The moment he caught the cub, the beasts had come charging after him, leaving him no chance to take a closer look.
Only now did he finally notice something was wrong.
He pulled out a vial of special cleansing grass juice and poured it over the cub's fur. Almost immediately, the markings on its body began to fade.
Fade…
Xiao Heyun felt the world go dark. His breath caught, and he nearly choked. He had long been physically and mentally exhausted, his body weighed down by serious injuries. Now, he simply could not take it anymore—he collapsed in a faint.
"Host, host…"
Even the system was stunned. So all that pain had been for nothing?
First mauled by beasts, then humiliated in front of his target, and finally struck by lightning…
And for what?
If it were in his place, the system thought, it might have passed out too.
…
"Hahaha, that guy actually fainted from sheer anger!"
Xiao Jin's laughter was louder than anyone's, the kind that came from genuine amusement. He kept laughing for a long time, unable to stop.
Song Wanníng's lips curved as well; she couldn't suppress her smile either.
Her clone was still holding back the enraged beasts while taking the chance to strike up a conversation with Yun Yunzou.
Though Yun Yunzou was proud to the core, her admiration for Liu Xingzhi was well known.
The clone had merely praised Liu Xingzhi a few times and voiced her own respect, and Yun Yunzou instantly treated her as a kindred spirit, her attitude far warmer.
But after that brief exchange, Song Wanníng could tell—Yun Yunzou's feelings for Liu Xingzhi were more worship than romance.
Besides, Elder Liu Xingzhi didn't seem the type to fall for his own disciple.
That made her start doubting whether Jiang Cen's so-called "book plot" was true at all. Or… was it just one part of the Heavenly Dao's scheme within Mùsù star system?
Narrowing her eyes, Song Wanníng decided not to trust Jiang Cen's words as blindly as before. Stowing away the Three Lives Mirror, she continued her search through the deep mountains.
But days passed, and the Bodhi Tree remained nowhere to be found. It seemed it had been nothing more than a rumor. Not intending to waste more time, she headed toward another area.
…
Half a month went by.
Song Wanníng had found quite a few treasures within the secret realm and faced many dangers, yet she emerged unscathed each time.
Meanwhile, Jiang Cen had finally shaken off the ferocious beast chasing her—but nearly lost her life in the process. She had burned through almost all her talismans and pills before finally escaping and getting a chance to breathe.
Xiao Heyun had woken much earlier. Perhaps the blow had sobered him, because he seemed calmer than before. However, his injuries were severe, forcing him to find a place to recover.
The two of them ended up with far fewer opportunities to search for treasure—leaving Song Wanníng and her allies to benefit instead.
Suddenly, while searching, Song Wanníng received a message talisman.
"All nearby Guhan sect disciples, gather at Cloud Valley at once. The Canglan Sect has gone too far—they killed two of our disciples! Come quickly for revenge!"
The message came from Yue Lin, the top name on Guhan sect's Tianmu rankings.
Her heart sank. She had already heard the rumors before entering the secret realm. This place cut off all outside senses, making it the perfect hunting ground for robbery and murder. Every year, not all disciple deaths came from traps or beasts—most died at the hands of other cultivators.
Now that Canglan Sect disciples had been caught killing two Guhan sect members, the matter could not be brushed aside. She furrowed her brow, sent her clone racing toward Cloud Valley, and continued her own exploration.
At times like this, she was glad she had forged the clone and imbued it with Xi Rang. That was the only reason it could advance alongside her true body—saving her a great deal of trouble when needed.
…
"Yue Lin, what's the meaning of this? Are you trying to start a sect war?"
Canglan Sect disciples stood in formation, their eyes sweeping coldly over Yue Lin and the three people behind him.
"Everyone's busy treasure-hunting. Do you really think they'll bother with you? Stop dreaming!
Hand over the goods now, or you'll end up just like those two!"
Song Lantian's eyes glimmered with mockery. As Canglan Sect's top Tianmu contender, she had sparred with Yue Lin more than a few times.
Meeting in the secret realm now only sharpened her killing intent—she didn't bother hiding it.
"Yeah, hand it over! The Bu Tian Stone was ours to begin with. Why should you Guhan sect people snatch it?"
"Hand it over!!"
Canglan Sect's numbers were overwhelming. If not for Song Lantian holding them back, they would have charged in already.
Yue Lin's group numbered only four—seven or eight fewer than the Canglan side. They were outmatched from the start. His face darkened, but he did not lose his temper. He had little hope that other Guhan sect disciples could arrive in time.
The secret realm was vast, everyone spread far apart, and some might already be trapped in life-or-death situations. Help would not come easily. He had already prepared himself to fight against overwhelming odds.
"The Bu Tian Stone came from our fallen brothers. And you think you're worthy of it?"
A cold, bloodthirsty light flashed in his eyes. The veins on his hand bulged as he gripped his broadsword.
"You killed Guhan sect disciples for treasure. Don't think you'll walk away alive. Even if we die together, we'll drag you down with us!"
At his words, the three behind him nodded grimly.
Canglan Sect had them surrounded, their only goal the Patch-Heaven Stone.
Surrender was not an option.
"Good, very good!"
Song Lantian laughed in fury.
"Since you're so eager to die, don't blame us for being ruthless! Attack!!"
With a sharp wave of her hand, her disciples surged forward in unison. As long as no one survived to tell the tale, no one would know it was them.
They had to silence every witness.
Yue Lin's group felt their hearts sink. Each one drew their weapon and launched a counterattack.
In moments, spells lit up the skies above Cloud Valley, bathing the cliffs in shifting colors.
Soon, another Guhan sect disciple arrived, saw the peril, and jumped into the fight.
But the gap in numbers was too wide. Everyone here was at Void Refinement, yet Guhan sect began to falter—one after another, their people were wounded.
Yue Lin and Song Lantian had clashed directly. Both were top talents of their generation, their old rivalry fanned by fresh bloodshed, and their battle was fierce beyond words.
"Pfft—"
"Canglan Sect, you've gone too far! So many against so few—aren't you afraid the whole world will laugh at you?"
"Yeah! If you've got the guts, fight us fair and square. What honor is there in bullying the weak?"
Their anger burned as their comrades fell.
"Hmph. The victor is king, the loser nothing. Who cares about your numbers?"
Canglan Sect's disciples had no interest in fairness. All that mattered was getting the treasure.
Fair play?
Ha. What a joke.
"Ah—!"
A scream tore through the air as one Guhan sect disciple had a chunk of flesh cleaved from his waist.
Before the bloody mass even hit the ground, a flying spell reduced it to pulp.