Some of the beast cultivators, unable to control themselves after seeing so many beautiful women, took advantage of the moment when they received their cup of flower nectar to touch the fair hands that offered it.
They were instantly met with furious glares.
But those cultivators didn't seem to notice anything wrong. Grinning, they downed the nectar, and the next second, they were rolling on the ground in agony, crying out in pain.
The rest of the beast cultivators froze. They stared at the nectar in their hands, not sure whether to drink it or dump it out.
Song Wanníng turned around and glanced at the few cultivators foaming at the mouth. Her expression didn't change at all. She had already checked earlier and knew the nectar wasn't the problem. In fact, it contained a rich amount of beastic energy.
Those cultivators had been poisoned.
Looks like the Hua Clan was deliberately making an example out of them. But honestly, that kind of warning didn't seem very effective.
She lowered her gaze and continued walking deeper into the clan grounds.
The others took one last look at the writhing cultivators on the ground and followed after her. No one wanted to get involved in trouble.
After circling around a sea of flowers, Song Wanníng finally spotted a massive bloom ahead. Its petals were a soft orange, while the stamens were black with a faint golden sheen.
The sharp contrast between the two colors made it almost dazzling to look at.
Beneath the flower, countless vines twisted and intertwined, looking chaotic at first glance, but to someone like Song Wanníng, who understood formations, there was clearly a pattern hidden in their arrangement.
She studied it a few times, then followed the path toward the open plaza where the Hua Clan's planting competition was being held.
The plaza was already packed. People sat wherever they liked, chatting in small groups.
The moment Song Wanníng walked in, many heads turned toward her. She didn't seem to notice. She simply walked to the nearest open spot and sat down. She glanced at the person beside her.
The person's aura was faint and obscured, a wide bamboo hat hiding most of her face. The hands that rested in her lap were slim and delicate—it was clearly a woman.
A flicker of light flashed in Song Wanníng's eyes, but she quickly looked away and didn't bother scanning the crowd again.
Beside her, Li Qingya hadn't expected Song Wanníng to sit right next to her. Her heart tensed, suspicion and unease swirling in her chest. Was this a coincidence? Or had Song Wanníng found something out?
Impossible.
No one knew about her dealings with Gong Ye, and there was no way Song Wanníng could've found out.
Besides, she had disguised herself. Song Wanníng had never seen her real face, so she couldn't possibly recognize her.
It had to be coincidence.
She exhaled softly, but her mind was already racing, trying to think of a way to lure Song Wanníng away.
She had promised Gong Ye she'd deal with her, but Song Wanníng was sharp and powerful. Acting rashly might only get herself caught instead. That was why she'd hesitated until now. When she heard the Hua Clan was hosting a planting competition, she guessed Song Wanníng would show up, so she came too—to observe and decide her next move.
Rumors were still just rumors. She needed to see the truth for herself.
Out of the corner of her eye, she sneaked a glance at Song Wanníng's stunning face, and jealousy flared in her chest. No wonder Gong Ye couldn't forget her.
Thinking of that man made her cheeks flush.
Gong Ye was the man she'd set her sights on, and no one was allowed to take him from her.
Song Wanníng couldn't stay alive. She had to find a way to get rid of her.
…
As more people arrived, the Hua Clan's flower spirits began appearing in the plaza.
Each one looked curious, their bright eyes sweeping over the cultivators who had come from afar. They rarely left their domain and hardly ever saw beast cultivators, so their curiosity was palpable. Before long, however, nearly every gaze settled on Song Wanníng.
The Hua Clan loved beautiful things, and her beauty was impossible to ignore. Even someone as composed as she was began to feel a little awkward under so many stares. She raised a hand to her lips and coughed lightly.
Thankfully, the awkwardness didn't last long. The Hua Clan's Patriarch descended from the sky, instantly capturing everyone's attention.
A collective gasp echoed through the plaza.
Every pair of eyes locked on the Patriarch, unable to look away.
Even Song Wanníng was startled, a glimmer of admiration flashing in her eyes. That face was breathtaking, flawless in every detail. A single lift of the Patriarch's eyes could make hearts stop.
What surprised everyone even more was that they couldn't tell whether the Patriarch was male or female. Their beauty transcended both.
Song Wanníng arched an eyebrow in quiet amazement.
"Thank you all for coming from afar. The Hua Clan is deeply grateful," the Patriarch said.
Their voice, neither male nor female, flowed like spring water, brushing gently against everyone's heart and filling the air with warmth and ease.
The words snapped the crowd out of their daze, though the looks of awe in their eyes didn't fade.
Smiling faintly, the Patriarch took their seat at the top of the dais.
"I'm sure everyone already knows the purpose of this competition, so there's no need for me to waste words. Let's begin."
With a simple gesture, several flower spirits stepped forward carrying trays of flowers, each setting them neatly on the ground. These were ordinary flowers, still untouched by spiritual energy and not yet awakened into sentience.
They were just test subjects.
"Those who know the art of planting, please step forward. If you can successfully make these flowers grow, you'll move on to the second round."
The Patriarch's gaze swept over the crowd. They clearly knew that most of the people here were only watching for fun.
As soon as they finished speaking, the plaza stirred with noise, and a few cultivators began stepping forward.
Li Qingya stood up too, removing her bamboo hat to reveal an unfamiliar face. She had disguised herself deliberately so Song Wanníng wouldn't recognize her. After all, even if she hadn't met her before, someone from Zhuiyun Peak might've shown her a portrait.
She couldn't risk it.
Song Wanníng glanced briefly at Li Qingya, then stood up as well.
The Patriarch looked around. Fewer than half of the cultivators seemed to actually know planting techniques, and a flicker of disappointment crossed their eyes.
"Let's start," they said.
They weren't expecting much. Even the Hua Clan's finest couldn't revive Xiao Shiba, so these outsiders had even less chance.
But there was no other choice.
At this point, a dead horse was better off treated like a living one.
Those who stepped forward each chose a flower. Some even picked the ones that looked healthier, hoping to improve their odds.
Song Wanníng didn't bother. She picked the flower closest to her, crouched down, and carefully loosened the soil before beginning to work.
She had a single Fire Spirit Root, so she wasn't particularly skilled at cultivation involving plants. Wood Spirit Roots had a natural affinity for greenery, often able to sense a plant's needs and communicate with it, which made their cultivation more effective.
So for her, this was more about experience than competition. She simply wanted to see the Hua Clan's techniques.
Her expression was serious as she followed the same method she used for growing spiritual herbs, her movements calm and precise.
Among human cultivators, this level of skill might seem ordinary, but among beast cultivators, her control stood out immediately.
It didn't take long before the Hua Clan's Patriarch noticed her.