In the end, he didn't just fail to gain anything, he even managed to make Song Wanníng hate him. Now he truly regretted it. But he hadn't noticed that the other side had gone strangely silent.
The silence stretched on, eerie and tense.
After a long while, Gong Ye finally said he'd keep his word and hand over the Seven-Colored Flower, but the matter had to remain a secret.
The sect master of Wushang Sect let out a breath of relief. His biggest fear was that Gong Ye would change his mind, leaving him with no way out.
A flicker of darkness flashed through his eyes. He had no choice. For profit, he'd already crossed too many lines.
…
Half a month later, the sect master of Wushang Sect was dead.
The news came without warning, catching everyone off guard.
The moment it spread, it caused an uproar across the Cultivation Realm, and all the suspicion immediately turned toward Song Wanníng of Guhan Sect.
After all, the sect master of Wushang Sect had just had a conflict with her. She'd even threatened him during their confrontation. Now he was dead, his body and soul both gone—who else would people suspect first?
But after thinking it through, some found that idea too stupid. Who would be dumb enough to kill someone right after threatening them? That'd be like announcing to the world you were the murderer.
The debate quickly split into two camps. Half the people believed Song Wanníng did it, and the other half thought someone was framing her.
Strangely enough, Wushang Sect didn't come forward to clarify anything. They quietly replaced their sect master, sealed their mountain, and forbade all disciples from leaving.
By then, Song Wanníng had already reappeared in the Beast Realm, searching for Gong Ye. When she heard the news, she couldn't help but laugh, her lips curling in cold amusement.
The one behind this mess was probably Gong Ye. That bastard must've done it to get back at her for accusing him earlier. Still, the death of Wushang Sect's sect master didn't concern her. The rumors, the gossip—none of it mattered.
If someone had proof, they could bring it forward. She wasn't about to waste her time trying to prove her innocence.
That'd be pointless.
In fact, this might even work in her favor. With that man's death, anyone planning to mess with Guhan Sect would think twice. It'd keep the troublemakers away.
With a faint smile tugging at her lips, she continued her search for Gong Ye. But oddly enough, his whereabouts were completely hidden. Even the Three Lives Mirror couldn't track him.
That made her frown. His methods were getting stranger, just like his twisted mind. At this point, there wasn't much she could do. All she could rely on was luck.
So, while hunting Monsters, she also entered the Beast King Map to cultivate, deepening her comprehension of the time attribute.
When she finally ran into Gong Ye again, she wanted to wipe him out completely. That bastard was too hard to find, and catching him was an absolute pain. She didn't want to be entangled with him forever.
…
News of Song Wanníng's reappearance in the Beast Realm soon reached Gong Ye's ears. His eyes trembled faintly as he began plotting his next move against her.
That fool from Wushang Sect had tried to demand the Seven-Colored Flower from him—what a complete idiot.
Still, Gong Ye had chosen that man for a reason. It had been Li Qingya's suggestion. According to her, that sect master was desperate to break through, his lifespan nearly reaching its end. Someone like that would grasp at any chance to extend his life.
Just as she'd predicted, the man had lost all reason the moment he heard about the Seven-Colored Flower. He couldn't resist the temptation and agreed to Gong Ye's terms.
But in the end, he'd failed miserably.
What a useless piece of trash.
Gong Ye chuckled coldly, snatching the woman beside him into his arms and kissing her hard.
"Qingya, you and Song Wanníng share the same bloodline. Think you can find a way to lure her here?"
His hands roamed along her skin, bold and unrestrained.
Li Qingya's eyes shimmered with seductive charm, but when she heard Song Wanníng's name, her brows creased ever so slightly.
Gong Ye always claimed he wanted to kill Song Wanníng, yet something about the way he said her name—it didn't sound like hatred.
A woman's intuition whispered to her that Gong Ye's feelings toward Song Wanníng weren't that simple. She hid the gloom in her gaze and asked with a faint smile, "Even if I do lure her here, then what? You really think you can kill her?"
She'd heard plenty about Song Wanníng's power.
A cultivator that strong might lose a fight, but killing her outright? That was another story.
Even if she couldn't win, she'd definitely escape.
Gong Ye tilted his head and hooked a finger under her chin. "What, you don't trust my strength?
This time, I'll make sure she stays. Between me and her, only one of us gets to live."
He'd had enough of Song Wanníng ruining his plans again and again. Every time she appeared, something went wrong. She'd grown too fast, and now she'd even advanced to the Unity stage.
He had to admit, it terrified him. If she kept growing stronger, it was only a matter of time before he fell into her hands. To prevent that from happening, he had to eliminate her as soon as possible. What he needed now was bait—something that would draw her straight to him.
Li Qingya lay in his arms, eyes glittering with calculation as she studied his face. After a long silence, she finally nodded. "I'll think of something."
Then she pulled him back down, their bodies tangling once more.
Gong Ye squeezed her waist with satisfaction, his movements growing more intense.
This woman was cautious to the core. Even now, she still refused to reveal her secret method for controlling Monsters.
Fine. He'd keep her around a little longer.
…
"Don't miss your chance! The Hua Clan will hold a planting competition three days from now! The winner will receive a Soul-Molding Flower! Anyone interested, make sure you join!"
A man dressed in white robes shouted as he made his way through the streets, announcing the Hua Clan's grand event to everyone he met.
"A Soul-Molding Flower? Are you serious? That thing's priceless! Why would the Hua Clan offer it as a reward?"
"Yeah, are you pulling our leg?"
Unlike the beast clans, the Hua Clan had always kept to themselves, preferring a peaceful, quiet life. It was rare to hear any news about them.
So when word spread that they were offering a Soul-Molding Flower as the prize for a planting competition, everyone thought it sounded impossible.
After all, a Soul-Molding Flower could reshape the soul or even mold a Primordial Soul's Dharma Form. Once a cultivator's soul was reforged, their power would skyrocket. They could even unleash deadly soul-based attacks.
"Hey, you think I'm lying?"
The man in white snorted and said with a huff, "This news is real! I'm spreading it on behalf of the Hua Clan themselves!
It all started because one of their younger members made a mistake in cultivation and fell into a coma. The only way to save them is to replant them and wait for their soul to awaken again.
But the strange thing is, no matter where they try, the surrounding soil keeps turning barren. Nothing will grow.
The Hua Clan treasures this junior deeply, so they came up with the idea of holding a planting competition—to see if anyone can find a solution!"