as possible or it will affect future plans!
Once you win over all these women, the entire cultivation world will be in your grasp!" The system was aware of his resentment but didn't care.
To it, he was just a pawn. Once its goal was achieved, Xiao Heyun's death would be inevitable. And if he dared to defy it, he could taste today's punishment all over again.
"I understand."
He bit out the words through clenched teeth. Only after a long while did the medicine spread through his body, restoring him slightly.
But his injuries were severe—too many broken bones, organs battered. Recovery would take time and rest.
The more he thought, the angrier he became. But remembering what he had gained, his mood eased a little.
From his spirit beast pouch, he carefully took out the cub. Fearing it might be stolen or lost, he decided to establish a bond right away.
The moment he did, his triumph turned to shock.
This cub was no lost ancient spirit beast at all.
It was just an ordinary beast.
"How is that possible?!"
Xiao Heyun refused to believe it, clutching the creature and inspecting it again.