This was something that, in the past, would have been completely impossible.
The system had also noticed that something was off about Song Wanníng, but due to authority restrictions, it had no way of accessing her information.
Just as Xiao Heyun was about to say something more, the Chi Feng Beast suddenly spotted him.
"Well, well, hiding here all this time? See if I don't tear you apart!"
The Chi Feng Beast lunged at him, every movement promising it would rip him to shreds.
Xiao Heyun's face changed drastically. He shoved Xie Qinglan aside and bolted in the opposite direction.
The Chi Feng Beast pursued relentlessly. Its cultivation was higher, and it chased him around the valley, leaving Xiao Heyun scrambling for his life in an undignified mess.
Already irritated, Xiao Heyun finally lost his temper and lashed out in return.
The scene instantly descended into chaos. The remaining cultivators looked at each other in hesitation. To leave now felt unwilling, but to stay carried its own risk. No one wanted to give up. Everyone around them was a potential suspect—perhaps the treasure was already in someone's hands.
And so, a strange sight unfolded in Cannibal Valley. Clusters of people stood frozen in place, merely watching as Xiao Heyun was chased around like prey.
He felt like a monkey in a spectacle, being openly gawked at. The humiliation burned.
Xie Qinglan looked on with concern, but seeing her ever-capable Senior Brother reduced to this sorry state made cracks appear in her long-held image of him.
…
Meanwhile, Wu Qingfeng had arrived at Cannibal Valley.
Earlier, he had received word from his disciples that a certain woman had been spotted nearby, yet no one could find her trail. In the end, he had decided to come and capture her personally.
But when he arrived, he heard rumors of a treasure's appearance in the valley, along with the sudden disappearance of the protective restrictions around it.
Naturally, he suspected the woman might have gone to join the commotion and flew straight here.
Now, upon arrival, disappointment set in. There was no sign of her anywhere.
"Martial Elder, why have you come in person?"
His disciples were shocked. Wu Qingfeng was an Elder of the Medicine King Sect—what kind of crime could this woman have committed to warrant such action?
"The matter is urgent. I came to see for myself."
A flicker of irritation crossed Wu Qingfeng's eyes. The sect's Ancestor had already asked him several times about her, and each time he had to admit he had failed to capture her. The last scolding had been vicious. If this went on, his standing with the Ancestor would crumble entirely.
"What happened here?"
His gaze swept across the scene and immediately landed on Xiao Heyun, still fleeing from the Chi Feng Beast. Recognition flashed—he also spotted Xie Qinglan.
Especially Xiao Heyun, who in recent years had become a renowned prodigy of the Eastern Region, famous for his unmatched talent.
"Elder, it's like this…"
The disciples began recounting their trials in the valley, one adding to the other. With every sentence, Wu Qingfeng's expression grew darker.
There had been a Alchemy Dao inheritance here—and he had missed it? And all his disciples had returned empty-handed?
His eyes grew dangerously sharp as they locked onto Xiao Heyun's battered figure.
Word was that Xiao Heyun was gifted in all four great arts. If anyone here had obtained the inheritance, it might well be him.
With a flash of movement, Wu Qingfeng appeared before Xiao Heyun and raised a hand. The Chi Feng Beast froze in place, unable to move.
The beast's strength was no match for his. It could only stand there, trembling with silent fury.
The moment Wu Qingfeng acted, the entire crowd fell silent.
A cultivator at the Divine Soul stage could crush them with a single finger.
Xiao Heyun finally had a moment to breathe. Grabbing the torn edge of his robe, he scowled in frustration.
One misfortune after another—this day could not get any worse.
Not only had he gained nothing, he had been running for his life the whole time.
"My thanks for your timely assistance, Senior Wu," Xiao Heyun said quickly, recognizing him.
Wu Qingfeng regarded him coolly. "Junior, I heard you obtained the Alchemy Dao inheritance. Why not let this old man take a look?"
He said "borrow" but clearly meant "hand it over."
"Senior, I didn't obtain any inheritance…"
Xiao Heyun was almost impressed by the man's brazenness. Even if he had it, why would he hand it over?
Besides, he truly hadn't gotten it.
"You didn't get it?"
Wu Qingfeng's lips curled into a cruel smile.
Although Xiao Heyun was the disciple of the Qingyun Sect Master, Wu Qingfeng was unafraid. The Medicine King Sect's status was no lesser than Qingyun Sect, and he himself was an Elder. Even if Qingyun Sect found out, they would have to swallow the insult.
If they tried to retaliate, he could simply deny everything.
What could they do—kill him?
His mocking gaze settled on Xiao Heyun as if watching a grasshopper beneath his feet.
Xiao Heyun clenched his fists. Xie Qinglan ran over, intending to plead for mercy, but before she could speak, her Senior Brother said, "Senior, the inheritance truly isn't with me. I lost in the final trial to Song Wanníng. It's with her. You can go to her for it."
Still angry about losing the inheritance, he wasn't about to miss a chance to shift trouble onto her. But the moment the words left his mouth, regret set in. He still wanted to bring Song Wanníng under his wing one day, then claim the inheritance from her.
For now, though, self-preservation came first.
"Senior Brother!"
Xie Qinglan was alarmed.
"Song Wanníng is my savior! How could you…"
She stared at him in disbelief, seeing in this disheveled man a stark contrast to the Senior Brother who had once seemed invincible.
How could he betray a friend?
Her eyes brimmed with reproach. Xiao Heyun's heart gave a jolt, and then the system's cold voice rang in his mind: "Target Xie Qinglan—favorability -5, current favorability 90."
His chest tightened, and a mouthful of blood burst from his lips.
Xie Qinglan rushed to support him. Even in her anger, she couldn't ignore his condition.
"Enough. You two can stop your act. Hand over the item!"
Wu Qingfeng had no patience for their drama. His face darkened as he prepared to strike.
"Wait, Senior, I have proof!"
Xiao Heyun's shout rang out. He projected an image taken from the system—a scene of Song Wanníng successfully refining four pills before being transported out. He hadn't wanted to show this humiliating moment, but Wu Qingfeng's power left him with no other choice.
Better she be the target than him. There were plenty of women in the world; losing her was nothing compared to losing his life.
As the image froze, the faces of the Medicine King Sect cultivators turned ugly.
They recognized her instantly—the very woman they had been hunting.
Not only had she survived, she had taken the inheritance. It was a humiliation for the sect.
Sure enough, several in the crowd pointed her out.
"Hey, isn't that the one on Medicine King Sect's wanted list? They showed me her portrait just the other day!"