"Wanníng?!"
Liu Lanyi's eyes lit up the moment she spotted Song Wanníng. When she sensed her cultivation level, she froze for a second, then instantly understood. So this place really was Wanníng's fated chance!
Liu Lanyi couldn't help smiling in delight. With Song Wanníng here, her confidence in snatching the Soul-Swapping Pearl grew a lot stronger. She'd seen firsthand just how terrifying Wanníng's strength was in these past days.
"Martial Uncle!"
Song Wanníng burst through the crowd of beasts. Her brows arched slightly when she saw the three locked in battle. She instantly recognized two of them and couldn't help feeling secretly pleased.
The trap she set back then finally paid off.
That Five-Colored Divine Light of the Peacock Clan wasn't something to joke about, and with the Patriarch personally fighting, even Gong Ye wouldn't be able to resist. But Gong Ye wasn't stupid. The moment Song Wanníng revealed herself, he jabbed a finger at her and shouted, "It was her who trapped Hua Kongque in the formation, that's why Hua Kongque died!"
He was trying to shift the Patriarch's fury onto her so he could seize the Soul-Swapping Pearl for himself. As for the little spark of affection and interest he'd once felt toward Song Wanníng, how could that compare to his future?
The moment those words left his mouth, the Peacock Patriarch's gaze turned razor-sharp, locking onto Song Wanníng.
The killing intent was suffocating, demanding an answer before he tore her apart.
Yet Song Wanníng's face was nothing but confusion.
"What are you talking about?"
Her eyes were wide with puzzlement, as if she had no idea what Gong Ye even meant.
The Patriarch's murderous aura faltered instantly. Doubt crept into his heart, and his attacks against Gong Ye became even fiercer.
In his eyes, Gong Ye was just trying to divert his anger with a flimsy excuse. How could someone in Unity like Song Wanníng possibly trap Gong Ye? Impossible.
Seeing the Patriarch didn't believe him, Gong Ye nearly coughed up blood from rage.
That woman, she could act circles around anyone!
Infuriating!
He had no choice but to keep fighting the two, anxiety gnawing at him.
While the three clashed, Song Wanníng's gaze slid toward the pearl.
She noticed how cautious Liu Lanyi looked and immediately guessed that this was the Soul-Swapping Pearl.
No wonder Gong Ye was so desperate.
Her lips curled into a sly smile as she sent a sound transmission to Liu Lanyi.
"Martial Uncle, when chaos breaks out, grab the Soul-Swapping Pearl and use a space talisman to get out. I'll find you later."
She was going to drive Gong Ye insane.
"Alright."
Liu Lanyi didn't hesitate for a second. Wanníng's strength was undeniable, and now that she'd advanced, she'd only be stronger.
There was no need to worry about her.
But for Liu Lanyi herself, things were different. With so many beasts watching, the moment she got her hands on the pearl, she'd have to run for her life. If they caught her, everything would be ruined.
The two quickly reached an understanding.
As the three's battle grew fiercer, Song Wanníng suddenly shouted, "Gong Ye, how dare you frame me just now?! I'll fight you to the death!"
She put on the perfect act of an enraged victim and threw herself into the fight.
When she first entered the palace, while lying on the lounge chair, she had entered Senior Golden Dragon's memories. That so-called Spirit Awakening Ceremony she experienced was actually a bloodline absorption ritual. Through it, she absorbed a drop of Senior Golden Dragon's heart blood and fused it into her own.
Now her Golden Dragon bloodline had fully awakened. She was the only descendant of the Golden Dragon Clan left in this world.
Those divine abilities of the Golden Dragon Clan had started to awaken too, though they'd need more time to strengthen. Her cultivation had skyrocketed. It felt like this entire palace was tailor-made for her, everything laid out perfectly with no obstacles.
But Song Wanníng wasn't about to reveal her full hand here. Instead, she stubbornly relied on her fists, striking Gong Ye whenever she got the chance.
Now Gong Ye was truly miserable. With three people ganging up on him, he was coughing blood in just a few exchanges.
The Peacock Patriarch and the Snake Patriarch both grew colder, their killing intent boiling over. Their attacks became vicious, truly aiming to end him.
Song Wanníng made it worse. Not only did she sneak attack Gong Ye every chance she got, but she also mocked him behind their backs.
Several times, Gong Ye cursed at her furiously, trying to expose her role in Hua Kongque's death. But she kept acting clueless, swearing that Gong Ye was only trying to use her as a scapegoat. Her indignant performance only made the Patriarch's suspicion of her drop even further.
At the very least, the Peacock Patriarch wouldn't touch her now.
And that was enough.
As Gong Ye's injuries piled up, Liu Lanyi knew her chance had come.
But the two Patriarchs were still alert, so she'd have to succeed in one strike.
Her eyes hardened, palms slick with sweat.
Finally, as the three unleashed another round against Gong Ye, Liu Lanyi seized her moment, darting toward the pearl. The Soul-Swapping Pearl had been "watching" the battle too, but the moment it sensed someone coming for it, it tried to escape.
Yet when it felt her aura, it froze, something about her breath stirring a sense of familiarity. That split-second hesitation was all Liu Lanyi needed. She clutched the pearl in her hand.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Three attacks slammed down at her all at once.
Song Wanníng's eyes narrowed. She instantly hurled out her Immortal Furnace.
Boom!
The moment Liu Lanyi seized the pearl, she activated her space talisman.
The Immortal Furnace blocked the incoming strikes, buying just enough time for Liu Lanyi to vanish from sight.
Clang!
The Immortal Furnace rang with a deafening hum, sending the attacks rebounding wildly.
The beasts scattered in a panic, the palace falling into chaos.
"The pearl's been taken!"
"Chase her!"
The crowd reacted instantly. With the treasure gone, they had no reason to stay. Within a few breaths, the hall emptied, not a single beast left behind.
The Peacock Patriarch finally caught on, his eagle-like eyes locking on Song Wanníng.
"You really killed my daughter?"
So she'd been acting from the very beginning, all to snatch the pearl. Then maybe her denial earlier was fake too.
"You just figured that out?" Gong Ye was so furious he nearly died on the spot. He sneered, face ugly with rage. He'd known the moment Song Wanníng showed up that disaster would follow, and he'd been right. The Soul-Swapping Pearl was gone!
A storm brewed in his eyes. He wanted nothing more than to strangle both Patriarchs to death.
Idiots!
If not for them, he'd have already claimed the pearl.
That single sentence made the Peacock Patriarch's face turn completely dark.