Lian'er, Xiao Jin, and the other little ones realized the situation had turned bad, so they bolted for the exit without hesitation.
Song Wanníng sensed Gong Ye closing in. Her eyes sharpened, and her speed kept climbing. Seeing Lian'er and the others following, she didn't waste another moment. She drew spatial runes and swiftly tore through layers of space.
By now, Gong Ye had chased his way out of the palace, murderous intent spilling from his eyes. He thought he had her cornered, but in the next second, Song Wanníng vanished right before him.
A violent spatial ripple spread out, and his expression turned dark and terrifying. Unwilling to accept it, he released his divine sense to sweep the area, yet there wasn't a single trace of spiritual energy left behind.
That meant Song Wanníng had already been teleported at least a thousand miles away.
What the hell is that woman capable of?
His fists clenched tight, knuckles turning white.
For the first time, Gong Ye felt powerless. He wasn't without methods, but no matter what magic treasure or spell he used, that damn furnace of hers could block it. It left him unbearably frustrated. This was no different from someone hacking in a game. How was he supposed to fight that?
His face ashen, Gong Ye searched the surroundings again, but he still couldn't find Song Wanníng. Furious, he lashed out inside Bai Yao Palace.
With no other choice, he set her aside for now and turned his attention to hunting down the escaped prisoners. If he couldn't touch Song Wanníng, these people definitely weren't going to be so lucky. But that detestable woman… Gong Ye swore he'd never let her off.
…
"Sister, is he still chasing us?"
Xiao Jin looked around, excitement flashing in his eyes. The clash with those demon cultivators earlier had been exhilarating. If he could, he'd fight ten more rounds like that.
But Gong Ye's strength was monstrous. Song Wanníng had been struggling just to protect herself and couldn't even land a serious blow on him. That alone showed how terrifying Gong Ye truly was.
"No, he's not."
Song Wanníng shook her head, finally letting out a breath of relief. Her use of spatial teleportation had cut off Gong Ye's judgment completely. Without absolute certainty, he wouldn't chase them blindly, since he'd just be stumbling around like a headless fly.
After all, her spatial leaps covered massive distances.
A faint smile tugged at her lips. She'd found her Martial Uncle, she'd completed the Senior's entrusted task, and the burden in her heart suddenly felt so much lighter.
"Let's go, we'll head back to find Martial Uncle!"
Cheerfully, she used spatial teleportation again, rushing back toward the cave.
Meanwhile, inside the cave, Liu Lanyi could no longer sit still. Every time she tried to leave, Mei Huan stopped her, reminding her of the promise she'd made not to step out. Helpless, she kept forcing herself to sit down again. But so much time had passed without any word from Song Wanníng, and her worry grew heavier by the second. If Song Wanníng lost her life because of her, Liu Lanyi would never forgive herself.
Just as she was pacing again, a figure suddenly flashed before her eyes. Who else could it be but Song Wanníng?
"Wanníng?"
Liu Lanyi's eyes widened in shock and delight. She'd never felt such relief in her life. Her eyes even turned red.
"Martial Uncle, I told you I'd come, and I keep my word!"
Song Wanníng saw her Martial Uncle's worry and smiled as she pulled her down to sit beside her. It had been so many years since they'd met. There were too many questions and too much to talk about.
"Martial Uncle, all this time… you've been with the beast race?"
"Yes. When I ascended, I somehow ended up in their territory. I still don't understand why."
Liu Lanyi had always thought she was just unlucky.
But Song Wanníng understood right away. Her brows drew together, and she silently thanked the Senior again. Without him, who knew how her Martial Uncle would've suffered?
Choosing her words carefully, she said, "Martial Uncle, the reason I found you this time is all thanks to a Senior's instructions."
She then explained everything in detail.
Liu Lanyi fell silent for a long time after hearing it, clearly shocked. To live for centuries only to suddenly be told she had beast blood in her veins… it sounded absurd. But the truth was undeniable. The bloodline had always been guiding her.
That explained why she'd ascended straight into beast territory. After a while, she accepted it, though her expression remained complicated. "Is that Senior still alive?"
"There's only a wisp of his soul left, preserved inside a time fragment. I can use it as a guide to send you in to meet him." It was also that Senior's final wish.
Liu Lanyi hesitated briefly, then her eyes grew resolute. "Alright. I'll meet him!" She wanted to see what kind of person her ancestor truly was.
"Good!" Song Wanníng nodded and brought out the time fragment. Following the method the Senior had taught her, she sent Liu Lanyi into the fragment.
The cave was once again left with only Song Wanníng and Mei Huan. "Mei Huan, thank you. I'll absolutely fulfill what I promised you!"
With that, she summoned the Immortal Furnace and started refining beast pills. Anything she had the materials for, she refined for Mei Huan, all to repay her for her help.
Mei Huan was thrilled. In truth, she hadn't done much. She'd only relied on Song Wanníng. Grinning so wide her teeth barely showed, she felt certain that with these beast pills her cultivation would skyrocket. At the very least, she'd be able to protect herself.
But the more she thought about it, the more her chest ached. Traveling with Song Wanníng had given her a sense of security she'd never felt before. She didn't want to lose that. Yet Song Wanníng had grand ambitions. How could she possibly keep someone like Mei Huan by her side forever? The thought drained Mei Huan's spirits. Even the pills in her hands didn't feel quite as sweet anymore.
Meanwhile, inside the time fragment, Liu Lanyi finally met her ancestor.
The two stared at each other, momentarily speechless.
But the man's eyes reddened first.
"Good… good child!"
Seeing his descendant standing before him, battered but alive, he felt immense relief. His decision back then had been right. That girl had been trustworthy. Without any delay, she'd found his bloodline so quickly.
"Ancestor…"
Liu Lanyi looked at him, a sense of intimacy quietly blooming in her heart.
Especially with the love shining in his gaze, she felt safe.
"Ah—"
The man let out a sound, and his eyes grew even redder.
"It's my fault. I didn't protect them properly back then, and it led to you being stranded outside…"
The dangers of that era, his disappearance, his wife and children's suffering… who knew what kind of torment they'd endured?
The more he thought about it, the deeper his hatred for his own weakness grew. His gaze toward Liu Lanyi was full of guilt.
"It's not your fault. Ancestor, you've already done enough!"
Her words were stiff, but her heart ached too.
===
Poor Mei Huan, how bout you offer your body to her again???