From this clash alone, Yao Ranran had a rough estimate of her own strength. Her current Qi Refinement tenth layer was not the same as the usual tenth layer in the cultivation world.
Perhaps it was because of her cultivation method, the Thousand Layer Qi Refinement Scripture, that her realm was still counted as Qi Refinement. But the depth of her spiritual power had already reached the level of a Golden Core cultivator.
As for Nascent Soul… she had yet to truly fight a peak Nascent Soul cultivator. For now, she couldn't say with certainty if she could stand on equal footing. Still, exchanging a few blows in front of a Nascent Soul cultivator should be no problem.
That was why Yao Ranran had the confidence to speak so boldly.
After saying her piece, she looked straight at Shen Yuefu. His face twisted as he vomited blood violently, clearly driven half-mad by her words.
Pei Xianqiao, pale and flustered, scrambled up from the ground and staggered toward him. Her voice trembled with pain as she cried out, "Brother Fu, Brother Fu… how could you treat Brother Fu like this!"
Listening to the woman's accusations, watching the pair—one weak and spitting blood, the other weeping in sorrow—Yao Ranran suddenly felt a great weight lift from her chest.
"Did I finally manage to vent my frustration today?" Yao Ranran beamed, her face bright with joy as she gave the phoenix's head an affectionate pat.
The phoenix stared blankly, nodding stiffly. Its master… seemed rather terrifying.
"Pfft—"
Shen Yuefu's black robe was so soaked in blood it was impossible to tell where fabric ended and gore began. He raised his head, and that bright, delighted smile on Yao Ranran's face struck him like knives to the heart.
That smile, paired with her humiliating words just now, was the sharpest wound of all.
"Pfft!"
Again, he coughed up a mouthful of blood, more than he had ever shed in his entire life.
"Brother Fu, don't scare me like this! I'll take you back right away, I'll take you home!"
Pei Xianqiao's little face went white. She rushed to his side, trying to help him up.
Yao Ranran shook her head. "So Elder Shen has already fallen to the point of needing help just to stand, yet he still fought me? That really is me bullying the weak."
Shen Yuefu, who had just been propped up by Pei Xianqiao, suddenly turned cold. He shook her hand off and rasped hoarsely, "Let go. I'm fine!"
Pei Xianqiao froze, tears trembling at the rims of her eyes. "Brother Fu, don't force yourself. Please, just let me take you back."
Before Shen Yuefu could reply, Yao Ranran sighed. "So Elder Shen has just been holding on with sheer willpower? Then I really shouldn't have attacked him at all…"
Shen Yuefu's jaw clenched, his face dark. "Pei Xianqiao, this elder commands you to leave immediately!"
The sudden bark stunned her.
She bit her lip, staring blankly at this flawless man before her. "Brother Fu… what did you just say?"
Shen Yuefu's body convulsed with coughs. Pei Xianqiao's heart ached, and she reached toward him again.
Yao Ranran helpfully explained, "Pei Daoyou, Elder Shen just told you to leave right away. But don't take it seriously. See, he's coughing on purpose now—because he knows he said the wrong thing. Hurry and take him back so he can rest properly."
The phoenix beside her widened its eyes. This human male was so scheming! And its master… she was far too clever to see through all of this!
The phoenix looked at Yao Ranran in awe. It had truly chosen the right master.
That other girl might appear close to the man, but she clearly lacked its master's insight. She hadn't the faintest clue what he was really thinking.
What a fool. Thank goodness she wasn't its master.
Pei Xianqiao flushed with both shame and anger at Yao Ranran repeating Shen Yuefu's words so bluntly. Yet when Yao Ranran calmly dissected his "true intentions," she found herself half believing it and even forgiving the impertinence.
"Brother Fu, let me take you back. I'll bring you home right now!"
Ignoring Shen Yuefu's feeble attempts to push her away, she pulled his hand over her shoulder and activated a teleportation talisman.
"No… cough, cough, cough!" Rage burned in Shen Yuefu's eyes.
If looks could kill, Yao Ranran would already have died a thousand times over.
What nonsense was this woman spouting? And how could she wear such a shameless expression, as if she expected gratitude for her insults?
If he could just stop choking on blood for one moment, he would shout at her:
"What exactly are you so confident about? I never intended to leave!"
But fury consumed him. His chest heaved violently, mouth spraying blood that refused to stop.
As the talisman's light wrapped around the pair, Shen Yuefu struggled against it, forcing himself free of the pull, nearly falling out of its glow.
At that moment, a pale, jade-like hand slipped forward. Yao Ranran gently pressed his fallen Lushuangyun Immortal Sword back into his chest, even giving him a little shove back toward Pei Xianqiao.
"Elder Shen, no need to thank me. This is your sword. Take it with you."
She had never thought herself a good person. Yet when she caught the grateful look in Pei Xianqiao's eyes, her lips curved slightly.
Perhaps not standing against the so-called main characters was rather pleasant after all.
Yao Ranran hummed cheerfully, swaying her hand toward the vanishing pair.
"Farewell, my friends! May we never meet again!"
Yes, never meeting again was the best outcome.
Her lips curled as she lifted her head. Snowflakes the size of raindrops drifted down once more, and she spread her hands wide to catch them, mood soaring.
"Who would've thought I could even turn enemies into friends? Pei Xianqiao probably won't try to kill me now, right?"
"Chirp chirp chirp!" The phoenix chirped along happily.
Yao Ranran froze. "Wait… you're not going to be the spark that causes all the trouble, are you?"
She hadn't thought much when she claimed it. But now, recalling the joy on Pei Xianqiao's face when she saw the phoenix… something felt wrong.
The phoenix blinked, confused. What spark? What was its master talking about?
"Run! We need to run now!"
Before this foolish bird realized Pei Xianqiao was its fated master, Yao Ranran had to sell a few jars of phoenix blood.
Scooping it into her arms, she pulled out her teleportation staff.
Nine lotus petals unfurled in dazzling brilliance. The phoenix squawked, startled, as the scene around them twisted and blurred. In an instant, they were whisked into a strange inn room.
"Boss! You… why are you holding a wild chicken?"
Xiao Rong's eyes lit up with excitement as he saw Yao Ranran appear, gaze fixed on the bird in her arms.
"Chirp chirp chirp!" Wild chicken? Your whole family are wild chickens!
It was a noble phoenix!