"Where is Huo Jinchuan?"
"Where the hell has he gone?"
"Huo Jinchuan stole over forty precious treasures from the clan. Are you aware of this?"
"Hurry and call him back, or don't blame us if we show no mercy!"
The group fired questions like cannonballs, giving Huo Yang no chance to interrupt. At first, Huo Yang was completely stunned and said nothing for a long moment. Seeing this, the others grew even angrier.
"Patriarch, what do you mean by not answering? Are you in on this?"
"Or did you order this?"
The elders, already suspicious, spoke bluntly without holding back.
Elder Nine and Elder Five also caught on and looked confused.
"Patriarch, what do they mean? That Jinchuan went back and stole treasures?"
"That's impossible. Jinchuan is a child we raised. He has no reason to do such a thing!"
Neither of them could believe Huo Jinchuan would do something like this, nor could they find a motive. But Huo Yang's face darkened, fists clenched tightly, the anger around him stirring the air into uneasy ripples.
"It must be those two bitches…"
Immediately, his thoughts turned to Song Wanníng and Baili Shang. Only they had the guts for something like this. Who else would dare?
He never expected their audacity to be this extreme.
Were they really suicidal?
Suppressing the murderous intent in his heart, Huo Yang replied to the communication talisman, "Jinchuan is trapped outside and absolutely cannot return to the Huo family. Someone must be framing him!
Check again. That person definitely isn't Jinchuan.
Launch a full-scale investigation of all suspects. If we delay any longer, it will be over!"
The elders across the way fell into silence.
They had already begun to doubt the truth of Huo Yang's words, since it was his initial concealment that caused so much trouble.
"Patriarch, you must give us an explanation for this!"
They ended the transmission, but still followed Huo Yang's orders to search for any suspicious individuals nearby. Unfortunately, Song Wanníng's disguised clone had long since left, narrowly avoiding capture.
On the other side, Song Wanníng and Baili Shang were near the area where Huo Jinchuan vanished. But because their paths differed, they had not yet encountered Huo Yang.
"Why did you come here?"
Baili Shang's eyes held curiosity. Song Wanníng had been heading to this destination from the start but never told him why. Song Wanníng glanced sideways with a teasing tone, "Isn't it too late to ask now? Aren't you afraid I'll sell you out?"
At first, she thought Baili Shang was cold and unapproachable.
But after getting to know him, she realized it was not so.
He was simple and pure.
Yet cunning in his own way—he gave off a contradictory vibe that somehow felt natural.
"Selling me to you isn't impossible," Baili Shang replied, raising an eyebrow. His refined figure looked even more ethereal in the cold wind.
Song Wanníng glared at him, then explained, "Huo Jinchuan is nearby. I brought you here to snatch his chance."
"Being hunted by Huo Yang so fiercely, Huo Jinchuan must have found a way to recover his injuries. That's why I must to come."
"Huo Jinchuan…"
Baili Shang's expression darkened at the name. There was something strange about him. But Song Wanníng seemed to know something—there was a secret between them unknown to Baili Shang.
He didn't ask further, just nodded.
The two then set about trying to find Huo Jinchuan's trail. Though the map showed his location nearby, Song Wanníng couldn't find the entrance. Then their worry became reality—they unexpectedly ran into a Huo family cultivator. It was Elder Nine, early Unity stage, with a delicate face and calculating, sharp eyes.
Elder Nine was originally looking for the entrance and never expected to meet Song Wanníng and Baili Shang.
Since Huo Yang said the two had likely already passed through the light gate, he was stunned. Before he could react, Song Wanníng and Baili Shang's attacks had already closed in.
Baili Shang immediately set up a formation to block outside detection.
He didn't want to draw Huo Yang's attention.
Boom—
Sword and blade lights flashed with cold killing intent, tearing the air. Space around cracked open and demonic creatures struggled out, trying to bite them.
Elder Nine was shocked and dared not be careless. After all, even the Grand Elder had fallen to these two. He launched a counterattack. Raising his hand, a rain of poison swords shot down, filling every inch of space with no room to dodge.
"Go!"
Song Wanníng lightly commanded. The immortal furnace reappeared, suddenly expanding to shield them below.
The rain of swords corroded everything—the ground, plants, turning them into stinking sludge in an instant.
The two flinched. This person's technique was vicious; if it hit a cultivator, they might die or at least lose skin.
Fortunately, with the immortal furnace as defense, they were unharmed.
Elder Nine was pushed back several steps by the sword and blade lights before stopping.
His face darkened as he stared fiercely at them, filled with hatred.
"You killed the Grand Elder and Huo Yuan, yet still want to run? Better surrender quickly. Maybe I'll spare your bodies!"
He stalled and threatened them at the same time.
"The last person who said that is dead. You think you'll be different?"
Song Wanníng's expression turned icy. She hated threats.
"You—"
Elder Nine never expected Song Wanníng to be so arrogant. His face turned pale and red in frustration.
"Fine. Since you refuse to accept the warning, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
He roared and attacked again.
Soon, the entire formation trembled under their combined assault. Knowing the danger, Elder Nine was ruthless from the start, holding back no moves.
But Song Wanníng and Baili Shang were smart. Protected by the immortal furnace, they played hit-and-run.
Elder Nine's attacks were costly but failed to even graze their skin, making him furious. Yet these two shamelessly coordinated sneaky strikes. Within minutes, Elder Nine was lightly wounded and looked quite miserable.
"Damn it, how are we supposed to fight like this? You're despicable!"