Everyone was now eager to find out which unlucky fool had been discovered.
But Yue Lin was not about to reveal it carelessly. His expression serious, he accepted the shadow stone and planned to review it later before deciding what to do.
However, since so many people had seen him take the stone, if he tried to cover it up, it might backfire on him.
A chill crept over Yue Lin. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being set up.
And in the distraction, the spirit herb had been taken by someone else!
He scowled darkly, firmly imprinting the face he had just seen in his memory.
...
After storming off, Yue Lin finally found a place to open the lingering image stone.
He had thought it would be nothing serious, but as soon as he opened it, two figures appeared—two he never wanted to see.
Jiang Cen and Zhang Shuning.
Their relationship was complicated, known throughout the entire sect.
Now, rumors said Jiang Cen had set his sights on Elder Liu again, but had already gone mad enough to want to kill Zhang Shuning.
"What an idiot!"
If Elder Liu knew Jiang Cen had killed Zhang Shuning, how could she possibly be with Jiang Cen?
Wouldn't she try to win over Zhang Shuning instead?
Yue Lin could not understand Jiang Cen's thinking, but the situation was growing more dangerous. Whether he reported it or not, his position was precarious. If he stayed silent, once Elder Liu found out, it would be bad news for him. If he reported it, the Grand Elder would surely bear a grudge.
No matter what he chose, it seemed impossible.
But he quickly calmed down.
He was never on Jiang's side to begin with. Even if he did nothing, the Grand Elder would not treat him well. It would be better to use this opportunity to drive a wedge between Elder Liu and the Grand Elder. That way, it would benefit their faction later.
He believed the family would support him once they found out.
Yue Lin made up his mind. Fortune favors the brave. If he handled this well, the family would surely prioritize his cultivation, and his future would brighten.
...
"System, will these injuries affect my future...?"
Xiao Heyun hid weakly in a cave, his face pale as he kept worrying about his manhood. For someone trying to woo women, having his manhood destroyed was basically the same as being killed.
"Host, rest assured. Although you are injured now, as long as you refine a high-level pill, you can still recover!"
Xiao Heyun was panicking, but in cultivation, even if severed, things could grow back. Since it was only crushed, it was no problem.
"That's good!"
He finally exhaled in relief. He wished he could just make the pill now, cure himself, then test himself on a woman to make sure his prowess was intact.
"Host, you already owe a lot of points. You need to speed up your progress or you won't be able to redeem anything. How will you get revenge then?"
The system was truly fed up with this fool. With its help, he still couldn't win over a single woman.
"You think I don't want to?"
Xiao Heyun gritted his teeth angrily.
There was only one target in the secret realm—Yun Yunzhou. But she detested him, and he barely gained any points from her. Counting on redeeming points was hopeless. His only hope now was to leave the secret realm quickly and refresh other targets' favorability, or else he'd lose all hope.
"Whenever I meet Song Wanníng, something bad always happens. I really think she's cursed against me!"
Every time he crossed paths with Song Wanníng, his targets' favorability dropped.
This time was worse. She actually kicked his manhood to pieces.
Now, whenever he thought of her, a strange tightness and pain gripped him below the waist, a fear and ache that seemed carved deep into his primordial soul.
"Song Wanníng is indeed no ordinary person. I feel something is wrong, but the system cannot access her info. You will have to handle it yourself. My suggestion is to kill Song Wanníng and crush her completely before she causes trouble. It is only a matter of time."
The system also suspected Song Wanníng was not simple. It could not be coincidence after multiple times.
This threat needed to be dealt with quickly.
"I wish I could…"
Xiao Heyun's face darkened. He was badly injured, his dantian damaged, and had no idea how to escape the secret realm.
"System, let's make a deal. Now that I'm hurt and have a divine beast with me, when the secret realm opens, those guys will definitely come after me.
Help me one last time, okay? This is really the last time!"
Though frustrated, he had no choice but to beg the system. His original ambitions were nearly crushed. Now all he wanted was to rise to the top with the system's help.
"...Host, I've already said you owe a lot of points."
The system's exasperated voice sounded. Xiao Heyun felt his face heat up.
"If you don't save me, I'll die. All favorability resets to zero. What then? You and I are one. If I'm good, you're good. Help me once, and I'll immediately work on winning over those women. I won't owe points for long!"
With his persuasion, the system finally agreed.
"This is really the last time..."
Xiao Heyun eagerly nodded and took out pills to continue healing. He had no time to fight for treasures outside anymore.
What he did not expect was that Song Wanníng, disguised as him, was already roaming the secret realm searching for disciples of Canglan Sect.
"Li Meng, don't be too much. We're from the same sect!"
"Yeah, Li Meng, we are all Canglan Sect disciples. You stepping in like this is just too much!"
Several Canglan disciples glared angrily at Song Wanníng's clone, firmly guarding the spiritual essence they found behind.
They had just found the essence and were preparing to split it, when Li Meng suddenly jumped out trying to steal it.
Song Wanníng sneered and didn't hesitate to attack. She acted arrogantly, showing no concern for their lives as she struck, infuriating the Canglan disciples.
"Li Meng, what do you mean? Do you want to kill us?"
"Killing fellow disciples is a grave crime. Once we get out, we will report your evil deeds to the sect!"
"Everyone attack! Since he struck first, we have no fault!"
Someone even took out a shadow stone to record the scene. Words alone were not enough. With evidence, Li Meng could not deny it.
Song Wanníng was pleased to see them act so righteously.
She laughed loudly, shouting, "You think you have a chance to escape? Hahaha, what a joke!
That bitch Song Lantian and a dozen cultivators died by my hand. Do you think you can hurt me?
Dream on!"