After making sure she was completely alone, Fang Wei finally relaxed and began circling around the Bodhi Tree.
The Bodhi Tree could calm the mind and sharpen focus, even help someone comprehend the Dao. Every breath felt like it sank straight into the depths of her soul. Her initial excitement quickly settled. Her eyes grew calm as she quietly waited for her Junior Brother to arrive.
Hidden in the mist, Song Wanníng didn't reveal herself.
The "Wordless Heavenly Tome" that this woman mentioned… what was it?
Was it because of this book that she knew a Bodhi Tree was here?
And to draw out the tree's core, she had to sacrifice a heart? That sounded way too much like a demon cultivator's method.
Song Wanníng frowned. At first she'd suspected this woman was an invader, but the Three Lives Mirror hadn't reacted at all. Which meant she probably wasn't. The key lay in that so-called Wordless Heavenly Tome. Could it also be something from the Mùsù star system?
"Big Sister, that woman's senses are crazy strong, stronger than mine!"
Long Ling drooped her head in frustration. She could only vaguely sense the Bodhi Tree's presence, yet that woman had locked onto it without fail and walked straight to it.
The difference made her feel useless.
The little dragon crouched on her shoulder, sulking. Song Wanníng glanced at her, and her eyes softened. "You're already incredible. She probably has some kind of special fortune."
She rubbed Long Ling's head gently, offering comfort. At once, Long Ling perked up again. For most cultivators, spirit pets and artifact spirits were shields and cannon fodder. But her elder sister advanced so fast that it made them look weak in comparison. Sometimes, it was hard not to feel useless.
But as long as Song Wanníng didn't cast them aside, they were happy.
…
Two hours later, the Junior Brother finally arrived.
"What kind of insane route is this? I nearly got lost even while following your markers. This fog's a damn nuisance. If not for it, I'd have been here ages ago!" He started complaining the moment he arrived.
But when his eyes landed on the towering, mystical Bodhi Tree, all his grumbling vanished. Awe filled his face. His eyes shone with shock and delight. "That's the Bodhi Tree? Incredible!"
He circled it a few times, unable to hide his joy. His hands rubbed together in excitement, his face flushed red.
"Senior Sister, how do we dig it up? A treasure like this has to be taken away. We can't let anyone else get it!"
Dreams of glory already filled his mind, along with gratitude for his Senior Sister.
"I knew you'd always treat me best."
In his naivety, he thought the Bodhi Tree wasn't something limited to one person's cultivation. He never once suspected she might be plotting against him.
"Of course."
Fang Wei's expression grew strange. A flash of cold light crossed her eyes. The next instant, her hand turned into a razor-sharp claw and plunged into his chest.
"Pft—"
Her Junior Brother froze as his chest was pierced through. The smile on his face hadn't even faded yet. He stared at her in disbelief. Why would his Senior Sister do this?
He'd just joined the sect not long ago, and she had been the one taking him everywhere, looking after him. He'd guarded himself against everyone else, but never her. She wasn't supposed to be like this…
He collapsed without a word, life snuffed out in an instant.
Fang Wei's face twitched with a moment of struggle, but it quickly hardened again. She gripped the still-bleeding heart in her hand, sparing the corpse only a cold glance. "Don't blame me. I had no choice."
With the heart in hand, she carefully approached the Bodhi Tree.
Song Wanníng instantly went on guard, ready to act at any moment. A treasure like this belonged to whoever had the strength to claim it. She had no intention of letting it slip away.
Fang Wei pressed the heart against the trunk. The bloody heart seeped into the tree at frightening speed.
The Bodhi Tree's golden glow immediately turned blood-red, and the entire tree shook violently.
The Dao aura in the area quivered, as if everything was on the verge of collapse.
But it only lasted a dozen breaths. Soon, the Bodhi Tree returned to normal.
The heart had been completely consumed.
Fang Wei's face darkened.
"What's going on? Didn't it say a heart would work?"
Panic rising, she quickly pulled out the Wordless Heavenly Tome.
"Tome, wake up! What the hell's happening? The heart's gone, but the Bodhi Tree's still standing, and there's no sign of the core! What do I do now?"
She clutched the book tightly. With such a miraculous chance right in front of her, she couldn't stay calm.
The Wordless Heavenly Tome stirred, a deep, weary voice echoing faintly.
"Failed?"
The tone carried disappointment, though it sounded like it had expected this outcome.
"Yes, it failed!"
Fang Wei's voice was urgent, but before she could say more, the Wordless Heavenly Tome shot into the air and shouted sharply, "Who's there? Who's hiding in the shadows? Get out here!"
The aura it released froze the air around them, making it hard to breathe.
"What? Someone else is here?"
Fang Wei stiffened in shock, instinctively pressing closer to the Bodhi Tree, afraid someone might snatch it away.
Her gaze darted toward the mist.
Song Wanníng knew she'd been exposed. Since hiding was pointless now, she walked out calmly. Her graceful figure emerged from the fog, appearing before Fang Wei and the Wordless Heavenly Tome.
"How long have you been here?" Fang Wei's heart skipped, then she snapped furiously, "So you were hiding all this time, waiting to swoop in like a fisherman stealing the prize?"
Her words dripped with malice and sarcasm, and Song Wanníng could clearly feel the hostility.
The Wordless Heavenly Tome, meanwhile, studied her in silence, its probing gaze crawling over her like ants.
Song Wanníng's aura flared, shaking off its scrutiny in an instant.
"Heh, impressive!"
The book's voice grew excited, almost greedy.
"Little girl, you've got rare talent and extraordinary potential. How about making a deal? If you form a contract with me, I'll tell you how to claim the Bodhi Tree. What do you say?"
By now, Fang Wei no longer mattered in its eyes. All it saw was Song Wanníng.
But Fang Wei exploded.
Her voice cracked into a near scream as she roared, "Tome, what the hell are you saying? We already signed a contract! How dare you try to change masters?"