Her face twisted with rage, flushing crimson as she stared at the Wordless Heavenly Tome in disbelief. The moment it saw this other woman, it wanted to change masters? What the hell did that mean? Did it look down on her? The more Fang Wei thought about it, the angrier she got, her face turning pale green with fury.
Song Wanníng just gave the Wordless Heavenly Tome a baffled look, the corner of her lips curving. "You think I'm as stupid as she is?"
That so-called Wordless Heavenly Tome was clearly crooked. Sacrificing a heart to draw out the Bodhi Tree's core—only evil cultivators would use something like that! It was just that this woman in front of her had been blinded by temptation, dancing right into the trap.
"Ha ha ha…"
The Wordless Heavenly Tome suddenly broke into laughter, sharp and grating to the ears.
"I knew you were clever, I like clever people. Girl, you should really consider my offer. Follow me, and your future will be limitless! Ascending to the Immortal Realm? That's nothing but child's play.
I am the Wordless Heavenly Tome from the God Realm. Everything in this world is within my grasp!
Hahaha!" The tome's wild, arrogant laughter rang out, brimming with conceit.
Fang Wei stood to the side, fuming as she watched them ignore her completely. Her anger kept building, but she didn't dare aim it at the tome. Instead, she glared daggers at Song Wanníng, eyes filled with the urge to kill.
But Song Wanníng's cultivation was clearly higher, and Fang Wei didn't have the confidence. Otherwise, she would've struck from the very beginning.
"Divine artifact?"
Song Wanníng raised a brow and sneered inwardly. She hadn't sensed the slightest trace of a divine artifact from this so-called tome. It was nothing but a fraud. "I'm not interested in a fake artifact, but this Bodhi Tree, I've set my sights on it. If you two leave right now, I'll let you walk away."
Her voice was cold, a final ultimatum. If they dared make a move, she wouldn't hold back.
The Wordless Heavenly Tome scowled at her rejection. This woman really didn't know what was good for her. His gaze swept across her coldly as he began plotting in his heart.
Seeing her refusal, Fang Wei actually breathed easier. She found a sliver of confidence and barked at Song Wanníng, "Ever heard of first come, first served? You should be the one to leave!
I found this Bodhi Tree, what's it got to do with you?"
Of course Fang Wei knew it wasn't about who came first, but she still hoped Song Wanníng would back off on her own. If she didn't, getting the Bodhi Tree would be tough. But with the Wordless Heavenly Tome on her side… that woman could forget about claiming it.
At once, Fang Wei reached out to the tome in her sea of consciousness.
"Tome, get rid of her! Otherwise, she'll snatch the Bodhi Tree away!"
But no matter how she pleaded, the tome gave no response. Fang Wei's face stiffened, and the silence grew heavier.
Song Wanníng narrowed her eyes, her attention locked on the tome. She knew little about it, which made her even more cautious. That thing was bound to play dirty.
The tome was the same, unable to gauge her true strength, but unable to ignore her talent either.
The eerie stillness broke when the Bodhi Tree began to tremble. Its blood-red trunk gradually shifted back to shimmering gold.
All three of them looked up sharply, their expressions changing.
From the top of the Bodhi Tree, a single sacred Bodhi Fruit slowly sprouted.
Its round surface was covered in Dao runes. One glance too long was enough to make the head spin and the knees buckle. They had to avert their eyes immediately.
"The Bodhi Fruit?"
Fang Wei froze, then her face lit up with wild joy.
"Tome, do you see that? It's the Bodhi Fruit!"
If the Bodhi Tree could help someone comprehend the Dao, then the Bodhi Fruit could directly make them step into it. The difference was enormous. Even if she were a pig, just eating this fruit would let her enter the Dao and touch the rules of the Heavenly Dao. That was the only way to trigger the conditions for ascension. Not only would it save her countless years of cultivation, it would help her break through to higher realms!
How could she possibly let something this precious slip away?
The instant the thought crossed her mind, Fang Wei bolted toward the fruit.
Even if Song Wanníng was stronger, she'd never hand it over. Never!
The moment Fang Wei moved, Song Wanníng's sword was already in motion. Her gaze turned sharp, and she swung it in a clean arc toward Fang Wei's back.
Caught off guard, Fang Wei tried to dodge, but it was far too late.
Sword Dao's true realm surged around her. With just one strike, she was blasted off her feet, crashing to the ground in a spray of blood. She couldn't even stand up.
The tome just watched coldly the entire time, showing no sign of helping her.
"Pfft—"
Coughing blood, Fang Wei clutched her chest. The slash had nearly carved right through her back, blood gushing nonstop as her vitality drained away. Panic gripped her heart. Her terrified eyes snapped to Song Wanníng. Her cultivation was only a bit higher, but with a single sword strike, she'd nearly killed her.
It was horrifying.
What Fang Wei didn't know was that Song Wanníng had deliberately held back, just to observe the tome's reaction.
When she saw it sit still, not lifting a finger to help, she began forming a bold suspicion.
"Tome, save me…"
Fang Wei's fear grew sharper. She shoved pills into her mouth one after another, but nothing worked. Blood kept spilling, her life force slipping away like sand through her fingers. Her eyes reddened as she desperately stretched a trembling hand toward the tome.
Still, it didn't move.
Finally, her composure broke. She screamed in despair, "Tome, I'm dying here!
If I die, you'll die too! Are you really just going to sit there and watch me die?
Save me! Save me!!"
"Tch. Die if you want. A waste like you only wastes spiritual energy by living, don't you agree?" At last, the tome spoke, its voice dripping with cold disdain.
"You honestly thought if you died, I'd die with you? How naive can you be?"
It looked at her with not a shred of pity. If there'd been a better choice back then, why would it ever have chosen Fang Wei? Now that a better option had appeared, Fang Wei could drop dead for all it cared.
"You—"
Fang Wei never dreamed the Wordless Heavenly Tome would abandon her at the crucial moment.
Didn't it swear it would do everything to help her ascend?
Didn't it vow to follow her into the grander world ahead?