The thunderlight finally faded, revealing Gong Ye's battered figure. He was kneeling on the ground, his aura barely hanging on. He looked weak, like he could collapse at any moment. His bloodshot eyes lifted to Song Wanníng, filled with searing hatred that he didn't bother to hide.
Whatever good impression he'd once had of her had long vanished. He no longer thought about joining forces with her, only about killing her.
Song Wanníng was terrifying. If someone like her was allowed to grow, she'd become a deadly threat. That Purple Heaven Divine Thunder alone could've killed him. So there was no question. Song Wanníng had to die.
Absolutely not!
Killing intent burst in Gong Ye's heart. With what little strength he had left, he launched a counterattack.
The two Patriarchs and Song Wanníng didn't stay idle either. All three struck at once. Things had already reached the point where reconciliation was impossible. None of them held back.
But Gong Ye's attack was just for show. He knew he couldn't win this fight. He was gravely injured, there was no way he could stand against all three. So he feinted, then turned to flee. In the blink of an eye, his body shot upward, transforming into a massive flood dragon. The dragon form lunged toward the three of them with immense force, but just as it neared, it exploded.
Boom!
The violent blast obliterated over a dozen nearby halls. The entire palace shook for several breaths before finally settling.
Song Wanníng and the others quickly pulled back to dodge the shockwave. But when the smoke cleared, Gong Ye's figure was nowhere to be seen.
The Peacock Patriarch's face darkened. "He dared to sever his tail to survive?"
"Chase him!"
They all knew that if they let him go now, they might never get another chance like this. None of them hesitated as they sped out of the palace.
Gong Ye had detonated his Dharma Form, sacrificing a major part of his cultivation. His realm was bound to fall. If they could catch him right now, there was a real chance to finish him off.
But before long, their expressions turned grim.
Especially Song Wanníng's. She realized that not even the Three Lives Mirror could locate him. They scoured dozens of kilometers around the palace, but not a single trace remained. It was as if Gong Ye had vanished into thin air.
"Gong Ye escaped!"
The Snake Patriarch's face went green with fury. If Gong Ye was lurking in the shadows, the snake clan would be in constant danger. Just thinking about it made him shiver.
The Peacock Patriarch looked equally sour. The chance had been right in front of him, yet Gong Ye still slipped away…
Only Song Wanníng remained calm.
Gong Ye was chosen by the Heavenly Dao of the Mùsù star system and had climbed to the peak of the Spirit Realm. How could someone like that die so easily?
But… what trick did he use to evade even the Three Lives Mirror?
"Now that he's gone, we've got no clue where he's hiding. We'll need to rally others to help track him down."
The Snake Patriarch let out a frustrated sigh. If they knew where he was, they could've chased him directly.
But the outside world stretched in every direction. Pinpointing a location was impossible.
"Hmph. Our Peacock clan will pursue this matter too. As long as Gong Ye lives, he's a threat. I hope your clan understands how serious this is."
The Peacock Patriarch's warning was blunt. If the snake clan turned sides, the peacocks would end up as fools.
"You can rest assured. Our snake clan won't tolerate a traitor like Gong Ye."
The Snake Patriarch snorted coldly. He'd given Gong Ye a chance before, but the bastard not only ignored it, he even tried to trap them.
Did Gong Ye really think he'd lived thousands of years in vain?
That some brat could toy with him?
So he'd pretended to fall for it, then worked with the peacocks. Who would've thought Gong Ye would still slip away in the end!
"Good."
The Peacock Patriarch finally eased a little. This time, when he turned to Song Wanníng, the anger from before was gone.
"May I ask Daoyou's name?"
His arrogance was gone too, replaced with respect as he asked politely.
The Snake Patriarch followed his lead, both men staring at her with careful eyes.
"Song Wanníng."
She smiled faintly, not bothering to hide her identity.
"You're Song Wanníng?"
Their pupils shrank in shock.
After all, she was supposed to be human, yet the aura rolling off her was clearly beast. They'd never connected the two before. Now that they knew, their hearts sank, but they also felt relieved. Thank heavens they hadn't raised their hands against her earlier.
This was the woman who'd toppled the Huo clan. They couldn't afford to provoke her. Even if their daughters' deaths were tied to her, the Peacock Patriarch didn't dare press the matter.
"So it's Song Daoyou. Truly, the younger generation surpasses the old." He sighed softly. His daughter had offended the wrong person. The fact that Song Wanníng hadn't killed her outright was already mercy. Who could he blame but his own?
All he could do now was face reality.
"My daughter was reckless. I hope Daoyou won't hold it against her."
He closed the matter with those words, his attitude toward Song Wanníng turning warm.
The Snake Patriarch was quick to follow, enthusiastically inviting her to visit the snake clan as a guest. They'd welcome her with open arms. He had no idea that her clone had already camped inside the snake clan and knew their situation inside out.
"Thank you, Seniors. I'll definitely visit if I get the chance."
Song Wanníng responded politely. There was no need to make mortal enemies out of those who could be allies. The three of them were, in a way, "friends" now. After a few more words, they went their separate ways. Neither Patriarch mentioned the stolen pearl again. That was the weight of strength.
Song Wanníng smiled to herself as she hurried toward her Martial Uncle. The rush from her breakthrough left her satisfied and proud. It had come suddenly, too easily, and even now it felt surreal. Still, once she found a safe place, she had to release her true aura and face her tribulation. Until now, she'd been suppressing her cultivation to avoid being locked onto by heavenly thunder while searching for Gong Ye.
Now, she had to regroup with her Martial Uncle. Only after ensuring safety would she cross her tribulation.
Several days later, she reached the cave she'd stayed in before. Inside, Mei Huan had been cultivating quietly. When Liu Lanyi suddenly appeared a few days ago, it startled her. But when she saw the space talisman Song Wanníng had left behind, she quickly understood and welcomed Liu Lanyi with a bright smile.