Those words immediately ruffled several elders.
"Where does that dead bitch Peng Yu get so much confidence?"
"Exactly. A cultivator who only advanced through dual cultivation techniques dares to brag shamelessly. She's completely deluded!"
"Where did she run off to? I'm going there now to teach her a lesson!"
"I'm coming too. I want to see just where she gets the guts to provoke us!"
Everyone was idle with nothing to do, and hearing about Peng Yu's arrogance made them eager to deal with her.
Song Wanníng continued, "She headed north, apparently to that wasteland. But don't underestimate her. She learned some tricks from somewhere and actually injured me."
The more she warned them to be cautious, the more it stirred their rebellious spirits.
"You, Youming, when did you become so timid? Do you really think she can slip past so many of us?"
"Just wait for us to get there and settle the score for you!"
They joked and laughed as they ended the communication and rushed toward the wasteland at full speed.
Song Wanníng's goal was achieved. She put away the talisman with a hint of mockery on her face. If Peng Yu had not been ambushed, these people might have really fallen into the formation. Yet they still underestimated Peng Yu.
But that was normal. Outside, disciples of the Hehuan Sect were also looked down upon. No matter how strong their cultivation, other cultivators rarely respected them. Instead, there was suspicion and disdain.
Many thought the Hehuan Sect disciples were weak.
These were just prejudices. Song Wanníng had fought with several of them and knew some were outstanding in strength.
She pushed aside her wandering thoughts and continued guiding the flying carpet forward.
Bai Yang was filled with curiosity, as if a cat was clawing at his heart. But his master had told him not to ask anything, so he locked his questions deep inside.
Still, he sensed something big was about to happen. He clenched his fists but remained silent, sitting quietly beside the foolish Peng Yu.
Soon, the flying carpet landed in the wasteland. Song Wanníng and her group found a concealed cave nearby to set up, then covered it with an array disk, settling in to wait for the others.
...
They waited for five days before the first Divine Transformation elder arrived.
"Where are they? I don't see any sign of you or Peng Yu."
He pulled out a communication talisman and asked Song Wanníng.
"Wait for the other elders to arrive. Once everyone's here, I'll lead you to catch her. I'm tracking her location now."
Song Wanníng replied with a slight smile.
The prey was finally close. Soon, the hunt would begin.
Bai Yang could barely hold back his worry and asked, "Master, there are so many Divine Transformation cultivators. Are you sure we can handle them? Maybe we should leave first."
Though their master was powerful, against a crowd of Divine Transformation cultivators, there was no chance of victory.
They were here for the pill formulas, not a fight to the death.
"Afraid?"
Song Wanníng lifted her eyelids lightly and chuckled.
"You used to be fearless."
Bai Yang had once been full of spirit and never known fear.
Now this was a new experience.
He looked uncomfortable. He had once been a favored son of luck—gaining everything he wanted, progressing rapidly, encountering countless lucky breaks. He had believed himself destined for greatness and dared any danger.
But after the deaths of his two junior brothers, he suddenly realized he was just an ordinary person and could die.
Now he was cautious and no longer took risks lightly. He stayed silent, head bowed in gloom.
Song Wanníng sneered faintly but said nothing more, looking toward the cave entrance.
She had planned to use Peng Yu to lure the elders into the formation. But to attract Feng Jinchuan, that plan had to be put on hold.
Now she had to wait until all the elders arrived before revealing the trial tower.
She did not believe Feng Jinchuan would ignore it.
...
Two more days passed. The elders arrived one by one.
Song Wanníng counted them and smiled faintly.
They were probably bored stiff in the Secluded Land, and a mere Peng Yu was enough to bring them all here.
Now that everyone was present, it was time for her to make her move.
She stood and walked over to the Peng Yu in the corner. She had kept Peng Yu alive until now because she feared the elders might not be fooled if they heard Peng Yu was dead.
But now that Peng Yu was useless, there was no reason to let her live foolishly. With a single sword stroke, Song Wanníng slit Peng Yu's throat, ending her life and shattering her Yuányīng into silence.
She casually picked up the broken corpse and said to Bai Yang, "It's dangerous outside now. Wait here. I will call you when I need you."
Without waiting for Bai Yang's response, she flew out of the cave, circled around, then hurried toward the wasteland.
"It's Youming!"
"Wait, Peng Yu was killed by her?"
The elders watching from afar were disappointed.
They had hoped to teach Peng Yu a good lesson, only to find she had already been taken care of.
They sighed, their expressions sour.
Song Wanníng arrived in front of them and slammed Peng Yu's corpse down with a bang, spitting in disdain.
"Phh, still dared to brag shamelessly, but now she's been dealt with! You guys never saw how arrogant she was. She even tried to ambush me and caused me injury! It's a mercy we didn't tear her to pieces!"
She cursed at the corpse, then looked up and asked, "What should we do with the body? Take it back to the Patriarch?"
"Take it back. Whether alive or dead, it must be seen. The Patriarch will want to see."
Elder Wulan thought for a moment and pulled out a bag, ready to pack up Peng Yu's corpse carefully. He did not want the body to taint his storage ring.
As they finished, something strange happened.
Suddenly, a strong spiritual power ripple erupted from the quiet wasteland, shaking everyone off balance.
They quickly flew apart, relocating to a distance in less than a breath of time.
Song Wanníng's heart sank. Luckily she had prepared some measures. Otherwise, with the elders' quick speed, the formation might not catch them all.
The group retreated swiftly, eyes locked on the wasteland with solemn expressions.
Under their gaze, a towering spire slowly appeared, reaching to the sky, endless in height.
Everyone's pupils constricted, shocked by the sight.
"What is that thing?"
"A rare treasure manifesting?"
"In all these years, no one ever heard of such a phenomenon in the wasteland!"