She didn't recognize these two men at all.
Could they be thieves?
Hearing their unrestrained conversation, Yao Ranran stayed quiet for a moment. Then she deliberately returned to the bed, lay down, and closed her eyes.
"Good. Now's the time." Wan Huaiyuan forced out a faint smile. With a flick of his fingers, a pellet of Yuwei Incense slipped into the room, rolling under Yao Ranran's bed.
Qian Xhi clicked his tongue and muttered with surprise, "This woman has no vigilance whatsoever. She hasn't even laid down the most basic defensive array!"
"With her cultivation, she probably never imagined anyone would target her. That explains her boldness." Wan Huaiyuan remained indifferent, calmly observing her every move.
"So they really were thieves!"
Yao Ranran secretly clenched the corner of her robe, keeping the Nine Lotus Ring pressed beneath her. Since when had thieves grown so brazen? Or had they simply never considered she might hear every word they spoke?
While these thoughts raced in her mind, the two intruders quietly pushed open the door and walked inside with utter composure.
"This girl's looks aren't bad. If her character proves passable, keeping her alive wouldn't be a bad idea," Wan Huaiyuan remarked, his eyes roaming over her with satisfaction.
Qian Zhi narrowed his eyes with a grin. "The number one Fairy of Central Continent truly lives up to her fame."
Yao Ranran's heart sank. So they weren't ordinary thieves at all—just a pair of despicable flower-thieving bandits lusting after her looks!
She couldn't stay still any longer. If she kept pretending to sleep, who knew what these two might try to do to her?
Her eyes snapped open.
Her gaze locked with Wan Huaiyuan's, who had been scrutinizing her face.
His eyelid twitched. In an instant he realized the Yuwei Incense must have failed. He straightened, his tone stern. "You are Yao Ranran?"
Yao Ranran shot upright. Without a word, she whipped out the Nine Lotus Ring and flung it over the smiling white-haired elder, binding him tight.
Qian Zhi's throat was crushed in a breath, his eyes bulging as he nearly popped them from their sockets. His heart hammered wildly, mind replaying the moment just now.
She could actually see him!
The situation had reversed far too quickly. Wan Huaiyuan faltered for only a second before snarling, "You weren't affected by the Yuwei Incense?"
Yao Ranran casually tossed something his way. "You mean this?"
Wan Huaiyuan swept his sleeve, knocking it aside with disdain. "Did you really think a hall elder like me would fear a little hallucinatory powder?"
"Oh? You don't fear it?" Yao Ranran toyed with a storage ring in her hand.
Wan Huaiyuan's pupils shrank. His face hardened. "When did you steal that?"
Her lips curved into a sly smile. "And by the way, what I threw just now wasn't Yuwei Incense at all. You've already fallen for my trick."
"What?" Wan Huaiyuan instantly expanded his spiritual sense to examine the object she had tossed.
At that moment, Yao Ranran flung something else and laughed lightly. "This is the real Yuwei Incense."
Wan Huaiyuan swatted it aside, furious. "Fairy Ranran, I have no intention of harming you. That… that isn't Yuwei Incense at all!"
He glared down at the two wooden tubes on the ground, his anger rising.
"And what about this?" Yao Ranran dragged Qian Zhi down with a sweeping kick, the Nine Lotus Ring tightening at her will. His face twisted in agony.
"E… elder…" Qian Zhi's resistance grew frantic, yet terror gnawed at him.
He couldn't move at all under her artifact. Was this some rare treasure… or even an immortal-grade weapon?
"Qian Zhi, why aren't you acting?" Wan Huaiyuan snapped, brushing aside more of the items Yao Ranran hurled.
In truth, he didn't wish to injure her. He was even somewhat impressed by her cunning. After all, a fool could never take the mantle of Holy Maiden.
That was why letting Qian Zhi restrain her was the gentlest method.
"Ugh—" Qian Zhi's eyes rolled back. He felt death closing in.
"Help me, Great Elder!"
He wanted to cry for aid, but the Nine Lotus Ring tightened further. No words could escape his throat.
Yao Ranran also noticed they weren't trying to kill her. Irritated, she tossed out a messy pile of odds and ends, her fingers brushing against the Shutian Bracelet.
A faint green light glimmered among the clutter, slipping into Wan Huaiyuan's sleeve. He froze for a split second.
Yao Ranran smiled sweetly. "This time it really is Yuwei Incense."
She hurled a tube packed with the stuff while dragging the old man along with it.
Wan Huaiyuan's eyes went wide, his spiritual power locking up. He could only watch as the powder fell before him.
"Qian Zhi, you useless fool! Kick it away!"
"G—Great Elder, save me!"
Qian Zhi cried desperately as Yao Ranran flung him into the air. Just as relief touched him—since he could finally speak again—a strange scent rushed into his lungs.
Wan Huaiyuan's expression shifted drastically.
Yao Ranran immediately recalled the Nine Lotus Ring.
The Shutian Bracelet's hold ended, and Wan Huaiyuan's stiff body moved again.
"You think such a little Yuwei Incense can confuse me?"
He sneered coldly. "Even with thirty percent of my strength, I can easily subdue you!"
"I see."
Strike first, win first. Delay, and you suffer.
The Nine Lotus Ring shone as Yao Ranran's clear voice rang out. Wan Huaiyuan scoffed, his sleeve unleashing a violent gale. But amid his blurred vision, he suddenly saw light.
What… was that?
He blinked. When his eyes opened again, a graceful young maiden stood before him.
The maiden walked slowly toward him, her voice pure and gentle.
"Who are you? Why have you come here?"
Wan Huaiyuan's gaze turned vacant. This maiden—she had to be the one he trusted most.
His lips began to move.
"I am Wan Huaiyuan, Great Elder of the Beiming Holy Palace. I came to verify the Holy Maiden's identity… and to seek the next Holy Maiden."
"You already know that Bai Qingwu is no longer the true Holy Maiden?"
"Yes. She is not Bai Qingwu. She has been possessed by an old monster. We must kill her—she is unworthy of the title."
Even under the haze of the illusion, his emotions spiked, his killing intent spilling out as he spoke of her.
"When will you make a move against Bai Qingwu?"
"As soon as we confirm the next Holy Maiden, we will execute her." His eyes were dull and unfocused.
Yao Ranran frowned slightly. "And have you found the next Holy Maiden yet?"
"We are still searching. It is said Central Continent's number one Fairy, Yao Ranran, is beautiful and has left Wuxiang Sect. I intended to evaluate her as a candidate."
Yao Ranran: …
So they weren't flower-thieving bandits after all. She had been worried for nothing!
Pulling out the Black-gold Hammer from the smithy, she gave each of the Holy Palace elders a solid whack, knocking them both unconscious. Dusting off her hands with satisfaction, she said,
"Faith power is really useful. Just fusing a bit of it into the Nine Lotus Ring was enough to confuse them completely."
Leaving the two elders lying inside, Yao Ranran quickly summoned Tang Xiangyin and the others.
This place was no longer safe. Bai Qingwu had already warned her—the Holy Palace was colder than even Shen Yuefu's Yiyu Peak. She wasn't about to head there!
Before the elders regained consciousness, Yao Ranran led Tang Xiangyin and the other two away at full speed.